T. H, p. SAILER, 4046 SPRUCE ST., PHILADELPHIA. tihvaxy of Che t:heolo0(cd ^mimvy PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY FROM THE LIBRARY OF ROBERT ELLIOTT SPEER BV 3271 .J7 J842 1894 Judson, Edward, 1844-1914. Adoniram Judson T. H. p. SAILER, 4046 SPRUCE ST., PHILADELPHIA. TO THE CHILDREN OF MISSIONARIES, THE INVOLUNTARY INHERITORS OF THEIR PARENTS' SUFFERINGS AND REWARDS, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY ONE OF THEIR NUMBER. PREFATORY NOTE It is my purpose in the following pages to present a clear and consecutive story of my father's life, which may be justly said to form the main artery of the American Foreign Missionary Enterprise, In order to do this I have essentially re-written the Memoir which I prepared ten years ago for Anson D. F. Randolph & Co., and have endeavored to meet the requirements of the younger generation of Christendom. Free use has also been made of the personal reminiscences contributed by the fasci- nating pen of Mrs. Emily C. Judson to Dr. Wayland's noble and comprehensive Memoir, now out of print. The American Baptist ■Missionary Union possesses a very full collection of journals and letters, etc., which have been very carefully studied. It is a matter for sincere thanksgiving that these were spared and not consumed in the recent fire at Tremont Temple, as was understood by me when this book was first published. E. J. New York, 1894. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I. Early Years. 1788-1809, 9 CHAPTEll II. Consecration to Missionary Life. 1809-1812, . . 22 CHAPTER III. Voyage to Bur.ma. 1812-1813, • 29 CHAPTER IV. Burma and Buddhism, 40 CHAPTER V. Life in Rangoon. 1813-1819, 57 CHAPTER VI. Life in Rangoon {Continued). 1819-1823, ... 74 CHAPTER VII. Life in Ava and Ounq-pen-la. 1823-1826, ... 89 7 8 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER VIII. Life in Amherst. 1826-1827, 101 CHAPTEU IX. Life in Moulmein. 1827-1831, Ill CHAPTER X. Lite in Moulmein (^Continued). 1831-1845, . . .130 CHAPTER XI. Visit to America. 1845-1846, 143 CHAPTER XII. Last Years. 1846-1850, 158 CHAPTER XIll. Posthumous Influence, 172 ADONIRAM JUDSOiN CHAPTER I EARLY YEARS. 1788-1809 rriHE traveler who visits Maiden, Massachusetts, one Jl of the picturesque suburban towns of Boston, may find iu the Baptist meeting-house a marble tablet, bear- ing the following inscription : IN MExMORIAM. REV. ADONIRAM JUDSON. BORN AUG. 9, 1788. BIED APRIL 12, 1850. MALDEN, HIS BIRTHPLACE. THE OCEAN, HIS SEPULCHRE. CONVERTED BURMANS, AND THE BURMAN BIBLE, HIS MONUMENT. HIS RECORD IS ON HIGH. The old wooden house embosomed among the trees is still pointed out as the birthplace of Adoniram Judson. His father, also named Adoniram, was a Congregational minister, hovn in Woodbury, Connecticut, in June, 1752. He was married November 23, 1786, to Abigail Brown, who was born at Tiverton, Rhode Island, December 15, 9 10 ADONIRAM JUDSON 1759. Soon after his marriage he settled in Maiden, Massachusetts, and here his eldest son, Adoniram, was bom. The boy was precocious and learned to read when he was only three years old. While his father was absent on a journey, his mother conceived the idea of teaching her child, in order that she might give her husband an agreeable surprise on his return. She succeeded so well that when his father came home he saluted him by read- ing a whole chapter in the Bible. His affection for his father must have been deeply tinged with awe ; for the elder Adoniram was a stern man, and very strict in his domestic administration. He was a man of decidedly imposing appearance, his stature being rather above the average. His white hair, erect position, grave utterance, and somewhat taciturn manner, together with the position he naturally took in society, left one somewhat at a loss whether to class him with a patriarch of the Hebrews or a censor of the Romans. He was through life esteemed a man of inflexible integrity and uniform consistency of Christian character. To the influence of such a father perhaps were due the stately courtesy that characterized Mr. Jud- son's social intercourse throughout his whole life, and the dignity of style which pervaded even his most familiar letters. The family lived in Maiden until Adoniram was about four-and-a-half years old. During that time his sister, Abigail Brown Judson, was born, to become the compan- ion of his childhood and his life-long confidante. She recently died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the age of ninety-five. She remembered hearing her parents relate that when her brother was only four years old, he used EAELY YF.ARH 11 to gather together the children of the neighborhood to play church, he officiating as minister ; and that even then his favorite hymn was the one beginning, " Go preach my gospel, saith the Lord." In January, 1793, the family removed to Wenham, Massachusetts, a village about twenty miles northeast of Boston, where Adoniram lived until he was twelve years old. Here his brother Elnathan, who became a surgdon in the United States Navy, was born May 28, 1794. Here too, when Adoniram was eight years old, his sister Mary was born, only to die six mouths later. This first contact with death must have marlted an epoch in his boyish life. Adoniram was about seven years old, when, having been duly instructed that the earth is a spherical body and that it revolves around the sun, it became a serious question in his mind whether or not the sun moved at all. He might have settled the point by asking his father or mother; but that would have spoiled all his pleasant speculations, and probably would have been the very last thing to occur to him. His little sister, whom alone he consulted, said the sun did move, for she could see it ; but he had learned already in this matter to distrust the evidence of his senses, and he talked so wisely about positive proof, that she was astonished and silenced. Soon after this he was one day missed about midday ; and as he had not been seen for several hours, his father became uneasy and went in search of him. He was found in a field, at some distance from the house, stretched on his back, his hat with a circular hole cut in the crown laid over his face, and his swollen eyes almost bUnded with the intense light and heat. He only told bis father that he was looking at the sun ; but he assured 12 ADONIRAM JUDSON his sister that he had solved the problem with regard to the sun's moving, though she never could comprehend the process by which he arrived at the result. He was noted among his companions for uncommon acuteness in the solution of charades and enigmas, and retained a great store of them in his memory for the pur- pose of puzzling his schoolfellows. On one occasion he found in a newspaper an enigma rather boastfully set forth, and accompanied by a challenge for a solution. He felt very sure that he had " guessed riddles as hard as that," and gave himself no rest until he had discovered a satisfactory answer. This he copied out in as fair i hand as possible, addressed it to the editor, and confiding in no one but his