diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/68647-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/68647-0.txt | 8200 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 8200 deletions
diff --git a/old/68647-0.txt b/old/68647-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7b4fced..0000000 --- a/old/68647-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8200 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Samuel Reynolds house of Siam, by -George Haws Feltus - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Samuel Reynolds house of Siam - Pioneer medical missionary 1847-1876 - -Author: George Haws Feltus - -Release Date: July 30, 2022 [eBook #68647] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Brian Wilson, hekula03 and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SAMUEL REYNOLDS HOUSE OF -SIAM *** - - - - - - =SAMUEL REYNOLDS HOUSE - “THE MAN WITH THE GENTLE HEART”= - - - - -[Illustration: REV. SAMUEL REYNOLDS HOUSE, M.D.] - - - - - “_The Man With the Gentle Heart_” - - Samuel Reynolds House - of Siam - - Pioneer Medical Missionary - 1847-1876 - - By - GEORGE HAWS FELTUS, A. M., B.D. - - ILLUSTRATED - - [Illustration: (Publisher colophon.)] - - NEW YORK CHICAGO - Fleming H. Revell Company - LONDON AND EDINBURGH - - - - - Copyright, MCMXXIV, by - FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY - - - _Printed in the United States of America_ - - - New York: 158 Fifth Avenue - Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. - London: 21 Paternoster Square - Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street - - - - -Preface - - -Quaint, old-time title pages sought to present an epitome of the -contents of the volume. While the name of Dr. House occupies the -sole post of honour on this present title page, none would be more -urgent than he to have that place shared by his wife, Harriet -Pettit House, and her assistant, Arabella Anderson-Noyes, and by -their godson, Boon Itt, whose achievements occupy a good share of -the pages that follow. - -The essential material in this book has been drawn from the letters -and journal of Dr. House, now for the first time available for the -purpose. This material has been supplemented by correspondence with -various individuals connected with the principal persons mentioned. -The facts thus ascertained have been interpreted and amplified by -the careful reading of nearly every book in English on Siamese -subjects. For this reason, the narrative may claim to be fairly -complete and authentic. - -Two reasons have prompted publication. One reason is to make -accessible valuable historical materials. In the archives of the -Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions no records covering this -period have been found other than the meagre references in the -annual reports of the Board. The diary of Dr. House’s co-worker, -Rev. Stephen Mattoon, was destroyed by fire; and, so far as is -known, no other private records for those early years are in -existence. The only primary source of information is the chapter, -“History of Missions in Siam,” from the pen of Dr. House, in -the volume _Siam and Laos_, in which his modesty has obscured -the importance of his own labours. So this book is offered as a -contribution to the history of the Church in Siam. - -The other reason is that the Church is entitled to the stimulus of -the heroic examples of these godly people. Biographies, at best, -do not appeal to a large circle of readers. Missionary biographies -appeal to fewer still. However, a book that stimulates a few -hundred workers in the vineyard of the Lord may effect more good -in the long run than a book of great but passing popularity. I -venture to believe that few will read the record of the life-work -of Dr. and Mrs. House and the brief story of Boon Itt without -being quickened by the example of their persistent faith, buoyant -hopefulness, sublime trust and apostolic devotion. - -Not the least worth while do I count it to be able to place this -narrative in the hands of the young Church of Siam that she may -transmit to the rising generation the story of “THE MAN WITH THE -GENTLE HEART.” - -I acknowledge with appreciation the hearty encouragement of friends -to publish what my own inclination would have allowed to remain in -private manuscript. Also, I gladly state that publication would not -have been possible without the financial assistance of friends who -feel that the Church of today should have the privilege of knowing -these noble characters, but who themselves prefer to remain unnamed. - - GEORGE HAWS FELTUS. - - _The Manse, Waterford, N. Y._ - - - - -Contents - - - I. A SUDDEN PLUNGE INTO WORK 9 - - II. “THE MAN WITH THE GENTLE HEART” 23 - - III. THE LITTLE CHISEL ATTACKS THE BIG MOUNTAIN 34 - - IV. RELATIONS WITH ROYALTY AND OFFICIALS 47 - - V. LENGTHENING CORDS AND STRENGTHENING STAKES 63 - - VI. CHOLERA COMES BUT THE DOCTOR CARRIES ON 76 - - VII. PROVIDENCE CHANGES PERIL INTO PRIVILEGE 101 - - VIII. SIAM OPENS HER DOORS—MORE WORKERS ENTER 131 - - IX. FIRST THE DAWN, THEN THE DAYLIGHT 156 - - X. NEW KING, NEW CUSTOMS, NEW FAVOURS 179 - - XI. HARRIET PETTIT HOUSE 195 - - XII. HOME AGAIN, AND “HOME AT LAST” 221 - - XIII. BOON TUAN BOON ITT 230 - - - - -Illustrations - - - FACING - PAGE - - Rev. Samuel Reynolds House, M.D. Title - - Sketch Map of Siam 34 - - Harriet Pettit House 196 - - Rev. Boon Tuan Boon Itt 230 - - - - -I - -A SUDDEN PLUNGE INTO WORK - - -Dr. Samuel R. House did not have time nor need to “hang out a -shingle” upon reaching Bangkok. He had been there only a few -days—not long enough to unpack his goods—when “a message came -from some great man by three trusty servants that a servant whom he -loved very much had got angry and had half cut his hand off with a -sword.” - -This wound was not accidental but self-inflicted. It was a -perverted result of a Siamese custom. In those days slavery -prevailed in the country. Besides the war-captives who were cast -into slavery, custom made it possible for any of the common people -to be sold into servitude. If a man failed to pay a debt there were -two alternatives before him, to be confined in one of the horrible -jails until he discharged his obligation, or to sell himself or his -wife or children into slavery to remain in that state until the -accumulated value of the services should cancel the debt. - -Only too often these debts were the result of gambling, a vice -that was universally prevalent under license of the government. If -the debtor was fortunate enough, he might sell the chosen victim -to some lord who was willing to accept the services in pledge for -a loan with which to pay the actual creditor. Such an arrangement -was not altogether without its advantages, for many an improvident -spendthrift had a comfortable living for himself and family assured -by the better management of his lord. But once in servitude the -victim was likely to be held in peonage indefinitely, because -usury on the loan was liable to mount up faster than the value of -services rendered. - -It will readily be imagined that a man so improvident as to permit -himself to fall into slavery would not be the most willing worker, -and many would be the tricks of the lazy man to labour as little -as possible. A rather common scheme to avoid an unpleasant duty -or merely to spite the over-lord was to go to the extreme of -inflicting upon self a wound that would incapacitate from work. -Such was the nature of this first surgical case to which Dr. House -was called. - -The readiness with which this great man summoned a strange foreign -doctor will be easily understood when it is known that for twelve -years previous there had been an American physician in Bangkok. -Since 1835 Rev. Daniel B. Bradley, M.D., representing the American -Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A B C F M), had been -practising medicine and he had established a high reputation among -all classes for western medicine and surgery. On account of the -recent death of his wife, Dr. Bradley, with his young children, -had sailed for home only a few weeks before the arrival of the new -missionary. - -When Dr. House set out for Siam he knew that Dr. Bradley was -there and, having had no practical experience in his profession -before leaving home, he looked forward to beginning his labours in -association with one who not only was a skilled practitioner but -who also knew the pathological conditions of the Siamese. When, -upon arrival, Dr. House discovered that Dr. Bradley had withdrawn -he felt some alarm at the absence of professional counsel, for -he had a constitutional lack of self-confidence that caused him -to feel a painful burden of responsibility in prescribing for -patients. At the end of the first six months he wrote: - - “Whatever seemed once likely to be my fate it is pretty - certain now that there is more danger of my wearing out than - of rusting out in this land. Have been on the run or occupied - with visitors all the day and evening ... and my poor brain - has, like its fellow labourer the heart, been compelled to go - through with a great deal. What sights of human misery I am - compelled to see. And to feel that I have not the power of - skill to alleviate,—the iron enters my soul.” - -Whatever may have been the first effect of being compelled to enter -upon his profession alone, it is doubtful whether Dr. House ever -perceived that this constraint was probably one means by which he -gained the confidence of the Siamese within a very short period. -For instead of being regarded either as a competitor or as an -assistant to Dr. Bradley, he was accepted at the outset upon the -reputation which his predecessor had so firmly established. It was -this repute of western medicine which caused the great man to send -so promptly for an unknown physician to treat the self-mutilated -servant. - -Quickly it became known among the people of Bangkok that another -physician had arrived. The calls for treatment came in such numbers -and with such importunity that in self-defense it was deemed -wise to open the dispensary which had remained closed since the -departure of Dr. Bradley, although there was only a limited supply -of drugs on hand and the nearest base of supplies was London. The -dispensary, or hospital as it was sometimes called, of which Dr. -House thus suddenly found himself the proprietor and whole staff, -was just one of the innumerable floating houses which lined the -river banks of the Siamese capital. It is said that when this new -capital was being established the common people were not allowed to -build houses on land but permitted to live only in boats. At any -rate, until modern times the larger portion of the population lived -in floating houses. - -These houses are simply constructed. A raft of bamboo forms the -foundation, which is moored to the bank or to poles driven into the -mud. Upon that foundation a one-story house of boards, thatched -with palm leaves, is built. The house is, customarily, divided into -three rooms. At either end, extending clear across the floor is -a kitchen and a common bedroom. The space between is occupied by -the common living-room and a porch. The living-room is fully open -along the porch, from which it is separated by the rise of a step. -Closely packed together in irregular rows, sometimes two or three -deep, these houses are ranged along the banks of the river and of -the many canals that form the Venetian highways of the city. The -channel beneath the houses, kept from being stagnant by movement -of the tide, served at once as the sewer and the family bath. Many -of these houses are occupied as stores, with their merchandise -exposed to the full view of the customer who does his shopping in a -boat. - -It was such a house as this that served the missionary as a -hospital. But “hospital” is scarcely the proper word to use judged -from the equipment, which consisted of a chair or two, a table for -operations and a few mats for the patients. But the place had one -great advantage—the open side exposed the work of the foreign -doctor to the gaze of the curious natives who stopped while passing -in their boats, and then related to their friends the wonders they -had seen. - -Here in this rude native shelter, until he gave up his profession, -Dr. House applied himself with deep devotion and self-abandon to -relieving the physical sufferings of the people. He placed himself -wholly at their service, and made no discrimination between rank -of those he served. Frequently he would not reach the dinner table -till the middle of the afternoon, detained by the importuning -patients; and he even laments that the people would not summon him -in the night time in case of serious need. - - -SOME TYPICAL CASES - -His record of patients, to one who is not familiar with a -physician’s records, gives astonishment at the kind of cases -which seemed to predominate. One class was the ulcers and running -sores—many of them most aggravated. These usually were the -result of long-neglected wounds. He writes of extracting bamboo -splinters great and small that had become imbedded in the flesh and -remained there to produce serious inflammation and infection. In -such cases an ignorance too dense for intelligence to comprehend -was the contributory cause of untold suffering. A second class -of cases frequently appearing was that of fresh wounds resulting -from drunken brawls, street fights, treachery and revenge, or -self-mutilation. Scarcely a week passed but a patient was brought -in with head cut open, face gashed, back lashed, or some other -gaping cut. But most loathsome of all were the diseases which the -doctor characterised as the result of vices—diseases which found -victims among all sorts and conditions of men who “working that -which is unseemly” received “in themselves that recompense of their -errors which was meet.” - -A cursory review of one day’s succession of patients will be -suggestive. Here returns a man with a tumor on his ear, having the -previous day been advised to come for an operation: - - “With good courage and I believe without a trembling hand, I - sat down to this, my first operation not only in the Kingdom - of Siam, but the first operation I think I ever undertook. It - was a simple one, and oh, I cannot but catch such a glimpse - of my Father’s loving-kindness in thus gently leading his - poor ignorant by such simpler cases into the confidence in - myself necessary to do the more serious cases which will - doubtless fall to my lot.... Believing that without His - blessing the simplest operation would fail and with it the - most doubtful one might prosper, I lifted up my heart a - moment to Him in whose name I had ventured to come among this - people to try to do them good.” - -While attending him, a boat came up with two women, one a loathsome -object full of sores and scabs—face, hands and limbs—the scars -of former ulcers. A Chinaman with a scrofulous neck—a lad with -gastric derangement—a boy whose leg was transfixed with a sharp -piece of bamboo—so moves the procession. As he returns late for -dinner he observes: - - “This morning was fully occupied till dinner at 2 p. m., - trying to do the works of mercy—how could I send any - away empty! And oh, how happy I should have been in such - Christ-like works had I but knowledge of the diseases, and - judgment and skill. As it is now, the deciding what is to be - done with each case is an act of the mind positively painful, - because I am constantly fearing that I may not follow the - best possible plan.” - -On another day thus reads the entry: - - “On going down to the floating house at 9 a. m., found several - new patients. A Chinaman of fifty, with caries of the lower - jaw, skin of cheek adhering, pus has discharged from a large - cavity within the mouth. Another Chinaman with syphilitic - destruction of the bones of the nose—a hole left in the - flattened face where pus was discharging.... He seemed to - be in great torment—eaten of worms literally. Now a mother - brings a naked child of five, having large ulcers and a lump - on the thigh, the sequel of the smallpox had two or three - months ago. A Chinaman brings the child of a friend; poor - lad, the smallpox had destroyed one eye and blinded the - other—so no hope, no remedy.” - - -BUSY DAYS AND A BURDENED HEART - -The hours at the hospital were daily from early morning, frequently -from six or seven o’clock, till noon. During the latter part of -the afternoon he answered calls in various parts of the city. -By these calls he came into the homes of the people and became -better acquainted with them than he could have done under ordinary -circumstances. He gives what he calls a fair specimen of the -missionary physician’s life in Siam when his hands are full: - - “When I awaked in the morning found two sets of servants - waiting for me—one from Prince Chao Fah Noi, who had sent - his boat for me to go up to his palace just as soon as I - could finish my breakfast; another from Chao Arim, the King’s - brother, wishing me to come over and see some one in his - palace very sick. My first duty of course was to attend to - little George, whom I found still living, though much the - same. This occupied the time before breakfast. After a hasty - meal, stepped into the sampan sent for me (the servants still - waiting to take me across the river to Chao Arim’s)—having - dismissed the Prince’s servants with a note requesting to - be excused. On the other shore entered gates of the city - wall.... While I was waiting for the Prince to be notified of - my arrival, servants gathered around; examined my clothing, - one wished me to take off my hat to see if my head was - shaved, another admired my watch—the ticking pleased the - children mightily. Some strong ammonia I had pleased them - very much. A young man with a flaming long jacket of red - silk (no shirt or vest above his waist cloth) came out; all - servants squatted on the ground. This young Prince conducted - me up a rude ladder to the bamboo dwelling of the sick man. - - “Returning, invited to see the great man himself. The - audience halls of these great men are after all rather - well-adapted to the climate; immense rooms, lofty ceilings, - furniture of matting, etc. Returning to my place, found a - boatman from the Moorish Madras merchant’s awaiting me. - Accompanied the Hindoo, who had been sent for me, in his - open boat with umbrella over my head; the sun, however, very - hot, though this is our cold season. Some distance down the - river landed at the Nackodah’s commercial establishment, and - found myself in the midst of quite a number of intelligent - looking and polite Mahommedan Hindoo merchants and clerks, - with their picturesque costume; the turban of twisted shawl - and robes of thin white muslin, and sandals. Was received - very courteously, conducted to a bamboo house nearby. The - patient, a fine looking man, swarthy, with aquiline nose and - mustache, lay on a mat bed behind a screen.... And now the - voice of Dit, a servant of Chao Fah Noi, was heard; he had - followed on after me, not finding me at home—the Prince - being very desirous of seeing me. So I stepped into the - handsome boat he had sent, and was soon at the palace. Here - received with a smile of welcome.... Wished me to shew him - how to make chlorine gas. Succeeded well. Gave him a piece of - fluorspar and directions for etching glass. Left several jars - of chlorine. His boat in readiness to take me back.... In the - evening a call from Prince Ammaruk, in his priestly yellow - robes, several priests with him.” - -All these interesting scenes and varieties of experience, however, -did not lighten the burden of the heart. When a patient suffered -pain and inflammation after an operation, he cries out: - - “How can I go forward in a profession where I may inflict - suffering. If it was only injury to property and not to life - and health and senses! Alas, how hard a destiny, how could I - choose this profession!” - -On a Saturday night he sighs: - - “And so ends another week during which mercies have been ever - changing, ever new. It has been a week of labors for Christ - ... and yet, though my poor head is ready to ache with the - task of deciding, judging, prescribing, I find a sweet kind - of weariness that comes from serving Jesus Christ.” - -Such a tender heart and sympathetic nature suffered most where -it could help the least. The obstetrical customs of the country -in particular caused the doctor both distress and irritation on -account of the lamentable ignorance displayed and of the needless -sufferings caused. - - -CHEER FROM GRATEFUL PATIENTS - -The experiences of his professional practise were not all -depressing. Operations were successful in spite of his fears, -and when least expected. Most cheering was the gratitude of the -patients, many of whom acknowledged their lives reclaimed from -death by his hands. The marks of appreciation on the part of some -of these were most touching. - - “Have been permitted by a gracious providence this week to - have the happiness of saving the life of a fellow-creature, - which the venom of a poisonous snake was appearing fast to - be destroying. Poor fellow, he was thankful enough. The - first symptom of returning consciousness before he regained - his lost power of speech was his attempt to put his feeble - hands together and raise them to his forehead in token of - his gratitude to his doctor. When three days after, sound in - health and limb, he came to see me. ‘Doctor, you are very, - very good,’ was his very emphatic expression of what filled - his heart. And then he grasped my hand—a liberty men of his - condition in life seldom take—in both his and repeated, ‘You - are very, very good.’” - -Dr. House had adopted the policy of gratuitous service. His -motive was to exemplify the Christian spirit by rendering these -inestimable benefits without charge. Perhaps at the time he did not -know the philosophy of the Siamese in the matter of good deeds. - -The theory of the Buddhist religion is that a good deed gains merit -for the doer. As a sequence, to be the recipient of a favour is -to assist the other person to earn merit; and since the merit is -ample reward for the good deed it is not necessary to make any -personal return for the favour received. When Dr. House later came -to understand this philosophy he perceived why it was that “of ten -healed only one returned to give thanks.” Yet there were not a few -whose natural sense of gladness was not wholly suppressed by their -religious theories. One day, three or four years after he had been -in Siam, he went out along one of the canals into the country to -a limekiln to get some lime for the new house under construction -at the mission. An old woman came out to wait upon him, and to his -surprise she refused to take pay; and explained that some time -previously the doctor had healed her little girl. - -The set policy not to accept fees was not so easily understood by -the Chinese to whom he ministered. Frequently, to avoid offense, -the Doctor found it necessary to compromise by accepting gifts -in lieu of money; and then he would be the recipient of generous -presents of fruit, quantities of rice, numerous cakes of sugar and -small chests of fine tea—gifts in such abundance that he had to -share them with his friends to dispose of all. - -But not least of the rewards for professional service did he -esteem the acquaintance and friendships among the patients. These -people came from many parts of the country and there were numerous -representatives from other countries. Sailors from European ports -sought him out for medical treatment, Chinese tradesmen and junk -captains, Malays, Burmese, Peguans, Cambodians, Lao, and the -foreign merchants from India. Then, too, Bangkok the capital -of Siam was visited periodically by officials from the distant -provinces, many of whom came for professional advice to the foreign -physician. The contact established with these various peoples, -and especially with the provincial governors, served to excellent -advantage in after years when the doctor made tours into the far -regions. In particular, the under-Governor of Petchaburi who came -for professional advice, invited the doctor to visit his provincial -capital, and in later years when he had been promoted in office and -rank in Bangkok he remained the steadfast friend of Doctor House. - - -WITH THE PATIENTS - -There were bits of humour now and then amidst the procession of -human tragedies. - - “While feeling the pulse of the patient and holding my watch - to count its beat, another man sitting by begged me to feel - his, and after I had counted it he gravely asked me ‘in just - how many years after this he would die.’” - -Some of the humour was grim humour indeed; for one day he was -hastily summoned only to find that the supposed patient was a -corpse. Humourous from one point of view but quite perturbing for -a physician was the innocent disregard for the directions left with -medicines; indeed the doctor could never tell whether the failure -of a prescription was due to the ineffectiveness of the drugs or -to the failure of the patient to take the medicine as prescribed, -for he found that the patient was liable to take the whole potion -at once or just as liable to have another member of the family take -the remedy vicariously. - -Quite frequently, when the callers from a distance came to see -him, they made the parting request for medicine to take home with -them, and thought it altogether needless for the doctor to know -what disease they expected to use it for. Pathetic was the case of -the cholera patient consumed with fever who begged the doctor to -give “medicine to cure the desire for drinking water.” Even more -simple-minded was the old man who came to inquire if he could be -healed if he “wyed” to Jesus,—that is to make the reverential bow -of worship customarily accorded to the image of Buddha. Then there -was the deaf man who came back to report that he had read “the -Christian book of magic” and that it had failed to cure him. - -Not the least perplexing of these absurd situations was the -difficulty of securing necessary permission to administer the -medicines even after the doctor had been especially summoned: - - “The poor woman who lay on a mattress bolstered up was in - great distress evidently—and I soon found that no time was - to be lost. I shall never forget how piteously she turned - her anxious eyes towards me as she faintly said, ‘Can you - heal me?’ I recommend certain treatment. Nothing could be - done, however, till the matter had been submitted to the - Praklang. So a messenger was despatched, His Excellency again - aroused from his nap;—and what a message brought back: The - application of hot cloths would be permitted, but the more - effective treatment proposed was something new—he did not - know—he could not consent to it. Thinking then of another - mode of treating the case and not dreaming but that this I - might venture to give—but no; this prescription must be - reported to headquarters before it could be administered. - Again a messenger was despatched. The answer came back: we - must wait to see what a hot fomentation would do; if this did - any good then the prescription might be tried.” - - - - -II - -“THE MAN WITH THE GENTLE HEART” - - -“This day thirteen years ago, while a just-arrived student at -Dartmouth College, it pleased my sovereign Maker to manifest His -everlasting love to me by inclining my heart to choose Him as my -portion, and His service as my reward.” - -Such is his salutatory in the service of God, as recorded by Samuel -R. House, in his journal under date of Feb. 22, 1848. He had been -in Siam less than a year; long enough however for the novelty of -his situation to abate a little so that he had time to reflect. -Reflecting, he sees how that youthful dedication was—so far as he -was consciously concerned—the beginning of the lines of life that -led him to Siam. - -Four years later, on the anniversary of his arrival in Siam, -contemplating the fruitlessness of those years and ready to -incriminate himself for “a culpable ignorance of the language,” he -again writes: - - “How different doubtless am I regarded at home by - over-esteeming friends. How false a biography would that - be, some of them would write.... Let no one eulogise such - a character, such a worthless, unworthy life as mine. If a - Christian hope be the joy of my life, by the grace of God I - am what I am; but my waywardness, my inefficiency is all my - own.” - -The cause of this despondency was not within himself. It was the -miasma arising from the spiritual decay around him. But as none -liveth unto himself, so none dieth to himself. The example of such -persistent faith belongs to the church; and it has too great a -value for the living to allow the judgment of a passing despondency -to prevail. - -At length comes the valedictory. On the occasion of the fiftieth -anniversary of the beginning of permanent work in Siam by the -Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) in 1897, Dr. House wrote to a friend: - - “And now in my eightieth year, sole survivor of that little - band, I feel it a privilege indeed to look back and see what - God hath wrought since that day of small beginnings. Verily - the little one has become a thousand—yes thousands. I am - sure you, my friend, will congratulate me on being yet alive - this blessed day of an abundant ingathering from that long - barren mission field. How the loved ones that have entered - into rest would rejoice if they could see how their patience - of hope and labour and love have not been in vain in the - Lord. There are many in heaven to raise the song of jubilee - with them, even there.” - -From that early dedication of self to God while in college, -through the years “cast down but not destroyed,” to the golden -jubilee—what a strain of human effort, what a magnificent -persistence of faith, what a glory of hope realized! - - -HIS CHARACTER - -The man who had this notable experience would not have been singled -out, even by those who knew him intimately in early manhood, as the -one most likely to achieve the results which we are to review. The -qualities casually observed by acquaintances were in his case those -which men do not ordinarily associate with success. A study of his -private journal and letters manifests traits which are corroborated -by many who knew him personally. He was a man of deep piety. He -was scrupulous regarding the outward appearance of religion, yet -more so concerning his inner life. He was verily a man of God. His -mental nature had a strong inclination to introspection, which led -to self-depreciation and self-distrust. He recoiled from a new -venture until he became convinced that it was the will of God; -then, though still distrusting his own ability, he laid hold of the -task with a simplicity of faith and a devotion to duty which made -him invincible. It is an example of how the Holy Spirit, when fully -occupying a man’s heart, enlarges and fortifies his native capacity -until the one who is small in his own esteem becomes a giant. - -That habit of introspection may have been due in part to the -austere idea of religion which prevailed at the time; at any rate -it gave him a somber demeanor. The solemn side of life seems -mostly before him, although his associates found a playfulness and -jocularity about him that offset his soberness. Only thirty years -of age when he left home, yet from the first his letters to his -father read more like the letters of a father to a son. But deeper -and stronger than either of these traits was his tender sympathy. -It was more than a sympathy of sentiment; it was a sympathy that -caused him to share the sufferings of others. Concerning his -medical work he said: “When I cannot relieve, I suffer.” This -eagerness to relieve pain led him to a forgetfulness of his own -interests which his physique marvellously endured. - -Then, too, he had a timidity which at times amounted to phobism -and made it difficult for him to reach a decision and even caused -him to appear fickle in purpose. But fortunately, along with that -weakness he had a courage which nerved him to face any hostility or -danger with a daring which compelled opposition to give way; and -by that quality he carried through many a venture which for a time -seemed doomed to failure. Humble to a point of self-abnegation, -at times he was as lordly as a monarch in the exercise of the -prerogatives of the liberty of the gospel; and beyond a doubt it -was his refusal to imitate oriental truculence before provincial -officials which inspired that class with respect for the rights -of the foreigner. Among the Siamese who still remember him, he is -spoken of as “_the man with the gentle heart_.” - - -HIS PARENTAGE - -Samuel Reynolds House was born in Waterford, New York, Oct. 16, -1817, being the second child of John and Abby Platt House. His -parents both united with the Presbyterian Church of that village -upon profession of faith, in 1810. At that time the Waterford -congregation was in collegiate relation with the congregation of -Lansingburgh, located eastward across the Hudson River, under the -pastorate of Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D.D. In the next year John -House was elected an elder in the collegiate church; and when the -Waterford congregation became a separate organisation, in 1820, Mr. -and Mrs. House became charter members of the new organisation, and -Mr. House was continued as an elder—an office which he held till -his death, April 27, 1862. - -The active interest of Mr. House in the spiritual work of the -church is indicated by the fact that he conducted a Sunday school -for coloured children in a room in a carpenter shop, and when the -young church erected a house of worship, in 1826, this Sunday -school was transferred to the gallery of the church. He is also -recorded as having been the superintendent of the regular Sunday -school of the church after it was established. His interest in the -church continued active up to the close of his life. In his later -years, when the congregation was considering the construction of -a new “session house” for the use of the Sunday school and prayer -meeting, John House sought the privilege of erecting the building -at his own expense; and that fine building, erected in 1859, -remains today as a memorial to his love and zeal for the church. - -Abby House was one of the original members of the “Female Cent -Society” of the Waterford church, organised in 1817. The object of -this society was to “afford assistance to poor and pious young men -pursuing their studies in the theological seminary at Princeton.” -The quaint name of this society was double with meaning. Each -member was pledged to contribute one cent a week to the fund, which -was then placed in the hands of the moderator of Presbytery to -dispense. Later the society co-operated with the American Education -Society until the General Assembly forbade that organisation to -operate within the denomination in competition with the new Board -of Ministerial Education. The word “female” suggests that the sex -was about that period emerging into the self-consciousness of a -separate work for religion and was not content to keep its labours -hidden behind the mask of the male portion of the families. - -If we were to seek for the motives that led young Samuel to -dedicate himself to foreign missions we would not be surprised to -find that the mother had some of the credit. He says that he was -prompted to become a missionary because his mother dedicated him -to God for foreign missions from his infancy. Out of that maternal -inspiration came also the prayer of his youth: - - “Make me a good boy - And a blessing to my parents - And a blessing to all the world.” - -The ambition thus early implanted was nurtured during the boyhood -years by stories of missions. When in later years he visited the -Hawaiian Islands on his way to Siam he recalls those stories: - - “How little did I dream I was ever to see them, when that - dear mother of mine used to tell me such interesting stories - about the missionaries there and show me, out of her - treasures kept in that always-locked drawer of her bureau, - the precious bit she had of native cloth made of the bark of - a tree. And when she took me to the ‘Monthly Concert,’ as she - always did, how much I used to be interested in news from - those far away isles.” - - -RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS - -Closely associated with the motives to enter the mission field -are a man’s religious convictions. Those earlier missionaries were -conspicuous for their lively sense of peril for impenitent souls. -Dr. House had a spiritual sensitiveness which shared this feeling -to the full. Frequent lamentation is to be found in his journal for -the certain perdition of ones with whom he had been acquainted, and -who died without an evidence of accepting the Christian faith. This -was not merely a professional attitude towards the heathen. Upon -news of the death of an old school mate he exclaims: - - “Oh, did he die safely! What would I not give to be assured - he did. But oh, I tremble. Procrastination thou art the thief - of time, the murderer of souls. And conscience reproaches me - with having too long postponed the sending to him that letter - on the subject of the claims of personal religion, a draught - of which has for years been lying in my portfolio. It might, - under the blessing of the Holy One, have done him good—at - any rate it was my duty, my privilege to invite him, to urge - him to walk with me towards heaven. I have sinned. I have - been unfaithful.” - -When a Siamese lad who had been connected with the mission for a -few months was suddenly carried off by the cholera, the anguish -of the doctor brought him to tears of self-reproach, not because -his skill had failed but because he had not been more insistent in -urging the gospel upon the boy. - -At this distance of time one can see that the failure of some of -the Siamese to be persuaded was due to a want of concatenation in -the heathen mind between the physical facts already familiar to -them but not comprehended, and the spiritual truths of this new -religion. Behind the sublime faith of the missionary there was a -rigidity of logic which failed to take these mental difficulties -into account; as for instance when a young priest proposed this -dilemma: “Who was the mother of Jesus? Mary. Who made Mary? God. -Was Jesus Christ God? Yes. But if Jesus Christ was God, how could -He make Mary his mother before He Himself was born?” Turning from -the disputant, the doctor declined to discuss the problem because -he thought the man was caviling. - -At one period the doctor entertained a vivid expectation of the -culmination of the Christian dispensation at an early date. He had -enough of the mystical in his religious nature to look for signs. -Thus he writes in view of the conditions of Europe in 1848: - - “All Europe, every kingdom has felt the shock of the - political earthquake in France. Kingdoms, principalities and - powers tremble. These are signs that herald the near approach - of the Coming One. The day of the world’s redemption surely - draweth nigh.” - -And again two years later he writes to Dr. D. B. McCartee at Ningpo: - - “Surely the world must needs wait for but few of the signs, - that are to herald His coming, to be fulfilled. ‘Wars and - rumors of wars,’ earthquake and pestilence and famine, the - ‘running to and fro,’ the gospel preached for a witness - in every nation—what signs of the ‘ends drawing nigh’ - is left unfulfilled in our day—unless it be that a few - countries (central Africa, New Guinea, etc.) remain still - unevangelised. The last of God’s elect, however, may be - born—nay, the messenger who is to call him, in Providence - may have started on his errand; and who knows but that - privilege is for you or me.” - -But that type of speculation has its own antidote, viz., time. As -his years drew out their number, the visions of youth gave way to -the dreams of old men; and in reviewing what had been achieved -and what remained to be accomplished the doctor displaced these -speculations with the simple faith that the Lord would come again -in His own time, but at a time unrevealed to men. It needs to be -remembered that Dr. House had been trained in medicine, not in -theology. Whatever may have been illogical in his tenets, there was -in his heart the profound conviction not only that Jesus Christ was -the only Saviour of the world, but that the Siamese would accept -the Christian religion, if only they could be induced to examine -fairly its claims. - - -EDUCATION - -Samuel received a careful and thorough education. After elementary -work in the private academy of Waterford, at the early age of -twelve he spent a year or more in the “Washington Academy” of -Cambridge, New York, then under the principalship of Rev. Nathaniel -Scudder Prime. In later years he recalled with pleasure some of his -classmates: “We read Cæsar together; John K. Meyers, David Bullions -(Latin grammarian), E. D. G. Prime (editor of the _New York -Observer_), and I recited to Samuel Irenæus.” In 1833 he entered -the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, five miles from home. - -In the winter term 1835 he entered Dartmouth College at Hanover, -New Hampshire, but remained only till the close of that academic -year. It was here that occurred the deeper spiritual experience -which he recalls in the words that open this chapter; a conscious -conversion during a revival which swept through the college that -winter. It was following this experience that in the same year he -united with the Waterford church upon profession of faith. Why -he did not continue at Dartmouth does not appear; probably the -difficulty of access would have been a chief factor. However, in -the fall of that year he entered Union College, at Schenectady, -a few miles from his home. His work at Rensselaer and Dartmouth -qualified him to enter the junior class, so that he graduated -in the year 1837. He received the degree A.B. in course and the -honour of Φ.