p 
 
A! 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924080628047 
 
< 
 W 
 5-1 
 O 
 
 ^^^^*v} ^^ 1 1, II ill 
 
A GALAXY 
 IN THE BURMAN SKY, 
 
 ^ ^entoviaL 
 
 By WAI^TER N. WYETH, D. D. 
 philadei<phia, pa. 
 
 " To plant unseen a tiny seed 
 That shall the world's sore famine feed." 
 
 Journal and Messenger. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. : 
 
 W. N. WYETH. 
 
 NEW York, N. Y. : 
 
 WARD & DRUMMOND. 
 
 1892. 
 
Entered according' to Act of Congress, 
 
 in the year 1892, by W. N. WyETH, 
 
 in the Office of the Librarian of 
 
 Congress, at V.'ashinglon. 
 
 PRESS OF 
 C. J. KREHBIEL & CO. 
 
 248-250 Walnut St. 
 CINCINNATI. 
 
^t£iicution. 
 
 To S. M. STIMSON, D. D. 
 
 Long in Service, 
 
 Sunny in Spirit, 
 
 Joying in Foreign Missions. 
 
 Very Sincerely, 
 
 The Author. 
 
 Hi 
 
THIS, the fifth of the " Missionary Memorials," is de. 
 signed to portray the characters and labors of some 
 excellent men and women whose services have not had the 
 full and permanent record deserved. However, as in pre- 
 vious numbers of the series, it is aimed to make more 
 account of the work than of the workers ; to give inspir- 
 ing history by means of biography, and to secure a better 
 consecration to all work. If our republic is entitled to re- 
 written and improved history, how much more the imper- 
 ishable kingdom of which we are members ? 
 
 The annals of missions contained herein, taken with 
 those given in the four preceding volumes, cover an ex- 
 tended and exceedingly interesting period of foreign mis- 
 sions. They furnish a very helpful view of the trisils and 
 triumphs attending the introduction of the Gospel in 
 Burma, our earliest and most cherished missionary field. 
 It is believed that they will prove to be entertaining as well 
 as informing, and will also cultivate a taste for the litera- 
 ture of missions. 
 
 That the "Galaxy" may honor the laborers and the 
 Lord of the Harvest, and kindle the zeal of the churches, 
 is the hope of the author. 
 
 W. N. W. 
 
 3920 Fairmount Avenue, 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., March i, 1892. 
 
PAGE. 
 
 I. Prevision — The Deep Mine ; Attempting 
 
 Great Things— Kristno Paui,, 7 
 
 II. COI,MAN AND WhEEI<OCK — ThE EaRLY SENT 
 
 AND THE Eari,y Dead of the Burman Mis- 
 sion 20 
 
 III. Jonathan D. Price, M. D.— Our Gift to the 
 
 Burman Court — Mah Noo, 32 
 
 rv. Grover S. Comstock — Eari,ier IvIGhts; Ara- 
 KAN ; The Intercessory Cry ; Toii<ing, Tri- 
 umphing, Dying, 41 
 
 V. Sarah D. Comstock —" The Oni,y Proof"; 
 "And Children"; Zeal Aglow; Beneath 
 THE Tamarinds — Miss Cummings — Miss 
 Macomber, 64 
 
 VI. Elisha L. Abbott— Eager for Action; Goes 
 to the Karens; Stirring Up Satan; Cru- 
 elties TO Disciples; books, Books! ... 87 
 
 VII. Elisha L. Abbott— Sandow ay ; Spontaneous 
 
 Following; Night-work; Roughing it, . . 105 
 
 VIII. Elisha L. Abbott— Ordaining Natives— Bleh 
 
 Po — Myat Kyau — Tway Po 123 
 
 IX. Elisha L. Abbott— Two Attempts to Enter 
 Burma; Converts Multiplied; Self-Sup- 
 port, . . . 138 
 
 X. Elisha L. Abbott— Others in Front ; Battle 
 
 OF THE Stockades; Fall of Rangoon, . . 152 
 
 XI. Elisha I,. Abbott — Enters Bassein ; Finishes 
 
 HIS Course; Goes Home— Mrs. Abbott, . . 171 
 
 XII. Elisha h. Abbott— Missionary Sense; Trib- 
 utes OF Dr. Spear and Mrs. Dr. Binney; 
 Arakan To-day, 186 
 
 V 
 
ICdere a ©tor cruenchelr an High, 
 gov aaea xooalii ita Uaht 
 
 ^tveatn i>atvtxxvavii fvcxn the efeg 
 ^p0tx oixv mortal at0ht. 
 
 $o, twhen a oreat wttin Me», 
 Jor aettra beijoni" our ken 
 
 ®he ti0ht he Xeatte* behinir hi*n 
 Siea vtppn the path» of men. 
 
 I,ONGPEI<I,OW. 
 
 vi 
 
A GALAXY. 
 
 ^Vevi&iOtt—T/IE DEEP MINE; ATTEMPT- 
 ING GREAT THINGS.— ^v\9\n0 $Iaul. 
 
 oh, lieed the mute appeals of those who die 
 For want of living bread — appeals more sad 
 Because so mute, through lack of strength to plead. 
 
 J. CtARK. 
 
 THE true light of Asia is the I^ight of the World. 
 The lyight began to shine effectively in that land 
 about one hundred years ago. 
 
 In previous centuries adventurers from various 
 nations had entered the continent for purposes of em- 
 pire or gain; especially its southeastern portion. In- 
 dia had long been regarded the repository of Nature's 
 rarest stores. As formerly mapped, it consisted of 
 India and Farther India; an immense territory inclos- 
 ing the great Bay of Bengal. This bay, with a mean 
 measurement of six hundred miles from north to south, 
 and the same from east to west, protrudes far north- 
 ward into the old Indian Kmpire. At its northern 
 extremity it receives to its bosom the mightiest river 
 of the East, prominent alike in its religion and geog- 
 raphy — the Ganges. This river, towards its mouth, 
 receives to its embrace the great Brahmaputra, and 
 enters the sea by numerous and evershifting channels. 
 
 7 
 
8 A GALAXY. 
 
 Here, likewise, it separates Hither from Farther India, 
 or Burma. 
 
 The first two of the offsets of the Ganges unite to 
 form the Hoogly river, which runs south for one hun- 
 dred and twenty-five miles, then empties into its estu- 
 ary, which measures thirty-five miles more, and thus 
 enters the bay. On the left bank of this river, about 
 seventy-five miles from its mouth, is Calcutta, the cap- 
 ital of Bengal and the metropolis of British India. It 
 was founded in 1686; has a population of nearly one 
 million, and rivals in magnificence the leading capitals 
 of Europe. 
 
 The province of Bengal naturally became at the 
 first the place for missionary endeavor by English- 
 speaking Christians, or the chosen base for their on- 
 set upon the kingdom of darkness. And notwith- 
 standing the obstacles cast in their way by their own 
 countrymen they persisted in remaining in the coun- 
 try until an "efiectual door" was opened, even in the 
 capital itself. Here was the location of commerce with 
 the West. Sailing vessels, by way of the Cape of Good 
 Hope, steered for Calcutta, laden with merchandise, 
 and conveying a few passengers. Missionaries had 
 no other conveyance at the time; hence they had no 
 choice of company and destination until they should 
 arrive at that port. 
 
 Missionaries from America were favored in finding 
 at Calcutta some from England who had entered upon 
 labor for the heathen about twenty years before the 
 American churches entertained the subject. These 
 were glad to receive, counsel, and cheer . forward their 
 fellow-helpers, of whatever denomination or country. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 9 
 
 They entertained the Judsons, Newells, Rice, Wades, 
 Houghs, Boardmans, and others whose faces were set 
 toward the empire of Burma. They also ofifered refuge 
 to these fellow missionaries in time of persecution 
 or peril, and hospitality when seeking health. The 
 " lights" that were to shine along the shore and among 
 the mountains of Burma here received their replen- 
 ishing oil. It is fitting, therefore, that before delineat- 
 ing the lives and labors of the early missionaries from 
 the United States who are to be memorialized herein, 
 brief mention should be made of the missions whose 
 centennial is being celebrated as this volume goes 
 before the public. 
 
 In 1783 the East India Company, which had been 
 trading under charter from the British Crown for two 
 hundred years, was at the height of its prosperity, and 
 had become the Government of India. It employed 
 chaplains, but admitted no missionaries within the 
 region over which it had jurisdiction, because of its 
 agreement to protect the religion of the country ; that 
 is, heathenism, in its many forms. 
 
 The Christian world could not be unmoved forever 
 by the moral condition of the heathen, which was be- 
 coming more and more understood. The spectacle of 
 millions of human beings, benighted and besotted, 
 without relief and without an effort for their redemp- 
 tion, finally moved the hearts of some to undertake 
 the work of giving them the Gospel. A surgeon of 
 the East India Company, Dr. John Thomas, has the 
 credit of making the first movement. Returning to 
 England after nearly ten years of service, he urged im- 
 mediate and vigorous attention to the religious wants 
 
lO A GALAXY. 
 
 of India, proving tis sincerity by offering himself to 
 the churches as a missionary. Meantime WilUam 
 Carey had astounded his friends by proposing an 
 "attempt" for the salvation of the heathen, and placed 
 himself at the side of Dr. Thomas as his companion in 
 the effort. 
 
 These men were met with almost insuperable ob- 
 stacles from the first thought of going. The subject 
 was too great and the obstacles too vast to be patiently 
 contemplated by the average mind of that time. Ven- 
 tures in commerce with the East had become common 
 and highly remunerative, but there was scarcely faith 
 enough in all Britain to encourage any one to "attempt 
 great things for God," while there was an abundance 
 of the critical element in society, fully equipped with 
 satire for any who might cherish an unprecedented 
 zeal for the salvation of the world. 
 
 Besides the apathy and the general unbelief of the 
 churches as to the new project, they found it difficult 
 to leave the country. Dr. Carey's wife refused to go. 
 The East India Company refused to take them in its 
 vessels. And only after two years of preparatory 
 efforts, in which Mrs. Carey was finally induced to 
 accompany her husband, and passage had been secured 
 in a ship of the Danish East India Company, did they 
 have the joy of waving adieu to their native land, " far 
 in heathen lands to dwell." Their hearts "heaved 
 with high emotion." After being sorely tried for two 
 years, by both the world and the church, with a kind 
 of testing never before experienced in Great Britain, 
 they entered upon a new life and introduced a new era 
 in Christendom. 
 
A MEMORIAL. II 
 
 In landing at Calcutta by other than an English 
 ship the^"- did not attract attention, and so they quietly 
 settled and began to prepare for the arduous enterprise 
 on which they had ventured. Very soon the elements 
 of character necessary to comradeship were not found 
 to be sufficient in the two men. They were of one 
 heart and one soul as to their mission, while in the 
 management of their material concerns there was lack 
 of agreement. Dr. Carey was slow, careful, sure ; Dr. 
 Thomas swift, impulsive, reckless. The former lived 
 within his means, however slender ; the latter, volatile 
 and hopeful, did not escape the snares of his class, but 
 by his management frittered away their resources and 
 involved himself beyond his power of paying. After 
 living together for a short time they separated; Dr. 
 Thomas resuming the practice of surgery in Calcutta, 
 and Dr. Carey settling forty miles east, in a frail tene- 
 ment of his own construction, and near to the Sunder- 
 bunds — "dense forests covering thousands of square 
 miles in the delta of the Ganges, filled with tigers, 
 jackals, leopards, and serpents." 
 
 After a year had passed from the time they left 
 England, during which both had suffered trials — the 
 one having spent all his living and fallen into debt, 
 and the other having managed to survive without a 
 "living" — they were unexpectedly offered the superin- 
 tendency of indigo factories, some three hundred miles 
 to the northwest. They accepted these positions as a 
 temporary means of support and in the hope, largely 
 realized, of coming into saving contact with the na- 
 tives, and advancing in a knowledge of the language 
 of the country. 
 
12 A GALAXY. 
 
 Dr. Carey's business employment requiring only 
 about three months in the year, he was permitted 
 to use most of his time in study and translating the 
 Bible. While thus engaged he declined pay from the 
 Society that sent him out. The first Baptist church 
 in India was there formed, composed of the two mis- 
 sionaries and two Europeans. But the indigo busi- 
 ness there did not thrive, and, after various move- 
 ments. Dr. Carey settled at Serampore, with Joshua 
 Marshman and William Ward, missionaries from Eng- 
 land, as new associates. This settlement, so eventful 
 in Christendom, took place at just the beginning of 
 the present century. 
 
 All the missionary families lived under one roof, 
 and, thus united, were named "The Happy Family." 
 Operations were maintained on a large scale and 
 were prosperous — boarding schools, printing, study, 
 and street work on behalf of the natives. They sang 
 on the steps of public buildings and gave away copies 
 of their hymns, creating wonder and interest among 
 the natives. 
 
 Ere long Dr. Thomas appeared in Serampore, bring- 
 ing a skilled workman from his sugar factory who 
 wished to confess Christ. Seventeen years had gone 
 by since Thomas began to talk of the true God in this 
 country, and this was the first semblance of fruits. 
 What emotions the appearance must have excited! 
 And how disappointing ! Though received as a Chris- 
 tian brother, "with feelings of indescribable emotion," 
 he evaded baptism or was forcibly prevented from 
 being baptized ; he went away on a visit and was not 
 again seen or heard from. But, the typical seven years 
 
A MBMORIAI,. 13 
 
 of missionary expectation having passed, the time had 
 come for the mission to be favored with a token from 
 Heaven. And leaving the reader to the further and 
 fuller accounts of the lives and times of the early Eng- 
 lish missionaries, commending especially the new and 
 brief work of Mrs. Maria J. Bullen, entitled " KindUng 
 the Ivight," (Am. Bap. Pub. Soc.,) attention is called 
 to the first convert in India that received the ordi- 
 nance of baptism through the mission in Serampore, 
 or otherwise. 
 
 A native Hindoo, about thirty-five years of age, was 
 convinced of his sinfulness while listening to preach- 
 ing in a little bazaar in Serampore, on January 5, 1800. 
 He was smitten with the Sword of the Spirit. The 
 word seemed to be the word of God. Hearing it from 
 Europeans added not a little to his surprise ; hence he 
 could not help talking of it to his companions. He 
 said he saw himself to be a very great sinner; had 
 lived all his lifetime in sin ; had been a cheat, a liar, 
 injurious, and almost all that was bad. "But now," 
 says he, " I have put it ofi"; I want no more of it; it is 
 not my work; I wish to do it no more." 
 
 Soon after this he broke his arm, and Dr. Thomas 
 set it for him and then conversed with him concerning 
 the Gospel. He wept and sobbed, and promised to 
 visit the mission house daily, saying that " we had not 
 only cured his arm, but brought him the news of sal- 
 vation, and that while his arm was healing his soul 
 also obtained peace and rest in Christ, and that he now 
 existed to be his alone." 
 
14 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 Nearly one year passed before the " young convert " 
 was admitted to baptism ; and then the rejoicing was 
 with trembling, on account of the perils that he and 
 his family encountered. Turning to the old Magazine 
 of 1817, we find the following from the lyondon Bap. 
 Magazine, which, for its simplicity of style as well as 
 conformity to fact, will interest all : 
 
 On the 22d of December he came, with another Hindoo, 
 to eat tiffin (luncheon between breakfast and dinner) with 
 the missionaries, and thus publicly throw away his caste. 
 Brethren Carey and Thomas went to prayer with him be- 
 fore he proceeded to this act ; at which all the Hindoo ser- 
 vants were astonished, so many persons having said that 
 nobody would ever mind Christ, or lose caste. On this 
 occasion they say, " Brother Thomas has waited fifteen 
 years, and thrown away much upon deceitful characters ; 
 brother Carey had waited until hope of his own success 
 had almost expired; and, after all, God has done it with 
 perfect ease. Thus the door of faith is opened unto the 
 Gentiles ; who shall shut it ? The chain of the caste is 
 broken ; who shall mend it ? " 
 
 The very next day the faith of Kristno and his family 
 was sorely tried by the whole neighborhood being in an 
 uproar on account of their losing caste. It is said that 
 two thousand people were assembled, pouring their anath- 
 emas upon these new converts. They put Kristno and his 
 family into confinement, and then dragged them to the 
 Danish magistrate, who, instead of punishing, dismissed 
 them, with commendations for losing caste. The governor 
 also promised the missionaries that they should not be 
 interrupted in their baptism. On the 27th Kristno, going 
 with these missionaries into a village where they preached, 
 was met by a man who insulted him on account of his 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 15 
 
 renouncing Hindooism. It is common for the natives to 
 address each other in couplets and proverbs. This man 
 made a rhyme at Kristno's expense, as follows : 
 
 Kristno ! tumi ku 
 
 Shoitaner gon — 
 
 Noroka tumor shinghason ! 
 
 Kristno ! who are you? 
 The devil's own — 
 In hell your throne ! 
 
 Kristno smiled and gave a reason for his change, which 
 was, that in confessing and forsaking his sin, and laying 
 hold upon Christ, he should get salvation. 
 
 His baptism occurred on December 28, 1800, sig- 
 nalizing the opening of the century by setting up, as 
 it were, the first monument of the saving grace of God 
 on the plains of the Ganges. It was Lord's Day. Mr. 
 Ward preached on baptism, a good number of Euro- 
 peans being present, then the congregation " repaired 
 to the water's side" — the missionaries, the governor, a 
 number of Europeans, Portuguese, Hindoos, and Mus- 
 selmen. The service began by singing, as in the olden 
 time, 
 
 "Jesus, and shall it ever be 
 A mortal man ashamed of thee? " 
 
 Brother Carey then spoke in Bengalee, declaring that 
 we did not think the river sacred — it was water only ; and 
 the person about to be baptized from among' them, by this 
 act professed to put off all debtahs and all sins, and to put 
 on Christ. After prayer he went down into the water, 
 taking his son Felix in his right hand and baptizing him, 
 using English words. After this Kristno went down and 
 was baptized ; the words in Bengalee. All was silence and 
 
1 6 A GAI,AXY. 
 
 attention. The governor could not restrain his tears ; and 
 every one seemed to be struck with the solemnity of this 
 (to them) sacred ordinance. "I never saw," says Mr.Ward, 
 "even in the most orderly congregation in England, any- 
 thing more solemn and impressive.'' Ye gods of stone 
 and clay, did ye not tremble when in the name of the 
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit one of your votaries shook 
 you as the dust from his feet ! In the afternoon the Lord's 
 Supper was celebrated in Bengalee for the first time. 
 Kristno, at the close, said he was full of joy. A few days 
 after, Kristno was met by a European in the street, who 
 inquired of him respecting his profession of Christianity, 
 and asked him what he got by it. He replied that he had 
 " got nothing but much joy and comfort ; it was the work 
 of love." It had been reported that the missionaries had 
 given him several hundred rupees for losing caste. 
 
 On the 13th of January (1801) they speak of Kristno 
 saying at an experience meeting, "When I am at work my 
 mind goes away from God, and I am sorry and charge it 
 not to do so. I say, O mind, why dost thou depart from 
 Christ ? Thou canst not be happy anywhere without him. 
 I charge thee to keep close to him." Kristno has a sweet 
 natural disposition, and is indeed a very hopeful character. 
 He is a carpenter, and will, I dare say, have employment 
 sufficient to maintain his family. A gentleman in Seram- 
 pore said he thought every European ought to employ this 
 man, and he would set the example. He has accordingly 
 given him a good large job of work. He has a Brahmin, 
 however, for his landlord, who has not been so kind to 
 him, but has ordered him to quit his house. 
 
 In June following, Kristno said to one of the mission- 
 aries, "As I lay musing one night I thought thus : One or 
 two of the missionaries are dead. Mr. Carey is much en- 
 gaged at Calcutta, Mr. Marshman in the school, and Mr. 
 Ward in the printing office. Bengal is a large country; 
 
A MEMORIAL. 17 
 
 how shall the people know about Christ ? I would go to 
 the end of the world to make his love known." In] August, 
 of his own accord, he built a house for the public worship 
 of God, immediately opposite to his own. "We call this," 
 say the missionaries, " the first native meeting-house in 
 Bengal." August i6th brother Carey preached in it to 
 about twenty natives, besides the family of Kristno. 
 
 In May, 1803, Kristno was taken from his worldly em- 
 ployment in order to be engaged in making known the 
 gospel to his countrymen, and from that time to the pres- 
 ent (twelve years) he has been indefatigably and usefully 
 employed round about Serampore and Calcutta, and as far 
 as to Silhet on the borders of China, in fully preaching the 
 Gospel of Christ. He is now an old man (for a Hindoo), 
 very zealous in the cause of the Redeemer, and greatly 
 respected by all the brethren of the mission. 
 
 In this manner and to this extent was the light 
 now kindled in Bengal. The oft-defeated hopes of 
 the missionaries had begun to be realized, and few in 
 this world besides missionaries are fitted to participate 
 in such a joy as they experienced. Among the few 
 might be numbered Andrew Fuller, secretary of the 
 home society, who in later life said, in referring to his 
 efiforts as solicitor of money, " I frequently retired 
 from the more public streets to the back lanes, that I 
 might not be seen to weep over my disappointments." 
 But, on hearing of the baptism, he wrote : " If I could 
 send my soul over in a letter it would come and 
 mingle with your souls, with your labors, your joys 
 and your sorrows." And, as coming under the rule, 
 the name of Dr. Thomas, so long on the field and so 
 often deluded as to "converts," is to be mentioned be- 
 fore all others. So ardent was his temperament, and 
 
1 8 A GALAXY. 
 
 SO excited was he by the certain prospect of a baptism, 
 that he actually broke down and was unable to witness 
 the administration of the ordinance. " The joy had 
 been too much for him, and he was temporarily in- 
 sane." 
 
 Kristno, or Krishna Pal, labored faithfully for 
 twenty-three years, to his sixtieth or sixty-first year, 
 when, it is presumed, he entered upon his Heavenly 
 Rest. At some time in his career he composed that 
 rich, devotional hymn on remembering Christ, which 
 has become a standard in the best collections, and 
 which can not be omitted from any, much less from 
 this brief account of him : 
 
 O, thou, my soul, forget no more 
 The Friend who all thy sorrows bore ; 
 Ivet every idol be forgot. 
 But, O, my soul, forget him not ! 
 
 Renounce thy works and ways with grief. 
 And fly to this divine relief; 
 Nor him forget who left his throne, 
 And for thy life gave up his own. 
 
 Eternal truth and mercy shine 
 
 In him, and he himself is thine; 
 
 And canst thou, then, with sin beset. 
 
 Such charms, such matchless charms forget ? 
 
 O, no ; till life itself depart, 
 His name shall cheer and warm my heart; 
 And, lisping this, from earth I'll rise, 
 And join the chorus of the skies. 
 
 Kristno from the Hindoos, and Kothah-b5'U from 
 the Karens, were trophies and tokens that foretold the 
 greater triumphs of to-day. The nations they repre- 
 sented have since been "born" — born to a life of 
 
A MBMORIAI,. 19 
 
 hope, and growing, glad fruition. The two nations, 
 India and Burma, both immensely improved, clasp 
 hands at the head of the Bay of Bengal, across the 
 " sacred " Ganges. A line of missions, like a row of 
 life-saving stations or grand camp-fires, are now trace- 
 able around the entire coast of the great bay, forming 
 an arch of promise, than which there is no brighter on 
 the face of the earth. And torches are being carried 
 from them to the interior, east, west and north, and 
 these also will help to drive away the pagan night. 
 
 Dr. W. F. Stevenson, of the " Duff Missionary I,ect- 
 ureship," who had personally visited all the chief mis- 
 sion-fields of the world, and had read almost every 
 important book describing missions, uses these ringing 
 words in regard to the Carey epoch: " There is nothing 
 more brilliant and heroic in our modern church than 
 that passage of her history; and how nobly it rang 
 out the old and rang in the new, as last century was 
 changing into this, the crowded missions of to-day will 
 testify. We see the results before our eyes and con- 
 nect them with the long era of preparation. When 
 Carey died, the Gospel was firmly planted in India ; so 
 firmly, that every day bears witness it wiU grow to be 
 there what it has grown to be at home. * * =i= * 
 With Carey the planting of Christianity was an accom- 
 plished fact in India, and by that I mean that Chris- 
 tianity will grow there as the Gospel always grows, 
 from being the least noticeable of seeds till its branches 
 cover all the land with the grateful shadow of their 
 leaves of healing." 
 
20 A GAI,AXY. 
 
 II. 
 
 ©triman anii ^heelach—Ti/E early 
 
 SENT AND EARLY DEAD OF THE BUR- 
 MAN MISSION 
 
 Dear Lord, wliose mercy veileth all 
 That may our coming days befall, 
 Still hide from us the things to be. 
 But rest our troubled hearts in Thee. 
 
 HAHRIET M. KJMBAI,!,. 
 
 THE English Baptists were not to remain alone in 
 missionary endeavor abroad. Their zeal had ex- 
 cited sympathy in America and was drawing from this 
 country contributions of money that were quite cred- 
 itable to it, for the time and circumstances. The letters 
 of Carey, Marshman, and Ward, full of strange and 
 striking facts and conveying thrilling appeals to the 
 Christian heart, fanned the piety of the churches to a 
 glow. Buchanan's " Star in the East " also was widely 
 read and very effective for kindling interest in behalf 
 of the inhabitants of India. In less than ten years 
 from the time Carey went to the East a missionary 
 society was organized in Massachusetts, though not 
 until about twenty years had passed was anything 
 special effected for the object of his unprecedented 
 heroism. Then the subject of "Eastern Translations" 
 was commended to the churches, and interest was 
 centering in the Serampore mission. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 21 
 
 But people incline to independence in benevolence 
 as in other affairs. And ere long the Spirit that moved 
 Carey and his friends on one side of the Atlantic, 
 moved Judson and his associates on the other. Great 
 things for God were " attempted " here also. There 
 was some indefiniteness in each case as to the particu- 
 lar thing to be done, except that the known kingdom 
 of darkness was to be entered with the light ; at what 
 point, it was not a matter of preference, provided there 
 should be an opening, nor was fastidiousness or fear 
 for a moment to be indulged. 
 
 The first American missionaries proceeded in this 
 spirit, persuading the churches into approval of their 
 course instead of being persuaded to go for them. It 
 was so with Judson and his associates, and by the time 
 that great pioneer was fairly engaged in preliminary 
 work, the Baptists of Massachusetts, whence he went 
 under popular misgiving, were stirred up again by the 
 irresistable appeal, "Here am I, send me." 
 
 James Colman and Edward Willard Wheelock 
 were born in the city of Boston, Mass.; the former on 
 February 19, 1794, and the latter July 17, 1796. Both 
 were converted in boyhood, and became members 
 of the Second Baptist Church, Rev. Thomas Baldwin, 
 D.D., pastor; one in his eleventh year and the other in 
 his fifteenth. 
 
 Mr. Colman disclosed a genius for preaching before 
 converted. When quite a child he had desires to be a 
 public speaker, and, with Bible in hand, would lecture 
 his little friends, collected in his room, with all the 
 formality of a pulpiteer, while tears flowed plentifully 
 down the cheeks of speaker and hearers. At the age 
 
22 A GALAXY. 
 
 of seventeen he became deeply impressed as to enter- 
 ing the ministry ; first as a glorious privilege, then as 
 a duty, and, finally, with the feeling that refusal would 
 bring woe upon him — states of mind growing out of 
 views he came to entertain concerning sin and salva- 
 tion. Having fought his convictions until he was 
 completely exhausted, he surrendered, and, according 
 to a custom of the day, was placed under the instruc- 
 tion of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Chaplin, then of Danvers, 
 Mass., with whom he pursued literary and theological 
 studies for two and a half years. 
 
 His letters to Dr. Baldwin, his pastor, show a fine 
 type of piety and much and accurate thinking respect- 
 ing spiritual things. He was aroused early to con- 
 template missions, before there was in the United 
 States a society to operate them. And after close at- 
 tention to the published correspondence from the East, 
 and a careful consideration of the subject of personal 
 duty to the heathen, he revealed the fact that he must 
 be a foreign missionary. His decision was very dis- 
 appointing to his friends, who had marked out for him 
 a high destiny in his native land. It was said that 
 "his talents were peculiarly adapted to a cultivated 
 state of society"; that "there was a brilliancy of imag- 
 ination and a fervor of eloquence in his discourses 
 which commanded the attention and awakened feel- 
 ings of interest in all who heard him." He may have 
 been in advance of his time in believing that the cause 
 of the heathen required the best talents the church 
 could furnish. At any rate he determined that if there 
 were silver or gold in him, they should have it. 
 
 Mr. Wheelock had a similar experience in some 
 
A MEMORIAL. 23 
 
 respects. From the time he professed religion "he felt 
 deeply concerned for the salvation of sinners, and es- 
 pecially for the salvation of the heathen." In 1814 he 
 " entreated the Trustees of the Boston Baptist Foreign 
 Missionary Society to take him under their patron- 
 age." They cordially granted his request and placed 
 him under Dr. Chaplin, at Danvers. As a student and 
 Christian he won the highest respeet and affection. 
 In 181 7 he applied to the Board for appointment as 
 foreign missionary, addressing them in this fervid 
 language : 
 
 O! if it is consistent that one so unworthy and so un- 
 qualified as myself should engage in this glorious work, 
 deny me not, I beseech you, the unspeakable privilege ; 
 deny me not the fondest, the most ardent desire of my 
 soul that can, in this world, be gratified. To deny me of 
 this would be to deprive me of the greatest happiness 
 which, in this world, I can possibly enjoy. I had rather 
 be a missionary of the Cross than a king on a throne. Let 
 the men of this world possess its glittering toys ; let the 
 miser grasp his cankered gold ; let the voluptuary enjoy 
 his sordid pleasures ; let the ambitious ascend to the pin- 
 nacle of earthly honor ; but let me enjoy the sweet satis- 
 faction of directing the poor pagans to the I,amb of God. 
 I court no greater good ; I desire no greater joy; I seek no 
 greater honor. To Burmah would I go ; in Burmah would 
 I live ; in Burmah would I toil ; in Burmah would I die, 
 and in Burmah would I be buried. 
 
 At this time Dr. Judson and Mr. Hough were the 
 only missionaries in Burma. And the loneliness of 
 these young men would be relieved less by their so- 
 ciety than by the companionship of each other. The 
 
24 A GALAXY. 
 
 prospect of being situated in a dense and immense 
 population of degraded beings, with whom they could 
 not hold converse until they should learn their lan- 
 guage, requiring the practical loss of their own moth- 
 er-tongue — this was self-banishment as well as self- 
 denial. From Boston to Burma the distance was 
 great, but greater the felt distance between the culture 
 of the one and the corruption of the other. 
 
 The young men were ordained together at the Sec- 
 ond Baptist Church, where they had been welcomed 
 on being baptized. The service occurred September 
 ID, 1817; the eminent men taking part in the service 
 being Reverends James M. Winchell, Joseph Grafton, 
 Jeremiah Chaplin, Lucius Bolles, Thomas Baldwin and 
 Daniel Sharp. The assembly was "crowded," the oc- 
 casion solemn, and many tears flowed, because it was 
 felt, as it proved, that they " were soon to bid farewell 
 to their native land, never again to return.'' The rarity 
 of the occasion increased its solemnity. Some weeks 
 thereafter a special prayer meeting was held in the 
 same church " for the purpose of commending them to 
 the guidance, protection and blessing of heaven "; and 
 though the weather was unfavorable the attendance 
 was large and the exercises, in which eight ministers 
 participated, continued for three and a half hours. 
 
 The embarkation took place November 16, 1817, 
 on the ship Independence, bound to Calcutta. Over two 
 hundred assembled on the dock to bid them adieu. It 
 was a moment when fortitude was needed, and while 
 friends gave way to their tears the missionaries were 
 firm. When the vessel began to move the father of 
 Mr. Wheelock, with the tender anguish of a parent, 
 
A MEMORIAIv. 25 
 
 took off his hat and exclaimed, " Willard, my dear son ! 
 let me see your face once more ! " Willard came to the 
 side of the vessel. The father gazed on his amiable 
 son, then covered his head and immediately forced his 
 way through the crowd to his carriage. The ocean 
 proved the final separator, until there shall be no 
 more sea. 
 
 The Independence was just five months in making 
 the voyage to Calcutta. On its arrival the missionaries 
 wrote letters to their pastor. Dr. Baldwin, full of joy 
 and gratitude, not only on account of their safe jour- 
 ney, but because of the greater spiritual blessings they 
 had enjoyed. In compliance with the suggestions of 
 Dr. Staughton, Corresponding Secretary, as well as in 
 obedience to their own impulses, they improved their 
 opportunity to labor for the salvation of the sailors, 
 and were made glad by the conversion of several of 
 them. 
 
 Nearly four months were consumed in the usual 
 waiting in Bengal for a vessel going to Rangoon; and 
 although these were months of impatience, yet the 
 time was profitably occupied in the company of the 
 English missionaries, especially the " Millennial Band 
 at Serampore," to which Dr. Staughton had commended 
 them as the " medium of intercommunication between 
 the Board and Burma, and entitled to high respect and 
 gratitude." Then, on August 19, 1818, they sailed for 
 Burma, and after four weeks more landed at Rangoon ; 
 glad beyond the power of words to portray that the 
 end of their journey had come and their field been 
 reached. But how delusive the highest hopes of earth ! 
 
 Mr. Wheelock, ere they reached India, had declined 
 
26 A GALAXY. 
 
 in health. Pulmonary disease had developed, and he 
 had been in Rangoon only seven days when, after en- 
 gaging in family worship, he began to raise blood, as 
 he had done at Calcutta. It was thought that medical 
 assistance might be obtained at Calcutta, and that the 
 sea air would prove beneficial. Accordingly, in com- 
 pany with Mrs. Wheelock, he took passage for that 
 port ; but in this respect he was disappointed. Weak- 
 ness increased and delirium followed. In a moment 
 of deep depression he disappeared from the vessel. 
 Mrs. Wheelock was engaged in writing while he was 
 supposed to be asleep. Hearing the water-gallery door 
 close, she looked around and observed that he was 
 gone. " She sprang to the door and opening it found, 
 to her unspeakable grief, that he had vanished forever 
 from her sight." Presumably, he had plunged into the 
 sea, as he could not be found, and the ship was pro- 
 ceeding at such a velocity as to render it impracticable 
 to make an attempt to discover and rescue him. The 
 event was felt by the brethren in Bengal as well as by 
 our own missionaries to be very afiiictive. The few- 
 ness of the laborers added to their sorrow, while their 
 testimonials to his worth could be adequately expressed 
 only in exclamations. His active service for souls, after 
 leaving his native land, was performed on the sea, and 
 the sea was his grave and shroud. It was as a foreign 
 missionary he labored and died, and as such he was 
 received into heaven, and given the first place on the 
 roll of our deceased ambassadors to the East. 
 
 Mrs. Wheelock was invited by the Board to return 
 to her native land, but still hoping to become useful 
 to the heathen she chose to remain. Afterwards she 
 
A MEMORIAL. 27 
 
 became the wife of Mr. Jones, of Calcutta, from which 
 place, probably, she had not departed after completing 
 the voyage on which her bereavement occurred. The 
 tears of her early widowhood, in the divine plan, must 
 have been part of the bedewing influences necessary to 
 the religious culture of any land. 
 
 Mr. Colman was particularly blessed in his father; 
 a man of the most exemplary life in home and com- 
 munity. James being an only child, the deepest anx- 
 ieties and fondest hopes were centered in him, and 
 special pains were exercised to bring him under the 
 ministration of the sanctuary, resulting in early con- 
 version. 
 