sister, conveyed it to the post-office. But the postmaster supposed it to be some mischievous prank of the minister's son, and he accordingly placed the letter in the hands of the father. The poor boy's surprise and discomfiture may be imagined when he saw it paraded on the table after tea. " Is that yours, Adouiram ? " "Yes, sir." " How came you to write it ? " Silence. "What is it about?" Falteringly, " Please read it, father." " I do not read other people's letters. Break the seal and read it yourself." Adoniram broke the seal and mumbled over the con- tents, then placed the letter in his father's hands. He read it, called for the newspaper which had suggested it, and after reading and re-reading both, laid them" on the table, crossed his hands on his knees, and looked intently into the fire. Meanwhile Adoniram stood silently EARLY YEARS 13 watching his countenance, speculating on the chances of his being treated as a culprit, or praised for his acute- ness. But the father awoke from his reverie, the subject of conversation was changed, and the letter never heard of afterward. The next morning Adoniram's father gravely informed him that he had purchased for his use a book of riddles, a very common one, but as soon as he had solved all that it contained, he should have more difficult books. " You are a very acute boy, Adoniram," he added, pat- ting him on the head with unusual affection ; " and I ex- pect you to become a great man." Adoniram seized upon the book of riddles joyfully, and was a good deal surprised and disappointed to find it the veritable arithmetic which the larger boys in Master Dodge's school were studying. But then his father had praised him, and if there was anything puzzling in the aritlinietic, he was sure he should like it ; and so he pre- pared to enter upon the study with alacrity. Before reaching his tenth year, he had gained quite a reputation for good scholarship, especially in arithmetic. A gentleman residing in the neighboring town of Beverly sent him a problem, with the offer of a dollar for the solution. Adoniram immediately shut himself in his chamber. The reward was tempting ; but more important still, his reputation was at stake. On the morning of the second day he was called from his seclu- sion to amuse his little brother, who was ill. He went reluctantly, but without murmuring, for the government of his parents was of a nature that no child would think of resisting. His task was to build a cob house. He laid an unusually strong foundation, with unaccountable slowness and hesitation, and was very deliberately proceed- 14 ADONIRAM JUDSON ing with the superstructure, when suddenly he exclaimed : " That's it ! I've got it ! " and sending the materials for the half-built house rolling about the room, he hurried off to his chamber to record the result. The problem was solved, the dollar was won, and the boy's reputation established. At the age of ten he was sent to one Captain Morton, of whom he took lessons in navigation, in which he is said to have made decided progress. In the grammar school he was noted for his proficiency in the Greek language. His schoolmates nicknamed him " Virgil," or in allusion to the peculiar style of the hat which he wore, as well as to his studious habits, " old Virgil dug up." As a boy he was spirited, self-confident, and exceedingly enthusiastic, very active and energetic, but fonder of his books than of play. His sister ha? a vivid recollection of his afl^ectiouate tenderness to- ward her, and of his great kindness to the inferior animals. He was very fond of desultory reading ; and as there were no books for children at that period, he alternated between the books of theology found in his father's library, and the novels of Richardson and Fielding, or the plays of Ben Jonson, which he wiie able to borrow in the neighborhood. It is not probable that his father encouraged this latter class of reading, but the habits of selfniependeuce which he had thought proper to cultivate in his son, left his hours of leisure mostly untrammelled; and seeing the greediness with which the boy occasionally devoured books of the gravest character, it very likely had not occurred to him that he could feel the least possible interest in any work of the imagination. Before Adoniram was twelve years of age, he had I EARLY YEARS 15 heard visitors at his father's talk a great deal of a new ex- position of the Apocalypse, which they pronounced a work of rare interest. Now the Revelation was the book that, of all others in the Bible, he delighted most to read, and he had searched the few commentators his father possessed without getting much light upon its mysteries. The new exposition was owned by a very awe-inspiring gentleman in the neighborhood ; but Adoniram felt that he imist have it, and after contending a long time with his bash- fulness, he at last determined on begging the loan of it. He presented himself in the great man's library, and was coldly and sternly refused. For once his grief and moi'- tification were so great that he could not conceal the affair from his father. He received more sympathy than he anticipated. " Not lend it to you ! " said the good man, indignantly; "I wish he could understand it half as weU. You shall have books, Adoniram, just as many as you can read, and I'll go to Boston myself for them." He performed his promise, but the desired work on the Apocalypse, perhaps for judicious reasons, was not ob- tained. In the year 1800, the family removed to Braintree, Mass., and two years later, when Adoniram was fourteen years old, took up their abode in the old historic town of Plymouth. In 1804 he entered Rhode Island College — now Brown University — one year in advance. Dur- ing his college course he was a hard student; and in 1807, at the age of nineteen, was graduated the valedicto- rian of his class, in spite of the fact that for six weeks of the senior year he was absent, engaged in teaching school in Plymouth. He was ambitious to excel, and a classmate says of him, he has no recollection of his ever failing, or even hesitating, in recitation. He had a powerful rival 16 ADONIRAM JUDSON in bis friend Bailey/^and this probably added zest to his ambition. When he received the highest appointment in the commencement exercises, his delight knew no bounds. He hurried to his room, and wrote, " Dear father, I have got it. Your affectionate son, A. J." He then took a cir- cuitous route to the post-oifice, that he might quiet the violent throbbing of his heart, and appear with propriety ^ before his classmates, and especially before his rival friend. In the autumn of 1807, young Judson opened in Ply- mouth a private academy, which he taught for nearly a year. During this time he also published two text-books, "The Elements of English Grammar," and "The Young Lady's Arithmetic." But the most important event of this period of his life was his conversion. When about fourteen years of age, his studies were interrupted by a serious illness, by which he was reduced to a state of extreme weakness, and for a long time his recovery was doubtfuL It was more