Β.Κ.; and following three years of post-graduate work -in teaching, he received the degree M.A. from his alma mater. -The three years immediately following graduation from Union were -spent in teaching; one year in Virginia, a year as principal of -Weston (Conn.) Academy and a year as principal of the private -school “Erasmus Hall,” in Brooklyn. He now entered upon his medical -course, spending the year 1841-2 in the University of Pennsylvania, -and the next year in the Albany Medical College. With the lapse -of a year not accounted for in the record,—probably teaching -in Virginia, to which he refers in telling of some chemical -experiments—he graduated from the College of Physicians and -Surgeons of New York with the degree M.D. in 1845. - -Upon completion of his medical course he offered himself to the -Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions (Old School), and was -commissioned in 1846. He was assigned to Siam together with his -college-mate, Rev. Stephen Mattoon, of Sandy Hill, New York, (now -Hudson Falls). Placing himself under the care of the Presbytery of -Troy he was licensed to preach. - - - - -III - -THE LITTLE CHISEL ATTACKS THE BIG MOUNTAIN - - -Siam was the first nation of the Far East to make a treaty -voluntarily with Europe. Siam was the first Asiatic power with -which the United States entered into diplomatic relations. Siam was -the first Oriental people to adopt Western customs, upon accession -of King Chulalongkorn, in 1868. Siam was the first non-Christian -land to grant religious liberty to its subjects in relation to -Christian missions, in 1870. - -Siam was the first field entered by the Presbyterian Board of -Foreign Missions after its organisation. In Siam was organised the -first Protestant church of Chinese Christians. In Siam the first -zenana mission work was undertaken. Siam is the last independent -state in which Buddhism is the established religion. - -Yet Siam is little known to Western people. She is neither -belligerent nor turbulent, therefore offers no military spectacle. -She has no foreign ambitions, therefore arouses no diplomatic -concern. Her trade is largely with China, therefore she makes no -impress upon the commercial mind of the west. She lies off the -beaten path of world traffic, therefore tourists seldom visit the -land. - -[Illustration: - - Sketch of - SIAM - as of 1847 et seq. - -SKETCH MAP OF SIAM] - -Siam lies in what was formerly known as “Farther India.” Shaped -somewhat like a long mutton-chop, the northern portion is an -irregular-oval, approximately six hundred by five hundred miles -in reach, from which a long narrow leg extends some five hundred -miles southward down the Malay peninsula. Within the fold of these -two portions lies the Gulf of Siam. The main portion of the land -lies between 12° and 20° 40′ north, and is confined on the east by -French possessions and on the west by British Burmah. - -Northern Siam occupies almost the entire drainage system of the -Menam River, and a part of the western watershed of the Mekong -River. The central part abounds with swamps, jungles and briny -wastes, intersected by many branch streams and canals. The bulk -of the population live along these watercourses. Bangkok is the -largest city, and is both the commercial and political capital. -Chiengmai is the principal city of the northern province, which was -formerly known as Laos but is now a political part of the kingdom. - -The relations of Siam with the nations of the west date back to -the days of the Portuguese adventurers in the early part of the -sixteenth century; relations which were not diplomatic but purely -commercial. About the middle of the seventeenth century the king of -Siam entered into relations with the English, French and Dutch, but -only to the extent of an exchange of royal courtesies, which after -a time became quiescent. Intercourse with the west was renewed by -Siam when, upon her solicitation, a treaty was made with Great -Britain in 1826. Doubtless fear was the motive which prompted King -Phra Chao Pravat Thong, who reigned from 1824 to 1851, to propose -this treaty, for England had just compelled the neighbouring state -of Burmah to open her doors to trade as the result of war. - -The volitional act of the Siamese monarch was apparently a shrewd -stroke of diplomacy, for having granted the right of trade -admission and inland travel, the king adopted a policy of ignoring -the few foreigners within his domains and thereby discouraging -his people from having intercourse with them. At the same time he -held a monopoly of Siamese shipping and levied heavy impost and -expost so that what trade there was served to enrich his private -treasury. In 1833, Honourable Edmund Roberts, who had been sent -by President Andrew Jackson to explore the possibilities of trade -with the native states of Farther India and Cochin China, succeeded -in effecting a treaty only with Siam. The privileges granted -under this treaty were not exercised to any great extent and were -almost allowed to lapse because no consular representative was -appointed. The early American missionaries relied chiefly upon the -privileges kept alive by the “factories,” as the foreign trading -establishments in Bangkok were called. - - -EARLY MISSIONS - -When one of the early missionaries explained to a nobleman that -their purpose in coming to Siam was to supplant the native religion -by Christianity, the nobleman replied: “Do you then with your -little chisel expect to remove this big mountain?”—referring to -Buddhism. How this mountain began to crumble during Dr. House’s -twenty-nine years of service will be best understood by giving a -sketch of the work previous to his arrival. - -The early treaty with Great Britain gave first entrance for -Protestant missions. In 1828 Karl Gutzlaff, M.D., of the -Netherlands Missionary Society, and Rev. Jacob Tomlin, of the -London Missionary Society, went up to Bangkok to spy out the -land. Before that date the Siamese had been the distant object -of interest on the part of Ann Judson, of Burmah, who, as early -as 1819, having met some Siamese at Rangoon, became interested -enough to prepare in their language a catechism and the Gospel of -Matthew—the first Christian books in the Siamese language. While -Gutzlaff and Tomlin found the doors of Siam open and discovered -that there was a considerable Chinese population there, they -were not encouraged by their supporters to effect a permanent -occupation. For this reason they issued an appeal to the American -Church then newly awakened to missionary zeal, sending one copy of -the appeal to the American Baptist mission in Burmah and another -to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in the -United States. This message was taken to America in 1829 by Capt. -Coffin, of the American trading vessel which at the same time -brought the famous Siamese Twins. - -The A. B. C. F. M. was the first to respond. In 1831 they directed -one of their men located at a Chinese treaty port, Rev. David -Abeel, M.D., to proceed to Siam and make a survey. At Singapore -he was joined by Mr. Tomlin, who had returned thither for -recuperation, and the two reached Bangkok just a few days after Dr. -Gutzlaff, disheartened by the death of his young wife, had sailed -away to China. Mr. Tomlin this time remained only some six months, -but Dr. Abeel continued until November, 1832, when he was forced -to leave on account of health. His survey of the field resulted -in a report to the A. B. C. F. M. which induced them to attempt a -permanent work. In the meantime, in 1833, the Baptist mission in -Burmah responded to the appeal by sending two of their number, Rev. -J. T. Jones and wife, to establish a mission. Two years later Rev. -Wm. Dean was sent out from America by the Baptists as a co-labourer -of Mr. Jones but to devote himself particularly to the Chinese. - -In pursuance of Dr. Abeel’s report the A. B. C. F. M. sent out two -men, Rev. Stephen Johnson and Rev. Charles Robinson, who reached -Bangkok July, 1834, and these were joined the next year by David -Bradley, M.D., and wife. Both the Baptists and the A. B. C. F. M. -at this time regarded their work in Siam largely as a point of -vantage for China proper on account of the large number of Chinese -here accessible. The work among the Chinese was so fruitful that in -two years’ time Mr. Dean was able to organise a church among them, -the first church of Protestant Chinese Christians ever gathered in -the Far East. - -Siam was the first field to be taken up as a new enterprise by the -Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions after its establishment by -the General Assembly. Until 1831 the Presbyterians in America had -functioned chiefly through the A. B. C. F. M. in their foreign -work. In that year a few presbyteries west of the Alleghanies -organised the Western Foreign Missionary Society, to conduct their -own foreign work. Beginning with missions to the Indians (then -regarded as “foreign”) they established work in India and Africa in -1833. The direction of its own foreign work by the church was one -of the points involved in the division of the Presbyterian Church -into the New School and the Old School in 1838. The Old School took -over the Western Foreign Mission Society in that year as a nucleus -for a new Board of Foreign Missions which their General Assembly -established; and that Board has been in continuous operation ever -since. In its first year the new Board directed Rev. R. W. Orr -to proceed to Bangkok and report on the eligibility of Siam as -a field for operation. Mr. Orr reported, recommending not only -work among the Chinese but also advocating work for the natives. -Accordingly the Presbyterian Board sent out Rev. Wm. Buell and -wife, who reached Bangkok in August, 1840, the first missionaries -to be sent out by the new organisation. These two remained for some -three years, when on account of ill health of Mrs. Buell they were -obliged to withdraw; and thereupon the mission was suspended for a -time. - -When, as a result of the opium war, the doors of China were -opened, in 1846, both the A. B. C. F. M. and the Baptist society -transferred their Chinese workers from Siam to China. The -difficulty of getting response from the Siamese had caused their -workers to devote their energies largely to the Chinese; and now -when this Chinese work was terminated their missions in Siam -were greatly weakened both in numbers and in effectiveness. The -A. B. C. F. M. retained its Siamese workers until 1849, when it -transferred its enterprise to the American Missionary Association, -an organisation distinctly of the Congregational Church; but -this Association abandoned the field in 1874. In 1868 the Baptist -Society gave up all except its work for the Chinese in Bangkok, -leaving the Siamese wholly to the Presbyterian Mission. Thus Siam -was freed from sectarian rivalry long before modern “comity” was -brought into practise. - -It was at the juncture of withdrawing the major portion of the -force to China and leaving the Siamese missions undermanned that -the Presbyterian Church undertook to establish anew its mission -in Siam, having the native population as the primary objective. -To that end it sent out Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon who, together -with Mrs. Mattoon, may rightly be regarded as the founders of the -permanent work of the Presbyterian Church in Siam. - - -THE VOYAGE - -In those days of foreign travel it was necessary to await a vessel -that might by chance be sailing in the direction of the desired -destination. Fortunately the ship _Grafton_, Captain Abbott, was -found to be loading for a direct voyage to China, and passage was -obtained for a party of missionaries en route for the Orient, -including the trio for Siam. On July 27, 1846, the _Grafton_ sailed -from New York. - -A journey to the Far East then was a matter of time and tedious -delays, as well as of adventure. The course of the _Grafton_ lay -southward through the Atlantic, now near the coast of Africa, now -near the coast of South America, with glimpses of Liberia and -of Brazil; around the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian -Ocean, among the East Indies and thence northward to China. The -indirectness of the voyage by which Dr. House reached Siam is -shown by this fact: one hundred days after leaving New York, the -_Grafton_ put in for water at Ampanan on the island of Lombok, one -of the smaller of the East India chain. This port was within four -weeks’ direct sail of the Siamese capital; whereas the _Grafton_ -was headed for the port of Canton, to reach which required fifty -days more; thence by another vessel it was necessary to retrace the -course to Singapore and transfer for Bangkok. - -Could the missionary have taken passage direct from Ampanan to -Bangkok he would have reached his destination in about two-thirds -the actual time consumed. But even the most direct course to China -could not then be taken because the season had arrived for the -northeast monsoons on the China Sea, which are a peril to sailors. -The _Grafton_ was compelled to pass to the eastward among the Isles -of Spice, past Pelew Island, out into the Pacific, east of the -Philippines, within sight of Formosa and thence westward to Canton. -The doctor writes home to the children of the Sunday school that -“It was a dream of childhood come true to sail among these fabulous -islands.” On the 28th day of December, one hundred and sixty days -from New York, the _Grafton_ arrived at Macao, the Portuguese port -for Canton, which during the stormy days of early foreign relations -with China was a place of safe entry, transfer and retreat for -merchants and missionaries alike. - -No vessel was to be found bound towards Siam, so the missionaries -had to wait. The American merchants Olyphant & Co., of Canton, with -hospitality “as generous as it was elegant,” took the doctor into -their home for the sojourn during the delay. Dr. House visited the -mission school of Dr. Happer, located at the port, and also went -up to Canton to visit the hospital conducted by Dr. Parker, who -had been a lecturer in the University of Pennsylvania when he was -a student there. On Feb. 7, the party for Siam took passage on the -_John Bagshaw_, Captain Dare. After a call at Hong Kong they had -a quiet passage southward through the China Sea, and on the 23rd -reached Singapore, the maritime capital of the South China Sea. - -Here they were fortunate in finding in the harbour the native-built -trading vessel _Lion_, Captain Dupont, owned by the King of Siam. -Although the ship was modeled after western vessels, it was of the -rudest native workmanship, without conveniences for occidental -travellers; and even the orientals who took passage had only deck -space allotted to them. For these three Westerners one small cabin -was made available and had to serve them day and night for the -twenty-four day voyage, a sail cloth being suspended in the middle -as a concession to foreign ideas of privacy. Provisions had to be -secured at Singapore and the Chinese cook of the vessel paid to -prepare them. - -The passage from the South China Sea into the Gulf of Siam proved -to be the climax of the whole trip. A violent and prolonged storm -was encountered which not only added greatly to the misery of the -ship’s company but imperiled their lives: - - “For nearly three days,” writes Dr. House, “we have not - had one cheering glimpse of the sun. Squall after squall - of rain has burst in its fury upon us; indeed it has been - almost one incessant rain, and the wind all the time from the - most unfavourable quarter has at last increased to a gale, - driving the ship from her course towards we know not what - islands and rocks.... The waves are rolling wildly, scowling - rain clouds begird the horizon and shut out the sky above - us and the view before us. It is now three days since the - captain has been able to get an observation, and the dead - reckoning is in these seas little to be depended upon, owing - to the strong currents. Our situation is no more safe than - it is agreeable.... Every wave rolls us also to and fro, so - that if one sits or stands he is obliged to be continually - bracing himself, now this way, now that, to keep the center - of gravity; and every now and then is pitched by some sudden - lurch against the nearest object so that sides and arms and - elbows fairly ache with the bruises.... And all this time - there is in your ears the creaking of the rudder chains and - the dismal splashing of the great waves as they surge up - under the stern windows. But a greater annoyance yet remains - to be spoken of. The deck over us (the roof of our cabin) - leaks in a hundred different places upon us, not in drops but - in streams. In my compartment there is but one dry place, and - that is the mattress; and even that is not wholly dry, for - now and then it drops down upon the pillow. The floor is as - wet as if being mopped; wet trunks, wet books, wet baskets - lie around. The chairs are too wet to sit upon, and so the - bed is the only place for rest.” - - -WELCOMED BY OTHER MISSIONARIES - -Fortunately the voyage of twenty-four days was not all like this, -and after the storm had abated there was much to make the days -interesting. At length came the first sight of Siam: - - “Friday, March 19. The first sight of Siam. Thy people, O - Siam, shall be my people; _but_ my God shall be their God. - Here would I die and here would I be buried.... Henceforth - I would live for Thee, my God. Thou art a kind Master; and - oh, Thou hast bought me, every power and faculty; Thou hast - bought me by Thy precious blood. Let me henceforth shrink - from nothing—but sin and remissness in Thy blessed service. - With the beginning of my missionary life I give myself anew, - tremblingly but trustingly to do Thy will O God, my Creator, - Guide and Redeemer.” - -The following day, Saturday, March 20, 1847, Dr. House landed in -Bangkok. The arrival of the new missionary party met with a most -cordial welcome by the small group of fellow Americans already -engaged in the work. At that time Siam was occupied by two American -missions, besides French Catholic missions. The American Board -was then represented by Rev. Jesse Caswell and Rev. Asa Hemmenway -with their wives; while the Baptist Board was represented by the -following men and their wives: Revs. J. T. Jones, Josiah Goddard, -and E. N. Jenks, and Mr. J. H. Chandler, a lay missionary. - - “Early on the morning of the 20th of March, just eight months - to a day from the time of our leaving New York, we found - ourselves at the bar which obstructs the entrance of the - great river of Siam.... I was despatched with the captain in - a swift, but alas open, boat that I might, if the ship was - unable to get over the bar, make arrangements with friends to - send down for Mr. and Mrs. Mattoon. After a rather broiling - row of some twenty miles along a river far more beautiful - than I had been led to suppose, arrived at the outskirts - of this truly great city about sundown. We had still some - three miles or more before we reached the residence of the - missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M., and it was then dark. Was - most kindly welcomed by Mr. Caswell and Mr. Hemmenway, the - only missionaries of that Board now left; and glad indeed - they appeared to see me.” - -On Monday the ship came up to the city and by that time plans had -been made to house the newly arrived missionaries in two of the -vacant houses in the mission compound where they had been welcomed. - -The relations between the three sets of missionaries were most -cordial. So far as economy of effort made it wise they co-operated -in their undertakings. It was the dispensary of the A. B. C. F. M. -that Dr. House re-opened. The tracts used by the three missions -were printed by the press of the Baptist mission. Members of each -of the missions took turns at the tract house maintained in the -bazaar. Although the Presbyterians had previously been engaged in -work in Bangkok they held no property there; and for the present -it was neither advisable nor possible for the newcomers to obtain -a location for themselves. It was arranged that they should live -in the A. B. C. F. M. compound until there was time to obtain a -desirable site. - -The compound contained several houses built after the native -style; set high upon posts, with an open space beneath, a verandah -on all sides, no windows but openings for air. In one of these -houses Dr. House lived for the first two years, having a servant -to take care of the house but taking his meals with the Mattoon -family. This arrangement entered upon temporarily continued by -force of circumstances for three years until the return of Rev. -D. B. Bradley, M.D., with another physician, when a readjustment -of housing was necessary. Thereupon Dr. House moved to one of -the “floating houses” moored in front of the compound, and this -continued to be his abode for more than a year until a permanent -site was secured for the mission. - -The members of the three missions held a common service of worship -each Sunday morning and afternoon. At the morning service the -sermon was in Chinese or Siamese, while the afternoon service was -wholly in English. It is interesting to learn that an “original” -sermon was unusual, the preacher of the day commonly reading a -published sermon of some well-known divine. On Wednesdays there was -an informal conference for all workers and servants. On Saturday -evenings there was a prayer meeting for the missionaries only. -Later a “monthly concert of prayer for missions” was established. -When the number of Chinese increased a separate service was held -for them, and likewise a Sunday school for the Siamese pupils of -the day school. - -Occasionally there would be in attendance on worship some officers -from any English vessel in port and then in turn one of the -missionaries would visit the vessel and conduct a preaching service -for the crew. After the treaty of Great Britain, in 1855, the -number of English families increased very rapidly, and while at -first many of these attended the services at the mission, their -number soon warranted the erection of a chapel for their own use. - - - - -IV - -RELATIONS WITH ROYALTY AND OFFICIALS - - -Soon after their arrival Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon were taken -by their fellow missionaries to call upon two princes who had -manifested a friendly interest in the westerners. The acquaintance -thus formed proved to be of large influence both to the mission and -to the Siamese nation. One of these princes was entitled Chao Fah -Yai, which signifies “The older brother of the king,” while his -brother was entitled Chao Fah Noi, meaning “The younger brother -of the king.” As Chao Fah Yai later became King of Siam and his -brother the Vice-King at the same time and as this new king played -a momentous part in the opening of Siam to intercourse with the -western nations as well as showed much favour to the mission work, -it is essential to give a sketch of that important personage. - -When, in 1824, the throne was made vacant by the death of the royal -father of these two men, the older son had expected to succeed to -the throne. Apparently this had been the father’s intention, for -he had given this son the name “Mongkut,” meaning “crown prince.” -Through intrigue, however, the crown went to a half-brother who, -under the title Phra Chao Pravat Thong, was the reigning king -when Dr. House reached Siam. Chao Fah Yai, having been thwarted -in his aspirations towards the throne, entered the priesthood and -retired to a watt, doubtless as the safest way to avoid the royal -displeasure towards a rival,—a course which the custom of the -country made possible for him. - -The princely rank of this priest made him the leader of the -Buddhist religion in Siam; and his great wealth enabled him to make -his watt one of the most notable and influential in the country. -He was a man of enlightened mind beyond his generation. In marked -contrast to the king, he was interested in foreign affairs and -amicably disposed towards the few foreigners living in Bangkok, -especially towards the missionaries, because of their education and -culture. - -Having already learned Latin from the French priests, in 1845 -(then about forty years of age), he invited Rev. Jesse Caswell, a -missionary of the American Board, to become his tutor in English. -To secure the services of Mr. Caswell he offered in return a reward -which he perceived would be more prized than any fee of gold he -could propose. He offered Mr. Caswell the privilege of using a room -in one of the buildings connected with the watt for preaching the -Christian religion and distributing tracts, and granted permission -to the priests of the watt to attend if they wished. Mr. Caswell -accepted the invitation and continued for three years, until his -death, to teach English to the chief Priest of Buddhism in his own -temple, and to preach Christianity to all who cared to listen. The -esteem of the Prince for his tutor is evidenced by the fact that in -1855, when Dr. House was returning to America on furlough, he made -the doctor the bearer of a gift of one thousand dollars to Mr. -Caswell’s widow in token of appreciation of her husband’s services, -and again in 1866, by the same agent, he sent a gift of five -hundred dollars. He also caused a monument to be erected, in memory -of his tutor, at the grave of Mr. Caswell. - -The more one contemplates the terms made by Chao Fah Yai with -Mr. Caswell the more astonishing it appears. Here is the -most influential priest in all Siam, the recognised head of -the Buddhistic cult in Indo-China, inviting into his watt an -uncompromising teacher of the Christian religion notwithstanding -the known antipathy of the king to the westerners and their -religion, and in return for instruction in the English language he -grants him freedom to teach the moral and religious doctrines of -Christianity within the precincts of consecrated ground and permits -novitiates and priests under his authority to listen to that -doctrine. - -This broadmindedness of Chao Fah Yai is further shown by an -incident which he related to one of the Protestant missionaries. -Sometime previous to the engagement of Mr. Caswell a young priest -of the watt became a Roman Catholic. The prince was urged to -flog the young man for abandoning the religion of his country. -To this suggestion the prince said he replied: “The individual -has committed no crime; it is proper for every one to be left -at liberty to choose his own religion.” On a later occasion the -Governor of Petchaburi, having forbidden the distribution of books -by the Roman Catholic priests in his province because he said -they sought to shield their converts from the authorities when -accused of crime, conferred with Chao Fah Yai as to whether he -should place the same ban on the books of the Protestants; but the -Priest-Prince was able to explain to him the difference of policy -between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants and to dissuade him -from forbidding the distribution of Protestant literature. - -From his intercourse with Mr. Caswell, Chao Fah Yai was quickened -with an interest in Western learning, especially the sciences. -By his association with these missionaries and the discussion of -the evidences of Christianity he came to recognise that his own -religion had accumulated a mass of unauthenticated teachings, the -accretion of centuries of priestly fancy; and he perceived that -this accretion must be sloughed off if his religion was to meet -the pressure of foreign civilisation, which he foresaw could not -be forever excluded. Accordingly he became the leader of a new -party in Buddhism which rejected the uncanonical writings which -had accrued to the extent of some eighty-four thousand volumes and -held only to the authentic teachings of Buddha. As the leader of -this new sect the Prince-Priest was doubtless responsible for the -reinvigoration of the religion of Siam, enabling it better to meet -the contest of time. - -The interest of Chao Fah Yai in the American missionaries was -more on account of their intellectual culture than on account of -their religion. On one occasion in conversation with Dr. House -he frankly said that while he did not believe in Christianity he -thought much of Western science, especially astronomy, geography -and mathematics. His interest in these subjects was very keen -and practical. From the study of navigation he was led into the -subject of astronomy, and took interest in the calculation of -time, and was especially proud that his own calculation of an -eclipse of the moon was almost identical with the Western almanac. -His conversation showed considerable intelligence of the late -developments in science. He was also a student of languages, and -had a knowledge of several languages of eastern India, such as -Singhalese and Peguan; he was familiar with Sanscrit, which had -been a contributor to the Siamese language, and had studied Latin -because he said he had been told that it was like the Sanscrit; -besides these he was an expert student of the Pali, the sacred -writing of Buddhism. The prince was also the first native prince of -Farther India to procure a printing press, which he obtained from -London, with fonts of English and Siamese type, and an alphabet of -Pali of his own devising. - -Apparently Chao Fah Yai approached the subject of Christianity as -a vigourous mind approaches any ponderous subject that presents -itself; he considered it philosophically. Every religion studied -philosophically presents insuperable difficulties; a religion -may be rightly judged only by its practical adaptation to life -and its effects on the human heart. Had he attempted to study -Christianity in a practical manner as he did the science of the -West his conclusions would doubtless have been different. One -evening the prince called at the home of Mr. Caswell just as -the weekly prayer meeting was assembling and, upon invitation, -remained to the meeting. His questions afterwards showed that he -had given attention, for he inquired the meaning of such words as -“redemption” and “Providence,” which he had heard used. - -While it is a fact that on several occasions the prince -emphatically disclaimed belief in the Christian doctrines, -nevertheless the arguments of the missionaries were not without -effect upon his mind, for he felt himself called upon to do an -entirely new thing—to publish an apologetic for Buddhism in the -points where the Christian arguments were most aggressive. In -another manner also he gave evidence that the Christian arguments -were pressing upon his conscience. The Baptist mission for some -years had printed an annual almanac filled with Christian truth -and containing, besides other items of civil information, a list -of officials of the government and of the watts. In 1848, for the -first time, Chao Fah Yai took exception to the religious character -of the almanac in which his name appeared as head priest of his -watt. He wrote to the editor of the almanac, expressing a “wish to -have added to the description of myself in the English almanac ‘and -hates the Bible most of all’; we will not embrace Christianity, -because we think it a foolish religion. Though you should baptise -all in Siam I will never be baptised.... You think that we are near -the Christian religion; you will find my disciples will abuse your -God and Jesus.” - -Concerning his attitude to Christianity a comment from Mrs. -Leonowens’ book, _An English Governess at the Siamese Court_, casts -a little light: - - “He had been a familiar visitor at the houses of American - missionaries, two of whom Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon, were - throughout his reign and life gratefully revered by him for - that pleasant and profitable conversation which helped to - unlock for him the secrets of European vigor and advancement, - and to make straight and easy the paths of knowledge he had - started upon. Not even his Siamese nature could prevent him - from accepting cordially the happy influence these good and - true men inspired. And doubtless he would have gone more than - half way to meet them, but for the dazzle of the throne in - the distance which arrested him midway between Christianity - and Buddhism.” - -This was the Priest-Prince upon whom the newcomers made their first -call of respect. The acquaintance formed at this time ripened into -a friendship that continued warm and true to the end. Dr. House, in -his journal, carefully records the details of the call: - - “His Royal Highness was somewhat unwell, but he would come - down. A servant was sent to ask if we would not take some - refreshments. Soon a plate of stone-fruit was presented, - resembling in flavour our peach; also a plate of Chinese - cakes, white and thin, with a bowl of dark Chinese jelly and - sugar. Knife, three-pronged fork and teaspoon were brought - and we made an excellent tiffin. - - “I looked around the room; Bible from A. B. Society, and - Webster dictionary stood side by side on a shelf of his - secretary, also a Nautical Tables and Navigation. On the - table a diagram of the forthcoming eclipse in pencil with - calculations, and a copy of the printed chart of Mr. - Chandler.... - - “This man, if his life is spared, is destined to exert an - all-powerful influence upon the destinies of this people. He - must possess a vigour of mind and much energy of purpose thus - to commence the study of a new language at the age of forty. - Indeed he seems Cato-like in other things.... - - “Soon the Prince-Priest appeared with two or three following, - dressed in yellow silk robes worn as a Roman toga. His - manners were rather awkward at introduction, and his - appearance not prepossessing at first, though we became more - interested in him as we saw him more. He seated himself on a - chair by the center table, and asked our names and ages and - whether married. Wished to know if I could cure sick as Dr. - Bradley did. Whether I could cure the dropsy, for there was - a case in the watt. He understands English when he reads it, - but cannot speak it well yet. - - “We asked to see his printing room; several young priests and - servants on bamboo settees folding books. One composing type, - one correcting proof. They gave us a copy of a book published - in the Prince’s new Pali alphabet—it was the Buddhist ten - commandments and comments on them. Mr. Caswell had previously - told him of the present of a keg of printing ink we had for - him from our friend G. W. Eddy, of Waterford. He asked who it - was from, and if ‘they had heard of him in America’; and was - evidently well pleased to find that he was known. Upon taking - leave, he promised to call in return upon his guests in a few - days.” - -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 - -The acquaintance thus conventionally begun was quickened in mutual -interest in an unexpected manner. When Dr. House reached Siam -he found that the Baptist Mission press had for some time been -publishing an annual almanac. He perceived that these almanacs -were not only accepted by the ordinary people as they would accept -Scripture tracts, but that they were eagerly sought after by a -small number of nobles who were interested in Western science. -These men were surprised to find that the eclipse for 1847 was -much more accurately forecasted in this almanac than by their -own astrologers, and they were eager to discuss the subject of -astronomy. - -This observation together with his own interest in science led him, -in September of his first year, to institute a series of lectures -for the benefit of the servants and employes of the mission -compound “in hopes of waking up their dormant minds and accustom -them to think, and so be a little benefitted by the preaching on -the Sabbaths; as well as to impart useful information