Adoniram Judson 1788 - 1850

His Home

Nestled among the friendly trees of Malden, a beautiful suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, still stands the old wooden house in which Adoniram Judson, a Congregational minister, born at Woodbury, Connecticut, brought his bride, Abigail Brown, born at Tiverton, Rhode Island, after their marriage November 23, 1786. Their first child, born August 9, 1788, they called Adoniram. The family resided here until the son was four and one-half years old; then at Wenham till he was twelve; then at Braintree until he was sixteen, when they took up permanent residence at the historic town of Plymouth.

Success in School

At three young Judson was able to read. With boyish ambition he gathered other children together while from a chair he would conduct a service. His favorite hymn began, "Go preach my Gospel, saith the Lord."In grammar school he showed unusual taste for languages and was nicknamed Virgil," or "Old Virgil dug up." At twelve he sought after books to read that older people refused him because of his youth. His father fostered his desire for knowledge and never doubted that his son would some day be a great man. This unconcealed parental pride and ambition cost the child in later years a great struggle, for all worldly ambition had to be sacrificed for the one great purpose of his life. In 1804 the young man Judson entered Providence College, afterwards named Brown, University. Three years later, when but nineteen, he won the honors of his class. His college days were marked by close application and great care in his life and conduct. The same year he finished college he opened a private academy in Plymouth, and taught nearly one year, during which time he published two school books, - "Elements of English Grammar" and "Young Ladies' Arithmetic."

Conversion

It was during the early years of the nineteenth century, while Judson was in college, that French infidelity swept over the country. The ill effects were readily apparent. With only a few exceptions, all the students of Yale were avowed infidels and preferred to call each other by the names of leading infidels, such as Tom Paine, or Voltaire, instead of their own names.

Though Adoniram was reared in a thoroughly Christian atmosphere, during his college days his life took on the stain of infidelity that was sweeping over the land. And so, the precocious student became a Free Thinker before he completed his course. It was in this frame of mind, after his graduation, that he decided on an adventurous tour, with some frolicking players thru the Northern States. But as Providence was watching over him, events would soon take place that would change the course of his life.

He left off from the troupe after a few weeks, and continued alone, on horseback, stopping on a certain historic night at a country inn. Apologetically, the landlord explained there was only one room vacant, and he would be obliged to put him next door to a young man who was extremely ill; in fact, probably dying.

Adoniram did not resent sleeping next to the dying man, but he wondered who was passing away, and if he was, like himself, a Free Thinker, or, a Christian? "I'll take the room," said Judson. "Death has no terrors for me. You see, I'm an atheist."

Judson retired but sleep eluded him. The partition was very thin, and for long hours he was forced to endure the groans of the dying man - groans of agony, and groans of despair. The poor fellow is evidently dying in terror. He thought of going to his assistance, "but what could I say that would help him?" And he shivered at the thought of going into the presence of the dying man. A blush of shame came over him. What would his unbelieving companions think if they knew of his weakness? Above all, what would witty, brilliant Ernest say, if he knew? He tried to compose himself, but the dreadful cries from the next room continued. He pulled the blankets over his head but still he heard the awful sounds and shuddered! Finally, all became quiet in the next room.

At dawn, having had no sleep, he rose and inquired of the innkeeper concerning the lodger. To his astonishment, he learned of the young man's death and more: the poor fellow was Ernest, his intimate friend and college classmate; the same one from whom he had garnished many liberal views. For hours after, the words "Dead! Lost! Lost!" kept ringing in his ears. The event so overwhelmed him, he abandoned his pleasure-seeking trip, and returned home, begging his father and mother to help him find a faith that would stand the test of life, and of death, of time, and eternity.

By special favor, he was admitted to Andover Seminary, and on December 2, 1808, he solemnly dedicated himself to Christ. About five months later he became a member of the Third Congregational Church at Plymouth.

