PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The life of Adoniram Judson
Judson, Edward, 1844-1914 · 223,971 words · 329 reading sections
Part 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Note: This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. Superscripted characters are preceded by ‘^’, and where multiple characters are so printed, th…
84 wordsSECTION 2NEW YORK:
EDWARD O. JENKINS, _Printer and Stereotyper_, 20 North William St. ROBERT RUTTER, _Binder_, 116 & 118 E. 14th St. ------------------------------------------------------------------------…
18 wordsSECTION 3BY ONE OF THEIR NUMBER.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ It is not my purpose to present a theory of missions, but simply to give a clear and consecutive story of my father’s life. I have been impelled to do this by the desire that his memory should be cherished in the minds of the rising generation. D…
145 wordsSECTION 4E. J.
NEW YORK, _January, 1883_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------…
4 wordsSECTION 5CONTENTS.
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0 wordsSECTION 6EARLY YEARS.
1788-1809. Birth—Precocity—Reverence for his father—Ambition over-stimulated—His sister, Abigail—Playing church—Removal to Wenham—His brother Elnathan—Death of a sister—Childhood reminiscences—“Does the sun move?”—Solving hard enigmas—Proficiency in arithmetic—“Old Virgil dug up”—Studying Revelation—Removal to Braintr…
84 wordsSECTION 7CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE.
1809-1812. Buchanan’s “Star in the East”—Association with kindred missionary spirits—Haystack monument—Obstacles—Attractions at home—Best men needed abroad—Anticipation of dangers and hardships—Application to Dr. Bogue—The case laid before the _General Association_—Organization of the American Board of Commissioners f…
114 wordsSECTION 8CHAPTER III. VOYAGE TO BURMAH. 1812-1813.
The course—Change of views on Baptism—Arrival in Calcutta—Announces to the Board his change of views—Appeal to the Baptists—His baptism—Excluded from India by the East India Company—Journey to the Isle of France—Death of Harriet Newell—Journey to Madras—Voyage to Rangoon—Arrival—The effect in America of his change of v…
82 wordsSECTION 9BURMAH.
Face of the country—Animals—Inhabitants—Industrial life—Government—Religion—History and distribution of Buddhism—Buddhism and Brahminism contrasted—Life of Buddha—Buddha’s Way of salvation—Point of Departure, the Goal, and the Way—Buddha’s moral code—Buddhism and Christianity 56…
41 wordsSECTION 10LIFE IN RANGOON.
1813-1819. Rangoon a strategic point—First impressions of Rangoon—The _Task_ before him—The evangelization of Burmah—The _Means_—Not civilization—Not schools for children—The Gospel conveyed to the adult mind—The printed Word—Oral preaching of the Gospel—The press can never supersede the pulpit—His method of preaching…
157 wordsSECTION 11LIFE IN RANGOON—CONTINUED.
1819-1823. Journey to Ava—Unsuccessful visit at court—Return to Rangoon—Firmness of the converts—Colman’s death in Arracan—Revival amid persecution—First baptism of a Burman woman—Letter from Burman converts to American churches—Mrs. Judson’s alarming illness—The voyage to Calcutta and return—Series of conversions and…
89 wordsSECTION 12LIFE IN AVA AND OUNG-PEN-LA.
1823-1826. Third journey to Ava—Bright prospects—Gathering war-cloud—Cold reception at Court—War between the English and Burmans—All the white foreigners thrown into prison—Duration of imprisonment—The place—Horrors of an Oriental jail—Serene faith—Mrs. Judson’s intercessions—Birth of Maria—Removal to Oung-pen-la—Fina…
63 wordsSECTION 13LIFE IN AMHERST.
1826-1827. Treaty of peace—Condition of affairs in Rangoon—The Wades and Boardmans at Calcutta—Description of Mr. and Mrs. Boardman—The founding of Amherst—Removal to Amherst—Accompanying the English Embassy to Ava—Uncongenial employment—Mrs. Judson’s death—His return to Amherst—Arrival of the Wades and Boardmans—Deat…
67 wordsSECTION 14LIFE IN MAULMAIN.