and to set -before them the great proof of the existence and wisdom of the -Creator, a fundamental truth all Buddhists deny.” The doctor was to -furnish the outlines and perform the experiments while Mr. Caswell, -experienced in the language, was to do the talking. There was a -fair equipment at hand: chemicals, a magnetic machine, a globe, a -set of physiological and hygienic charts and a skeleton. - -The first lecture was on the digestion of food and the effects -of alcohol on the stomach. The audience showed their attention -and interest by responding with questions. After the lectures on -physiology came several on astronomical topics such as the eclipse -of the moon, phases of the moon and relation to the tides; then -followed several on the gases. On the occasion of the first lecture -on the gases, it so happened that Godata, a priest from Chao Fah -Yai’s watt, happened to call on Mr. Caswell and was invited to -witness the experiment. The demonstration opened a new world for -him. What he saw was too wonderful to keep to himself; he spread -abroad his report and the effect was immediate. - -The first to respond was Prince Ammaruk, the favourite son of the -king, who requested the privilege of watching the doctor create the -wonderful “winds.” On the day appointed for the special experiment, -Chao Fah Yai sent a request for Dr. House to accompany him that -evening to call upon a brother prince who was quite ill. In reply -the doctor explained his engagement for the evening, but offered -to make the call after the demonstration, and suggested that -the Priest-Prince might himself like to witness the experiment. -To the doctor’s surprise, the Priest-Prince came early in the -afternoon to take the doctor to see the patient, so that they might -have the whole evening free for the experiments. At the palace, -Chao Fah Yai explained the evening’s entertainment to the royal -physician (a brother of the king) who promptly invited himself. By -arrangement with Prince Ammaruk several others were to come, so -that at the appointed time the small house was filled with nobles -and princes, and the verandah with their servants. Fortunately the -experiments went off successfully; oxygen was generated and iron -was burned in the oxygen; hydrogen was generated from water and -exploded in combination with oxygen. Chao Fah Yai was particularly -enthusiastic, and called in from the verandah some of his men to -see the wonders, and himself volunteered to explain the facts to -them. - -The series of lectures awakened widespread interest among the -progressive nobles. Dr. House became a notable in their esteem. -Nearly all of the group who were present on that evening were -amateur scientists; they had the air pump, the electric machine -and other physical apparatus, but of chemistry they had no idea. -Shortly after this Chao Fah Noi, who had been keeping aloof -from foreigners, sent a request for Dr. House to spend the -evening at his palace and instruct him in the making of gases. -How long the series of lectures continued is not apparent; the -journal continues reference to them while they are novel, but -they apparently continued throughout that winter. Other subjects -named were “The Weight of the Atmosphere,” “The Barometer,” -“Heat,” “The Oxyhydrogen Blow Pipe,” “Carbon and Carbonic Gas,” -“Electro-magnetic Telegraph,” and “Electricity.” The original -purpose of instruction for the servants was outgrown, and week -after week one or more of the nobles who were dabbling in science -were present with their ubiquitous train of servants. From this -time on the journal indicates that the doctor’s instruction in the -Bible classes took the form of “Evidences of Natural and Revealed -Religion.” - -The popular interest, however, was directed towards a particular -subject, the skeleton. Very quickly news of this strange -possession spread abroad, and every few days in season and out -of season visitors would call and, scarcely able to restrain -their inquisitiveness during the preliminary courtesies, hasten -to request a sight of the skeleton. Even some of the ladies -became interested in this curiosity; and one day a woman of rank, -with half a dozen attendants and a train of servants, came with -a request to see the skeleton. Long after local curiosity had -subsided, chance callers from distant provinces would come to see -this object of nation wide gossip. - -Very remarkable, the skeleton itself did not seem to make so -profound an impression upon these minds as the “argument from -design” which their instructor deduced from the human anatomy to -prove the existence of a Creator. Female curiosity also called for -demonstrations with the electrical machine. During the reign of the -old king some of the ladies of the palace had a prince arrange for -Dr. House to bring to the prince’s palace the machine which could -make “fi fah” (fire from the sky), that they might see the marvel. -The doctor, of course, was not permitted to enter the presence of -the king’s women, so he had to instruct the prince in the method of -operation. - - -BOND OF INTEREST - -An unexpected result of these lectures was that a bond of mutual -interest was established between Dr. House and this group of -progressive nobles, the very party which in a few years dominated -the new government of Siam. It would be interesting for one who -knew the official entourage of King Mongkut to note how many of his -supporters were included in this number who made Dr. House their -friend because of his interest in science. Since Siamese noblemen -were known by titles rather than by family names and since these -titles change through elevation to higher rank only one acquainted -with a person at a particular rank could identify these men with -accuracy. - -However the following are frequently mentioned in Dr. House’s -journal as showing a friendly attitude to him, and most of them -interested in Western science. In the régime which began in 1851 -his friends were: the king, the vice-king, the prime minister, the -commander-in-chief, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister -of home affairs, the treasurer of the kingdom. In the régime of -Chulalongkorn, which began 1868, his special friends were: The -second king, the regent, the minister of foreign affairs, the -master of the mint, the commander-in-chief, and the court chaplain. -Besides these were several princes and nobles who did not occupy -particular offices. Several of these men had primitive laboratories -or workshops for experiments. - -The series of lectures started such a revival of interest in -scientific matters among them that Dr. House soon found himself the -frequent host of several princes and nobles, seeking instruction -in all sorts of subjects; and he was on various occasions invited -to their shops to inspect their work or elucidate some obscure -difficulty, as though he were a peripatetic professor. He was even -seriously troubled by the borrowing of books and instruments which -they were not all punctilious to return. Moreover, he found himself -an agent of some of these men, ordering machinery and supplies and -tools from America for their use. - -Chao Fah Noi said to him confidentially that any one who wanted -to do something new in those days must do it in secret, for if -the king learned of their activities he would call upon them to -work for him so as to keep them from pursuing investigations. This -prince, however, was not altogether secret in his experiments, for -under date of July 4, 1848, Dr. House writes: - - “This a. m., we saw something new on the river—a little model - steamboat, not twenty feet long, with smoke-pipe, paddle - wheel, all complete, steaming bravely against the tide, with - H. R. H. Chao Fah Noi sitting at the helm. It was the first - native steamer on the Meinam, entirely his own construction.” - -But not for one moment did Dr. House lose sight of his prime -objective. The favour of princes was no reward in itself; he was -always concerned for the influence he might exercise through his -contact with men of power: - - “How taken with the new science is the Prince (Chao Fah Noi). - Oh, that acquaintance and opportunity given me with him may - be improved to win and turn him from his trust in false gods - and rites! He has a good mind.” - -Not a lecture, scarcely a conversation, on science but Dr. House -sought to point out the unanswerable argument from “design in -nature” as a proof of a Creator and of the truth of Christianity. -To some, the revelations of nature through science became also the -revelations of a Divinity. - - “Brother Chandler spoke of a person (Godata) who after - attending the chemical lectures last year, seeing evidence of - wisdom and goodness in the composition of air and water, said - ‘There must be a God—there must be.’” - -This same Godata it was who became chaplain to the army under King -Chulalongkorn. - -A study of Dr. House’s journal seems to justify the assertion that -his most far-reaching influence upon the mission work was through -his relations with these progressive members of the nobility. It is -even within a margin of safety to affirm that his influence was not -exceeded by that of any other man up to the time of his retirement. -This opinion does not underestimate such men as Rev. Jesse Caswell, -Rev. Daniel B. Bradley, M.D., and Rev. Stephen Mattoon, whose -labours also were pivotal in the development of missions in Siam. -It only so happened that the association of Dr. House with the -officials of the new government was more continuous in its bearing -upon the work. Having gained their sympathy through his practise -of medicine, and enlarged their interest through his knowledge -of science, he won their complete confidence by his sterling -character. When later these men, having obtained chief power in -the government, turned to him for counsel in international affairs -or when he went to them in behalf of the mission they knew that -his judgment was fair and free from ulterior motive. During nearly -the entire period of his service he was a valuable friend of the -Siamese government and a wise advocate of the mission at court. - - - - -V - -LENGTHENING CORDS AND STRENGTHENING STAKES - - -A direct effect of this growing interest in science was to show the -value of Western education in such a way as to create a demand for -the educational work of the mission. Not satisfied with their own -enlightenment several of these progressive nobles requested Dr. -House to tutor their sons in English with a view to instruction in -science. As early as 1847, before the doctor himself could devote -time to such work, Mrs. Mattoon had undertaken to tutor Kuhn Gnu, -the son of the Praklang. - -While at the tract house one day the doctor caught a glimpse of -the desire and capacity of the common people for learning. A boy -applied for a book. Knowing that the lad had received one the -previous day, the doctor began to catechise him on that volume -before giving him another. He was surprised to find that in a day’s -time the boy had mastered the details of the story of Elijah. -Upon this the doctor observes: “Now this is in effect, as far as -it goes, a school and a Christian school, where more knowledge is -imparted perhaps than would be in a regular school.” - -Under the régime of the old king no regular school was possible, -not only because the monarch was antipathetic to western ideas but -because the Siamese had no common desire for education. - - “It is next to impossible to interest the native Siamese in - education, because it is the custom for all boys to enter a - watt as novitiates for the priesthood, and as such are taught - to read; but to read is the limit of their ambition.” - -The quickening of an interest in science among the upper classes -proved to be the awakening of some of the younger generation to the -desirableness of a broader education than the priests ever thought -of giving. - -The first mention of a school as a proposed department of the -mission occurs as an entry in the journal on the first anniversary -of the arrival in Siam, when the doctor records briefly: “Plans for -interesting and instructing the young Siamese were discussed.” - -Looking back over the course of affairs it is apparent that the -embryo of the mission school was the receiving of some children -into the homes of the missionaries to be taught, while assisting -in house work. As early as 1848 Mrs. Mattoon, with an eagerness to -do something to elevate the condition of child-life, succeeded in -obtaining two girls for this purpose, one of whom she named Nancy, -after her own mother, and one Abby, after the mother of Dr. House. -Later another was added, whom she named Esther. - -In the next year Dr. House had apprenticed to him a Chinese lad of -thirteen named Ati, the nephew of his Hainanese laundryman. The -boy was bound for a period of three years, during which he was to -act as a house servant in return for instruction in English. As a -matter of fact this boy remained in connection with the mission -for a much longer period. The part played by these children was -not simply a demonstration of their capacity for a Western -education but, even more importantly, they formed a nucleus around -which to organise a formal school later. Until time was ripe for -such an undertaking the missionaries could only try in the most -experimental way to develop interest in education among the common -people with whom they came into more intimate contact. - -Although Dr. House fitted himself for the medical profession, he -found that by taste and aptitude he was essentially a teacher. His -fixed purpose was to impart to the Siamese the Christian truth -about God and about salvation, confident that this truth would -awaken the sleeping conscience. His discontent with his profession -was to a large extent because it hindered him from the more direct -propagation of the Gospel. Observation early disclosed to him, what -other educators had discerned elsewhere, that the chief obstacle to -the consideration of the spiritual message of Christianity was the -false cosmogony as held by the people. - -Their idea of the universe was based upon a total ignorance of many -common facts of nature, an ignorance which completely excluded from -their minds the idea of a spiritual God. They were so obsessed with -fallacies about natural phenomena that there was but small common -basis of physical knowledge upon which the missionaries could build -an argument to dispose of these grotesque ideas. For instance, the -popular explanation of a lunar eclipse was that a great dragon was -trying to swallow the moon. When an eclipse occurred, the people -would set up a din of kettles and drums to scare away the dragon. -Since the moon always escaped, the people were the more confirmed -in their belief. Then there was the old notion of the earth being -flat. In the midst of the earth was a great central mountain, -whence Buddha had come, surrounded by a vast plain; and inasmuch as -Siam occupied the middle of this plain, obviously there could be no -other greater country. Before truth could penetrate such an armour -of ignorance, it was necessary that nature be stripped of these -false ascriptions in order that there might be a common ground upon -which to consider the arguments for the Christian faith. - -In the presentation of Dr. House’s message there can be traced an -orderly philosophy which reflects this situation. First he sought -to remove some of these false ideas by pointing out common facts -of nature which the natives had never observed. Next he sought to -explain the conception of God as Creator. From this he led on to -the love and mercy of God as revealed by Jesus. As a practical -sequence he aimed to give an elementary education to the few who -would receive it so as to demonstrate the Christian way of life. -This meant in the course of time the development of a system of -education. - - -SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS - -Dr. House was peculiarly fitted for this work, for he had been -providentially prepared to draw upon a wide range of scientific -instruction. His years at Rensselaer Institute had developed his -taste for natural philosophy and had given him a lifelong interest -in the progress of science. His study of medicine had qualified -him in practical chemistry, while his few years of teaching gave -him needed experience in laboratory demonstrations. While trying -some experiments with gas in Siam he recalls “occasions of the same -kind at Rensselaer school and in the Virginia school.” Busy as he -was, he managed to keep abreast of scientific progress through the -journals of science, and was forward to adopt new ideas as he found -them. In March, 1847, he writes: - - “In evening read account of inhaling ether as a means of - enabling one to perform surgical operations without pain to - the patient. A wonderful discovery truly—inestimable in its - benefit to the suffering of our race—and the author of it - was an American.” - -At the first opportunity he applied the new idea to a patient in -surgery: - - “Old woman of eighty-four; piece of bamboo eight inches had - entered her flesh, remaining still unextracted. O, how I - wished I had an apparatus for inhaling ether—I prepared an - extempore one.” - -In 1851 he reads of “a new way devised in Paris by suspending a -pendulum from high dome to trace and render visible the motion of -the earth on its axis”; and after a private experiment, straightway -he makes the demonstration for his science-loving Siamese friends. - -Like many missionaries, Dr. House was a student of nature, -contributing to other scholars his observations. He was a member -of the “American Oriental Society.” He was a correspondent of the -naturalist, Mr. John C. Bowring, at Hong Kong, son of the diplomat, -for whom he undertook to collect and forward specimens of Siamese -insects and shells; and in this pursuit he became the discoverer -of two varieties of shells previously unknown to naturalists, to -which his name has been given, “Cyclostoria Housei” and “Spiraculum -Housei.” In his volume on Siam, Mr. George B. Bacon, speaking of -the flora and fauna of Siam, remarks: - - “The work of scientific observation and classification has - been, as yet, only imperfectly accomplished. Much has been - done by the missionaries, especially by Dr. House, of the - American Presbyterian Mission, who is a competent scientific - observer.” - -In his modesty he was surprised to find that his activities in -this line were known in Europe. Dining at the Prussian Embassy at -Bangkok, in 1862, he was introduced to the son of Chevalier Bunsen, -who remarked that “he had heard of Dr. House in Europe; he has -given his name to a new species of shell; he was the first to make -Siamese shells known to the world.” When Dr. Lane left Siam, in -1855, Dr. House took over from him and continued the meteorological -observations because “it may be valuable by-and-by for the -Siamese.” On one occasion he had a bit of amusing chagrin in trying -to determine the elevation of a mountain. He had constructed a -new thermometer for himself and proposed to estimate the altitude -by ascertaining the boiling point. After carefully explaining the -theory to his native companions, placing the kettle on the fire, he -eagerly watched for the first sign of boiling. To his astonishment -the thermometer indicated that the chosen position, instead of -being several hundred feet above the sea, must be many feet down -below the earth’s surface—and then he discovered that there was a -fault in his thermometer. - - -EARLY TOURS - -For his eagerness to lengthen the reach of his arm and to extend -the range of his voice, Dr. House found some satisfaction in -occasional tours into the surrounding country. These were at -once a relief from the exacting daily routine of the dispensary, -a physical recreation, and an exploration of the regions seldom -visited by Europeans. The first trip of any distance was made in -company with Rev. Jesse Caswell during February, 1848, when the two -took a ten day trip through the canals eastward to Petrui on the -Bang Pakong River. In the next November, with Rev. Asa Hemmenway, -he toured for a week to the west up the Meklong, with Rapri as the -turning point. - -These early journeys were veritable explorations. The boatmen -seldom knew the country more than two days’ distance from the -capital. The doctor, in real explorer fashion, picked up in advance -what little information he could, sketched rude maps and then on -the journey directed or verified the course of the boat with a -pocket compass. His technical knowledge served to great advantage. -For future use, he records the directions by compass reading, the -rate of speed and the distances as shown by the log, and notes -natural objects which serve as landmarks. His skill at map making -having been disclosed, some of the state officials requested him -to draw, for their use, maps of the regions explored; and in -discussing these with them he found that the officials were almost -totally ignorant of the topography of the king’s domain away from -the main water courses. - -As these tours were all conducted on the same general plan, the -description of one will suffice for all. A native long-boat was -used, having a low cylindrical canopy of matting at the center -to afford some protection from the sun. A crew of six or eight -men would man the oars, or push with poles in shallow canals -or in the rapids. The travelling ordinarily would begin before -daybreak; during the heat of the day the party would stop for -meals and for rest; then late in the afternoon the voyage would be -resumed, continuing till dark. If out over Sunday the travellers -were scrupulous to observe the day; seeking, if possible, a -desirable location for the day of rest, but sometimes tying up in -disagreeable places rather than push on in the early hours of the -Sabbath. - -The watts, or temple grounds, ubiquitous in the country, serve -as caravansaries for travellers; their roofs and trees offering -free shelter for wayfarers. As these watts were also the seats of -learning, the missionaries always found an opportunity to present -their printed page and to engage in conversation on religion. -Books were offered to all met with along the way; to the fishermen -seeking their game in the early morning hours, to the women working -in the rice fields, to the labourers at the sugar presses, to the -farmers in their garden patches, to the villagers in the hamlets -through which they so frequently passed, and to the priests and -novitiates at the watts. Some were too busy to bother with the -proffered gift; some would accept with passive interest; some -would accept with marked interest and open a fire of questions. -Still others, after discovering the nature of the gift received -by their friends would pursue the voyagers, and swim out to the -boat in eagerness for a book. Time did not suffice to enter into -conversation, for the purpose was to scatter the seed as far as -possible, so the boat would keep under way while packages were -cast out on the land or into passing boats. At the noon stop, if -natives did not gather around as usual, the doctor would start off -to the nearest hamlet with a bag of books, sheltering himself under -a large umbrella. Then would ensue the familiar yet ever different -conversation about the Gospel. - - -TO PETCHABURI - -After he became familiar with the methods, the doctor was ready -to make long tours, once freed from the restricting cares of the -dispensary. The married men did not find it convenient to leave -their wives and young children for a long period so that this -work was largely taken up by the doctor, who gained a keen relish -for it. In December, 1848, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Mattoon, -Dr. House set out with two boats for Petchaburi, the capital of -the province by that name on the western peninsula. The trip had -several points of interest. - -In the first place the Lieutenant-Governor of the province had come -to Dr. House for medical treatment a few months after his arrival; -and being pleased with his treatment, invited the doctor to come to -Petchaburi. Upon his recommendation the Governor of the province -also, while in Bangkok, came to the mission house, curious to see -the skeleton which the doctor had. The Governor manifested such -an interest and friendliness that Dr. House resolved to visit the -provincial capital and discover the possibilities of mission work. -Arriving at Petchaburi, they called upon the two officials and -offered to them gifts of foreign articles. When they were about -to leave for home, the officials in return sent very generous -presents of fruit and sugar to their boats. In later years the -under-governor, having been promoted, made earnest solicitation -for the missionaries to teach English in his capital, and as an -inducement offered freedom to teach religion. - -Another item of interest was of a different sort. Having learned -that the original home of the Siamese twins was in the village of -Meklong, near the head of the Gulf of Siam, the Americans sought -out the family. They found only one brother living there, and -learned that a sister was living in Bangkok, while the mother had -died a year previously. The brother expressed a longing to see -his brothers again or to hear from them; and at the doctor’s own -suggestion he wrote a letter to the absent twins, dictated by the -brother. It told of the pious wish of the dying mother for them -“to do merit for her spirit.” Some years later, when Rev. Daniel -McGilvary visited the twins in their home in South Carolina, they -spoke of receiving this letter. - - -TO PRABAT - -In the winter of 1849 Dr. House and Mr. Hemmenway made a trip to -Prabat, about one hundred miles to the northeast of the capital. -This place is the site of a watt erected over an imprint in the -rock, reputed to have been made by the footstep of Buddha. At that -particular season of the year multitudes come from all parts of the -kingdom to do homage to this “shadow” of Buddha. The doctor gives -quite a detailed description of his experiences: - - “A rocky mount, covered with a pagoda, rose before us to the - height of three hundred to four hundred feet. On a lower - elevation in front of this peak is the famous foot print; - over which stands a very beautiful tho excessively ornamented - structure, with elegant pillars on a side supporting - a pagoda-like gilded roof, towering up seven stories, - gracefully diminishing till they terminated in a handsome - golden spire. On a rocky summit on the left stood a small - pagoda, and on the right a higher eminence was crowned with - a similar sightly structure. Before it was a long flight of - stone steps leading up to the platform on which it stood. We - ascended these steps, crossed a little court, entered another - a little higher—and without ceremony entered the half-open - door of the sanctuary before we were forbidden. Had we - delayed a moment perhaps we should have lost the opportunity - and had the gates closed against us. But we were in and made - as good use of our eyes as we could during the few moments - we were allowed to continue. More than one voice was raised - in the silence that had prevailed within, saying to us we - must go out, go out, or else kneel down and worship. One man - with an air of authority came up and took us by the shoulder, - ordering us roughly to take off our hats and shoes. So we - went out. - - “But we had seen the grave-like opening at the bottom of - which the sacred footstep is said to be, though covered as - it was with broad pieces of gold leaf and cloth of gold, - and women kneeling low before it in an attitude of profound - homage. The pavement of the room is of solid silver, the - square blocks smoothly polished by the votaries as they - pass in and out on knees. The footstep is said to receive - annually a great amount of gold, while offerings of rings - and other articles of value are thrown into the opening not - infrequently.” - -Leaving the sanctuary the visitors climbed on up to the top of the -hill to survey the country. Returning, Dr. House became separated -from his companion; and as he approached the scene of the fabled -footprint, he stopped to look at the elegant pagoda. Soon a crowd -gathered around him, and in answer to a priest he explained why -they had not worshiped before the footprint. Some were wondering -at his garments; others were wondering at the unheard-of boldness -in resolutely keeping on a hat while on holy ground. While he -was talking, a rude push from someone behind and then yells from -a hundred throats gave a threatening aspect to the situation. -Fortunately, at that critical moment, a Bangkok priest, an old -acquaintance, recognised him and was not afraid to come to the -rescue. He then withdrew in safety, and finding Mr. Hemmenway, the -two returned to their elephants and took up the journey to the -boats. In the narrative of this trip Dr. House records having come -upon a boy of about fourteen years, born without arms or legs, but -perfect in other respects. The arm-bone was projected about four -inches, covered with skin, calloused at the end from use. The boy -could not raise or feed himself, but could make slight change of -position by rotating alternately on each thigh. - -A number of tours were taken in the dry seasons of ’49 and ’50. -One through inland waterways to the Bang Pakong River and thence -northward above Nakonnayok, meeting many Lao people living on the -river-bottom farm lands. Another to a point some two hundred miles -up the Meinam, and a year later yet another trip was made as far as -Paknampo, some three hundred miles up the same stream, and thence -two days’ journey up the right fork of the Meinam. - - - - -VI - -CHOLERA COMES BUT THE DOCTOR CARRIES ON - - -The first recruits for the Presbyterian work came in 1849, when -Rev. Stephen Bush and his wife arrived. Mr. Bush had been a college -mate of Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon, and he came from Sandy Hill -(now Hudson Falls), N. Y., the home town of the Mattoons. This -little company of Christian men and women now decided to organise a -church as a bond of fellowship and for the orderly administration -of the sacraments. When it is considered that they had not yet won -a single convert from either the natives or the Chinese, it is a -remarkable testimony to their faith that they should have taken -this step in anticipation of the future harvest. Dr. House records -this action in his journal under date of Aug. 31, 1849: - - “After tea we had a meeting of the members of the mission, - and with all due solemnity organised a Presbyterian church - in Bangkok, by the election of Rev. Stephen Mattoon as our - pastor, and S. R. H. [Doctor House] as ruling elder. Brother - Mattoon as senior member of the mission presided, reading at - the opening of the meeting the first chapter of Revelation, - that introduces the address to the seven churches of Asia by - their Glorious Head. - - “In the name of the Great Head of the Church we, a little - band of five, united together in a separate church - organization, the beginning of great things we hope—the germ - of the tree that shall overshadow the land. The lay members - of this infant church were S. R. House, Mrs. Stephen Mattoon, - and Mrs. Stephen Bush.” [Mr. Mattoon and Mr. Bush being - clergymen were not eligible to membership in a local church.] - -At the first communion of the new church, held on Sept. 30, a -Chinese Christian was received: - - “In the evening at a meeting of the Church Session Quasien - Kieng, the native member of the A. B. C. F. M. mission church - (received by Messrs. Johnson and Peet on January 7, 1844) was - received into our membership on certificate of recommendation - from the pastor, Rev. A. Hemmenway. An interesting occasion - to us. A worthy brother, this Chinese disciple; may his wife - and many others come in with and through him.” - -This Chinese Christian, whose name is spelled variously in the -doctor’s journal and elsewhere, was Kee-Eng Sinsay Quasien, who -served as the first Chinese teacher in the boys’ school and who -became the grandfather of Boon Itt, concerning whom more notice -will appear later. Up to this time, so far as records show, there -had been no genuine converts from among the Siamese in any of the -missions. There had, however, been several from among the Chinese. -Indeed when the king was urged to take action against the first -missionaries he replied: “Let them alone; no one will give heed to -them except the Chinese.” The first convert from among the Chinese -sojourners in Siam was Boon Tai, who had come under the personal -influence of Dr. Gutzlaff previous to 1831. A few others were -converted under the teaching of transient missionaries, and then -came Mr. Dean, who established the first church of Chinese. - - -THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC OF 1849 - -One day, in 1849, the startling news reached the mission compound -that cholera had appeared in Bangkok. The plague spread very -rapidly; almost simultaneously it appeared everywhere in the city. -The very first notice of the presence of the pestilence that came -to the doctor was the news that the Siamese printer connected with -the Baptist mission had been stricken without any premonitory -symptoms and died within a few hours. - - “As may be imagined consternation seized upon all classes. - The native doctors fled from their patients. Everywhere - propitiatory offerings were made to the spirits, the people - generally believing the pestilence to be caused by the - invasion of an army of cruel malicious demons who had come - invisibly to seize mankind and make them their slaves. And - in accordance with this theory the preventative most relied - on was a strand of cotton yarns, blessed by the Buddhist - priests, which, tied about the necks or wrists, it was - thought the invisible army could not pass. A cordon of such - yarn hung looped from battlement to battlement entirely - around the royal palace, a mile in circumference.... - - “Awakened at day break by a Chinaman in a floating house - across the river firing off crackers to propitiate his god. - Met a Chinaman well-dressed, carrying a square frame on - which little banners, red and white, some rice and fruit, - little new-made clay images of men and animals, with little - rags around them, red peppers, betel leaf and nuts ready - for chewing, the end of an old torch—all laid down at a - place where a dozen other such offerings to the spirits were - placed.” - -With such preventives as the sole protection against the cholera -it is no wonder that the plague spread like wildfire. It was -no respecter of persons—a dowager in the palace, a prince of -Cambodia, a wealthy Hindu merchant were victims like the most -wretched natives. The mortality was so inclusive that in many a -house there were more dead than living; and in some instances the -remnant of a family would abandon the house with its horde of -corpses. Many of the mission servants and members of their families -were attacked, and some of these sent in great haste for Dr. House. -From early morning, all through the day, far into the night he -visited the sick. - -Terrifying as the plague itself was, the fear of death was almost -eclipsed by the revolting disposal of the dead: - - “You know it is the Siamese custom to burn their dead, but - so fearfully did deaths multiply that a shorter mode of - disposal was resorted to, and multitudes of corpses were - thrown without ceremony, as you would throw the carcass of a - dog into the river. These dead bodies could be seen any day - floating back and forth with the tide before our doors, in - all stages of putrefaction—on some of them crows perched, - picking away at their horrid feast. - - “Go where you would through the streets, we would meet men - bearing away the dead, hastily tied up in a coarse mat. The - Siamese make loud lamentation at the moment of the death of - friends, and as one would pass along it was no uncommon thing - to hear the voice of wailing from this house and that. Once - on my way to see a patient, the voice of one crying in great - distress induced me to enter the little bamboo dwelling, - whence the cry proceeded; and there on the mat-covered - platform of a gambler’s shop (for such it was) sat a - middle-aged Chinaman with his head against the wall, sobbing - at a piteous rate. He took no notice of my entrance; but, - telling his only comrade that I was a doctor, I stepped up - to him to feel his pulse, but he was pulseless and his limbs - cold as stone—the hand of death was upon him. And I went on - my way leaving him all heedless of my coming, crying bitterly - as before. - - “The most revolting spectacles were at the watts where - Siamese custom requires the dead to be brought for burning or - interment till burning is possible.... I have seen in one of - these gehennas hundreds of loathsome corpses in every stage - of putrefaction lying around unburied, unburned just where - the hirelings that brought them or their friends, too poor to - pay the expense of their burning, might throw them down—the - hot sun and the rain doing its work awfully.... My own eyes - have seen of such human carcasses, sixty thrown together in - one huge pile with sufficiency of wood and over thirty in a - smaller one near, all roasting, frying and burning to ashes - with a thick black smoke going up from the dreadful pyre; - with skull bones, legs half consumed, arms stiff in death - projecting on this side and that as the pile settled down, - till the men in charge with long poles would thrust and twist - them back into the blazing heap. All day long, from an area - of nearly an acre covered with the ashes of other freshly - burned victims of the pestilence, would be continually going - up the flames of scores of individual funeral piles; and this - not on the grounds of one temple only, but from a dozen here - and there about the city. And then when evening came, with - the night air would be wafted to us such an unmistakable odor - of burning flesh and singeing hair and bones.” - -In the midst of his heroic labours, Dr. House awoke one morning -with what he felt to be the symptoms of the cholera, and for a -time he had dire thoughts of a certain and speedy death; but -instant resort to his effective prescription and a quiet rest in -bed for two days averted the threatened disease. Then he promptly -resumed attendance upon patients. When it is considered that -his professional services were sought in only a few instances, -chiefly among the friends of the mission servants, and that his -own aggressive zeal increased the number of patients treated by -him, the heroism of his conduct stands out in bold relief. Even -though there was no place of refuge for the missionaries, had it -been possible for them to flee, yet their greatest security was to -remain in such isolation as possible within their premises. But Dr. -House’s eagerness to save the lives of men that they might have a -further chance to hear the Gospel impelled him to risk his own life -to minister to every victim who would receive his services. - -Concerning the prescription used during this epidemic, Dr. House -published a report of his experiments, while in America in 1865, -when there was prospect of an outbreak of Asiatic cholera in the -United States. At first he began with the common prescription -of the medical books of that date; then he turned to the use of -calomel in very large doses, with better results; later he says -that he hit upon the use of a mixture of spirits of camphor and -water taken every few minutes and found this to be a specific for -the disease, losing no patients under this treatment provided the -attack was taken in time. - -In general, however, he was handicapped by two difficulties. The -disease made its attack so suddenly and developed so rapidly that -unless remedies were applied at the earliest possible moment -the end was fatal; but to many of the cases to which he came, -the summons of the physician had been delayed until there was -no hope of saving life. The other difficulty was equally fatal; -utter heedlessness to the directions. No amount of caution seemed -sufficient to secure the imperative attention to the prescription. -One patient, with a mild attack, he found to be dying when he -called later; and upon investigation found that she had taken the -medicine once when she should have taken it twenty times, but in -the meantime had resorted to the powders of a native doctor. But -in spite of these obstacles, Dr. House reported that of eight or -ten really severe cases in the households of the missionaries, none -died, and that he had records of seventy or more cures of persons -elsewhere dangerously attacked. - -The mortality of this plague of ’49 was frightful. During the -climax of the epidemic deaths were occurring at the rate of fifteen -hundred a day in Bangkok. The river was thick with floating bodies, -and vessels coming in reported that they had counted hundreds of -corpses floated by the tide seven days out to sea. When the plague -had at last abated the official estimate of the number of deaths -in Bangkok and vicinity during the seven months was not fewer than -forty thousand. - - -A CURIOUS MARK OF ROYAL GRATITUDE - -The episode of the plague had rather a curious conclusion. When the -pestilence had spent its force, King Phra Chao Pravat Thong decided -that he would perform an “act of merit” in honour of Buddha for the -cessation of the epidemic. Since the religion of Buddha requires -great veneration for the life of animals one of the surest means -to merit is to grant freedom to animals that are in captivity. -Accordingly a levy was made upon every citizen to bring to the -palace ground a stated number of animals or birds during a fixed -period, and upon a given day these were all to be liberated at -the king’s command. To the surprise of the foreigners residing in -Bangkok, they in common with the citizens received a demand for a -gift of pigs and fowls and ducks in varying numbers and assortments. - -The members of the Presbyterian Mission, assuming that this -liberating of the animals was a religious rite, declined to make -the requested present upon the ground that they could not “consent -in any way to have anything to do with the system of idolatry in -the land”; but, to avoid the appearance of offense, added that -if the gift were a mere matter of custom, they would offer the -required present as a compliment to the king. On the following day -they received word from the Pra Nai Wai, who had charge of the -levy, that the desired present had nothing to do with the religion -of the country but was merely intended as a token of congratulation -to the king on the occasion of the abatement of the pestilence. In -view of this explanation, Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon reconsidered -their decision; and accordingly the required donation was sent, -accompanied by a letter of congratulation with an expression of -thanks to God and of a Christian prayer for His Majesty’s welfare. - -For three days the river was alive with craft bringing the gifts -to the landing at the king’s palace, where the donor was credited. -Then the gifts were taken to the depot where the aggregation -was being fed by proper officers till the day of liberation -arrived. It was estimated that more than two hundred pails of rice -were necessary each day for feed. Then on the great day a river -procession took place, a gala affair such as the Siamese frequently -held on festal occasions: - - “The river at one time this morning, as far as eye could - see around the bend and to the palace, had a procession of - boats with banners, white and red, with music and beating of - cymbals, with cages of all colours and sizes and shapes—some - one, two or four stories high, some like beautiful pagodas, - some shaped like vases; some with flowers, some with banners - representing by picture the animals or birds contained in the - cages.” - -All proceeded to the river landing at the palace, where the -captives were set free. It was estimated officially that nearly -one hundred thousand fowls and ducks, some five hundred pigs and -numerous boat-loads of live fish were included in the donations and -were set free. - -The incident, however, did not end here. A like request had gone to -the French priests and the members of their parishes. At first the -Bishop gave permission for the making of the present to the king; -but later when it was rumoured that the king would liberate the -captives to “gain merit,” the bishop not only declined himself to -make the gift but withdrew his permission previously granted to his -people. This reversal caused great indignation among the officials -responsible for gathering the presents. After a conference in which -the bishop was informed, as the other foreigners had been, that the -gift was not regarded as a participation in a religious rite but -only as a customary token of congratulation, the bishop returned -to his original attitude, restored permission to his people and -offered a gift in his own behalf. - -But thereupon a new turn in the affair developed; the eight French -priests conferred together and concluded that the explanation -was only a subterfuge, the real object of the gift being an act -of worship; and they decided not to participate for themselves, -notwithstanding the bishop’s permission. This course had the -disadvantage of placing them in the position of disrespect to the -government, since their superior had approved of the participation. -Accordingly the eight priests were admonished by the government -that if they refused to acquiesce in the royal request they must -leave the country. Remaining inexorable, the order was given for -their banishment, but the bishop was permitted to remain because he -had complied with the request. This decree remained in force until -revoked by King Mongkut in 1851. - -Some months later the foreign residents of Bangkok were surprised -to read in an English paper of Singapore a statement that the -deported priests, on their passage through Singapore, had given;—a -version of the affair in which they appeared as heroes who had -chosen expulsion rather than participation in pagan rites while the -Protestant missionaries had purchased exemption by acquiescence. -Unfortunately this interpretation of the incident to the glory of -the eight priests placed their own bishop in an unfavourable light. - - -ABANDONING THE MEDICAL PROFESSION - -The distress of mind which Dr. House felt so keenly over the -perplexities of his profession, coupled with eagerness for work -that would give more direct propagation of the Gospel, caused him -to determine that as soon as another medical man should come out -to Siam he would abandon medical work. When at length Rev. D. B. -Bradley, M.D., returned after a sojourn of three years in America -and brought with him yet another doctor, Rev. L. B. Lane, M.D., Dr. -House supposed that his longed-for time of release had arrived. In -that expectation he wrote: - - “After all, now that my looked-for medical helper has come, - I do not find myself so inclined to give up the practise of - medicine and surgery as I expected to. Indeed, I believe I - verily love my profession more, now the time has come which - I so long ago fixed as the time when I should most certainly - renounce it. It is not such a burden to me as it once was.... - And yet I must have time granted me for study. My heart is - quite set on fitting myself to preach the gospel from house - to house as a colporteur. Have I not the right to take - time for the study of the language in which I am so sadly - deficient!” - -This reaction from his former depression is natural under the -circumstances. Remembering that Dr. House had had no independent -practise before going to Siam, not even having performed a surgical -operation alone, it is no wonder that the large and varied number -of cases which presented themselves to his untested skill should -challenge his small degree of self-confidence. But the instant -other physicians are at hand, that mental burden seems to find a -measure of support in their presence. - -In the entry of the journal just quoted, however, there appears in -the open what hitherto he had not even written in privacy—another -and controlling reason for giving up his profession, viz.: the -desire to give his whole time to direct dissemination of the -Gospel. First he would devote himself to gaining proficiency in -the language, for the chief purpose of evangelising. All through -his journal in these early years it appears that his heart was -more occupied with the healing of souls than of bodies. To him the -hospital was a means of gaining intimate contact with people that -he might tell them about Jesus. - -Great was his chagrin, therefore, when he found that the arrival -of two physicians was to give no immediate release. Dr. Bradley -had returned with the intention of devoting himself to unattached -practise, the A. B. C. F. M. having withdrawn its mission. Dr. -Lane, who went out under the American Missionary Association, which -for a time became the successor of the A. B. C. F. M., would not -consent to take charge of the dispensary until he could command the -language. There was nothing for Dr. House to do but to meet the -exigency of the situation, and this he did by consenting to hold -fixed hours at the floating dispensary but leaving to Dr. Bradley -all outside calls. This arrangement allowed Dr. House half his time -for the study of the language. - -During this period of his connection with the hospital, in 1851, -the smallpox broke out in Bangkok. Dr. House sent to Singapore for -vaccine virus and at once began vaccinating any child whose parents -he could induce to submit. For weeks he roamed about the city in -his free hours soliciting patients for vaccination, explaining, -entreating, warning, and almost hiring parents to permit him to -inoculate their children. As one reads through the daily entries -of the journal at this time, he receives an odd impression of -this foreign doctor going about the city begging permission to -administer an ounce of prevention. Back of this he had two very -earnest desires. The first and immediate purpose, of course, was -to save life and to prevent the dire results of the disease, -evidences of which he saw everywhere. But the deeper motive was, -by the demonstrated advantage of vaccination, to induce confidence -in Western sciences in general and in the good motives of the -missionaries in particular, so that the people would be ready to -give more serious attention to the gospel message. - -After eighteen months of this arrangement, Dr. Lane took charge of -the dispensary and Dr. House formally abandoned his profession. -During the four and a half years he had a record of seven thousand -three hundred and two patients. With characteristic unselfishness, -however, he consented for a time to substitute when the other -physicians could not respond to calls; but soon he found that old -patients were taking advantage of this consent by expressing a -preference for him, so that the cases were gradually increasing. -Finally he took a firm stand and declined to do any professional -work, except to assist in surgery. - -After Dr. House had altogether retired from his profession there -appears in his journal a soliloquy which indicates that another -motive had been subconsciously urging him to this course which, -only after he had some months’ retrospect, had been permitted to -come to expression: - - “April 17, 1853. Is it not my duty to write a full expression - of my feeling of my lost confidence in the healing art to - the executive committee. I fear my parents would be tried - when the faculty cast me off as I do their traditionary - notions. Peace with them is better than war, perhaps. And yet - perhaps I am doing very wrong by standing in the way of some - other medical missionary who would be sent out if I was not - believed to be a regular practitioner. - - “But the last consideration does but little trouble my - conscience, believing as I do from the bottom of my heart, - that the more medicine given the worse the patient is off; - and the less, the better.” - -When once this idea gained the strength of expression he freely -declared his opinion to his fellow missionaries. Then we find the -curious anomaly of a graduate in medicine arguing against the use -of drugs and his patients contending for them. However this was -only a passing phase of “unbelief” in an extreme degree, and his -seeming trend towards faith cure had its own reaction when, a few -years later, we find him having recourse to physicians and drugs -when unaided nature did not bring relief for a wife’s constantly -aching head. - -The change from the medical to the evangelistic and educational -form of mission work had an effect upon Dr. House of which perhaps -he was not quite conscious, but which is quite evident to one -who reviews his life in the foreshortened perspective afforded -by the journal. As manifest in the quotations already given, the -medical profession proved to be depressing to him because the -sense of responsibility in decisions coincided too closely with -his natural diffidence; and there was a slow but constant ebbing -of self-confidence. Continuance in the medical work was liable -to have lessened his general effectiveness for missions for this -reason. But the more direct Gospel work of colportage, touring -and teaching seemed to harmonise better with his mind so that he -was buoyed up with hope and inspired with a courage that knew no -obstacles. He had a greater faith in God than in himself, and the -evangelistic work gave the fullest range to that faith, impelling -him to attempt whatever he believed to be his duty without fear of -failure. - - -AT THE TRACT HOUSE - -The larger object which Dr. House had in view in abandoning his -profession was to devote himself more directly to the propagation -of the Gospel. His observation of the physical ailments of the -people disclosed that a large portion of the cases was attributable -to sensualism, brutality or ignorance. This brought him to the -conviction that however merciful and needful was the work of -healing, the Gospel was of primary importance to remove the -infection of sin which was largely responsible for the bodily -sufferings. When others arrived who with greater relish took over -the medical work, he was eager to give himself to the Gospel. - -But he found himself sorely handicapped for this work. The urgency -for opening up the dispensary had allowed him no time for careful -study of the language. After two years of constant practical use -of Siamese he was afraid to undertake public address, for fear his -blunders would bring ridicule upon his purpose. When he terminated -his medical work entirely at the end of four and-a-half years he -was inclined to reproach himself for his defective pronunciation -and faulty diction, a shortcoming which he never wholly remedied -because the tongue had acquired its tricks through lack of early -discipline. During these years the Gospel fervour in his heart -consumed him with a fury because he could not give vent to his -passion for evangelising. In the arguments with himself concerning -the relinquishment of medical practise, he always came back to the -imperative need for time to gain facility in the language. So, as -soon as Dr. Lane took over the work of the dispensary, Dr. House -gave himself to a diligent course of study under the tutorship of -Kru Gnu. - -The three missions maintained jointly a Tract House in the bazaar. -Upon arrival of Drs. Bradley and Lane, Dr. House was sufficiently -relieved from the stress of medical work so that he promptly took -his turn at the tract house. - - “Today I commenced going over to the tract house in the - bazaar to distribute books. It will be long before I shall - feel at ease in this necessarily hurried, confused mode of - trying to do good, but I trust to be enabled to go through - with it. The crowd not particularly unruly, but Satan put it - into the heart of one of them to attempt to impose upon the - newcomer again and again; now as a Siamese, now as a Chinese, - now with and now without a hat,—to see how many books he - could get from me. This is disheartening.” - -An example of another kind of trial in this street work, Dr. House -relates concerning Dr. Bradley: - - “A Siamese nobleman told Dr. B. that he had watched him these - many years, had seen him imposed upon every way by the - Siamese, yet he did not get angry; ‘there must be something - in your religion different from ours.’” - -The distribution of books in the bazaar had a manifold value. It -not only put the printed word in the hands of those who did not -come to the mission compound, but it also served to advertise -the mission, resulting in daily calls of a score or more seeking -additional books. The free distribution of tracts in the bazaar had -the advantage of opening the way at once for a public explanation -of the contents of the tracts; and as these conversations were -carried on in the hearing of a large circle, the propagation of the -word was multiplied beyond the readers. - -The men of the mission had devised a unique method of economising -and at the same time assuring that the distribution should be as -effective as possible. The printed matter was arranged in series. -When any one applied for a book, he was asked if he had previously -had one. If he had not, he was given the first in the series, but -if he had, he would be catechised to see whether he had read it. -If he showed that he was familiar with the contents, he was given -the next in the series; but if he had not, he was advised to read -the one he had. In many cases the applicant was able to give a very -detailed account of the Bible story he had read, and frequently -asked questions. This scheme made sure that the printed matter was -being judiciously distributed and that there was being slowly but -surely implanted in the minds of many people the simple facts of -the Bible, preparing them for fruitful attention to preaching in -after years. Just recently a missionary magazine told the story -of a woman of Bangkok who made a profession of Christian faith; -and upon being asked where she first heard the Gospel story, -replied that she first heard of Jesus from a street preacher in her -childhood in the early fifties. The reach of faith in which those -early missionaries sowed beside all waters was greater than the -reach of our imagination to estimate the harvest. - -Dr. House enters in his journal the story of several conversions -which illustrate the extraordinary fruitage from these tracts -carried away by visitors to the capital. The first of these cases -came under his own personal notice, and the other was related to -him by Mr. Jones, of the Baptist mission: - - “A copy of the Chinese gospel of Mark had been given months - ago to a boy in one of the Chinese schools. He took the book - home; it was given to the children to play with, till only a - few leaves remained. A relative of the man who had married - this boy’s sister came from China, and was visiting in the - home of this boy when he chanced to pick up the tattered - book. Reading, he became interested, and wished to know if he - could get more. The next morning the brother of the boy fell - in with the native assistant of the mission on his rounds - distributing tracts, and invited him home with him to see the - visitor. The inquirer was supplied with the book he wished - and invited to come to the preaching at the station. He came, - grew deeply interested, attended regularly and two weeks ago - was judged a fit subject for Christian baptism, and received - into the Church [Baptist].... - - “At the Baptist mission there appeared one day a man of sixty - years. He had come a six-day journey from the north. He had - never seen a Christian missionary, but five years ago he - came upon a Christian book. Becoming interested he gathered - here and there several parts of the Old and New Testaments. - From these alone he was led to forsake idols, and became - well versed in scripture—better even than the servants in - the mission compound. He came to Bangkok and sought the - missionaries for further instruction. When asked, ‘Who has - been your teacher?’ he replied: ‘Jesus; He has said, Ask and - ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find.’ Within ten days - after his appearance at the Baptist mission, he fell a victim - of cholera.” - - -CANVASSING THE CITY - -Dr. House devoted a part of each day to street work. He had -previously in his walks about the city prepared an accurate map. -He now laid this off in districts and entered upon a plan of -systematic visitation to every house in the capital. This plan -afforded unusual opportunity to see the people in their homes and -to engage them in religious conversation. - - “At 1 p. m. went out for a couple of hours distribution of - books. Met at a watt gate two old men. To one gave books; - the other said he was an old man (seventy-four); his ears - were deaf—he could scarcely hear; his eyes had become - dark—he could not see to read; and what should he do? He - seemed to wish to be instructed in the way of happiness, and - I stopped to tell him of the love of God. Then we walked - on together.... I could not part from him with Christ yet - unspoken of, and so in the road I stopped again, sheltered by - my umbrella only, till I had given him the idea of the Son of - God dying in the sinner’s place. I did not know or care what - passers-by might think, I only thought of the poor old man’s - need of the Saviour. - - “My first visit was to a floating house where a Siamese lady - was sitting in the shade of the veranda.... She was glad to - get books—read fluently; said she already held to our way - of worship, and gave a specimen of chanting some part of the - Roman ritual. - - “Next was sent for by a young prince to whose intelligent - family I had given books last week. He gave me tea, etc. The - woman at the next house said ‘Oh, yes, I would like books,’ - and an interesting conversation ensued. She at once assented - to there being a Creator, and though probably had never heard - of one before, asked for His name. How happy I feel when - coming to one such I tell of the God of creation, and unfold - the wondrous story of redemption. - - “At the next house found a clay modeler at work. He had a - book, and brought it to me—proved to be an English speller. - It had a hymn in praise of mother-love, also a church—, and - a Watt’s catechism. The latter I translated to him, giving me - an opportunity to give much religious instruction.” - -This type of evangelistic work Dr. House very soon found to be -much to his liking, and was surprised at his own versatility in -religious conversation: - - “I ought to bless God for giving me, as I believe I have, - some talent for entering into conversation with strangers, - introducing the great subject to those casually met. I was in - early youth sensible of a great lack of talent of this kind, - but cultivated it and now I am not the same I once was.... O, - Master, fill my heart with Thy love, and then my lips must - always and to all speak forth Thy praise.” - -Occasionally he writes out an abstract of the conversation, -especially if it had shown particular thought on the part of the -interlocutor. A transcription of one of these entries will give a -good idea of how the missionary “preaches”: - - “Going over into the palace of our prince, found several - Nai, intelligent headmen—one a Khun—gathered on the porch - of the audience hall. They invited me to sit down and answer - questions, ‘talk about religion’ they said.... Our religion - differs in this, for one thing; whereas your god Buddha was - originally a man who by merit attained to divinity, ours was - originally God, who took on him the nature of man. ‘But what - did he do that he might become God?’ they asked. So I told - of eternity and Jehovah. They asked if we were hired to come - over here; surprised we had no temple with idols; never was a - more excellent opportunity to make known God’s blessed truth, - or more respectful attention—all friendly, civil. And to - many, what I said had all the interest of novelty.... What - were God’s commandments? Is Jesus then the Son of God? Can - a Siamese man, if he repent, be saved? Can you become God, - will you become a God at last? Why did not God create all - men alike? Why must he needs try us on probation? In what - direction is hell?—these and innumerable similar questions - were proposed mostly in good faith. And grace was given me - and utterance to give what seemed a satisfactory answer to - most of them.” - -On another day, passing through the grounds of a watt, he was -invited by a priest of his acquaintance to stop for a call. Tea -was made ready and a pleasant discussion of religion ensued in the -presence of several young priests: - - “One thing he could not get over, we killed animals. Yes, - so do you, I told him; and explained about animalculæ in - water—promised to let him see them through my microscope - when it came. - - “Transmigration endless! He told me that Buddha taught - that if any one took a needle and thrust it into the earth - anywhere in the wide world, and was to ask his teacher if - he had ever been there,—Yes, he had some time or other been - buried there! So of any given place on the earth’s surface. - (This beats geology for stupendous periods of time.) - - “Buddha taught that time passed very slowly in hell; and he - illustrated it thus: Now 2,395 years since Gotama Buddha - died—all that time but as half an hour to those in hell. - - “‘Let me see your god and I will believe,’ said some - onlooker. I asked him if he could see his own god? ‘Yes,’ he - replied. ‘Stop,’ said my host, ‘you had better say nothing of - that.’ But I went on to ask him if he worshipped brick and - mortar which could not lift its hand, nor see nor hear. - - “They all thought Nippant (nirvana) preferable to - heaven—till I told of the assurance we had that ‘they go no - more out.’” - - -VISIONS OF THE REGIONS BEYOND - -During this systematic visitation, Dr. House obtained glimpses of -“the regions beyond.” Medical work had already brought him into -contact with the aliens in Bangkok. As he became acquainted with -these groups by his travels throughout the city he became deeply -interested in their home lands. Small as the mission force in -Bangkok was, he began to meditate whether their efforts should be -confined to the Siamese to the exclusion of all these other peoples. - -At that time it was estimated that the strangers within the gates -were equal to the native population of Bangkok. Chief among these -immigrants were the Chinese. The Chinese held nearly all the -trading in Bangkok. The semi-annual trade winds brought numerous -junks from China laded with Chinese products; and each of these -junks had its cargo of human freight also. Sometimes a single -junk would bring as many as three hundred; and the average annual -immigration was estimated at one thousand. These people came -largely from the Island of Hainan, and nine-tenths of those who -sent their boys to the mission school were from this province. - -There were but few Burmese in Bangkok; but of their old enemies, -the Peguans, there was a large village on the west bank of -the river. These people had originally sought refuge from the -Burmese by taking service under the king of Siam, but in time had -practically become his serfs. It was in their village that Mrs. -Mattoon began her class of children which later was transferred -to the mission compound. The Malays, few in number, could not -be reached for want of acquaintance with their language. Dr. -House records an anecdote which had come to his ears showing the -shrewdness of these people in their native country: - - “The chiefs obtained some Christian tracts. Whenever a - trading vessel arrived, they showed these tracts to the - captain. If the captain swore at the tracts, they concluded - that he was not a Christian, and would have nothing to do - with him. But if he displayed an interest and inquired about - the tracts, they judged that he was sympathetic with religion - and that they could trust him.” - -During the cholera epidemic Dr. House was called to see the -servant of a Cambodian prince living in Bangkok, and the visit -resulted in an enduring friendship. The prince, the son of the -king of Cambodia, was living in a grand palace provided by the -king of Siam; and Dr. House was led to suspect that he was held -as hostage for the good behaviour of his father, over whom Siam -claimed suzerainty. The prince urged the doctor to go to Cambodia, -assuring him that he would be welcomed with open arms by the king; -and that the people did not approve of the worship of images, for -the Cambodians held that “God made man, and man cannot make God.” -The information gained from the prince prompted Dr. House and Mr. -Mattoon to plan a trip into that country. They entered upon the -study of the language for that purpose, but the death of the old -king of Siam arrested these plans. However, the interest awakened -in Dr. House led eventually to his notable trip to Korat. - -But perhaps the most important of these chance relations was with -the Lao. The doctor had early learned of the frequent trips of -boatmen from the Lao land. With ears open for useful information, -he gathered from a Siamo-Portuguese doctor, who had accompanied a -Catholic priest to Chieng Mai, information concerning the route, -knowledge of the receptive character of the people and of the -deceptive nature of the reigning prince. His interest in the Lao -grew until he felt prompted to leave the Siamese to his fellow -missionaries and betake himself to the Lao country. A particular -day of indifference to his message in the streets of Bangkok sent -him to bed with a heavy heart: - - “But ere midnight,” he writes, “my sorrow was turned into - joy as the privilege was presented to my view of yet going a - messenger of the glad tidings to the tribes of the Laos to - the north. To them shall my thoughts be given and my future - life, if Providence but opens the way.” - -And again when he was depressed by the fruitlessness of the early -labours he meditates: - - “I believe all the past of my strange history has been for a - purpose—yet all unrevealed—and I will not trouble myself - about it. May I ever be ready to serve my Master, anywhere - at all times. But should I be permitted in his Providence - to carry his blessed gospel to the Laos some future day, - then I can read and understand the why of some things. To - be thus privileged were better than to visit the home of my - childhood, my aged parents, my brother, again—’twere better - than to be blessed with houses or lands or wife or children - of my own.” - -To him the mission in Bangkok at that time was like a candle in a -starless night, very faint to be sure, but making more dense the -surrounding darkness that seemed to confine its light. His eyes -strained to look into the regions beyond and his heart beat with -passionate desire to evangelise the unknown peoples. - - - - -VII - -PROVIDENCE CHANGES PERIL INTO PRIVILEGE - - -In 1850 the United States sent Honourable James Ballestier, with a -small suite including Rev. William Dean, a former missionary, as -his secretary, to seek a more generous commercial treaty with Siam. -After three months of bickering with officials he was constrained -to withdraw from the fruitless effort. The king refused to give -a personal audience to the envoy, whereas the envoy refused to -deliver the letter from the President to any but the king. This -point of etiquette was of vital importance. By refusing to give -audience to the representative of another nation, the oriental -monarch was signifying that he did not regard the other nation on -an equality with Siam. It will be recalled that Commodore Perry, -in seeking a treaty with Japan, met this same presumption. Even as -late as 1868 China would not admit the equality of other nations -by allowing their envoys to personal interview with the emperor. -Acknowledging himself vanquished in this point of procedure, Mr. -Ballestier withdrew. - -Scarcely had the Americans departed when news was received that a -British squadron was on its way, bringing an embassy to request -a new treaty. The belligerent character of Great Britain at that -time was known in Siam, so that this report sent a tremor of fear -through the body politic. With a large suite and a great display -of naval force the British envoy Sir James Brookes met no greater -success than the American. He left in high indignation at the -treatment accorded him, threatening vengeance for the discourtesy -shown to Her Majesty’s communication. Upon his withdrawal the -fear which preceded his arrival increased to a panic among the -officials, who were terrified at the prospects of war as a result -of the king’s stubborn adherence to custom. - -Hand-in-hand with the crisis in the international relations the -affairs of the missions were fast drifting towards probable -extinction. As the intercourse between the Siamese and Sir -James Brookes became strained, the Siamese began to cut off -communications with the foreign residents. This was only the shadow -of what was to come. As soon as the British fleet left, a sudden -wave of arrests gathered in all who were employed as teachers at -the missions. Upon inquiry as to the reason, the missionaries were -informed that the teachers were to be punished for breaking the -law in teaching the sacred language Pali to foreigners. The only -plausible ground for this charge was that the Baptist press had, -at the request of a high official, undertaken to print the laws of -Siam which were in that language. Next the house servants withdrew -from the homes of the foreigners. - -Another mark of increased hostility was in connection with -negotiations for a piece of land for the Presbyterian Mission. -Attempts had been made several times, but the transaction had been -adroitly blocked. Since permission must be obtained for tenure of -land by foreigners, applications were met with procrastination -which meant denial, or alternative locations were offered which -were totally unfit for the needs. Just before the arrival of the -two embassies, a friendly Siamese was found who was willing to -lease a desirable piece of land; official permission was secured, -the money paid over and the Mattoon family had actually caused -their floating house to be towed to the new location preliminary -to the erection of a building. Just at this juncture occurred -the abortive negotiations for a revision of treaties. Without -explanation or warning, a peremptory order came from a higher -official, revoking the permit and requiring the missionary to -return to the old location. - -Under these circumstances Dr. House wrote home (Sept., 1850): - - “It becomes a serious question what, as a mission, is our - duty—it now being settled that no change for the better is - to be hoped for. Three and-a-half years we have been seeking - for a place where we could locate our mission, and in our - own way aid in bringing this heathen people to Christ. But - a separate home among them has been denied and we baffled - in every attempt to secure premises on which we might build - houses, gather a school and lay foundations for those that - come after us. Thus far we have had no local habitation or - name of our own—being merged in other societies, living by - suffrance on their premises.... And now our teachers are - taken from us; no one daring (with imprisonment hanging over - them) to become teacher of the proscribed foreigner.” - -The status of the mission was deemed so critical that Dr. House -was authorised to report the situation to the mission office in -New York and to ask permission for the missionaries to quit Siam -as the last resort and to attach themselves to missions in other -lands. The reply, received nine months later, gave full authority -to the missionaries in the matter, and provisionally assigned Dr. -House as assistant to Dr. Happer in China. This assignment had -been suggested by Dr. House in his letter to the Board because Dr. -Happer, knowing of the crisis in Siam, had written him to come to -China, adding that he “always thought Siam an unpromising field; -and that after the Board gets out of it they might as well keep -clear of it.” While waiting for the desired authority to quit the -field the missionaries kept an eye open for a favourable chance to -get away in safety, deeming themselves warranted in escaping with -their lives in any vessel that could be found to take them away. -Thus did the Mission come very close to an untimely end. - - -DEATH OF THE OLD KING - -The serious foreboding of the natives and foreigners alike was -greatly intensified by the rumour that the king had shut himself -up in his palace and would have no communication with his nobles. -Daily the court assembled according to custom but the king took no -counsel with them concerning public affairs. So few were permitted -to enter the royal presence that it was difficult to ascertain -whether he was sick or only in a pet as on a previous occasion. -It was, however, a case of serious illness from a chronic disease -which had rapidly become critical. - -About the middle of February of that notable year, 1851, the king -sent a document to the assembled nobles, briefly stating that -he despaired of recovery, and left to the council of princes and -three chief ministers the selection of a successor; and at the -same time turned over the reins of government to these three -ministers. Although the king at this time refrained from nominating -a successor, he had some months previously expressed a preference -for a favourite son, but the nobles would not confirm his wish. -Besides this son there were two other aggressive aspirants for the -throne; all three candidates being conservatives. While both Chao -Fah Yai and