Missionary Consecration

As a student at Andover Seminary, Judson heard and read of the work that William Carey and his associates were opening up in India. This greatly influenced him to give serious consideration to the question of foreign missions. His first conclusion was that surely the love of Christ, which had so marvelously banished the darkness from his own soul, was meant for all mankind. But it was not easy to find and accept his place in the divine program. There was a terrific struggle in his soul between his worldly ambitions and the claims of the love of Christ. By day he was haunted by the vision of entire nations bound and dying in the dark prison house of sin. By night he spent long, sleepless hours contemplating the hopeless condition of teeming multitudes beyond the sea, sinking inevitably into Christless graves. With the burden of all these concerns bearing down upon him, finally, one epochal day, he went out into the woods and fell down on his knees, praying: "More than all else, I long to please Thee, my Lord. What wilt Thou have me to do?" As he prayed, he felt the presence of Jesus close beside him and heard His voice saying, "Go to the uttermost parts and preach the gospel of My love. I send you forth, like Paul, as a witness to distant nations." Like Paul, he rose up determined not to be disobedient to his Lord's commission.

Conversion and consecration to the ministry followed in step, almost simultaneously. He became a Christian to become a minister, and soon he added "to become a missionary." Dr. Buchanan's sermon, "The Star of the East," which depict the missionary labors of Schwartz, in Burma, fired his soul. He set about to gather around him a group of kindred spirits. Among these were four young men who had come to Andover from William's College: Samuel J. Mills, Jr., James Richards, Luther Rice and Gordon Hall. Already, while in college, these young men had taken refuge from a storm under a haystack and had solemnly dedicated their lives to take the gospel to the "far away places." And soon Judson, with these four other devoted young men, formed a missionary society. Beneath a haystack near the college where they consecrated themselves, they also dedicated themselves to foreign missions, and taking the Gospel to "far away places."

As is so often the case when confronted with the will of God, Judson had much opposition to brook. He was offered a splendid tutorial position in Brown University. And Dr. Griffith offered to make him his colleague at Plymouth church in Boston. When his mother heard this she said, "And you will be so near home." But he replied, "I shall never live in Boston. I have farther than that to go." His father's plans for him were frustrated, while his mother and sister shed tears pleading with him not to become a foreign missionary.

Missionary Appointment

Judson and his associates proposed their intentions to the teachers of the Seminary, and on June 27, 1810, to the General Association of the Congregationalists in Massachusetts. The outcome of which was brought to fruition through the formation of the American Board of Foreign Missions, which has carried forward such a wonderful work in missions. Sensing their weakness and inexperience in taking on and handling such affairs, the infant Board sent Judson to England to confer with the London Missionary Society; but joint efforts seemed impracticable. Upon his return he was appointed as a missionary in Asia, to locate in Burma or elsewhere as he deemed best.

Marriage

Judson's life was bound by a cord of love to Miss Ann Hasseltine. She was born December 22, 1789, and at sixteen confessed Christ. In those days, it was generally unthought, and unheard of, for a woman to go on the mission field. However, in the face of much public sentiment against it, decided to become a foreign missionary. Her sublime heroism made her one of the most remarkable women of her generation. On February 3, 1812, Judson took leave of his parents in Plymouth, and on February 5 was united in marriage to Ann Hasseltine. The very next day he was ordained at Salem, and on February 19, with his bride, embarked on the brig, Caravan, bound for Calcutta.

The following relays her first deep religious experience:

"One Sabbath morning, having prepared myself to attend public worship, just as I was leaving my toilet, I accidentally took up 'Hannah Moore's Strictures on Female Education,' and the words that caught my eye were, 'She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.' They were written in italics, with marks of admiration; and they struck me to the heart. I stood for a few moments amazed at the incident, and half inclined to think that some invisible agency had directed my eye to those words. At first, I thought I would live a different life, and be more serious and sedate; but at last I thought that they were not so applicable to me as I first imagined, and I resolved to think no more of them."