1827-1831. _Guyonism_—Tendency toward asceticism—Physical constitution shaken by tortures and sorrows—Solitude—American Christians slow to send reinforcements—Intense piety—Forms of self-mortification—Gives property to the Board—Destroys all correspondence and materials for eulogiums—Crucifies taste for literature—Giv…
149 wordsSECTION 15LIFE IN MAULMAIN—CONTINUED.
1831-1845. Return to Maulmain—Condition of affairs—The Karens—Views of ministerial education—Tours in the Karen jungles—Reinforcements from America—His personal habits—His marriage to Mrs. Boardman—Her heroic career at Tavoy—Parting with George—Translating the Bible—Revision—His views of distributing the Bible—His vie…
133 wordsSECTION 16VISIT TO AMERICA.
1845-1846. The births of Charles and Edward—Mrs. Judson’s declining health—Voyage to America necessary—Arrival at the Isle of France—“We part on this green islet, love”—Mrs. Judson’s death at St. Helena—Arrival in Boston—His humility—An address in Eaton—A sermon at Plymouth—Missionary mass-meeting in Boston—Providence…
95 wordsSECTION 17LAST YEARS.
1846-1850. Passing St. Helena—The Isle of France and Amherst—Arrival at Maulmain—Resuming work on the dictionary—Removal to Rangoon—“Bat Castle”—Sickness, suffering, and persecution at Rangoon—Retreat to Maulmain—The permission that came too late—Preaching, translating, and pastoral work—A spirit unconquerably youthfu…
89 wordsSECTION 18POSTHUMOUS INFLUENCE.
The Burman Dictionary unfinished—Summary of results in Burmah—The difficulties overcome—Results in America—Formation of missionary organizations—The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions—The American Baptist Missionary Union—Missionary societies among the Episcopalians, Methodists, and Presbyterians—Indi…
56 wordsSECTION 19APPENDIX.
A.—Autobiographical Record of Dates and Events, by A. Judson 561 B.—Mr. Judson’s First Tract for the Burmans 568 C.—The Threefold Cord 571 D.—Advice to Missionary Candidates 577# E.—The Kathayan Slave …
40 wordsSECTION 20I
[Illustration: THE LAND HEMISPHERE.]…
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[Illustration: BURMAH.]…
2 wordsSECTION 22CHAPTER I. EARLY YEARS. 1788-1809.
The traveller who visits Malden, Massachusetts, one of the picturesque suburban towns of Boston, may find in the Baptist meeting-house a marble tablet, bearing the following inscription: IN MEMORIAM. REV. ADONIRAM JUDSON. BORN AUG. 9, 1788. DIED APRIL 12, 1850. MALDEN, HIS BIRTHPLACE. THE OCEAN, HIS SEPULCHRE. CONVERT…
706 wordsSECTION 23Part 23
“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 hi…
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“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 school-mates nicknamed him Virgil, or (in allusion to the peculiar style of the hat which he w…
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But the most important event of this period of his life was his conversion. In a condensed journal of his, entitled “A Record of Dates and Events pertaining to the Life of Adoniram Judson,”—a valuable document still preserved in autograph, and reproduced in the Appendix—may be found the following entry: “1808, Nov. Beg…
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“It was at this period that French infidelity was sweeping 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,…
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“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 …
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God is waiting to be gracious, and is willing to make us happy in religion, if we would not run away from Him. We refuse to open the window-shutters, and complain that it is dark. We grieve the Holy Spirit by little sins, and thus lose our only support. Perhaps the secret of living a holy life is to avoid everything wh…
662 wordsSECTION 29CHAPTER II. CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY LIFE. 1809-1812.
