Judson, Adoniram, 1788-1850; Missionaries -- Burma -- Biography; Missionaries -- United States -- Biography
Mr. and Mrs. Judson embarked at Rangoon July 19, 1820, and arrived at
Calcutta on the 18th of August. What a pang it must have cost them to
leave their little mission just at this time when, after long years of
waiting, they saw the Burmans eagerly and rapidly embracing the Gospel!
On the very day of embarkation Mr. Judson wrote to Dr. Baldwin:
“RANGOON, _July_ 19, 1820.
“REV. AND DEAR SIR: My last gave you some account of our affairs to
the time of brother Colman’s departure. Soon after that event Mrs.
Judson was taken ill. The symptoms were at first slight, but they
gradually became more decisive and alarming; and the disorder
continued to gain ground, until she was unable to leave the couch, or
walk across the room, without bringing on violent suffering. Under
such circumstances I determined to accompany her to Bengal, partly for
the sake of the voyage, which is commonly beneficial in such
disorders, and partly to procure medical assistance, of which we are
perfectly destitute in Rangoon.
“Never did I feel more unwilling to leave Rangoon, nor was the mission
ever in more interesting circumstances than at the present time. Since
our return from Ava, I have not ventured to make any public movement,
but confined myself at home, holding private worship, translating the
Scriptures, and conversing with all who visited me. The Spirit of God
has, however, continued operating in the minds of several, and carries
on the work which began before we went up to Ava.... All the ten
baptized disciples give satisfactory evidence of being true converts.
Those of longest standing are evidently growing Christians. Some of
them take the lead in prayer-meetings with great propriety; and nearly
all of them have made some attempt at this exercise before the church.
A good degree of Christian affection prevails among them all, the
appearance of which, Moung Shwa-gnong says, convinced him more than
anything else of the divine origin and efficacy of our religion. The
proofs of their attachment to us are too numerous to be detailed. Even
at this moment the house is full of people bewailing our departure,
and begging us to return soon, most of whom never have received, and
have no prospect of ever receiving, from us any temporal advantage
whatever.
“We are just now going aboard ship. I write this letter in haste, and
leave it to be forwarded by another opportunity, that you may get some
intelligence of us, in case we are lost at sea.
“It is hardly necessary to add that, whatever may be the event of the
present voyage, in regard to Mrs. Judson’s health, it is my intention
to return to this place as soon as possible.”
After his arrival at Calcutta, Mr. Judson writes as follows to Dr.
Bolles:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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