 Very soon his experience developed into solici- 
 tude for a perishing world, and this ripened into sin- 
 cere longing to be himself an ambassador of Jesus to 
 the heathen. After the usual hesitation on the part of 
 his church (Second Church, Boston), voiced in various 
 discouraging reasons set forth by his pastor. Dr. Bald- 
 win, he was finally permitted to cherish his feelings 
 and encouraged to be a missionary. The Christians 
 of his youth-time appear to have felt it a duty to dis- 
 hearten those who proposed to preach; whether to 
 test their endurance or to season them into a chronic 
 seriousness, it is not known. No doubt there was 
 much doubtfulness as to the expediency of casting 
 precious lives into the baneful climate of southern Asia 
 for the sake of souls, as there has been to this day, 
 since there were so many in America unsaved ; yet a 
 little schooling in fighting convictions and churches 
 was felt to be a benefit that young men might even 
 covet. Mr. Colman came to the front when mission- 
 
28 A GALAXY. 
 
 ary conviction was not general, and with the Secretary 
 of the Convention, his own pastor, standing in his way. 
 It was thought that he would be an extraordinarily 
 good man for positions in the United States, and that 
 it was a waste to send him to the heathen. And 
 though missionary conviction is yet only partial, it is 
 conceded that the best are needed where false relig- 
 ions prevail most. 
 
 Mr. Colman succeeded in securing the benediction 
 of his friends, and, with Mr. "Wheelock and the wives 
 of both, set sail in high emotion but with the fullest 
 consciousness of the greatness of the undertaking. 
 The meeting of the new with the old missionaries on 
 the shores of Burma, in equal numbers, was such a 
 pairing of workers for God and Heaven as might 
 awaken the attention of the angels. It certainly kin- 
 dled emotions in themselves that the memory could 
 not lose. Mr. Colman wrote : " We found, upon ar- 
 riving at the landing place, our beloved brethren wait- 
 ing to receive us. For a short time we could do no 
 more than to take each other by the hand. The sen- 
 sations of our minds destroyed the power of utterance." 
 
 Immediately Mr. Colman began the study of the 
 language, and made rapid headway. Hope was high. 
 But soon his companion missionary was taken away, 
 as already narrated, and a new point of expediency 
 arose, claiming a change of base. The emperor had 
 been approached for the purpose of obtaining tolera- 
 tion, and his refusal being given it was deemed neces- 
 sary to establish a mission outside of his domain, to 
 which the missionaries and converts might flee in case 
 of persecution ; for forsaking the national religion was 
 
A MEMORIAL. 29 
 
 death to the natives. The ever-memorable visit of 
 Judson and Colman to Ava, with the large, gilded copy 
 of the Scriptures in hand, and the scornful repulse 
 received, had taught them to expect no favor from the 
 throne of the empire. 
 
 Between Bengal and Burma lay a province called 
 Chittagong, under English rule, having a large town 
 of the same name. At an earlier day an English mis- 
 sionary from Bengal had labored there, and a few con- 
 verts still remained. Permission to do Gospel work 
 was in some sense obtained from the East India Com- 
 pany, and Mr. and Mrs. Colman, inexperienced and 
 alone, with Mr. Wheelock at the bottom of the ocean, 
 and Mrs. Wheelock, suffering from her fresh affliction, 
 in Calcutta, set out to find and further to prepare an 
 asylum in Chittagong. 
 
 Leaving Rangoon in March they reached the place 
 in June. Immediately they erected a dwelling, and 
 receiving favor in trying circumstances from the Judge 
 of the district, and meeting a native convert, Keepong 
 by name, who was able to assist them in learning the 
 language and in communicating with the people, they 
 at once had hope. The native Christians gathered 
 about them with expressions of joy at their coming, 
 because they desired further instruction in the way of 
 life, and wished their children to be saved from Bud- 
 dhist teachers. 
 
 For the better furtherance of his original purpose, 
 the evangelization of the Arakanese, he removed to 
 Cox's Bazaar, a place of about thirty thousand inhabit- 
 ants near the boundary of Arakan. Here he was pro- 
 vided with a native ofl&cer, who was in constant attend- 
 
30 A GAI,AXY. 
 
 ance to afford protection or necessary assistance. He 
 added to his main work a school for the education of 
 native children, Mrs. Colman assisting, and his appeal 
 occasioned the formation of a society in Boston for its 
 support. The prospect was bright, and Christians in 
 America entertained high hope of the work in Arakan. 
 
 Ah! it is not in man that walketh to direct his 
 steps or to alter his appointed time. In the midst of 
 the most prosperous labors, James Colman was called 
 to nobler service above. He was attacked by jungle 
 fever, and in one year from the time he went to Chitta- 
 gong, and in less than three years from the time he 
 landed in Burma, he joined the company of those who 
 had ceased from their labors. He died on July 4, 1822, 
 in his twenty-ninth year, a sacrifice to the noblest of 
 impulses. His generous plans were frustrated, and the 
 thought of having an out-station, such as he had pro- 
 jected, was completely abandoned. But he " finished 
 his course " — took his place between the plough and 
 the altar, was accepted for the yoke, went afield, wit- 
 nessed for the Master before the haughtiest of kings, 
 gave knowledge of him to the grateful Arakanese, and 
 by his death intensified the zeal for missions in this 
 country. 
 
 Mrs. Colman was almost immediately attacked with 
 fever, yet was able to prepare for a return to Chitta- 
 gong, whither she went and where she was for some 
 time very ill. Previous to leaving Cox's Bazaar, those 
 who had been accustomed to visit the mission family, 
 she wrote, " assembled in the bungalow and lamented 
 the loss of Mr. Colman in such simple and feeling lan- 
 guage that my heart was wrung with pity. ' We have,' 
 said they, ' lost our teacher and father, and are now 
 
A MEMORIAL. 31 
 
 about to lose our mother. We are wicked and un- 
 worthy of a teacher, and therefore God has taken him 
 from us.' " 
 
 Mrs. Colman went, ultimately, to Calcutta, where 
 she entered the service of the Bengal Christian School 
 Society by becoming superintendent of the Bengalee 
 female schools ; and after some years was married to 
 Rev. Amos Sutton, D. D., a very estimable missionary 
 of the English Baptists, in Orissa, and for many years 
 continued in the work to which in youth she had 
 given her heart. 
 
 Miss Sarah Hall, a young woman of Salem, Mass., 
 (afterward Mrs. S. B. Judson,) was deeply affected by 
 the circumstances of the life and death of Mr. Colman. 
 She composed some very creditable lines concerning 
 him, which were read at a missionary meeting in Sa- 
 lem ; Mrs. Ann H. Judson, on a visit to this country, 
 being present. They may be found on page 176 of No. 
 2 Missionary Memorials. The following is the closing 
 stanza : 
 
 Oh, Colman ! Thy father weeps not on thy grave. 
 
 Thy heart-riven mother ne'er sighs o'er thy dust ; 
 But the long Indian grass there most sweetly shall wave. 
 
 And the drops of the evening descend on the just. 
 Cold, silent, and dark is the narrow abode, 
 
 But not long wilt thou sleep in that dwelling of gloom,. 
 For soon shall be heard the great trump of our God, 
 
 To summon all nations to hear their last doom ; 
 A garland of amaranth then shall be thine. 
 And thy name on the martyrs' bright register shine. 
 Oh, what glory will burst on thy view, 
 When are placed by the judge of the earth 
 The flowers that India grew 
 By thy care, on the never-pale wreath 
 Encircling thy brow ! 
 
32 A GALAXY. 
 
 III. 
 
 ^Cfttathan ^. ^vice, W* W*—ouR gift 
 
 TO THE BURMAN COC/RT—mah ^00. 
 
 Christ, who has been my perfect sun by day, 
 
 Will be my star by night ; 
 On my deep rest the Lord shall shine alway. 
 
 An everlasting Light. 
 
 B. Macandrew. 
 
 BURMA, the object of our earliest missionary activ- 
 ity in the East, maintains its original prominence 
 as a mission field. Rangoon, the "lone star" in that 
 empire in 1813, and for many years thereafter, is now 
 the principal orb of a large constellation. There has 
 not been a lack of light since the night in which Jud- 
 son and his enfeebled wife stepped ashore there as 
 light-giving bodies. It has sometimes been limited, 
 but never utterly wanting ; not even when its bearers 
 were shut up in prison. 
 
 This field, therefore, has ever drawn to itself and 
 excited peculiar interest. Its name is almost synony- 
 mous, in popular speech, with the term foreign mis- 
 sions. It is the joy and pride of the Baptists of Amer- 
 ica; an inheritance, of which the missionaries them- 
 selves form the principal part. The earliest workers 
 give rise to peculiar gratitude, because the first sacri- 
 fices seem to have been most costly. Whether they 
 lived and labored few years or many, their names are 
 
A MEMORIAL. 33 
 
 embalmed with the richest affections. Some of them 
 have receded from view and their places in the system 
 remain untaken, since one body can not traverse an- 
 other's orbit nor do its shining. And most gratefully 
 does the author point the eye to the spaces they occu- 
 pied and to those that have followed in the general 
 field, reviving their names and deeds for the inspira- 
 tion of the generations. 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte White appears as a part of the sec- 
 ond gift of the American Baptists to Burma, she hav- 
 ing sailed with Mr. and Mrs. Hough from Philadelphia 
 in December, 1815. Arriving in Calcutta in April, 1816, 
 the party experienced a delay of several months, which 
 resulted in a change of Mrs. White's destmation. Dur- 
 ing this period of waiting. Rev. Joshua Rowe, of the 
 English Baptist Mission, formed an acquaintance with 
 and was married to her. This circumstance caused her 
 settlement at Digah, Hindoostan, where she lived in 
 useful service with her husband until his death, which 
 occurred about seven years afterward. At that time an 
 English periodical spoke of her as " eminently useful 
 in the school at Digah," and expressed the hope that 
 she would remain at that station and continue her 
 work. Thus was this light not lost, though assigned 
 another sphere. 
 
 Rev. Jonathan D. Price, M. D., and his wife were 
 designated for the reenforcement of the Burman Mis- 
 sion, in Sansom Street Church, Philadelphia, in May, 
 182 1, and soon afterward sailed, reaching Rangoon in 
 December. A new and important element of mission- 
 ary service was thus introduced — the medical. The 
 trait of superstition in the heathen, coupled with de- 
 
34 A GALAXY. 
 
 sire for a benefit, made them eager for everything new 
 to them in the healing art. And Dr. Price had not 
 been in the country very long before his skill was 
 reported to the Golden Ears, designedly or not, and 
 he was immediately summoned to the Court at Ava. 
 Only a little more than two years had elapsed since 
 Dr. Judson and Mr. Colman had gone before the 
 Golden Face with the Bible in hand, and though care- 
 ful to omit no form of presentation, or prostration nec- 
 essary to obtaining favor, thej' were coldly repulsed 
 and the Word of God rejected. But no discourage- 
 ment was too great for men who had counted the cost, 
 and Dr. Judson girded himself again that he might 
 present Dr. Price to the king, as it was necessary he 
 should do. Dr. Price being ignorant of the language 
 and the customs of the Court. 
 
 Dr. Price at once came into great favor with the 
 monarch, and was granted quarters in a house near 
 the palace, in expectation that he would remain per- 
 manently. Dr. Judson began to obtain favor also, and 
 was urged to remain at the capital to save Dr. Price 
 from becoming " lonely and unhappy." Hope was high 
 that through the latter the Gospel might be intro- 
 duced at the heart of the empire. Dr. Judson con- 
 ceived the plan of returning with his wife, on her ar- 
 rival from America, and of attempting to establish a 
 station at Ava, " beneath the favorable auspices which 
 seemed to be secured by the medical reputation of Dr. 
 Price." How hope was changed to dejection, and al- 
 most despair, the Christian world know better than 
 they know anything else in missionary history. Dr. 
 Price was one of the fated seven who bore the igno- 
 
A MEMORIAL. 35 
 
 miny and tortures of the twenty-one months' imprison- 
 ment, and shared in the angelic ministries of Mrs. Ann 
 H. Judson, which saved them from death. 
 
 He was finally taken from his horrid dungeon and, 
 with Dr. Judson, used in negotiating for peace with the 
 English. This change brought such a relief that it 
 seemed like liberty itself, yet he was still a captive. In 
 due time, peace being restored, he was fully released. 
 The king was so greatly humiliated that it was now 
 his time to be a suppliant. Those he had treated 
 haughtily were now besought to help him. He had 
 come to see how important was their knowledge to 
 his interests, and he invited, begged them to stay at 
 the capital, promising that they should be promoted 
 and become great men. 
 
 It seemed wise that Dr. Price should accept the in- 
 vitation of the king, not for the purpose of becoming 
 a great man — there is no "greater" man than a mis- 
 sionary — but in order the more fully to serve Him who 
 alone is great. By the rule of diversity in gifts and 
 operations he could meet a demand for which no other 
 one was prepared, and he stepped into the open door. 
 Returning to Ava he became a physician to the king's 
 subjects, under the royal favor, and established a school 
 for the education of the sons of several families con- 
 nected with the Court. Says Professor Gammell : " He 
 gathered around him a large number of the young men 
 of rank in the capital, and began to teach them the 
 rudiments of science, and at the same time to impart 
 to them the truths of religion. He also lectured in 
 public before the highest officers of the government on 
 the leading principles of astronomy, and of such other 
 
36 A GAI^AXY. 
 
 sciences as would have a tendency gradually to under- 
 mine their faith in the dogmas of Buddhism ; for these 
 are as contradictory to the principles of true science as 
 they are to the teachings of Christianity. His wide 
 medical reputation and his connection with the Court 
 afforded opportunities for setting forth religious truth 
 such as an ordinary missionary could not have, and 
 high hopes were entertained of the results of his labors. 
 But ere he had realized any of his noble plans he fell a 
 victim to a pulmonary consumption, and died at his 
 post, at Ava, in February, 1828," (or, at Sagaing.) 
 
 Thus he had two years in which to testify to the 
 truth, after two years of ignominious treatment in the 
 same community in which he was goaded to prison as 
 though he were the greatest of criminals. This Joseph, 
 "whose feet they hurt with fetters and who was laid in 
 irons," was exalted in the king's house, and had the 
 honor to "teach his senators wisdom." The astron- 
 omy he taught tended to shake the very foundation of 
 the national religion; for all systems of idolatry are 
 interwoven with false notions of the heavens. 
 
 His important part in introducing the truths of 
 nature and grace to the haughty empire of Burma 
 causes every particle of information concerning him 
 to be regarded with peculiar interest. It is with much 
 pleasure, therefore, that the following communication 
 from Rev. J. N. Cushing, D. D., of Rangoon, mission- 
 ary to the Shans, is added to the foregoing sketch. It 
 appeared in the National Baptist of September 15, 1887, 
 and is here given without abridgment : 
 
A MBMORIAI,. 37 
 
 A REI.IC OP EARtY MISSION TIMES. 
 
 A few days ago Dr. Forchhammer, government arcliae- 
 ologist and professor of Pali in its college, sent me an im- 
 pression from a gravestone, whose existence was entirely- 
 unknown up to tlie time of the taking of the impression. 
 As government archaeologist Dr. Forchhammer has several 
 trusty and scholarly Burmans, whom he employs to col- 
 lect books, inscriptions, and any information which will 
 aid him in his departments of work. These men recently 
 returned to Rangoon after several months' absence in 
 Upper Burma, which were given to copying as many in- 
 scriptions and monuments as possible. Impressions were 
 taken from several stones still standing in a deserted 
 burial-place at Old Ava. One among them proved to be 
 an impression of a stone erected to the memory of Mah 
 Noo, the second wife of Dr. Price, one of the earliest Amer- 
 ican Baptist missionaries to Burma. 
 
 Dr. Price arrived in Burma December 13, 1821. He lost 
 his first wife at Rangoon May 2, 1822. She was probably 
 buried in the vicinity of the old mission-house which Dr. 
 Judson purchased from Chater, the English Baptist mis- 
 sionary. The site of this house was near what is called 
 Rebecca's Well, a part of the city now thickl}' covered with 
 houses. All traces of her grave disappeared long since, 
 and it can be truly said " No man knoweth her sepulcher 
 unto this day."* 
 
 Seven months after his arrival, and consequently very 
 soon after the death of his wife. Dr. Price accompanied 
 Dr. Judson on a visit to Ava. Returning to Rangoon, he 
 was married to Mah Noo by Dr. Judson. Dr. Price had a 
 reputation for skill in removing cataracts from the eyes. 
 
 *Mrs. Price was buried at the side of Dr. Judson's little son, Rog^er 
 Williams, in the locality mentioned. Her death occurred in less than one 
 year after leaving America, and in about five months after reaching; the 
 shore of Burma. — Author. 
 
38 A GALAXY. 
 
 I have heard Mr. Hough, who was a fellow missionary of 
 Judson and Price, relate the circumstances connected with 
 this unusual marriage. The act, perhaps, showed a better 
 heart than judgment on the part of Dr. Price. In an oper- 
 ation which he performed upon the eyes of Mah Noo he 
 was unsuccessful, and she became irrecoverably blind. Dr. 
 Price conceived the idea that he ought to marry her in con- 
 sequence of his ill success, and care for and support her. 
 Dr. Judson remonstrated in vain, and finally, much against 
 his will, solemnized the marriage. 
 
 After the first Anglo-Burmese war Dr. Price returned 
 to Ava. He arrived May 29, 1826, and entered the service 
 of the King of Burma. Mah Noo died in the following 
 November. Dr. Price survived her until February 14, 1828, 
 when he died at Sagaing, on the opposite side of the Irra- 
 waddy River from Old Ava. Tradition says that he was 
 buried at Sagaing. The site of his grave is not known. 
 Possibly tradition is at fault, and he lies in the little burial 
 place at Old Ava. All the stones in that deserted God's- 
 acre were copied except one, and that belongs to a grave 
 alongside Mah Noo's grave. This may be Dr. Price's grave. 
 Further examination will be made by Dr. Forchhammer's 
 men, who have started again for Upper Burma. 
 
 Mah Noo's gravestone has a nicely rounded top. It is 
 forty-two inches high above ground, and is thirty-six inches 
 broad. The upper half is occupied by the following in 
 scription in English : 
 
 SACRED TO THE MEMORY OP 
 CONSORT OF JONATHAN D. PRICE, M.D., AMERICAN MISSIONARY TO AVA. 
 
 Born a heathen, she passed her youth in 
 ignorance of the true God, and placed her 
 hope in annihilation as the chief and only 
 good. Through the preaching of the Rev. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 39 
 
 Dr. Judson at Rangoon, life and immortality 
 as brought to light in the gospel of Jesus 
 Christ were set before her, and the infinite 
 superiority of the Christian's hope secured at 
 once her most cordial acquiescence. She be- 
 lieved [and was baptized. Her life and con- 
 versation have proved the sincerity of her 
 first love. Alone in the midst of a whole 
 nation of unbelievers, and placed by the late 
 war in circumstances of the most trying afilic- 
 tion, she displayed a bold, unwavering zeal, a 
 holy fortitude, and a sweet, heavenly patience 
 which have so endeared her memory to all 
 who knew her. She departed this life on 
 
 THE 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, A. D. MDCCCXXVI., 
 
 AGED TWENTY- THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, LEAVING BEHIND TWO 
 SONS TOO YOUNG TO KNOW THEIR LOSS. 
 
 I slumber now beneath the ground ; 
 But soon the trumpet's joyful sound 
 Shall burst my chains. Then with surprise 
 Shall I in Jesus' image rise. 
 
 Oh, glorious hour! Oh, blest abode ! 
 I shall be near and like my God ; 
 And flesh and sin no more control 
 The sacred pleasures of the soul. 
 
 The lovyer half of the stone contains an inscription in 
 Burmese, which is a full translation of the English inscrip- 
 tion. Under this are several lines of Burmese, cut in very 
 small letters. Parts of them are perfectly illegible from 
 the action of the weather. After giving the date of Mah 
 Noo's death in the Burmese era, they state that an Atwen- 
 woon, whose name is illegible, followed her to the grave 
 and assisted at her burial. Her funeral must have been a 
 stately affair, for an Atwenwoon was a private minister of 
 the king, and was outranked only by the four Woongyees, 
 or chief ministers of the king. This connection of an At- 
 wenwoon with the funeral may have been due to the rela- 
 
40 A GAI^AXY. 
 
 tion which. Dr. Price sustained to some of the chief families 
 in the golden city as the instructor of their sons. 
 
 Mah Noo was the fifth Burman Christian who died. It 
 is strange that her long-forgotten gravestone has survived 
 the influences of this destructive climate in so perfect a 
 condition, and escaped the mutilating hands of Buddhists, 
 who hate Christianity and have so frequently vented their 
 spite on the gravestones of Christians in Lower Burma. 
 It is a silent witness reminding us of those early mission 
 days, which were already far in the past when .our now 
 venerable and beloved Mrs. Bennett arrived in the coun- 
 try. The history of those days, with their lessons of un- 
 doubted faith, of firm trust in God for personal protection 
 and unflinching efibrt to lay some foundations for Chris- 
 tianity, is an inspiration which the Church can not afibrd 
 to lose. The discovery of such a memento of the past has 
 its use to recall that history and stimulate the faith and 
 zeal of the present generation. J. N. Cdshing. 
 
 Rangoon. 
 
A MBMORIAL. 41 
 
 IV. 
 
 (^vifvev ^, (S)0tn&tctch — earlier 
 
 LIGHTS; ARAKAN; THE INTERCESSOR Y 
 CRY; TOILING, TRIUMPHING, DYING. 
 
 Oh, for the faith that goes to meet 
 The future with unshrinking feet, 
 Remembering that the sorest rod 
 Blooms with the patient love of God ! 
 
 Harriet M. Kimbai,!,. 
 
 TWENTY years of missionary history had been 
 made. There was some progress to the work, 
 but the harvest was great ajid the laborers were few. 
 Sufficient had been accompHshed to justify the ardent 
 faith which the missionaries cherished, while the con- 
 verts, from the first, believed in the possibility of a 
 wide prevalence of the Christian religion. Hardness 
 was so common in the experience of the natives that 
 any sign of good was an occasion for hopefulness. Im- 
 mediately upon being converted they began to teach 
 and preach Jesus Christ, "according to their several 
 ability," not fearing the wrath of the king. The iit- 
 ness of encouraging them none could doubt, though 
 it seemed important to have assurance of their sin- 
 cerity. 
 
 The first native commissioned to preach was the 
 second convert, Moung Ing; the first convert having 
 been Moung Nau. Previous to his baptism "he had 
 
42 A GALAXY. 
 
 endeavored to spread the knowledge of the Savior by 
 conversation with his friends." He remained steadfast 
 amid persecution. Mrs. Judson mentions him as spend- 
 ing every evening in reading the Scriptures and find- 
 ing the places where the Apostles preached, on a 
 map which Mr. Judson prepared. He was her faithful 
 helper through all her prison troubles. His great vir- 
 tue was fidelity. Not specially gifted in other respects, 
 he witnessed a good profession, testifying of Christ 
 on every opportunity, and in 1827, about eight years 
 after his conversion, was appointed as missionary. He 
 bears the honor of having suggested and originated 
 the missions at Tavoy and Mergui, upon which Mason 
 and Boardman entered, and whose fruit among the Ka- 
 ren mountains so soon shook like l,ebanon. 
 
 The next Burman converts who were appointed to 
 the work were Moung (or Ko) Shwa-ba and Moung 
 Myat-Kyaw. Thej' were the first to the Talaings, and 
 were sent in 1828. 
 
 Then follow Cephas Bennett and Mrs. Stella K. 
 Bennett, appointed the next year, whose honored 
 names appeared on the roll without intermission until 
 recently, when they were entered on High. Mr. Ben- 
 nett filled out a term of fifty-five years. Mrs. Stella, 
 the " star " that of all our missionaries longest stood 
 in the Burman sky, departed from her familiar sphere 
 since this writing began and entered the Heaven to 
 which her soul aspired and of which she was worthy. 
 They shall shine together forever and ever. 
 
 In the following year, 1829, five more natives were 
 sent to their countrymen with the message of eternal 
 life; namely, Ko Thah-a, Ko Man Poke (with wife), Ko 
 
A MEMORIAL. 43 
 
 Dwah and Ko En, to tlie Burmese, and the far-famed 
 evangelist Ko Thah-byu to the Karens. The same 
 year the intrepid Francis Mason, with his accompHshed 
 wife, Helen M. Mason, entered the service of the Ka- 
 rens in Burma, followed the subsequent year by that 
 hero among heroes, Eugenio Kincaid, with his wife, 
 Mrs. Amy Kincaid, and by Miss Eleanor Macomber 
 and Oliver T. Cutter, printer, with his wife, Mrs. Har- 
 riet B. Cutter; a list that brings the record to 1831. 
 
 Arakan, formerly Arracan, a euphonious, missionary 
 name, awakens memories that are most precious. At 
 one time its mention kindled enthusiasm throughout 
 our Zion ; not on account of any of the natural features 
 or acquired greatness of the country bearing it, but 
 because of some servants of the Most High who put 
 into it their lives and left there the impress of a love 
 that never dies. 
 
 This wedge-shaped territory stretches along the 
 east side of the Bay of Bengal, being four hundred and 
 fifty miles in length by a mean breadth of fifty miles. 
 Burma adjoins it on the east and is separated from it 
 by a ridge of mountains. On the north is Chittagong, 
 and near the dividing line is Cox's Bazaar, where the 
 devoted Colman became a martyr to his zeal for the 
 salvation of the inhabitants of that place, so notedly 
 unhealthful. In the progress of events it became sub- 
 ject to the British, and is now scarcely distinguished 
 as a separate country but is included in the one general 
 dominion of Great Britain in the East. Its island ter- 
 ritory constitutes an important part of the province, 
 while the cities and lands along the shore comprise 
 the more attractive parts. An immense population has 
 
44 A. GALAXY. 
 
 occupied it from the earliest knowledge of our mission- 
 aries ; and being more accessible than the inhabitants 
 of Burma proper, at the period under review, because 
 of its earlier subjection to the British, it was determined 
 to establish a mission there. At once it assumed great 
 interest and attracted the attention of the promoters 
 of missions wherever found ; partially on account of 
 the attractiveness of the missionaries themselves, who 
 were remarkably interesting characters and very suc- 
 cessful in their work. 
 
 The first sent was Grover S. Comstock, a son of 
 Rev. Oliver C. and L,. S. Comstock, born at Ulysses, 
 N. Y., March 24, 1809. The father was a trophy from 
 the arena of public life at the capital. He was a mem- 
 ber of Congress at the time of his conversion, and pro- 
 fessed his faith before the representatives of his coun- 
 try collected in Washington, by being baptized ; and, 
 subsequently, he declared his belief in the higher call- 
 ing by laying aside the honors of civil service and 
 entering the oflBce of ambassador for Christ. 
 
 The son followed him in some respects. He was 
 first liberally educated, graduating from Hamilton Col- 
 lege, at Clinton, N. Y., in June, 1827 ; then studied law, 
 and was admitted an attorney in the Supreme and 
 Chancery Courts of the State. Having a high charac- 
 ter for scholarship and deportment he readily formed a 
 high connection in the profession, and success seemed 
 certain and near. His settlement was at Rochester, 
 N. Y., where he entered upon practice with much en- 
 thusiasm. But, being a child of many prayers, and 
 one that had "known the Holy Scriptures," he was 
 easily reached by the revival that swept through his 
 
A MEMORIAL. 45 
 
 city in 1 831, and became a member of the First Church, 
 of which his father was at the time pastor. So com- 
 plete was the power of the Spirit over his soul that he 
 began at once to exercise his gifts in behalf of others, 
 in visitation and entreaty; and soon to inquire in what 
 position he might do the most good in the world. The 
 church commended him to the Board of the Institution 
 at Hamilton as a candidate for the ministry, and there 
 for one year he creditably pursued the studies of the 
 senior class in theology, following it with part of a 
 year at the same place in the study of the Burman 
 language, as taught by Mr. and Mrs. Wade. His name 
 appears in the class graduated in 1833, with names of 
 other eminent missionaries — William Dean, Hosea 
 Howard, and Justus H. Vinton. 
 
 Circumstances indicate that here he met for the 
 first time that student of the Burman who was to share 
 his honors and sacrifices in life — Miss Sarah Davis, of 
 Brookline, Mass. They were married and accepted as 
 missionaries, and sailed as part of that noble body of 
 recruits that went out with Mr. and Mrs. Wade on their 
 return to Burma in 1834. 
 
 Mr. Comstock, with his noble wife, entered upon 
 his first work as missionary in unbroken ground; Rev. 
 Thomas Simons accompanying them to the field and 
 aiding in exploring it. Mr. Comstock, after waiting 
 two months for a passage from Maulmein, secured con- 
 veyance for Kyouk Phyoo, an important town, and 
 military station of the British at the time, situated at 
 the northern extremity of the island of Ramree, one 
 of the five main divisions of Arakan. It was necessary 
 that he reach the field and get settled before the rains, 
 
46 A GAI<AXY. 
 
 and with characteristic energy he chartered a small 
 schooner and took with him eight large boxes of tracts 
 and a few Testaments, in all nearly one and a half mill- 
 ion of pages. Wind and current were unfavorable and 
 progress was very slow, and at one time it seemed 
 probable that the vessel would not reach its destina- 
 tion. While at anchor on the way he went ashore and 
 told some of the natives of the Christ, of whom they 
 had not heard, and they took the news and a few tracts 
 back into the interior. This was his introduction of 
 the Gospel in Arakan. After slow sailing for nearly a 
 month the brief distance was compassed and he and 
 Mrs. Comstock were hospitably received at Kyouk 
 Phyoo by Mr. Adams, master of the port, March, 1835. 
 Mr. Comstock began his work instantly. The large 
 prevalence of the Burmese language, with which he 
 had become somewhat familiar, enabled him to com- 
 municate with the natives quite intelligibly. He ar- 
 ranged for the fitting of a room for his dwelling, then 
 began his tours among the people, going first to a vil- 
 lage thirty miles distant and being absent four days. 
 The Catechism and other material prepared by the 
 Judsons were very serviceable in his hand-to-hand 
 work, for they were readily taken and eagerly perused. 
 No waiting for nor omission of opportunities was ad- 
 missible in his life, and very soon the natives became 
 impressed both with the man and with his teaching. 
 In a month he took possession of his house, thus com- 
 ing into easier reach of the people, who, on finding the 
 way open, flocked to his home to learn concerning the 
 new religion. A case of swinging for caste {i. e., to 
 obtain a higher grade), by means of hooks inserted in 
 
A MEMORIAL. 47 
 
 the back, occurred in the vicinity, and being attended 
 by thousands, he and Mrs. Comstock were overwhelmed 
 with inquirers as to the better way. 
 
 The promptness with which evangeHzing work was 
 begun and the rapidity of its success were a marvel for 
 that time. The preparation seems to have been found 
 in a growing dissatisfaction with the prevalent Bud- 
 dhism, which offered no comfort in sorrow or support 
 in death. The poor deluded beings were ready to 
 receive information as to any other. As knowledge 
 of the foreign teachings spread, inquirers multiplied; 
 some coming from the neighboring island Cheduba, 
 some from Aeng district in the north, and some even 
 from Chittagong, further north. All this in the first 
 three months. 
 
 During the rains, when he could not well travel, 
 Mr. Comstock devoted his time very closely to study 
 of the language; yet, as the weather permitted, he 
 repeated his visits to neighboring villages where he 
 circulated tracts and preached. 
 
 As his familiarity with the language increased his 
 mode of work was improved. He wrote October 2, 
 1835: "When I first came here I was obliged to con- 
 fine myself to the tracts, but a more extensive ac- 
 quaintance with the language and with the people 
 enables me now to vary my instructions according to 
 the circumstances of those I address. I am happy to 
 say that I have not been obliged to say as much about 
 astronomy and geography as formerly. My instruc- 
 tions are confined more to Christ crucified, and I have, 
 therefore, more hope that the Spirit will bless them to 
 the good of souls." 
 
48 A GAI<AXY. 
 
 Mr. Comstock appears to have been on the alert, 
 determined to be instant and in season. A boat comes 
 in from Burma with a large crew of eighty, and he 
 hastens to give them the message of salvation. An- 
 other appears in the harbor with a crew of forty, and 
 to these he runs that they also may hear and read. At 
 every effort he proves his power of getting attention 
 and good will. Very rarely does he make record of 
 difficulty, as in the following entry which, meanwhile, 
 shows hopeful indications as to the outcome in the 
 thoughtfulness and candor manifested. 
 
 "Although they heard with attention, several were 
 unwilling to take books. The Arakanese are very sus- 
 picious, and not appreciating the real motive of my 
 giving away books, they fear there is some evil design 
 in it; some also say that being disciples of Gaudama, 
 they dare not become acquainted with the Christian 
 religion. I heard to-day a new objection to the relig- 
 ion of Christ — that the disciples treated their wives 
 with respect and affection, regarding them as compan- 
 ions rather than servants. Several women were stand- 
 ing at a little distance, and raising my voice I acknowl- 
 edged that Christians loved their wives, and treated 
 them kindly ; and is not this better, I asked, than to 
 pull them about by the hair, flog them, etc., as the 
 worshipers of Gaudama do? To this the men made 
 no reply, but still seemed to regard their objection as 
 a very serious one." 
 
 Arakan consists not a little in the islands, some of 
 them very large, that are scattered along its coast. 
 And Mr. Comstock, in fixing his station in one of 
 them, Ramree, felt that he was fairly within the prov- 
 
A MBMORIAL. 49 
 
 ince, since the population was most dense along the 
 seaboard. Still his energy carried him across the bays 
 and straits, by such boats as he could procure, and 
 through storms, for the wider spread of the Gospel. 
 Exposure and fatigue, at about the time under review, 
 brought on a fever which kept him at home for nearly 
 a month ; then he pushed on his work of visitation to 
 surrounding places, not stopping for the rice harvest 
 to be gathered, though it detained some of the men. 
 He went from island to island. When waiting for 
 change of tide he would seek some of the people of 
 the interior and secure a hearing. 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1836 he took a jour- 
 ney to Aeng, the principal town of the province of 
 "the same name, about sixty miles to the northeast. 
 See the unwasting zeal that impelled him forward ! 
 On the second day of travel he made this entry : "Was 
 happy to find a dozen or more salt boilers, where the 
 boat stopped for water, to whom I talked about the 
 God who gave them salt and all the blessings of life, 
 and more than this, who gave his Son to die for their 
 salvation. I<eft with them ten tracts." On the third 
 and fourth day improved similar opportunities, and 
 reached Aeng on the fourth. Early on the fifth he 
 began wayside work in earnest, and was followed by 
 eager throngs who pressed for books, crying, " Pity 
 me, and give me a book," and sitting in groups read 
 about Christ of whom they had never heard. Next 
 day had its reward in rich experiences. Procured a 
 canoe and crossed the river. Found only one house 
 inhabited, and, "climbing up a small pole ten or twelve 
 feet, at a considerable risk of falling into the pig-pen 
 
50 A GALAXY. 
 
 under the house, entered it, to tell to those who are 
 strictly ' without God in the world,' of Him who made 
 them and of Him who died for them. The man was 
 deaf, but the Lord has given me strong lungs and I 
 was able to make him hear the glad tidings. His wife 
 and daughter, with faces tattooed all over, also listened 
 to the truth, as well as a few of their Arakanese neigh- 
 bors." His journal from day to day evinces this unre- 
 mitted aggressive work, with awakening on the part 
 of the natives in almost every case. The country 
 seemed ripe for a religion that contained an element 
 of relief and sympathy. 
 
 The year 1837 opened auspiciously for Christian 
 work, yet the requirement was somewhat different. 
 The truth had been under investigation since first 
 given to the people, and many were now ready for 
 disputation. Their minds were naturally argumenta- 
 tive, and Mr. Comstock was beset by them. This 
 second stage of progress was hopeful rather than 
 otherwise, though it brought Mr. C. into some un- 
 pleasant collisions. 
 
 An unfavorable feature was experienced meantime. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Comstock began to undergo attacks 
 of illness, incident to the climate. It was claimed that 
 the country was not unhealthful, but foreigners who 
 had occasion to test it were of a different opinion. 
 The officers of the Bengal Government, holding post 
 here, were allowed nearly double the customary pay, 
 suitably prepared dwellings, and a vessel in the harbor 
 by which they might flee the country on the appear- 
 ance of special danger arising from local or climatic 
 diseases. The Government was quite favorable now 
 
A MEMORIAL. 51 
 
 to the missionary work, as evinced by the reception 
 given Mr. and Mrs. Comstock on their arrival, by Mr. 
 Adams. And now that the health of these mission- 
 aries seemed precarious, the same gentleman provided 
 them with a boat to go down the coast two or three 
 hundred miles ; a sea voyage being the old medicine 
 administered to missionaries. They spent three days 
 at Ramree and nearly four at Sandoway, two leading 
 towns in the province. And while health was sought, 
 and with success, Mr. Comstock was about as busy as 
 ever he had been in preaching Christ and giving away 
 tracts; meantime getting impressions as to the pros- 
 pect for mission work. 
 