In September, 1809, young Judson, at the age of twenty-one, began to ponder seriously the subject of Foreign Missions. He had just finished his first year 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, Engla…
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“In the spring And glory of his being he went forth From the embraces of devoted friends, From ease and quiet happiness.... He went forth Strengthen’d to suffer—gifted to subdue The might of human passion—to pass on Quietly to the sacrifice of all The lofty hopes of boyhood, and to turn The high ambition written on tha…
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“It is with the utmost sincerity, and with my whole heart, that I wish you, my love, a happy new year. May it be a year in which your walk will be close with God; your frame calm and serene; and the road that leads you to the Lamb marked with purer light. May it be a year in which you will have more largely the spirit …
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“We have consulted our professors on this subject, particularly Dr. Griffin, Professor of Oratory. He intends writing to several in England, and perhaps to Dr. Bogue. But his engagements being such as will prevent his writing at present, and wishing _myself_ to receive a letter from you _immediately_, containing the de…
89 wordsSECTION 33“ADONIRAM JUDSON, JR.
“P. S.—I shall deem it a favor if you do not confine your remarks to the points which I have proposed, but are pleased to give such general _information_ and _advice_ as you may think will be useful to me and my brethren.” While awaiting a reply to this letter, these devoted students made their desires known to their …
380 wordsSECTION 34“ADONIRAM JUDSON, JR. “SAMUEL NOTT, JR. “SAMUEL J. MILLS. “SAMUEL NEWELL.”
The names of Luther Rice and James Richards were originally appended to this petition, but had been stricken out “for fear of alarming the Association with too large a number.” The General Association, when they came to act upon this petition, passed the following resolutions: “_Voted_, That there be instituted by th…
578 wordsSECTION 35Part 35
“There were on the ship _Packet_ two Spanish merchants; and these, I believe, were the only passengers beside Mr. Judson. When they were captured by _L’Invincible Napoleon_, these two gentlemen, being able to speak French, and most likely to furnish a bribe, were treated very civilly. Mr. Judson, however, was very youn…
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“The privateer touched at Le Passage, in Spain, and there permitted the two Spaniards to go on shore. From thence the prisoners were conveyed to Bayonne, in France; and Mr. Judson again, to his surprise and indignation, found himself marched through the streets in company with the crew of the _Packet_. He had as yet ac…
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“Mr. Judson passed about six weeks in Bayonne, boarding with an American lady who had spent most of her life in France. He told his landlady that he was a clergyman, and frequently held long religious conversations with her; but he did not permit his character to be known generally in the house, as he thought it would …
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Soon after Mr. Judson returned to America, on the 18th of September, 1811, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions met at Worcester, Mass., and advised him and his associates not to place themselves at present under the direction of the London Missionary Society. It was also voted that “Messrs. Adonira…
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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 d…
298 wordsSECTION 40CHAPTER III. VOYAGE TO BURMAH. 1812-1813.
After the shores of America had faded from their eyes, almost four months elapsed before Mr. Judson 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 t…
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“Can you, my dear Nancy, still love me, still desire to hear from me, when I tell you I have become a Baptist? If I judge from my own feelings, I answer you will, and that my differing from you in those things which do not affect our salvation will not diminish your affection for me, or make you unconcerned for my welf…
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“I will now, my dear parents and sisters, give you some account of our change of sentiment, relative to the subject of baptism. Mr. Judson’s doubts commenced on our passage from America. While translating the New Testament, in which he was engaged, he used frequently to say that the Baptists were right in their mode of…
680 wordsSECTION 43“TO THE REV. MESSRS. CAREY, MARSHMAN, AND WARD.
“As you have been ignorant of the late exercises of my mind on the subject of baptism, the communication which I am about to make may occasion you some surprise. “It is now about four months since I took the subject into serious and prayerful consideration. My inquiries commenced during my passage from America, and af…
135 wordsSECTION 44“ADONIRAM JUDSON, JR.”