Chao Fah Noi had legitimate claims to the throne there -was no apparent prospect that either would be chosen, for the other -three claimants were strongly united in their opposition especially -to the former because of his known friendliness towards the English. - -As the situation grew ominous of civil strife, the Pra Klang, the -strongest of the nobles and the leader of the situation, proposed -the name of Chao Fah Yai, having already taken precautions to win -to his support the commander of the army; and let it be known that -any of the pretenders who did not acquiesce would have to contest -their claim with him. By such bold measures he carried the day, -even the rivals reluctantly giving in their adherence; and on the -following day the decision of the council was communicated to the -Prince-Priest, who gave his acceptance on the 18th of March. The -king-elect remained in his watt till the death of the king on April -3; he then was brought to the palace grounds in state and lodged in -a house especially built for a temporary sojourn, and changed his -yellow priestly robes for the ceremonial dress suitable to be worn -until the coronation. - -Before being brought to the royal premises, the king-elect -graciously received three of the missionaries who called upon him, -Dr. Bradley, Mr. Jones and Professor Silsby. No doubt it was to -this occasion that Mrs. Leonowens refers in her book _An English -Governess_ (p. 242): - - “Nor did the newly-crowned sovereign forget his friends - and teachers the American missionaries. He sent for them - and thanked them cordially for all they had taught him, - assuring them that it was his earnest desire to administer - the government after the model of the limited monarchy - of England and to introduce schools where the Siamese - youth might be well taught in the English language and - literature and sciences of Europe.... In this connection - Rev. Messrs. Bradley, Caswell, House, Mattoon and Dean are - entitled to special mention. To their united influence Siam - unquestionably owes much if not all her present advancement - and prosperity.” - -He authorised Mr. Jones to state that “should the English or -American government send an embassy to Siam now he thought they -would be kindly and favourably received.” He also received the -Roman Catholic bishop, requested him to have prayers offered in -his church for the peace of the country and consented to have the -priests, banished by his predecessor, recalled. - -No believer in Providence can fail to recognise the hand of God -directing the course of affairs in Siam at this crisis. Had the old -king continued to live, war with Great Britain was inevitable. Had -either of the reactionary candidates been chosen civil strife would -have been precipitated. In either case the foundation stones of -the mission would have been widely scattered. - - -CHANGED ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOREIGNERS - -In May, 1851, the king was formally inducted into his regal office -under the title Prabat Somdetch Pra Paramender Maha Mongkut. -The accession was celebrated with prolonged festivities. The -coronation was private, witnessed only by the princes and nobles. -After an interval of a few days came the more public ceremony of -enthronement, and to this the Europeans were invited: - - “We all (except of course the ladies) had the honour of - being present by his own invitation. Indeed we had a - regular audience from His Majesty; a strange and not a - little imposing scene it was in that audience hall of the - palace. A dinner was prepared for us after the European - style, and though ‘he could not shake hands with us as he - desired—Siamese custom not allowing it,’ yet he sent some - substantial proof of his regard in the shape of a gold - flower and one of silver, together with a gold salung (value - one-fourth eagle) and other specimens of the coinage of the - new reign. - - “You will understand how marked are these attentions when you - are told that no missionary was ever before on any occasion - admitted within the walls of the palace, much less allowed to - have an audience.... We were told from the throne in a public - audience by the King himself (who perfectly understands our - object in coming to his land) that he wished us to find - ourselves pleasantly situated in his country and to go on - with our pursuits as we have been doing—‘Fear not!’ he - added. That was the purport of what he said, and though he - was addressing merchants as well as ourselves we knew he must - have had us in mind as much as them.” - -Then came the spectacular procession of the king and nobles around -the walls of the palace: - - “According to immemorial custom on coronation occasions, - H. M., with his nobles and princes in grand procession, - marched around the walls of the royal palace, a mile in - circumference. We missionaries with the other Europeans - received special invitations to be present.... As the King - came along, with pomp and glitter and display of wealth, - sitting high on his throne carried by thirty-two men, he was - distributing right and left to the crowds showers of silver - coins. When he saw us he stopped to rain silver upon us with - a right good will.” - -A month later occurred the inauguration of Chao Fah Noi as Second -or Vice-King. A public pageant only slightly less magnificent -was given, and again the missionaries with the Europeans were -personally invited and honoured with special attention. - -With the accession of King Mongkut a complete change of attitude -towards the missionaries was instant. The new men appointed to -high office were from the group of progressives. Those who were -carried over from the old régime changed their attitude with -facility, for after all they only reflected the royal mind. Princes -who had eschewed intercourse with foreigners now courted their -acquaintance, frankly declaring that fear of disfavour with the old -king had formerly held them aloof. Teachers and servants eagerly -returned to their posts. The people in the streets manifested a new -respect for the foreigners. With great joy Dr. House records the -change: - - “A new era with us—at least the dawn of a brighter day. - We have a home at last promised us, and on a really - pleasant spot of ground they are going to allow us to - build. With brothers Mattoon and Bush, went up to visit the - ex-prince-physician (now foreign minister) at his new palace - he falls heir to. Were graciously received. ‘I have laid the - matter of which you spoke, before the King. He said he gives - his permission for you to come here (i. e., to site nearby) - to live; desires me to give you any assistance; permits you - to build for yourselves; can have the whole vacant space to - the canal bank, if needed; wishes you to build many houses; - about a thousand missionaries may come if they wish.’ - - “Almost too good to be true! Are we really then going to - obtain what we have been seeking for in vain now these four - and one-half years—a place to build a home of our own? A - most eligible spot this; none better in all Bangkok.” - -Permanency being assured, the missionaries decided to construct -houses of brick, making them as durable and as comfortable as -possible. The erection of these houses required a constant -oversight of the work and attention to details that cannot well be -understood by people in America, for all the practical problems -that the architect or builder would take care of as a matter of -course had to be solved by the missionaries who had no experience -in such work. In the midst of the enterprise the masons and -carpenters struck and it required much diplomacy to adjust their -demands. The first houses were completed and preaching services -begun at the new compound in February, 1852. This site continued to -be the location of the mission until 1857, when growth of the work -necessitated a change. - - -MISSIONARY LADIES TEACHING IN THE PALACE - -The most notable of all the friendly gestures was the royal -request to have the ladies of the missions teach English to the -ladies of the palace. The significance of this extraordinary -move was understood least of all among these ladies themselves. -By his manifestation of approval for female education the king -swept completely away the argument of age-long custom against the -teaching of women. There continued to be practical difficulties but -the insurmountable obstacle had been removed by a single gesture of -the liberal-minded king. This notable request is recorded in Dr. -House’s journal under date of Aug. 13, 1851: - - “Dr. Bradley and Mr. Jones received a communication from the - grand chamberlain of the royal palace, etc. ‘H. M. had heard - from Pya Sisuriwong and Pra Nai Wai that the wives of the - missionaries would teach, changing times (i.e. in turn) the - royal girls and ladies, if H. M. allow. H. M. wishes to know - how you will do, and desires several ladies who live with him - to acquire knowledge in English, etc.’ - - “Dr. Bradley replied that the ladies of the mission had - made themselves a board of managers of the affair and were - ready to undertake the work. Next morning Dr. Bradley was - summoned to the new prime minister’s, and told that H. M. - desired the teaching in English to ladies of the palace to - begin today—that the astrologer had pronounced it a good - day—and requested Mrs. Bradley to go at 9 a. m. She did so, - her husband leaving her at the palace gate where the Pra - Nai Wai received her and led her to the gate of the woman’s - apartments; there a number of women were waiting for her. - While waiting outside, the young Princess of Wongna met her, - carried in state under a yellow canopy, and shook hands with - her. She was led to the hall where nine young ladies from - sixteen to twenty (one of thirty)—bright, intelligent and - beautiful, she described them—were committed to her as her - pupils in charge of the matron of the palace.” - -The women of the mission who assumed this task were Mrs. D. B. -Bradley, Mrs. Stephen Mattoon and Mrs. J. T. Jones (who later -became Mrs. S. I. Smith). This work among the women of the palace -Dr. House characterises as the “first zenana work conducted in any -foreign lands,” antedating the zenana work in India by some five -or six years. The number of pupils at first increased very quickly -to twenty-five or thirty, but after the novelty wore off many of -the ladies dropped out of the class. A few maintained an interest -to the end, and even invited the teachers to visit them in their -private apartments for more serious work of conversation. - -The visits of the missionary ladies to the palace continued for a -little over three years, when they suddenly and without explanation -found admission denied to them. Some have surmised that the king -became displeased at the religious influence. However the more -probable explanation is that suggested by Dr. House’s journal -where the change in this order is associated with the temporary -displeasure of the king towards the missionaries by reason of a -letter calumniating his character, which coincidently appeared in a -newspaper of Straits Settlement and which he erroneously attributed -to a missionary. - - -FIRST FRUITS OF THE MISSION - -Along with the turn of the tide in the relations of the government -there came to the workers the cheer of gathering the first fruits -from the seed of their own sowing. Though there was no evidence -of the native Siamese being interested in the Gospel, yet the -missionaries were not left without a token that their work was -honoured of God. Two years after the organisation of the church, a -Chinese convert was received. Under date of Oct., 1851, Dr. House -wrote to his parents: - - “It is at last our privilege to write to you of one who, once - a worshipper of idols, is now a worshipper of Jehovah.... His - name is Ooan Si Teng, a Chinese twenty-four years old, born - on the Island of Hainan, has been here some six years, speaks - and reads Siamese and also reads his native language. He has - been living in the family of Mr. Mattoon for the past two - or three years. From his first acquaintance with us he has - been convinced of the folly of idol worship and has renounced - it.... He accompanied Mrs. Mattoon to Singapore as bearer - for little Lowrie; and Dr. Lane, with whom Mrs. Mattoon - resided while there, says of him that had he already been a - professing Christian, his conduct could not have been more - exemplary. - - “So it was with great joy that at our last communion October - 5, we received him to the ordinance of the Lord’s appointing. - The eyes of more than one of us were filled with tears of joy - as we looked on this interesting scene.... In all probability - he was the first native of that Island to be converted to - protestant Christianity.” - -While there was bright hope of the immediate prospects on the -field, from the Mission Board there came the discouraging reply, -“No money, no men,” in response to pleas for recruits. The reports -of the dire situation under the old king had not yet been -overtaken at home by the news of the marvellous change under the -new government. - - -PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH KING MONGKUT - -As he had intimated, the king could not continue familiar -intercourse with the westerners because none but the nobles might -enter his presence, except by particular request. There was some -speculation, therefore, as to the attitude he would assume towards -the missionaries after the coronation ceremonies were over. Any -misgivings they may have had were soon dispelled. For some years -it had been the custom of the Prince-Priest to celebrate his -birthday—“the day like that on which I was born,” as he termed -it—by inviting his foreign friends to a feast. The missionaries -awaited the royal birthday with some interest, agreeing among -themselves that his future attitude towards them would be more -truly forecast by his treatment of his former custom. When the day -approached the king sent an autograph letter “to all the white -strangers,” inviting them to the palace. - -Concerning this event Dr. House wrote (Oct. 18, 1851): - - “This day twelve-month, how different we were situated: our - teachers arrested and in irons; our servants panic struck or - in prison; and we seriously agitating the question of seeking - a more open field to labor in. - - “Now we are the invited guests of the King himself, on the - occasion of his forty-seventh birthday, to dine at the royal - palace with other Europeans. His Majesty’s eldest son is - deputed to do the honours of the feast, and we receiving a - present of gold from the sovereign of the land as a token - of his favour; and nobles and princes courting rather than - shunning our acquaintance.” - -King Mongkut entertained a particularly high esteem for Dr. Bradley -and Dr. House. This admiration manifested itself not merely by -including them under the bestowal of general favours but by marks -of personal consideration. It was no small honour which the king -conferred upon Dr. House by this request (July, 1852): - - “Honoured today by the first personal summons I (or indeed - any of us missionaries) have received to the royal presence. - Nai Poon called to say that he was ordered some days ago - to take me for conversation in English as His Majesty was - ‘losing all his English.’” - -Frequently the king sent to Dr. House requesting him to translate -for him items of political or scientific interest in English -journals or to report news from the doctor’s foreign mail. Before -the king engaged Mrs. Leonowens, the English governess, who served -also as his amanuensis, he occasionally would summon Dr. House to -transcribe in a familiar hand letters in English to the king or to -write for him letters to foreign rulers, including Queen Victoria -and the President of the United States. - -In his capacity as a surgeon, after he had given up the general -practise, Dr. House was on two occasions summoned to assist Dr. -Bradley at the king’s palace. In January of 1852 he records his -first attendance: - - “At His Majesty’s request—the prince physician desiring - it, Dr. Bradley was summoned to take charge of one of the - royal ladies who had been confined but a few days before - of a princess—His Majesty’s first begotten since his - accession.... Never before had any foreign physician been - within the forbidden precincts of the harem of the royal - palace. His Majesty, like a good husband anxious for his - young wife, desired Dr. Bradley to invite me to accompany him - as counsel in the case. So in the evening I went expecting to - return by twelve o’clock. Parleying at the inner gate, women - servants opened the gates and escorted us to the palace. Dr. - Bradley had got the fire by which she was lying extinguished - (custom required ‘lying by the fire’), had put her on a close - diet and other treatment. An old lady of rank waited to carry - up my opinion of the case to the ‘Sacred Feet.’ At midnight, - finding our patient had no new paroxysms, as we feared she - might, we proposed going home. ‘Go, how can you; you must - stay till morning, you are locked in and the key sent to the - king, so stay you must; no one goes out till daylight!’” - -Some days after Dr. Bradley received from the king the following -letter of appreciation: - - “MY DEAR SIR: - - “My mind is indeed full of much gratitude to you for your - skill and some expense of medicine in most valuable favour to - my dear lady, the mother of my infant daughter, by saving her - life from approaching death. I cannot hesitate longer than - perceiving that she was undoubtedly saved. - - “I beg therefore your kind acceptance of two hundred ticals - for Dr. Bradley, who was the curer of her, and forty ticals - for Dr. S. R. House, who had some trouble in his assistance, - for being your grateful reward. - - “I trust(ed) previously the manner of curing in the obstetric - of America and Europe, but sorry to say I could not get the - same lady to believe before her approaching (threatening) - death, because her kindred were many more who lead her - according to their custom. Your present curing, however, was - just now most wonderful in this palace. - - “I beg to remain your friend and well-wisher, - “S. P. P. M. MONGKUT, _the King of Siam_.” - - -In September of the same year the two doctors were again called to -the palace to attend upon the queen-consort. A still-birth had left -the queen in a precarious condition, so that for more than a month -Dr. Bradley was in almost continuous attendance throughout the -day, while Dr. House took his place during the night. During this -occasion it was necessary for them to remain in the palace on the -Sabbath, and on that day the two missionaries availed themselves -of a privilege accorded by the king, who agreed that when it was -necessary for them to remain during Sunday they should have freedom -to conduct worship in the palace. - - “There in that hall of the queen’s apartments in the inner - palace, to the interesting group around, Dr. Bradley read the - scriptures ... his auditors occasionally asking questions, - sometimes for information, sometimes in a carping way.” - -But the queen was not improving; and at her request the foreign -doctors were permitted to leave and the Siamese court physicians -restored to their functions, administering their medicines prepared -from “sapanwood shavings, rhinoceros’ blood and the cast-off skins -of spiders.” After a day the American physicians were again called -in attendance, and although they judged the cause to be beyond -help, continued in constant attendance. - - “September 25. For first time without exception since Monday, - September 13, am to sleep in my own bed at home—having - all other nights slept in my clothes at the royal palace, - relieving Dr. B. who has charge of the queen in his - attendance at night, his family requiring his presence then.” - -The death of the queen occurred on the tenth of October. On this -occasion Dr. House was requested by the king to write a detailed -account of the late illness and death of the queen; and this, -together with matter of his own composition, the king had printed -for distribution. - - -A MISSION SCHOOL ORGANIZED - -Having obtained a permanent location, the Presbyterian missionaries -advanced to the long-cherished project of a school. Under date of -August, 1852, Dr. House makes entry: - - “In evening we talked over plans for doing good, laying out - mission work, schools, bazaar schools, a Chinese teacher. - Will go to Rapri to visit our brother Quakieng.” - -This last sentence refers to the Chinese who had been received into -the young church upon certificate. He lived at Rapri (Ratburi), a -few days’ journey northwest of Bangkok, where he conducted a school -for Chinese children. A week later the journal records: “On next -Sabbath (15th) Quakieng will begin to explain the Scripture to the -Chinese.” This indicates the first step forward, a teacher of the -Chinese language introduced as a means of gaining pupils from -among the Siamo-Chinese children. From this time until his death he -was fully associated with the school; and in November he removed -his family to live near the mission compound. - -At the annual meeting of the Mission, Oct. 4, 1852, the journal -says: - - “A superintendent of mission schools appointed; and myself - appointed to that office. Shall have new responsibilities and - important ones; would shrink, but dare not, cannot—must go - forward. Perhaps will find what I have been waiting for yet. - Talked over openings for starting schools. We all feel as if - we are but just organized—as it were, commencing.” - -This appointment was after the doctor had fully abandoned medical -practise. The new school started off with good prospects. In -October Mrs. Mattoon began to give instruction in Siamese language -to the eight boys. The annual report to the Board, prepared perhaps -two months later, gives the enrollment at twenty-seven, including -the four girls in the families and day pupils; while in January the -doctor comments: - - “Our schools are doing well, but too few pupils. Geography - and arithmetic in the boarding school (twelve pupils) now - fall to me.” - -The use of the word “schools” in the plural is accounted for by the -fact that Mrs. Mattoon had succeeded about this time in organising -a class in the Peguan village, across the river. But the period -of daily instruction was manifestly not enough to counteract the -influence of the community. Having through a number of months -succeeded in winning the confidence of the parents, at length, -in February, 1853, she induced them to let their children (mostly -girls) go to live in the mission compound: - - “February 9. Tomorrow we expect to have quite an accession - to the number of our boarding pupils—the whole (almost) of - the scholars at the Peguan village, where Mrs. Mattoon has - won the confidence of the parents as well as the love of - the children. Teacher Kieng reports that their mothers were - washing and scrubbing them as clean as possible today, and - their teeth have all got quite white, so long have they left - off chewing betel. - - “February 10. And they have indeed come, the little ones whom - Mrs. Mattoon has allured from their mothers, to take up their - home with us. They hardly slept last night their mothers - said and were up early—and yet some tears were shed.... The - mothers came with them; showed them our school rooms, the new - bamboo bedsteads, the maps—China, Burmah, Ceylon, England, - America. Speaking of my mother—‘Is she yet alive?’ said one - of them, ‘now why did you leave your mother and come to live - in Siam.’... Ploi is engaged by Mrs. Mattoon to prepare their - food and to go to bathe with them.” - -Thus began the first boarding school for girls at the Presbyterian -Mission in Siam. - - -DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING PUPILS - -One of the difficulties encountered was to secure pupils for a -period sufficiently long to make the work worth while. So little -did the Siamese parents value the opportunities offered that they -even wanted to be paid to send their children. A custom of the -country afforded a practical means to obtain and hold pupils for a -period of years. - - “February 14, 1853. Today an addition to my family and to my - responsibilities. A bright little Taichen Chinese boy, eleven - years old, son of the old Chinese teacher of Mr. Gutzlaff. - The old man is in trouble—a debt with interest. So he came - to us offering to sell the lad, knowing that the boy would - be educated and in good hands. It is so difficult to secure - any other way but by buying them, boys for any length of time - for schools in Siam, that the end would almost justify the - means, were we to actually buy them, as Siamese masters do. - As it was I had a paper drawn up in which I was to have a boy - for seven years for eight dollars, after which he was to be - restored to the father free—a kind of apprenticeship.” - -The father was one of the cholera patients whom Dr. House saved -from death. This lad’s name was Naah. Some nine months later the -father, upon his death bed, gave the boy to Dr. House. - -A year or more later, commenting upon this practise of obtaining -boys for the school, the doctor said: - - “This we find is the best, if not the only way we can secure - the keeping of these native children in our boarding school. - And I do not hesitate to do it when we have the money to - spare. At present have outstanding one hundred and nine - dollars, invested in seven children.” - -And then he slyly wonders what the abolitionists at home would say -if they heard of this plan of “buying children” to educate them. -In the course of a few years the boarding schools grew to fill -the capacity of the mission. From the beginning the curriculum -included the principles of domestic economy and manual training in -a practical form. The girls shared in the house work; the older -ones also assisted in teaching the younger ones. The boys had their -allotment of work, so that the expense of the school was kept at a -minimum; for the first full year the cost was only two hundred and -eighty-one dollars, exclusive of Kee-Eng’s salary. - - -TO KORAT - -Tired from his confining labours, in December, 1853, Dr. House set -out for a tour to the distant city of Korat, some two hundred miles -in a northeast radius from the capital, but involving nearly twice -that distance of travel. The undertaking had the approval of King -Mongkut, who not only issued the usual passport but sent a letter -commanding all officials to afford assistance and protection, -and directing the governor of Korat to give supplies and other -facilities as might be required. The journey occupied fifty-eight -days and was made partly by boat, partly by elephant train and -partly by buffalo cart. A party of five trusty natives accompanied -him, including Ati, his faithful teacher. - -Korat, the capital of the province of the same name, had a -population of some thirty thousand. Dr. House was the first white -person to visit the city, at least in modern times. The out journey -was made by boat up the Meinam to Salaburi on an east branch of the -stream two days above Ayuthia. There elephants were hired to carry -the party with their burden of books and supplies. The course lay -across country through the jungle and over the mountains, requiring -seventeen days from Bangkok. In reporting home his safe return he -wrote briefly: - - “I have not had time since my return to draw up a detailed - account of all that befell me on the road, but I think I can - promise you an interesting letter next time—that is, if a - traveller’s tale of life in the woods, riding on elephants - (being thrown from the back of one and lying at the mercy - of the huge creature—with those great feet pawing the air - six inches from my head), riding in buffalo carts, footing - it, roughing it; now shooting deer or peacock, now entirely - out of provisions and making a meal of rice and burnt coarse - sugar; seeing great tiger tracks and hearing their cry, - sleeping in the open air by the watch fire, three nights - and four days without seeing human habitation—with divers - other adventures, will interest you; or if accounts of the - glad reception my books and gospel message seemed to receive - in the many villages and hamlets and in the city, where no - messenger with glad tidings had ever gone before.” - -He was well received by the governor of the province, whom he -had previously met in Bangkok. Intercourse with the governor -proved that the doctor could not only show him wonders of western -knowledge but could discover to him facts in his own realm of -interests. Salt being a rare commodity and the local product -being coarse and black, Dr. House showed him how to purify it, -greatly to his delight. As a mark of appreciation the governor -had brought in from the country three unusually large elephants -for the visitor to see; while reviewing them, the doctor called -his attention to a fact of nature concerning elephants, viz.: -that the height of an elephant is equal to just twice the girth -of its foot. His host would not believe this until he had his men -try the experiment on several animals. The doctor had also found -that the elephant provides a reliable pedometer; as its walking -gait is quite uniform, it is necessary only to measure the step -of the particular beast (usually forty to forty-two inches) and -then counting the number of paces per minute (usually seventy) the -distance covered in a given time is easily calculated. - -An amusing incident occurred while the stranger was exploring the -city, and Dr. House relates the story with an evident sense of -humour: - - “Sallied forth at noon to take a walk east of town. In east - gate got into conversation with some citizens; others came - out to gaze at the stranger till soon had a fair audience - to listen as I opened to them the great truth of the Being - of God. An old man sat down on a stone in the gateway to - listen—all was news to him and others—when a drunken - fellow, sent of Satan as it were, came up and soon became - very noisy, till I could only talk in snatches. Gentle means - nor threatenings availed, but I gave some books. - - “Leaving I was going quietly on the way to a watt outside - the walls when my troubler came following after, noisy and - cursing. I gave him that road and took another in another - direction. He returned to follow me, when I thought I was - justified in teaching him that there was a limit to even - Christian patience. So I tripped up his heels, hoping to walk - off out of his way before he could get to his legs again. - But he was only drunk enough to be impudent, and now angrily - followed after me. I picked up a broken limb and turned to - meet my adversary. Brandishing my rather formidable weapon in - the air over the fellow’s head, I ordered him to wheel about - and march back to the city gate. Many had gathered in the - meantime to see what would happen. The fellow was frightened - at my earnestness, quailed and marched; soon stopped to - plead that he intended no harm, when I punched him with my - umbrella with one hand to quicken his steps and flourished - the sledgehammer-like limb in the other, and off he marched - again as bid. This I repeated till getting tired, I tripped - up his heels again and left him sprawling while I went on my - way unmolested.... I cannot even now help laughing at the - figure I must have made with my shillalah swinging over his - head, and his mortal terror at the same.” - -Royal passports were not always honoured at face value by distant -under governors. Dr. House found that while the king had commanded, -the command was not much more than warrant for him to demand. -After waiting some days for the governor to engage elephants -for the return trip there was little hope of having his desire -granted unless he took up the task himself. Vigourous action and -persistence overcame the inhospitality which was displayed. The -return trip was laid out through the western part of ancient -Cambodia, through the Chong To’ko pass, thence to the headwaters of -the Bang Pakong River, and home by way of Kabin and Patchin. - -Through this region he met with even great indifference to the -king’s commands: - - “On the long roundabout journey home from Korat, the person - of whom I engaged my elephants took me for purposes of his - own far round to the southeast of Kabin, the point I wished - to reach at the head of navigation on the Bang Pakong River. - Not unwilling to see the country, I put up with a good - deal of imposition on the part of my guide ... one of the - greatest rogues I ever met. At the village where he resided I - consented to proceed with buffalo carts instead of elephants - at his urgency. We had travelled on with them some days when, - one afternoon walking in advance of my party, I entered the - little Cambodian village of Sakao, three miles east of Kabin - on the military road to the capital of Cambodia. - - “Here was an officer of the customs who was on the lookout - for some Cochin Chinese soldiers who had deserted from the - king’s service; and they being unaccustomed to a white face - and I doubtless rather travel worn, and my appearance there - unattended being decidedly suspicious, they were on the point - of arresting me as a “deserter,” when first the name and then - the presence of my guide (who after awhile came along with my - outfit) made all right, for the custom officer and my guide - were old friends. - - “Expecting to get away after an early breakfast next morning, - I slept in one of the carts.... Next morning I tried in vain - to purchase a fowl; went over to the headman to beg him help - me. “He had no fowls, he did not think he could procure any - in the village”; but while he was speaking I actually saw - some running about under the house. I was beginning to think - rather hard of Cambodian hospitality when, induced by triple - price, a man slyly brought me a chicken. - - “While I was eating my breakfast, the custom house officer - came over to visit his friend, my guide. Soon a neighbour - brought in a large brass dish, and from the liquor in it - the three quaffed and quaffed again, till they became very - chatty and good humoured. I had finished my breakfast and the - cart drivers were waiting for their master. But he was too - pleasantly engaged to leave the jovial company he was in. In - vain I called on him to eat his breakfast that we might be - off, for the sun was high, and still three days remained of - our journey and we had already lost much time on his account. - “Not yet, not yet,” he answered, and kept on sipping from the - bowl of arrack. - - “Time passed. At 10:30 they were still at their cups. My - patience was now clear gone. To go on I was resolved and no - longer to be defrauded of my time by a knave. I told him ‘go - he must’ or I should go on without him and he should not - receive a penny of the half-hire to be paid at the journey’s - end, and I should report him to the governor of Korat, who - had put me in his care. ‘And how will you go on without the - buffalo carts?’ he impudently asked. ‘Do as I did when I - went on to Korat; I will hire carriers here in the village - and walk on.’ ‘Not a man shall leave this place to help - you’—put in the custom house officer, ‘he would forbid their - going.’ - - “I had said nothing to him before, but now I spoke: ‘Mr. - Officer, last night you heard my passport read and the - peremptory order of the viceroy of Korat that I be not - detained a single day on my mission’—and I took him by the - arm as I spoke and looked him in the face—‘You dare not stop - me. Is his excellency the governor of Korat nobody? I have - the royal seal, too—do you not dread that? Keep me here - one-half day more and you will repent of it.’ - - “His anger that was written on every line of his knavish face - sobered him. The villagers around looked on astonished at - my audacity, bearding this great man in his den, and he did - not know what to make of it. Just then, my guide seeing that - I was resolute in the matter, gave in, ordered the buffalos - to be yoked and told his servants to drive ahead, he would - follow. I took a formal but civil leave of the worthy; we - were off, and my guide, running after, soon overtook us. - Would you believe it, we proceeded but three quarters of - an hour, when he drove off the highway to the shelter of - some trees by the side of a swamp and there came to a halt, - pretending it was necessary to feed the buffalos and that - there was no suitable place beyond. So there two or more - hours were lost—and this while one of my servants was very - ill, our stock of provisions all low, and already seventeen - days on a journey that should have taken but seven.” - -The river was finally reached; the buffalo caravan dismissed and -boats engaged to carry the party to Bangkok, where they arrived -after nineteen days’ travel from Korat. - -Two lesser trips were made in 1854, which were of some interest. -In June, he accompanied the Baptist missionaries on a trip to -Bangplasoi on the gulf: - - “I had long been promising myself a visit to my old patient, - Chek Chong, the Chinese fisherman whose arm I amputated - five or six years ago to save his life, threatened by - mortification resulting from an alligator bite that had - nearly severed the poor man’s wrist. The loss of his arm - seems to have been under Providence the means of saving his - soul, for the religious impression he received while in the - hospital never left him; he then expressed himself willing to - make our God his God. Being unable to read and not being able - to speak Siamese at all ... we referred him to our brethren - of the Baptist mission with some of whose church members he - was already acquainted.... After a due season of instruction - and probation they received him to church membership about a - year ago. - - “Living some sixty to seventy miles from Bangkok he cannot - often see his spiritual teachers, and would be quite shut out - from religious privilege, were it not that Bangplasoi has - been made a kind of an outstation by the Baptist mission.... - So when I was invited to accompany Mr. Ashmore to that - mission, I readily accepted.... - - “While there, Chek Chong told me that ever since he had - lived with us at the hospital he had observed the Sabbath, - refraining from labour. Looking around at the evidence of - thrift about him, I replied: ‘I do not believe you are the - poorer for losing one day’s work in seven.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, - ‘while the fish business has turned out poorly this season, - out of thirty engaged in it of my neighbours, only four have - succeeded at all, and I am one.’ - - “We attended morning and evening worship with the family and - such of their neighbours as chose to come in and listen.... - Chek Chong being called on to lead in prayer, offered up - thanks most devoutly that ‘the redheaded (_i. e._, not black - like Chinese) foreign teachers had come to visit him.’ He - seems to have much influence for Christ; he is not ashamed of - our Christ; two of his nephews are inquirers; the wife puts - no hindrance in his way.” - -The other trip was made in November, when the doctor explored the -Meinam “farthest north” up to that date, reaching Pitsanuloke and -Pichit and occupying thirty-three days. Some sixty to seventy -villages were visited along the way and more than thirteen hundred -tracts given only to those who could read. - - -CLOUDED FRIENDSHIPS - -The favour of the king was for a time withdrawn by reason of an -incident the character of which was vague to the missionaries at -the time. Later the cause of the estrangement was discovered to be -a letter which appeared in an English journal at Straits Settlement -in October, 1854. The offending letter not only misrepresented some -acts of the government but calumniated the character of the king, -and insinuated that he was held in low esteem by the missionaries -as well as by other foreigners. For some reason the king ascribed -the authorship of this letter to a missionary who had recently -passed through Singapore; and among his officials, as learned -later, he threatened to expel the missionaries except Dr. Bradley -and Dr. House. - -The first warning of royal displeasure was the arrest of the -Siamese teachers on the fictitious charge of teaching the sacred -language to foreigners. Then the missionary ladies, presenting -themselves at the palace gate as usual for admission to teach -their classes, were ignored. The missionaries, essaying to go out -to the sea coast for recuperation learned that a decree had been -issued to limit their movements; but inquiry received only evasive -explanations. Finally the king sent a demand that the missionaries -collectively should sign a paper disclaiming authorship of the -letter and denying in toto its imputation; this demand was made -before they had seen the letter, but it gave them an understanding -of the trouble. - -After consultation they declined to assent to this demand, -partly because it might be construed as an acknowledgment of -responsibility, and partly because they considered it impolitic -to make a general defense of the government, some of whose -affairs they did not fully approve. However, they drew up a paper -denying their complicity in the publication and reaffirming their -friendship towards the king. After several months the teachers were -allowed to return to the mission, but with an admonition against -giving out “false information lest the missionaries put it in their -letters and send it out of the country”; the decree of restriction, -however, continued in force for some time. The servants, returning -to the mission compound, reported the nature of the examination to -which they had been subjected by the king, and Dr. House records -the following: “Being asked which missionaries he visited in his -work, one replied ‘Maw House.’ ‘Well,’ said the king, ‘Maw House is -good hearted, affable and good humoured,’ and thus was evidently -satisfied that the unfavourable reports could not be laid to the -teachers.” - -Dr. House quietly pursued an inquiry into this matter, and after -some months came to the conclusion that the instigator, if not -the actual writer of the letter, was a certain Captain Trail, -commander of one of the king’s trading vessels. It seems that while -in Singapore port, one night at eleven o’clock the captain fired a -salute in honour of a ball on shore given by a friend. The British -consul complained to his superior against the alarm caused by the -firing, and his government forwarded the complaint to Bangkok. The -captain was arrested and cast into a native gaol, which was crowded -with low class prisoners, and was there for several days before his -friends learned of the case. Some of the missionaries interceded -for him and secured his release. When he left Bangkok he threatened -to get even with the government for his treatment, and there was -good reason to suppose that the letter was the means of revenge he -took. - -This entry in Dr. House’s journal was annotated in pencil several -years afterwards, adding “the letter was doubtless gotten up -between Josephs (the Armenian merchant) and Capt. Eames, a friend -of Captain Trail, with the knowledge of the prime minister, who -was piqued at the king, and whose knowledge of the state affairs -had given the insinuations in the letter which aroused the king’s -hostility.” Fortunately, time convinced the king of the total -innocence of all the missionaries and in due time the cloud of -disfavour vanished. - - - - -VIII - -SIAM OPENS HER DOORS—MORE WORKERS ENTER - - -The accession of King Mongkut so completely changed the attitude -of the government towards foreign nations that the danger of a -clash with England disappeared over night. In due course of time -Queen Victoria sent a note of congratulations to the new Siamese -sovereign and expressed her desire to send an envoy for the purpose -of revising the existing treaty. Upon receipt of this letter the -king despatched it to Dr. House with the request to “transcribe -it in a plain, legible hand”; for though the king could read and -write English fairly, he preferred to have letters from abroad -transcribed in a handwriting with which he was familiar, to avoid -misunderstanding. In this connection, Mrs. Leonowens, who acted as -his English secretary some years later, says that at times the king -would insist upon his own diction in English in spite of warning of -its turgidity, and when his communications of this character were -misinterpreted he would lay the blame on his amanuensis. - -In March, 1855, the English embassy arrived. The special envoy was -Sir John Bowring, Vice-Admiral and Governor of the English colony -at Hong Kong. Dr. House had, some years before, received a friendly -letter from Sir John through his son John C. Bowring, for whom Dr. -House was collecting specimens of Siamese insects; and he looked -forward with great pleasure to a personal meeting with the noted -English diplomat. Again the king sent to the doctor a succession of -notes received from Sir John announcing his arrival, requesting a -private audience, etc., desiring these notes to be transcribed; by -which means Dr. House was kept informed of the progress of affairs. - -The reception of this embassy was in marked contrast with the -treatment of Sir James Brookes. The ceremonies were aglow with -friendliness, and the negotiations were undertaken with the least -possible delay contingent upon the courtesies of the occasion. -The prince who was chief commissioner for the Siamese sent for -Dr. House for an interview; he said that the Siamese had proposed -the missionaries as interpreters on their side, but this had been -declined by the ambassador on the ground that the missionaries were -Americans. - - “Soon after [the prince] sent for me, to accompany him to the - conference of the commissioners with Sir John to discuss the - treaty. Found the prime minister there, who joined in urging - me. But I felt constrained to decline the honour they would - do me, feeling my incompetence to do justice in interpreting - such important matters as might come up; then—‘Mr. Mattoon - must go’—so the prince himself went over for him and - carried him off as a ‘kind of companion,’ he said, not as - translator;—as he did not trust in ** but in the missionary - he did trust. ‘He must be as ears for him’—I understood him - that the king said this last night.” - -While negotiations were under way both Mr. Mattoon and Dr. House -were frequently summoned to assist the Siamese in the official -translation of their counter proposals into English, even working -all night on the final draft. - - -DR. HOUSE AND SIR JOHN BOWRING - -The confidences were not all from the Siamese side. Sir John -Bowring told Dr. House privately that he had “come with an -olive branch in my hand, but behind me—!” and that he had been -reluctant to undertake the mission but had received letters from -the king urging him to come. The Siamese officials were so ready -for negotiations that they readily acquiesced in the English -proposals; and, apart from the preliminary ceremonies, the complete -negotiations were accomplished within a week. - -In his book, _The Kingdom and People of Siam_, which gives a -detailed account of his mission, Sir John includes several lengthy -memoranda which he attributes to a “certain foreign gentleman long -resident in Siam.” Many of these are to be found recorded in Dr. -House’s private journal at various dates preceding the arrival of -the British envoy. His narrative of the scenes attendant upon the -choice of Mongkut is almost verbatim from the doctor’s account. -He highly praises the progressive spirit and the keen mind of the -prime minister, contrasting him with the usual Oriental diplomat, -and adds: - - “I learned that on one occasion he sent for a foreign - gentleman whose opinion he greatly valued, and in the - presence of many persons entered upon a dialogue in which - the foreign gentleman was to impersonate J. Bowring in a - discussion of the expected proposals.” - -Thereupon follows the dialogue in full. The original of this -unique rehearsal in diplomatic combat is found in the doctor’s -journal as a record of his interview with the prime minister after -it was learned that England was to send a mission. Sir John also -accredits the minister with a confession of belief in one supreme -Divine Being, ascribing his information to a “certain gentleman”; -this confession, Dr. House says, was made to him personally and -acknowledges in a letter that he had reported it to the British -envoy. The number and extent of these and still other quotations -shows that Sir John Bowring had gleaned much of his knowledge of -the Siamese from Dr. House. - - * * * * * - -During his sojourn in Bangkok Sir John Bowring attended service at -the mission one Sunday. Dr. House records the visit, noting that in -alphabetical order it was his turn to preach, and confesses that -he felt a little secret trembling in the presence of the august -visitor. Sir John, in his account of the visit, adds that the -“congregation very sweetly sang one of my hymns”—for he is the -same Sir John Bowring whose name ranks high in hymnology, being -the author of these hymns, among others: “_God is Love, His Mercy -Brightens_,” “_Watchman, Tell Us of the Night_,” and “_In the Cross -of Christ I Glory_.” - -As a broad and deep student of human affairs and one obviously -sympathetic with missions, Sir John’s estimate of the work in Siam -at that period and of the peculiarly obstinate nature of Buddhism -is noteworthy. Concerning Buddhism he says: - - “Buddhism by habit and education is become almost a part - of Siamese nature; and that nature will not bend to foreign - influence. The Siamese, whether or not they have religious - convictions, have habits which the teaching of strangers will - not easily change.” - -Concerning the influence of the missionaries he says: - - “Much influence is really possessed by the missionaries. They - have rendered eminent services in the medical and chirurgical - fields; they have lent great assistance to the spirit of - philosophical inquiry; many of them have been councillors - and favourites of king and nobles, admitted to intimate - intercourse and treated with a deference which could not but - elevate them in the eyes of a prostrate, reverential and - despotically governed people.” - -But concerning the prospects of success for the Gospel the diplomat -is not so optimistic: - - “I know not what is to impede religious teachings in Siam, - but at the same time I fear there is little ground to - expect a change in the national faith. Neither Catholic nor - Protestant speaks hopefully on the subject.” - -The significance of that statement, written for the year 1855, lies -chiefly in its contrast with the fact of the certain if slow growth -of Christianity in Siam and the record of attainment to date. -Even the keenest human observer cannot forecast the fruits of the -Spirit’s work. - - -TREATIES WITH OTHER NATIONS - -In 1856 a diplomatic mission from the United States reached -Bangkok, seeking a revision of the existing treaty. The mission -was headed by Hon. Townsend Harris, who, it is interesting to -note, came from Sandy Hill, New York, the home of Mr. Mattoon and -Mr. Bush. The Siamese government was quite ready to negotiate, for -they had the recent experience to guide them and the English treaty -for a model; and a new treaty was speedily effected. Had Dr. House -been in Bangkok at this time, the Foreign Minister assured him -later that the Siamese government would have asked to have had him -appointed first consul under the new treaty. - -In the same year a French embassy negotiated a treaty similar to -that of the English and American. In one point, however, the French -advanced a step. Sir John Bowring could secure the right for the -English to own lands or build houses only within twenty-four hours -of Bangkok (a very extensible limit, as time has shown), and Mr. -Harris accepted the same provision. The French, however, demanded -and secured the provision that “French missionaries may travel -to any part of the kingdom and build houses, churches, schools, -hospitals, etc.”; a privilege which immediately accrued to the -Americans by reason of the “favoured nation” clause in their treaty. - -When the ratifications of the American treaty were exchanged, a -year later, King Mongkut issued the following memorandum: - - “We now have embraced the best opportunity to have made and - exchanged the treaty of friendship and commerce with the - United States of America, and we shall be very glad to esteem - the President of the United States at present and in the - future as our respected friend, and esteem the United States - as united in close friendship, as we know that the government - of the United States must ever act with justice, and is not - often embroiled in difficulties with other nations. - - “And if the treaty of friendship between the United States - and Siam has been (shall be?) long preserved in harmony and - peaceful manner it will ever be the occasion of the highest - praise among the Siamese people. - - “(Signed) SUPREMUS REX SIAMENSIIUM, - “S. P. P. MONGKUT.” - - -The influence of the missionaries in bringing about the treaty -relation of Siam with the Western world has been testified by -several. The king himself sanctioned the following statement of -esteem towards the missionaries for their influence on the country: - - “Many years ago the American missionaries came here. They - came before any Europeans, and they taught the Siamese - to speak and read the English language. The American - missionaries have always been just and upright men. They - have never meddled in the affairs of government, nor created - any difficulties with the Siamese. They have lived with - the Siamese just as if they belonged to the nation. The - government of Siam has great love and respect for them and - has no fear whatever concerning them. When there has been - a difficulty of any kind, the missionaries have many times - rendered valuable assistance. For this reason the Siamese - have loved and respected them for a long time. The Americans - have also taught the Siamese many things.” - -In the same line spoke the Regent, during the regency over -Chulalonkorn, to United States Consul General Hon. George F. Seward: - - “Siam has not been disciplined by English and French guns as - China has, but the country has been opened by missionaries.” - -The recognition of the indirect influence of the missionaries in -facilitating the treaties was acknowledged by Dr. Wm. M. Wood, late -surgeon-general in the United States Navy, who accompanied Mr. -Harris on his diplomatic mission; stating in his book, _Fankwei_, -that the - - “... unselfish kindness of the American missionaries, their - patience, sincerity and truthfulness, have won the confidence - and esteem of the natives, and in some degree transferred - those sentiments to the nation represented by the missions, - and prepared the way for the free intercourse now commencing. - It was very evident that much of the apprehension they felt - in taking upon themselves the responsibilities of a treaty - with us would be diminished if they could have the Rev. Mr. - Mattoon as the first United States Consul to set the treaty - in motion.” - - -A VISIT HOME - -The first decade of Dr. House’s service was drawing to a close -without any apparent need for a furlough, as need was then -understood. He had become acclimated, accustomed to conditions -of Siamese life and was apparently contented with his bachelor -state. That the tropics had proved to be more friendly than he had -expected, is implied in his frequent expressions of surprise at -continued good health, even assuring his friends at home that his -physical condition was better than before he left America. But this -was not the common lot of missionaries in the early days. On the -tenth anniversary of his departure from New York he wrote: - - “Of the company of the _Grafton_ two already are dead and - three compelled to return home from broken health. Mr. - Mattoon and I alone are left on the field—besides Mrs. - Mattoon, the eighth of the party.” - -The enervating conditions of life in Siam are described with good -understanding by Mr. George B. Bacon in his volume on _Siam_: - - “It is when we remember the enervating influence of the - drowsy tropics upon character that we learn fitly to honour - the men and women by whom the inauguration of this new era - in Siamese history has been brought about. To live for a - little while among these sensuous influences without any - very serious intellectual work to do or any grave moral - responsibility to bear is one thing; but to live a life among - them with such a constant strain upon the mind and heart as - the laying of the Christian foundations among heathen must - necessitate is quite another thing. - - “This is what the missionaries of Siam have to do. The battle - is not with the prejudice of heathenism only, nor with the - vices and ignorance of bad men only; it is a battle with - nature itself.... The fierce sun wilts the vigour of his - mind and scorches up the fresh enthusiasm of his heart.... - Therefore I give the greater honour to the earnest men and - to the patient women who are labouring and praying for the - coming of the Christian day to this people.” - -When Dr. House parted with his parents in the New York harbour, it -was with the mutual expectation of never seeing each other again. -The separation was intensified in its realism by the slowness of -communication. His message announcing safe arrival in Siam did not -reach his parents until thirteen months after his departure. Their -response to this message was one which stirred his emotions to the -depths and made him oblivious of all around him; it told of his -father and mother and cousins kneeling together upon receipt of the -news and offering thanksgiving for the beginning of his missionary -work. The many friends who wrote letters to him doubtless never -understood what joy they gave him by their messages. After -receiving a consignment of mail he writes: “Their letters do cheer, -do strengthen, do inspire new resolves, and make me ashamed of my -unworthy service.” He records with expressions of esteem the names -of those from whom he receives communications by each mail; and to -one who knows something of the home church these names stand as a -roster of zealous workers, names of families that continue to the -present day. - -The affectionate interest of the people was more than individual; -it came to be almost a community interest. The “monthly concert -of missions” saw the old session house filled with people eager -to hear the latest letter from their own foreign missionary. On -his part he kept in mind the day of these church gatherings and, -allowing for the difference of time, he estimated that his Monday -morning hour of devotions corresponded with the Sunday evening at -home, and surmised “in our little session room at Waterford many -a fervent prayer was going up for me and my fellow labourers from -those whose prayers will prevail at the throne of grace.” - -It is not surprising that the home church grew mightily in -the grace of giving and developed a generosity which, long -before forward movements, attained a standard of giving more to -beneficence than to their own work and led the Presbytery in their -gifts to the foreign work. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D., who served the -church as pastor 1863-9 and later became one of the most powerful -public advocates of missions, bore this testimony to their zeal, on -the occasion of the church’s centennial in 1904: - - “I owe much of my own enthusiasm for missions to my six - years in this church. It was most active and aggressive in - this department of service. It had its own missionary in the - field, and kept in living contact with him by correspondence, - gifts and prayer. This missionary atmosphere I breathed - with immense profit, and I was compelled either to lead my - people in missionary work or to resign my pastorate. My real - missionary education began here in a church far ahead of me - in intelligence and enthusiasm for God’s work.” - -No mention of home-going appears in Dr. House’s journal or -correspondence till a letter from his mother, in 1852, shows her -sternly-repressed desire to see her son: - - “The Lord has a work for you to do in Siam, and much as I - long to see you I would not call you home from it. But if - health or benefit of mission require it, I would say ‘Come at - once—come home that we may embrace you once more; and then - return with new vigour to help forward that glorious work - which is yet to be accomplished in Siam.’” - -More than a year later a joint letter from the parents enlarges -upon the subject. First the father writes: - - “When your health should make necessary that you should have - the invigourating influence of a sea voyage and our climate, - you may tax me for the expense, if I should be spared. If - not, I hope to leave sufficient at your disposal to relieve - your mind from any anxiety on the subject. I am anxious only - for you to be wise and to adopt the course most likely to - prolong your life and to serve your Master as a missionary. - Whether we shall be permitted to meet again on earth is a - small matter (although there is nothing here that would offer - me more happiness) when compared with the magnitude of the - work in which you are engaged. Therefore I can say with your - dear mother that I cheerfully submit to the disposal of Him - who has crowned our lives with loving-kindness and who will - order all that concerns our children and ourselves for His - own glory.” - -His mother then adds: - - “I hope that you will not think because I do not ask you to - come home that we do not desire to see you—we do indeed long - for your return that we may see you in the flesh. But we - cannot, dare not ask you to desert your post which we feel is - one of great honour and responsibility; and we trust you may - be made an instrument in the hand of God for doing much for - the interest of the Redeemer’s kingdom.” - -Just at this juncture occurred the beclouding of friendship on the -part of King Mongkut. As the mission work came to a standstill, -the missionaries held a conference to determine their course of -procedure. Dr. House was ready to carry out his long-cherished plan -to transfer his labours to Lao, but the decree forbidding travel -rendered this impossible. The letter of his parents had insinuated -into his mind the alternative of a visit to America. When he -casually mentioned this to his fellow missionaries they gave -cordial and earnest approval. The expectation of the early arrival -of a recruit to their force removed the objection of leaving the -Mattoons alone. Then came the visit of Sir John Bowring, with his -eventual offer of a free passage to Singapore. Availing himself -of this offer, Dr. House left Siam in April, 1855, and sailed for -America _via_ England, reaching home in midsummer. - - -WELCOME HOME - -It was indeed a joyous homecoming. The son had come again to the -embrace of loving parents after an absence of nine years. He had -returned to his native land after many adventures in a strange -country, little known to the Western world. He had returned to a -church that keenly felt the solemnity of her commission to preach -the Gospel and had high reverence for her servants that carried the -banner. He had brought back first hand knowledge of pagan lands and -vivid memories of personal experiences and observations. Then a -returned missionary was more rare than even a departing missionary. -The Church at large was eager to see through the missionary’s eyes -the strange peoples to whom they were sending the Gospel message. - -Numerous opportunities came to Dr. House to tell his story. Large -audiences greeted him wherever he appeared. These opportunities -he used especially to awaken the Church to the importance of the -work in Siam. The periods of obstruction were past. The treaty with -England had just been completed, and the American government was -about to send an envoy to ask for a treaty. The glowing promise of -the sunrise inspired the hearts of people at home to listen with -a ready mind to his appeal. With great joy he secured two ready -recruits to go back with him, Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Morse. Following -this visitation to the churches a new interest in Siam is manifest -through the reports, and there began a series of reinforcements -checked only by the Civil War. - - -BELATED MARRIAGE - -During this sojourn in America Dr. House was married on November -27, 1855, to Miss Harriet Maria Pettit, formerly of Waterford. -The marriage came as a surprise to most of his friends. He had so -frequently declared that he would never marry that his change of -mind came without warning. His missionary friends had frequently -twitted him on this subject, but in good part he defended his -position. Usually after these banterings he would enter in his -journal the reason why he chose to go out single and why he thought -best to remain unmarried. - -His argument was that it would have been an imposition upon a -woman to have led her into a strange world, into a primitive state -of civilisation, afar from kin and friends. He persuaded himself -that the care of a wife, the anxiety for her safety and the -responsibility of rearing children would seriously interfere with -his one great purpose, an undivided attention to the propagation of -the Gospel. The Siamese, among whom polygamy was practised, could -not understand why this one missionary had no wife. Several of the -princes suggested that he take a Siamese woman in marriage, and one -nobleman even offered to provide a wife for him. - -However, there are indications that his arguments were as much to -repress his own idea as to confute the bantering. During those -years he was a permanent guest at the family of the Mattoons. He -frequently expresses generous appreciation of sharing the home -comforts of his friends, and confesses that he did not know how he -could have gotten along without this domestic care of Mrs. Mattoon. -Thus while stoically denying the need of a wife he gratefully -accepts the ministrations of the wife of his colleague. - -Then, after having married and having fully settled in a home of -his own, his real feelings assert themselves, for he writes, upon -return to Siam: - - “And mine, too, is a pleasant home, the one to which four - weary months voyaging have brought me, a pleasanter home - than once—for it has a new inmate. Taking such a partner - into the concern is indeed a great addition to a bachelor - establishment.” - -And a year later: - - “You don’t know how nicely we are jogging on in the good old - road of domestic felicity. And when you hear me say at the - end of fourteen months that I am more fully than ever of the - opinion that I have as my companion in my journey the most - suitable one for me that could have been found had I tarried - seven months or seven years longer in the States, you will - allow that, at least, I am contented with my choice.” - -He shows the reversal of mind on this subject complete when, in -1871, he writes: - - “I must confess that I feel this wholesale sending out of - unmarried women into the field just now so in vogue in our - church is an experiment.... And I do not think much better - of the sending unmarried young men to some fields. ’Tis a - pity the secretaries of our Board who ought to know the - wisest way do not guide opinion on this subject and more - strongly impress upon candidates who apply to them the - desirableness of making their arrangements before they leave - home—not but what Providence may bless some favoured mortals - more than they deserve.” - - -ORDINATION AND RETURN - -Another event of personal moment to the doctor was his ordination -to the Christian ministry. Before his first departure for Siam -he had been licensed to preach, a Presbyterial authorisation -necessary to give the seal of approval to the preaching which it -was expected would be incidental to the medical profession. But -now, having given himself exclusively to the Gospel work he sought -full ordination with its authority to administer the sacraments -and perform the rites of the church. In January, 1856, he was duly -ordained by the Presbytery of Troy. - -Accompanied by the new recruits, Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Morse, Dr. -House and his bride sailed in March, 1856, by way of England and -Singapore, and arrived at Bangkok in July. The reception accorded -Dr. and Mrs. House was an evidence of the position which the -missionary had attained in the esteem of the Siamese. He was the -recipient of many gifts from the Chinese and Siamese servants and -attendants at the mission; while a period of two weeks was largely -occupied with calls from the prime minister, the minister of -foreign affairs, several of the princes, many of the old friends -among the nobles, the old teachers and a multitude of native -friends at large. The welcome was so spontaneous that it gave -evidence of a genuine honour, and of an appreciation of the years -of service rendered by the doctor higher than he had imagined the -people felt. - -But perhaps the most signal token of esteem on this occasion was -shown by King Mongkut. No advance notice of the arrival of Dr. -House and party having been received, their appearance at the -customs house some miles below the city was a surprise, which in -some manner was quickly heralded to the king, so that when the -party approached the city, officials were waiting to receive them: - - “Before we got to our own landing our friendly neighbour, - H. R. H. Prince Kromma Luang Wongsa, hailed us, and we must - needs land at his place. Shaking of hands was not enough, but - his arm was offered in English fashion ... and thus escorted - by the leading prince of the kingdom was Harriette conducted - to her future mission home, Mr. Mattoon and I following.... - And soon our native church members and teachers and the - school children came flocking around. - - “But the king had heard of my arrival and the prince had a - message from him for me that he was waiting to see me at - the palace. So, thither I must go—the prince took me in - his own boat. Some public ceremony was going on, and the - whole court was assembled at the river house in front of - the palace. The king, on a lofty platform handsomely roofed - over, by the water edge; while yet at a distance he saw me - and called out my name, inviting me to ascend the steps that - led to his pavilioned seat, when he shook hands cordially. - His Majesty spoke of the letter he had received from me while - away. Then he said, ‘Your wife has come with you!’—and then - turning to his courtiers added, ‘Formerly Maw House declared - he would not have a wife, and now he has taken one.’ ‘Oh, - your majesty,’ I replied, ‘wisdom has come to me and I have - changed my heart in that matter,’ which made them all smile. - - “He then said my wife must come and visit the royal palace. - He had missed me very much. I must come and live near him. - Turning to one of his ministers he said, ‘He guessed they - must build a house over there’ (pointing out a spot near the - palace). I must take an office under the government. The - prime minister told me I must become a Siamese nobleman.” - -Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon were sent for again by the king a few -days later, and availed themselves of this occasion to present to -His Majesty several useful presents sent out by American admirers. - - -TOURS WITH MRS. HOUSE - -While in America, in 1855, the Sunday school of his home church -provided funds for the purchase and outfitting of a boat for -touring. The result was a boat equipped for the work, affording -more comfort than possible in the native boats. Along the side -of the small cabin, lockers were fitted, serving both as seats -and place for storage. A removable table between afforded space -for writing or eating. For the night an extension bridged the -space between the lockers, and this, covered with cushions, made -a comfortable double bed. In December of 1856 Dr. House made the -first tour with Mrs. House. Customs, and scenes in Siam had by this -time grown so familiar to him that his letters home do not contain -details as did his earlier letters. Their first tour together, in -company with some of the other missionaries, was up the Meklong -River in western Siam as far as the town of Kanburi amidst some -fine mountain scenery. Several other trips occurred; one of them -to Petrui: - - “A fortnight or more,” he writes, “exploring some of the - totally unvisited districts of the eastern portion of the - plain which constitutes central Siam—you know my passion for - penetrating into remote and unexplored regions and out of the - way places.” - -If perchance this enthusiasm conveys the impression that these -journeys were of unmingled pleasure and simple romance it is well -to have that fancy checked by some material facts; for, continuing -the narrative of this trip, the doctor writes: - - “Upon review of the tour I can recall but few that I remember - with more satisfaction. But for pleasure—I cannot say much - for a tour. Our confined quarters (cabin five by seven), - the rocking of the boat with every movement of ours or of - the boatmen, the hot sun upon the roof and sides by day and - the myriads of mosquitos as the evening comes on (and such - ravenous merciless mosquitos, too), the monotony of the - scenery on the lower stream and absence of all that is pretty - or picturesque in the villages and houses of the natives, and - last but not least the universal uproar among all the dogs - whenever one steps ashore anywhere in their villages—all - detract largely from the romance and not a little from the - comfort of a mission tour in this country.” - - -MARKS OF GROWTH - -Dr. House continued to be superintendent of the mission school -after his return in 1856, and although he makes very few references -to this work in his journal from now on, yet there are occasional -items which mark the growth. From this period Mrs. House appears -as a factor in the educational work, but her achievements will -occupy a separate chapter. In August after the return the doctor -writes: - - “Our school is much enlarged—many applicants to learn - English. The eldest child of the son of the Prime Minister - now comes regularly to Mrs. Mattoon, a very bright lad of - seven. At the request of the king I am teaching two princes; - one of sixteen, his grandson, the other a grandson of the - late king, a boy of eleven. And by order of H. M. a dozen - of the sons of his servants are now learning English in our - school as day scholars.... There is a spacious bamboo school - house going up in the back part of our lot.” - -This growth, however, was in the educational work. While the -workers did not belittle the importance of the school, they were -well-nigh sick of heart with deferred hopes, a feeling that is -reflected in their report to the Board for the year 1856: - - “It requires no little faith to conduct, day after day and - year after year, these patient labours; especially as they - have not resulted in the conversion of those on whom time, - talents and prayers of the missionaries are spent.” - -This increase in school was so rapid that shortly after they -had established themselves on the site granted by the king it -became evident that this lot in the city would not allow for the -expansion commensurate with the growth. With the awakening of a -desire for education and of an interest in the foreign religion -the earlier necessity of having a location within the city itself -had passed, for what the mission had to offer was being sought -after. Accordingly, a parcel of ground, the gift of Mr. D. O. King, -was obtained on the west bank of the river in the lower suburbs -known as Sumray. There new buildings were erected, and in November, -1857, the transfer of the mission was effected to that site, which -became the scene of the most notable achievements of the mission in -Bangkok and continues to the present day the center of a pervasive -Christian influence. - -At the end of the first year in the new location, Dr. House wrote -home: “School occupies me much of the time. We have a new Siamese -teacher, a most respectable old gentleman; may he get good from us, -saving good.” This teacher was Nai Chune, who, a year later, became -the first Siamese convert. The significance of this addition to -the teaching force is that the pupils are no longer predominantly -Chinese lads, but that the demand for teaching the Siamese language -requires a native teacher. - -The winter season, being free from rains, was the time best suited -for touring in the country. In February of 1858 Dr. and Mrs. House -started up the Meinam to revisit the scenes of their former tour. -Finding the river alive with pilgrims going to Prabat for the -annual veneration of Buddha’s footprint, they decided to join the -pilgrimage as affording an excellent opportunity for distributing -tracts. On this visit to the shrine the visitors did not experience -the same opposition to entering the sanctum as Dr. House had on his -first visit. - - -A PRESBYTERY ORGANISED - -The recruits to the mission force so far had been temporary -additions only. Owing to the death of his wife, followed by the -failure of his own health, Mr. Bush was compelled to resign after -four years. Mr. Morse, who went out upon Dr. House’s return, was -forced to give up within two years by reason of health. At the end -of ten years there had been only one net increase in the mission -force, Mrs. House. In 1858 two men arrived who became important -factors in the work, Rev. Daniel McGilvary and Rev. Jonathan -Wilson, with his wife. When the announcement was received that -these two men had been commissioned, Dr. House wrote home: - - “These two friends became interested in Siam mission at the - time of my visit to Princeton. If they reach us, I shall have - new reason to bless the heavenly Guide who led me almost - unwillingly back to my native land.” - -The doctor’s estimate of the reflex benefit to Siam from that trip -to America was all too modest; for that visit was the beginning -of an ever increasing interest in that country on the part of the -church and of a constantly enlarging supply of men and money. -Concerning this visit to Princeton, Dr. McGilvary says in his -Autobiography: - - “I was entering upon my senior year when it was announced - that Dr. S. R. House, of Siam, would address the students. - Expectation was on tip-toe to hear from this new kingdom of - Siam. The address was a revelation to me.... My hesitation - was ended.... - - “The call found Jonathan Wilson and myself in much the same - state of expectancy, awaiting for a clear revelation of duty. - After anxious consultation and prayer together and with Dr. - House, we promised him that we would give the matter our - serious thought; and that if the Lord should lead us thither - we would go.” - -With the increase of ordained men on the field, the time seemed -ripe to associate themselves together in the official relationship -of a Presbytery. At an informal meeting in the summer of 1858 the -following call was issued: - - “Whereas, in the providence of God there are now in the - mission a sufficient number of ordained ministers to - constitute a Presbytery and as it seems expedient that we, - cut off as we are from the privileges and oversight of our - respective Presbyteries, should meet together from time to - time in a formal public capacity as a judicatory of the - Church of Christ to consult for her best interests in this - our field of labour; and hoping that it may be beneficial to - ourselves and the Church at large, - - “Therefore, Resolved, That in accordance with the resolutions - of the General Assembly held in Baltimore in May, 1848, - making provision for ‘the formation of Presbyteries by the - action of missionaries in foreign fields’ a Presbytery be - constituted at Bangkok on the first day of September next, to - be called the Presbytery of Siam and to be composed of the - following persons, viz.: Rev. Stephen Mattoon and Rev. S. R. - House, of the Presbytery of Troy, New York; Rev. J. Wilson, - of the Presbytery of Beaver, Pennsylvania, and Rev. Daniel - McGilvary, of the Presbytery of Orange, North Carolina; - and that said Presbytery be opened by a sermon by Rev. S. - Mattoon, the oldest of the ministers of the mission; and - - “Resolved, second, That the day of the opening of the - Presbytery be observed by the members of the mission as a day - of special prayer for the blessing of the Spirit of God upon - us, and that a special meeting for prayer be held at 9 A. M.” - -At the appointed time the Presbytery of Siam was formally -organised, Rev. Samuel R. House being chosen first Moderator and -Rev. Daniel McGilvary being elected Stated Clerk. Mr. Mattoon, who -was about to take a furlough in America, was appointed the first -commissioner to the General Assembly, to meet in Indianapolis the -following spring. Here, again, as in the organisation of the first -church, the missionaries were taking a step in anticipation of the -fruit of faith more than in actual need. Two of the very important -functions of a Presbytery are to oversee the churches and to ordain -candidates for the ministry. But there was only one church in -Siam at the time and there were only two “native” members on the -roll; and a Presbytery could add little to the fellowship of the -missionaries except the formalities. However, the workers in the -field were certain of the harvest and in simple faith they went -about setting up the organisation for the proper care and nurture -of the native churches that were yet to be established. - -In December of 1858, when the dry season had returned, Dr. House, -accompanied by Mr. McGilvary, made a twelve-day tour up the Meinam, -commencing labours at Angtong and continuing as far as Bansaket. -The results of the tour were unusually hopeful: - - “In two or three instances it did seem as if the Spirit - had prepared their hearts to welcome the doctrine of - Christianity.... I could not but say to my good Brother - McGilvary, who as well as myself was struck with the deep - interest manifested, ‘Surely there must be much prayer going - up for us here in Siam.’ Tears would come in my eyes as I - solemnly urged them to leave their refuge of lies and trust - in a living Saviour, ready and mighty to save. And on their - part they desired to know, not how they might make merit - (the usual question of Siamese), but what they were to do to - secure the salvation, the news of which then for the first - time reached their ears. It seemed like the dawning of a - better day.” - - - - -IX - -FIRST THE DAWN, THEN THE DAYLIGHT - - -In the annals of missions much has been made of the long years of -patient labour before a first convert was gained in other lands. -It is written of Judson that he preached the Gospel six years in -Burma before a native made confession of the Christian faith. -Morrison patiently taught the Gospel seven years in China before -he was rewarded with one disciple. The Telegu mission in India is -described as one of the most remarkable in the history of missions -in the contrast between the first long fruitless period and then -the rapid growth; and in confirmation it is cited that “at the end -of two decades only one native assistant could be reported, one -church with nine members and two schools with sixty-three pupils.” - -But in Siam, from the time Dr. Gutzlaff arrived until the first -enduring convert from among the Siamese was gained, thirty-one -years elapsed. It is true that during those years much of the -energy of the other missions had been directed toward the -conversion of the ex-patriate Chinese, from whom there had been -an encouraging response; none the less, the Siamese were also -the object of constant prayer and faithful wooing. From the time -that Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon reached Siam to devote themselves -particularly to the winning of the Siamese, twelve years and -six months passed before one lone Siamese renounced the faith of -his fathers and acknowledged the Christian religion to be the -truth. These wearisome years of waiting were lengthened in their -tediousness by the chagrin of having impostors simulate conversion -for iniquitous ends. - -The story of this remarkable first native convert is best given by -Dr. House in his own way. First under date of March 6, 1859, he -writes home of the promise of the first-fruit: - - “I have had a long talk with Nai Chune. Since the fourth - month of last year he has been convinced of the truth of - Christianity. He has broken the necks of his household gods - and melted them. ‘If I think he venerates the gods still he - will go into the temple and do the same.’ Those stories in - their sacred books about its raining diamonds and gold he - regards not like the beneficent miracles of Christ which I - told him. - - “I was going to give him some idea of the historical - evidences when he cut me short by saying, ‘I have _tried_ - Buddhism—and what benefit has it been to me? I have thrown - away a large part of my life in studying it. But I was a - child then—God must forgive me.’ He has ceased to gamble - and to drink spirits, to both of which he formerly was - addicted. He says that he sometimes weeps with joy when he - thinks of God’s goodness to him. He prays to Jehovah, keeps - the Sabbath, and for months has been a faithful attendant - on preaching, to which he often invites his acquaintances, - bringing them with him. - - “He is an educated man of about forty years, has a wife but - no living children. He was once a priest, in the king’s own - watt for some eight years. At one time he used to call upon - me often and learned several chemical experiments. Since the - mission moved to its new location in his neighbourhood (where - he has a small property) he called to renew acquaintance. - I had much conversation with him formerly about religion; - but he seemed almost too willing to believe. I mistrusted - his motives, past experience having made me too cautious - perhaps. When he called subsequently I had no confidence in - his sincerity. Mr. Mattoon, however, thought somewhat better - of him. - - “He is now the Siamese teacher of our school, and is very - faithful to his duties. The most interesting feature of his - case and what, with other things, has removed my doubts, is - the true moral courage with which he avows his change of - his belief to his countrymen and relatives. I do not think - anything but the grace of God could make a Siamese brave - enough to do this.” - -Five months later, the doctor records the reception of the convert -into the Mission Church on Aug. 7, 1859: - - “My eyes have at length been permitted to see what has long - been my heart’s desire and prayer to God, the baptism of a - Siamese. Nay, to my unworthy hands has this privilege fallen, - to receive into the visible fold of Christ by the ordinance - of His appointing this new member of the flock. - - “For over twelve years of hope deferred has this great - blessing been sought and prayed for, but ‘sought and never - found’ till now. Blessed be the name of Him who in His mercy - and sovereign grace has been pleased to visit us with His - favour and make the teaching and preaching of His servants - here the means at last of bringing one heathen soul out of - nature’s darkness into the light and peace of His kingdom. - - “Nai Chune, a Siamese, an educated man of nearly forty years - of age, after a satisfactory examination on his views and - experience was today received to our fellowship by baptism - in the sacred name of the Father, the Son and the Holy - Ghost. May he walk worthily of the name he has named today, - and be a witness for Christ his God and Saviour among his - countrymen. He appears remarkably well. He is courteous - and intelligent, a true Siamese gentleman in manners; is - serious-minded, sedate, seems to realise the goodness of his - Heavenly Father to him.” - -The joy of this conversion was soon followed by a shadow of sorrow. -For a little more than three months later occurred the death of -faithful Quakieng. Fortunately the work among the Siamese had -developed so favourably that less emphasis was being placed on the -instruction in Chinese; and in a sense Nai Chune took the place of -Quakieng, but with a transfer of the major effort to the teaching -of the Siamese language. - -During this year King Mongkut had finished a new grand audience -hall in connection with the palace, fashioned partly in European -style. At the opening of the hall the king gave a feast to which -many of the European and American sojourners were invited, among -whom were Mr. and Mrs. House. In a letter to his father the doctor -tells privately of a proffer of honour and service made to him by -the king: “H. M. said, ‘You with your wife must come and live here -[at the palace] and have the young princes, my children, for your -pupils.’ I excused myself, my hands being already full.” With the -cessation of teaching by the missionary ladies in the palace, the -king had engaged an English lady, Mrs. Leonowens, as a tutor for -some of the inmates of the palace, including his sons. Apparently, -however, her teaching duties diminished after a time and she was -occupied chiefly as an amanuensis for the king, and she was still -connected with the palace at the time the king made this request -of Dr. House. - -Whether the king had serious intent in this proposition it is -difficult to judge; but the suggestion does indicate that he still -held Dr. House in high regard and that his estimation for Western -education had not waned. The mission school by this time had become -a well-established, well-organised institution, the management -of which required the full attention of the doctor. His original -term of service as Superintendent continued until 1861, when -relinquishment of the office was apparently due to the fact that he -was appointed to open a new mission station at Petchaburi. - - -NEW STATION AT PETCHABURI - -Although the work at Bangkok had been steadily growing, no -extension of the field was undertaken until 1861, when a station -was opened at Petchaburi, where Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon had -made several visits. In that year two new missionaries with their -wives had come out in company with Rev. and Mrs. Mattoon on their -return from furlough in America; these were Rev. S. G. McFarland -and Rev. N. A. McDonald. Of the many places where the missionaries -had visited with the hopes of one day establishing a local work, -Petchaburi then seemed the most favourable because the acting -governor had personally solicited the missionaries to provide -teaching of English; and had offered, on condition that they would -teach his son the language, to provide a place for their school. - -The Mission had voted to assign Dr. and Mrs. House to establish the -new station. The doctor visited the field, procured a lot and made -ready for the work, and then returned to bring his wife. But the -day before their departure, the doctor had the misfortune to fall -from a horse, sustaining injuries which, at the time, it was feared -would prove to be permanent. Under these circumstances the mission -changed the appointment, and sent instead Revs. Daniel McGilvary -and S. G. McFarland with their wives, who thus became the first -occupants of the new mission. - -At this point it will be interesting to note that in his journal, -in 1861, Dr. House records that the missionaries had felt -constrained to ask the Board for an increase in salary from the -prevailing six hundred dollars to seven hundred dollars, giving -as a reason that the cost of living had greatly increased since -the country had been opened to Western commerce, so that articles -of provisions had in some cases increased as much as one hundred -per cent. Dr. House himself had received a patrimony at the death -of his father, which he used not only to supplement his salary -for living expenses, but very generously for assisting in the -work of the mission. Entries in the journal indicate that he had -undertaken, at his own expense, repairs and enlargement of the -mission house in which he lived. - - -THE REMARKABLE STORY OF NAI KAWN - -Within a month after the new station at Petchaburi was opened, -the missionaries reported the extraordinary case of a Siamese who -had come to believe upon God and Christ through portions of the -Scripture that had come into his hands, although he had never -seen a missionary and had never met a Christian. The name of this -man was Nai Kawn. Writing to his family in America under date of -July 17, 1861, Dr. House quotes in part from a letter which Mrs. -McFarland had written to Mrs. House giving the story; and in part -from Mr. McGilvary: - - “I wish Dr. H. could be here to examine a ‘diamond’ we have - found here (_i. e._, a native of Petchaburi, which name - means ‘city of diamonds’). We do believe it a true, genuine - diamond, and though it needs to be polished it will one - day shine in our Saviour’s diadem in glory. It seems an - extraordinary case in many respects. The man is a middle aged - Siamese, resides about five miles from Petchaburi capital; - had never seen a missionary, but some of our Christian tracts - and portions of the Scripture—which he had got from his - neighbours—appears to have been the means of enlightening - his mind and converting his heart. He had taught his little - boy the Lord’s prayer and the ten commandments.” - - “Mr. McG. writes: He certainly has the clearest idea of - the Scripture of any heathen convert I have met with. He - literally knows John, Acts, Romans (all the Bible he has yet - seen) by heart; can repeat whole chapters without missing - a word. He evidently studied for months and years.... - Seems delighted to find us, as if his highest wish had - been realised. Wishes to come and live with us at once to - learn more perfectly the Gospel, and to assist to teach and - distribute books. To try his sincerity, no encouragement - was offered him, fearing he might wish support from the - missionary. ‘Oh, no,—he wished no compensation, as he had - enough to live on.’ He has a few hundred ticals and wants - no more. He has settled one son with three hundred ticals, - and the other son he has just left with us where he can be - taught the Christian religion. Says he would not give up the - new religion for the offer of being king of Siam. Comes to - worship, walking five miles over muddy roads. Longs to see - another Siamese Christian—has hunted all over to find one.” - -In the fall of that year Dr. and Mrs. House were obliged to spend -several months in Petchaburi to relieve the McFarlands, who went to -Bangkok for medical attendance. During that sojourn the doctor had -several conversations with Nai Kawn; and in letters to his brother -in America narrates the confession of that remarkable convert: - - “Doctor, the Siamese think only of getting a living. That - they must have nor always are they very scrupulous as to the - means they resort to. Before—in the days of my sinfulness—I - was so too. Then I had not reflected upon, was not attentive - to my condition. I saw myself a sinner; when I became - conscious of this, the Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to - forgive me. - - “My wife formerly—when I began to talk in the house with - those that came to see me about the religion of Jesus—would - go away, stop her ears, would say ‘I won’t hear it,’ and off - she would go. Now she says nothing, listens, sometimes says - there is good in it; will hear me when I pray in the room at - night. - - “I remonstrated with my neighbours but, Doctor, they are - wilfully set in their wickedness. But, Doctor, we cannot make - them repent. It is only those whom God pleases to choose. - - “They tell me that when the king hears that I have become - a disciple of Jesus I shall be whipped. I tell them, if he - kills me I care not. If the Lord gives me to die, I must die - as the Lord willeth. But while I live, I must bring forth - fruits to offer Him.” - -Nai Kawn was never formally enrolled in the Church. He had found -the acme of joy and of liberty in the Gospel before he knew of -the church as an organisation. The witness of his conduct, the -testimony of his lips and the evidence of his fellowship with -Christians was more vital and compelling than a formal profession -of ecclesiastical relationship. The honour of having been the first -native at Petchaburi to become a member of the Church was gained -two years later by Nai Kao. - -Another honour of primacy in the profession of religion was -attained at Bangkok in 1861, when Maa Esther became the first -Siamese woman to unite with the Church of Christ. She had been -given, a poor sick child, to Mrs. Mattoon by her father at an early -age; and had been adopted and reared by Mrs. Mattoon. She had -accompanied her foster mother to America in this same year. Maa -Esther has continued a faithful, consistent Christian all these -remaining years, and has been a zealous worker for the cause of -Christ. - -What was the final evangelising tour by Dr. House was taken in -1862, when, accompanied by Rev. N. A. McDonald, who had lately -joined the mission, and Rev. Robert Telford, who was maintaining -the Baptist work among the Chinese in Siam, he made a trip -along the eastern coast of the gulf as far as Chantaboon. The -responsibility for the school, together with the condition of Mrs. -House’s health, made it inconvenient for him to continue this phase -of the work which he greatly enjoyed. - - -PERIOD OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - -During the Civil War in the United States the mission was not very -seriously affected by the conditions of the home church. Except -for the first injunction from the Board against enlargement of the -work and for the exceeding high rate of bank exchange, Dr. House -gives no indications of adverse results on the field. Although the -missionaries then in Siam were from both sections of the divided -fatherland, they continued to live in cordial relations. During -this period several reinforcements reached Siam, showing that -the church at home had not allowed the war to curtail their work -entirely. These additions were: Rev. and Mrs. C. S. George (1862), -Mrs. F. F. Odell (1863), Rev. and Mrs. P. L. Carden (1866). On the -other hand, the mission suffered the serious loss of Rev. Mr. and -Mrs. Mattoon, who were constrained to resign in 1865 on account of -Mrs. Mattoon’s continued ill health. - - -SECOND FURLOUGH - -Dr. House left Siam only twice during his twenty-nine years of -service. After a second period of seven-and-a-half years of labour, -he sailed for America on a furlough in February, 1864. Even then -the leave was taken not so much on his own account as because of -Mrs. House’s urgent need of recuperation. Since they left America, -both of Dr. House’s parents had died. He made the second journey -at his own expense. At this time the Civil War in America caused -the rates of exchange to be very high; to avoid this high rate, -Dr. House accepted a loan of one thousand dollars from the king’s -private treasury, giving only his personal note as security; and of -this sum the king authorised Dr. House to pay over to the widow of -Rev. Jesse Caswell, in America, five hundred dollars as a further -token of appreciation of his former tutor. - -The journey home was made by way of the Red Sea, Palestine, Egypt, -Paris and England. Inclusive of the travel, their absence from -Siam covered two years and ten months. The return trip was made by -way of the Pacific, leaving San Francisco Sept. 9, 1866, thus for -the first time completing for these two the circumnavigation of the -globe. On the way out a stop was made at the Hawaiian Islands. The -travelers reached Hong Kong Nov. 4, and while waiting for a vessel -to continue their voyage they went up to Canton, where they were -most friendly received and hospitably entertained by the family of -Mr. S. E. Burrows, the head of a great commercial and shipping firm -of that place. The Burrows extended to Dr. and Mrs. House a free -passage in one of their own vessels which was sailing direct for -Bangkok, and there they arrived Dec. 16, 1866. - -Again the returning missionaries received a warm welcome on the -part of their many native friends. - - “We were warmly welcomed by the missionary circle and old - friends out of it, native and foreign. Wish you could have - seen the congratulatory presents our native friends and - neighbours brought to shew their gladness at our return. - - “The king (being ill at the time) said ‘He was glad the old - missionaries had returned; he had been very sorry that Maw - House and Maw Mattoon were gone.’” - -A few weeks later, when the king was able, he sent for Dr. House -and gave a private audience. - - “On presenting myself at the palace gate when my name was - announced the king said (so I was told by some around him) - ‘Dr. H. is not like other foreigners; let him come to me at - once.’ I was ushered into the royal palace ere he had left - the grand audience hall—his courtiers and pages waiting - upon him. I was received with the cordiality and familiarity - of an old acquaintance. - - “He asked me how I came? Did Mrs. H. come with me; what - countries I had seen? Mentioning Egypt, he asked me if the - canal across the isthmus of Suez would succeed. Saying I had - now gone around the world, returning to Siam by crossing the - Pacific Ocean to China, he quickly interrupted, ‘Then you - lost a day!’ and explained to his attendants how it was.... - - “It was time for him now to make his evening visit to the - vast and lofty structure they were rearing for the funeral - solemnities of the late second king. Inviting me to follow, - he went down to his sedan and, preceded by soldiers and - followed by a crowd of attendants, was borne away. Following, - I found him seated in a temporary pavilion erected where he - could overlook the work. He soon called me to his side—I, - alone, of the hundreds around him, stood upright. He made - inquiries concerning Mrs. Caswell, and as he looked again - at her picture, turning to the princess royal acting as his - sword bearer, said, ‘This was the wife of the teacher that - I revered.’ It was gratifying and interesting to see these - pleasant memories of persons and events passed away eighteen - years before, stealing over him. - - “Having intimated to the king my wish to take up my note for - one thousand dollars in his treasurer’s hands and saying - that I should, of course, expect to pay interest on the - balance of five hundred dollars—after deducting five hundred - dollars paid to Mrs. C. on his majesty’s behalf—in a few - days his majesty’s private treasurer paid me a visit, having - had the king’s instruction to receive from me simply five - hundred dollars, and to surrender to me the note on which was - endorsed these words in the king’s own handwriting: - - “‘S. P. P. M. Mongkut, the King, does not wish to have - interest from the loan to his good friend Doctor Samuel R. - House—wishing but some useful books, etc., according to the - pleasure of said doctor, with stating of price of article. - This testimony given 1st January, 1867, the seventeenth year - of our reign.’” - - -THE AWAKENING OF 1866–7 - -Doubtless the greatest joy upon return to Siam was to find that a -great spiritual awakening had taken place in the mission school. If -the fruits of labour seem sparse so far it must be considered that -the most favourable soil had scarcely time to produce its harvest. -The boys and girls who had been under the intimate influence of Dr. -and Mrs. House in the school were just approaching the adolescent -age when, in 1866, a spiritual awakening manifested itself. News -of this work of grace had reached Dr. House at Hong Kong, and upon -arrival at Bangkok he rejoiced to learn that the facts more than -confirmed the report. - - “Found all well and the very best of good news awaiting us, - confirming the hopes I have felt all along that a better day - was about to dawn on us in Siam. Two of our oldest and most - promising pupils (Hee, the writer of that interesting letter - to me, published in the _Foreign Missionary_ last year, being - one of them), and a native teacher in our employ (a man of - some education) were baptised a few weeks ago as converts - from heathenism; and another native teacher, Naah (Esther’s - husband), with others of the pupils in the mission school - are desirous of Christian baptism. These new converts with - the older church members sustain semi-weekly prayer-meetings - among themselves with warm interest.” - -The convert named in this letter was Tien Hee, who, a few years -later, went to America to seek a higher education. Graduating in -medicine at the New York University in 1871, he returned to Siam, -where he became the first native physician practising the Western -system of medicine. He became eminently successful in his practise, -amassed considerable wealth, received the title of Phra Montri and -lately has been elevated to a higher rank of nobility, as Phya -Sarasin. In grateful recognition of what Christianity has done -for him he has made generous contributions toward the work of the -mission. - -Two months later Dr. House reported further confessions: - - “It was my privilege and joy last Sabbath to receive to our - little mission church in the ordinance of baptism three - Christian converts, all connected or once connected with our - mission boarding school; and one of these my dear old pupil - Naah (Esther’s husband), the boy especially given me by his - Chinese father on his dying bed. The others were Dik and - Ting.... You do not know how many fold I felt repaid by the - privilege I enjoyed that Sabbath.” - -In August of that year (1867) he writes further: - - “We are permitted to report the admission by baptism to our - native church at this station at our last communion of five - new members. Two of them girls that have been long under - instruction in the missionary families; two others, elder - pupils in the mission school for boys; and the fifth, one - more advanced in years. - - “Among the four young persons who kneeled one after another - to receive the solemn ordinance which made them church - members was our dear Ooey, who has long in her heart been - persuaded of the truth of our religion and the importance of - attendance to it, and who a few weeks before came out bright - and clear and decided, in her determination to serve the - Saviour. Again it fell to my lot to administer the ordinance; - and a privilege unspeakable it was to stand up and in the - name of the Lord to apply the seal of the covenant to the - dusky brow of that child of many prayers, and to others I had - helped teach the way to heaven. - - “That Sabbath evening Ooey told me with beaming eyes that her - heart was full of happiness. And yet only the day before the - poor child had been told by her heathen father—who was angry - with her for forsaking the old religion—that she ‘must never - call him father, nor her mother, mother again’.... - - “The fifth is Ah Keo, for over twenty years a servant in the - different mission families. I recollect talking and praying - with him the first year I was in Siam. But his besetting sin, - intemperance, made all exhortation lost on him till this - spring—a miracle of grace has been wrought.” - -This religious interest increased with the days, so that the -semi-weekly meeting for prayer gave way to a daily meeting, in -which the young Christians exhorted their fellow students and -friends to believe on Christ, and their hearts were poured out in -intercession for the conversion of their families and of Siam. -Then, in September, Dr. House records another confession from among -the student group: - - “Delia made our hearts very glad the other day by coming to - us and saying her mind was made up to become a Christian, - and wished to be baptised. Her mother and brother would be - very angry with her, but she felt she must take up her cross. - She is a girl of a great deal of decision and energy of - character.” - -The fall meeting of the Presbytery of Siam for 1867 was marked by -items of unusual interest. Dr. House was installed pastor of the -church, as a successor to Mr. Mattoon. The formal call for his -pastoral services (signed by thirteen members), the charge to -the pastor and people, the prayers and the sermon were all in the -Siamese language—an index of the development of self-government -in the native church. At the same meeting A. Klai, of Petchaburi, -was licensed as a native local preacher, apparently the first to -be fitted for that rank. Dr. House jocularly refers to him as a -“graduate of the McFarland Theological Seminary of Petchaburi,” -as he had been under the instruction of Mr. McFarland. At the -communion in the Bangkok church this same autumn occurred the -ordination of the first native elder of the local church, the -congregation having elected the young man Naah already mentioned. - - -THE NOTABLE TRIP TO LAO - -One notable trip of Dr. House remains to be narrated, a journey -into the land of the Lao—notable because of the accident which -nearly closed the career of the doctor. The trip occurred in 1868. -The previous year was signalised in the annals of missions in -Siam by the establishment of a station at Chiengmai among the Lao -people in what is now known as North Siam. It is curious to note -that while Dr. House himself had been among the first to become -interested in these people as he came into contact with the Lao -boatmen at Bangkok and although he once seriously contemplated -leaving the Mattoons alone at Bangkok while he should carry the -Gospel into the unexplored northland, yet when the proposition was -being discussed by the mission to open a station there the doctor -enters a record of his judgment that the time is premature. - -However, additions to the corps of workers having made it possible -to establish another station, the mission decided to send Messrs. -McGilvary and Wilson, who had made an exploratory trip the previous -season, to open work among the Lao tribes. In January of 1867 the -McGilvary family set out in small boats, making the journey all the -way up the Meinam. In the next December the Wilsons followed along -the same route. It was a three-months’ journey up Siam’s great -river, whose name means “mother of waters.” Above Raheng the stream -forces its way through a narrow gap in the mountain chain, forming -a long series of perilous rapids and affording scenery which is -described by voyagers as of surpassing beauty. - -Dr. House wrote concerning the reason for his own trip: - - “And here I must let you into a little secret. Mrs. Wilson, - it seems, will require the attendance of a physician about - the first of March, and so also will Mrs. McGilvary. So much - the worse for both of them, you will say—seeing they are - five hundred miles from medical aid. Must they, then, be - abandoned to their fate? You must not, then, dear brother, be - much surprised to learn that this double call of Providence - has proved too strong for me. Much as I dislike the practise - of my profession, much as I dread the long, tedious journey, - much as I desire just now to stay with my interesting and - most dearly loved flock [the church over which the doctor had - just been made pastor] I have felt it would be wrong for me - to decline the invitation I have received to visit Chiengmai - at the critical time. - - “But I cannot afford to waste three months on the journey - there, when by boat to Raheng in twenty-three days Chiengmai - from there can be reached by elephant in eight to ten days - more.” - -Accordingly, the doctor determined to take the quicker route, and -by February 13, he had reached Raheng. There he was delayed five -days waiting for elephants to be provided for him. The company then -set out over the mountains, expecting to reach their destination -nearly on schedule time. Then came the accident, the story of -which is most vividly set forth in the letter written by Dr. House -himself on that same day. - - “Ban Hong North Laos, - “Monday, March 2, 1868. - - “REV. MR. AND MRS. MCGILVARY. - - “Dear Brother and Sister: - - “So near and yet unable to get farther. Is it not a strange - Providence? When I started this morning strong and well, - refreshed by a Sabbath’s day rest at the little hamlet of - Wong Luang I was rejoicing in the thought that I was almost - at the end of this tedious and almost endless journey through - the sultry wilderness and would soon receive the welcome - which such friends as you will give, when about eight or nine - A. M. my elephant by whose side I was walking, suddenly and - without provocation turned upon me and pushed me over with - his trunk and, when lying on the ground, thrust one of those - huge tusks at me and into my poor body—how deep I know not, - but ripping up my abdomen two and one-half inches just below - the umbillicus. It was a strange sensation I assure you. I - was expecting another thrust which I could not escape, for I - was jammed in by the side of a tree. By this time, however, - his driver had got his head turned into the road again. - - “And there I was in the far woods with very probably a fatal - wound and none but servants and Laos elephant drivers. As - my men came up poor Beo, who is most faithful and much - attached, burst into tears. And now thoughts of Harriette and - home rushed over me. But God my Saviour, God to whom only - yesterday I had renewed my consecration of myself as His - servant in a sweet retired spot on the beautiful mountain - stream where we were camped, has permitted—nay ordered—this - unlooked-for calamity; and in God I trust, blessed be His - Name for sustaining me through the hours of this sad day. - - “Such wound, of course, must be sewed up, and at once, and - I must do it, for I could trust none of those with me, - new men all but good Beo. It was curious business, this - sewing up one’s own abdomen; but it must be done, and it - was done—four stitches. By this time my men had contrived - a very comfortable litter with an awning from the bamboos - growing near at hand. Of course climbing upon an elephant - and enduring the merciless rocking motion was out of the - question. So borne by four men on the litter we slowly - journeyed on through the dry, parched woods, over mountains - and across the dry water brooks from eleven or twelve to five - P. M., when we reached this village on the Maa Li River, - on the route from Muang Tern and Muang Li to Lampoon. And - I am writing this by candlelight in the Sala Klang of the - place lying on my back. It is wearisome work to write and I - must stop soon. The people here seem kind. I have engaged - a messenger to take this announcement of my misfortune to - Chiengmai. - - “And now, my dear brother and dear sister (and if Brother - Wilson and his dear wife have arrived, I include them also), - I need not say to you how serious is the injury I have - received. The first thought was that the omentum or caul had - protruded; it may have been lacerated fat under the skin. - It was replaced, of course. But whether the cavity of the - peritoneum was pierced or not, (and my symptoms would have - been more severe if it had been, I think), still there must - have been much contusion of the bowels, and of course great - danger of peritonitis, the gravest of all diseases. I must - lie perfectly still for days and days to have a chance of - getting well. Another day of such jolting as today would be - fatal. My only hope is in absolute rest. My bowels are very - sore, of course; but God will not forsake His child and I - will try to bear all that is appointed me. I write to notify - you that you, too, may trust your dear Sophia, and brother W. - his dear Kate, in the same ever gracious hands. His angel has - laid his hands upon me and stopped me here. - - “I write also to say that neither of you must think of coming - over (from Chiengmai it is three days on elephant) to visit - me. You can do me no manner of good and your wives absolutely - require you both at home just now. It would be positively - wrong for you to leave them. I have good, kind servants, - medicines, books, and best of all my Saviour’s presence, and - I am resigned to His will. But, Oh, poor Harriette—pray for - her. We will pray for each other, and God bless you and yours - till we meet. - - “Affectionately, - “S. R. HOUSE. - - “P. S. If I get well, I—or if not, my four men—will proceed - to Chiengmai and deliver to you there six hundred ticals I am - bringing to your mission.” - -This letter records a story of nerve and fortitude seldom equalled -in the annals of travel and exploration. One must pause after -reading it to take in the whole situation. The note itself was -written at the close of the day of shock and pain and suffering. -It was written while the sufferer was lying flat on his back, -scarcely able to move without agitating the wound; and written then -lest a night’s delay might find him unable to write. But as you -read the letter you are conscious that he writes not because he is -thinking of his own need, but because he knows that his friends -will be greatly alarmed by his failure to appear. The trip itself -had been undertaken in a spirit of self-abnegation solely for the -welfare of his fellow missionaries. And the necessity of the trip -casts a vivid light upon the deprivations and hardships of those -pioneer missionaries. There are those who will exclaim, “Fools! why -did they go so far from contact with civilisation and under such -circumstances,—five hundred miles from the nearest physician!” -Yes, fools! but fools for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, -“of whom the world was not worthy.” - -Further details of this marvellous adventure are given in a letter -written two weeks later from the same place, the original of which -is still preserved. - - “I wonder if any surgeon was ever before called upon to sew - up his own abdomen! Somehow nerve was given me to put in the - four stitches without shrinking, though it was a work of no - little difficulty, as I had to be guided by the reflection - in a looking-glass—the wound not being in direct line of - vision—as I lay on my back too weak to sit up. All the water - I had was in a small porous drinking vessel—not over a pint, - and no other supply for miles.... - - “That evening I arranged for a messenger to carry the tidings - of my injury to the mission at Chiengmai. On the evening - of the third day they returned, and with them a servant of - Mr. McGilvary came along, and also our faithful Christian - Siamese brother, Nai Chune, who had gone up in charge of - Mr. Wilson’s household goods to Chiengmai.... Had my letter - reached Chiengmai a few hours later it would have found Nai - Chune gone, for his passage was taken and his things aboard - the boat to start that day for Bangkok.... - - “I am lost in wonder when I think of the Providence by which - I escaped seemingly inevitable death. Who ever heard of one - being impaled on an elephant’s tusk and yet living to tell - the tale. God’s merciful Providence ordered that when I was - unexpectedly felled to the ground I was thrown—not flat - on my back, in which case I had been pierced through and - through; but on my right side, hence his tusk which was aimed - at the middle line of my body glanced and so did not enter - deep enough to inflict a mortal wound. Had it pierced but - the thickness of this paper deeper than it did, peritoneal - inflammation would have ensued and speedy death.... - - (Later.) “The afternoon of the day I wrote the foregoing - letter a loaded elephant came to the sala where I am lying, - and the one riding it began to hand down various baskets and - bundles as if they had reached their destination. It proved - to have been sent by my good brethren of Chiengmai, who had - forwarded supplies of everything that could be thought of to - make a sick man comfortable.... - - “With wise forethought they had arranged that a boat should - be awaiting me at the nearest landing place on the river - to take me to Chiengmai. I was too weak then and the wound - was not in a state to allow of my leaving the sala; but the - next Monday (just two weeks from the date of the injury) - I ventured to try the litter again. So with a new set of - elephants for my luggage and bearers for myself hired in - the village, that afternoon at 3 o’clock we started, but - found no camping place till 11 P. M.