After a struggle of several months, she could truly say:

"I began to discover a beauty in the way of salvation by Christ. He appeared to be just a Savior as I needed. I saw how God could be just, in saving sinners through Him. I committed my soul into His hands, and besought Him to do with me what seemed good in His sight. When I was thus enabled to commit myself into the hands of Christ, my mind was relieved from that distressing weight which had borne it down for so long a time. I did not think that I had obtained the new heart which I had been seeking, but felt ahppy in contemplating the character of Christ, and particularly that disposition which led Him to suffer so much, for the sake of doing the will and promoting the glory of His heavenly Father. . . A few days after this . . . I began to hope that I had passed from death unto life. When I examined myself, I was constrained to own that I had feelings and dispositions to which I was formerly and utter stranger. I had sweet communion with the blessed God from day to day; my heart was drawn out in love to Christians of whatever denomination; the sacred Scriptures were sweet to my taste; and such was my thirst for religious knowledge that I frequently spent a great part of the night in reading religious books."

Becomes a Baptist

It took four months for the voyage to India. The couple made good use of this time by through the study of God's Word. These inquiries into Scripture convinced them that faith should precede baptism and baptism was immersion. It cost a great struggle, for making the change meant casting aside all previous training and dropping the Board that had sent him. Never the less, they decided to accept the tenets of the Baptists. Surely this step was one of great faith and deep conviction; for there was no Baptist Board. On September 6, 1812, Judson and his wife were baptized by Rev. Ward in Calcutta. When news reached America of this change, the Baptists were aroused and organized the American Baptist Missionary Union.

No Welcome in India

Upon landing in India, the new Baptists found that their greatest enemy was not paganism, but the British East India Company. Greed caused the British government to distrust missionaries from the changes that took place in their converts. People freed from sin have a bad habit of bowing down to God rather than man; and the British knew that. Being refused permanent status in India, Ann and Adonirum set sail for Burma.

No place could have more fulfilled Adonirum's prophecy in his letter of proposal to Ann's father than Burma. Burma was a land of superstition, governmental corruption and dedicated Buddhism. William Carey's son Felix wrote of Burma: "The houses of Rangoon were miserably built, the streets were filthy with vermin, the rents wickedly oppressive, the taxes absurdly high, and the punishments barbarous." And they found Burma to be all that and more! Torture and mass executions were quite common occurrences, and any foreign religion was dealt with swiftly and unmercifully. The country's rulers were proud men who vainly held the belief that their nation was so superior to all others, it was invincible. This is the place, which Adonirum had brought his fair Ann to minister for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Labors Abundant

In Rangoon the first ten years of missionary labors were given mainly to mastering the Burmese language, without grammar, dictionary or English-speaking teacher. Three years later to the day he completed a grammar for the Burmese language. May 20, 1817, he finished the translation of Matthew; he wrote tracts, concise, clear statements of Bible truth, and gave them out discriminatingly and prayerfully, and these located his first serious inquirer after truth. His keen logic, setting at naught the shrewdness of the natives, along with his beautiful Christian spirit, often brought applause from the hearers. After nearly six years in Burma, on April 4, 1819, Judson ventured to preach his first public discourse. June 27 he baptized Moung Hau, his first Burman convert. Many who had long been taught followed, and the mission was a happy body of believers.

Regions Beyond

But all was not favorable. The Viceroy of Rangoon harassed Judson until he decided to call on the Emperor at Ava. His appeal was of no avail, and he returned home greatly discouraged. He planned to move under English domain, but the little native church prevailed against his leaving. In 1822 Judson again called on the Emperor in Ava and this time was received favorably and asked to locate in the city. At this time Rangoon had a membership of eighteen natives, a chapel, printing press and schools, and two missionary couples from America to take care of the infant church. So answering the longing of his soul to enter the regions beyond, the Judsons began their home in Ava January 23, 1824.