He also sent a letter to the American Board, in which he breaks to them the startling news that he is to cease to be their missionary: “REV. AND DEAR SIR: My change of sentiments on the subject of baptism is considered by my missionary brethren as incompatible with my continuing their fellow-laborer in the mission whi…
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But becoming a Baptist was only the beginning of troubles for these missionaries. India was ruled by the East India Company, which was opposed to the introduction 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 Ind…
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What a sense of desolation must have 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 …
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“We stayed at Madras only a fortnight, when we embarked on board a Portuguese vessel for this place. I had procured a European woman-servant to go with us, as it was not thought prudent to go without one. She went on board two days before us, and when we went on board she appeared in perfect health. We had but just ent…
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“After a mournful separation from brother Rice, at the Isle of France, in March, 1813, we remained there about two months, waiting for a passage to some of the eastern islands, not venturing at that time to think a mission to Burmah practicable. But there being no prospect of accomplishing our wishes directly, we concl…
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When the tidings reached America that Mr. and Mrs. Judson and Mr. Rice, Congregational missionaries, sent out by the American Board, had been immersed at Calcutta, the Baptists throughout the whole land were thrilled with a glad surprise. God had suddenly placed at the disposal of the Baptist denomination three fully-e…
792 wordsSECTION 50CHAPTER IV. BURMAH.
Let us now take a look at the country in which Mr. and Mrs. Judson at last found themselves. At the present time there are two distinct Burmahs: British Burmah and Independent Burmah. But at the time when Mr. and Mrs. Judson arrived in Rangoon, these two countries formed one great Empire, ruled by one monarch, whose th…
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Having studied the _Geography_ and the _Physical Geography_ of Burmah, we turn to its _Natural History_. The domestic animals are the ox, buffalo, horse, and the goat. The horses are small, and are used for riding, never as beasts of burden. The dog is not kept as a pet, or for hunting, but, as in other Oriental countr…
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“Unlike the generality of the Asiatics, they are not a fawning race. They are cheerful, and singularly alive to the ridiculous; buoyant, elastic, soon recovering from personal or domestic disaster. With little feeling of patriotism, they are still attached to their homes, greatly so to their families. Free from prejudi…
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The _government_ of Independent Burmah is an absolute despotism. The king has supreme power over the life and possessions of every subject. He may confiscate property, imprison, torture, or execute at his pleasure,—his only restraint being fear of an insurrection. An English writer relates that at the sovereign’s comma…
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“He who is now the most degraded of the demons may one day rule the highest of the heavens: He who is at present seated on the most honorable of the celestial thrones, may one day writhe amidst all the agonies of a place of torment; and the worm that we crush under our feet may in the course of ages become a supreme Bu…
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But let us glance at the life of the founder of Buddhism. He is called Gaudama, Siddartha, or Buddha. Gaudama was the name of his family; Siddartha his own individual name, and Buddha, “the enlightened one,” the surname he acquired by his wisdom. He was born about the year 500 B.C., at Kapilivastu, a few days’ journey …
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But in what _way_ is this bliss of annihilation to be reached? Only by a long and arduous struggle. There are four truths to be believed. 1. There is nothing in life but sorrow. 2. The root of sorrow is desire. 3. Desire must be destroyed. 4. The way to destroy desire is to follow the eightfold path, viz., 1. Right doc…
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But, after all, Buddhism, with its exquisite code of morals, has never succeeded in cleansing the Augean stables of the human heart. It is a religion without God, or prayer, or pardon, or heaven. Its laws lack the authority of a Law-giver. Its _Nirvana_ is a cheerless and uninviting prospect. It is a system of despair.…
621 wordsSECTION 58CHAPTER V. LIFE IN RANGOON. 1813-1819.
Mr. and Mrs. Judson, as has already been stated, arrived in Rangoon June 13, 1813. For almost a year and a half since leaving their native land, they had been seeking a home on heathen shores. Having reached Calcutta, they had been forced by the oppressive policy of the East India Company to take refuge upon the Isle o…
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“_December 11._ To-day, for the first time, I have visited the wife of the viceroy. I was introduced to her by a French lady, who has frequently visited her. When we first arrived at the Government house she was not up; consequently we had to wait some time. But the inferior wives of the viceroy diverted us much by the…
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“RANGOON, _April_ 23, 1814.…
4 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.