WHEN there began, more than a century ago, that movement which aimed at the presenting of the “Gospel of the kingdom” in the vast heathen world, in the strongest of Satan’s citadels, in the very heart of the enemy’s country, courageous men were needed. The call rang clear for men of faith and godliness and that “perfect love” which “casteth out fear.” Such were not wanting. The Lord of the harvest sent forth laborers. Carey left off cobbling shoes, and became a mighty apostle to India. Judson, heeding the call to service, responded with his all. Permission to labor in India being refused by the East India Company, which held grants from the British crown that made its directors virtually rulers of the great peninsula, Judson took boat for Burma, then generally called the kingdom of Ava.
Of his experiences, there is no need that I write. Who has not read, and been stirred to his heart’s depths by reading, the account of the things that he endured? Is there a woman in the land who has not felt a new pride in her kind as she has read of the things which Judson’s wives—he was thrice married—bore without murmur, constrained by the love of Christ and perishing souls? What Gospel worker has not gained inspiration for more persevering effort as he has read that Judson waited six long years before he saw the first Burman converted? Who, knowing anything of languages, can repress an exclamation at the thought of mastering a difficult Oriental, Mongoloid tongue, without the aid of a single “help”—a teacher who knows some at least of your language, suitable textbooks, a grammar, etc.—such as we consider so essential to success? Yet God was with him, and the Burmese Bible has been fitly termed “Judson’s greatest monument.” For three quarters of a century it has stood without revision—a masterpiece.
The Change That Has Been Wrought
But how the land has changed since Judson’s day! The proud monarchs who styled themselves “Lord of the White Elephant,” “Lord of the Golden Umbrella,” “Lord of Gold, Silver, Rubies, and Amber,” “Lord of Lords and King of Kings,” rule no more. The last of the line is a political prisoner in a foreign land. The beneficent reign of the English has made possible the preaching of the Gospel message freely in all Burma.
Rangoon, at that time “a collection of mat huts in a swamp,” has grown to possess a population of more than 300,000 souls, and is admittedly one of the most Western cities of the East. Owing to the wonderful fertility of the soil of this province, it is fourth port in the Indian Empire. Within the past half dozen years, since we first arrived here, electric lights and street-car service have been installed. A good supply of city water and a good system of sewage disposal have reduced to almost nothing the ravages of cholera, and done much toward promoting general healthfulness.
BURMESE DWELLINGS
Whereas a century ago the journey to Mandalay required weeks, it is now a matter of eighteen or twenty hours. From Maulmain to Myitkyina, a distance of nine hundred miles, the railway runs. The numerous creeks and rivers are traversed by well-equipped steam-launches. Telegraph and post-offices are all over the land. Printing-offices, schools, and churches—evangelizing agencies all—are found in many places. London is but nineteen days distant. All these things has the Lord brought to pass, because a short work will He make upon the earth.
The Result of Commingling with the West
Where God works, Satan is always to be found. The mingling of the East and the West has been beneficial in many ways. In others it has been a detriment. The greatest hindrance to our work is the unregenerate son of the West. One or two questions that have been asked of me will reveal the attitude of mind that these people have toward all foreigners. Being questioned whether my brother is an Adventist or not, I replied, “No, he is not a Christian.” Immediately the rejoinder came, “What is he? a Buddhist?” It seemed an impossible conception to my questioner that any man should have no religious faith. To the minds of the Burman, being born in a Western land makes a person a Christian. We know that a man “must be born again.”
On another occasion a merchant in the bazaar asked whether the Christian religion teaches us to drink intoxicants. Unhesitatingly I answered “No.” “Then,” said he, “why do all the Roman Catholic priests drink?” He also pointed to the fact that most of the members of the Church of England and many of the ministers are addicted to the same habit. It was difficult for him to see that the profession of Christianity did not of itself make one a fit representative of the Master. He seemed to think that I was better than my religion in this point, and that I had grasped what is not really taught in my Bible.
If there is a place in all the world where we become epistles known and read of all men, it is in these dark heathen lands. Untold millions can not or will not read the written Word, who yet watch our every deed, and judge our Christ thereby. Often we feel to exclaim with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
During a visit to America, in delivering lectures in several States, many strange questions were asked me; and while I feel sure that very few, if any, of the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES would display such a lack of knowledge, I shall devote a little time to some things that may not be generally known.