than a year before he was able to resume his customary occupations. Previous to this he had been too actively engaged to devote much time to thought ; but as soon as the violence of the disease subsided, he spent many long days and nights in reflecting on his future course. His plans were of the most extravagantly ambitious chai'acter. Now he was an orator, now a poet, now a statesman ; but whatever his character or profession, he was sure in his castle- building to attain the highest eminence. After a time, one thought crept into his mind and embittered all his musings. Suppose he should attain the very highest pinnacle of which human nature is capable ; what then ? Could he hold his honors forever? His favorites of other ages had long since turned to dust, and what I The late Hon. John Bailey, member of CJongress from Massachusetts, EAELY YEARS 17 was it to them that the world still praised them ? What would it be to him, when a hundred years had gone by, that America had never known his equal ? He did not wonder that Alexander wept when at the summit of his ambition ; he felt very sure that he should have wept too. Then he would become alarmed at the extent of his own wicked soarings, and try to comfort himself with the idea that it was all the result of the fever in his brain. One day his mind reverted to religious pursuits. Yes, an eminent divine was very well, though he should of course prefer something more brilliant. Gradually, and without his being aware of his own train of thought, his mind instituted a comparison between the great worldly divine, toiling for the same perishable objects as his other favorites, and the humble minister of the gospel, labor- ing only to please God and benefit his fellow-men. There was (so he thought) a sort of sublimity about that, after all. Surely the world was all wrong, or such a self- abjuring man would be its hero. Ah, but the good man had a reputation more enduring ! Yes, yes, his fame was sounded before him as he entered the other world ; and that was the only fame worthy of the possession, because the only one that triumphed over the grave. Suddenly, in the midst of his self-gratulation, the words flashed across his mind, " Not unto us, not unto us, but to Thy name be the glory." He was confounded. Not that he had actu- ally made himself the representative of this last kind of greatness — it was not sufficiently to his taste for that ; but he had ventured on dangerous ground, and he was startled by a flood of feelings that had till now remained dormant. He had always said and thought, so far as he had thought anything about it, that he wished to become truly religious ; but now religion seemed so entirely op B 18 ADONIEAM JUDSON posed to all his ambitious plans that he was afraid to look into his heart lest he should discover what he did not like to confess, even to himself — that he did not want to become a Christian. He was fully awake to the vanity of worldly pursuits, and was, on the whole, prepared to yield the palm of excellence to religious ones; but his father had often said he would one day be a great man, and a great man he had resolved to be. It was at this period that French infidelity was sweep- ing over the land like a flood, and free inquiry in matters of religion was supposed to constitute part of the education of every man of spirit. Young Judson did not escape the contamination. In the class above him was a young man by the name of E who was amiable, talented, witty, exceedingly agreeable in person and manners, but who was a confirmed deist. A very strong friendship sprang up between the two young men, founded on similar tastes and sympathies, and Judson soon became, at least professedly, as great an unbeliever as his friend. The subject of a profession was often dis- cussed between them. At one time they proposed enter- ing the law, because it aflTorded so wide ^ scope for political ambition ; and at another they discussed their own dramatic powers, with a view to writing pla} s. Immediately on closing the school at Plymouth, Judson set out on a tour through the Northern States. After visiting some of the New England States, he left the horse with which his father had furnished him with an uncle in Sheffield, Conn., and proceeded to Albany to see the wonder of the world, the newly invented Robert Fulton steamer. She was about proceeding on her second trip to New York, and he gladly took passage in her. The magnificent scenery of the Hudson had then excited EARLY YEARS 19 comparatively little atteutioD, and its novelty and sub- limity could not fail to make a deep and lasting impres- sion on one of Judson's ardent and adventurous spirit. Indeed, during his last illness, he described it with all the enthusiasm that might have characterized his youth. His name was frequently mistaken for that of Johnson ; and it occurred to him that, in the novel scenes before him, he might as well use this convenient disguise, in order to see as deeply into the world as possible. He therefore, without actually giving out the name with distinctness or ever writing it down, became Mr. Johnson. He had not been long in New York before he contrived to attach himself to a theatrical company, not with the design of entering upon the stage, but partly for the purpose of familiarizing himself with its regulations in case he should enter upon his literary projects, and partly from curiosity and love of adventure. Before setting out upon his tour he had unfolded his infidel sentiments to his father, and had been treated with the severity natural to a masculine mind that has never doubted, and to a parent who, after having made innum- erable sacrifices for the son of his pride and love, sees him rush recklessly on to his own destruction. His mother was none the less distressed, and she wept, and prayed, and expostulated. He knew his superiority to his father in argument ; but he had nothing to oppose to his mother's tears and warnings, and they followed hijn now wherever he went. He knew that he was on the verge of a life he despised. On no consideration would he see a young brother in his position; but "I," he thought, " am in no danger — I am only seeing the world — the dark side of it, as well as the bright ; and I have too much self-respect to do anything mean or vicious." 