 On returning they were much cheered by the un- 
 expected presence of two native assistants, one Bur- 
 mese and one Bengalee, who had come from Maulmein 
 to aid in spreading the truth. In the month following 
 there was another occasion of rejoicing. Rev. L,evi 
 Hall and his wife had reached the country as desig- 
 nated missionaries, having been diverted from the 
 "Telinga Mission" (Telugu), on reaching Calcutta, by 
 reason of the illness of Mr. and Mrs. Comstock, which 
 threatened the extinction of the Arakan mission. But 
 adversity was set over against this hopefulness, and in 
 a short time there was more occasion for depression 
 than ever there had been. The new missionaries barely 
 saw the land. Arriving May 8, they had two months 
 of life there, when Mrs. Hall was stricken down with 
 fever, dying July 9. Mr. Hall followed her on Septem- 
 ber 12, from the same cause. He died in the morning 
 and was buried in the evening, the remains being in- 
 terred near those of his wife, at Kyouk Phyoo. "The 
 
52 A GAI^AXY. 
 
 two native assistants were engaged during the day, 
 nearly all the time, in reading and talking to great 
 numbers who came to see the departed missionary." 
 
 To the ordinary mind this sad event appears to 
 have been an intervention to defeat the enterprise in 
 Arakan, or at the least as an " inscrutable mirstery"; 
 but what if it turned out for the furtherance of the 
 Gospel? The cause that was founded upon earth in 
 the blood of the Divine Man is carried on by the 
 blood of his followers, shed in some way, and why 
 not in the manner indicated? The awakening of the 
 native mind by such a circumstance, both of believers 
 and unbelievers, foreshowed a remaining influence by 
 which the missionary though dead continued to speak. 
 
 The missionaries did not long continue at Kyouk 
 Phyoo ; for the cause that occasioned their excursion 
 to Ramree still remained. So it was determined to re- 
 linquish the mission there. In November, 1837, they 
 went to Calcutta and thence to Maulmein, arriving at 
 the latter place in April following, where they were 
 enrolled as a part of its missionary force. But their 
 hearts were still in Arakan, and Mr. Comstock ex- 
 pressed the conviction that there were three stations 
 in the province, either of which might be occupied 
 without an undue exposure of health ; and he declared 
 that there was no place in which they would be more 
 willing to spend the remnant of their days. 
 
 On the first of March, 1839, after nearly one year's 
 residence and activitj^ in Maulmein, they returned to 
 Arakan ; spent ten days in Kyouk Phyoo and then 
 went on to Ramree, where they located for future toil. 
 This was a town of 10,000 inhabitants and the center 
 
A MEIMORIAL. 53 
 
 of a large population. Rev. I/yman Stilson and wife, 
 new arrivals from America, and two native assistants 
 accompanied them to this field. A church was formed, 
 consisting of eight members; four of the number na- 
 tives. It gr&w to the encouraging number of eleven 
 in a short time, and soon it had the delightful privilege 
 of celebrating the lyord's Supper, after meetings for 
 preparatory services in which anticipation of the ordi- 
 nance arose almost to the mark of reality. 
 
 With health improved and with the new mission- 
 ary at his right hand, Mr. Comstock renewed his work 
 with all the zeal of the previous period and place. 
 
 Among the activities of this time was a visit of ex- 
 ploration to Cheduba, a large island southwest of Ram- 
 ree, containing a population of about ten thousand. It 
 was distant two days by boat. Mr. Comstock and Mr. 
 Stilson went together, taking two native assistants 
 and forty thousand pages of tracts. The assistants 
 were to remain a month, make a tour of the island, 
 distribute tracts and preach. The people urged Mr. 
 Comstock strongly to live among them. And it was 
 during this visit that the demand of the whole field 
 came upon him with overwhelming force. Estimating 
 the breadth and the importance of the country as mis- 
 sionary ground, and not forgetting the limited number 
 of laborers obtainable, he concludes that a call should 
 be made for two men for Akyab, one for Sandoway, 
 one for Cheduba, to labor among the Mugs and Bur- 
 mans, and two for the twenty thousand Khyens of the 
 province — six men for Arakan. 
 
 Early in the year 1840 there was an accession to 
 the missionary force of this field, secured by one of 
 
54 A GALAXY. 
 
 those providential circumstances that arise in the his- 
 tory of missions — a disturbance of civil affairs. The 
 British resident retired from Burma, and the charac- 
 teristic sensitiveness as to the influence of foreigners 
 was greatly strengthened. Missionaries might remain 
 in the land, but were not allowed to teach the people. 
 And idleness soon becomes intolerable to such men as 
 Kincaid and Abbott, who would not wait for a new 
 adjustment in governmental affairs, but at once struck 
 tent for at least a temporary campaign in Arakan. 
 The former proceeded to Akyab and the latter to 
 Sandoway. 
 
 Mr. Comstock now had an encouraging measure of 
 cooperation. With the consciousness of the presence 
 in the province of those valiant soldiers, and likewise 
 of the equally valiant natives, and being able to say, 
 "The best of all is, God is with us," his enthusiasm 
 knew no bounds. The two assistants returned from 
 Cheduba with a good account of their tract distribu- 
 tion and preaching. "At some villages the people con- 
 tinued listening and inquiring till ten o'clock at night, 
 and they 'preached themselves tired.' " 
 
 A change of base was effected by removing from 
 Mr. Stilson's to the opposite end of the town and 
 occupying their own new house. Soon the people 
 flocked to the house in great numbers, an average of 
 at least one hundred daily, and were faithfully in- 
 structed in the way of life. Thus passed the summer 
 and autumn. There being a missionary family at 
 either end of the town, the people were reached and 
 effectually plied with the truth. Mr. Comstock took 
 a hopeful view of the situation, and claimed that " the 
 
A MBMORIAI,. 55 
 
 climate of Arakan would not suffer in comparison 
 with that of many other eastern countries, and that 
 the places now occupied by the missionaries were, 
 for the most part, salubrious." 
 
 At the close of this year, 1840, Mr. Comstock took 
 his family to Cheduba, and there spent two weeks in 
 special evangelism. They went from village to village, 
 speaking of Christ, sometimes in an ox cart, sometimes 
 in a boat, but oftener on foot. In this tour Mrs. Com- 
 stock did special service ; she " had many women with 
 her every day, and on some days crowds." Mr. Com- 
 stock was at times out and at work before breakfast. 
 And whatever may he said of the indolence of the 
 natives, they too were up and eager for the bread that 
 never perisheth. On one Sabbath morning, almost as 
 soon as it was daylight, the zayat was surrounded with 
 them, men and women, and it was crowded nearly all 
 the day. The demand for tracts and Scriptures was 
 such that their supply of 27,000 pages was exhausted 
 before the tour was finished. 
 
 A similar trip was made to Akyab, where, and in 
 the towns of Cruda, Arakan, and others, Mr. Com- 
 stock labored for a month with brother Kincaid in 
 most hopeful work. He became convinced anew that 
 the great want of the country was the living teacher. 
 Tracts were useful, but investigation and discussion, 
 the explanation and enforcement of the truth was 
 indispensably necessary. " Books alone will not an- 
 swer the purpose," said he. And here the true mis- 
 sionary conviction, and the supreme demand of the 
 heathen, arose in his mind as a controlling idea ; and 
 it did not lose its force to the end of his days. Men, 
 
56 A GALAXY. 
 
 Men I And six was his number. " Preachers are in- 
 dispensable," said he, "and here in Arakan a half a 
 dozen or more are needed now, to do the work which 
 the circumstances of the people loudly demand." 
 
 The seven years of work and waiting, so typical in 
 missionary history, was almost ended when the first 
 baptism occurred. As always, it was a joyous occasion. 
 The subject was a Mussulman, who had been an at- 
 tentive hearer of the Gospel at Ramree, from the time 
 the missionaries settled there, and for a year or two 
 had given evidence of being a Christian ; but the men- 
 aces and persecutions of his friends had overawed him. 
 Following Christ and bearing his reproach was some- 
 thing as yet unlearned ; no example had been given in 
 this land. The circumstances are thus described by 
 Mr. Comstock: 
 
 "As soon as it became known in town that he was 
 to be baptized, the Mussulman population, and indeed 
 half the town, were in great commotion. His brother 
 came to my house and forbade his baptism, at the 
 same time threatening him in the most violent man- 
 ner. On our way to the river his wife met him and 
 raved like a mad person, brandishing a branch of the 
 plantain tree in the air, and beating him with it, when- 
 ever she could get near him. She also rushed frantic- 
 ally up to me two or three times, and rubbing her 
 hands across her neck, begged that I would cut her 
 throat. She repeatedly seized her husband, as did also 
 his brother, both of whom seemed determined to pre- 
 vent his baptism by force, since threats of burning his 
 house, beating him, etc., failed to intimidate him. A 
 multitude of others gathered around, and at one time 
 
A MEMORIAL. 57 
 
 I feared that violence and riot on a large scale would 
 be resorted to. Aga Bouk (the subject) raised his 
 hands and with a firm voice said : ' All these people I 
 fear not ; I fear God alone.' When we arrived at the 
 river's brink violence ceased, and I was permitted, in 
 the presence of many hundreds of heathen and Mus- 
 sulman, to baptize our first convert here." A week 
 later : "Aga Bouk's wife has deserted him, his friends 
 disown him, and his neighbors revile and persecute 
 him; still he is firm and undaunted." 
 
 It would seem that the very time of the land had 
 now come. Christianity had gained a victory, not only 
 over one sinful soul, but likewise over all who under- 
 took to hinder him from taking a public stand on the 
 lyord's side, and the way seemed clear for an increas- 
 ing number of victories. It occurred in February, 
 1842. Meantime the other missionaries were gaining 
 at their posts. The number of members at Ramree 
 was ten ; at Akyab, seventeen ; at Cruda, eight or ten. 
 
 The missionaries devoted some time to the prepar- 
 ation of tracts, books, and maps. Mr. Stilson had re- 
 duced to writing the language of the Khyens and a 
 part of the words of the Kemmees. The head of the 
 latter, known as the " Mountain Chief," had sent a 
 letter, saying that they were "anxious to know the 
 true God and be taught the true book." "Our sons and 
 our daughters," said he, " we shall deliver over to you, 
 to be taught, if you will have compassion on us." 
 Messrs. Kincaid and Stilson visited him and had a most 
 cordial welcome. "On being told that they would study 
 the language and teach him and his people the knowl- 
 edge of God, he said that their decision gave him more 
 
58 A GAlrAXY. 
 
 joy than if he had received thousands of gold and sil- 
 ver. ' If we have the knowledge of God I shall die in 
 peace. ' " 
 
 Ere the close of this year (1842) Mr. Comstock 
 gained another victory. This time it was over him- 
 self. His heart clung to the children which God had 
 given him, while his continuance in the mission ap- 
 peared to depend upon separating from them. The 
 two oldest must be sent to the United States, or he 
 must go and take them and there devote himself to 
 their nurture. The question in the Ramree station was 
 a most engrossing and serious one. (Mrs. Comstock's 
 relation to it is told elsewhere.) And, as in similar 
 cases of consecration to the cause of Christ, children 
 were not to be loved more than Him. They must go 
 and the parents stay. It was a hard battle, for they 
 were those "fondest loves" that bound them to this 
 world, while the poor Arakanese were a link between 
 this and the next that could not easily be broken. 
 
 The day of parting came. The ship lay in the off- 
 ing, two miles out. Receiving the children from the 
 hand of their mother, he took them out to the vessel, 
 descended to the cabin and entered a state-room with 
 them. Mr. Kincaid, who took them in charge for the 
 voyage, says: "Brother Comstock went on board ship 
 with us and remained until about nine in the evening. 
 But he must leave. Again and again he folded his 
 Lucy and Oliver in his arms, gave them a father's last 
 blessing, bathing their faces with his tears. His whole 
 frame trembled with emotion. He went down the side 
 of the ship, and as the little boat was gliding off in the 
 dark, he looked up, and I heard — they were the last 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 59 
 
 words I heard from that devoted missionary — 'Brother 
 Kincaid, remember, Six vien for Arakan.'" 
 
 How strong was the love for Jesus Christ that could 
 go through such death as that and triumph over it ! 
 With streaming eye, peering through the murky at- 
 mosphere, in fond hope, it may be, of catching a 
 glimpse of the children, and with a bleeding heart, 
 crushed the more on account of the darkness amidst 
 which he had committed them to six months of peril- 
 ous experience with the ocean, he yet had strength to 
 rise above himself and fix his mind upon a perishing 
 people. Listen to his last word to the unmoored ship 
 — transfixing the soul of Kincaid and reverberating 
 from his lips throughout America, awakening the 
 tongue of the orator and the lyre of the poet — Six 
 men for Arakan! And how could he go home at such 
 an hour of night and not carry the darlings to their 
 mother and to their bed ! Ah, he went empty-handed 
 that the heathen might be made rich and the Savior 
 have many crowns. Napoleon Bonaparte, viewing 
 such an exhibition, would have declared the religion 
 and the Founder to be divine that could gain such 
 empire in the human breast. 
 
 Mrs. Comstock's bereavement was borne but for a 
 few months, when sorrow was lost in eternal joy. She 
 passed away on April 28, 1843. Mr. Comstock was 
 now left to bear the separation without her sympathy, 
 and with the terrible, the added loss of the wife and 
 mother. Nor was this all. In six weeks the eldest 
 child in the house followed his mother, and in eighteen 
 days after this event the one remaining, a babe, fol- 
 lowed his brother; and the fond father sat solitary in 
 
6o A GALAXY. 
 
 his desolated home. Nine years had passed since the 
 parents plighted faith at the altar of marriage ; all this 
 had occurred, and Mr. Comstock now was upon the 
 strand, cast down but not destroyed. His faith failed 
 not, and he girded himself anew for the conflict. 
 
 He was now alone in Ramree, Mr. and Mrs. Stilson 
 having gone to Akyab and Mr. and Mrs. Abbott being 
 in Sandoway. Sickness became unusually prevalent. 
 Notwithstanding the endeavor of the hopeful and 
 courageous missionaries to check the growth of opin- 
 ion that the climate was not healthful, death was mak- 
 ing sad havoc, even among the few disciples of Christ. 
 The assistants Bleh Poh and Shway Bay died, and vil- 
 lages where Gospel work had been successfully begun 
 were mostly depopulated by cholera. Even he who 
 strove to strengthen the faith of American Christians, 
 and to cause them to invest more human lives in the 
 Arakan mission, did not escape. Soon after the loss 
 of his family his health declined, but it resumed its 
 wonted vigor and he pushed on until finally arrested 
 by the last, the irresistible " enemy." A year, lacking 
 only three days, from the date of Mrs. Comstock's 
 death was all the time allotted him in which to finish 
 his course. This he occupied with a noble spirit of 
 devotion and heroism that entitled him to rank with 
 those incomparable men whom he left to carry on the 
 work in the province. He fell, sword in hand, April 
 25, 1844, aged thirty -five. 
 
 He had gone to spend the hottest part of the dry 
 season at Akyab, and was there engaged in rewriting 
 and arranging for publication a little work on Arakan — 
 its geography, history, resources, religion, etc. — which 
 
A MBMORIAL. 6l 
 
 was published by tlie American Oriental Society. He 
 was writing the concluding chapter when called to go 
 to his home on High. His illness was brief, being of 
 but two days continuance, and his death triumphant. 
 He said to Mr. Stilson, "I did desire to live a little 
 longer, to labor for God. I hoped to return to Ram- 
 ree and baptize Poh Tau and the boys,'' referring to a 
 young copyist and some school boys, "but if the Ivord 
 has no more for me to do, I can cheerfully leave the 
 world now. I have no earthly cords to bind me here. 
 * * * I wish you to state distinctly to my friends 
 at home that I have never in the least regretted having 
 come to this country." At the last, when he could no 
 longer speak, he pointed upward with a smile. The 
 remains were buried at dusk, the day on which he 
 died; the services being conducted by Mr. Stilson, 
 and being attended by the European officers in their 
 uniform. 
 
 Rev. O. C. Comstock, his father, gave a clear and 
 succinct analysis of his character, from which the fol- 
 lowing is taken: "Amid toils and dangers, sickness and 
 deaths, discernment, fidelity and usefulness have been 
 accorded him by universal suffrage. His mind was 
 strong, his learning solid, thorough, and practical. 
 Entertaining definite and vivid conceptions of his 
 subject, his reasoning was just and his deductions were 
 plain and triumphant. He was remarkable for con- 
 scientiousness and decision of character. Unappalled 
 amid the most formidable difficulties, nothing could 
 induce him to flinch from the prosecution of his pur- 
 pose when formed upon mature and prayerful delibera- 
 tion. We fear not the imputation from those who best 
 
62 A GALAXY. 
 
 knew our lamented son, that we write under the blind- 
 ing influence of paternal partiality and grief, when 
 we say that he possessed high intellectual and moral 
 worth. Formed for society, friendship and love, he 
 was truly interesting and amiable in all the relations 
 of life." 
 
 The ruling passion of this truly representative mis- 
 sionary — more -men for the work — was strong in death. 
 It was the overmastering sentiment of a soul born of 
 God and for God, in the trying hour when his children 
 were entrusted to other hands, conscious that he was 
 denying himself the privilege of doing more for them 
 in this world ; also in the last hours of his earthly day, 
 when the same thought engaged his pen. Almost ten 
 years were allotted him from the date of embarkation 
 for the doing of what one laborer could accomplish, 
 with disease lurking wherever he went, and death 
 picking away his family until he alone was left. Who 
 with less mental vigor, physical energy, and hopeful- 
 ness and consecration could do as much as he did? So 
 far from being merely a crier for men, his own example 
 of hard work was calculated to dismay any who might 
 feel called to follow him, except God should be with 
 them also. 
 
 Those who entered Arakan during his lifetime and 
 whom he left in occupation of the field, viz., Messrs. 
 Kincaid, Abbott, and StUson, men and missionaries of 
 the highest type, appear elsewhere in these and other 
 annals. Great grace was upon the people wherever 
 they labored, and not less upon the work of the excel- 
 lent native assistants. Although the mystic number 
 of years, seven, must be fulfilled ere conversions and 
 
A MEMORIAL. 63 
 
 baptisms should crown Mr. Comstock's efforts, yet 
 when begun to be realized they increased like multi- 
 plying drops of rain upon the^ waiting fields. The 
 year of his death was one of the right hand of the 
 Most High. The Gospel made great triumphs in parts 
 of Burma adjoining Arakan, and in this province four 
 hundred and eighty-nine were baptized. Total bap- 
 tisms in the several missions, 2,039 ; a large number 
 for the time and the circumstances. 
 
 Thus was the founder of the mission permitted to 
 see it rise ; favored not merely in seeing the Promised 
 I^and but also in entering it and partaking of the corn 
 and wine. Was it strange that, as he beheld its rich- 
 ness and its great dimensions, he should maintain the 
 watch-call, by which he is known, to the very end, and 
 that the last sentence ever penned by him should per- 
 tain to the fewness of the laborers? O, Arakan! How 
 honored and blessed by his devotion, and how meet 
 that he who loved thee so, and the good woman who 
 loved thee no less, should be buried in thine own soil, 
 beneath thine own tamarinds! 
 
64 A GAI<AXY. 
 
 V. 
 
 ^avah ^* ^otn&toch — 'TUB only 
 
 PROOF"; "AND CHILDREN"; ZEAL A- 
 GLOW; BENEATH THE TAMARINDS.— 
 pl{»» ffittttttnin0»— Pli»« ^azavixhsv^ 
 
 So do I gather strengtli and hope anew ; 
 
 Full well I know Thy patient love perceives, 
 Not what I did, but what I strove to do — 
 And, though the full ripe ears be sadly few. 
 Thou wilt accept my sheaves. 
 
 SARAH DAVIS, wife of Rev. Grover S. Comstock, 
 was a prominent character in the decade of mis- 
 sions beginning with the sailing of the Cashmere, in 
 1834, which conveyed Dr. and Mrs. Wade on their re- 
 turn voyage and a number of new missionaries. She 
 was born in Brookline, Mass., September 24, 1812, near 
 the time of the origin of the missionary enterprise in 
 this country, and was " born again " in the same village, 
 under the ministry of Rev. Joseph A. Warne. 
 
 With the glow and ecstasy of her youth there was 
 developed a habit of thoughtfulness upon the soul's 
 interests, and this naturally resulted in an intelligent 
 and glad acceptance of Christ. It also brought forth 
 that further good fruit — a deep concern for the salva- 
 tion of others. In her eighteenth year she became a 
 member of the church by baptism. At this period she 
 engaged in teaching, and made it a special object to 
 
A MBMORIAI, 65 
 
 lead her pupils to Christ. Her religious influence was 
 so decided that some of the parents who were averse 
 to religion removed their children from her school ; 
 yet the little ones secretly sought her society and 
 prayers — such was their love for her and her words. 
 Her Sunday-school work was still more fruitful. The 
 midnight hour witnessed the fervor of her prayer for 
 her pupils; and this solicitude, with other means, 
 brought them into the light. 
 
 Such a person does not limit herself to the work 
 that comes to hand but seeks work. She was not long 
 in finding an object for her broad and strong sym- 
 pathies ; one adapted to give them the fullest exercise. 
 " The vision of a heathen world perishing in ignorance 
 and sin touched the tenderest chords in her newly- 
 sanctified nature, and like a dark but powerful picture 
 drew to itself her spiritual vision until it absorbed her 
 gaze." 
 
 There is no evidence that her decision to be a mis- 
 sionary was at all influenced by ofier of marriage. Her 
 calling was not of man, nor her leading by the hand of 
 man. Mr. Comstock was born and educated in another 
 state; and it seems that her purposes were formed be- 
 fore they met each other. Each was born a mission- 
 ary, and the match must have been made in heaven. 
 
 At the outset of her Christian life her consecra- 
 tion was complete, and when she felt a leading toward 
 the foreign field no question of expediency was for a 
 moment to be admitted. She felt that she must give 
 all as evidence of discipleship, saying to her parents: 
 "I wish to ask your full and free consent to the only 
 proof I have in my power to give of my attachtnent to 
 Christ." 
 
66 A GAtAXY. 
 
 The Brookline church approved of her course in 
 most emphatic terms, and the Board formally accepted 
 her as a missionary; independently of Mr. Comstock, 
 for she expected to go out a single woman. Her 
 acceptance occurred at the time of the return of Dr. 
 and Mrs. Wade to this country; and she was one of 
 the favored company who received their instruction in 
 Burman in the temporary school at Hamilton, New 
 York. 
 
 True to herself and her calling she followed her 
 missionary impulse while in Hamilton, not waiting for 
 greater opportunities. She sought out those needing 
 spiritual light and life, and ministered to their neces- 
 sities. During the nine months of study there she 
 taught in the Sunday school, and a number of her 
 class were converted and baptized. She searched out 
 those in any distress ; and it was relating to a visit to a 
 squalid family of colored folks that she made the im- 
 pressive remark, "If ever I panted for missionary toil, 
 it was while under that wretched roof" 
 
 Some persons can appreciate the pathetic experi- 
 ence of parting from friends and country, while fewer 
 realize the delicate pathos of parting from a seat of 
 secret prayer where the soul has been strengthened, 
 fed, and made glad. There is both a touch of nature 
 and a blossom of piety manifest in the following refer- 
 ence by Mrs. Comstock, in a letter written on the first 
 anniversary of her farewell to home : — "Ah ! well do I 
 remember that day — that hour. * * * I sauntered 
 
 through the house, and at last found S seated on 
 
 the upper stairs in tears. She was sole occupant." 
 (The parents vi'ere on their way to the embaikation 
 
A MEMORIAL. 67 
 
 at Boston. She returned from the company for an- 
 other hour at the old home.) "I took another last 
 look at each room; but all was as the stillness of 
 death. In the south front room Mr. Comstock and I 
 knelt in prayer for the last time. It was during that 
 prayer that my feelings for the first time overcame 
 me, in view of the trying scenes before me. But the 
 conquest was momentary. A thought of the short- 
 ness of time, the wretchedness of the heathen, and the 
 dying love of their and my Savior soon restored tran- 
 quillity and peace. 
 
 " I next went into the north front chamber, that 
 place which had so often been a Bethel to my soul. 
 As I gazed about the room my eyes fastened upon 
 one chosen spot in which myjSavior had often deigned 
 to bless me with his presence. And while I thought of 
 the many delightful hours spent there in pleading for 
 my dear Sabbath-school class, brothers, the heathen, 
 and for a knowledge of the divine will in relation to 
 my future life, I could scarcely forbear uttering the 
 words of the poet : 
 
 ' To leave my dear friends, and from kindred to part. 
 To go from my home, it affects not my heart 
 Like the thought of absenting myself for a day 
 From that bless'd retreat where I've chosen to pray.' 
 
 I threw myself upon my knees, and alone once more 
 offered a farewell petition with thanksgiving; and 
 forever left a spot dearer to me than all others in my 
 native land." 
 
 This point in sacrifice compares to that of parting 
 with children in mission lands, that they may come to 
 America to be educated — the two painful ones which 
 
63 A GALAXY. 
 
 test the missionary's ability to drink of the cup that 
 the Master drank. Mrs. Comstock came from a period 
 when a "bower of prayer" was regarded as an impor- 
 tant means in the culture of the Christian life ; a pre- 
 cious trysting place of the soul with its Savior, to 
 which the mystic chords of memory were ever turn- 
 ing with grateful tears. 
 
 The day of departure came, and after a voyage, of 
 five months the vessel reached Amherst. In common 
 with the many, she first visited the grave of her who 
 "appears on the page of missionary history as an illu- 
 minated initial letter"; acknowledged also as the first 
 of her sex in womanly Christian character. The effect 
 was not sentimental but salutary ; for there she " felt 
 to consecrate herself anew" to the missionary cause. 
 
 After settling in Kyouk Phyoo, Arakan, duty 
 seemed to call Mr. Comstock from home continually, 
 and she, left alone, organized a school for boys, and 
 instructed them in English and Burman. She also 
 received and conversed with the curious and with 
 inquirers, and ministered to the sick according to the 
 skill jpossessed. The latter service fully occupied her 
 time for periods, when not in the school-room. 
 
 A removal to a more healthful locality became nec- 
 essary. The death of the new missionaries, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hall, considered in connection with their own 
 repeated illnesses, made such a change seem impera- 
 tive. They were not discouraged. The promise of 
 fruit stimulated them in their toils, and was as flatter- 
 ing as that enjoyed by missionaries in other parts. 
 They did not pine for home, but gave all the enthusi- 
 asm of their earnest souls to the cause of the wretched 
 
A MEMORIAL. 69 
 
 Arakanese, whom they loved for the sake of Him who 
 died for them. They only felt that they must relocate, 
 and thus prolong their career among and for them. 
 
 They sojourned nearly one year in Maulmein, in 
 some sense the headquarters of the missionary force, 
 but Mrs. Comstock was not idle there. She worked 
 as her constitution, enfeebled by much sickness, would 
 endure. Returning to Arakan and settling in the more 
 desirable locality of Ramree, and there forming a little 
 church consisting of themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Stilson, 
 and seven native assistants who had accompanied them 
 from Maulmein, they felt that they were especially 
 favored of the I^ord. 
 
 Little children were now clustering at their knees 
 as a part of their goodly heritage. There were three ; 
 a daughter and two sons. Their proper rearing was a 
 matter of the greatest concern, yet the music of their 
 voices and the tread of their little feet in that homeless 
 land was such a relief as saves the heart from giving 
 way. As a mother, Mrs. Comstock knew how to value 
 them. A house of sticks was not "homely " while they 
 were present, nor was an emergency too great for her 
 if their good was involved. Missionary children are a 
 blessing to the cause of missions. They give the right 
 temper to the parents' character — test and confirm their 
 loyalty and intensify their sympathy. 
 
 The case of Mrs. Comstock is an illustration. She 
 was mother as well as missionary, and it was her high 
 privilege to show to American women an example of 
 maternal sacrifice and Christly devotion. In settling 
 in Ramree she again opened a school for boys and 
 girls, and carried it on, not as a profession, but as a 
 
70 A GALAXY. 
 
 necessary channel for her sympathy for a degraded 
 race who needed what she was prepared to give — light, 
 love and liberty in Jesus Christ. Here she gave the 
 more mature years of her career. " The amount of 
 varied labor which she performed was astonishing. 
 She seems to have sustained at one and the same time 
 the capacity not only of housekeeper, wife, mother, and 
 school-teacher, but that of preacher, physician, and 
 nurse"; yes, and of author. Her knowledge of the 
 needs of mothers and the way to meet them, added to 
 her deep sympathy, incited her to write two useful 
 little books; one, "The Mother's Book," the other, a 
 ' ' Scripture Catechism . ' ' 
 
 Her work enlisted her powers to the utmost and 
 absorbed her sleeping as well as her waking thoughts. 
 She wrote at the time : " I have scarcelj' leisure to eat 
 or sleep. If I do sleep, I am lecturing to mothers. If 
 I attend meeting, my thoughts are sermonizing instead 
 of listening to sermons ; if I read my Bible (I look at 
 no other book now), the first thought is, what hint 
 shall I get here for mothers. In fact, it is the all-ab- 
 sorbing subject." 
 
 The time came for the mother-love to yield to an 
 over-mastering affection for Jesus Christ. It was not 
 a case of supplanting, for the maternal was really 
 merged in the Christian love and sanctified thereby. 
 Heart, home, and heaven were the strands which com- 
 posed the threefold cord that drew Mrs. Comstock 
 along in the one path of duty. Either alone might 
 have diverted her from her original purpose — the 
 heart have claimed its own, the home demanded that 
 it continue unbroken, or heaven present itself as a sole 
 
A MEMORIAL. 71 
 
 object of individual regard — but the Spirit's sanctify- 
 ing touch imparted to them a oneness and a divineness 
 that assured a straightforward course in the hne of 
 personal sacrifice for the heathen. She had not an 
 hour of regret for her decision to be a missionary, ba^ 
 cause she could not believe herself mistaken in judg- 
 ment. Hence the points of sacrifice brought no sting, 
 added no sorrow. 
 
 However, sacrificing as a mother was an experience 
 on which she did not, could not calculate when leaving 
 America, yet one which surely though gradually came. 
 The duty of removing her children from the moral and 
 atmospheric miasma of Arakan did not admit of a 
 doubt. Mercy to them required it ; and mercy admits 
 of no alternative. The conviction came and remained. 
 But there was one question that did admit of discus- 
 sion, viz.: Should the parents take them to the United 
 States, keep them in one family fold, and attend to 
 their rearing, or should they entrust them to the hands 
 of strangers and give to heathen the time and strength 
 that naturally belong to home? The one course would 
 involve the loss of a much-needed force in the mission 
 field ; the other would overrule the parental rights and 
 instincts. The one be natural, the other sacrificial. 
 
 This attitude of the missionary between the hea- 
 then and the home is a familiar one. It becomes a 
 crucial test of one's calling to be a missionary, '^in 
 many instances ; and the Comstocks were among the 
 earlier of those who passed through it. The manner 
 in which they bore it proved them to be the noblest of 
 the noble. Note the words she uttered : 
 
 "As to my own private feelings on this subject. 
 
72 A GALAXY. 
 
 after long, serious and prayerful consideration, I have 
 come to the conclusion that it is best to send our 
 eldest two to America in the course of another year, 
 should a good opportunity offer. This decision, be as- 
 sured, has not been gained without many tearful con- 
 flicts with maternal affection. You are right when you 
 judge this to be the greatest cross the missionary is 
 called to bear. When we left forever the land of our 
 birth, the home, sweet home of our sunny childhood, 
 and all those beloved friends and relatives who were 
 dearer to us than life, many thought we were making 
 a great sacrifice. So it was. And deep and sincere 
 seemed the sympathy that was evinced on our account. 
 Yet the pangs of that separation are not to be com- 
 pared with those which must rend that mother's heart 
 who feels compelled to send from her fond embrace 
 those precious little ones to whom she has been the 
 means of giving life — almost in the infancy of their 
 existence, too, with no fixed principles and habits, and 
 without a hope of ever seeing them again in time. 
 This, surely, forms the climax of a missionary's sacri- 
 fices. * * * Pray for me ; pray for those dear chil- 
 dren who are so soon to be orphans, at an age, too, 
 when they most need the watchful care of parental 
 affection. This thought is at times almost too much 
 for my aching, bursting heart to endure. Had not my 
 Savior, yes, and a compassionate Savior, added these 
 two words, ' and children,' to the list of sacrifices for 
 his sake, I might think it more than was required." 
 
 The love of Christ for a sinful world, as an ex- 
 ample, had been contemplated until it was thoroughly 
 impressed upon her heart. Her mind had been fully 
 
A MEMORIAI^. 73 
 
 fertilized, and the spirit of true sacrifice was in the 
 fullness of its growth, and was ready to yield its fruit. 
 The Master of the vineyard came, and the fruit was 
 rendered up to him without a murmur. It was the 
 acme of honor ; she could do nothing better. 
 
 Rev. Eugenio Kincaid was about to return to 
 America for a period, and the children, IvUcy and 
 Oliver, were to go with him and under his care. The 
 fond mother improves every means of bestowing upon 
 them a love that needs no further proving. Her deft 
 fingers become more deft, while the heart throbs with 
 quickened emotion. The preparation and packing of 
 their little garments is done in love and in pain alike ; 
 the very touch bringing a new sensation, premonitory 
 of a final parting. The evening of embarkation hastens 
 on, O, so rapidly! I^et Dr. Kincaid describe the scene, 
 as he does in the album of a friend, embalming it there : 
 
 " It was nearly dark when brother and sister Com- 
 stock were informed that we must be on board ship 
 that night. It was a trying moment. Mrs. Comstock, 
 taking her two children by the hand, walked with us 
 a few yards. Here, gazing upon their upturned faces 
 for a little time, she impressed upon their cheeks a 
 mother's last kiss, and turning around, raised her 
 hands, uttering in broken accents, 'This I do for 
 Christ! This I do for the heathen!" 
 
 Only a seasoning of the heart under the gentle 
 though powerful means of grace can prepare the heart 
 for such a trial and triumph. Mrs. Comstock, yes, both 
 parents were ready. Yet not the least of the hardship 
 was felt as they looked upon the void in their 
 home for days and months thereafter. Some of Mrs. 
 
74 A GALAXY. 
 
 Comstock's letters evince that peculiar pain that can 
 be borne for Christ only, and make a revealment of 
 domestic feelings from which children far away might 
 well be spared. She has before her the goats, the 
 ducks, the flowers — "all here, but no l,ucy and Oily." 
 She goes into their room and finds their little beds — 
 empty. At morning worship she looks around for 
 them in vain. At breakfast she wants to give them 
 cofiee, but their chairs are empty. At public worship 
 their places are not occupied. After dinner, no Luc5' 
 and Oily to talk with, to recite the Commandments and 
 lessons in the Testament. 
 
 Such vacancy may more easily be endured now, 
 since great improvements have diminished time and 
 space, and in the same proportion increased the mis- 
 sionaries' hope of again seeing those from whom they 
 part ; but in that period a farewell occasion was akin 
 to a funeral, and in this particular instance it proved 
 to be an adieu forever. 
 