Prison

The Emperor gave Judson a plot of ground for a mission and assured him royal protection. Mrs. Judson soon had a fine class of native girls and the outlook was most promising. But war broke out between Burma and the English Government of India and the Judsons were looked upon as spies. On June 8, 1824, Judson was committed to the horrible prison of Oung-pen-la. It was forty by thirty-five feet high, with no ventilation save thru the cracks between the boards. "In this room were confined one hundred persons of both sexes and all nationalities, nearly all naked, and half famished. The prison was never washed or even swept. Putrid remains of animal and vegetable matter, together with nameless abominations, strewed the floor. In this place of torment Mr. Judson lay with five pairs of fetters on his legs and ankles, weighing about fourteen pounds, the marks of which he carried to his dying day. At nightfall, lest the prisoners should escape, a bamboo pole was placed between the legs and then drawn up by means of pulleys to a height which allowed their shoulders to rest on the ground while their feet depended from the iron rings of the fetters." With fine sensibilities, reared in tender surroundings, always active and pushing, no one can imagine what endurance he was called upon to exercise in the twenty-one months of prison life, much of the time in fetters.

His Heroic Wife

But Judson was not the only sufferer. His wife was without protection. Yet she brought food to the prison day after day and with bribes passed the officials and gave relief to some of the wretched prisoners. She gave birth to a child, and after twenty-one days carried it in her arms to show to its father in the prison. The child contracted small-pox; then the mother herself took the same loathsome disease, followed closely by spotted fever, which brought her close to death. After many entreaties she secured permission for her husband to come out of prison, and he, with fetters on and a guard following, carried their crying babe about the streets, begging nourishment from some Burman mother.

Deliverance

Though Judson was imprisoned because the Burman government thought him a spy, now it released him to translate and mediate in making terms of peace with the English government. Though he had previously kept scrupulously clear from all the affairs of the government, he was now compelled to take part. After six weeks' service he was cast into prison because of the advance of the English. He was soon released by Capt. Campbell, who took Mr. and Mrs. Judson to his own quarters and gave them every care.

Sunshine and Shadows

Peace being declared, the Judsons departed and arrived in Rangoon March 21, 1826. He refused an offer from the English government of $3,000 per year, and took up his mission work with undaunted courage. But his associates had fled, the native church was scattered and the mission property was destroyed. Famine, anarchy and wild beasts infested the place and Judson decided he would take the four native Christians and locate at Amherst, a place of greater safety. He was compelled to go to Ava to negotiate a commercial treaty, and while there two and one-half months his wife died. Upon his return he was met by the Christians in great lamentations; his heart was desolate. Yet he took up mission work again with ardor, resumed his translation of the Bible, talked with inquirers and preached every Sunday. On April 24, 1827, his little child, which was such a comfort to him, was taken from him, and bereft of wife and child he was alone in the world. Because Maulmain was rapidly eclipsing Amherst in population, and to get away from the scenes of sadness he had passed thru, Judson decided to move again.

Maulmain

Moving to Maulmain, the native church, including inquirers and nineteen scholars, followed. This formed a splendid nucleus, and work was began in four centers. Soon they had baptized the first convert and others rapidly followed. In spite of numerous missionary duties he found time to begin translation of the Old Testament. Thru a native he resumed church work at Rangoon, which grew rapidly.

Burma Again

In 1830 Judson once again attempted to establish the faith within the gates of Burma proper. He located at Prome and preached to thousands. But the king, hearing of his work, gave orders for him to depart; reluctantly he withdrew to Rangoon, where he remained almost a year. The Mission Board was urging him to take furlough, but even though he had been on the field eighteen years without rest, he declined on the ground of the needs of those out in the field. He was overjoyed upon returning to Maulmain he was overjoyed with the news that large numbers of Burmans and Karens and Talings had united with the church. Two million pages of tracts and Scriptures had been printed and a church in the jungle some distance had been organized. Making sure to to teach the native converts in the area of discipleship he sent out regularly, in teams, two by two, establishing systematic tours in the jungles.

Second Marriage

Though for eight years Judson had toiled alone, in Mrs. Sarah Hall Boardman, a widow of one of his missionary associates, he found a kindred spirit for all his ideals, and on April 10, 1834, they were united in marriage. She was a widow for three years but had kept up the good work her husband, George D. Boardman, had so well carried on at Tavoy. She not only dealt with inquirers and directed the mission, but with her child carried by a native she climbed mountains, forded streams, and threaded forests and marshes in her tours thru jungles to carry the good news. Her schools were marked with such success that when government aid was granted for schools throughout the province, it was expressly stipulated by the English government that they should be conducted on the plan of Mrs. Boardman's at Tavoy.

The Burmese Bible

After twenty-one years of patient toil Judson completed the translation of the Bible into the Burmese (January 31, 1834). He then took seven years more to revise his first work and at last on October 24, 1840, the entire book was ready for the press. Competent judges pronounce the Judson Bible as the best translation that has appeared in India, and like the Luther Bible it will probably be the Bible for three centuries to come.

Failing Health

Being fifty years old, having accumulated twenty-five years of incessant toil in Burma, Judson's health began to show signs of giving way. Difficulty in his lungs, attended with great pain and loss of speech, compelled him to take a sea voyage to Calcutta. He returned better. But, unfortunately, at this time, Mrs. Judson also was attacked by a disease that in the end closed her labors. They went to Calcutta, then to the Isle of France and back to Maulmain; being forced to take leave of one of their children en-route. Mrs. Judson did not improve. So all missionary work had to cease, and they determined to go to America, leaving the youngest three children behind with missionaries and taking the eldest three with them. They started on September 1, 1845, but while their boat was off St. Helena, Mrs. Judson passed away. Judson prepared the body for burial and that afternoon it was carried ashore and buried in the public burial grounds of that rocky island. That evening the boat lifted anchor continuing on its journey.

Reception in America

Judson arrived in Boston on October 15, 1845 ill-prepared to meet the wonderful greeting that was awaiting him. He was in delicate health; his pulmonary trouble kept him from speaking above a whisper and so he addressed audiences thru another who repeated. At times he would disappoint audiences by having more of a n interest in sharing the wonderful story of the Savior¡¦s redeeming love, and not telling of his labors on the mission field. And found it difficult to frame sentences in the English, after so long a time thinking in a foreign tongue. Some complained that Judson didn't tell more thrilling stories of adventure and intrigue. In reply, Judson said, "I'm glad they have it to say (that I) had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus' dying love." Yet in spite of all this, his journey from home to home, and city to city, was like a triumphal march. Secular and religious papers reported his movements, so great was the respect that was paid to him.

While on tour he became engaged to Miss Emily Chubbuck, who, under the name of Fanny Forester, had a wide literary reputation. She would prepare suitable memoirs of Mrs. Sarah B. Judson, his deceased second wife. The result of this association was that on June 2, 1846, she became his wife. Many feared this marriage would spoil her literary career and his missionary service. But not so. And on July 11, 1846, Judson, with his wife, leaving his children in America to be educated, sailed for Burma with some new missionaries.

Burma Again

During his eighteen months of absence one of his three children passed away, but two lived to greet him. He still longed to enter Burma proper, but the country was now ruled by a king more intolerant than ever; his barbarities and cruelties far exceeded anything previously known in the land. All missionary operations, if any, had to be done in greatest secrecy. But Judson had been working on a dictionary and Rangoon offered facilities that Maulmain did not; so he located in Rangoon again. During the day he worked on his dictionary; at night in his home he met native Christians who would risk their lives to meet with him. This stress, improper food, much sickness in his family and terrors of the king compelled him to retreat. This he did with a heart near to breaking. He had hoped that the Board at home would authorize him to go even to Ava and face the fierce king; but "the timid and narrow policy of his brethren in America" forbade his doing this until two years later; and then it was too late.

His Death

Mrs. Judson's health gave him occasion for alarm. But instead of her passing beyond, he himself, died at sea on April 12, 1850. That evening in greatest silence, broken only by the voice of the captain, his body was lowered on the larboard side into the Indian Ocean, even without a prayer.

A Review

Judson frequently went on extended preaching trips to villages scattered through the jungles. As Lower Burma is a delta region with innumerable streams, he usually traveled by boat. While living at Amherst, he became exceedingly burdened for the salvation of his boatman. He frequently went to the man's house to converse with him on his favorite theme, the love of Christ, but as soon as Judson left, the man and his wife would scrub the bamboo house to remove the contaminations caused by contact with the foreigner. As they traveled by boat from village to village, Judson had many hours in which to enlighten his unwilling auditor concerning his soul's need and to tell him of the Redeemer's love. When a trip was completed and the man asked for his wages, Judson would say, "Come to the service Sunday morning and I will pay you." Greatly impressed by the missionary's life and passionate concern on his behalf, the man eventually came to appreciate and to appropriate "the riches of love in Christ Jesus." And so it was that the erstwhile depraved and stony-hearted boatman became not only a Christian, but also a very zealous evangelist among his own people.

Judson was permitted to finish the more difficult part of his Burmese dictionary, the English and Burmese; the Burmese and English was completed by his co-laborer, Mr. Stevens. When the idea of evangelizing Burma first occurred to him, he hoped to build up one congregation with a hundred converts before he died. At his death, however, Burman and Karen Christians who had publicly been baptized numbered over 7,000, beside the many during his thirty-five years of service who died happy in the faith. There were sixty-three congregations established under the direction of 163 missionaries, native pastors and assistants. This result becomes the more remarkable because it was accomplished in the midst of a people having a literature and religion to be supplanted. His consecration to missions gave occasion for the organization first of the Congregational Mission Board and then the American Baptist Missionary Union. But he had a very direct influence in quickening interest which led the Episcopalians and Methodists and Presbyterians to organize also. The story of his life and especially his suffering in Ava shall ever thrill the heart that is touched with suffering for Christ's sake, and his influence for world evangelization will cease only when the great task is completed.

In 1828 an event of vast significance took place. Having come in contact with the Karens, a race of wild people living in remote and almost inaccessible jungles, Judson longed for the opportunity of winning a Karen for Christ and thus reaching his race. This opportunity came to him through Ko Tha Byu, a Karen slave who was sold one day in the bazaar in Moulmein and bought by a native Christian, who forthwith brought him to Judson to be taught and, if possible, evangelized. Ko Tha Byu was a desperate robber bandit. He had taken part in approximately thirty murders and was a hardened criminal with a vicious nature and an ungovernable temper. Patiently, prayerfully, and lovingly, Judson instructed the wretched, depraved creature, who eventually not only yielded to the transforming power of Christ but went through the jungles as a flaming evangelist among his people. The hearts of the Karens were remarkably and providentially prepared for the reception of the gospel message by a tradition prevalent among them to this effect: Long, long ago the Karen elder brother and his young white brother lived close together. God gave each of them a Book of Gold containing all they needed for their salvation, success and happiness. The Karen brother neglected and lost his Book of Gold and so he fell into a wretched type of existence, ignorant and cruelly oppressed by the Burmese. The white brother, however, prized his Golden Book, or Book of God, and so, when he sailed away across the oceans, God greatly blessed him. Some day the white brother will return, bringing with him God's Book, which, if the Karen people will receive and obey, will bring to them salvation and untold blessings.

Accordingly, as Ko Tha Byu went on his unwearying preaching tours through the jungles, declaring that the long-looked-for white brother had returned with God's Book, hundreds received the message with gladness. Who could have imagined that, a century later, the Christian Karens alone would have many splendid high schools, hundreds of village schools, some 800 self-supporting churches and a Christian constituency of more than 150,000. And all this began with the conversion of a depraved slave, bandit, and murderer, who was brought to the light and the saving knowledge of Christ in 1828.

To Judson, being a missionary meant just one thing: to join with Christ in a supreme endeavor "to seek and to save the lost." Over the numerous years of his service, under the tutelage of the Spirit, he became a tireless seeker of souls and the theme of his message never varied. The desperate need of a perishing people was matched by the love of Christ blazing in the soul of Adoniram Judson. In a letter pleading for missionary reinforcements, he speaks of "the sin of turning a deaf ear to the plaintive cry of millions of immortal beings, who, by their darkness and misery, cry, day and night, 'Come to our rescue, ye bright sons and daughters of America. Come and save us, for we are sinking into hell!'"