i. Notes
Seve
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Address
SELEC
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
AN EARNEST MINISTRY:
OB, HOW TO WIN SOULS.
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litos in ijje
MISSION-SCENES IN BURMAH.
BY THE
REV. JOHN BAILLIE,
GONV. AND CA1US COLL., CAMBRIDGE.
AUTHOR or "MEMOIKS OF HEWITSON," ETC.
"MAKY shall come from THE EAST and west, and shall sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. viii. 11.
SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET;
AND B. SEELEY, HANOVER STREET.
LONDON. MDCCCLVIII.
THE REV. WILLIAM MARSH, D.D.
HONORARY CANON OF WORCESTER,
WHO,
FOB MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, HAS STOOD FORTH,
THE EARNEST AND ENLIGHTENED FRIEND
OF MISSIONS TO JEW AND GENTILE,
SKETCHING THE WORKERS AND THE WORK IN BURMAH,
WITH MUCH CHRISTIAN REGARD AND AFFECTION,
r
INSCRIBED
BY THE AUTHOR.
nr //3
Oh, what a bright and blessed world
This groaning earth of ours will be,
When from its throne the tempter hurlM
Shall leave it all, O Lord, to Thee ! "
PREFACE.
THE following Memoir of the Burmah Mission has
been prepared at the suggestion of various friends,
who, on account of the Mission's extraordinary results,
desiderated such a brief but comprehensive narrative of
its workers and work as might stimulate the Church
of Christ, in these portentous days, to fresh zeal and
faith in winning souls.
The materials of the Memoir lie scattered over a
variety of publications ; such as the Lives of Dr. Jud-
son, of Boardman, of Ann Judson, of Ko-thah-byoo, of
Sarah Judson, and of Emily Judson; "the Church
Missionary Intelligencer ; " " the Missionary Magazine
of the American Board of Missions ; " and sundry
VI PREFACE.
other works. It has been the Author's aim to weave
the varied fragments into one connected whole.
Modern missions can appeal to no such brilliant
success. " While in Basle/' was the remark, to an
American traveller, one day, of Dr. Hoffman, long at
the head of the Missionary Institution in that city, and
now one of the highest ecclesiastical dignitaries in
Prussia, " I had the publications sent me from all the
Missionary Societies in existence; and I have always
considered your Karen Mission " (a branch of the Bur-
man)." as the most successful in the world." The same
traveller found Dr. Hengstenberg, at Berlin, " spelling
out the English Memoir of Ko-thah-byoo " (one of the
converts) . And a distinguished Indian judge writes :
" As illustrations of the working of the gracious Spirit
of God, through the simple preaching and reading of
the Word, the Burman Missions are among the most
important in the world. Nay, more, it may well be
doubted, if the whole history of Missions since Apos-
tolic days exhibits any more interesting and affecting
manifestations of the divine energy of that Word, or
more lovely and delightful fruits of the Spirit in newly
converted disciples."
It becomes, therefore, to the Church, a most grave
PREFACE. VU
inquiry " To what is this so signal success to be
ascribed ? " The reader will find, as he proceeds,
materials for arriving at a very decisive reply.
The sect, to which Judson attached himself, has
not been named. Like Bunyan, and Martyn, and
Brainerd, Judson is the property, not of a sect, but
of the whole Church of God. His light, like theirs,
" so shone," that men, seeing his good works, glorified
not his sect, but his Father in heaven.
If ever there was a time when such a narrative was
" in season," it is at this crisis in the history of those
vast populations of the East, on which events so ap-
palling have recently concentrated all eyes. Burmah,
strictly speaking, is not India; its energetic and brave
people look down upon the Hindoo with a kind of
scorn ; and its superstition, also, is cast in another
mould. But both the Burman and the Hindoo are
formed after the same grand Asiatic type. And, at a
time when atrocities so terrific have almost driven "the
man of the dark skin" out of our hearts' possible
sympathies, it is something to find, amongst the race,
footprints bespeaking so unmistakeably the presence of
the God of grace. The Author will feel amply recom-
Vlll PREFACE.
pensed for his labour, if, in any measure, these pages
be used by the divine Quickener to stimulate the
Church into new activity in going forth to those be-
nighted nations with the gospel of the kingdom.
London, December 15, 1857.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
The FIELD The last of the Buddhs Atheists The palm-leaves
The assassins The Burman country Woman The white ele-
phant The god The LABOURER The boy A problem " I
have found it!" "Old Virgil dug up" Youthful ambition
The Deist Seeing the world The precipice The country-inn
The death-chamber The awakening The surrender The
man of one idea "Star in the East" Life-devotement
ANOTHER LABOURER Early traits The first chill The ball
The Nicodemus-corner The meshes The Cross The secret
chamber The preacher at Bradford The meeting "One
mourner" Self-dedication The living epistle The PRISONER
The dungeon at Bayonne The Stranger The rescue Visit
to London The voyage to India Scene on the Hooghly
William Carey Juggernaut The oasis . . . Page 3
CHAPTER II.
India and England Judson ordered off Burmah The shut door
The Creole " Contraband" The tavern Sail for the Mauritius
Aspirations Return to India The gloomy night The
verandah The language His closet Loneliness The people
Labours Gift of tongues Native conscience The pagoda
Burmese grammar The little son Home-scene The cradle
and the grave The well and the rope The press Translation
Aa inquirer Brightening prospects
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
Planting of countries Missions A visitor The first day The
day-star Native women Festival The viceroy Baptism of
blood Scene at sea Persecuting decree The reprieve " Not
alone" New labourers The meeting The palace Incident
First preaching The zayat An inquirer The silent tear
Another visitor First convert Scene at a pagoda "Wild
foreigners" A hearer An opposer "I wish to be a disciple"
Heavenly lessons "A worm" "Go forward" . . Page 55
CHAPTER IV.
A panic The king "Gone up" New emperor Ominous
rumours Reign of terror Swearing fealty Mockers Viceroy
at zayat Inquirers "New-born soul" Two natives Corona-
tion Contrast First baptism Night-scene " A molecule of
matter" First Burman Prayer-meeting A sceptic "I know
nothing" The spy -priest Threatened storm Must visit Ava
' ' A greater than the Emperor ' ' A fisherman ' ' Know not
what it is to love my own life" First-traits Clouds lowering
First visit to Ava Voyage Scene on the Irriwadi The palace
"The golden foot" The petition Royal displeasure Repulse
Prospects 77
CHAPTER V.
The " iron mall " A persecutor Dismissal from Ava A visitor on
the river The three disciples An appeal' The voice of God
"I will pray" "Loneliness of lot" Scenes in the zayat
A convert A group The "teacher" First female convert
A parting Return to Rangoon The welcome A natrVe doctor
The dawn Cottage -scene The Viceroy A reprieve New
converts The death-bed A Burman officer Mrs. Judson's
illness Visit to America Lessons of solitude Life's great
business Return to Burmah Judson's one aim Second visit
to Ava Interviews with the king Grant of land . . .96
CONTENTS. XI
CHAPTER VI.
Third visit to Ava Scene on the river The royal palace Hard-
ships Dark cloud -The British Suspicions " Spies " The
" spotted face " Arrest The cord Imprisoned The cottage
Faith The ruffian-guard Carousals The governor Bribe
The prisoner Turnkey Scene in the palace Petition The
confiscation Search "A true teacher" Rangoon British
flotilla A panic The reprieve Escape The converts A
good confessor Page 123
CHAPTER VII.
PRISON-LIFE " Death-prison" The gaol-circle The gaolers The
"tiger-cat" A ministering angel The first interview The
' New Testament The pillow A scene in the shed The mince-
pie "Touch of nature " The mission-cottage The pale infant
Felon-chains First kiss The flickering sun-beam New
catastrophe The fetters False alarm British triumphs
Retaliations An audience "I pity you" A secret Slow
fever The Court- lion The charmer Iron-cage The British
lion The den and the cage Burman dictator Fresh cruelties
The prisoners carried off " J'ake care of yourself" The old
pillow The "roll of hard cotton " Journey to the new prison
A good Samaritan A victim The hovel The chained father
and his babe Fall of the dictator -Release New sufferings
The bamboo hut " That is noble" Scene in mission-cottage
" She is dead" British advance Prisoner at Ava The governor
Scene in the shed " What can it mean ? " Once more free
Visit to the cottage The sick-bed " A human object " Scene
on the Irriwadi . 139
CHAPTER VIII.
Scene in the English camp The trembling culprit "Old acquaint-
ances " A retrospect The silk umbr lla Deathly pale
Xll CONTENTS.
" Nothing to fear" New self-dedication Ann Judson's illness
"Almost ethereal" Scene on the river A group Prophetic
tears Fever Death The bereaved Burmese worship A
volunteer Village-scenes Inquirers A change New awaken-
ings "Little Maria" "Dark touch of death "The hopia-
tree Aspirations A convert's death-bed Heavenly joy.
Page 167
CHAPTER IX.
A NEW LABOURER Early characteristics " A look " The college-
circle A prayer Gleam of sunshine Ruling passion "A
very little Christian" Literary honours The angel-call
Another sickle Fair girl of Massachusetts Early training
The Spirit-birth Missionary longings The elegy A meeting
Joint- dedication Scene in Burmah Groups The " foreigner "
" White foreigness " The jungle The bamboo-house Bur-
man inquirers " Fire in the bones" A native preacher- Two
boys "Not afraid to die" A deliverance Jiuison at Maul-
main Zayat scenes " All wrong " " I will, I will " A native
scholar Leighton " Eminently holy" Patterns Fashionable
society Power of holiness Conversions Baptisms " Drink-
ing in instruction " " Settlid for ever " .... 177
CHAPTER X.
The Karens Strange longings A wild villager Gropings First
convert "Help by water" Missionary tour "All ear"
Inquirers Scene in the jungle Conversions A Karen preacher
Little Sarah The bier Aspirations "Province in arms"
Critical moment The wharf Escape Congratulations
Old converts Itinerant preaching Power of the Word "So
spake" Boardman's method An allegory Parting srene
Judson at Maulmain Awakenings Force of truth New cases
The school A Burman mother ''Lost to trade" Fana-
tical rage Spirit of martyrs Prayer- First Burman pastor
Fresh conversions " Cannot wait " A doctor A merchant
CONTENTS. Xlll
"Christ's for ever" Persecution "Chained wild beasts"
Forsaking all " In his right mind" Filial affection "My
own dear mother" Cottage in the woods Solitude Bible-
translation "Slow and sure" Inner life Secret exercises
" A life of prayer " Page 192
CHAPTER XI.
Seneca Frail but secure The angel-call Hectic fever Hard-
ships Heavenly longings "An unprofitable servant" Return
to Tavoy A welcome Feeble whispers Scene in the town
Scoffers A confessor Scene in the zayat The Supper New
labourer The jungle Bamboo chapel An assembly Priva-
tions Foretastes Water-side Group of converts "Work
done" Parting words A convoy Thunder-storm " House
of their gods" " Other lumps of clay " Thankfulness Going
home Embarking "Come up higher" Weeping Karens
Burial Joy and crown KAREN SCENES A birth-place A
jungle family Quala Prophetic name First message The
group A picture The visitor The midnight lamp Mis-
sionary instincts Native appeal A caviller Silenced- -Doubt-
ing and Believing New converts Prayer in the jungle A
priest Protracted meetings Success Native evangelist
Scene at a festival " A black foreigner" Ruling passion A
valley "My buffaloes" A revival Anticipations . 215
CHAPTER XII.
Scene on the Irriwadi The group of boatmen Inquirers The old
shepherd " Give me one ! " The night-lamp Visit to Prome
"A spy" New awakenings "Behold, he prayeth ! " A
gathering storm British resident" A little grace " An adieu
The garret at Rangoon A " living epistle " First duty A
shining face Self-denial English travellers The dark ladder
The "grand engine " " Lowliness itself" Daily dying
Madame Guyon and Molinos Crowds Tidings from Tavoy
XIV CONTENTS.
Consolations "Tears of joy*' Native festival Macedonian
cry Results All alone Strivings after holiness Snares
Burnt letter The hermitage An arbour The "miracle"
A grave Asceticism and Christian self-denial . . Page 244
CHAPTER XIII.
Scene at Rangoon Royal tank A group Steadfast faith Two
sleepers Bamboo-raft Converts Karen Bible Whitened
fields "Feed the gnats " Village-scene The one tract
" Fine-spun systems " Children of the forest Native ministry
Three students Dress Satan fretting "Barking in concert "
A chief Not daring to think The missionary life "Mere
skeletons " The grindstone " Pride of humble men " " Genteel
living" Power of gentleness Scenes on the river "Taking
into port"- Aged convert "God is with me" Demon of
diseases The translation Privacy Daily maxims Compas-
sion for souls An appeal "Devoted for life " Tact "My
anvil" The little triangular corner How to shine Sum of
converts Missionary's business -r- Manuscript-Bible finished
Great triumph ......... 267
CHAPTER XIV.
The widow of Tavoy "How can I go ? " Visitors from the jungle
" Have you prayed ? " A Karen death-bed A Chinaman
Laughing for joy Willing sacrifices Schools East India
Company No Bible " Utter repugnance " Mountain -passes
A group An English officer Scene in the jungle A morning-
party Karen communings A strange spell Marriage A
farewell Judson at Maulmain A master-builder Evangelistic
method New labourers Regions beyond Burman Bible
Printed A retrospect Preaching Passion for souls A con-
vert Wayside zayat Self-denial A stranger The bright-
eyed boy The smile " Jesus Christ's man " The two walkers
The turban "Wicked sorceries " "Cannot keep away"
" My mother" " Did she ? " The palm-leaf The assistant
CONTENTS. XV
A mystery "Face of an angel" The medicine Cradle-scene
Angel-call Bright hope The oath Scene in the zayat
The sah-ya " Story of Jesus Christ " " One desire of my life "
The inward monitor A writing Key to eternal life "Papa,
hear him!" "I must go" The prayer Ripening for the
golden country A message The cholera Death-chamber
"Gone up" The mysterious voice "Only Jesus Christ"
"God was here" Another death-bed Anxious look The
smile The finger upward The child A New Testament
" All three ! " Martyr-joy " Take me to-night" Living
epistle A lordship ....... Page 291
CHAPTER XV.
Another labourer Blood of souls Picture of Judson One theme
Closet Secret prayer "What do I live for ?" Visitors
Watching for souls An incident The straight line "Will
you ? " Coleridge's aphorism Love Pity "A strange provi-
dence " Mrs. Judson Inquirers A death -bed Home-
affections " My mother" The fireside A thousand converts
Missions and the Bible One golden lamp A wish- The two
arms Illness Voyage to Bengal "Home is home" One
longing Burman Bible "Hearse-like airs" God's aim
Presentiments Mrs. Judson Sudden prostration Little Henry
Grave at Serampore Praying always The voyage Twenty
converts Labours Burmese dictionary Rules of life Grand
motive Mrs. Judson Indescribable heavenliness "Stealing
out" Voyage The parting Sudden sinking The last kiss
St. Helena Lonely grave Desolate cabin The orphan United
States , 316
CHAPTER XVI.
Judson Visit to America Welcome Characteristic scene "The
precious Saviour" A snare Emily Judson Rangoon The
brick house The Karens Inquirers Persecution " Cover of
the bushes" New visit to Ava Frustrated The invisible
XVI CONTENTS.
Burmese Dictionary "Any work" Scene in the study "A
strange providence" Waiting for his change Ripe for heaven
Brotherly love Sick-bed longings " So strong in Christ"
" Not my will" Voyage to the Mauritius Answer to prayer
" This frightens me" The parting " My only kindred" "All
right there" " I am going" " Bury 'me ! " Sea-grave The
tiny sapling "A real live oak" Burman work Karen jungle
Native preacher One business Secret exercises Karen
village The "two mites " Melody " Happiest day of my life"
Awakening "What is it to believe?" San Quala British
Commissioner " How do you live ? " " My heart sleeps" No
guile Fifteen hundred converts .... Page 340
CHAPTER XVII.
River-Scene A Gothic temple Eager listeners Songs of Sion
Courage Rangoon " Sheaves" Midnight teachings God's
anointed ones Bassein Power of the gospel Native assistants
Winning souls "One settled design" A contrast London
and Tavoy " Twenty pagans " Schools Attainments Giving
Karen matrons The stocks Not angry " A great Bethel"
The chief Conversions ' ' Decided Christians ' ' Bitterest foes
Burmese war New openings New triumphs Favourite
hymn Missionary method Direct preaching Men, not children
The missionary not a schoolmaster The one weapon No
pioneer A parallel Fresh successes A convert Burning zeal
An aged saint "All is peace" A death-bed appeal " One
cry" Burman pastors "A good degree" A forlorn hope
"Ready to go" Village Scenes Grace, grace The chief's
audience-hall American deputation Best mode of preaching
Win souls Results A Burman Apostolic bearing An ordi-
nation scene An inquirer Searching look Fresh triumphs
The Dagon-pagoda " How we pray ?" Pointing to heaven
Another welcome Family worship Old Covenanters Moun-
tain-scene Christian villages Lamp of Life A little boy
The smoked catechism A martyrdom Assembly of two thousand
Motley groups Missionary zeal A confessor Happy to die,
happy to live Results Conclusion . . . 359
MISSION- SCENES IN BURMAH.
ONE misty morning in autumn, a traveller left Geneva
to ascend the Grand Saleve. Reaching the foot of the
mountain, he began the ascent by a zigzag pathway on
its steep front, the mist so thick that not an object could
be seen beyond a few yards. As he picked his way
laboriously and exhaustingly, he suddenly emerged
into a bright sunshine, the beams reflected with an
almost dazzling brilliancy from the summits of the snow-
capt Alps. Beneath was the mist, like some vast sea,
smooth and white as a chalcedony ; and, as he listened,
he could catch at intervals the lowing of the oxen, and
the village-bell, and the busy hum of the haunts of men.
Away in the far-East, where, amidst the magnificent
scenery of Burmah's hill and dale,
" The spring
Perpetual smiles on earth with verdant flowers,
Equal in days and nights,"
another traveller, some forty years since, might be seen
gazing, day after day, and month after month, upon a
B
a THE MIST AND THE SUNSHINE.
scene which he has crossed half the world to reach
the poor benighted pagans down in that thick mist.
Himself a child of the mountain-sunshine walking
and rejoicing in the fellowship of Him who is the
Light, JUDSON has heard of these children of the mist,
and of the thick darkness ; and he has come to beckon
them upward into the light of his sun. The story of
his wondrous work of faith we are now to tell. The
history of modem missions has no such bright page.
THE FIELD.
CHAPTER I.
The FIELD The last of the Buddhs Atheists The palm-leaves
The assassins The Burm an country Woman The white ele-
phant The god The LABOURER The boy A problem " I
have found it!" "Old Virgil dug up" Youthful ambition
The Deist Seeing the world The precipice The country-inn
The death-chamber The awakening The surrender The
man of one idea " Star in the East" Life-devotement
ANOTHER LABOURER Early traits The first chill The ball
The Nicodemus-corner The meshes The Cross The secret
chamber 'The preacher at Bradford The meeting " One
mourner" Self-dedication The living epistle The PRISONER
The dungeon at Bayonne The Stranger The rescue Visit
to London The voyage to India Scene on the Hooghly
William Carey Juggernaut The oasis.
Six hundred and twenty-four years before Christ,
amidst the splendours of an Indian court, "there was
"born of human parents" a mysterious being "the
last of the Buddhs" whose disciples were one day to
number four hundred millions of souls. After "toiling
to obtain his divinity," through a term of years repre-
sented by four with one hundred and forty ciphers,
4 THE BURMAH GOD.
*
Gautama had appeared upon the scene as the only son
of the reigning monarch. At the age of twenty-nine,
he suddenly was moved to quit the court, with all its
voluptuous attractions,* for the wilderness and its
austerities. Six years passed over him; and, now clothed
with the divine nature, he was declared to be " a god,
and the supreme object of worship." f I n his eightieth
year he died, obtaining the glory of "annihilation."
But for five thousand years he was to continue the great
Buddh, whom all hearts must worship, and to whom
every knee must bow. Burmah's whitened pagodas,
crowding her groves and mountains, are the dismal
altars of this dark superstition.
The Buddhist is an atheist, owning no living god ;
and he has no immortality to cheer or to stimulate
him, his highest ultimate destiny being to pass into
annihilation.! " I take refuge in Buddh," says he, as
* One of these was " a harem of eighty thousand Oriental
beauties."
f The author of the "Embassy to Ava in 1795," describes "a
flat stone of a coarse grey granite," which he saw " laid horizontally
on a pedestal of masonry six feet in length, and three wide," and
" bearing what was alleged to be the genuine print of the foot of
Gautama." He gives a facsimile, on which are upwards of a hundred
emblematical figures, each in a separate compartment, and somewhat
resembling the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Two convoluted serpents are
pressed beneath the heel. It is a type of creation, and is held in
profound reverence. In Ceylon, on a rock called "Adam's Peak,"
a similar impression is pointed out : Gautama placed one foot on the
continent, and the other on the adjacent island.
J The Hindoo has his Buddh also, but an incarnation of Vishnu.
And the Hindoo aspires after absorption in the Deity an idea
'wholly distinct from the "annihilation" of the Buddhist.
THE BUDDH. 5
he prostrates himself before the idol : " I take refuge in
his doctrines; I take refuge in his followers." But,
alas ! there is no power to touch the heart to guide
the conscience to rule the life.
In the island of Ceylon, and four hundred and fifty
years after Gautama's annihilation, a prophet arose,
whose mission was to inscribe on palm-leaves the divine
"communications," which hitherto had floated amongst
his devotees in the form of unfixed traditions. And,
half a century later, another prophet appeared, com-
missioned to enshrine these scriptures in certain "sacred
rolls." The code forbids theft, adultery, falsehood, the
use of intoxicating liquors, and the destruction of
animal life. But, though obedience is rewarded with a
higher stage of being, into which, at death, the soul
passes in its progress towards " annihilation," the
motive power is so feeble that the code is a mere dead
letter. Cold-hearted, unfeeling, suspicious, inhospitable,
deceitful, false,* they compel every stranger, as he
* " While the law of Gautama," says a writer of authority,
" forbids us to take the life of any animated being, the Burmans are
bloodthirsty, cruel, and vindictive, beyond most of the nations of
India. Murders are of very common occurrence, and the punishment
by death is inflicted with every aggravation of cruelty. Whilst
licentiousness is absolutely forbidden, they are said to be universally
profligate. Whilst the law denounces covetousness, they are almost
to a man dishonest, rapacious, prone to robbery, and to robbery
ending in blood. The law forbids, on all occasions, treachery and
deceit ; and yet, from the highest to the lowest, they are a nation of
liars. When detected in the grossest falsehood, they indicate no con-
sciousness of shame, and even pride themselves upon successful
deceit."
6 THE ASSASSINS.
gazes upon the bright tropical verdure of their hills, and
contrasts with it the dark shadows of their degraded
hearts, to lift up to God his grievous wail
" Every prospect pleases,
Only man is vile."
One morning, in Burmah, just before daybreak, two
foreigners were awoke by a sudden crash. Calling for a
light, they looked round the chamber, and, to their con-