 Mrs. Comstock turned with her accustomed zeal to 
 the work upon which her heart had been fixed early 
 and irrevocably. She was only thirty years of age, 
 and though she had been an anxious and dutiful 
 mother for many 5'ears, her natural force was not 
 abated, except as the debilitating climate had affected 
 it. The departure of the older children was not a felt 
 release from care, for while her hands may not have 
 seemed so full, her mind was even more occupied than 
 before with the interests centered in them. But as she 
 had surrendered them to and for Christ she must prove 
 her sincerity by an earnest application to the duties of 
 the mission. She said, " I have never before felt so 
 
A MEMORIAI<. 75 
 
 desirous 'to do all in my power to save souls ; I have 
 never felt so much tenderness of heart in telling the 
 heathen of their Savior; I have never, since I have 
 been in this dark land, felt that brokenness of heart, 
 that tenderness of spirit at a throne of grace, as since I 
 have given up my 'jewels' for Christ's sake." 
 
 Soon she began to pen letters to her children, such 
 as only a mother can write, and sent them on after 
 them as they voyaged over the main. In these she 
 manifested the ruling passion that caused Ann Hassel- 
 tine Judson to utter her last words in the Burman 
 tongue. She wished them to remember the souls 
 among whom they were born, and to whom their 
 parents were giving their lives, and hence sent them 
 each a book which she had written, and urged them 
 to read their Burman Testament every day ; adding, " I 
 should be sorry to have you forget Burman. Talk to- 
 gether occasionally in Burman. If you do not like to 
 talk before others, talk together by yourselves." 
 
 The time of her continuance in mission work, as 
 hoped for, was much shortened. Though her general 
 health was excellent, she experienced an acute attack 
 of dysentery, so common to resident foreigners, and 
 it bore her away. Native Christians waited at the 
 door to get the news. Mr. Comstock received from 
 her an encouraging word, and rejoiced to bear it to 
 them assembled on the veranda. Hearing her speak, 
 he hastened to her side, and was "just in time to see 
 the shadow of death pass over her countenance, as 
 she sank upon her pillow and peacefully yielded up 
 her spirit." 
 
 " Her body," said Mr. Comstock, "was immediately 
 
76 A GALAXY. 
 
 surrounded by weeping and wailing women, who felt 
 that they had lost a friend. Such was the case, for 
 Mrs. C. truly loved and pitied the women of Arakan, 
 and was never happier than when telling them of the 
 Savior. On the day after her death, as the news spread 
 in the town, men, women and children (more of the 
 last two) began to crowd to my house; and it was 
 estimated that about two thousand were here during 
 the day. Their expressions of attachment to my dear 
 wife, and of sorrow for her loss, were deeply affecting. 
 For example : ' How kindly she always spoke to me 
 when she met me.' ' She always gave us medicine 
 when we were sick.' ' She was truly a good woman.' 
 ' She came here to die, far from her native land, with 
 no mother or sister near her, because she pitied us.' 
 ' Many tears will be shed in Ramree to-day.' " 
 
 The dust of this precious mother and missionary 
 was buried on a small hill in front of her desolated 
 home, beneath the tamarind trees, and in the presence 
 of some small idols — gods whose power over some of 
 their votaries her teachings and beautiful life had com- 
 pletely broken. 
 
 The day of this sad death, April 28, 1843, was the 
 same as that of the arrival of the children in New 
 York. The mother had lived to pray for them until 
 they had safely crossed the sea; and as their vessel 
 reached Sandy Hook, and a pilot came aboard to con- 
 duct it into the harbor, Jesus, the Pilot in Christian 
 song, safely brought her bark to moorage in the Haven 
 of Eternal Rest. 
 
 This was only the beginning of sorrows at Ramree. 
 The little brother left behind at the embarkation of 
 
A MEMORIAL. 77 
 
 the older children soon followed his mother in the 
 weeping way to the tamarind trees. Then the babe, 
 tenderly mentioned in her last letter to the absent 
 ones, who had never seen it, was added to the number 
 of the dead, and half of the family was in heaven, half 
 on earth. In a little less than a year from Mrs. Com- 
 stock's death Mr. Comstock joined the number gone 
 before, and then there was none wearing this honored 
 name in the province of Arakan. It was left to their 
 children in the lyord to keep fresh the memories of 
 their benefactors, and to guard their precious graves. 
 
 Mrs. Comstock was thoroughly imbedded in the 
 hearts of the poor Arakanese. She had every quality 
 of the true missionary. With great patience and per- 
 severance she instilled a knowledge of the Savior into 
 their dull and darkened understandings, counting no 
 pains too great for the object to be gained. She would 
 have been glad to have accompanied her husband in 
 his journeys among the villages, but her domestic cares 
 kept her at home. And it was wisely ordered; for she 
 was thus enabled to perform a very important part by 
 doing all classes of missionary service to the many 
 who clustered about her. No opportunity was unim- 
 proved, and she became preeminently deserving of the 
 Master's best eulogy upon woman: "She hath done 
 what she could." 
 
 Mrs. Comstock still lives in the East, though her 
 heart lies in the dust ; and from generation to genera- 
 tion the story of her brief career of pity and love for 
 the poor Arakanese will be related by them. She also 
 lives in the West, where her example of heart-rending 
 sacrifice will continue to inspire her sisters to nobler 
 
78 A GAIjAXY. 
 
 doing ; and wherever in the world the Gospel shall be 
 preached this will be told as a memorial of her. 
 
 An interesting character, not without the mystery 
 and melancholy sometimes attending a missionary, is 
 that of Sarah Cummings. She was the second con- 
 tributed by the State of Maine to our foreign mission 
 cause. She was born in North Yarmouth, and went 
 out in 1832, at thirty-eight years of age, and well ma- 
 tured in the gifts and graces of the Christian. 
 
 Arriving at Maulmein on the first of January, 1833, 
 she procured a Burman teacher, and at once and earn- 
 estly began the study of the language. But hers was 
 a nature requiring active and bold movement. She 
 saw an opportunity to make a decisive stroke for mis- 
 sionary enlargement, and felt that it would be worth 
 its cost. 
 
 The year previous Dr. Judson, in his pioneering, 
 had established an out-station at Chummerah, sixty 
 miles above Maulmein, on the Salwen river. It was 
 thriving, as thrift was understood in those days, but 
 was not occupied by a missionary. Miss Cummings 
 fixed her mind upon it, and, after deliberating and 
 receiving approbation from the missionaries, she de- 
 cided to move to it and learn the language there ; hop- 
 ing that meantime she might do some evangelizing 
 work. Within a few weeks of the time of her arrival 
 in Burma she was off with her teacher for an untried 
 service in an uncultivated field. Three days of rowing 
 or poling brought them to Chummerah. 
 
 It was still the " dry season " when she went out. 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 79 
 
 but the rainy season came and she was taken ill. In 
 accordance with previous advice, she hastened back to 
 Maulmein. Her health improving, she as promptly 
 and hurriedly returned to the wilderness, arriving at 
 her station on the tenth day after her departure from 
 it. The natives were her only traveling companions, 
 as on all occasions, and with them she was out on the 
 river for three stormy nights, but reached her lodging 
 place in safety. It was the rainy season, and she was 
 determined, if it were not presumptuous, to live through 
 it there — at Chummerah. 
 
 After three months, when the rains began to abate 
 and the sun again shone upon the earth, causing rapid 
 evaporation of the water and effluvium from the pu- 
 trefying substances lying everywhere, pestilence was 
 visited upon the people most widely and destructively. 
 Miss Cummings withstood the influence quite well, but 
 her Burman teacher was suddenly stricken with the 
 jungle fever and by it speedily rendered helpless. The 
 Karens knowing no more about nursing than about the 
 fine arts, she decided that the better part of valor now 
 was to retreat to Maulmein. And under her superin- 
 tendence the mission-boat was loaded amid torrents of 
 rain, and on the high water and swift current the party 
 of ten or twelve — the sick man being given the best 
 place — dropped rapidly down the stream, and at night 
 was safely moored in the harbor of Maulmein. 
 
 Here Miss Cummings remained for about three 
 months, when again she ascended the river to Chum- 
 merah and there pursued her work as best she 
 could while yet unacquainted with the Burmese 
 tongue, studying, rendering medical aid, looking after 
 
8o A GAI,AXY. 
 
 the school and a multitude of petty concerns — best of 
 all, shedding upon those needy and receptive creatures 
 the benign influences of her Christian character. At 
 the end of her first year in Burma she wrote the Cor- 
 responding Secretary, modestly and meekly: 
 
 "The story of self has been short. I have en- 
 countered no great hardships, have achieved no won- 
 ders, and have been promoted to no worldly honors. 
 Crosses, self-denials, sufferings, trials— none have I to 
 mention worthy the name. The evils I anticipated 
 have not yet been realized, and a year happier than 
 has been the past have I never seen." 
 
 A number of baptisms had taken place during the 
 year, and the church was at this time composed of 
 about one hundred and forty Karens. The school con- 
 tained twenty-four pupils. The membership of the 
 church, unprecedentedly large for the time it had been 
 organized, was made up mostly of Karens who had 
 been scattered through the jungle and had settled here 
 as a Christian village. 
 
 Miss Cummings continued in her loved employ and 
 chosen location for a year and a half, and then returned 
 to Maulmein — to die. Her brief career was one of sin- 
 gular self-sacrifice. Its brevity has compensation in 
 the high-born ambition and supreme devotion to the 
 noblest of purposes, which excited to activity all the 
 powers of her body and mind, and which must have 
 stirred into life many a sleeping Christian, and will do 
 more of this much-needed service as these pages are 
 read. At a distance of sixty miles from the nearest 
 habitation of civilized man, and even before she could 
 converse with the people about her, she discovered and 
 
A MEMORIAL. 8 1 
 
 employed means of communication with the natives 
 through which she was able to convey to them the 
 words of eternal life and impart energy and order to 
 all the operations of the station. To have no human 
 associate drives one to make companionship with 
 spiders 'and bats. To have no missionary associate 
 iu a heathen land well-nigh drives one to distraction ; 
 it is the hardest of experiences and requires great 
 natures for its endurance. 
 
 Miss Cummings performed the part of a Gospel 
 heroine, and "finished her course," short though it 
 was. After her death the Christians at Chummerah 
 had no teacher except natives, for a long time; and 
 after two years, in 1836, " in accordance with the habits 
 of their race, they abandoned the town and scattered 
 themselves among the villages of the district, settling 
 principally at the village of Ko Chet-thing ; where they 
 have continued to reside with greater contentment and 
 more gratifying social improvement." 
 
 Such a dissolution is not necessarily a loss to the 
 cause nor to the individual members, but only to the 
 community left; and among the Karens a church oft- 
 times constitutes the entire community. Dr. Vinton, 
 with Dr. Mason, visited Chummerah in 1837, "hoping 
 to find," he wrote, "some to whom we might proclaim 
 the Gospel message. But Chummerah is without an 
 inhabitant. * * * Sister Cummings did not labor 
 in vain. Though short her stay in this dark heathen 
 land, yet some who, but for her, would have lost their 
 souls are now her crown, and she has, ere this, offered 
 them up to God, as the first fruits of those saved 
 through her instrumentality." He might have said, 
 
82 A GAI,AXY. 
 
 also, that ere called away they filled out their mission 
 in giving light to the several localities whither they 
 went. The candlestick is often removed, but the candle 
 is not extinguished; it burns on till it accomplishes 
 its mission and then is no more in this world. 
 
 It was a favoring circumstance that Miss Cummings 
 was permitted to die in the home and under the care 
 of Dr. Nathan Brown, then living at Maulmein, who 
 gave a well-deserved tribute to her memory. She did 
 not keep a journal nor did she leave so much as a 
 scrap of her composition on any subject ; but simply 
 a tabulated memorandum, like a counting-house alma- 
 nac. Appended to this, for 1834, was the following 
 striking note, dated January 2 : 
 
 Thus have I completed an almanac for 1834. I have 
 written it with the impression that some of the blank lines 
 may be filled up with the record of my own death. If any, 
 which I can not tell, L,ord Jesus, prepare me for thy com- 
 ing ! A vile sinner I cleave to thy cross, and implore par- 
 don through the merits of thy death. That I have lived 
 no more to thee is my pain, my grief Thou hast by thy 
 good providence led me into this wilderness, and here hast 
 thou oftentimes spoken comfortably to me. I bless and 
 adore thee for thy great goodness. Who of all thy daugh- 
 ters is more highly favored ! And now, Lord, come unto 
 me, and make thine abode with me. Without thee, I am a 
 lonely being indeed ; but with thee, no one less so. Thou 
 art my only hope, my only inheritance, my God, my all." 
 
 She died at Maulmein, Burma, August 2, 1834, aged 
 forty, after having been two years under appointment. 
 She did what she could. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 83 
 
 We think of thee, lonely no more forever, 
 And tasting, while the eternal years unroll, 
 
 That joy of heaven, which like a flowing river 
 Satisfies every soul. 
 
 Susan Cooi,idgb. 
 
 ^i»» ©leanutr ^accmtbev. 
 
 This lady was a cotemporary of Miss Cummings, 
 with a more varied and extended missionary experi- 
 ence. A native of I,ake Pleasant, Hamilton County, 
 N. Y., and for a period a resident of Albany, she was 
 not without access to means of culture nor ignorant 
 of the delights and helps of civilized life. 
 
 She had almost reached her thirtieth year when a 
 sphere of usefulness was opened to her that claimed 
 great fortitude, consecration, and powers of endurance. 
 A mission to the Ojibwas, or Chippeways, at Sault de 
 Ste Marie, Michigan, had been undertaken and she was 
 designated as one of two assistants or teachers. After 
 about four years of faithful service she was obliged to 
 sever her relation to the mission on account of failing 
 health. 
 
 Still, with a high and well-formed purpose of good 
 toward the degraded, without respect to race, she ac- 
 cepted an appointment as missionary to the East. She 
 was one of the numerous and noble company that 
 sailed in the Louvre September 22, 1835, consisting 
 of Messrs. Ingalls, Haswell, Reed, Day, Shuck, and 
 Davenport (last two from Virginia), and their wives, 
 together with two missionaries and their wives, con- 
 nected with the Orissa Mission (General Bap. For. 
 Miss. Soc'y), and Messrs. E. L,- Abbott and Howard 
 Malcom; the latter, commissioner of the Board. Such 
 
84 A GALAXY. 
 
 an army in its day boded destruction to idols; but, O, 
 the numbers and strength of those joined to them ! 
 
 The Louvre reached Maulmein on February 21, 
 1836. Before the close of the year Miss Macomber 
 was ready for her station among the Pwo Karens — 
 Dong-Yahn. It was about thirty-five miles from Maul- 
 mein and ten from the Salwen river, and its inhabit- 
 ants were exceedingly repulsive and wicked ; were the 
 slaves of intemperance and all the disgusting vices of 
 heathenism. " With two or three assistants," says the 
 report, "she immediately commenced a course of relig- 
 ious instruction. Morning and evening worship was 
 instituted; four or five religious exercises were held on 
 the Sabbath, besides daily preaching during the week ; 
 and numerous excursions were made into the neigh- 
 boring villages. A school was also taught, composed 
 of ten or twelve pupils. The Holy Spirit was poured 
 out, and within about three months ten gave good evi- 
 dence of a gracious change and were added to the 
 church." 
 
 Miss Macomber's situation resembled that of Miss 
 Cummings. She made up for her deprivation of culti- 
 vated society by becoming increasingly engaged in her 
 work ; thus forming a strong attachment for the native 
 disciples. She had their confidence and the fullest 
 command of the details of the work. The rainy season, 
 from May to September, she spent at Maulmein, and 
 the native helpers sustained the interests of the mis- 
 sion, under her direction, so that on returning she 
 found things in a satisfactory state. Her power in the 
 region was indicated by the disposition of the enemy 
 to use violence. Attempts were made to burn the 
 
A MEMORIAL. 85 
 
 mission premises but without success. God cared for 
 his sheep in the wilderness, and wonders were wrought 
 by their hands at various places. 
 
 At the end of the second year Miss Macomber 
 recorded her rejoicing at what she had witnessed of 
 the power of divine grace amongst the heathen. There 
 were then twenty-three native Christians at Dong- 
 Yahn. Mr. Bray ton settled there temporarily, and he 
 and other brethren did the baptizing. Ultimately, 
 Rev. E. A. Stevens, D. D., became pastor of the church. 
 
 Another year and some months were allotted to her 
 to finish her work on earth, when she was not, for God 
 took her. On the nth of April, 1840, she gave her 
 last message to her friends: "Tell them," said she, "I 
 am not sorry that I came to this country, or that I 
 came alone. I have suffered for nothing which the}' 
 could have supplied me with. I have found kind 
 friends to take care of me. When I think of the dear 
 Karen disciples I feel for them, and would be willing 
 to stay with them a little longer ; but if it is the Lord's 
 will that I should leave them I have nothing to say." 
 On the 1 6th she appeared to be anxious to die, and 
 was heard to pray : " O, my Master, take me to thyself 
 this day." He took her, as she wished. She entered 
 into unmingled and unending joy, leaving the native 
 Christians overwhelmed with grief. 
 
 "Dong-Yahn, by the instrumentality of this inde- 
 fatigable lady, soon became the seat of a flourishing 
 station, and the center of religious light and knowl- 
 edge to a wide region crowded with benighted Karens. 
 Her influence upon her own sex was very extraordi- 
 nary, and its results were visible in numerous dwell- 
 
86 A GALAXY. 
 
 ings among the villages of the jungle. She died just 
 as the fruits of her labors were beginning to adorn 
 and cheer the secluded spot which she had chosen for 
 cultivation — leaving a name and a memory which will 
 long be gratefully cherished by the rude dwellers in 
 the wilderness whom she was the first to instruct in 
 the Gospel of Christ." — {Prof. Gammell.) 
 
ilJa^JA L. AliUD^J-'f. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 87 
 
 VI. 
 
 ©li^lta g* Abbott— EAGEJ? FOR ACTION , 
 GOES TO THE KARENS; STIRRING UP 
 SATAN; CRUELTIES TO DISCIPLES; 
 BOOKS, BOOKS! 
 
 When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another 
 
 Christ 
 
 THE Arakan mission was favored with strong 
 characters. One of the most striking of these 
 was Elisha ly. Abbott, who appeared at a time when 
 such a man was needed. He was suited also to the 
 circumstances into which he was brought and to 
 which he proved equal. 
 
 Mr. Abbott was born at Cazenovia, N. Y., October 
 23, 1809. Though his childhood and youth are not 
 revealed to our view, yet it is evident that the vivac- 
 ity, originality and force of his matured character 
 were but developed elements that were foreshown in 
 his boyhood. His aspiring disposition led him to 
 seek such a mental equipment as circumstances af- 
 forded, while his ardent temperament may have inter- 
 fered with the dictates of his judgment and thus pre- 
 vented a full preparation. Such young men are prone 
 to make haste to enter the field of conflict. He en- 
 tered the institution at Hamilton, but pursued his 
 studies only to the end of the Sophomore year, August 
 1835, when he was appointed a missionary to the 
 
88 A GALAXY. 
 
 Telinga people — the Telugus. Probably he was one of 
 those who, mistakenly, do not stop to acquire the 
 whole armor, because of the emergency of the war; 
 because of souls going in great multitudes to a dread- 
 ful doom, with none to warn or rescue. Time is a 
 factor of vast significance in all their planning. 
 
 On the 22nd of September, 1835, six weeks after 
 his appointment, he sailed from Boston and arrived in 
 Calcutta in February, 1836. Dr. Howard Malcom, au- 
 thorized to visit the missions, and a large number of 
 missionaries sailed with him. On arriving in Calcutta 
 it seemed good to the brethren that Rev. S. S. Daj', one 
 of the company, should commence the Telugu mission, 
 and Mr. Abbott go onward to the Karens. It is stated 
 that a conference of brethren held at Maulmein gave 
 this decision. Possibly the informal judgment was 
 formally ratified at the latter place. Mr. Day went to 
 his unyielding field, reenforced after twelve years by 
 Rev. Lyman Jewett ; and the rest of the story is well 
 known. At this high noon of that favored field let 
 the reader consider that its fertilizing and seeding-time 
 had not passed, and that Mr. Abbott's feet were turned 
 to a people who were ready for such a reaper as he. 
 
 " His first residence was on Balu island, opposite 
 Maulmein, which at that time had a populaticn cf 
 10,000 Karens. This station was in a few months re- 
 linquished on account of its insalubrity, and Mr. Ab- 
 bott removed to Rangoon in April, 1837." At this 
 time he was married to Miss Ann P. Gardner, who 
 came out with the Wades on their return voyage ; a 
 lady well qualified mentally, and also endowed with 
 elements of character admirably fitting her for her 
 new sphere. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 89 
 
 Not long had they been at Rangoon ere a new im- 
 pulse was given to the work of the Lord among the 
 Karens, begun in the time of Boardman, A. D. 1828. 
 Three Karens came three days' journey for the purpose 
 of being baptized ; a circumstance calculated to kindle 
 the enthusiasm of any missionary at that day, and 
 which fanned the fire in Abbott's bones to a consum- 
 ing flame. In a short period nearly forty more, living 
 in the surrounding region, were reported to have be- 
 come hopefully pious. 
 
 The records state: "At the close of the year 1837 
 he made excursions to Maubee and Pantanau, baptiz- 
 ing sixty-seven and administering the Lord's Supper 
 to one hundred and fifty, preaching and teaching, and 
 finding everywhere a people prepared of the Lord. 
 Although no regular schools were established, several 
 hundreds learned to read at their own homes. Many 
 of the more promising young men received from him 
 such instruction in religious things as was suited to 
 prepare them to be useful among their own country- 
 men. He labored now in the jungle and now in the 
 city ; at one time in Maulmein and at another in Ran- 
 goon, stimulated by the rare success of the Gospel 
 among the Karens and encouraged by the manifest 
 divine blessing which attended all the works of his 
 hands. He wrought on, the Lord working with him 
 and confirming the word with signs following." — 
 {Miss. Mag., March, 1855.) 
 
 But circumstances were combining to produce a 
 change of base from Burma to Arakan. At the close 
 of the first Burmese war with England, beginning in 
 1824, the division of Arakan was ceded to "The Hon- 
 
go A GALAXY. 
 
 orable Kast India Company." And thi$ Company, 
 now having complete control of the province, had 
 become friendly to missionary enterprises. Its exas- 
 peration toward the Burmans and the manifest benefits 
 of missions caused it to protect the missionaries, and 
 offer a refuge to all natives, wherever found, who were 
 persecuted on account of having espoused the Chris- 
 tian religion. It had the necessary power, and in the 
 exercise of it the wrath and wickedness of the Bur- 
 mese rulers brought impoverishment upon their own 
 country — the loss of its best citizens. 
 
 For twenty-five years Burma had been the seat of 
 the mission work of American Baptists in the East — 
 the earliest chosen and the most tenaciously held ; it 
 might be said, lovingly held, for the suffering endured 
 in introducing the Gospel to that dark empire had 
 produced a remarkable attachment to it on the part of 
 the missionaries there and their supporters on this side 
 of the sea. Various and many were the vicissitudes 
 through which the mission had passed, causing cessa- 
 tion of work at times, and shiftings from place to 
 place in the hope of better success. The fewness of 
 the laborers necessitated loss of harvests, since moving 
 from one side of the field to another under pressure of 
 circumstances made deplorable vacancies at important 
 times. Yet Burma was not abandoned then, as it has 
 not been at any time since first entered. It only was 
 compelled to wait. 
 
 Mr. Abbott had been in Burma but three or four 
 years, yet he had made a deep impression upon vast 
 numbers. Of him it might be said " he could not be 
 hid." His influence for Christianity was felt among 
 
A MEMORIAL. 91 
 
 the mountains and in the hamlets of the empire, and 
 was awakening the wrath of the king. And this was 
 a serious matter. A Burman monarch was not a man 
 to be reasoned with. Hardly could he have been 
 classed as a "rational animal." Submission to him 
 for torture or for death, for the Gospel's sake, could 
 scarcely have been called martyrdom unless succumb- 
 ing to a wild beast were that virtue. An escape at 
 any cost was the better valor, and life was too precious 
 to be lost by such hands. Mr. Abbott valued his call- 
 ing too highly to be willing to sacrifice it for the sake 
 of a location, and he decided to shake off the dust of 
 his feet upon the jealous sovereign, and labor tempo- 
 rarily where there was freedom for him. He was not 
 a coward but a man of courage, tempered with pru- 
 dence in war. 
 
 Persecutions increased. The jealousy of the gov- 
 ernment toward all English residents of the country 
 was intensely cruel. The Burmans, it was said, would 
 not distinguish between an Englishman and an Amer- 
 ican. Said Mr. Abbott, "They say we dress alike, look 
 alike, talk alike, are alike." And they felt that they 
 had abundant occasion to resist encroachment by 
 white-faced people in its every form. Being more 
 sensitive on the religious side than on any other, and 
 the time under notice being peculiarly critical, the 
 Burman government became a very dangerous foe to 
 the missionaries; the more so because the Karens 
 were its subjects, practically and through coercion, 
 and any change in them that might in the least tend 
 to alienate them and their means from its tyranical 
 grasp, was not for a moment to be admitted. They 
 
92 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 were forbidden to learn to read or to receive books. 
 And although no regular schools were established dur- 
 ing this critical period, yet several hundreds learned to 
 read at their own homes when no Burman was near to 
 report them to the rulers. 
 
 The Karen Christians did not possess the discre- 
 tion characteristic of true valor, and having found the 
 " one thing needful " they were determined to enjoy it 
 at any hazard. They were ready to go into the thick- 
 est of dangers to spread the Gospel, saying, "If they 
 persecute, let them persecute." Mr. Abbott with all 
 his intrepidity was cautious. He intended to push the 
 work, but to evade the enemy when it had the advan- 
 tage of him. 
 
 North of Rangoon about forty miles was a cluster 
 of villages called Maubee. There and in the vicinity 
 dwelt a large number of Christians, filled with Mr. 
 Abbott's zeal. I/Caving Rangoon he went to them, 
 determined to carry on the work of evangelism in 
 some effective way throughout the country. It was 
 early in the year 1838, and while the language was 
 still but partially learned. He first visited Ponau, one 
 of the cluster, and spent the first day in a quiet way, 
 fearing to assemble them for worship before evening, 
 as the Burmans were constantly passing and trading 
 in the village during the day. 
 
 Early on the second day he went over the plain 
 west, eight miles, to Raytho, the central one of the 
 cluster, where the Christians were expecting him; 
 many desiring baptism. Spent the day in examining 
 the candidates, and at evening there was a large con- 
 course from neighboring villages. The examination 
 
A MEMORIAIv. 93 
 
 was not concluded until ten at night, when all repaired 
 to a small lake in the vicinity to observe the ordinance. 
 Mr. Abbott, who was now beginning his distinguished 
 career, in which night-work formed a considerable part, 
 wrote of this occasion, at the time, as follows: "The 
 multitude assembled on its beautiful banks — the full 
 moon arose in a cloudless sky — nature was silent — we 
 bowed and prayed — and God was there. I then bap- 
 tized thirty-seven, who had been received by the 
 church. After this we again assembled and I admin- 
 istered the sacrament of the Supper to more than a 
 hundred disciples of my Master. I returned on the 
 next day to Ponau, and sent word to all near to come 
 in at evening. The people began to collect at sunset 
 in such numbers that we soon perceived no house in 
 the village would contain the congregation. We con- 
 sequently assembled in the open field, as we had also 
 the preceding evening. The examination of candidates 
 continued till eleven o'clock, after which I baptized 
 thirty, and administered the sacrament to a hundred 
 and fifty. At half past twelve A. m. I bade adieu to 
 these precious disciples of Christ, and started for Ran- 
 goon, where I arrived at six in the evening." 
 
 Such activity and success brought Mr. Abbott into 
 notice, and the whole movement under sharp surveil- 
 lance. The woondouk of Rangoon was "not only 
 monarch over a large tract of territory, but a bigoted 
 Buddhist, and capable of deeds at which humanity 
 turns pale ; actuated withal by a burning hatred to all 
 foreigners, especially those who intermeddled with the 
 political and religious affairs of the kingdom." This 
 was understood by Mr. Abbott, who continued his 
 
94 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 residence in Rangoon, the headquarters of the woon- 
 douk. He, however, sent out assistants to teach and 
 preach. The relation of some circumstances that oc- 
 curred at this time will reveal the state of affairs, both 
 heathen and Christian. 
 
 The assistants, like the disciples sent out in Christ's 
 time, returned with good news as to the conquests of 
 the Gospel. But there was an accuser to vex the souls 
 of the saints, an old Karen persecutor who entered a 
 formal complaint to government against the Maubee 
 Christians. At first he seemed to make but a slight 
 impression, but by his persistence he brought them 
 into serious difficulty. While they did not dare to be 
 seen in the city or at the mission house, three Chris- 
 tian chiefs came in from the Maubee jungles to report 
 the state of affairs. The woondouk suspected the 
 motives and honesty of the accuser, Chau Me Po, but 
 he ordered the Christian chiefs to return to their 
 homes and obtain the names of all who had taken re- 
 ligious books, or embraced the religion of the " white 
 foreigner." 
 
 They returned and reported in a few days, first to 
 some of the under officers and afterward to the woon- 
 douk, both of whom treated them and their list with 
 contempt. They expected prison and irons at once, 
 and not until a few days had passed did they learn the 
 reason they were not imprisoned. The woondouk con- 
 templated something more gratifying to himself, as he 
 explained to his wife, viz. : to thrust a small hollow 
 stick down their throats, fill it with powder and blow 
 them to atoms. His wife caused him to desist such 
 inhuman treatment, and instead he determined to com- 
 
A MEMORIAL. 95 
 
 pel them to pay two hundred rupees as a condition of 
 release. Then there was rest — for a little while. 
 
 Mr. Abbott was much encouraged at this time by 
 the conversion of a young chief of Bassein, of superior 
 talents and extensive influence, who heard the Gospel 
 for the first time on his visit to that region some time 
 previous. This chief came down to Rangoon, with 
 nine other young men who had been converted 
 through his instrumentality, for the purpose of being 
 himself baptized and of getting a supply of books. 
 He was very anxious for both. Mr. Abbott baptized 
 him very early in the morning, after which he departed 
 for his native wilds, rejoicing, leaving eight of the 
 young men to be instructed. The mission premises 
 overflowed with students and several were sent to the 
 jungles to be instructed by one of the assistants. 
 
 The converts were eager for books, books! The 
 young chief said he must have one for each of those 
 who had learned to read and who worshiped God — a 
 thousand books ! The effort to secure them brought 
 some of these Karens into great trouble. Six of the 
 number who had come for them, from Bassein and 
 Pantanau, concealed several books in a small covered 
 basket, under their arm, and went out to sleep in their 
 boat, some distance away, preparatory to leaving the 
 next morning. Others took their basket of books and 
 started jto carry them out of the city gates, designing 
 to return for the night and take them as they passed 
 along in the morning. One of these was asked by the 
 gate-keeper what he had in his basket. "Sugar," was 
 the evasive reply, though the basket did contain some 
 sugar as well as many books. The gate-keeper, prob- 
 
96 A GALAXY. 
 
 ably suspecting that he was a Karen Christian, insisted 
 on seeing for himself; and on finding Karen books he 
 took the owner before a petty ofBcer for examination. 
 Other Karens were terrified and brought the news to 
 Mr. Abbott. A Bengalee Christian, to whose house the 
 Karen was taking the books, hearing of the occurrence, 
 proposed to do the dangerous thing of going before the 
 ofiicer to claim for the Karens the privilege of carrying 
 books, as enjoyed by the Burmans. Two young stu- 
 dents went with him as guides, but were discovered 
 and arrested. The Bengalee returned but did not men- 
 tion the arrest ; instead, he stated that the Burman of- 
 ficer had declared that if the Karen chief would come 
 and own the prisoner as his follower, he would release 
 him. The chief, with an anxiety that indicated a 
 knowledge of the treacherous Burman character, in- 
 quired "What shall I do?" Mr. Abbott, not yet fa- 
 miliar with all the wiles of his adversary, unhesitat- 
 ingly told him to go and demand his follower. The 
 advice, however well intended, proved to be quite un- 
 fortunate ; for on going to the officer he was seized. 
 
 Thus four of them were apprehended and brought 
 before some of the principal officers and closely ques- 
 tioned as to their names, parentage, their errand in 
 the city, how many had learned to read and become 
 the disciples of the "foreigner." Everything calcu- 
 lated to expose Mr. Abbott was extorted from them 
 and recorded in the "black book." They were then 
 manacled with double irons and thrust into the com- 
 mon prison, with thieves, robbers and murderers, their 
 clothing taken away and a bit of old cloth given them 
 to tie about the loins. Mr. Abbott learned through a 
 
A MEMORIAL. 97 
 
 native, a British subject whom they dared not molest, 
 and whom he had sent to the prison to obtain infor- 
 mation, that the poor disciples were loaded with iron 
 fetters, their feet elevated about two feet, and made fast 
 in the stocks, their hands drawn back over the head 
 and upward at the same time, and made fast also, their 
 hips alone resting on the floor. They said, however, 
 that this painful position was easy to be endured, com- 
 pared to the suffering experienced from the swarms 
 of mosquitoes that preyed all night upon their naked 
 bodies. 
 
 It was the full intent of the Burman government 
 to stop the circulation of books and the spread of 
 Christianity. A threat of execution of the prisoners 
 was put in circulation ; then a report that a present of 
 a large sum of money, a prime object with the Bur- 
 mans on all occasions, would be accepted instead. Mr. 
 Abbott knew it would come to this. He had sent 
 Taunah, the messenger mentioned above, to offer a 
 present to the jailer, in hope that he would grant the 
 disciples a little rest. It was accepted and one hand 
 and one foot of each prisoner was liberated. The next 
 morning the Karen students quietly passed out of the 
 city gates, unobserved, and went to the jungles. Six 
 others who came down with the young chief still re- 
 mained ; one of them a brother, who could not leave 
 his brother in irons and carry the news to his parents, 
 and wife and children. Indeed, his return was not 
 likely to be a matter of choice, as Burman ofiicers were 
 hanging about the house of the missionary, looking in 
 at the doors and windows to see if there was a chance 
 of capturing another Karen. 
 
98 A GALAXY. 
 
 Taunah visited the prisoners again on the following 
 day, taking to them some comforts ; for all prisoners 
 were compelled to beg or starve. They told Taunah 
 to "tell the teacher and teacheress that they need have 
 no more anxiety on their account ; that they had been 
 praying ever since they had been in prison, and that 
 although they were very fearful and sad when first ap- 
 prehended, they are now happy, since God had an- 
 swered their prayers." 
 
 The interpreter to the British Resident had an in- 
 terview with his majesty, the woondouk, and extorted 
 a promise that the prisoners should be released. Next 
 day they were sent out to the great pagoda, Shway Da 
 Gong, and offered as a sacrifice to the gods ; not killed, 
 but, with limbs still fettered, compelled to do ser^dce 
 of a degrading nature to the great shrine, such as pigl- 
 ing up the grass on the large plat of ground surround- 
 ing it. This was a degradation to which none but the 
 most abandoned outcasts were subjected, and frequently 
 it was a commutation of a sentence of execution for 
 murder, entailing on them and their kindred and pos- 
 terity forever the name of "slaves of the gods." The 
 disciples were compelled to beg their rice from day to 
 day, and were under the charge of a wretch known as 
 the " leper governor." The thousands who flocked to 
 the great pagoda, on seeing them in irons and pulling 
 grass, supposed them to be guilty of some dreadful 
 crime. s- 
 
 Taunah visited them and learned from their lips 
 that they cared little or nothing for their bodily suffer- 
 ings, but disliked to honor the Burman religion by 
 submitting to the menial servitude to which they were 
 
A MEMORIAL. 99 
 
 doomed. Mr. Abbott at first did not deem it wise to 
 communicate with the prisoners when passing the pa- 
 goda, and they entertained the same feeling. But after 
 a few days, and when but few individuals were near, 
 he ventured to converse a few moments with them. 
 One of them remarked that when tempted by an im- 
 plied offer of release to " never again worship the ' for- 
 eigners' god,' " he replied, " I told him if we were re- 
 leased we should always worship God, and with more 
 zeal than ever." 
 
 The woondouk was plagued by his own game. He 
 sent them out to the pagoda to please his wife, and as 
 an offering with which he supposed the gods would be 
 pleased, and to withdraw the sacrifice would have been 
 sacrilege. So he could not execute them as he wished 
 to do ; and such was his vexation, he publicly declared 
 that if any man mentioned the Karen afiair to him he 
 would cut off his head. They expressed a conviction 
 that they would never be released, yet they were found 
 uniformly rejoicing in God. 
 