—a weary journey! But - all forgotten next morning when my eyes rested again on the - Meinam River and I was transferred to the boat. Two days - of vigourous poling up the river brought me to my friends’ - landing about five P. M. Wednesday, March 18.” - -By Nai Chune the doctor was able to send to his wife the news of -the misfortune, though it was two months after the accident before -she received the message. Trusty servants were then sent up to -meet him at Raheng, where his boats were awaiting his return. -The complete healing of the wound and recuperation of strength -required more time than he had anticipated so that he was compelled -to remain at Chiengmai six weeks. During this enforced delay he -had the privilege of assisting in organising the first church at -Chiengmai, a little gratification to his old and ardent desire for -the evangelisation of the Lao. The return was made all the way by -water. From Chiengmai to Raheng the voyage required eighteen days, -and thence his own boats carried him the remainder of the way to -Bangkok in twelve days. - -It is probable that Dr. House accomplished more touring in Siam -than any other missionary. During the first ten years, within which -most of the exploring was done, he was more free than Mr. Mattoon -to be absent for long periods and distant journeys. While the other -missions were restricting their work Dr. House had visions of -enlarging the range of Presbyterian activities. All the fields of -present mission stations in central Siam had been explored by Dr. -House and seed sown long before permanent work was undertaken. Love -of pioneering and zeal for the Gospel united to impel him to search -out the land with a view to ultimate conquest for Christ. - - - - -X - -NEW KING, NEW CUSTOMS, NEW FAVOURS - - -It is a noteworthy testimony to the influence of the American -missionaries that through their instruction in modern science the -most enlightened monarch of the Orient should have come to his -death as a result of his zeal in behalf of astronomy. Although -since he had ascended the throne King Mongkut had not been able -to devote time to pursuit of the sciences as he had done while -a priest in the watt, yet he maintained a real interest. His -requests to Dr. House for translations from foreign journals -included items of scientific interest. His patronage of the mission -school in favour of the sons of nobles was not merely to have them -taught English, but that through that language they might obtain -instruction in the sciences. - -When circumstances brought it within his power to lend assistance -to the scientific world he seized the opportunity with a royal -will. Astronomers had predicted a total eclipse of the sun for -the year 1868, and indicated that the southern peninsula of Siam -would be the sole place on the globe where the eclipse would appear -in totality. In his great enthusiasm, desiring to be a patron of -science, the king determined to lead an expedition to witness the -phenomena. Dr. House describes the preparations in a letter (Aug., -1868): - - “The gulf of Siam lay in the greatest duration of the solar - eclipse since the sun began to shine, as some say; attracting - to these realms astronomers from Western Europe. Great - preparations were made to receive them with all honor and - to join them in witnessing the solar phenomena, on the part - of our science-loving king and his government. Large levies - of men were made to put up at the spot fixed by the French - astronomical expedition suitable buildings for all who were - present. No expense was spared in the way of entertaining - the numerous guests. It is said that two thousand catties - of silver ($96,000.) were expended upon the affair by our - public spirited king. A free ticket on a beautiful ship - of war, and entertainment while there, to all us foreign - residents. But as Mr. McDonald (now acting consul) desires - to go and both could not well be absent so long from the - station, I did not go down; and then, too, we were sure of a - very respectable eclipse here in Bangkok, which I wished to - improve for the benefit of the pupils in our school and our - native friends.... Here we saw stars distinctly in the day - time during the greatest obscuration.” - -The site chosen by the astronomers was in the jungle, in which -the king caused a clearing to be made and temporary huts to be -constructed. During the brief sojourn in this unhealthy spot, the -king contracted a fever. The disease proved fatal, death occurring -shortly after the king returned to the royal palace. - -The death of the king was a sore loss to the world. Dr. House wrote: - - “The missionaries lost, some of them a kind personal friend - and a ‘well-wisher’ as he used to sign himself, and all - a friendly-disposed liberal-minded sovereign, who put no - obstacle in the way of their evangelising his people.” - -Western nations lost a royal friend who had opened the gates of -his kingdom for intercourse. But Siam herself, while mourning the -death of an enlightened sovereign, had gained so much through the -seventeen years of his felicitous reign that his death could not -stop her progress in the paths he had opened for her. The light -which had found its way into the jungle of human notions through -the clearing Mongkut had made was never again to pass into eclipse. - - -KING CHULALONGKORN - -With the death of King Mongkut the personal relations of the -pioneer missionaries with the reigning monarch were terminated. -Concerning the successor, Chulalongkorn, Dr. House wrote: - - “I have not seen much of the young prince in childhood; he - had been under the tutorship of the English governess Mrs. - Leonowens and, later, of Mr. Chandler (formerly a lay Baptist - missionary).... He had grown to maturity during the nearly - three years of my absence in America.” - -As second or vice-king there had been chosen Prince George -Washington, with whom Dr. House was better acquainted. - -The missionaries were eager to learn whether the new government -was to be as progressive as the old, and especially to know the -attitude to be assumed towards their work. Signs that progression -was to be the order of the reign were not long wanting. Custom -hitherto required that the coronation should be in the presence of -the princes only. At the coronation of Chulalongkorn an innovation -was introduced by invitations to the official representatives of -other nations resident in Bangkok to attend. Shortly after the -coronation the missionaries arranged, through the United States -consul, to pay their respects to the new king. They were graciously -received, and although the young king was suffering from effects -of a fever contracted on the ill-fated astronomical expedition, he -gave them an audience and conversed with them a few minutes. When -the consul was arranging for his official visit of congratulations -upon the vice-king, that personage requested as a personal favour -that the consul be accompanied by Dr. House. The king was but -fifteen years of age when he came to the throne, and during his -minority the government was under the regency of Somdetch Chao Phya -Boromaha Sri Suriwongse, an able and upright statesman. - -With rapid succession came decrees changing age-long customs and -bringing Siamese social and civil institutions into line with -Western civilisation. The most radical and noteworthy of these -changes were: the abolition of the practice of prostration by which -everyone, of whatsoever rank, had been obliged to prostrate himself -on the ground, face downwards, in the presence of any who had a -superior rank in the social scale; the introduction at court and -in the army of a modified European dress to cover the near-nudity -which formerly prevailed; the prohibition of enslavement for -debt, a pernicious custom by which parents could sell their -children, husbands their wives, and anyone himself into servitude -to discharge a ruinous debt, resulting in a state of peonage from -which the hopeless victim could scarce escape; reformation of -unjust political practises; and the initiation of a state system of -schools, telegraphs and posts. - -Concerning two of these reforms interesting sidelights have been -cast by writers. Mrs. Leonowens, by whom the prince had been -tutored in English, relates that when he heard of the death of -Abraham Lincoln he declared that “if he ever lived to reign over -Siam he would reign over a free and not an enslaved nation, and -that he would restore the ancient constitutional government and -make Siam a kingdom of the free.” Mr. J. G. D. Campbell, in his -volume _Siam in the Twentieth Century_, sketches the court-scene -when the ancient custom of prostration was abolished: - - “In 1874,” he writes, “King Chulalongkorn assembled his - ministers and nobles and, having ascended the throne, - promulgated a decree emancipating them and all subjects - from the degrading custom of crawling on their knees in the - presence of a superior; after which, at his command the whole - assembly arose from their prostrate position on their hands - and knees and stood erect for the first time in the presence - of their sovereign.” - -Though his personal relation with the occupant of the throne was -terminated, Dr. House found that the new government included many -of his old-time friends from the days of his lectures on science. -Among these were the regent himself, the minister of foreign -affairs, the master of the new mint and the commander-in-chief of -the army. A new office also had been established, and the doctor -found his friend Godata, formerly a priest in Chao Fah Yai’s watt, -appointed as court preacher with the duty of preaching on the -Christian Sabbath a moral lecture to the soldiers and cadets, by -the king’s orders. - - -NEW FAVOURS - -The mission workers hoped that a change in sovereigns would mean -no reaction; they scarcely expected more. But while King Mongkut -had “put no obstacle in the way,” King Chulalongkorn soon removed -the remaining obstacles by making effective the treaty provisions -even in the dependency of Lao. For it was the rapid development -of the work in that new station that precipitated a condition in -which the good offices of the new government alone saved the day. -Within two years of the beginning of work at Chiengmai the first -convert made a confession of faith, Nan Inta; and in seven months -more six others had received baptism. Then suddenly the virulence -of the king of Lao was manifested by the martyrdom of two of these -converts, put to death on his orders. - -As the Lao state was subject to the king of Siam, and as the -government had given permission for the missionaries to work in -that dependency, appeal was taken promptly to the regent for -protection of the Lao missionaries whose lives were in danger. -The regent sent a commissioner with all dispatch to Chiengmai -with stringent orders to the Lao ruler that the missionaries -must receive the full protection guaranteed by the treaty -between Siam and the United States. Enraged by this invocation -of a higher authority, the Lao king declared that while the -missionaries might remain as the Siamese government had ordered, -yet they must not teach religion or make Christians; and openly -vowed his purpose to kill any of his people who should become -converts to the new religion. The situation had apparently become -impossible; and to gain time while deciding what course was best -under the circumstances, the work was suspended, and the workers -had virtually decided to leave in the spring. About that time, -however, the tyrant with a large suite left for Bangkok to attend -the cremation ceremonies of his late suzerain. While there he fell -sick, and before he could reach his Chiengmai capital he died. Upon -his death the supreme power within the province passed to the hands -of one kindly disposed to the missionaries. - -In the same year as the death of the Lao king, 1870, a royal -proclamation was issued which appeared in part in the Bangkok -Calendar for the next year. This proclamation was a decree of -religious liberty. Apparently, although not of a certainty, it had -some connection with the recent affair among the Lao. A paragraph -from this proclamation shows the broadmindedness of the government -at that period: - - “In regard to the concern of seeking and holding a religion - that shall be a refuge to yourself in this life, it is a - good concern and exceedingly appropriate and suitable that - you all—every individual of you—should investigate and - judge for himself according to his own wisdom. And when you - see any religion whatever, or any company of religionists - whatever, likely to be of advantage to yourself, a refuge in - accord with your own wisdom, hold to that religion with all - your heart. Hold it not with a shallow mind, with mere guess - work or merely because of its general popularity or from - mere traditional saying that it is the custom held from time - immemorial. And do not hold a religion that you have not good - evidence is true and then frighten men’s fears and flatter - their hopes thereby. Do not be frightened and astonished at - diverse fictitious events and hold to and follow them. When - you shall have obtained a refuge, a religious faith that - is good and beautiful and suitable, hold to it with great - joy and follow its teachings, and it will be a cause of - prosperity to each one of you.... It is our will that our - subjects of whatever race, nation or creed live freely and - happily in the kingdom, no man despising or molesting another - on account of religious difference, or any other difference - of opinion, custom or manners.” - -Oddly enough, Dr. House, who seemed always to make mention of the -innovations of the progressive government under the new king, makes -no reference to this proclamation in his letters, nor does he -mention it in his chapter on the history of missions in _Siam and -Laos_. In this last named work, however, he states that on Sept. -29, 1878, the king of Siam issued “a proclamation establishing -religious toleration in Laos and by implication throughout all his -dominions.” - -Early in 1871 an incident occurred which was fraught with great -consequence for native Christians, and one in which Dr. House’s -friendly intimacy with the high officials enabled him to render a -service of far-reaching consequence to the young native church. -One of the girls of the school, Ooey, shortly after she had made a -confession of faith, was called as a witness in court upon a suit -in behalf of another member of the church. It was then the custom -to allow the Chinese to take oath according to their religion; -but there was no provision in the law for the Christian oath. -When this young girl was asked to take the native oath, she told -the court boldly that she was a Christian and that she could not -take an oath based on the native religion; and she demanded to be -sworn upon her Christian faith. The court tried to induce her to -accede to custom, assuring her that it was but a harmless formula. -But she steadily refused, although she was an important witness, -the lack of whose testimony was greatly to the disadvantage of a -fellow-Christian. In consequence the case was suspended, in hopes -that she would change her attitude. - -The matter was at once brought to the attention of Dr. House, who -recognised that the situation involved elements which were of -serious consequence to the religious rights of native Christians. -If compelled to take oath, it would infringe upon their conscience. -If not permitted to substitute the Christian oath, they would have -to forfeit their standing in the court in all cases. The doctor at -once sought an interview with the minister of foreign affairs, his -old friend and former Lieutenant-Governor of Petchaburi, and also -with the regent, an old-time friend. After laying before them the -nature of the case, an order was issued directing that a witness be -sworn by the faith to which he claimed allegiance. This action, so -far as appears, was the first step in the legal recognition of the -Christian faith on the part of the government. - - -PROGRESS - -During the last decade of Dr. House’s services there were many -recruits to the force of workers. But these additions were not a -net gain, for in the meantime there were numerous withdrawals on -account of health. In 1869 came Revs. J. W. Van Dyke and John -Carrington with their wives. Two years later were added Rev. and -Mrs. R. Arthur, Rev. J. N. Culbertson and Miss E. S. Dickey. Miss -Arabella Anderson came in 1872 to assist in the new boarding school -for girls. The year 1874 saw the arrival of an unusual number of -unmarried women missionaries. They were Misses S. M. Coffman, M. -L. Cort and E. D. Grimshaw. Then, in 1875, Rev. and Mrs. Eugene P. -Dunlop reached Bangkok and began a very long period of valuable -service. - -Increase of workers meant not diminution but rather increase of -work. This is typified in the case of Dr. House himself, who -jocularly wrote to his brother that “Satan will not likely find -mischief for my hands to do,” and then recounts the duties that -devolve upon him. The varied activities that he mentions not only -show the versatility required of a missionary but indicate the -manifold duties that each missionary has to perform. He writes: - - “I have recently become a theological professor, four - evenings of the week gathering around me in my study the more - advanced and promising of the native church members ... and - try to pilot them through the leading principles of a system - of divinity.” - -One of these men, Ooan Si Tieng, was ordained in 1872. He had been -the first Chinese convert in the mission and now became the first -to receive this full authority from the Presbytery. As pastor of -the native church Dr. House had a full measure of sorrows as well -as joys, for there is a tide in spiritual affairs that has its -ebb as well as its flow, and the years of spiritual awaking were -followed by periods of depression. Thus at the beginning of 1869 he -writes: - - “Our spiritual prospects at the opening of the year are not - as bright as last new year—one or two sad and unexpected - fallings away from the faith have greatly tried and pained - our hearts.” - -But this reaction was transient, for two years later, in telling of -the week of prayer in January, he writes: - - “Our native Christians are quite interested, sustaining the - meetings nobly. Indeed I have thrown the meetings upon them - altogether and they take turns in leading them. You do not - know what comfort it is to have in my little flock enough - able and willing to carry on these meetings.... It would do - you good to witness the spirit of faithfulness on their part - to the souls of their impenitent friends and neighbours.” - -In addition to his duties as pastor of the mission church, Dr. -House was appointed superintendent of the mission press in 1870, -and for that year also was elected secretary of the mission in -charge of the records and correspondence. At the same time he was -offered a royal appointment: - - “Projects are now on foot in both kings’ palaces for schools - for the instruction of the young nobility of Siam in English - and the sciences. I have been earnestly solicited by the - Second King George to aid in establishing the one he is - planning. Happy would I be to lend a helping hand if other - duties would allow.” - -After two years the doctor was relieved of the charge of the Press -and appointed again to the more congenial task of supervising the -mission school, a position which he continued to fill until his -final withdrawal from the field. - -In the midst of these incidents the actual growth of the Mission -must not be overlooked. It has to be recorded that in spite of -arduous and faithful labours of the increasing corps of workers -and in the face of all the encouraging marks of advance in Western -civilisation, Siam responded very slowly to the spiritual appeal -of the Gospel. While she gladly recognised and sought after the -material benefits of Christianity she continued to manifest -her characteristic indifference to its more vital message. Mr. -McDonald, in his book on _Siam, Its Government, Manners and -Customs_, says that when he arrived in Siam in 1861 there was but -one native convert in connection with the mission, whereas ten -years later there was a church in Bangkok with only twenty members -and another in Petchaburi with a like number. He then adds: - - “It is just to state that there is scarcely any other field - in which modern missions have been established where the - introduction of the gospel has met with so little opposition - as in Siam proper.... It is equally just to say that there is - scarcely any other field which has been so barren of results. - Pure Buddhism seems to yield more slowly to the power of the - gospel than any other false system.” - -The reason for this unyielding nature of Buddhism seems to lie in -its ethical theories which are the result of its philosophy of -life. In some measure, too, this indifference of Buddhism to a -spiritual interpretation of life accounts for its non-resistance -towards the preaching of an antagonistic religion. The primary -fallacies of Buddhism from the Christian point of view are: - - “1. No Creator and no Creating: Things just happened. This - conception leads to indifference to nature and to a belief - that the body is vile, to be despised and disregarded. - - “2. No idea of a Spiritual Personality, whether human or - divine. Emphasis is placed on mind and intellect to the - exclusion of will and feeling. Hence Buddhism is a philosophy - rather than a religion, a theory of existence rather than a - motive force. - - “3. No true sense of relationship of man to man or of man - to God, in the absence of spiritual personality. Everything - is ego-centric, each for himself. Hence incomplete ideas of - love, faith, sin, holiness, suffering; in the absence of hope - fear dominates life. - - “4. The greatest fundamental error is the assertion of the - Karma law as the sole principle that explains all (the law - of ethical causation, by which the merit or demerit of every - act in this life effects the future life). This leads to - a denial of personality and to fatalism, formality, trust - in the individual’s merit, denial of forgiveness and self - satisfaction.” - -But if the work at that stage had few numerical results to display, -yet a keen discernment would show that other larger results were -being accomplished. Mr. George B. Bacon, in his volume on Siam, -shows a true appreciation of what missions had accomplished up to -that time: - - “At first sight their efforts, if measured by count of - converts, might seem to have resulted in failure.... But - really the success of these efforts has been extraordinary, - although the history of them exhibits an order of results - almost without precedent. Ordinarily the religious - enlightenment of a people comes first and the civilization - follows as a thing of course. But here the Christianisation - of the nation has scarcely begun, but its civilisation has - made much more than a beginning. For it is to the labours - of the Christian missionaries in Siam that the remarkable - advancement of the kings and nobles, and even of the common - people in general is owing.... - - “When Sir John Bowring came in 1855 to negotiate his treaty - ... he found the fruit was ripe before he plucked it. And it - was by the patient and persistent labours of the missionaries - for twenty years that the results which he achieved were made - not only possible but easy.” - -But there is evidence of even more subtle effect of the gospel. -No one who reads of the notable changes in the social customs and -political institutions introduced by the young King Chulalongkorn -can resist the conclusion that it was the religious support of -these ancient practises that had given way under the disintegrating -light of the Christian Gospel. Even that earlier attempt of Chao -Fah Yai to modernise the religious teachings among his followers -shows that the religious philosophy of Buddhism could not stand -before the truth of Jesus. - - -LITERARY WORK - -In the literary field Dr. House was receptive rather than creative. -He was a lover of books but not of writing: - - “How irksome and difficult the labour of composition has been - to me,” he says, “I’d rather be a ditch digger and shovel - mud. The getting of a certain amount of writing done by a - given time is out of the question in my case.” - -He was appointed the first “librarian” of the Mission back in the -early days when the library consisted of two shelves of books -and some unbound magazines, besides “some Malay, Tamul, Bengali, -Portuguese and Indo-Portuguese books for a long time handed down -in the mission.” His reluctance at the pen partly accounts for -the sparsity of matter published under his name in the missionary -magazines. But the refusal on his part to appear in print in -this fashion was due perhaps more to his fear that journals or -newspapers containing articles on missions would find their way -into the hands of the Siamese government, which might be displeased -with any frank narrative of observations. For this reason he -frequently admonished the recipients of his letters that they -should not take advantage of his absence to publish his comments. - -When it came to the needs of the mission, however, he lent his hand -and brain to supply the requirements. The following tracts are -ascribed to him: - -_Scripture Facts_, 1848. - -_Watt’s Catechism_, bound with The Speller, 1853. - -_Child’s Catechism with Commandments and Lord’s Prayer_, 1854. - -_Questions in Gospel History_, 1864. - -_Stand by the Truth_, 1869. - -These last two in conjunction with Mrs. House. - -After return to America he wrote a pamphlet, _Notes on Obstetric -Practises in Siam_, (Putnam, 1897). In the volume, _Siam and Laos_ -(Presbyterian Board, 1884), several chapters were contributed by -Dr. House, including the very comprehensive and accurate chapter on -_History of Missions in Siam_; but so impersonally did he write the -record that it would be almost impossible for the reader to detect -that a good part of the story had been created in action as well as -recounted by the writer. - -The school for boys which Dr. House fostered almost continuously -from its beginning was merged into the Boys’ Christian High School -in 1889. This institution in turn developed in scope until it was -enlarged into the “Bangkok Christian College,” which was organised -in 1915. - - - - -XI - -HARRIET PETTIT HOUSE - - -In former years a missionary’s wife was not under commission of the -Board. Her status was similar to that of the pastor’s wife at home. -It is not infrequent that the work of the wife is just as vital -to the development of the church as that of her husband, but she -receives no recognition in the official records of the church. Her -honour is emblazoned where the eye cannot see it—in the hearts of -the people. The wife of the pioneer missionary went out, not at the -call of the Church, but at the call of the husband, with no promise -of remuneration aside from the fabulous bridal endowment which the -groom made at marriage “with all his worldly goods” and with no -official rank to assure the preservation of her name on the roll of -honour. - -So it happens that the scanty reports from the early Siam mission -seldom mentioned the name of Mrs. House. Yet one cannot read the -letters of her husband without perceiving that she supplemented -his educational work in a manner and to a degree that is worthy of -special recognition. But apart from that, she succeeded finally in -so organising and establishing female education in Siam that she -has come to be regarded as the founder of permanent educational -work for women in that country. - - -HER FAMILY AND EDUCATION - -Harriet Pettit House was born in Waterford, New York, Dec. 23, -1820. Her ancestry was Scotch and English. On the mother’s side the -line goes back to William Mitchell and his wife, Agnes Buchanan, -who emigrated from Glasgow to New England in 1755. The male line -in America began with the Englishman Abraham Waterhouse, who came -to New England, 1729, and “who sleeps with the pilgrim settlers -at Saybrook, Conn.” Her paternal grandfather, John Pettit, one of -the original settlers of Waterford and a member of the first board -of village trustees, came from Chester, Conn., whence a few years -later he brought his bride, Rebecca Waterhouse. - -[Illustration: HARRIET PETTIT HOUSE] - -Their son, John, is said to have been the first child born in the -new settlement. He became a cabinet maker. Following his father’s -example, he sought a wife in Chester and married Sarah Parmelee -Mitchell, who was his “second cousin, once removed.” Of this -ancestry and marriage was born the future woman missionary. The -family comprised Mary Jane (dying in infancy), Eliza Ann, Mary -Jane, Harriet Maria, John Mitchell, William Frederic and Sarah -Frances, all of whom were born at Waterford except the last. The -mother was a member of the Waterford Presbyterian Church, and the -two older daughters united at an early age. In 1832 the family -moved to Sandy Hill, New York, where resided an uncle, General -Micajah Pettit. While living there Harriet made a profession of her -faith at the age of seventeen. During residence in that village -she became acquainted with Stephen Mattoon and the young woman who -later became his wife, with both of whom she was destined to be -associated in Siam. The first appearance of her name in the journal -of Dr. House is a casual entry that Mrs. Mattoon had received -(1851) a letter from her friend Harriet Pettit. After nine years -the family returned to Waterford in 1841. - -Harriet’s elementary education was the best afforded by the private -school system of the period. In 1840 she entered the Emma Willard -Female Seminary at Troy, New York. There she studied for a year, -and then entered upon what proved to be her life work of female -education. Her first year of teaching was in a young ladies’ school -in New York City. For two years she served as governess for a -family in Charleston, South Carolina. It was while there that she -wrote to her youngest sister a most remarkable letter of religious -importunity. In the winter of 1843 a great revival had aroused the -little church at Waterford under the pastor, Rev. Reuben Smith, in -which sixty-nine were converted. Among these were her father and -two brothers, all of whom united with the church. Having received -news of this awakening, Harriet sent to her sister, the only member -of the family not yet in the Church, a letter carefully printed so -as to be legible to the girl of ten years. It was a letter with a -purpose. It was an affectionate entreaty for the sister to become -a Christian. Concisely but clearly she explained what it meant to -be a Christian, and then gently and with fervour urged a prompt -decision for Christ. That letter was not void of its purpose, and -all these eighty years since it has been treasured by the recipient -as a memento of a loving, consecrated sister. - -The Pettit family did not remain long in Waterford after their -return. In 1844 they moved to Newark, New Jersey, and there became -identified with the Second Presbyterian Church, of which at the -time the pastor was a relative, the Rev. Ebenezer Cheever, who had -formerly been their pastor also at Waterford. Thereupon, Harriet -came to Newark and set up a small school for girls in her home. -In 1848 she was called to be assistant in the female seminary at -Steubenville, Ohio. In the fall of 1851 she returned to Newark -and opened, under her own management, a “Select School for Young -Ladies,” which she continued up to the time of her marriage. During -these later years she was active in the work of the Second Church, -serving as joint superintendent of the Sunday school. On Oct. 24, -1855, her father died, leaving Harriet alone with their mother and -her youngest sister. - - -MARRIAGE - -It was at this juncture of the family affairs, two days after the -father’s death, that Harriet received an unexpected call from her -friend of former years, Dr. S. R. House, then home on a furlough -from Siam. Writing later to a friend she comments: - - “It is but two years this morning since my good husband - called at 373 Broad Street, Newark, to see a lady on very - particular business. Only two years,—and fifteen months of - that time I have been in the city of Bangkok. Does not this - speak well for Samuel’s despatch of business sometimes? (Then - quoting a bit of doggerel which he had once written:) - - ‘I haven’t the slightest notion - Of launching on the stormy ocean - Where family cares and troubles rise - Heaping their billows to the skies - A wife’s complaint, the young one’s cries - Wont suit me.’ - - “How entirely we sometimes change our minds! On the morning - of the 26th, the ‘batch’ who once thus sung had not the - slightest, but the strongest notion—and launching forth soon - followed.” - -Having changed his mind the suitor allowed little time to slip by -till he had won the object of his heart’s desire. A month and a day -after the engagement, on Nov. 27, 1855, the marriage occurred. - -The bridal couple sailed for Siam in the spring of 1856, arriving -at Bangkok in July. On the part of the natives connected with the -mission the bride was received with a quiet curiosity, for these -people were slow to receive newcomers into their affections. But -King Mongkut, having first given a private audience to Dr. House, -requested particularly that the bride might come to the palace to -receive his congratulations. Mrs. House describes the call: - - “A few weeks afterwards a note came from him inviting the - ladies who, as he expressed it, ‘had not yet been to pay - their personal interview to H. M.,’ and saying he would send - a boat for us. About 2 p. m., the boat came with one of the - ladies of the king’s household and a train of servants; and - Mrs. Morse and I went.... Passing through a gate in the wall - of the palace we were conducted through paved streets on - each side of which are the brick dwellings of the various - inmates. As we passed along we attracted the attention of the - residents who crowded about the doors, curious to see the - foreign ladies. - - “At length we arrived at a large building on the portico of - which were chairs, and here we were invited to sit to await - summons into the royal presence.... After an hour or more a - message came from H. M. announcing his readiness to receive - us. We entered a door guarded by several female soldiers; and - here stood the king to meet us; dressed in a mouse colored, - figured silk sacque, over a white garment—a large diamond - on his breast, a number of very brilliant rings and a gold - watch, and sandals on feet. He extended his right hand very - graciously to us and led the way to a spacious hall, hung - round with mirrors, where we were seated. - - “He sent for his favorite wife whom he introduced as his - queen consort, and afterwards sent for her two children; the - eldest a boy of about four years, was loaded with chains - of gold; the youngest a daughter. Both very handsome. His - Majesty was exceedingly affable, speaking English so that - with strict attention we could understand. He conversed on - various subjects intelligently. