Samuel Reynolds House of Siam, pioneer medical missionary, 1847-1876Feltus, George Haws
History
Samuel Reynolds House of Siam, pioneer medical missionary, 1847-1876
Feltus, George Haws
House, Samuel Reynolds, 1817-1899
This call of the new missionaries was returned by the priest,
and on several occasions afterwards he visited the Doctor in his
house. Occasionally he would send notes by his servants requesting
various favours, medical attendance upon inmates of the watt, loan
of books. On a second visit, when Dr. House went to engage the
services of a young priest as instructor in Siamese, the prince
proposed that the Doctor should come over to the watt and make use
of the room which Mr. Caswell occupied for his class in English,
and “there distribute medicines and teach the young men of the
watt how to be doctors.” Among the papers of Dr. House was found
an autograph letter in English written by Chao Fah Yai about this
time inviting him and the other missionaries to attend a cremation
ceremony at watt Thong Bangkoknoi; and offering him the privilege
of distributing religious books among the head priests assembled
there from several watts and to preach to them on the new religion.
On other visits he inquired about the new instrument that “would
send intelligence quickly” (the telegraph), asked why American
vessels so seldom came to Bangkok, and discussed the difference
between the Latin and English Bibles.
In proper sequence of courtesy the new missionaries were taken to
call upon the other prince, Chao Fah Noi. For some reason this
prince had withdrawn from his former intercourse with foreigners,
but he very courteously received the callers and was manifestly
pleased with the attention. He, too, was interested in Western
learning and especially inclined towards the physical sciences. On
the palace grounds he had several shops, one for a forge, one for
iron lathes, one for wood-working. Power for all this machinery
was developed by slave-muscle. In one room was a working model of
a steam engine, two and a half feet long, made entirely by the
prince’s own hands. Being somewhat unwell he consulted Dr. House,
but explained that he was under the King’s physician and to refuse
to take his medicine would be an act of disrespect to His Majesty,
and for that reason would not ask Dr. House to prescribe for him.
The acquaintance thus formed was used, at first, by the prince more
as a means of securing personal instruction on physical sciences.
Frequently servants were sent to Dr. House to borrow books or to
ask for advice on chemistry, electricity, photography, lithography
and kindred subjects; and on various occasions the doctor was
summoned to the prince’s palace only to find that his assistance
or instruction was desired in some experiment. In after years,
however, when Chao Fah Noi had become Vice-King upon the accession
of Mongkut, his intercourse with Dr. House rested more upon the
basis of friendship.
SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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