 Mr. Abbott visited them occasionally, but could not 
 give them money, except in a furtive manner, and they 
 feared to receive it. He made one fruitless attempt to 
 redeem them with money, and felt compelled to send 
 word to the Christian chiefs in the jungles not to come 
 to town, nor to petition the woondouk, or otherwise 
 undertake to redeem their brethren. But there was 
 one person who could appeal to his fears — the inter- 
 preter, Mr. Edwards — and he obtained a promise from 
 him that he dare not break, even though it should 
 compromise him with the gods, that they should be 
 released. After some evading and disappointing, in 
 
lOO A GAI^AXY. 
 
 hope of finally extorting a large sum of money, he let 
 them go, and "they went unto their own company," as 
 did those before them in the early church. Mr. Abbott 
 finding them at Mr. Edwards' house took them to his 
 own home, gave them a bath and clean clothes, and^all 
 praised God together. 
 
 The love of books, so prevalent among the ignorant 
 Karens, was still the supreme motive in the hearts of 
 these liberated Christians. The "young chief," espe- 
 cially, had less joy over his emancipation than grief on 
 account of the danger of carrying away books. He 
 could be reconciled to the loss of the good garments 
 the Burmans had taken from him more easily than to 
 their robbing him of those books. He had come on 
 purpose to get books for those about Bassein who 
 could read, and he must return without one! 
 
 Mr. Abbott saw that the sooner the young chief 
 left the better, and he procured a pass for him, after 
 sorne trouble. He begged for so many books as he 
 might be able to conceal about his person; but Mr. 
 Abbott admonished him that should he be caught 
 again with books he would lose his head. "Should 
 so much the sooner get to heaven," was his reply; 
 and all departed with a request that they might be 
 remembered in prayer. 
 
 In a few days the Karens in small numbers began 
 to come in from the Christian villages, in spite of all 
 admonition. They also begged for books, or for a few 
 small tracts, but Mr. Abbott feared on their account 
 to allow a single book to go out of the city gates. 
 At sunset, one day, they were missing and great anx- 
 iety was felt in reference to them. I^ate in the even- 
 
A MEMORIAL. lOI 
 
 ing they came in with smiling countenances. They 
 had taken a quantity of books and, passing out of the 
 gates undetected, had concealed them at "John's house." 
 And the next morning they left, got their books, and 
 went away without molestation. 
 
 A little later, word came to Rangoon that an as- 
 sistant in the region of Bassein and three young men 
 who had joined him there were in the stocks. In 
 their zeal they went out on a preaching excursion, 
 and stopping one evening at a large village they as- 
 sembled the people and declared unto them Jesus, to 
 a late hour of the night. An of&cer was near by, 
 and they were warned of their peril; but they felt 
 that they were obeying God in worshiping him and 
 were willing to incur the risk. The next morning, 
 before they had time to get away, they and several 
 who had listened to them the preceding evening were 
 seized and beaten, and were cast into the stocks and 
 reserved for threatened torture. In a short time they 
 were liberated, after the officers had extorted from the 
 Christians one hundred and fifty rupees; the sum be- 
 ing made up by voluntary contributions ranging from 
 one anna {2% cents) to one rupee. The assistant being 
 asked how he felt while being beaten, replied, " Prayed 
 for them — I told them they might beat me to death, if 
 they wished, but they would not make me angry, and 
 that I should Uve again at the resurrection. When 
 they heard this they laughed, and after beating me a 
 little, stopped." 
 
 The above took place while as yet only one baptism 
 had occurred in all the region of the young chief. The 
 assistant went right on preaching, though in villages 
 
102 A GALAXY. 
 
 a little more remote from the Burmans ; and the work 
 of the lyord, as recounted by him, surpassed every 
 thing then known among heathen nations. The 
 church stood firm amid storms, threatenings, oppres- 
 sions and persecutions. The coolness and reserve of 
 Mr. Abbott, considering his inflammable nature, were 
 something to occasion wonder, and were of vast im- 
 portance to the imperiled cause. He apprehended war 
 between the governments of Burma and England, and 
 great suffering to the Karens in consequence, especially 
 as the country would then swarm with banditti, and 
 the Karens, as usual, become prey to the Burmese. 
 
 A turning point in Mr. Abbott's career was now 
 reached ; also a most important juncture in missionary 
 affairs. The Lord was about to make the wrath of 
 the Burmans praise Him, through other means than 
 oppression and imprisonment. He was to take away 
 the apostle who had been a light among them, and to 
 bestow the gift upon a people glad to receive it ; not 
 finally or forever, for he would return to their land 
 whenever the way should be opened. Within the con- 
 fines of Burma Proper, that haughty and desperate 
 people were not only ready to strike down the pale 
 face, but likewise determined to prevent the adoption 
 of the foreigner's religion — to extinguish it by taking 
 the lives of those who should profess it. 
 
 The Karens were the supreme object of their con- 
 tempt, first, because they had suffered themselves to 
 be enslaved by them, though more numerous than the 
 oppressors, and, secondly, because they were so ready 
 to abandon the national religion and receive that of 
 the foreigners. They had no rights which the Bur- 
 
A MEMORIAI.. 103 
 
 mans felt bound to respect. Still, on their own part, 
 they cherished that inherent sense of right to choose 
 God, and to worship Him that belongs to man every- 
 where, and which, when developed, will carry one 
 through experiences from which for any other cause 
 he would shrink. So, when warned of their peril on 
 account of the new religion they coolly declared, in 
 the simplicity of their hearts, and with unshaken pur- 
 pose, "If they persecute, let them persecute." 
 
 Mr. Abbott could evangelize through these brave 
 disciples to some extent, but he would not urge them 
 into the lion's mouth. He had suffered them to go 
 and labor in sections distant from the seat of power 
 and persecution, while he did not think it wise to fol- 
 low, nor longer to encourage them to expose them- 
 selves to prison and to death. The signal was given 
 for a general flight to safer territory — to Arakan. 
 
 A change of field and a period of new activities 
 resulted from the trials thus endured. The mission in 
 Arakan had passed through a five years' history, in- 
 cluding vicissitudes of a serious nature in which the 
 question of abandonment was kept alive. And now 
 the persecution and scattering of the disciples in Bur- 
 ma Proper was likely to turn out for the furtherance 
 of the Gospel through that mission. Early in 1840 
 Mr. Abbott and Dr. Kincaid entered the province with 
 their armor on. Better selection of men could not 
 have been made for the occasion. And thus, with 
 Messrs. Comstock and Stilson in Ramree, at opposite 
 ends of the town. Dr. Kincaid at Akyab, and Mr. 
 Abbott at Sandoway, it would seem that the very time 
 of that land had come. 
 
104 •*■ GAI^AXY. 
 
 Mr. Abbott was a general, and he was likewise his 
 own sentinel. His heart was upon Burma, the field 
 he had entered for conquest to Christ, and his change 
 of base in no degree diminished his first determina- 
 tion. Just beyond the mountains, east, were multi- 
 tudes of Karens, anxious for books and thirsting for 
 the water of life, with many among them already en- 
 joying the hope of the Gospel. To watch over the 
 converts with true pastoral fidelity was a prominent 
 aim, and he at once opened communication with them. 
 He sent two of the assistants who had accompanied 
 him to Sandoway — two of the four who had been im- 
 prisoned and sent to the pagoda as slaves, at Rangoon, 
 two years before — to notify the Karens as to his loca- 
 tion and to invite them, and especially the young men 
 who had studied with him at Rangoon, to visit him. 
 " The spirit of inquiry had been deeply awakened in 
 preceding years, and the tidings that the teacher was 
 again within their reach were borne from village to 
 village, and were everywhere received with enthusi- 
 asm. The mountain passes between the two countries, 
 four in all, were guarded by jealous Burmans; yet, in 
 contempt of watchful rulers, and in spite of all barri- 
 ers, large companies of Karens found their way to the 
 missionary, some asking for baptism, others seeking 
 books for their countrymen at home, and others still 
 desiring to remain and study under the direction of 
 Mr. Abbott."— (Pw/. Gammell.') 
 
A MEMORIAL. 105 
 
 VII. 
 
 mi&ha g. ^bbott—SAND o iVA v,- spon- 
 taneous FOLLO WING; NIGHT- WORK; 
 ROUGHING IT. 
 
 One storm blows the night this way, 
 But another brings the daj-. 
 
 Rose Hawthornk Lathrop. 
 
 SANDOWAY appears constantly in the subsequent 
 history of missions, to the present day. At the 
 time Mr. Abbott entered it as a seat of missionary 
 operations he wrote as follows : " Sandoway is a small 
 Burman town, fifty miles south of Ramree, situated in- 
 land, up a small river, about fourteen miles from the 
 sea shore, as the river runs, and five in a direct course. 
 The climate is reputed healthy, and from its locality, I 
 should judge, would sustain its reputation. There are 
 in the town and immediate vicinity about four thous- 
 and inhabitants. * * * There is this weighty con- 
 sideration, however, that dreadful ' Arakan fever,' which 
 renders it hazardous to travel in the jungles at all." 
 
 The prospect at first was gloomy. Mr. Abbott did 
 not find the people upon whose salvation his heart was 
 set — the Karens. They were east of the Yoma moun- 
 tains or in distant villages. With zeal aflame he went 
 abroad in search of them. In the second month after 
 arriving, those beyond the mountains for whom he had 
 sent began to come in by companies, some of them 
 
I06 A GALAXY. 
 
 being ten days or more on the way, traveling by day 
 and sleeping in the jungle by night. Some desired 
 baptism ; others, books ; others, still, wished to remain 
 ?.nd study. Very soon a baptismal scene occurred. 
 There were twelve subjects, all of whom gave good 
 evidence of a change of heart and life, and had testified 
 to their sincerity by a year of waiting and by taking a 
 long journey in order to obey the command of their 
 Lord. "We assembled," said Mr. Abbott, "by the 
 side of a beautiful stream running before my door, just 
 before the setting of the sun. The scene was one of 
 solemn and delightful interest." 
 
 The migration from the east continued, embracing 
 the several classes named, and bringing the student 
 class to be cared for and instructed. In time the 
 accommodations for the latter were insufficient, partly 
 because of sickness and the necessity for using them as 
 a hospital. The change of climate in going from 
 Burma to Arakan, with the effects of the long journey 
 in the hot season, sleeping in the jungle at night and 
 traveling in the heat of the day, seemed to be the cause 
 of a great many cases of fever. Some in journeying 
 sank by the way and were carried on the shoulders of 
 the strong to a Christian village. Others having fainted 
 were left in the rear to follow as they might be able ; 
 while of fifty or more who started in one company, 
 nearly one half failed in two or three days and returned. 
 These circumstances furnished more satisfactory com- 
 ment on the climate than the experiences of resident 
 foreigners. If native Asiatics could not endure it, how 
 could Americans? 
 
 The natural features of Arakan are thus described 
 
A MEMORIAL. 107 
 
 by Mr. Abbott: "The coast presents one continued 
 succession of broken, irregular hills, covered with 
 jungle — apparently one vast howling wilderness — the 
 Arakan mountains far away in the distance, rearing 
 their majestic heads above the dense masses of clouds 
 which hang around their base. There are villages 
 along the coast, but they are ' few and far between,' 
 situated on the small streams which flow from the 
 mountains, and being surrounded by trees and shrub- 
 bery can not be seen from the sea. In many places the 
 hills extend quite down to the shore, and not unfre- 
 quently high rocky points project into the sea a mile 
 or more, rendering the navigation of the coast danger- 
 ous in the extreme. Where the coast is level it is 
 mostly covered with groves of mango trees, and at high 
 tides with salt water ; and from these marshes, which, in 
 fact, cover a great part of the level lands of Arakan 
 lying on the coast and large rivers, arises a miasma 
 impregnated with fever, and cholera, and death." 
 
 In December, 1840, and January, 1841, Mr. Abbott 
 made a tour among the Karens which was highly suc- 
 cessful. He occupied the time on the eastern frontier 
 of the province, where he was in constant communi- 
 cation with the Karen Christians who were scattered 
 through Burma, hiding from their oppressors. Their 
 situation was distressful. The oflScers searched among 
 both Karens and Burmans for Christian books, and 
 those found were collected and burned in the streets. 
 Those living about Bassein had extraordinary trials. 
 Many "Christian chiefs" (magistrates in their respec- 
 tive villages) were imprisoned and fined for embracing 
 the reUgion of Jesus and learning to read the " white 
 
I08 A GALAXY. 
 
 book." The fines were heavy, yet they deemed them 
 a light oppression, since the people of their jurisdictions 
 cheerfully raised the several amounts by voluntary 
 contributions. Refusal to pay would have brought 
 the most serious consequences — tortures and death. 
 Mr. Abbott received the afflictions of the beloved 
 disciples with great heaviness of heart; the smiting 
 of the sheep was the smiting of the shepherd. 
 
 One Sabbath morning an earnest disciple, Shway 
 Meing, came to Mr. Abbott from the east, after wander- 
 ing about in the jungles for eleven days to compass a 
 distance that might have been made in four in a direct 
 course. He had reason to feel terror, as he was a 
 prominent character, and a Burman ofi&cer was in pur- 
 suit of him. He had placed his family with a brother, 
 and his friends had pulled down his house as a " blind " 
 to the pursuers, who, observing the demolition, relin- 
 quished the chase. He encountered the peril in order 
 that, as he explained, he might " see the teacher's face, 
 hear his voice, and go home and die." 
 
 Numbers applied for baptism, all of whom submitted 
 to the most rigid tests. As the year 1841 opened, Mr. 
 Abbott entered the following in his journal : " It has 
 fallen to my lot to baptize more than four hundred 
 Karens since I have been in the land, but never have I 
 enjoyed so delightful and satisfactory baptismal seasons 
 as during the last few days. Our Jordan, a small stream 
 running down from the mountains, overlooked by 
 scenery wild and beautiful— the congregations attentive, 
 solemn, and joyful — the dense forests resounding with 
 songs of praise from a hundred happy converts, plight- 
 ing to heaven their baptismal vows — an emblematical 
 
A MEMORIAL. 109 
 
 grave giving up its dead to ' newness of life ' — the pres- 
 ence of the I,amb of God hallowing the scene and 
 setting upon the observance of his own institution the 
 seal of divine love ! " 
 
 The night-work in Mr. Abbott's missionarj' career 
 was one of its most noticeable features. Much service 
 of various kinds was performed in the night, and also 
 much traveling. Shelter from the sun ; hastening on 
 the evangelization of the natives; avoidance of the 
 enemy — each may have led to this course, yet the 
 demands made upon him by the awakened, who traced 
 him wherever he went, must have been the principal 
 occasion. Thus, when this tour was near its completion, 
 and he was turning his face back toward Sandoway, he 
 learned anew the pressing nature of the work as he 
 had organized it. He had a solemn farewell service 
 with the disciples who were to return to Bassein, not 
 knowing the things that should befall them there, and 
 then he went out to the vessel by a small canoe, all the 
 assistants and many others "accompanying him to the 
 ship." When they had left he retired to his berth 
 fatigued and exhausted. His journal runs : 
 
 At a few minutes past nine o'clock we heard Karen 
 voices on the opposite shore. I went on deck and found 
 that they had come a long distance to see me and be bap- 
 tized ; hoping to reach the place before I left. The first 
 question was, Where and how shall we meet ? My schooner 
 was anchored in the middle of the stream and without a 
 boat. There was not a house or shelter of any description, 
 or even a canoe on the bank where they were ; and the 
 Burman village on the other side was some distance inland. 
 The Karens called many times to the villagers to come with 
 
no A GAI,AXY. 
 
 a boat and take them across, but called in vain, as no answer 
 was heard. With the flint and steel (a universal appendage 
 of these children of the forest) they struck a fire, conclud- 
 ing to sleep on the sand and return in the morning un- 
 baptized, after all their efforts, and after having been so 
 near the teacher as to hear his voice. Mothers with infant 
 children were in the company. But Providence favored 
 them. After an hour or more, two women were seen on 
 the opposite shore, to whom we called for aid. They 
 launched a small canoe, and one on each end with their 
 paddles rowed across the river, and taking the Karens two 
 or three at a time, finally ferried them all over ; then came 
 to the vessel and took me ashore. We walked two miles 
 to a small Karen village and found the assistants engaged 
 in a prayer-meeting. I made inquiry relative to those who 
 had come to be baptized, and as several of the assistants 
 were acquainted with them, and all agreed in receiving 
 them, I baptized fifteen in a small stream near the village. 
 As there was a full moon and a clear sky we needed not 
 the light of the sun. After commending them all to God, 
 I left them some time after midnight and returned to my 
 vessel. 
 
 In attempting to return to Sandoway by sea, Mr. 
 Abbott had experiences similar to those narrated of 
 other missionaries : Was overtaken by a gale and com- 
 pelled to put back ; Karen boys who were going with 
 him to Sandoway to study, very seasick; in great 
 peril. Finding themselves where they were two days 
 before, and anchoring, he and the boys determined to 
 try terra firma. Hiring a little lame pony and saddling 
 it "with something like my old grandmother's 'pinion,' " 
 he wrote, " my bridle a very good string," the line 
 of march was taken up " single file," making a gro- 
 
A MEMORIAL. Ill 
 
 tesque appearance. Spent one Sabbath on the journey 
 at a small village, and there baptized. Rose and re- 
 sumed the journey at three o'clock Monday morning, at 
 one and one-half o'clock Tuesday morning, and again 
 at three o'clock on the next day, reaching Sandoway at 
 seven in the evening. The way was through the 
 jungle, so dense at times that the light of the moon 
 availed them little ; over rocks, roots and logs ; along 
 a hard, sandy beach, without a sign of human being or 
 habitation for eight or ten hours at one time. The 
 last day all the Karen boys gave out, and the cook de- 
 clared that he could not " keep up." Mr. Abbott hired 
 a guide, and even against his remonstrance pushed on 
 and accomplished the feat of reaching Sandoway before 
 he slept. Such was the unconquerable energy of the 
 man. The remainder of the company came in on the 
 following day, two or three of them being threatened 
 with fever. Mr. Abbott had been out for twenty days, 
 and had baptized fifty-seven persons, a mighty triumph 
 for his day. 
 
 A canvass of the mission three months later (April, 
 1 841) showed great progress and better prospects. 
 Although the cholera had swept away one eighth of 
 the inhabitants of the land, causing Arakan to be called 
 " Eastern Golgotha," the missionaries had been spared 
 and had prosecuted their work bravely. From Sando- 
 way more than 6,000 books and tracts had been dis- 
 tributed during the year of Mr. Abbott's occupancy of 
 the post. For these, which were sown among the 
 Karen Christians of Arakan and Burma, the disciples 
 around Bassein had expended nearly 1,200 rupees. One 
 hundred and eighty -four had been baptized. At Magez- 
 
112 A GALAXY. 
 
 zin, five days south of Sandoway, a church of forty- 
 four members had been established ; and at Bombee, 
 one day farther south, a church of thirty members. In 
 thirty-six small villages in the vicinity of Bassein 
 there were more than one hundred others. When not 
 persecuted they assembled in convenient places for 
 worship, but when hunted by the government they 
 assembled in small companies of two or three families ; 
 and where " informers" were stationed, their meetings 
 were broken up entirely, except that sometimes in the 
 night, when their enemies were asleep, they secretly 
 met to worship God. 
 
 Rangoon and stations around were manned entirely 
 by natives, under the direction of Mr. Abbott, and at 
 the close of the year were comparatively free from 
 molestation. The little flocks had been torn by the 
 devourer to some degree, yet they proved faithful and 
 sustained worship under the circumstances possible to 
 them ; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the 
 comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 
 
 The opening of another year, 1842, brought other 
 experiences of a most interesting if not of a romantic 
 character. Mr. Abbott was just the man to " do the 
 work of an evangelist"; to enter the bays and by-ways 
 unflinchingly, roughing it by sea and by land, scarcely 
 taking account of the need of rest. He was not fool- 
 hardy, but being fully conscious that he was called to 
 "labors more abundant," and that God was his sun 
 and shield, he made no selection through motives of 
 ease, but pushed into all accessible places. Naturally 
 strong and athletic, he seems to have been confident 
 that by a providence of his own, under Divine Provi- 
 dence, he would be spared his full time. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 113 
 
 Goa, a town just below Sandoway, on the sea-coast, 
 figured quite largely at this period in the operations 
 of the Arakan mission. Early in January Mr. Abbott 
 went southward, stopping for two days at Goa, where, 
 at the landing, he was met by five assistants from 
 Burma, accompanied by some twenty men who had 
 come over to " see the teacher " and " ask for baptism." 
 I,eft at daylight on the third day and ran into the 
 mouth of Magezzin river to a Christian village where, 
 under the direction of Myat Kyau, a neat and very 
 creditable chapel had been erected; so striking was it 
 that a report was circulated in jealous Burma that it 
 was "a palace for the Karen king." Here also were 
 some assistants from Burma, accompanied by a num- 
 ber desiring baptism. On the next day, the Sabbath, 
 the exercises were : Preaching at 9 o'clock ; covenant 
 meeting at 12 o'clock; examination of candidates for 
 baptism at 4 p. m.; administration of the ordinance 
 just before sunset, in a small stream near the chapel, 
 to twenty-four men from different villages in Burma, 
 and in the evening celebration of the Ivord's Supper 
 by more than one hundred communicants — "a. day of 
 ingathering which abundantly compensated the mis- 
 sionary for months of anxiety and toil." 
 
 When taking his departure fifty men followed him 
 to the river to procure books ; and at evening they left 
 for their distant homes over the mountains. The day 
 following he was up with the sun and walked two 
 hours on the beach, to the mouth of Baumee river, 
 where he waited for his boat, which was compelled to 
 go a long distance out to sea to get around a ledge of 
 rocks and shoals. Ascending the Baumee he visited 
 
114 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 two villages containing Christians, at each of which 
 he spent a day or two in labors, setting things in 
 order. At the farthest one he baptized thirty-one, 
 making seventy-four disciples in the church at that 
 place, administered the Supper, and during the night 
 was rowed back to the mouth of the river. 
 
 At day-break he proceeded down the coast till four 
 p. M., when he anchored in a small bay and went on 
 foot, one hour's walk, to the Karen village of Ong 
 Kyoung. Here, upon a little hill, the Christians had 
 erected a neat chapel, " containing withal a pulpit — a 
 wonderful improvement for the Karen jungle, and 
 rather in advance of the age." It was Saturday even- 
 ing, and the people fired a gun to notify those at a dis- 
 tance of the missionary's arrival. On Sunday, at an 
 early hour, men, women, and children came flocking 
 together, and after morning worship several presented 
 themselves as candidates for baptism. At close of day 
 thirty-six were baptized, and in the evening a church 
 of thirty-nine was constituted. 
 
 Continued down the coast, spending one night at 
 a village where a people was found who would not 
 receive tracts. It was Bur man. Next night reached 
 a Karen village, where worship was held and several 
 applied for baptism. Still moving southward, another 
 Karen village, Buffalo, was reached, called " The buffa- 
 lo's broken leg." Its inhabitants were refugees from 
 Burman intolerance. They had a convenient chapel, 
 an ef&cient teacher (Tway Po), and they worshiped 
 God with no one to molest or make afraid. A very 
 large number applied for baptism, and having been 
 faithfully instructed for two years they were well qual- 
 
A MEMORIAL. 115 
 
 ified. Seventy-five was the number baptized, and in 
 the evening a church was organized and a ceremony 
 of marriage performed. This was the most southern 
 station in the province of Arakan, distant but about 
 two days by boat from Cape Negrais, nearly the same 
 distance by land from Bassein, and at least ten days 
 by boat from Sandoway, toward which place the prow 
 was now turned. By rowing from midnight to ten or 
 eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and "lying by" the 
 rest of the day and through the evening to avoid the 
 sea breeze, Mr. Abbott reached his home, and at once 
 bowed at the family altar, with wife and children, " and 
 with gratitude and joy offered up to God an oblation 
 of thanksgiving for all his rich goodness." During 
 the thirty-one days of absence, of which a considerable 
 part was occupied in traveling, he baptized two hun- 
 dred and seventy-five persons. 
 
 The native assistants, who had brought to Christ 
 nearly or quite all of those just mentioned, very natur- 
 ally came to be highly esteemed for their works' sake. 
 So great was his confidence in them, and his sense of 
 the importance of the position they occupied in the 
 field of missions, that he felt that they must prepare 
 their minds for leadership. In January, 1841, he re- 
 cords his convictions in his journal as follows : 
 
 " I have endeavored to impress the truth upon their 
 minds that they are to lead the host of God in Burma 
 — that they must not lean upon missionaries, but upon 
 God, and I am looking forward to the time when some 
 of them will be deemed worthy of ordination, that they 
 may fully discharge the duties and obligations of pas- 
 tor. My meetings, intercourse and parting with these 
 
Il6 A GALAXY. 
 
 dear young men have been most solemn and interest- 
 ing. The prosperity and perpetuity of the kingdom 
 of Christ in Burma is dependent, under God, on their 
 fidehty and zeal." 
 
 The year 1842, in the experience and labors of Mr. 
 Abbott, closed as it began — in exhausting excursions 
 among the out-stations. The summer, the rainy season, 
 was full of work at home, teaching the disciples who 
 came to him from the eastern side of the mountains 
 and elsewhere, and in the preparation of literature for 
 the masses. The season that admitted of travel was 
 before him and must be improved. Considerations of 
 health, however important, were never magnified by 
 Mr. Abbott, whose mind was ever alert for an oppor- 
 tunity for fulfilling his mission. The demand of the 
 work defined his duty. The whitened fields inspired 
 him to undertake a healthful man's task, while he was 
 consciously in the grip of an unrelenting pulmonary 
 disease. His sympathy knew no bound, and this was 
 the magnetic element of his being that the heathen, 
 not less than the refined, could feel. 
 
 So, rising above the disabilities of the body and 
 girding on the Gospel armor, he bared his brow to the 
 ocean's breeze for another extended tour southward. 
 This time his family accompanied him. They were 
 highly favored in having the friendship of Sir Arthur 
 P. Phayre, Assistant Commissioner of the British Gov- 
 ernment in Arakan, a Christian, and therefore a friend 
 of the missionary enterprise. This good ofiicer gave 
 them the use of a government boat for the trip, thus 
 providing for them much more comfort than they 
 could get in the ordinary boats of the natives. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 117 
 
 On the evening of the second day they reached 
 Goa, situated on the coast, and going ashore found 
 quarters in a small bungalow erected for officers of 
 the government. Next day the native officer and the 
 people came to the bungalow and crowded around 
 it to get a sight of the white woman and children. 
 When at evening they took a walk through the 
 bazaar there was another exciting scene — running, 
 gazing, staring. Groups would stand and gaze until 
 they had passed, and then run on ahead to get another 
 front view. Even old, gray-headed people said that 
 Mrs. Abbott was the first English (or white) woman 
 they had ever seen. 
 
 After a day's sojourn at Goa they proceeded on 
 their way, and entering a small river called Kalah, 
 stopped at a little Christian village where they tarried 
 and baptized. It was Christmas ; and a happy, if not a 
 " merry" one. After a sojourn of three days, starting 
 at the usual hour of three A. m., they cleared the Kalah 
 and entered the Baumee river. As before, they were 
 surrounded by scores who wanted a sight of the " mam- 
 ma " and the " children with such beautiful white faces." 
 They obtained the benefit arising from a view of a 
 Christian family conducting its meals and worship and 
 maintaining domestic order; a new scene to them. 
 
 While at Baumee various causes of distress came 
 to their attention, ^suffered by the Karen Christians be- 
 yond the high ' barriers on the east. They were still 
 under the jealous and tyrannical Burmese, and were 
 subject not only to the ills common to their race, but 
 likewise to special extortion as Christians. The re- 
 morseless taxgatherer wrung from them all their pos- 
 
Il8 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 sessions, even their food, compelling them to borrow 
 and beg until another crop could be raised. A petty 
 Burmese officer, through pretense, entered a Christian 
 assembly, and snatching a book from the leader, de- 
 manded that he interpret the meaning ; and, on being 
 gratified, he flew into a rage and struck the preacher 
 on the face with the book and fined him heavily; and 
 seized his wife and held her as a slave until she could 
 be redeemed by the contributions of the brethren. 
 This is a specimen of what God's children, "little 
 children " they were, endured for His name's sake, and 
 on account of which their cries to Him for vengeance 
 were not in vain. The vision tarried, but it came. 
 
 As in a similar instance already narrated, the neat 
 and tasteful Baumee chapel excited a suspicion that it 
 was to be a palace for a Karen general, who was to in- 
 vade Burma at the head of a great army; while its 
 "royal cupola" was regarded as an insult to royalty, 
 such an attachment not being permitted except upon a 
 king's palace or a monastery. Accordingly the per- 
 secutor found a new occasion for searching the premises 
 of the Christians, suspected of being in league with 
 the invaders ; and everything in the shape of arms was 
 seized and taken to Bassein. At the same time the 
 cholera visited Burma and made dreadful havoc, 
 depopulating villages and sweeping off whole families ; 
 some of the victims being left to be devoured by dogs. 
 
 The old year closed amid the rejoicing of the newly 
 baptized, and while enjoying the fellowship of the 
 Baumee church, now numbering one hundred and 
 under the good discipline and instruction of a native 
 assistant. New- Year day was the Sabbath, and one 
 
A MEMORIAL. 119 
 
 long to be remembered. It ushered in a hopeful future 
 to the Baumee Christians, sheltered from the devourer 
 by the interlying mountains and beneath the strong 
 shield of the British. They assembled in large num- 
 bers to hear the word preached; sixteen more were 
 baptized toward evening, and at night all sat down 
 together at the table of the lyord. 
 
 Leaving Baumee, Mr. Abbott and family descended 
 the river to its mouth, and walked thence to the mouth 
 of the Magezzin river while the boat rounded the point 
 through a rough sea. They were here met by informa- 
 tion from the head man of the district that an army of 
 several hundred men was coming over from Burma to 
 seize the " Karen teacher " and take him to the king 
 at Ava ; and the same dignitary advised him to flee to- 
 ward Sandoway. This report alarmed the people, but 
 Mr. Abbott remained undaunted. There was a source 
 of alarm, however, that affected him deeply. His 
 youngest child was taken with the jungle fever, and it 
 became necessary for Mrs. Abbott to stop and care for 
 it. She being equally intent with her husband upon 
 accomplishing the work in hand, would not listen to 
 any change of plans that would disappoint the dis- 
 ciples ; hence he pushed forward to meet his engage- 
 ments, leaving her alone with the children, in a little 
 hut on the beach, without a medical adviser or any 
 earthly friend. Ten days of great anxiety and toil 
 passed, when he joined his family at the point of de- 
 parture and found the babe alive. He had walked 
 "over mountains and rocks, and through swamps and 
 mud"; while of some of the " road " he said he would 
 not attempt a description. 
 
I20 A GALAXY. 
 
 Persecution was renewed at this time in Burma. 
 Several of the families who came over to the meeting 
 at Baumee were seized on their homeward journey; 
 men, women and children. " The men were dreadfully 
 beaten and bound with iron fetters ; the women were 
 put into a boat, and the boat anchored in the middle 
 of a small river ; the young children left crying on the 
 shore, within hearing of their mothers." The enemy 
 was especially vindictive toward the relatives of Bleh 
 Po, a preaching assistant, who were taken to Bassein 
 and imprisoned. " Having to walk a short distance 
 from the boats, the women were chained together, two 
 and two — the chain around an ankle of each — and in 
 this manner they walked through a dense crowd to the 
 prison. I have many anxious forebodings," continues 
 Mr. Abbott. " Their sufferings will be dreadful, incon- 
 ceivable to any one who has never seen a Burman 
 prison and knows nothing of its discipline." 
 
 In the middle of February Mr. Abbott and family 
 returned to Sandoway ; the health of the little boy im- 
 proved. He found the small-pox raging most destruc- 
 tively, sweeping away the people in multitudes. He 
 inoculated his children and some of the Karens. Those 
 in prison were suffering greatly from hunger. What 
 they were permitted to go out and beg was snatched 
 from them by the jailer, in some instances rendering 
 their condition so wretched and hopeless that one of 
 them said to the myo-woon, the officer who holds " three 
 swords": " Kill us at once ; we can not endure starva- 
 tion with our wives and children." They were finally 
 liberated, but were made to pass an ordeal imposed by 
 the jailer and subordinates, on their way to freedom ; 
 
MEMORIAL. 121 
 
 each of these villains exacting a fee for his services, 
 and delaying their departure some days, until a settle- 
 ment was made. The jailer having their pittance of 
 food under his control, succeeded in starving them into 
 submission ; but the pledge not to worship the " for- 
 eigner's God " any longer was not required of them, 
 because previous experience had proved the futility of 
 the effort to secure it. And yet the myo-thu-gyee, man 
 of " two swords," governor of Bassein city, was in some 
 way compelled to become surety to the government for 
 the extirpation of the new religion. He, however, was 
 willing to play ignorance of their worship until the 
 spies exposed him, and then there was liability again 
 to prison and chains. All this, as in Apostolic times, 
 worked out the furtherance of the Gospel. The new 
 religion gained popularity ; it was talked about, and 
 sympathy with its suffering votaries was secretly ex- 
 pressed. 
 
 Hope arose from another source also. Commissioner 
 Phayre entertained a project, probably originating with 
 Mr. Abbott, of providing for the hundreds of Christian 
 families that were emigrating from Burma to Arakan, 
 to get away from persecution, leaving their gathered 
 harvests but bringing their buffaloes. The Commis- 
 sioner was to supply them with food and wait a year 
 for the pay, without interest. This liberality brought 
 crowds, and Mr. Abbott assisted in adjusting affairs to 
 the exigency. He staked out a street at Ong Kyoung 
 for a new village ; also a location for a new and larger 
 chapel ; and having cleared away the brushwood and 
 grass, all kneeled down upon it, men, women and chil- 
 dren, and consecrated it to God. The existing chapel 
 
122 GA1,AXY. 
 
 could not contain more than one fourth of the assem- 
 bly, and booths were built around it within hearing of 
 the speaker. Here they enjoyed the priceless boon 
 for which they could suffer the loss of all e[s&— freedom 
 to worship God. At Baumee, emigrants and buffaloes 
 collected in still larger numbers. Burma was in dan- 
 ger of losing the best part of its population — its true 
 and loyal citizens, the salt to save it from moral decay 
 — while the missionary interest there seemed likely to 
 become extinct through the same cause. The candle- 
 stick was betaking itself to a better atmosphere, where 
 the candles might impart their light freelj' in the sur- 
 rounding night. 
 
A MEMORIAI<. 123 
 
 VIII. 
 
 (fBlinrha S* Abbott — o J? DA IN/NG na- 
 tives.— m^h flu— plBat #Bau— ©waa 
 
 We think of what the teacher told us, that if we always set 
 God before us he will open our way and sustain us. — My at 
 Kyau to Mr. Abbott. 
 
 MR. ABBOTT was now at the front, if not the actual 
 and recognized superior in strictly evangelical 
 mission work. Others performed important service in 
 translating, preparing books and tracts for circulation, 
 teaching, preaching, and general work ; and there is no 
 occasion for comparing laborers of such eminence, 
 except that the diversity of gifts may appear in the 
 unfolding of God's purposes of grace toward the 
 heathen. 
 
 But Mr. Abbott was a preeminent proclaimer of 
 the Gospel — the glad tidings of great joy. He began 
 with unusual promptness and continued with marvel- 
 ous perseverance under the most trying circumstances. 
 Others were lights to the heathen world, while he was 
 a torch-bearer. And as he swayed his flambeau through 
 the jungles the eyes of the benighted were opened and 
 their minds illumined. He was constantly agoing, 
 and as constantly arousing new interest. He kept his 
 own as leader and ensign, and was ever gaining recruits. 
 It would be astonishing that one man should get such 
 
124 ^ GALAXY. 
 
 a following amid so many adverse circumstances, were 
 it not for the marvelous adaptation of what he offered 
 them to their wants. They saw the difference between 
 the bread of paganism and the true bread that cometh 
 down from heaven. Arakan and Bassein districts were 
 thoroughly aroused by the herald of the Gospel ; they 
 had a new experience. 
 
 And now an emergency arose. The converts had 
 multiplied beyond expectation, and he was overbur- 
 dened by his new responsibilities. There was a call 
 for a new class of helpers— ordained native preachers. 
 Had all the converts lived within easy reach of the 
 missionary, baptism might have been administered to 
 them by him ; but many of them were far away — fruits 
 of his visitation at some time, not then ready to be 
 garnered ; or the fruits of labor by the native evangel- 
 ists who had not been ordained. These young disciples 
 were all aglow, and it seems that theirs was an age of 
 love and loyalty with the element of rough romance, 
 not moonshine, added. But while the loyalty was 
 greatly to their credit, and the romance an incidental 
 circumstance, there was a hard fact in the. disadvantage 
 under which the work was being carried on. The 
 Karens were journeying on foot for great distances, 
 often occupying ten or fifteen days each way, to be 
 baptized by the missionary, the only authorized admin- 
 istrator. 
 
 Mr. Abbott took a practical view of the situation. 
 That a few persons or a company or two should make 
 this demonstration of faith was well ; it was a feature 
 of much interest in the history of the beginnings. But 
 neither interest in missions nor their progress depended 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 125 
 
 upon any expense that partook of the nature of waste, 
 whether of time, labor, or means. The poor Karens 
 were poor enough already, and sufSciently exposed to 
 disease and to the devouring of wild beasts and bestial 
 Burmans, without the further exposure and expense 
 of unnecessary travel. And Mr. Abbott discouraged 
 their long tramps to obtain baptism at his hands. 
 
 He must provide another way for the baptism to 
 which they were entitled on believing in Christ. And 
 having taken much time and exercised his utmost wis- 
 dom in determining the sincerity of their faith, partly 
 through the native assistants, his mind settled upon 
 the only feasible plan : Native preachers must be or- 
 dained and do the baptizing. For such a bold step 
 circumstances had ripened. It was not an impulse of 
 his ; for, however impulsively he may have acted in 
 some cases, in this one his course was the result of 
 much consideration. 
 
 His " assistants " were more to him than the term 
 imports. They were itinerant evangelists, in large 
 part; converts to his ministry who had gone forth 
 under his advice and watchcare. He knew their char- 
 acter and views of doctrine thoroughly, and his rea- 
 soning was, that if they could be trusted to teach and 
 lead the heathen to Christ, they could do the baptizing. 
 The ceremonial work involved less responsibility than 
 the spiritual. Having performed the one part satis- 
 factorily to the native brethren, it was proper that they 
 should add the other term of membership — the bap- 
 tism. 
 
 There was no ambition manifested by any of the 
 native preachers to be baptizers; at least, none is 
 
126 A GAI<AXy. 
 
 revealed in the accounts of them. There were choice 
 spirits among them whom they were glad to honor as 
 their leaders ; their recognition of the elements of piety 
 and ability being as satisfactory to them as is ours in 
 the present day. There were hundreds of Christians 
 who had never seen the face of a missionary, and, 
 under the oppressive Burman monarchy of the time, 
 were not likely to enjoy that privilege. Why should 
 their leaders not be fully authorized to baptize believers, 
 and give them access to the ordinance of the Lord's 
 Supper, and other privileges of membership? Mr. 
 Abbott reached the inevitable conclusion ; and it only 
 remained to impress the churches that the ordination 
 of pastors was not to be imposed by him, but was to 
 be freely decided upon by themselves. He believed 
 that their liberty in Christ would be the sweeter were 
 they to cultivate the gift of self-management. 
 
 Men of piety, genius and tact were to be found in 
 the Karen churches. At the very opening of this 
 mission to their downtrodden race God had given 
 them the wonderful Ko Thah-byu, a specimen hero 
 and a monument of saving grace ; and with him began 
 a line of mighty men of valor, ready at all times to lay 
 down their lives for the Gospel's sake. Mr. Abbott 
 had no difficulty in finding those whom he might count 
 faithful and put into the ministry. Yet, very naturally, 
 his heart was drawn toward some who gave promise 
 of special usefulness. These were interesting charac- 
 ters, and fitly belong to this galaxy; including the first 
 upon whom his mind was fixed, but whom the Father 
 withdrew from his place of shining just as the hope of 
 the missionary was highest. 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 127 
 
 He was a young man who first heard the Gospel 
 from Mr. Abbott, learned to read, and soon embraced 
 Christ. After two years he was baptized and became 
 a valiant expounder and defender of the faith, in the 
 face of persecution from his relatives and trial by court 
 for having a " foreigner's book." He triumphed over 
 all, and was instrumental in bringing his upbraiding 
 wife and several of his friends to the knowledge of 
 the truth. In becoming a Christian he was obliged to 
 sacrifice a considerable property; was seized by petty 
 officers, questioned and threatened, yet always suc- 
 ceeded in disarming them, and converting them into 
 either friends or harmless enemies. With only the 
 Gospels and the Acts as yet translated, he embraced 
 what opportunity he found and committed the greater 
 part of the Gospels to memory. 
 
 "His weight of personal character," said Mr. Ab- 
 bott, "gave him almost unbounded influence over the 
 Christian community. A man of unwavering integrity, 
 of perfect simplicity, guileless as an infant, his entire 
 being was as transparent as the light. Discreet withal, 
 and of sterling good sense, his word was law to his 
 converts, and commanded the respect of his bitterest 
 foes. * * * In all cases of discipline and difficulty 
 beyond the control of others, Bleh Po was sent for, 
 and his voice was like the voice of the Son of God over 
 the troubled waters. * * * Prayer was with him a 
 fixed habit, essential to his existence ; many a time at 
 dead of night he was awake, pouring out his soul to 
 God. While a student, very frequently would he get 
 
128 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 away into some secluded place and spend a day in 
 fasting and prayer. 
 
 " The idea of self never seemed to awaken the least 
 anxiety. During the year 1842 he received from the 
 mission thirty-six rupees, not one pice of which, I have 
 reason to believe, he ever appropriated to his own use. 
 He said it was God's money, and sought out poor 
 Christians and gave it all away, trusting in Providence 
 for the support of his family. When apprehended and 
 threatened by government, not knowing but death 
 would be his portion, and in the most cruel manner, 
 it did not seem to excite in him one anxious thought." 
 
 He was a John in the wilderness. Without so good 
 a raiment as one of camel's hair, and with food far in- 
 ferior to that of locusts and wild honey, he traversed 
 mountain and glen and coast, going from village to 
 village and from house to house, counting it a joy that 
 he was permitted to carry a reprieve to his country- 
 men, grinding in the prison-house of a hard and false 
 religion. 
 
 The cholera appeared in his village most destruc- 
 tively, and he was one of the first smitten by it. 
 Partially recovering, he seemed to be inspired to visit 
 the sick, and, forgetting himself, he went to every one 
 who was attacked, exhorting all to trust in God and 
 " consoling the dying with the promises of the Gospel 
 and the bright prospects of eternal joy." Overdoing, 
 he suffered a relapse, from which he could not rally ; 
 but still his intense anxiety for others continued, and 
 raising his voice amid his dreadful pains he exhorted 
 his friends to be steadfast — never to desert the cause 
 of Christ. Thus he spent his dying breath. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 129 
 
 His death caused great lamentation. A great many 
 aged women came to tlie chapel and, with tears run- 
 ning down their cheeks, talked of his goodness, humil- 
 ity and faithfulness, adding, " Teacher, what shall we 
 do now? " Mr. Abbott's grief was such as they knew 
 not of. In this burning and shining light he had 
 centered great expectations, and was sensitively anx- 
 ious concerning him, because he was to be the first 
 in his ministry to take ordination vows and thus put 
 on trial the propriety of giving the pastoral office into 
 the hands of native preachers. Mr. Abbott went to 
 Baumee, expecting to meet him there and ordain him, 
 and instead of the realization of long deferred hope 
 he learned of his death. He was overwhelmed with 
 sorrow. Nothing that had ever occurred in the mis- 
 sion affected him so deeply; while the feeling of the 
 people was voiced by one of their number who had 
 traveled through the country — " Pga hau dau kau 
 nyah" (the whole community is in tears). 
 
 This is another star on the Burman horizon, which 
 appeared in the time of Bleh Po and in part mitigated 
 the loss of that serene and brilliant one. Mr. Abbott 
 had thought of ordaining him and others, when the 
 case of Bleh Po was under consideration. He was 
 nominal pastor of a flourishing church at Magezzin ; 
 was performing the full duties of the pastoral office, 
 except that of administering the ordinances. He had 
 studied with Mr. Abbott for three seasons, and had 
 thus given him ample opportunity to learn his intellec- 
 tual traits and general elements of character. His 
 
130 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 experience, influence, and good report among them 
 that were without, all pointed to him as a man of 
 good qualities. And his effectiveness as a preacher, 
 shown by the fruits of years of labor, supplied the 
 proof of his fitness to explain the way of life. 
 
 Mr. Abbott conducted the ordination services, as 
 he only knew in what they should consist ; yet he first 
 occupied three or four days in learning the wishes of 
 the disciples and impressing upon them the fact that 
 the whole proceeding concerned them. Then he spent 
 some hours in going through with the examination, 
 not to satisfy himself, but to further impress them 
 with the solemnity and importance of such a ceremony 
 and to establish the right precedent. The parts of the 
 service were all incumbent upon him, of course — the 
 imposition of hands with prayer, the right hand of 
 fellowship, the charge, and all. He said that he " never 
 experienced greater satisfaction than in the perform- 
 ance of this deeply interesting service." It was to 
 him the inauguration of a new custom for the further- 
 ance of the Gospel, or for the better use of the facilities 
 possessed — the granting to men the liberty naturally 
 belonging to them as pastors, and without the use of 
 which the whole machinery of missions was impeded. 
 To have decided what to do and actually to have 
 begun the ordaining of pastors was to him the asser- 
 tion of his liberty as a lone missionary, dependent on 
 his own judgment in matters of expediency. He was 
 now committed to a new policy which he had long 
 considered and which he had the decision of character 
 to maintain, and he felt free indeed. It now seems 
 that he possessed the missionary instinct in a higher 
 
A me;moriai<. 131 
 
 degree than did many others. He was born to lead 
 the vanguard in a most important portion of the field, 
 and he came at the right moment. 
 
 The first year of Myat Kyau's labors as an ordained 
 minister was full of good fruits. His deportment was 
 becoming, and, though no example of dut}' was before 
 him except that of the missionarj^ from America, he 
 fulfilled the duties of his office with great propriety, 
 baptizing a large number. At the beginning of the 
 second year it seemed good to the brethren to send him 
 into pitiable, persecuting Burma, on a special mission. 
 Mr. Abbott spent a Sunday with the Magezzin church, 
 and united with it in promoting the movement for this 
 tour of its pastor. It was a hazardous one. Burmese 
 ofiicers were entering the Christian assemblies, looking 
 on and remaining mysteriously silent; a calm which, 
 to Mr. Abbott, seemed rather threatening. Yet the 
 Christians of a great many villages had been calling 
 for Myat Kyau, and he would not confer with flesh and 
 blood when duty was plain. Mr. Abbott took him 
 away into the jungle, and sitting down with him on a 
 large stone, gave him his last words of advice. Pos- 
 sibly the eye of Him who discerns the thoughts saw 
 some hidden tears, as the suggestion must have arisen 
 in the mind of each that they might not see each 
 other's face again. There were so many adversaries ! 
 
 This newly commissioned officer of the I,ord's 
 army went forth in the Lord's strength, and on return- 
 ing he might have reported that even the demons were 
 subject to him in His name. Proceeding to the region 
 north of Rangoon he spent several days and baptized 
 in each Christian village; was not molested, and no 
 
132 A GAi:<AXY. 
 
 persecution followed his labors. At the end of the 
 fourth month, about the time of his return, he sent 
 this modest but exultant message to Mr. Abbott : 
 
 " Great is the grace of the Eternal God ! Thus by 
 the great love of our I,ord Jesus Christ, more than 
 1,550 have joined themselves to the Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 " I, Myat Kyau, and Ong Sah, we two went forth. 
 God opened our way, and we went in peace and joy. 
 O, teacher ! we think of what the teacher told us, that 
 if we always set God before us he will open our way 
 and sustain us." 
 
 This letter indicates the power of this man, raised 
 up among the heathen and for the heathen. His suc- 
 cess elsewhere corresponded with this early and signifi- 
 cant assault upon heathenism. He was terribly severe 
 in his denunciations of the wicked, and, on account of 
 this disposition, he may have been just the man needed 
 to keep the enemy at bay, and finally to bring him to 
 repentance. He baptized more converts than any one 
 in Burma, except, perhaps, Sau Quala. He died in 
 1852, having done a great and remarkable work, ex- 
 tending over about ten years of an ordained ministry, 
 after a considerable period of very useful work as an 
 " assistant." He maintained a high moral character, 
 and the type of his ministry seems to have been well 
 adapted to the introduction of the Gospel to Burma. 
 
 This disciple was also a product of Mr. Abbott's 
 work, and was baptized by him at some village in Ara- 
 kan. In about two years after he had begun to preach, 
 
A MEMORIAL. 133 
 
 and had made good proof of character and ability, he 
 was ordained. The service took place very soon after 
 that of Myat Kyau, who was present and gave the 
 charge and right hand of fellowship, in an address 
 "fraught with good sense and genuine piety, and 
 adapted to the wants of the new pastor." He was the 
 third of the trio whose ordination had been contem- 
 plated by way of introducing the native Karen preach- 
 ers to the full work of the pastorate. 
 
 Tway Po was a man to be loved. Mr. Abbott 
 prized his companionship, and made him his comrade 
 in the fight with the powers of darkness — in Karen 
 jungles, in sickness and sorrow, by night and by day ; 
 a counsellor, too, in matters relating to the organization 
 and discipline of the churches. He apprehended the 
 great truths of redemption with a vigor and clearness 
 seldom surpassed in Christian lands ; and sitting by his 
 table reading, studying, or conversing with those who 
 sought his counsel, he seemed to be like an American 
 pastor. His house resembled those of our own country, 
 and its furniture was of his own manufacture. It was 
 a strange circumstance to the missionary that a native's 
 house should consist of floor, rafters, steps, and door 
 frames of sawn plank ; and contain tables, chairs, and 
 a couch with turned legs, his own handiwork. 
 
 " His unimpeachable character as a man of prayer 
 and of entire devotion to the cause of Christ, his apt- 
 ness to teach, his goodness, his sound judgment, his 
 wisdom in counsel, his capacity to govern, his reputa- 
 tion, his meekness and humility, all recommended him 
 as a candidate for the ministry. * * * He had my 
 entire confidence," continues Mr. Abbott, " and soon 
 
134 A GALAXY. 
 
 won the confidence and love, not only of his own 
 church, but of all the churches and preachers among 
 the Karen people. When I left Burma in 1845 I relied 
 upon him to take my place. During my absence he 
 and Myat Kyau baptized many hundreds, formed 
 churches and set over them preachers and teachers, as 
 much to my satisfaction as if I had been on the ground. 
 Both were men of unyielding integrity and unwavering 
 fidelity, and each in his own way was useful to the 
 cause of Christ. Translated from the darkness of 
 heathenism into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, the 
 first ordained among the Karens, they both fulfilled 
 the ministry they had received of the Lord Jesus with 
 fidelity and honor, and have their reward." 
 
 Tway Po died in 1853, about one year later than 
 Myat Kyau, and of the same disease — cholera. The 
 Burmans laid in wait to kill him, because, as they said, 
 he was so good a man and had so much influence with 
 the English. When they would have taken him he 
 was not, for God took him. 
 
 A serious check to the successful career of Mr. 
 Abbott was experienced at the time now reached. It 
 was caused by sickness, and occurred in 1844. His 
 physician said that he had the ' ' seeds of consump- 
 tion "; an opinion that might have been expressed, 
 doubtless, before he left America. His exacting duties 
 hastened the issue; yet the same result might have 
 been experienced had he lived in the United States. 
 His zeal was consuming him. At Sandoway he was 
 obliged to preach in the open air; many times during 
 a great part of the night, in a cold, damp, foggy air. 
 This brought on soreness of throat, and the exhausting 
 process went on and fever set in. 
 
A MEMORIAIv. 135 
 
 His cherished plans of convening with his assist- 
 ants, in annual meeting, were completely frustrated, and, 
 seeing his condition, he begged for a missionary to be 
 sent at once to Sandoway ; sent overland, at increased 
 expense, to save time. " To leave the three thousand 
 baptized," he plead, " and the thirty native preacheis 
 and the two ordained pastors here, as sheep in the 
 wilderness — oh, how utterly vain to attempt to express 
 the emotions of my soul ! No, never can any finite 
 being know ! — never ! " 
 
 The tide of prosperity was high and rising. More 
 than two thousand Karens had been gathered into the 
 Arakan mission during the year not yet closed, of 
 which number more than fifteen hundred were reported 
 by two of the native preachers. But amid this glorious 
 fruitage, rejoicing, doubting, fearing, and after the death 
 of his wife and the burial of " a hale, happy, beautiful 
 boy," he bowed to the divine disposing and sadly 
 turned his face toward the setting sun. He arrived at 
 New York in November, 1845. 
 
 Mr. Abbott went to his own people, at Fulton, New 
 York, where he was quite low for some time from the 
 effects of a cold. But receiving some encouragement 
 as to his condition, and being in great demand for the 
 home service of foreign missions he labored in proper 
 ways to diffuse the zeal that controlled his own life. 
 He communicated to the churches the miracles and 
 wonders that God had wrought among the heathen ; 
 messages that awakened the indifferent and encouraged 
 the friends of missions, as, perhaps, intelligence has not 
 more effectively done at any period of missionary prog- 
 ress. His feeling was expressed in his words, " I am 
 distressed for Arakan." 
 
136 A GALAXY. 
 
 The montlis sped along and Mr. Abbott was again 
 on the wave, on his outward voyage, in what he con- 
 sidered greatly improved health. To expedite affairs 
 he took the overland route from England, and in Nc 
 vember, 1847, he again stepped upon the soil of heathen- 
 dom, about two years and a half from the time he left 
 it for America. Word had gone out through the Karen 
 jungles that he was coming, so that the gaze " toward 
 the setting sun for the teacher " naturally became more 
 and more intense. 
 
 His first noticeable movement, after arriving, was 
 to hold an interview with the Christians, in convention, 
 at Ong Kyoung. He was an ensign and a leader of 
 the people. Conscious of his position and responsibil- 
 ity he let no ordinary cause hinder him from appearing 
 at the front, at the right time and place ; and this was 
 as pleasing to the native disciples as it was satisfying 
 to his sense of duty. In attending the convention 
 his aim was to ascertain the state of the churches and 
 general affairs, from which he had been separated for 
 so long a time, and also to ordain other missionaries. 
 
 It was at Ong Kyoung that he parted from the 
 disciples about three years before, with sadness in 
 every heart because of the possibility that they should 
 not again see each other on earth. And now as they 
 came together their mingled joys were the sweeter on 
 account of their mutual anxiety and individual trials 
 during the separation. " During his absence the con- 
 quests of the Gospel had continued to extend, and the 
 waving fields on every side still invited the sickle of 
 the reaper." 
 
 The ordaining of native preachers did not take 
 
A MEMORIAL. 137 
 
 place. Other missionaries could not be present at 
 one time to assure the needed wisdom ; and although 
 two were selected by the native brethren, after a day 
 of special prayer, they finally declined to assume the 
 office on account of their own misgivings. " Their 
 earnestness in prayer and their mental struggles were 
 intense ; and they persisted in wishing to be allowed 
 to wait another year." Modesty and moderation were 
 not lacking, certainly, on the part of any concerned. 
 There were at that time thirty-six native preach- 
 ers, having charge of five thousand church members. 
 About one thousand of these members were in the 
 province of Arakan, west of the mountains, and four 
 thousand east of the mountains spreading toward Ran- 
 goon but not beyond. The churches had memberships 
 numbering from twenty to two hundred and fifty each, 
 and in many of those most distant from Sandoway 
 large numbers were awaiting baptism. Mr. Abbott had 
 accomplished a special object had in mind when in 
 America — such an one as frequently has been a con- 
 suming desire of missionaries, viz., a reenforcement of 
 the mission at Sandoway. Rev. J. S. Beecher and Mrs. 
 Beecher were at his side ; " good friends, desirable com- 
 panions, and faithful fellow-laborers." This was a stage 
 of advancement at which he could thank God and take 
 courage. 
 
138 A GAI<AXY. 
 
 IX. 
 
 mi»ha g, ^bki0tt—Tivo attempts to 
 
 ENTER BURMA; CONVERTS MULTI- 
 PLIED; SELF-SUPPORT. 
 
 True hearts will leap up at the trumpet of God, 
 And those who can suffer can dare. 
 
 Chari,es Kingsley. 
 
 QUIETED and encouraged by the partial supply of 
 helpers, Mr. Abbott felt free to contemplate anew 
 the desirableness and expediency of effecting an en- 
 trance into Burma. He could not complacently regard 
 the trials of thousands of Karen Christians scattered 
 through that part of the empire adjacent to Arakan, 
 the consequence of tyranny, nor their destitution of 
 such means of grace as a better government would 
 render possible. Then the hundreds of thousands that 
 were still in the darkness of paganism, feeling after 
 God and ready for Him to be revealed to them, ap- 
 pealed to his sympathetic nature with a force he 
 would not disregard. 
 
 Accordingly, early in 1849, he planned an attempt, 
 encouraged by the governor of a district lying south- 
 east and independent of Bassein, who had invited and 
 promised him permission to build a house in his city. 
 I/Caving Sandoway with an expectation of complying 
 with the invitation, he started by sea in a native boat, 
 and after twelve days entered the Bassein river. He 
 
A MEMORIAL. 139 
 
 was stopped at a watch station near the mouth of the 
 river, under the jurisdiction of the governor of Bassein, 
 and forbidden to enter the country until his permission 
 should be obtained. This was not very surprising to 
 him, though he had hoped to pass the station without 
 challenge and reach the country under the rule of the 
 governor of Myoung Myon, who had invited him. He 
 was detained at the station for five days, until a mes- 
 sage from Bassein, deciding the matter, was received. 
 As expected, the decision came that he could not be 
 allowed to enter the country, but that if he would 
 remain at the station three months the governor would 
 send to Ava and learn the will of the king on the sub- 
 ject. The case was sent, but Mr. Abbott did not en- 
 tertain the confidence in it that would have justified 
 the delay. He returned to Sandoway, after making an 
 extended tour among the churches on the coast as 
 previously. Of one thing he felt assured — that the 
 king had given orders to all the governors to cease 
 persecuting the Karen Christians. 
 
 Three months passed and the dauntless Abbott, 
 though far from being in sound health, was on his 
 feet and oif again in another attempt to efiect an en- 
 trance to poor benighted Burma. Knowing that it 
 was wronging its own people rather than him, and 
 filled with the charity that never faileth, he girded his 
 wasting powers and went forth in the name of the 
 IrfOrd to set up His banners. 
 
 He decided upon making a foot-journey by crossing 
 the hills from the head of Baumee river. The walk 
 was excessively fatiguing, the more so because he had 
 not been accustomed to travel much by land, for some 
 
140 A GALAXY. 
 
 time. The company was fourteen hours in going from 
 the last village on the west side to the first on the east 
 side of the mountains. In the latter he had a " house," 
 doubtless prepared by the disciples for the occasion ; 
 or, rather, a large chapel with a sleeping apartment of 
 bamboo work in one end of it. The Christians were 
 overjoyed by his presence, but he had known a home 
 in Sandoway, and this, apart from the affection shown 
 in its erection, was a house of desolation. The day 
 after arriving was the Sabbath, and it being fraught 
 with interests spiritual and eternal, was adapted to 
 elevate the thoughts to the house not made with 
 hands. The pains following the long walk through the 
 jungles seemed to lose their severity. At nine o'clock 
 the chapel was crowded; ten native pastors present, 
 and hundreds on the grounds who could not gain an 
 entrance to the building. He broke down in an effort 
 to preach, on account of pain in his throat. At noon 
 those disappointed at the morning service crowded the 
 chapel, intent upon hearing the missionary. He spoke 
 with some ease and freedom. 
 
 " But the anticipations arising from the peaceful 
 and precious services of the Sabbath were to be frus- 
 trated. At daylight next morning," is Mr. Abbott's 
 account of the affair, "officers rushed into my room, 
 and not in a very mild way ordered me to start at once, 
 as the governor had called me to his presence. I had 
 seen officials before, and had nothing to do — but ' keep 
 cool.' I finally succeeded in quieting their fury, and 
 getting them to leave my sleeping-room and allow me 
 to dress. After much ado they became more agreeable 
 and allowed me to take a cup of tea, as I did not know 
 
A MEMORIAL. 141 
 
 exactly whereunto that thing would grow or when it 
 would end. 
 
 " I got into a little canoe and rowed down the small 
 river till nine o'clock, and arrived at the bamboo palace 
 of His Excellency. It was the hour of the morning 
 levee. The great man himself was seated on a mat at 
 one end of a large hall — his silver boxes containing his 
 betel nut, tobacco and linen, etc., spread around, and 
 he reclining on a velvet cushion, 'as is the manner of 
 eastern princes.' The common people were at a great 
 distance bowing on their faces, while a few grave, eld- 
 erly men were nearer, sitting in an upright position. I 
 entered into conversation with the governor — told him 
 distinctly who and what I was, and the object of my 
 coming to the country. And he told me as distinctly 
 that he dared not allow me to remain. I must return 
 immediately and wait a few months till the arrival of 
 the new governor of Bassein, and till the matter could 
 go before the king. He treated me very civilly, but 
 was decided, and I was helpless. On taking my leave 
 I told him I knew very well it was the custom of his 
 country, that people in coming into the presence of a 
 great man should pull off their shoes, but trusted he 
 would excuse me for not doing it ; and as it was the 
 custom of my own country to take off the hat on simi- 
 lar occasions, I would follow that. I raised my hat 
 and gave him the best bow at my command, with 
 which he appeared perfectly satisfied, and made my 
 way back to my own village. I sent a request to the 
 governor to allow me to pass through his district into 
 the city, or into the district of the governor who invited 
 me to his place last year. But ' he would do no such 
 thing.' 
 
142 A GALAXY. 
 
 " I left men around the court to hear and bring me 
 word of what was said — for I knew my case would be 
 freely discussed. These men arrived at my village at 
 eight o'clock in the evening with the intelligence that 
 unless that foreign teacher was missing the next morn- 
 ing, the head man of the village and the pastor of the 
 church would be dragged to prison. They were made 
 responsible for my immediate departure. That was an 
 aspect of things I did not like, for I had determined to 
 stay if possible and see the end. What consternation 
 the news that those men were to be 'dragged to prison 
 in the morning, sent through that village ! 
 
 " Several of the women went into fits, so that we 
 heard their screams, from various parts of the village, 
 in the chapel where we were sitting. Some wept and 
 some prayed. But the old men gathered around me 
 and asked, ' Teacher, what shall we do ? ' Sure enough, 
 here was a case to be decided, and not much time to do 
 it in. But by nine o'clock we had asked counsel of 
 God and the matter was settled. Before eleven aU my 
 household furniture was tied again to poles by rattans, 
 to prevent the burdens slipping off at either end, as 
 they were ]to be carried by two men each over the 
 precipices, and rocks and logs and ravines, through the 
 jungles to Arakan. 
 
 " From eleven to twelve the people assembled for 
 worship, and I endeavored to strengthen their confi- 
 dence in the wisdom of Providence. And at midnight 
 we started on our dreary way back over those hills we 
 had crossed two days before. The full moon was sail- 
 ing through the clear heavens, and in its soft melan- 
 choly light we traveled on cheerily — a few native pas- 
 
A MEMORIAL. 143 
 
 tors at my side witli whom ' I talked by the way ' till 
 near daylight, when the men carrying the burdens 
 said if they could sleep one hour it would give them 
 strength to climb the hills. As I knew the poor fel- 
 lows would require all their strength I ordered a halt, 
 and they all immediately lay down on the ground by 
 their burdens, and in a moment all were in a sound 
 sleep. I spread out my mat on the leaves, pulled a 
 blanket over me, spread a handkerchief over my face 
 and gave myself up to the strange, wild thoughts the 
 circumstances were adapted to awaken. 
 
 " The natives had told me that we were in a notori- 
 ous haunt of wild elephants, tigers, and robbers. The 
 men around me were all in a dead sleep. Through the 
 opening foliage the moon's stray beams were playing 
 with my eyes. Not a breath moved. Not a whisper 
 was heard, but the deep breathings of the sleepers. 
 The events of the past few days, fraught with the 
 interests of the kingdom of Christ and with the des- 
 tinies of men forever, passed in view. The fatiguing 
 journey before, attended with its perils, awakened anx- 
 iety, and the future was impenetrable. I slept also 
 very quietly about forty minutes, and started up re- 
 freshed. The brilliant morning star met and gladdened 
 my eye, betokening approaching day — beautiful em- 
 blem of the star of Hope, arising over these lands of 
 pagan darkness. The men were soon upon their feet, 
 and we marched on and still on, and reached the first 
 village towards evening. I was three days in procur- 
 ing boats and getting down to the mouth of the river, 
 and three more in preparing a boat for Sandoway, 
 where I arrived after six days more at sea, having 
 been absent twenty days." 
 
144 A GALAXY. 
 
 Thus ended the second unsuccessful attempt to 
 enter Burma Proper with the Gospel — the second of 
 this period. Mr. Abbott is permitted to narrate the 
 romantic circumstances in his own simple and graphic 
 way. He was not done attempting great things for 
 God; yet there was to be a little further waiting, 
 which was part of the divine plan. 
 
 After returning to Sandoway he very soon learned 
 that early on the morning of his departure from the 
 Karen village of&cers came, and, on finding that he 
 had gone, left without molesting the Karens. Shortly 
 after, a body of armed men entered the village, wish- 
 ing to see the foreigner; presumably robbers who, 
 had Mr. Abbott been found, would have been resisted 
 even unto blood, but doubtless without avail. In this 
 escape may have been found the explanation of the 
 defeat of his purposes as to entering the country at 
 that time. The God of Missions has thus far, for 
 nearly four score years, preserved our missionaries 
 from the assassin and the executioner, though often 
 the intention has been formed to slay them. 
 
 The disappointment experienced by Mr. Abbott in 
 these two excursions to Burma seems to have been 
 depressing. He was not defeated, but only tempora- 
 rily repulsed, and of this he was conscious. There 
 was a ray of light piercing the" cloud — the report that 
 the king had actually issued an order that he be allow- 
 ed to reside in the country. But whether true or un- 
 true, he foresaw the end of all ruling against the King 
 of kings and his loyal subjects. His movements were 
 advance movements; for he was born to be early 
 rather than late — to lead rather than to follow. In'a 
 
A MEMORIAL. 145 
 
 fuller estimate of the case, it will doubtless be con- 
 cluded that his skirmishing was preliminary to the 
 events that followed. 
 
 After the first repulse, and in the same letter that 
 conveyed information of it to the United States, he 
 gave a most hopeful view of the Karen mission and its 
 bearing upon the future of Burma. This he did by 
 contrasting the past with the present. Ten years had 
 passed since he made his first tour through the region 
 he was now trying to enter; his sympathetic wife 
 being then at his side. The first five of those years 
 was the period of persecution, in which Burmans in 
 large numbers fled to Arakan for freedom of body and 
 soul; the flight being greatest in the last year, 1844. 
 Then the government, anxious to keep its citizens, 
 gave the Christians rest, and encouraged them to build 
 chapels and worship God in their own way. 
 
 The Christians were at that time, 1844, exerting 
 a powerful influence upon the government and the 
 people, and Mr. Abbott was anxious to take the inter- 
 est at its tide and lead it on to fortune. But this long- 
 ing was to be unsatisfied then, and it was not satisfied 
 five years later. In 1849 he wrote to the Missionary 
 Union, expressing his feelings and drawing an instruc- 
 tive and inspiring contrast : 
 
 " How different the scenes I should witness now 
 from what I witnessed in my first tour through that 
 region in 1839. Then all was wild and degraded — the 
 whole land enveloped in deep darkness — the voice of 
 salvation echoed strangely through their jungles, and 
 awaked only the contemptuous sneer or the ribald 
 laugh — the ignorant multitudes delighted in the feasts 
 
146 A GAI^AXY. 
 
 of devils more than in the songs of Zion, and loved 
 the pollutions of sin better than the moral purity 
 which the Gospel requires. 
 
 "But what had God wrought! Now there are in 
 that region twenty-eight churches, containing three 
 thousand five hundred members. Nine large, beauti- 
 ful chapels are completed, and nearly twenty of an 
 inferior order. The Sabbath is hallowed, and as the 
 sacred day returns a Christian population of eight 
 thousand assemble in those temples of the Lord, 
 clothed and in their right minds, to sit at the feet of 
 Jesus and hear from their own pastors the message of 
 salvation." 
 
 A wider statistical view, including Bassein and 
 Arakan, taken at the close of the year 1848, gave the 
 number of churches as thirty -six; members reported, 
 four thousand three hundred and forty-one ; baptisms 
 that year, three hundred and seventy-three ; native 
 preachers, forty-four. Twelve chapels were completed 
 and " do honor to the spirit and enterprise of the 
 people. They are beautifully finished, and accommo- 
 date several hundred worshipers. There are reported 
 also five thousand one hundred and twenty-four un- 
 baptized Christians, who maintain as religious a life in 
 all respects as the members of the church." 
 
 Who was caring for this multitude ? Who of the 
 missionaries could do it, while the government was in 
 such antagonism to them? And when it is considered 
 that there was a great number of nominal Christians, 
 making a population of not less than twelve thousand, 
 in Mr. Abbott's estimation, " who would bear compari- 
 son, as it respects moral character, with any Christian 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 147 
 
 population in tie world," the question of pastoral sup- 
 ply is seen to have been a vital one. And there were 
 but two parts to the question — men and means. The 
 " men " (preachers) were quite numerous, as the Ka- 
 rens, on being converted, were glad to proclaim the 
 Savior to their suffering and susceptible people; a 
 larger proportion of them than were to be found in 
 other countries. They needed to be prepared and 
 authorized ; and Mr. Abbott had taken forward steps 
 in preparing a number and in putting some of them, 
 fully panoplied, into the work of the ministry. The 
 other feature, the " means," was a matter which, to 
 him, required grave consideration. 
 
 The converts had but little means ; did not expect 
 to possess much, and it required but little to support 
 them. There is no evidence that the preachers were 
 greedy of filthy lucre, and it is certain that expenses, 
 as compared with those in America, were very small. 
 Nor does it appear that the thought of pay was associ- 
 ated, at first, with the impulse to preach. Hence it was 
 felt by Mr. Abbott that it would be an easy matter for 
 the churches, inexperienced though they were, to ar- 
 range for their own expenses, and that by so doing 
 they would be developed in the important grace of 
 giving, would obtain credit with the friends of mis- 
 sions in this country, and not become imbecile by their 
 dependence. 
 
 Mr. Abbott, after due deliberation, boldly presented 
 the plan of self-support to the native churches, and to 
 his fellow missionaries, and, presumably, to the Board 
 in America. Mr. Beecher stood with him, yet to him 
 as a leader was this radical measure due. At the "As- 
 
148 A GALAXY. 
 
 sociation of Native Preacliers," held in January, 1849, 
 the subject was considered and the preachers, he wrote, 
 "unanimously and cheerfully gave up the relations 
 they have hitherto sustained to the mission, and are in 
 future to rely entirely on their churches [for support." 
 This action was something more than the result of 
 influence over weak natives who had been accustomed 
 to yield to his counsel ; it was due to one soul instinct 
 with leadership, and a mind gifted with forecast and 
 moral courage. The matter, as a whole, had many 
 sides, and was attended with quite a diversity of views. 
 It required for its complete trial an extended period, 
 and especially the continued support of its originator, 
 who did not live many years after its introduction. 
 At the end of two years he declared that it had suc- 
 ceeded beyond his expectation. And in subsequent 
 time, at an anniversary of the Missionary Union, the 
 author listened to the declaration from the lips of 
 Jonah G. Warren, D. D., Secretary, that it was not the 
 aim or expectation of the foreign missionary enterprise 
 to forever aid native churches, but rather to start them 
 and teach them to go alone. And J. N. Murdock, D. D., 
 at a still later day made the following deliberate utter- 
 ance : "There may be such a thing as nursing churches 
 into chronic infancy and inertness, instead of exercis- 
 ing them into vigorous power and efficiency by leav- 
 ing them, under God, to their own resources." 
 
 These were the two points in Abbott's originality 
 that determined his leadership — an ordained native 
 ministry and self-support in native churches. At a 
 time when all converts and churches in heathen lands 
 were supposed to be "children in understanding" as 
 
A MEMORIAL. 149 
 
 well as in years, his ideas were regarded by many as 
 impracticable ; j^et all now admire the sincerity of the 
 man, and regard him as one of the noblest of the van- 
 guard in heathen lands. How deep his interest in 
 the rising ministry of Burma ! How much he did to 
 create and encourage such a ministry ! Note his letter 
 referring to those preachers in attendance upon the 
 Association at Ong Kyoung, before mentioned: 
 
 "Some thirty-five native preachers were assembled 
 from all parts of the country west of Rangoon. There 
 has ever been to me more of intense interest connected 
 with my intercourse with those native preachers than 
 with any other relations of my missionary life. I 
 baptized them all ; they have sat under my teachings 
 month after month, while I have watched them grow- 
 ing up from the infancy of knowledge, and becoming 
 men in Christ. I have followed them as they have 
 gone forth into their wild jungles preaching the Gos- 
 pel ; have seen churches grow up under their instruc- 
 tions and thousands become obedient to the faith. 
 Upon two of their number have I ventured to lay my 
 hands and to recognize them as bishops of the church 
 of Christ. I have bowed with them on the sea-shore, 
 and commended them to the grace of God, ready to 
 depart for a distant land, wasted by disease, while each 
 of us trembled under the unuttered foreboding that in 
 this world we should meet no more. I have seen 
 them again standing firm like good soldiers of Jesus 
 Christ — converts multiplying around them as the drops 
 of the morning — as pastors of churches, magnifying 
 their office and glorifying God." 
 
 The meeting at Ong Kyoung was turned into an 
 
I50 A GALAXY. 
 
 institute, at -whicli Mr. Abbott took the preachers 
 "thoroughly through Hebrews and Romans, and also 
 through some primary works in theology.'' He deem- 
 ed it absolutely essential that he meet with them once 
 a year, and that they remain together for weeks, if not 
 for months, studying the Scriptures. 
 
 Accordingly, in the following year another meeting 
 and institute were held at the same place; Messrs. 
 Beecher and Van Meter assisting as the year before. 
 The Association had assumed character and promi- 
 nence. Assistants and delegates were present from all 
 parts ; and written reports from nearly all the churches 
 were presented, indicating a highly satisfactory degree 
 of stability and prosperity. Sabbath worship was being 
 regularly maintained, and Sabbath schools had been 
 established. The major part had convenient places of 
 worship, and " all had aided more or less in supporting 
 their own preachers." " Their influence was good upon 
 the heathen around them. * * * ^^ impression 
 was being made which promised glorious things for 
 Burma." Baptisms in connection with the Sandoway 
 mission, for the year, exceeded six hundred. 
 
 The Association also presented an opportune occa- 
 sion for setting apart to the ministry some men who 
 had shown a fitness for the work, and whose services 
 were needed. One of these, Moung Yay, had been 
 acting pastor of a church since its formation, a period 
 of ten years, and had maintained a spotless reputation ; 
 and the standing of the others, though younger, was 
 not less fair. A fourth assistant was ordained at Buf- 
 falo, making four at this juncture ; and these, with the 
 two ordained previously by Mr. Abbott, made six na- 
 tives wearing the full robes of office. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 151 
 
 Nor was ttis all. There was a manifest leading of 
 thought toward independent benevolence, which was 
 but another, a crowning feature of Mr. Abbott's system 
 of operating Karen missions. The liberality of the 
 Christians needed to be enlightened and directed. The 
 old superstition that offerings must be made to the 
 gods, to pagodas and priests, was so fully a part of the 
 heathen's being that much care and cultivation were 
 necessary to its elimination, after conversion. Some 
 came to the meeting with offerings in their hands, not 
 knowing where to bestow them. Hence the fitness of 
 a society to take them in charge and properly place 
 them. The thirty-seventh annual report of the Board 
 virtually indorsed the course taken. It stated : "An- 
 other scarcely less interesting series of acts during the 
 meeting was the constituting of a ' Karen Home Mis- 
 sion Society,' and the appointment of three home mis- 
 sionaries to be supported by its funds. It is a ' volun- 
 tary association,' entirely under the direction of the 
 Karens, though superintended by the mission, with 
 Karen officers, committees, etc., and gives good prom- 
 ise of usefulness," 
 
152 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 X. 
 
 mi0ha gt ^bboti—OTHEJiS in front ; 
 
 BATTLE OF THE STOCKADES; FALL 
 OF RANGOON. 
 
 " O, Eartli, thou shalt arise ; thy Father's aid 
 Shall heal the wound his chastening hand hath made; 
 Shall judge the proud oppressor's ruthless sway, 
 And burst his bonds, and cast his cords away. 
 
 Heber. 
 
 IT was now the middle of the century ; and the new 
 half-century was beginning while the most stirring 
 events were occurring. It was one of the times of pre- 
 dicted overturning preparatory to the coming of Him 
 whose right it is to rule. Mr. Abbott's desire to enter 
 Burma and obtain the advantage of nearness to the 
 people of his charge and choice was not altogether his 
 own. He must have been led of the Spirit. While on 
 the surface there were many " adversaries," underneath 
 a current of mighty sweep was carrying away their 
 foundations. The Burmans were foolish; God was 
 wise. They were weak ; He was strong. While they 
 were interfering with the progress of the Gospel they 
 were alienating their citizens and preparing another 
 nation to act as God's instrument of wrath to them. 
 
 The veteran Kincaid had been recuperating in the 
 United States and was ready at the right moment to 
 meet the human tiger again in his own wilds. Ran- 
 goon had been devastated by a conflagration and had 
 
A MEMORIAL. 153 
 
 been forsaken by the missionaries, but not forever. 
 The tears that had been shed over it by the first and 
 the subsequent missionaries were yet to have their 
 best reward. And Dr. Kincaid, with Dr. Dawson, a 
 medical missionary, at his side, was to make the bold 
 attempt to enter this southern stronghold of the 
 empire. 
 
 Early in 1851 these two men, both experienced 
 with Eastern languages and people, took passage at 
 Maulmein for Rangoon, in a schooner manned by 
 Mussulmans. They found that the rebuilding of the 
 town was in rapid progress, three fourths of which, 
 together with much shipping, had been destroyed. 
 They passed the custom-house, but in a few hours 
 were summoned back by the officers and closely ques- 
 tioned as to their vo5'age, relations, business, etc., etc., 
 all of which was minutely recorded. On Sunday morn- 
 ing the viceroy sent for them, but the plea that the 
 day was "sacred" satisfied His Eminence with their 
 refusal; and they were called on Monday morning 
 again to the custom-house and more fully questioned. 
 Dr. Dawson's skill soon attracted attention and great 
 numbers flocked about him. The government seemed 
 to be mild with foreigners. The missionaries were 
 permitted to procure a house, and they hoped to bring 
 their families. 
 
 Returning to Maulmein to effect their removal, 
 they soon learned that the governor of Rangoon had 
 shown his hostility by practicing severities upon those 
 who had shown them favors. In about a month from 
 the time they left the old city, and under admonition 
 not to return in the face of the opposition manifested, 
 
154 ^ GAlvAXY. 
 
 they landed again at its wharf. Dr. Kincaid went 
 ashore early, and learning that there would be objec- 
 tion to their settlement in the city he hastened back 
 to the vessel and in a short time both families were 
 quartered in the house of Capt. Potter. Their goods 
 reached the custom-house by evening and were passed. 
 Coolies were employed to carry them to their rented 
 house, but the poor landlord was so frightened by the 
 penalties inflicted upon others who had shown them 
 favors that he wished the agreement annulled. Kin- 
 caid insisted on admittance and did not wait for con- 
 sent. He came to Rangoon to stay. 
 
 Next day the governor went to the custom-house, 
 with a large retinue of sight-seei's, and there summoned 
 the missionaries to appear before him ; the crowd, re- 
 membering his treatment, being anxious to know what 
 he would do now. In a loud, insolent tone he asked 
 many questions; and when through, Dr. Kincaid of- 
 fered, in reply, as a reason for his presence, his friendly 
 acquaintance at Ava, when formerly in the country, 
 and the invitation of the king to return and bring a 
 printing press and a physician. This statement soft- 
 ened the governor's manner, and he was willing to 
 change the subject. He appointed over him a guard- 
 ian and spy, which so aroused the indignation of Kin- 
 caid that he would not recognize him as a guard nor 
 his relation to him as that of a prisoner. 
 
 "Poor old Joe Alley," the Mussulman of whom he 
 had rented quarters, fell into such a paroxysm of fear 
 that Dr. Kincaid promised to send no more goods to 
 the house. After much trouble the goods were safely 
 stowed away in Capt. Potter's godown — an Kast India 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 155 
 
 warehouse. A highly respectable Mohammedan who 
 had assisted the missionaries was severely beaten and 
 kicked by three or four fellows, while two hundred 
 people looked on. Another was terribly beaten by the 
 governor and had been carried off to die; and his 
 principal wife also had some experience of his wrath 
 at about the same time, and it was reported that Dr. 
 Kincaid's life was threatened. When his anger had 
 abated he sent for the missionaries and kept them 
 about an hour, asking questions and showing some 
 fine specimens of Burman swords; also proffering 
 some favors. After a few days, anxiety was allayed, 
 and they were housed in a building by themselves, 
 made somewhat endurable by means of much water 
 and whitewash and repairs. A royal message came 
 down from Ava '' expressing a wish that they would 
 be disposed to remain in Burma, and that they might 
 enjoy every possible favor." 
 
 Their house was very large, sufficiently spacious at 
 any rate to contain a dozen native families. When put 
 in order it was found to be ample for lecturing and dis- 
 pensary purposes, and each one assuming his particu- 
 lar department, work was begun in earnest. Dr. Kin- 
 caid had quite good audiences at once, and Dr. Dawson 
 was "in practice" without any waiting. There was 
 a rush of sick people, Armenian, Mohammedan, and 
 Burman ; some from great distances. A custom-house 
 officer, a daughter of the governor and even the gov- 
 ernor himself, were seeking help. Some who had been 
 attacked by robbers, wounded, and left half dead, 
 sought this Good Samaritan Hospital. The sin-sick 
 and those wishing to hear some new thing as to relig- 
 ion, also flocked around. 
 
156 A GALAXY. 
 
 There was a spacious hall on the lower floor, one 
 side of which Dr. Kincaid occupied with books and 
 writing materials, while Dr. Dawson occupied the other 
 with his medicines and surgical instruments. The hall 
 was thrown open before sunrise and a score of visitors 
 were present immediately, and there was a continued 
 stream of people coming and going until night. Dr. 
 Kincaid found neither occasion nor opportunity for 
 leaving the house to search for subjects. An aged 
 priest, the king's alchemist and astrologer, the only 
 one having the rank and the insignia of nobility, came 
 down from Ava and called on the new teachers. He 
 repeated the call almost daily, for nearly two weeks, 
 and then asked for permission to stay at the mission 
 house. The government ofl&cers stood in awe of him 
 while the people were astounded by the golden um- 
 brellas over a priest, going to and from the foreigners' 
 place of teaching. He remained there for some time, 
 "making himself at home"; delivered all his money 
 and silver cups to Mrs. Kincaid for safe keeping, de- 
 claring that he knew of no Burman in Rangoon that 
 he could trust. Such was the change in popular feel- 
 ing and such the opening for the Gospel ; but the mis- 
 sionaries felt that they must go up to Ava as soon as 
 the way should be clear, having promised so to do. 
 
 The work of conviction progressed during the sum- 
 mer following; the missionaries being prominent in 
 the community. The governor's jealousy had changed 
 from a fear of their success to a fear of losing their 
 attentions. He sent them word that he was displeased 
 with their failure to call on him, and that he had a bill 
 against them for procuring royal orders in their behalf 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 157 
 
 from Ava. When advised by the messenger to call at 
 once and appease his wrath, Dr. Kincaid, asserting his 
 manhood, and risking his head, declined to recognize 
 the order or the bill. But after waiting a day or two 
 he called and found the governor very pacific. No 
 reference was made to his claims. 
 
 As further indicating the state of affairs and the 
 ripening of the nation for great events, additional ref- 
 erence may be made to the tyranny and oppression of 
 the government which, though in some respects con- 
 cealed, had not materially abated. Two boxes of 
 books, sent from Maulmein by Mr. Ranney, lodged in 
 the custom-house; the governor refusing to permit 
 "Christ's books" to be given to Burmans and Karens, 
 lest he should destroy Gaudama's religion and himself 
 be sent to hell in consequence. It was well and widely 
 understood that " books on science all led to Christ 
 and the overthrow of Gaudama." 
 
 A few days later, agreeably to order. Dr. Kincaid 
 went for the books and was refused all the tracts. 
 " Take the bound volumes and leave the rest until we 
 see the governor." 
 
 " No, never ! I will have all that belongs to me or 
 nothing ; and I wish to say now, once for all, I will not 
 be annoyed any more about these books. Take them, 
 and burn them as soon as you like — I have done. I 
 shall not come to this custom-house to be insulted. I 
 will write a full account of the treatment I have re- 
 ceived about these books and publish it, that the whole 
 world may know how much wisdom there is in this 
 little, dark, ignorant spot called Burma. The people 
 must be kept iu ignorance and live Uke brutes." 
 
158 A GALAXY. 
 
 On being expostulated with on account of his 
 haste, he replied: "You strip a man of all his clothes, 
 tie him hand and foot, cover him with black ants, and 
 then, because he writhes, you charge him with a want 
 of patience. If a tiger or a lion siezes me I can be 
 patient." The next day the governor directed that all 
 the books and tracts be delivered to him. Just after- 
 ward, he wrote : "I am happy to inform you we have 
 just received five large boxes of books from Maulmein, 
 and no trouble in getting them through the custom- 
 house. The recent seven days' war I had seems to 
 have settled the question that I am to get books when 
 I please." Such was Kincaid, " the hero missionary," 
 and such the way in which, with other means, Burma 
 was opened to the Gospel. 
 
 The summer passed away, and with it much of the 
 open opposition to the missionaries. Accessions to 
 the number of the redeemed had taken place, and bap- 
 tism administered " in the royal tank, a beautiful, clear 
 sheet of water nearly four miles in circumference. * 
 * * Under the deep, dark foliage of a clump of aged 
 trees, on a green bank sloping down to the water's 
 edge, and with the glittering spires of a hundred pago- 
 das before them, they knelt in prayer," then " four 
 Burmans and five Karens went down into the baptis- 
 mal grave." The trees clapped their hands; the pago- 
 das were speechless. Karens in great numbers, from 
 near and far, had visited the missionaries, and the sug- 
 gestion that they might go away filled them with sore 
 regret ; they were ready for the kingdom, and were in 
 conscious need of leading. But a terrifying scene was 
 first to be enacted. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 159 
 
 The Burman authorities and their many minions 
 had waxed bold in outrages upon defenseless British 
 subjects, several of whom had died under torture. 
 Such treatment was not to be tolerated; it must be 
 stopped, if not redressed. And the English were not 
 without the means of doing both, nor were they be- 
 yond easy reach of Rangoon. If the blind Burmese 
 presumed that they would not be found out, that their 
 threats could prevent their insolence from being noised 
 abroad, they had not properly estimated the vigilance 
 of their old and always confident and successful enemy. 
 Five days later Dr. Kincaid wrote : 
 
 On the afternoon of Lord's day, November 23, 1851, 
 a report spread rapidly through the city that a steamer 
 and three men-of-war were ofif the mouth of the river. 
 The report was brought by two fast-rowing dak (mail) 
 boats. The men, thirteen in number, were confined, their 
 heads to be taken off at once if the report should prove 
 false. The governor despatched two boats, one after the 
 other, to ascertain the truth of the report. On Monday a 
 great diversity of feeling was shown — groups were seen 
 everywhere, j^in earnest, anxious consultation. All was 
 activity and bustle on the part of the government. Con- 
 flicting reports came hourly. 
 
 A little before evening all doubt was dissipated. Two 
 armed steamers were measuring the waters, putting down 
 buoys and towing a fifty-gun ship. The excitement was 
 very great. The governor talked warlike, made all sorts 
 of threats ; two or three thousand men were called in and 
 armed with old, rusty muskets ; much of the night was 
 spent in collecting rusty and worthless guns and dragging 
 them to the heights of Shway Dagong, and also taking to 
 the same place the treasure and other property from the 
 
l6o A GALAXY. 
 
 custom-liouse. The governor threatened to set the city on 
 fire, and in every house the foreigners were at work secur- 
 ing their papers and property. Great gongs were beating 
 in every direction. A report was current that all who 
 wore hats (Europeans) would be seized and carried oflf as 
 hostages. Near midnight Dr. Dawson and myself were 
 sent to go to the governor's, nearly two miles distant. 
 Without hesitation we set off, but were met by messengers 
 countermanding the order. Capt. Crisp, an English mer- 
 chant, was sent on board the frigate to inquire the object 
 of these armed ships coming up the river. 
 
 On Tuesday morning the governor with a large guard 
 appeared on the wharf, and there issued an order that any 
 person, foreigner or native, who should come down to any 
 of the wharves, or appeared on the bank of the river, 
 should be instantly beheaded. This order was published 
 through the city by beat of gong and public cries. On 
 hearing this I went immediately to the main wharf, where 
 there were several distinguished oflBcers and a guard, and 
 remonstrated with them in strong terms on the insane 
 course they were pursuing — working themselves and the 
 people into a panic, when there was all possible evidence 
 that the ships were come on a peaceful errand, to prevent, 
 not to make war. They felt it, but were disposed to be 
 blind to the innumerable acts of injustice and cruelty in- 
 flicted on all classes of the people. 
 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon the long looked-for 
 ships made their appearance some miles below the city. 
 We all went upon the roof of our house where we had a 
 fine view of this noble river and of these friendly ships, so 
 welcome to us. How proudly they came up and took their 
 positions before this oppressed city ! The emotions of joy 
 and gratitude they awakened can only be understood by 
 those who have seen and felt the deeds of insane and 
 brutal tyranny. The very guns spoke to us of peace and 
 
A MEMORIAL. l6l 
 
 security. We feasted our eyes on the sight, so full of 
 meaning. I could not cease thinking of what hundreds 
 of Karens have said to me : " God is our hope, and he will 
 hear our prayer for deliverance." Commodore Lambert 
 immediately sent word to know at what hour the next day 
 it would suit the governor to receive a communication from 
 him. The governor wished to put it off until the day fol- 
 lowing. So all Wednesday was spent in busy preparations 
 for an ostentatious display. 
 
 The next morning Dr. Kincaid and others appeared 
 before the British authorities to answer questions re- 
 lating to the doings of the government toward British 
 subjects. It was thus learned that not only were the 
 two officers, whose wrongs the commodore had come 
 to redress, smarting under ill treatment, but that hun- 
 dreds had equal cause of complaint, and some of them 
 much greater. This revealment was quite surprising. 
 A deputation of four officers visited the viceroy, but 
 returned with little or no satisfaction. He seemed to 
 regard Dr. Kincaid more, but he could not do much 
 with him, for he was too shrewd to be ensnared by 
 him, and he so thoroughly loathed him and his deeds 
 as to make it unlikely that he would give him further 
 opportunity to prosecute his nefarious barbarities by 
 furnishing him with information. He answered ques- 
 tions only so far as to assure him that the British had 
 come on an errand of peace, as the fewness of their 
 ships testified. 
 
 Meantime, the administration at Ava was no better. 
 The royal family was in a state of wreck, and the em- 
 pire was fast decaying. A rebellion had just taken 
 place, planned by the governor of the city, in which 
 
1 62 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 tlie carnage was dreadful, and the confiscation of prop- 
 erty immense. The country very naturally was in- 
 fested with robbers. The house of the royal race of 
 Alompra was approaching its end. It was not in a 
 condition to provoke nor to sustain a war with Eng- 
 land, but it was sadly unconscious of this fact. 
 
 The governor of Rangoon recovering in some de- 
 gree from the consternation he had experienced, began 
 hostile preparations in good earnest. He bought all 
 the muskets in the city, collected guns from neighbor- 
 ing cities, fortified the heights of Shway Dagong, and 
 built stockades at Kee-men-ding, four miles above the 
 city. Also, he collected a large force of desperadoes, 
 with a celebrated robber-chief at their head, for the 
 purpose of raiding the foreigners in the city, plunder- 
 ing them and cutting their throats, and then of burning 
 the city. This was rumored, at least, and it made suf- 
 ficient impression to induce Drs. Kincaid and Dawson 
 to take refuge on the English vessels, with their fami- 
 lies, and to store their goods to the best advantage. 
 Kincaid was seized by a band of cut-throats, while 
 passing along one of the principal streets, dragged into 
 an alley and threatened ; but by doing some threaten- 
 ing he proved more than an equal to the whole of 
 them, some forty or fifty, and finally made his way to 
 the custom-house unharmed, though he scarcely knew 
 how. 
 
 The Karen Christians were particularly odious to 
 the government on account of their supposed friendli- 
 ness with the English, and hundreds of them were 
 put on duty at the great pagoda; while the ofiicers of 
 the army threatened to put them in the fore front of 
 
A MEMORIAL. 163 
 
 the battle if the Knglish should come ashore. The 
 churches were distressed with anxiety on account of 
 the state of affairs, yet they, and the Burman peasantry 
 generally, sent in expressions of hope that the English 
 might put an end to the brutal tyranny they had so 
 long suffered. 
 
 The first of January, 1852, was reached. The ex- 
 periences of a siege — for such the situation virtually 
 was, though only for the protection of foreign persons 
 and interests — had been the lot of the doomed city for 
 thirty or forty days. Now expected messages from 
 Ava came to the authorities to be delivered to the 
 English commodore, containing friendly expressions. 
 The governor was removed, and a new one appointed, 
 with jurisdiction from Prome to Martaban, and charged 
 with the settlement of difficulties between the British 
 and Burman governments. He descended the river 
 with great pomp, and demonstrations of joy and hom- 
 age were made by officials and people. Carpets were 
 spread on the wharf, and from the landing he was 
 drawn in a buggy by men to his new residence. 
 
 His Eminence, after getting some popularity by 
 declining presents of provisions from the people, who, 
 he said, were too poor to afford them, at once asserted 
 his dignity by declining to receive a deputation from 
 the English, and declaring that he would confer with 
 no one except the commodore. The deputies were 
 kept standing outside while messengers went in and 
 out, and, finally, it being announced that His Excel- 
 lency was taking a nap, they withdrew and reported 
 the insult to the commodore. 
 
 A consultation was held on board the frigate and it 
 
164 A GALAXY. 
 
 was decided to hold no further intercourse with the 
 viceroy, unless he should apologize. The principal 
 foreign residents were advised to leave the city. The 
 English and other foreign vessels in port (doubtless 
 only trading vessels) were ordered to proceed down 
 the river to sea, and the boats of the armed vessels 
 were sent to the main wharf to protect those who were 
 leaving. On the appearance of these armed boats the 
 crowd of Burmans, collected there, "vanished like a 
 mist." The whole scene was one of great excitement; 
 and to the missionaries one of great loss, for they were 
 obliged in the haste to sacrifice nearly everything they 
 possessed. Dr. Dawson, however, made a hazardous 
 venture, at near midnight, while his ship was anchored 
 but a little way below the town, and running guard 
 and sentry secured some of the letters and papers de- 
 posited in a strong godown, by climbing to the roof 
 and entering through a trap door. The canoe he had 
 hired for use in going ashore and returning was stolen 
 by some Burmans during his absence, but a good sub- 
 stitute appeared in one of the ship's boats. 
 
 During the night the commodore seized a ship be- 
 longing to the king of Burma, and the Hermes towed 
 it away and anchored it three miles below town. The 
 Burman crew made no resistance, though they jeop- 
 ardized their heads by the surrender, and likewise ex- 
 posed all foreigners in the city to confiscation and 
 wanton treatment of all kinds. Efforts for its recovery 
 were made by the deputy governor and a neighboring 
 ally, governor of Deccan, promises being given that 
 all injuries should ultimately be redressed; but the 
 commodore remained inflexible, demanding that the 
 
A MEMORIAL. 165 
 
 viceroy should come in person and render an apology 
 for his contempt, and do it on board of the English 
 frigate. All these measures proving ineffective, he de- 
 cided to cut off all communication with the Burmese, 
 hasten to the mouth of the river with the "prize" and 
 all the armed vessels in company, and proclaim a 
 blockade of the Rangoon and Bassein rivers. 
 
 The officers of Rangoon, anticipating the move- 
 ments of the English, sent cannon and jingals (small 
 cannon) to the stockades ten or twelve miles down the 
 river, intending to open fire on them as they should 
 pass. A dozen war boats were likewise stationed 
 there, sheltered up a creek, behind the first fortifica- 
 tion, and filled with men ; while within the inclosures, 
 as circumstances proved, there were several thousand 
 more, armed with muskets, spears and swords. On 
 the summit of the palisades guns were planted which 
 commanded a section of the river, and the dwellers in 
 two contiguous villages were directed to arm them- 
 selves for the purpose of rescuing the captured ship. 
 There seemed to be ample numbers on the part of the 
 Burmans, yet they had not learned that a king is not 
 saved by the multitude of a host. 
 
 Early on January 10 the English vessels, which 
 had quietly observed the descent of the boats convey- 
 ing cannon, commenced moving down with the tide. 
 The steamer Hermes towed the flag ship as far as 
 the upper stockade, and then went back to bring the 
 "prize." The Fox anchored directly abreast of the 
 fortification, beat to quarters, and made ready to talk 
 out, if it should first be addressed from the shore. A 
 number of craft were there, and having gained posi- 
 
t66 a galaxy. 
 
 tions below the frigate they waited in breathless sus- 
 pense for any scene that might be enacted. The mis- 
 sionaries on board the Duchess of Argyle were in a 
 safe position between the two stockades. 
 
 The Burmans seemed to stake the issue on their 
 lost vessel, for which they watched very closely. Some 
 of their boats ventured out of the creek and moved up 
 stream past the Fox but close to shore. Some of the 
 men indulged in antics and war songs for the enter- 
 tainment of the English. As the Hermes rounded a 
 point in the river with the king's vessel in tow, the 
 knot of watchmen on the bank hurried away to give 
 the alarm to the boatmen and villagers. And just as 
 the steamer came in front of the stockade, her bow- 
 sprit being on a line with that of the frigate, a gun 
 was fired from the shore. Instantly the frigate replied 
 with a murderous fire, her shot skimming the water 
 and tearing up the bank ; and while enshrouding her- 
 self with smoke she gave the stockade an experience 
 of smoke and dust, such as it had never before known. 
 The Burmese made a stubborn stand for two hours, 
 keeping up a spirited fire until they were literally cut 
 to pieces, their boats abandoned and drifting away and 
 sinking, and their cannon silenced and dismounted. 
 The Hermes and Phlegethon joined the frigate in the 
 murderous work, running close in and playing with 
 deadly effect upon boats and people in the mouth of 
 the creek. The Burmese were glad to get away with 
 even a part of their wounded and dead. 
 
 The Hermes then deliberately passed along with 
 the " prize," but she was a target for the enemy, which 
 fired from both sides of the river. The king's vessel 
 
A MBMOEIAI<. 167 
 
 was partly manned by hands from the frigate, and 
 being thus equipped with the means of assailing her 
 own country she joined the Hermes in firing upon the 
 lower stockade, or fortification, for a considerable time, 
 under provocation of its fire upon them. Then the 
 two proceeded down stream to the mouth of Bassein 
 creek, where the "prize" was anchored in the care 
 of the brig Serpent, the Hermes returning for the 
 flag-ship. The boats remaining back completed the 
 work of destruction. On the side of the English not 
 a man was killed or wounded, and their vessels were 
 but slightly damaged ; while the slaughter of Burmans 
 was manifestly terrible. This was the Battle of the 
 Stockades — the first of the bloody events that gave 
 Great Britain a wider and firmer dominion in the East ; 
 and to the Gospel a better opportunity for conquest. 
 
 The above facts have been gleaned from an ex- 
 tended account of the affray, given immediately upon 
 its occurrence by Dr. Dawson, an eye witness of it. 
 The precipitancy of Commodore lyambert in seizing 
 the king's ship caused him some perplexity, and em- 
 barrassed his relations with his own and with the 
 Burman government. Perhaps it was on this account 
 that the English proposed to accept moderate terms of 
 redress — ^viz.: payment by the Burmans of ten thous- 
 and rupees for injuries and extortions, and their recep- 
 tion of a British Resident at the court of Ava, accord- 
 ing to the treaty of Yandaboo, made just after the 
 liberation of Dr. Judson from prison. Orders to men- 
 tion these terms were received by Com. I,ambert early 
 in February, about a month after the battle at the 
 stockades, and he proceeded up the river, bearing them. 
 
1 68 A GALAXY. 
 
 He was conveyed by the Fox, towed by a steamer. 
 The Fox being fired upon from the stockades, both 
 vessels returned the compliment, and with dreadful 
 effect. 
 
 The embassy having reached a suitable landing, a 
 deputation with a flag of truce went up to the viceroy 
 and delivered the letter of the Governor General. His 
 Highness declined to treat with the commodore, as- 
 suming that the sending of the deputation was indica- 
 tive of displeasure on the part of the British Governor 
 General with his own men, and being glad to show his 
 own displeasure ; also believing that a special commis- 
 sioner would be sent to negotiate. 
 
 The principal water-ways that offered access to the 
 interior were effectually blockaded. The Hermes, with 
 the " prize,'' was stationed at the mouth of Rangoon 
 river; the Serpent blockaded the Bassein, and the 
 Proserpine the Salwen. And in the rear the Burman 
 Government was being annoyed by the Shans, who 
 seemed determined to march on the capital from the 
 north-east. Thus the entire sea-coast being guarded, 
 and the frontier being occupied by inimical tribes, the 
 viceroy was greatly straitened. 
 
 But Burman officials do not get impressed with their 
 weakness very easily ; so it was left to the English to 
 give them a demonstration of the diiference between 
 the drilled troops of an enlightened land and the 
 crowd of unwilling or unknowing subjects of which 
 they were compelled to make up an army. They were 
 more proud than they could afford to be, and were 
 willing to believe in the chances of battle with scarcely 
 one chance in their favor. The English may have 
 
A MEMORIAL. 169 
 
 had more might than right in this case, but it became 
 the Burmese to see their own situation and govern 
 themselves accordingly. Failing to do this, the English 
 declared war against them on February 15, 1852, ex- 
 pecting, doubtless, to dismember the empire and add to 
 their own dependencies in the East. 
 
 Hostilities began by the taking of Martaban, oppo- 
 site Maulmein, which was already occupied by the 
 English. This event occurred on April 5th. On the 
 nth of the same month Rangoon was attacked, and on 
 the 14th the last of the Burmese positions was carried. 
 The defense was unparalleled in vigor and determina- 
 tion. And when it seemed to be of no further avail 
 the inhabitants turned all their means of destruction 
 upon their own homes and laid waste their proud city. 
 Brick buildings were demolished, wood edifices burned, 
 wells filled, beautiful trees cut down, streets covered 
 with rubbish, pitfalls dug, and every plan devised for 
 making the place as repulsive as possible to the invad- 
 ers. Evidently this demolition must have been carried 
 on while a show of defense was still kept up. 
 
 The bitterest struggle was experienced, perhaps, 
 when the favorite pagoda, Shway Dagong, was attacked. 
 It began at six o'clock in the morning and continued 
 until noon, ere the English could get possession of it. 
 Inclosing it there was a strong stockade, the build- 
 ing of which had required prodigious labor. Huge 
 logs were dragged from the bank of the river, a dis- 
 tance of two miles, and scores of monasteries and 
 zayats were torn down to furnish timber. As a forti- 
 fication it had no equal in Burma. The approaches 
 were obstructed by spikes. "At the different forts 
 
lyo A GALAXY. 
 
 there were over one hundred and fifty cannon mounted. 
 The English had a force of only five thousand men, 
 but they had a heavy park of artillery, while the Bur- 
 mans numbered between thirty and forty thousand 
 men. The loss of the former was seven of&cers and 
 twenty-seven men killed, and over one hundred and 
 fifty of all ranks wounded. Reports stated the casual- 
 ties of the poor Burmese as two thousand killed and 
 wounded." 
 
 The immediate cause of this war was the firing 
 from the stockades on the vessel bearing a flag of truce, 
 and seeking a communication from the governor. 
 After the fall of Rangoon the two governments stood 
 in war attitude to each other. 
 
 The missionaries were on the alert, ready to intro- 
 duce their King and set up His claims to obedience, so 
 soon as a door opened. Dr. Kincaid made his way to 
 Rangoon a day before it fell, and Dr. Dawson was 
 there on the fourth day after the event. They wished 
 to make a search for their effects, but no evidence 
 appears that they recovered more than a few books. 
 Dr. Dawson in his first letter stated that they were 
 occupying an abandoned monastery ; that having 
 neither tables nor chairs he wrote on the top of a box. 
 The fall of Bassein followed soon afterward, and the 
 British were masters of the situation — were virtually 
 in possession of all the southern part of the empire. 
 So was the army of the I,ord, though scattered and 
 needing organization, in possession of its field, and at 
 once it began to form its lines for action. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 171 
 
 XI. 
 
 &U&lja g, ^bbctt— ENTERS BASSEIN; 
 FINISHES HIS COURSE; GOES HOME. 
 — iWtrs. glbttott 
 
 Suffice it if, my good and ill unreckoned, 
 And both forgiven through Thy 'bounding grace 
 
 I find myself by hands familiar beckoned 
 Unto my fitting place — 
 
 Some humble door among Thy many mansions, 
 Some sheltering shade where sin and striving cease. 
 
 And flows forever through heaven's green expansions 
 The river of Thy peace. 
 
 Whittier. — "The Life for which I long." 
 
 'npHE missionaries at Sandoway had been watching 
 -^ events with great anxiety. Their town was ex- 
 posed to attack by the Burmans, and it was only by 
 receiving assurance from the English that there would 
 not be war that they were satisfied to remain there ; 
 circumstances thus indicating that the British were 
 not seeking a conflict, whatever else they may have 
 sought. By and by, however, the missionaries deter- 
 mined to adopt the safer course. The Van Meters 
 went to Akyab in January, and thence to Maulmein 
 in March. The Beechers remained until March, when, 
 the town being menaced by a band of two thousand 
 marauders from Burma, they went to Kyouk Phyoo. 
 Mr. Abbott also went to Maulmein, which had become 
 another Calcutta — a center of missionaries, a rendez- 
 
172 A GALAXY. 
 
 vous for the ill and imperiled, and those in need of 
 sympathy or counsel. His health had been declining, 
 yet, amid the excitement of anticipated war and under 
 an ardent desire to continue in his work, he braced 
 up and made his mission the supreme subject of con- 
 sideration. He watched the progress of events with 
 the keenest interest — the fall of Martaban, then of 
 Rangoon, and finally of Bassein — while nothing more 
 fully engaged his mind and heart than those thous- 
 ands of Karen Christians, scattered and hunted like 
 partridges among the mountains. For them he wrote 
 some books while waiting at Maulmein. 
 