20 ADONIEAM JUDSON After seeing what lie wished of New York, he returned to Sheffield for his horse, intending to pursue his journey westward. His uncle. Rev. Ephraim Jwdson, was absent, and a very pious young man occupied his place. His conversation was characterized by a godly sincerity, a solemn but gentle earnestness which addressed itself to the heart, and Judson went away deeply impressed. The next night he stopped at a country inn. The landlord mentioned, as he lighted him to his room, that he had been obliged to place him next door to a young man who was exceedingly ill, probably in a dying state ; but he hoped that it would occasion him no uneasiness. Judson assured him that, beyond pity for the poor sick man, he should have no feeling whatever, and that now, having heard of the circumstance, his pity would not of course be increased by the nearness of the object. But it was nevertheless a very restless night. Sounds came from the sick chamber — sometimes the movements of the watchers, sometimes the groans of the sufferer; but it was not these which disturbed him. He thought of what the landlord had said — the stranger was probably in a dying state ; and was he prepared ? Alone, and in the dead of night, he felt a flush of shame steal over him at the question, for it proved the shallowness of his phi- losophy. What would his late companions say to his weakness? The clear-minded, intellectual, witty E , what would he say to such consummate boyishness ? But still his thoughts would revert to the sick man. Was he a Christian, calm and strong in the hope of a glorious immortality, or was he shuddering upon the brink of a dark, unknown future? Perhaps he was a " freethinker," educated by Christian parents, and prayed over by a Christian mother. The landlord had described him as a EARLY YEAES 21 young man ; and in imagination he was forced to place himself upon the dying bed, though he strove with all his might against it. At last morning came, and the bright flood of light which it poured into his chamber dispelled all his " superstitious illusions." As soon as he had risen, he went in search of the landlord, and inquired for his fellow-lodger. " lie is dead," was the reply. " Dead ! " " Yes ; he is gone — poor fellow ! The doctor said he would probably not survive the night." " Do you know who he was ? " " Oh, yes ; it was a young man from Rhode Island Col- lege — a very fine fellow ; his name was E ." Judson was completely stunned. After hours had passed, he knew not how, he attempted to pursue his journey. But one single thought occupied his mind, and the words, dead ! lo&t ! lost ! were continually ringing in his ears. He knew the religion of the Bible to be true ; he felt its truth ; and he was in despair. In this state of mind he resolved to abandon his scheme of traveling, and at once turned his horse's head toward Plymouth. He arrived at Plymouth, September 22, 1808, and in October of the same year entered the Theological Insti- tution at Andover, one year in advance. As he was neither a professor of religion nor a candidate for the ministry, he was admitted only by special favor. On the 2d of December, 1808, he made a solemn dedication of himself to God, and on the 28th of May, 1809, at the age of twenty-one, he joined the Third Congregational Church in Plymouth. His conversion involved in itself a consecration to the Christian ministry. CHAPTER II CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE. lvS09-1812 IN September, 1809, young Judson, at the a&:e of twenty-one, began to ponder seriously the aubjecl of foreign missions. He had just finished his first of study at Andover ; another year of the theological course remained. At this time there fell into his hands a sermon preached in the parish church of Bristol, Eng- land, by Dr. Claudius Buchanan, who had for many years been a chaplain in the semce of the British East India Company. The sermon was entitled, " The Star in the East," and had for its text Matt. 2:2:" For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." The leading thought of the sermon was the evi.-'.ences of the divine power of the Christian religion in the East. Dr. Buchanan described the progress of the gospel in India, and especially the labors of the venerable German missionary, Scliwartz. This sermon fell like a spark into the tinder of Judson's soul. Six months from the time of his reading this sermon, he made the final resolve to become a missionary to the heathen. This was in Februaiy, 1810. He was, no doubt, stimulated to form this purpose by close contact with several other young men of like aspirations. His earliest missionary associate was Samuel Nott, Jr., wlio entered the seminary early in the year 1810, and was even then weighing the question whether he should devote himself to the work of carrying the gospel to the heathen. 22 The Haystack Monument at Williamstown, Mass. Adoniram .Tiidsou. Page 23. CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE 23 About the same time there came to Andover four young men from Williams College — Samuel J. Mills, Jr., James Richards, Luther Rice, and Gordon Hall, While in college these students formed a missionary society, and they were accustomed to meet together at night beneath a haystack near the college grounds. At Williamstown, on the spot where now stands the famous Haystack Monument, these young men consecrated themselves to the work of foreign missions, and poured out their fer- vent j)rayers for the conversion of the world ; and this green nook among the Berkshire hills may well be called the birthplace of American foreign missions. As great scientific discoveries have seemed to spring up almost simultaneously in the minds of independent and widely separated thinkers, sometimes engendering a strife as to the original discoverer, so this grand thought of evangelizing the heathen seems to have been in the atmosphere, and to have floated at almost the same time into the hearts of different young men living far apart. Christian society was like a field which, having been ploughed and sown, has folded up in its bosom a potency of growth. Judson and his associates were like the first green shoots, scattered far and wide, that appear above the ground and promise to be followed by countless others. It was after long meditation and prayer, and in communion with kindred glowing spirits, that the thought in Judson's mind of consecrating himself to the foreign missionary work became a fixed purpose. There were many obstacles in the way. He was not going among the heathen because he could not find suit- able employment at home. He had received a tutor's appointment iu Bi'own University and had declined it. The Rev. Dr. Griffin had proposed him as his colleague 24 ADONIRAM JUDSON in " the largest church in Boston." " And you will be so near home," his mother said. " No ! " was his reply. " I shall never live in Boston. I have much farther than that to go." The ambitious hopes of his father were overthrown ; and his mother and sister shed many re- gretful tears. He did not go abroad because he was not wanted at home. But what steps did he and his young associates take in order to execute their sublime purpose ? There was at that time no foreign missionary society in America to which they could offer their services, and which would undertake their support in the foreign field. There was, indeed, the Massachusetts Missionary Society, founded in 1799, the object of which was to diffuse a missionary spirit among the Congregational churches in New Eng- land, and to carry the gospel to the Indians and to the newly settled parts of our own land. But this society had not yet launched upon the work of foreign missions ; and so Mr. Judson and the young men who shared his purpose first proposed to each other to enlist as mission- aries under the London Missionary Society. Accord- ingly Mr. Judson wrote a letter to that effect to the ven- erable Dr. Bogue, the president of the seminary in Gos- port, England, where the missionaries of the London society received their training. While awaiting a reply to this letter, he and his associ- ates made their desires known to their teachers in the seminary, and to several influential ministers in the vicinity. The professors and ministers met for consulta- tion on the matter at the house of Prof Stuart, in Ando- ver, on Monday, June 25, 1810. These wise and con- servative men advised the students to submit their case to the General Association, a body representing all the Con- CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE 25 gregational churches of the State of Massachusetts, and which was to meet at Bradford the next day. Thus the action of these students led to the organiza- tion of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, a society widely known and justly revered at the present day as the missionary organ of the Congregational church of America, and indeed the mother of American foreign missionary societies. The nine men originally forming this Board distrusted their ability to support in the foreign field those who had offered their services. They feared that the missionary sentiment among the churches of New England was hardly strong enough as yet to undertake so great an enterprise ; and so they turned instinctively to their brethren in England, represented in the Loudon Mission- ary Society, for aid and co-operation. They accordingly sent Mr. Judson to England to ascertain whether such co-operation would be agreeable to the Loudon society. The English directors gave Mr. Judson a most courteous and affectionate greeting, but a joint conduct of the mis- sions did not seem practicable to them. They were will- ing to receive and support Mr. Judson and his associates as their own missionaries, but did not feel disposed to admit the American Board to a participation with them in the direction of the work. Such co-operation might occasion complications, and they wisely thought that American Christians were able to take care of their own missionaries. Mr. Judson embarked for England, January 11, 1811, on the English ship " Packet." She was captured on the way by a French privateer, and so he was subjected to compulsory detention and imprisonment in France. On the 6th of May he arrived in London, and on the 18th 26 ADONIEAM JUDSON of June he embarked at Gravesend, in the ship •'Augus- tus," bound for New York, where he arrived on the 17th of August. Soon after Mr. Judson returned to America, on the 18th of September, 1811, the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions met at Worcester, Mass., and advised him and his associates not to place them- selves at present under the direction of the London Mis- sionary Society. It was also voted that " Messrs. Adonirara Judsou, Jr., Samuel Nott, Jr., Samuel Newell, and Gor- don Hall be appointed missionaries to labor under the direction of this Board in Asia, either in the Burman Empire, or in Su'rat, or" in Prince of Wales Island, or elsewbere, as in the view of the Prudential Committee, Prov'idence shall op en tlie most fa vorable door." Tlius tire way was prepared for Mr. Judson to realize his ardent desire to become a missionary to the heathen. But he was not to go alone, for he was already be- trothed to Miss Ann Hasseltine. They met for the first time on the memorable occasion already described, when in June, 1810, the General Association held its session at Bradford, and young Judson and his fellow students mod- estly made known their desires to attempt a mission to the heathen. The story is told that during the sessions the ministers gathered for a dinner beneath Mr. Hasseltine'a roof. His youngest daughter, Ann, Avas waiting on the table. Her attention was attracted to the young student whose bold missionary projects were making such a stir. But what was her surprise to observe, as she moved about the table, that he seemed completely absorbed in his plate ! Little did she dream that she had already wovec her spell about his young heart, and that he was at that very time composing a graceful stanza in her praise. CONSECEATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE 27 She was bom in Bradford, December 22, 1789, and was about a year, younger than Mr Judson. Her parents were John and Rebecca Hasseltine. She had an ardent, active, even restless temperament ; so that her mother once reproved her in childhood with the ominous words, "I hope, my daughter, you will one day be satisfied witi) rambling."' She was educated at the Bradford Academy, and was a beautiful girl, characterized by great vivacity of spirits and intensely fond of society. In f\ict, slie was so reckless in her gayety, and so far outstripped her young companions in mirth, that they feared she would have but a brief life, and be suddenly cut off. At the age of sixteen she was converted, and threw herself with all her native ardor into the joys and labors of the Chris- tian life. She taught school for several years in Salem, Haverhill, and Newbury. Her constant endeavor was to bring her pupils to the Saviour. Her decision to become a foreign missionary must have required great heroism, for thus far no woman had ever left America as a missionary to the heathen. Public sentiment was against her going. It was thought to be wild and romantic. One good lady said to another, " I hear that Miss Hasseltine is going to India ! Why does she go?" "Why, she thinks it her duty. Wouldn't you go if you thought it your duty ? " " But," replied the lady, with emphasis, "I would not think it mv duty ! " ^ On the 5th of February, 1812, Mr. Judson and Ann Hasseltine, were married at Bradford. Two days before, at Plymouth, he had taken final leave of his parents, and his brother Elnathan accompanied him to Boston. iFor further particulars concerning Miss Hassel tine's early life the reader is referred to her biography, by the Rev. J. D. Knowles. 28 ADONIEAM JUDSON The journey was made on horseback, and at the time Elnathan had not been converted. While on the way the two dismounted, and among the trees by the roadside they knelt, and there Adoniram offered a fervent prayer in behalf of his younger brother. Four days later they parted, never to meet again on earth. The wayside prayer was not unheeded in heaven. Years afterward, Adoniram was permitted to have the assurance that the brother over whom his heart so fondly yearned became an " inheritor of the kingdom of heaven." On the 6th of February, he received ordination at Salem from the Rev. Drs. Spring, Worcester, Woods, Morse, and Griffin ; on the 7th he bade good-bye to his younger sister and companion of his childhood ; and on the 19th embarked at Salem, with Mrs. Judson, and Mr. and Mrs. Newell, on the brig "Caravan," Captain Heard, bound for Calcutta. CHAPTER III VOYAGE TO BURMA. 1812, 1813 AFTER the shores of America had faded from tbeir eyes, almost four months elapsed before Mr, Jud- son and his missionary associates caught sight of land. They made the long trip around the Cape of Good Hope, and at last descried the towering mountains of Golconda. Now that the Suez Canal has been opened, and a railroad track laid across our continent, the missionary to India goes either through the Mediterranean Sea, or by the way of San Francisco and Yokohama, and the voyage con- sumes only about two months. While taking the long voyage from America to India, Mr. Judson changed his denominational latitude and longitude as well. He was a Congregational minister ; his parents were Congregation alists ; and he had been sent out by a Congregational Board. All his sympathies and affections were bound up with the life of that great denominational body. On his way to Burma, how- ever, he became a Baptist. His attention was at this time especially drawn to the distinctive views of the Baptists by the fact that he was now about to found a new Christian society among the heathen. AVhen the adult heathen accepted Christ by faith and love he should of course be baptized, and thus formally initiated into the Christian church. But, ought the children also to be baptized upon the strength of the parents' faith ? This was a practical question. 29 30 ADONIEAM JUDSON Again, Mr. Judson expected to meet in India the emi- nent English Baptist missionaries, Carey, iMarshman. and Ward. In the immediate neigliborhood of tliese men he proposed to institute a Congregationaiist form of church life, and he would of course have to explain to the natives these denominational differences, iiis mind was cast in a scholarly and argumentative mold. Con- troversy might possibly arise between himself and the Baptist missionaries. He thought it best while he wa& on the ocean to arm himself beforehand for the encounter with these formidable champions, in order successfully to maintain the Pedobaptist position. In the enforced seclusion of a long sea voyage he had plenty of time for thought and study on this important subject. The result of his search and investigation was the conclusion, reluctantly formed, that he was wrong and that the Baptists were right. Of course they held many fundamental doctrines in common with Christians of all other evangelical denominations ; but there were two distinctive tenets, that faith should always precede baptism, and that baptism is immersion. He was con- vinced that in these views they had the Bible on their side. It was only after a great struggle that he yielded ; for he had to break with all the traditions and associations of his ancestry and childhood. He pictured to liimself the grief and disappointment of his Christian friends in America, especially of his venerable parents. He saw that he would be separated from those young students, the choice companions with whom he had originated this great scheme of American foreign missions. In their discussions, his wife always took the Pedobaptist side. He knew that he and she might find themselves without VOYAGE TO BURMA 31 bread in a strange, heathen land. For who could expect the American Board to sustain a Baptist missionary, even if he could on his part obey their instructions? He could have little hope that the Baptists of America, feeble, scattered, and despised, would be equal to the great undertaking of supporting an expensive mission in distant India. Ah ! what long anxious conversations must he and his wife have had together in their little cabin on the brig " Caravan." The question may have arisen in his mind, are these doc- trines so important after all ? Can I not cherish them in secret, and still remain identified with the religious body that I so much love and honor ? No ; because if indi- vidual faith is the prerequisite of baptism, what script- ural authority would we have for baptizing the uncon- scious infant? If baptism is a symbol, then of course the form ^ is all important. If faith must precede bap- tism, and if immersion is essential to baptism, then he himself had never been baptized at all. lie knew that baptism had been expressly commanded by our blessed Lord, and that alone was sufficient to necessitate obedi- ence. Prompt and straightforward obedience to Christ was the keynote of his life. His was too positive a char- acter to try to effect a compromise between conviction and action. He had one of those great natures that cannot afford to move along with the crowd. The four missionaries arrived in Calcutta on June 17th, and were warmlv welcomed bv Dr. Carev. Thev were in- vited to visit the settlement of English Baptists at Seram- pore, a town about twelve miles from Calcutta, up the Hugli River. Here they awaited the arrival of the other group of American missionaries, Mr. and i\Irs. Nott and Messrs. Hall and Rice, who had sailed from Philadelphia ADONIRAM JUDSON in the ship "Harmony," and who did not arrive until August 8th. On September 6th, Mr. and Mrs. Judson were baptized in Calcutta by the Rev. Mr, Ward, and on the first of November, Mr. Rice, one of his missionary associates who, though sailing on a different vessel, had experienced a similiar change of sentiment, was also baptized. " Mr. Rice was thought," Dr. Carey says, " to be the most obsti- nate Pedobaptist of any of the missionaries." But becoming Baptists was only the beginning of trouble for these missionaries. India was ruled by the East India Company, which was opposed to the intro- duction of missionaries, especially of Americans — for England and America were not at that time on friendly terms. Besides, the English feared that the natives of India, finding themselves beset by the missionaries of a foreign religion, and their own sacred institutions under- mined, would rise against the whole English race, and a war ensue which would be rendered more intense by the spirit of religious fanaticism. The Oriental meekly sub- mits to oppression, except where religious questions are involved ; it was the greased cartridge which brought on the Sepoy rebellion. The English authorities feared, as once was stated in the House of Lords, " That every missionary would have to be backed by a gunboat." There might arise endless complications, and they deter- mined to arrest the danger before it really began. Mr. and Mrs. Judson and Mr. Rice were peremptorily ordered to repair from Serampore to Calcutta. When they appeared at the government house they were told that they must at once return to America. They asked leave to settle in some other part of India, but this was refused. They then asked if they could go to the Isle of France (Mauritius). This request was granted ; but the VOYAGE TO BURMA 33 only ship then setting sail for that port could convey but two passengers, and by common consent Mr. and Mrs. Newell embarked. Mr. and Mrs. Judson and Mr. Rice remained behind for another vessel. After two months, they received an order to go on board one of the com- pany's vessels bound for England, and their names were even printed in the official list of passengers. But a vessel named the " Creole " was just about to sail for the Isle of France. They applied to the government for a passport. This was refused. Then they asked the cap- tain if he would take them without a passport. He said, good-naturedly, " There was his ship ; they could go on board if they pleased." They immediately embarked under cover of the night. But while sailing down the Hugli River from Calcutta to the sea they were over- taken by a government dispatch. The pilot was for- bidden to go farther, as there were persons on board who had been ordered to England. They were put ashore on the bank of a river and took shelter at a little tavern, while the vessel continued her course down the river without them. After three or four days, however, a letter came from Calcutta containing the much-desired passport to sail on the " Creole." Who procured the passport has always remained a mystery. But now they had every reason to suppose that the vessel had got out to sea. She might, however, be anchored at Saugur, seventy miles below. With all haste they put their baggage in a boat and sped down the river. They had to row against the tide, but arrived at Saugur before the evening of the next day, and had the happiness of finding the vessel at anchor. " I never enjoyed," says Mrs. Judson, "a sweeter moment in my life than that when I was sure we were in sight C 34 ADONIEAM JUDSON of the ' Creole.' " After a voyage of six weeks they ar- rived in Port Louis, on the Isle of France, January 17, 1813. The Isle of France, or Mauritius, lies in the Indian Ocean, four hundred and eighty miles east of Madagas- car. It is about thirty-six miles long and thirty-two wide. It had only a few years before been wrested from the French by the English. During the wars between the French and the English it had furnished harborage for the French privateers which, sallying forth from its ports, attacked the richly freighted English merchantmen on their way from England. The scene of St. Pierre's pathetic tale of " Paul and Virginia," it was to our mis- sionaries also who took refuge here, a place of sorrow. They learned of a death which rivals in pathos the fate of Virginia. Mrs. Harriet Newell, the first American martyr to foreign missions, had only just survived the tempestuous voyage from Calcutta, and had been laid in the "heathy ground" of Mauritius; one who "for the love of Christ and immortal souls, left the bosom of her friends and found an early grave in a land of strangers." She never repented leaving her native country. When informed by her physician of her approaching death, she lifted up her hands in triumph, and exclaimed, "Oh, glorious intelligence ! " ^ What a sense of desolation must liave crept over the little band of missionaries, now that death had so early broken into their ranks ! On February 24th, Mr. Newell embarked for Ceylon, and on the 15th of March, Mr. Rice sailed for America in order to preach a missionary crusade among the Baptist churches there ; and thus Mr. 1 For further particulars see " Memoir of Mrs. Harriet Newell," by Dr. Leonard Wuods. VOYAGE TO BUEMA 35 and Mrs. Judson were left alone. They were obliged to remain about four months on the Isle of France ; and while much of their time was spent in self-sacrificing labors among the English soldiers who formed the gar- rison of the island, the missionaries still longed to reach their final destination. Mrs. Judson writes: " Oh, when will my wanderings terminate ? \\ hen shall I find s Al.uut 82,600. » About 81,000. H 114 ADONIRAM JUDSON tare and linguistic research. One cannot fail to observe the poetic gems, original and quoted, scattered through his correspondence. The Burman literature, with its Buddhistic books and its fascinating poetry, was a vast mine unexplored. He was tempted to trace the winding j^aths which were ever opening before his scholarly mind, and to search this great and ancient treasure-vault. Might he not translate into English some beautiful frag- ments of this literature, and so enkindle in some of the highly organized minds of the Western world a greater interest in foreign missions ? But no. He turned reso- lutely away from the alluring prospects He was deter- mined not to know anything among the Burmans save Jesus Christ and him crucified. As a missionary he was unwilling to disperse his mental forces over the wide sur- face of literary and philosophical pursuits, but insisted on moving along the narrow and divinely appointed groove of unfolding the word of God and meting it out to suit the wants of perishing man. But perhaps the severest sacrifice of all was the denial of his social instincts. It was not because he was unen- dowed with social sensibilities that he so cut himself oflT from the State or conventional dinner, and from a fashion- able intercourse with Sir Archibald Campbell, and other cultivated Englishmen, as to incur the stigma of being called " odd." He did not withdraw to his hermitage in the jungle because he was a fierce and sullen fanatic. On the contrary, one who knew him most intimately says that " Perhaps his most remarkable characteristic to a superficial observer was the extent and thorough gerial nature of his sociableness." Indeed, there was a spice of truth in the remark sneeringly made by a fashion- able woman that " Judson abstained from society not from LIFE IN MOULMEIN 115 principle, but from cowardice — he was like the drunkard who was afraid to taste lest he should not know when to stop." "His ready humor," Mrs. Judson writes, "his aptness at illustration, his free flow of generous, gentle- manly feeling made his conversation peculiarly brilliant and attractive, and such interchanges of thought and feeling were his delight." " He was not," she adds, " a born angel, shut without the pale of humanity by his re- ligion." His was not the stern, unsesthetic nature of the great Reformer and theologian who, though he lived his life on the lake of Geneva, nowhere betrays in his voluminous writings that he was at all conscious of the beautiful panorama spread out before him. He was, as has been said of another, " a creature who entered into every one's feelings, and could take the pressure of their thought instead of urging his own with iron resistance." He was, in truth, . . . Not too bright or good For human nature's daily food; For transient sorrows, simple wiles, Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles. The author, among his own scanty childhood recollec- tions of his father, well remembers the tenderness with which he nursed his sick boy ; and a missionary associate says : " He had a peculiarly fascinating way of endear- ing himself to everybody whose hearts were open to his kindness." Mrs. E. C. Judson writes : " He was always planning pleasant little surprises for family and neighbors, and kept up through his married life those little lover-like attentions which I believe hus- bands are apt to forget. There was, and always must have been, a kind of romance about him (you will under- stand I use the word italicized for want of a better). 116 ADONIRAM JUDSON which prevented every-day life with him from ever being common-place. If he went out before I was awake in the morning, very likely some pretty message would be pinned to my mosquito curtain. If he was obliged to stay at a business meeting or any such place longer than he thought I expected, and often when he did not stay over the time, some little penciled line that he could trace without attracting attention, would be dispatched to me. And often when he sat at his study table, something droll or tender or encouraging or suggestive of thought, pen- ciled on a broken scrap of paper, sometimes the margin of a newspaper, was every little while finding its way to my room. . . He was always earnest, enthusiastic, sympa- thizing even in the smallest trifles, tender, delicate, and considerate — never moody, as he has sometimes been de- scribed, but equally communicative, whether sad or cheerful, , . He was always, even in his playfulness, intellectual ; and the more familiar, the more elevated," The little thoughtful attentions which he was continu- ally paying to his fellow-missionaries, betrayed with what heartiness he entered into all their joys and sorrows. His friends, the Bennetts, had sent their children to America, One day Mr. Judson surprised them with a present of the portraits of their absent little ones, for which he had himself sent to this country. He had a remarkable gift for comforting people, and was indeed a sou of consolation. A lady to whom he paid a visit of condolence upon the death of her mother wrote to her friend : " He must have been peculiarly sympathetic himself, or he could not have entered into every one's sorrows so easily." If any one was in trouble, he was sure to be there. Every tone of his voice seemed calculated to touch the innermost chord of a troubled heart. LIFE IN MOULMEIN 117 We left Mr. Judson, when we turned aside to look at his character, by the freshly made graves of his wife and child at Amherst. Amherst and Moulmein, situated about twenty-five miles apart upon the coast of a newly settled province, were competing for the honor of being the metropolis of British Burma. They were both planted in the jungle, dependent for their growth upon the tide of population which kept streaming away from the oppressions of Barman despotism toward the enlight- ened and liberal English rule that prevailed throughout the Tenasserim provinces. The scale, as has already been stated, was turned in favor of Moulmein, by the fact that Sir Archibald Campbell had chosen it as the head- quarters of his army. It consequently grew into a large city with marvelous rapidity, while Amherst dwindled into insignificance. The missionaries at first thought it best to have two stations, one at Amherst and the other at Moulmein — the Wades to hold the ground in the former place, and the Boardmans in the latter, while Mr. Judson should move backward and forward between the two points. But they soon decided not to attempt to keep their hold on Amherst, but to concentrate all their forces in Moul- mein. This town, as has been said, was situated at the mouth of the Salwen, on its west bank. It consisted principally of one street which extended along the river front about two miles. Behind the city was a long range of hills, dotted here and there with the graceful pagoda. In front swept the broad swift Salwen, "in which an English sloop-of-war was lying at anchor, and curiously shaped Indian boats were passing to and fro with each changing tide." Directly across the river lay the prov- ince of Martaban, still under Burman rule, the secure 118 ADONIRAM JUDSON haunt of robbers and pirates ; while far off to the seaward one could catch a glimpse of the high hills of Ballou Island. The Boardmans were the first to remove to Moulmein, and were soon followed by the Wades, while Mr. Judson came last. We find in Mr. Boardman's journal, under date of August 12, 1827, the following minute : "The Buf-man merchant to whom I gave the books called on me yesterday for further information on some point which he did not fully understand. While he was here the head man of the village also came ; and these two together, with our Burman teacher, who seems to be inquiring, entered into some particular discussion of Christian history and doctrine. In the midst of this dis- cussion, how great was my joy on beholding Mr. Judson approaching the house. It is now probable that we shall all be settled together at this place." The mission house had been erected by the Boardmans at the expense of the mission, upon ground given by Sir Archibald Campbell. It was situated about a mile south of the English barracks, on a gentle westerly and south- erly declivity, so that it commanded a view of the river and the sea. It contained three rooms fifteen feet square, and a veranda on all sides, but enclosed on thi'ee sides for a study, store room, dressing room, etc. The general had offered the missionaries a site within the cantonments, but they chose rather to be where they could come into closer and more direct contact with the natives. This, however, exposed them landward to tigers, and riverward to robbers from Martaban. It was at this exposed spot that the Judsons, the Boardmans, and the Wades mustered their forces, and stood prepared to take advantage of the inflowing tide LIFE IN MOULMEIN 119 of Burmese population. They took with them from Amherst their whole little flock of native converts and inquirers, namely, Moung Shwa-ba, Moung Ing, jMoung Myat-poo, Mah Doke, with her husband, Moung Dwah, and Ko Thah-byu, who afterward became the apostle to the Karens. Seventeen of the female scholars al.». 109, 117 Moung Nau: first conTert bap- tized 71 Native converts 119 Newell, Mrs. Harriet 34 Newell, Samuel 26 Nott, Samuel, Jr. : early acqiaint- ance of, with Judson - 22 appointed missionary 26 Otaheite 64 Oung-pen-la : Judson imprisoned in 90-100 description of. 92-94 methods of torture at. 98 Plymouth, Mass 16, 18, 21 Price, Rev. Jonathan, M. D. : joins Judson 86 visits the emperor at Ava 87 imprisoned at Ava and at Oung- pen-la 90-100 Printer : first missionary, in India 66 Prome : Judson's failure to plant Christianity at 24 Pulo Penang, or Prince of Wales Island Its 188 INDEX PAGE Rangoon 35 Btrategic position of, for mis- sions 57, 68, 59 Judson starts mission in native church organized at 120 Rhode Island College 15 Richards, James 23 Rice, Luther : associate of Judson 23 baptized „ 32 returns to America 34 arouses enthusiasm in America 38 working to get money in U. S.... 66 Saugur 33 Serampore 31 Sharpe, Rev. Daniel 148 St Helena 146 PAGE Tavoy: mission started at 122 theatrical troupe attached to 19 Wadesville : mission village among the Karens 132 Wade, Mr. and Mrs 86 War between England and Burma 89 cause of. 89 result of. 103, 104 Ward 30,37 Wheelock : companion of Judson 71 untimely end of 73 Yule, Major : description of Bur- ma by 44 NOTABLE BAPTISTS. A series of short, popular Baptist biograpliiog. 12mo., 192 pp. Price, 90 cts. I. Adoniram Judson. By his son, Edward Judson, D. D. Published. 11. Andrew Fuller. By Kobert S. MacArthur, D. D. In" preparation. III. James Manning. By E. Benj. Andrews, LL. D. In preparation. IV. Richard Fuller. By J. L. M. Curry, LL. D. In preparation. V. Francis Wayland. Others will bo provided for from time to time. v;