 After Bassein was captured, Mr. Abbott, accom- 
 panied by Mr. Van Meter, was permitted to enter it 
 under British protection. He took up his abode there 
 on July 12, 1 852, in a Buddhist monastery. It was a 
 high day for him, saddened only by the fear that he 
 might not be sufiScient for the occasion, which, after 
 much longing, he had finally reached. It was not the 
 town that he wished to occupy, but the country, with 
 the town as a base. Consequently it was not of much 
 moment, considered with reference to missions, that 
 the place was thoroughly devastated ; nothing remain- 
 ing in entirety except some military works and the 
 appurtenances of heathenism, such as kj^oungs, idol 
 temples, and pagodas. 
 
 Not sooner had the Tenasserim anchored in the 
 river than he sent off the few Christian Karens aboard, 
 to search for fellow Christians. Directly they returned 
 with a number, among them Shway Weing, " the 
 young chief" of former days, who himself sent ofi" 
 men in various directions to announce that the teach- 
 
A MEMORIAL. 173 
 
 er had come to Bassein. The greeting and reunion 
 were more joyous than can at this day be understood. 
 They had survived their own persecution and a bloody 
 encounter in their midst between natives, and now 
 they were free, teacher and disciples — all free to wor- 
 ship God, and to do so together. 
 
 The missionaries found immediate favor with the 
 officers in occupation, and were granted a substantial 
 kyoung which they had selected and to which they 
 added much by taking material from another. They 
 held their quarters on the vessel, Mr. Abbott be- 
 ing too feeble to assist very materially in the prep- 
 aration of the kyoung, and even to go ashore. But 
 he could receive the companies as they came in, from 
 greater and still greater distances, as the news spread, 
 and sometimes to preach to them. And after twelve 
 days from the date of arrival the chapel and their 
 private rooms were so far completed that they could 
 occupy them ; and Mr. Abbott, slightly recuperated, 
 came off the ship and brought all his goods. The fol- 
 lowing day, the Sabbath, he preached without ill 
 effects, and the day was " a delight " to the many who 
 participated in the worship. 
 
 Hostilities were discontinued for the most part, and 
 there was freedom to prosecute mission work ; yet the 
 missions were greatly demoralized on account of the 
 war. The Karens had suffered extreme oppression, 
 nearly all their chapels had been demolished, and they 
 were being held for execution whenever the British 
 should approach. But the war steamers had come and 
 taken Bassein before the Burmans had time to execute 
 their threats, and not only did the oppressors betake 
 
174 ^ GAIvAXY. 
 
 themselves to flight, but the oppressed Christians, 
 being thus Hberated, were scattered abroad and dis- 
 organized. The Burman forces were largely broken 
 into bands of banditti, which infested the country and 
 kept the Karens in terror; yet the latter, especially 
 the Christians, felt that Providence was on their side 
 because of their deliverance from the yoke and immi- 
 nent death, and were in position to do some fighting 
 if it should be required. The old, deposed governor 
 continued to occupy the region with some soldiers, 
 ready for any desperate course. On the other hand 
 Shway Weing, " the young chief," as he was called, the 
 first convert of the Bassein district to receive baptism, 
 went out to meet the giant anarchy with some fifty 
 men, two or three muskets and a few knives. He 
 went under the sanction of the ofiBcer in command of 
 Bassein, but without the approbation of Mr. Abbott, 
 who feared that the result might be against him. He 
 was very popular, "knew what he was about," and 
 presently had a large force and a good supply of arms, 
 and victory perched upon his banners. These circum- 
 stances indicate the condition of affairs at the time. 
 To the human eye there was but little on which the 
 missionaries could base a hope of success, except — 
 their freedom. 
 
 Mr. Abbott began work at once. But it was no 
 longer the work of the jungle and the night. His 
 excursions were over. His health was gone, and he 
 now realized his condition. However, he had gained 
 one leading end of his career— the occupation of Bas- 
 sein. There was now a mission center for the 
 country, and all were under the control of a mighty 
 
MEMORIAL. 175 
 
 and friendly government. The object desired by the 
 Karen Christians was gained, and teacher and dis- 
 ciples were conveniently related to each other. 
 
 Thus situated, Mr. Abbott met the preachers and 
 members of the Karen churches, many of whom had 
 never seen him. For two months and more he in- 
 structed them in the doctrines of the Gospel and the 
 principles and practices that they should maintain in 
 the churches, impressing them that the responsibility 
 of building up Zion would rest upon them. For their 
 use he had just published volumes of notes on the Acts 
 and on the Hebrews. And now he was done. He 
 had " finished his course "; finished it in one of the 
 strongholds of heathenism, where he had so .long de- 
 sired to be, and which had fallen to the missionaries by 
 a stroke of the Divine Hand. 
 
 Another parting scene, one of a peculiarly painful 
 character, was at hand. He had been greatly reduced 
 by disease, and in appearance was unlike himself, as 
 formerly known by them ; and this change, taken with 
 the anticipation of the final change'that seemed to be 
 very near, and his departure to a distant land, to die — 
 all made the disciples very sorrowful. The letters of 
 the missionaries also indicated very tender regard for 
 him. Mr. Van Meter, his companion in toil, voiced a 
 common feeling : " Ah ! when will these bereaved 
 children ever see another father such as he." 
 
 Proceeding to Maulmein early in October, 1852, he 
 remained there until January following,iand then sailed 
 for the United States, arriving at Boston, June 8, 1853. 
 He lived for one year and a half among ' his friends, 
 and died at Fulton, New York, December 3, 1854. His 
 
176 A GALAXY. 
 
 latest and apparently his only anxiety during these 
 closing months was for the Karens, that they might 
 have proper instruction and guidance. He occupied 
 some of his best hours in preparing means of knowl- 
 edge for the Sgau Karens, and spent his dying mo- 
 ments in praying for them and for the triumph of the 
 missionary enterprise. 
 
 In forming an estimate of his character and serv- 
 ices, reference is had, not so much to him, either alone 
 or in comparison with other missionaries, as to the 
 place he filled in the missionary calendar, and the im- 
 petus which, in the hand of God and through the Holy 
 Spirit, he imparted to the work that is now so great. 
 His fellow missionaries, all of them of high character, 
 are entitled to great respect when they speak. That 
 all should be in perfect accord with him,*at all times 
 and in respect to all things, could not have been ex- 
 pected ; especially in view of his peculiar composition 
 and temperament. They were as good men as he. 
 But they are not under special notice in this memorial, 
 and are simply adduced to aid us in making up the 
 verdict which will cause us to honor him aright and 
 the God of missions more. 
 
 Rev. Francis Mason, D. D., a fellow laborer, ren- 
 dered a fraternal tribute in which he said : " The death 
 of Bro. Abbott is a great public loss, for he was remark- 
 ably successful in every branch of missionary labor. 
 He preached the Gospel, and great multitudes were 
 converted ; he educated native preachers, and they are 
 among the ablest that have entered the ministry ; he 
 constituted churches, and they are distinguished above 
 all others for recognizing the obligations that rest upon 
 
A MEMORIAL. 177 
 
 them to support their own pastors; and he wrote 
 books, and they remain our best specimens of Karen 
 literature. 
 
 " It would be difficult to find in the whole range of 
 modern missions another man to whom God has 
 awarded an equal measure of visible success. He 
 rests, but the minds his impinged upon still move on, 
 destined to communicate their power to other minds 
 from age to age, in a multiplying progression. Then 
 he is not dead. He lives in those to whom he has im- 
 parted life, and will thus live in all coming generations 
 of redeemed Karens." 
 
 The work of God among the Karens during his 
 ministry, carried on, as it was, in the face of difficul- 
 ties that might have dismayed if not defeated a less 
 valiant man, was the missionary marvel and joy of 
 its day. American Christians of forty and fifty years 
 ago, still living, kindle at the mention of the mountain 
 Karens and their leaders, from Boardman and Ko Thah- 
 byu to Abbott and Myat Kyau. They were the 
 Telugus of their time, and taking all the circumstances 
 into consideration nothing more inspiring is being 
 done in any mission land to-day; nothing makes a 
 deeper or more permanent impression. The story will 
 bear repeating and perusal to the end of the era, and 
 Christian hearts ever be greatly improved by it. 
 
 Glancing over the period of fifty years from 1828 to 
 1878, a number of striking events appear. Noble men 
 and women come into the arena, forming the principal 
 features in the occurrences — the Vintons, Kincaids, 
 Stillsons, Ingallses, Van Meters, Braytons, Beechers, 
 and others, the most of whom belong to the middle 
 
178 A GALAXY. 
 
 section. Ko Thah-byu, the first convert to Christianity 
 from among the Karens, was baptized by Mr. Board- 
 man in 1828. At the end of the half-century, 1878, a 
 fine Memorial Hall bearing his name was dedicated at 
 Bassein, as one of the buildings of the Sgau Karen 
 Normal and Industrial Institute, for perpetual use in 
 the instruction of the down-trodden race which he 
 led out to behold the Lamb of God, and in continuous 
 numbers to embrace Him. 
 
 Mr. Abbott was one of the earlier men of this pe- 
 riod ; and after continuing with unsparing devotion 
 almost to the middle year, he was compelled to quit 
 the field. Others carried forward the work to the end 
 of the period when the Institute was brought to com- 
 pletion, it having been paid for, largely, by the Sgau 
 Karen Christians, whose povertj' abounded unto the 
 riches of their liberality. Thus, while Ko Thah-byu 
 led his nation, and was honored in the naming of it, 
 Abbott, by his evangelizing work and sentiments of 
 benevolence, made the consummation possible, and was 
 memorialized in the permanent decorations. His co- 
 worker, Mr. Beecher, was honored in a similar manner. 
 To these brethren marble tablets were placed in the 
 wall, side by side ; and they being one in purpose, the 
 reading of the tablets is given that it may be seen in 
 what respects they were held in so great estimation : 
 
A MEMORIAL. 179 
 
 SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 (Name and title in Karen.) 
 
 Missionary of the Amer. Bap. Miss'y Union, 
 
 And, by the help of God, the Founder of the 
 
 Bassein Sgau Karen Normal and Industrial Institute. 
 
 Born in Hinesburg, Vt., U. S. A.,^Feb. 19, 1820 ; 
 
 Arrived in Sandoway, Burma, Dec, 1847 ; 
 
 Opeued^this Institution in 1864; 
 
 Died in Plymouth, Eng., Oct. 22, 1866. 
 
 His is the distinguished honor of establishing 
 
 The first Christian School in Burma on 
 
 The Basis of indigenous Support. 
 
 The Karen Christians of Bassein'will not suffer 
 
 His name,'orHhe Institution which he founded, 
 
 To perish. 
 
 [In Karen] May his work ever flourish ! 
 
 SACRED TO THE MEMORY OE 
 
 ("BXishtt S«4}fteli' 2^bbott. 
 
 [In Karen]' Father-Teacher Abbott. 
 
 Missionary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and 
 
 under God the 
 
 Founder of the Bassein Karen Mission. 
 
 Born in Cazenovia, N. Y., U. S. A., Oct. 26, 1809; 
 
 Arrived in Maulmein, Burma, 1836 ; 
 
 First tour to Kyootoo, Bassein, Dec. 23, 1837; 
 
 Died in Fulton, N. Y., U. S. A., Dec. 3, 1854. 
 
 He was enabled to establish fifty Christian 
 
 Churches among the heathen, in which 
 
 Self-support was wisely practiced 
 
 From the beginning. His name will ever live 
 
 In the traditions'of the Bassein Karens 
 
 As that of a hero, and their beloved 
 
 Spiritual Father. 
 [In Karen] We loved him very much. 
 
l8o A GALAXY. 
 
 Mr. Abbott had a tranquil Sabbath in which to die. 
 As the day was ending he closed his eyes to earth and 
 friends and opened them in the world where there is 
 no night, and where he must have met not a few of 
 the Karens, who, on his departure from Arakan, said : 
 " We shall die in our longings after teacher Abbott." 
 
 By his request his remains were borne from Ful- 
 ton to New Woodstock, N. Y., and buried among his 
 kindred at the latter place. It was here that his rear- 
 ing in the spiritual life was received. Here was the 
 very sanctuary in which he had obtained instruction 
 in his earlier years, and in which he received funeral 
 honors at the end of life's hard-fought battle. Victor 
 on the field and over the grave, he had only to fall 
 asleep and be gathered unto his fathers. 
 
 In this old church the revered John Peck had 
 held forth the Word of I/ife, with young Abbott as one 
 of his attentive listeners. As a towering tree in the 
 pineries of New York, fresh and fragrant all the year 
 through, inspiring and impressive, he performed his 
 part in forming the character of the young apostle to 
 the Karens, building better than he knew. It was 
 fitting that the harvested sheaf be laid before the altar 
 of that church before removed from sight. What 
 memories clustered there then ! In the life-time that 
 has passed since that solemn hour most of those who 
 knew him have also passed away and few remain to 
 speak of him ; yet some are living whose hearts are 
 stirred at every mention of their distinguished fellow- 
 citizen. 
 
 Above his remains stands a handsome monument 
 of red granite, erected by the family of the person 
 
A MEMORIAL. l8l 
 
 whose name he bore, and containing the following in- 
 scriptions : First side — 
 
 ©e». ffiUsthti Sitchftel& 3lbbo«. 
 
 Missionary to Burma. 
 
 Died Dec. 3, 1854. 
 
 Aged 45 years. 
 
 " His works do follow him." 
 
 Second side — 
 
 Mr. Abbott was appointed Mission- 
 ary by the Baptist Board in 1835, and 
 continued his labors with marked 
 success for nineteen years. With 
 health broken he then came home, 
 and was soon called to his rest. 
 Third side — 
 
 This Monument was erected 
 
 by the Sons of the 
 
 Hon. Elisha Litchfield. 
 
 What of her who walked with him through the 
 glow and gloom of life in the Orient? 
 
 It is a joy to note the presence in the Burman sky 
 of so bright a light as this — so steady and so safe a 
 guide to the lost heathen. She was a fair representa- 
 tive of the woman missionaries of the third decade and 
 a credit to the class as a whole. She was born in 
 Duchess county, New York, in July 1809 ; was con- 
 verted early and favored with a good education. At 
 the time of the visit of Dr. and Mrs. Wade to the 
 United States, in 1834, she was appointed a teacher to 
 the Karens in Tavoy and sailed with these returning 
 missionaries, reaching the field and entering upon her 
 
1 82 A GALAXY. 
 
 work in January, 1835. Two years later'(April 2, 1837) 
 she was married to Mr. Abbott, who had gone out 
 alone, and who met her shortly after his arrival. Hav- 
 ing acquired a knowledge of the Burmese and Karen 
 languages with great facility and quite fully, she was 
 prepared to accompany her husband in his great and 
 beneficent enterprises. 
 
 After three years of experience and labors in Bur- 
 ma Proper, with Rangoon and Maulmein as centers, 
 and the Karens of the country as the people of their 
 special regard, they despaired of doing an extensive 
 work there at once on account of the hostile attitude 
 of the Burman government. But the Karens had 
 found a place in their hearts, and for them they would 
 live and die ; a sympathy reciprocated by that people, so 
 susceptible to human kindness and the Gospel of love. 
 They went over the mountains westward and settled 
 in Sandoway, and from that point undertook to care 
 for the scattered and persecuted Karen Christians and 
 to extend the work of evangelization. 
 
 Mrs. Abbott now began to display her natural and 
 acquired abilities, and in the best sense was the com- 
 plement of her husband. He could not use Burmese 
 with fluency and made no attempt to preach to the 
 Burman population about them. She had studied that 
 language intensely ; had mastered it and could speak 
 it fluently. So, while he gave attention to the Karens, 
 she devoted her time and talent to the dominant, but 
 not less needy race — the Burman. Their house stood 
 out of town by the wayside. " In front," is the de- 
 scription contained in the tender and fitting eulogy by 
 the bereaved husband, " there was a large veranda, that 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 183 
 
 passers-by were accustomed to enter, either to seek 
 rest and shelter from the burning sun or from the rain 
 in its season, or attracted by curiosity to see the for- 
 eigners and their children. That veranda was Mrs. 
 Abbott's chapel. There she used to take her seat, with 
 a bundle of tracts and the Scriptures, which she would 
 read and explain to all that would listen. Occasionally 
 a large group would sit in silence for hours, held there 
 by the influence which Mrs. Abbott exerted over them 
 by her presence and the perfect manner in which she 
 spoke their language. Her command of Burmese was 
 a passport to their hearts; and well did the meek 
 preacher know how to avail herself of it to secure an 
 introduction for that Gospel which bringeth life and 
 immortality to light. 
 
 " Another means of usefulness was in ministering 
 to the sick and afflicted. The mama's fame for good- 
 ness and skill spread to all the villages round about; 
 and the lame, the halt, and the blind were brought in 
 to receive medical aid. Did a child tread upon a coal 
 and burn its foot, it was sure to be brought by its 
 mother to the mama for help. Many children of the 
 land are afflicted with sores, arising, no doubt, from 
 their habits of life. Such cases were attended to at 
 once, their sores or wounds washed or bandaged, and 
 directions given how to take care of them. And when 
 all was done the poor creatures would sit down on the 
 mat at her feet and listen to the reading of a tract or 
 to words of wisdom and truth. Thus Mrs. Abbott, 
 like other women in our missions, exerted an influence 
 over heathen women as nearly divine as anything we 
 can conceive of in this fallen world. 
 
184 A GALAXY. 
 
 " For five years she thus pursued her way, amidst 
 domestic cares and sorrows, in weakness and affliction, 
 ever ready to divide her sohcitude between her own 
 feeble infants and the heathen women who might 
 gather around her door. With a fidehty and meekness 
 seldom surpassed, and never ostentatiously displayed, 
 she discharged the daily obligations of life ; and with 
 a faith that never wavered she bore the burdens which 
 her missionary life imposed. All the labor in the Bur- 
 mese department she performed ; all its responsibility 
 devolved on her, and well did she sustain it. Although 
 subjected to trials peculiar to herself and to her posi- 
 tion, known only to ourselves, she labored for the wel- 
 fare of the heathen with a constancy untiring, ever 
 exhibiting a Christian magnanimity as she walked on 
 in the pathway of life. She fulfilled her mission of 
 suffering, of toil and holy influence, till she sunk sud- 
 denly but gently into the grave." 
 
 The first convert from the Burmans, at Sandoway, 
 Ko Bike, was led to Christ by Mrs. Abbott, and was 
 baptized in 1843. He maintained a good profession, 
 though cast out and abused by neighbors and his own 
 wife and family, and died trusting in Christ, after an 
 exemplary Christian life of more than twenty-five 
 years. A Buddhist priest came and sat at her feet to 
 get instruction, breaking his pride, if not his caste, and 
 is believed to have been converted and to have died 
 a Christian. The Burmese church of Sandoway was 
 due to her self-denying toil — ability to teach, attract, 
 and lead. 
 
 At evening time it was light. When the moun- 
 tains had lengthened and deepened their shadows, she 
 
A MEMORIAI,. 185 
 
 passed to the land on -which the shadows never fall 
 and which the sun never smites. During the night 
 the news of her departure spread to the neighboring 
 villages, and in the morning more widely. Then was 
 witnessed the spectacle of a mourning multitude, as- 
 sembled from the surrounding country that they might 
 take a final view of the -mama who had become so en- 
 deared to them ; and the time could scarcely be fixed, 
 if ever, when they ceased to mention her with gratitude 
 and love. 
 
 " The native officers of the place came and proposed 
 to make a large gilded coffin, and to carry her to her 
 grave with pomp and parade." This was not a dictate 
 of heathen formalism, but a mode of respect, prompted 
 by hearts that had felt the pulsations of hers in repeat- 
 ed acts of kindness. At evening she was laid to rest 
 beside her two infant children, who had died the year 
 before, having served the cause of missions for about 
 ten years. " A plain monument is erected over the 
 spot ; and a marble slab simply tells the stranger that 
 it is the grave of Mrs. Abbott." 
 
1 86 A GALAXY. 
 
 XII. 
 
 minha g, ^bb Cf it— MISSIONARY sense; 
 
 TRIBUTES OF DR. SPEAR AND MRS. DR. 
 BINNEY; ARAKAN TO-DAY. 
 
 O take wlio will the boon of fading fame ! 
 
 But give to me 
 A place among the workers, though my name 
 
 Forgotten be ; 
 And if within the book of life is found 
 
 My lowly place, 
 Honor and glory unto God redound 
 
 For all his grace ! 
 
 Marianne; Farningham. 
 
 IN forming a judgment of such a man as Abbott it is 
 necessary to consider not only his nature, but also 
 the character of the times and circumstances in which 
 he was called to act. Missions were introduced in 
 Burma twenty years and more previously to his time, 
 but they were still in their infancy and were not grow- 
 ing and developing as rapidly as the opportunity 
 seemed to make possible. I^aborers from America 
 were few and scattered, while at the several stations 
 were converts who understood their countrymen, un- 
 derstood the primary conditions of salvation, and were 
 qualified by their experience of saving grace and by 
 their zeal and gift of endurance to bring others into 
 possession of the faith and hope which they enjoyed. 
 Mr. Abbott's recognition of the situation and the 
 
A MEMORIAL. 187 
 
 thing to be done was of the nature of an intuition — 
 missionary sense. And when the assistants had ad- 
 vanced their work to the point of conversion, proving 
 thus their knowledge of the way of life, why might 
 they not give the converted ones the further benefits 
 of the Gospel ? If they had led sinners aright, could 
 they not be trusted to minister unto Christians? It 
 was natural for Christians in America to be conserva- 
 tive, especially as they had not yet learned that the 
 heathen were gifted and could manage as well as 
 evangelize, and that judiciousness often meant jogging. 
 The angel was flying through the heavens with the 
 everlasting Gospel, and it became the saints on the 
 earth to quicken their pace.; 
 
 In sending out Mr. Abbott the Board must have 
 known what manner of man he was — one of a small 
 class, if not a class of himself alone. The elements of 
 his character were revealed in his student life, which 
 was cut short because as an evangelizer he could not 
 be held in check by the customs nor by popular judg- 
 ment, however wise. He was passionate and invinci- 
 ble; was physically builded for heroic doing. Prof. 
 P. B. Spear, D. D., a fellow 'student, says: "He was 
 every way a well-rounded man ; above medium size, 
 athletic, symmetrical, and strong — magna, mens in mag- 
 no corpore." 
 
 Dr. Spear, who was also a cotemporary, at Hamil- 
 ton, of such " nobles " in the foreign work as Com- 
 stock, Dean, Howard, Vinton, Bronson, Day (S. S.), 
 Haswell (J. M.), Reed, Thomas (Jacob), Stillson, and 
 others, favors the author with the following brief men- 
 tion of Mr. Abbott : 
 
1 88 A GALAXY. 
 
 " He was an earnest, sympathetic, and forceful 
 preacher. He took hold of his missionary work in the 
 natural and practical way, as a thing to be done by 
 human agency at well as by divine power. He was 
 preeminently the Apostle to the Karens. He not only 
 labored for their conversion, but he grasped the true 
 idea of a church, that it must be well organized, made 
 up of native preachers, deacons, and spiritual members. 
 These must all be taught to rely upon themselves for 
 self-support, and not look to the American churches 
 inimitably, for means of growth that they could get 
 among themselves. They must work and contribute 
 money. 
 
 " Dr. Judson was preeminently a 'Bible mission- 
 ary.' He spent almost his life to give the Bible to the 
 heathen in their own tongue. Dr. Wade was a ' Per- 
 sonal piety missionary.' The real spirit of Christianity 
 was in his missionary labor. Dr. Kincaid was an 
 energetic preaching missionary. He could sway the 
 heathen world with his eloquence. Rev. EHsha I,. 
 Abbott seems ipreeminently to have caught the idea, 
 and enforced it, not only that churches must be con- 
 stituted, but that the heathen must learn what it is to 
 take care of themselves, and strive that their churches 
 should be self-perpetuating. His first station was 
 Rangoon. He preached with great power. He edu- 
 cated native preachers. He wrote books that were 
 among good specimens of Karen literature. He was a 
 builder as well as a worker. If he had not been cut 
 short in his missionary life, he bid fair to have raised 
 up among the Karens, churches and schools of learn- 
 ing that would have rivaled those connected with any 
 of our missionary stations." 
 
A MEMORIAL. 189 
 
 In his day the instinct of missions" was a very great 
 qualification. It is still important, but then there was 
 scarcely any other gift that assured a striking success ; 
 scarcely another to govern — certainly not experience, 
 nor an example fitting his circumstances. He was in 
 a wilderness, with an opportunity of lifting his ax 
 upon the thick trees ; he saw his calling andfproceeded 
 to cut his way. He became conscious of approaching 
 death, and felt that he must do with his might what 
 his hand found to do.^. Had he waited to get every 
 one's opinion, and to rectify such as were at all im- 
 portant, he would have met death ere the occasion 
 could have been improved. 
 
 When a vital force appears, it becomes all interested 
 persons to conserve it ; not to embarrass it, unless evi- 
 dently dangerous. And one who went at the hazard 
 of his life, led of the Spirit, and "sent forth" by the 
 Church, was, in that day, likely to be well guided. He 
 could not have been destructive, for he went to the 
 place of destruction, and anything he might build was 
 better than what he found, and was likely to improve 
 rather than damage. 
 
 Mr. Abbott was great and he was good. Yet he 
 was the frailest of men. It was only in the hands of 
 God that he was spared from wrecking himself on 
 many a rock that lay in his course. In motive he was 
 incorrupt; in temperament, impetuous and invincible. 
 He could fire the breasts of the Karens with such 
 ardor for him and his cause that they would go with 
 or without him to prison and to death. The flash of 
 his eye and the ring of his voice could inspire them 
 with greater daring than it was safe to indulge. In 
 
I go A GALAXY. 
 
 public discourse he was master of an assembly; in 
 testimony of which, a very competent judge, Mrs. Dr. 
 Binney, giving a full account of a visit he made to 
 the Seminary and other schools at Maulmein, said : 
 
 " Mr. Abbott gave us other and truer ideas of the 
 power of the Karen tongue to produce deep emotion, 
 and of the susceptibility of the Karen mind to receive 
 such emotion. On the Sabbath'preceding the day of his 
 departure he preached his farewell sermon." Pupils 
 of the theological school, of a^station-school, and of the 
 Normal school were present. " The Karens from all 
 parts of the district had heard of his visit, and he was 
 a magnet which drew them to him. For several days 
 they came flocking in, till, on Sunday morning, the 
 largest chapel was too small for them. As he rose to 
 speak, his heart was too full for immediate utterance ; 
 but he soon obtained the mastery, and brought before 
 his hearers the most vivid panorama of their past, 
 present, and hoped-for future; their past heathenish 
 darkness, ignorance, oppression, sin ; their present, the 
 gospel light dawning upon them; in British' Burma, at 
 least, freedom to worship the God of whom they had 
 learned; everywhere the freedom which the Gospel 
 brings and the hopes which it inspires, and with it the 
 privilege, if need be, of sufi"ering and dying for the 
 love of Him who, for our sakes, counted not his own 
 life dear unto himself. He told them of the great 
 boon now offered of a special school for the training 
 of preachers and teachers to carry forward this work ; 
 then pictured before them their future, if they were 
 wise to know and brave to perform what the wonder- 
 ful Providence of God now required. He pointed to 
 
A MEMORIAL. 191 
 
 the Karens rising from their filth and degradation to 
 the rank of an enhghtened people, taking the lead in 
 evangelizing the tribes and people around them, and 
 appearing like a city set on a hill, to which the people 
 should gather. Finally, in view of the whole, he 
 pressed upon them, in detail, the sacrifices required, 
 the difiiculties they would meet, the terrible conse- 
 quences if they failed to meet these responsibilities, and 
 their reward, if they truly acted in the spirit of the 
 Master who had called them to this service — all in a 
 manner inimitable, perhaps unparalleled. At the close 
 of a sermon of nearly two hours, during which we 
 took no note of time, or of aught else save the thrill- 
 ing thoughts presented, and the occasional sobs which 
 could not be wholly suppressed, he sat down entirely 
 exhausted." 
 
 Mr. Abbott had a strong affinity for the Karen 
 Christians, and they were ardent followers of him as 
 he followed Christ. While it has ever been character- 
 istic of them as a people to think well of their teach- 
 ers and to flock to them for spiritual food, there was a 
 magnetic power in him to draw them. This power 
 must have consisted in his vivacious manner and warm, 
 impulsive heart. They were in deepest sympathy 
 with him in joy and in sorrow. 
 
 On the morning of his departure from Dr. Binney's, 
 they gathered about the house, early and in large 
 numbers, to be with him as long as possible. The 
 parting was of deep and tender interest. As he was 
 leaving the ground they, observing that he was likely 
 to be annoyed by the mud before the door, rushed for 
 a chair, and wrapping his cloak about him seated him 
 therein, and carried him through it to his conveyance. 
 
192 A GAI<AXY. 
 
 He felt less dependent on other missionaries than 
 most others, and clung the more to the native Chris 
 tians. Such an a£&nity exists in many other mission- 
 aries, and wherever found it proves a decided element 
 of success ; but some are not so ardent as others. 
 
 Those who entered upon the work in Arakan and 
 Bassein, and were in part cotemporaneous with him, 
 were men of perseverance and power. It would be a 
 great satisfaction to trace the career of Mr. Van Meter, 
 who was on Mr. Abbott's field twenty years, and that 
 of his good wife, who committed him to the care of 
 God for a voyage to his native land, and remained to 
 continue his work; who carried on the mission after 
 he had ceased from all earthly labor and passed away, 
 far from her sight, and until she herself was ready for 
 her reward. Their names remain in grateful remem- 
 brance for what they did. Mr. Beecher merits much, 
 likewise, for his twenty years of faithful service among 
 the same people and in company with Mr. Abbott, as 
 the mural tablet in the Bassein Institute, before men- 
 tioned, notably signifies. His two good wives, the first 
 of which died at sea in seeking recuperation in her 
 native land, had their part in the great work of elevat- 
 ing the Karens. Mr. Douglass (Rev. J. 1,. ) came on 
 later, but had a period of fifteen years of most honor- 
 able and useful missionary service, then returned to 
 the United States and died. Mrs. Douglass preceded 
 him to the Better I,and, after protracted illness, dying 
 at Philadelphia in 1861. Dr. Kincaid, a most vital 
 factor in the Karen work of the earlier period, has 
 been most admiringly memorialized. Rev. C. H. Car- 
 penter was a very magnetic force at a later da}^, at 
 Bassein. 
 
A MEMORIAL. 193 
 
 It only comes within the plan of this memorial to 
 present a few characters, and by these to give an out- 
 line of the work of God in the Arakan-Bassein Mis- 
 sion, so manifestly approved of God. Messrs. Stillson 
 and Ingalls helped to lay the foundations, though in 
 the more unhealthy parts of Arakan. Their labors 
 were to some extent identified with those of Abbott, 
 and their history unites with his for some part of its 
 course ; yet it would be gratifying to the friends of 
 missions to have their lives and labors presented in 
 separate form and in detail, as forming a part of the 
 interesting annals of their times. They need not the 
 praise, but we need the impulse which their and other 
 examples of consecrated effort are calculated to give. 
 For the present the reader will be content with the 
 weaving their names have gained in the web of the 
 Comstocks and Abbotts, by whom they were preceded 
 on the Arakan field. Subsequent to them were C. C. 
 Moore, Harvey M. Campbell, Harvey K. Knapp, A. T. 
 Rose, and A. B. Satterlee, and their wives, several of 
 whom were called early to the Heavenly Rest. 
 
 In 1849 the missionary work for Arakan became 
 known by a single station — Sandoway. The entire 
 province had its importance, yet the sickliness of the 
 climate, which experience had shown to be greater 
 than in other parts of the East, and other circum- 
 stances determined the preference of a different field 
 for most of the workers. The harvest extended so 
 widely and the laborers were so few, that it seemed 
 best to study locations very carefully. The soil of 
 Arakan had been enriched with the dust of the Halls 
 and Comstocks, and the missionary enterprise had en- 
 
194 A GALAXY. 
 
 tered as a golden thread into the unwritten history of 
 that country. Neither life nor labor had been in vain. 
 Nor was the deplorable shortening of the lives of those 
 who followed the above, whose deaths occurred in the 
 fifties, to be taken as evidence that they mistook the 
 leading of Providence in going there. " My times are 
 in Thy hand." All human lives enter into the warp 
 and woof of one eternal purpose. 
 
 But the chief interest was with the Karens in Bur- 
 ma, and of necessity with the Burmans in some degree. 
 At a time when all Christians regarded a religious 
 awakening among the heathen as a phenomenon of 
 great significance, the missionaries were deeply stirred 
 by the signs of its coming, and more by the thing it- 
 self Very properly they thought they ought to thrust 
 in the sickle, and to go to the field where the reaper 
 and the sickle were in special demand. The Karens 
 of Burma presented the phenomenon — they constitut- 
 ed the whiten'ed harvest. But governments are very 
 obdurate ; particularly those not enlightened. And the 
 laborers could only look over the border and observe 
 the harvest going to waste, except as the opportunity 
 of gathering some sheaves was made possible by the 
 falling of the grain towards them. The saving of 
 some, in the manner in which it was accomplished, was 
 itself one of the most remarkable circumstances in all 
 the history of saving grace. In a country where the 
 Christian religion had no history and but brief initial 
 experience by which to become known, we observe 
 the devotees of false religions flocking to the foreign 
 faith as doves to their windows. Why should not the 
 missionaries '' assuredly gather " that they were called 
 to preach the Gospel unto them? 
 
A MBMORIAIv. 195 
 
 After reaping thousands of sheaves under the em- 
 barrassments indicated, the restrictions were wiped 
 away by the hand of war, and for once the messen- 
 gers of peace lifted up their voices in thanks and 
 praise for the appearance of that bloody hand. It was 
 no longer necessary to keep open asylum for the fugi- 
 tives from beyond the mountains. The way was open 
 to evangelize them in their home field, and the Arakan 
 mission having already lost its identity or name by 
 being operated mainly at and from Sandoway, the 
 latter post was put in charge of a less experienced 
 soldiery, while those who had seen service in conflict 
 with the Burmans entered one of their strongholds in 
 the heart of their country— Bassein. 
 
 Still the other points of occupation were not aban- 
 doned at once. Messrs. Moore, Knapp, Campbell, and 
 Rose held them until 1854. Since that year, in which 
 also Mr. Abbott died, Arakan in name has given place 
 to Sandoway, which is recognized as the " sanitarium 
 of Arakan," and now is the only mission station in 
 that province. It is occupied at present by Messrs. 
 F. H. Eveleth and W. F. Thomas and their wives, and 
 by Miss Melissa Aldrich and Miss Melissa Carr. Mr. 
 Eveleth has charge of the Burman churches and Mr. 
 Thomas of the Chins ; the latter people being consti- 
 tuted in twelve churches, mostly under native preach- 
 ers, and having an aggregate membership of two hun- 
 dred and eighty-six.* 
 
 *Tlie latest intelligence from Mr. Thomas, as found in The Kingdom 
 for March, reads : Rejoice with us in the formation yesterday of the first 
 Kemee church, as well as of the first native church in the Akyab district 
 in many years. The nucleus, of this church is a penitent straggler from 
 the ingathering in " Chet^a's Village," so many years ago. 
 
196 A GAIvAXY. 
 
 Before the opening of Burma in 1852, Sandoway 
 was headquarters of what was known as the " Bassein 
 Sgau Karen Mission"; a name that pointed to Bassein 
 as an objective center. After the war of that year the 
 province of Pegu was ceded to the Enghsh and Bas- 
 sein was reached and occupied by the missionaries. 
 It has had quite a rapid growth ; is situated on the 
 western delta-branch of the great Irrawaddy, one hun- 
 dred miles west of Rangoon and fifty miles from the 
 sea, and has a large trade in rice. 
 
 Thus it is that poor Arakan, now a part of Burma 
 Proper, made notable by the cry of Comstock, " Six 
 Men for Arakan," is ever remembered in the sympa- 
 thies of American Baptists, and still receives their 
 money and men — all too little and too few, yet ofier- 
 ings that seem to answer in some degree the heart 
 yearnings of those whose dust reposes at Akyab, Ram- 
 ree, and Sandoway, and at New Woodstock in America. 
 
,5r; ■<»,?< 
 
 wt;«VA">SN^>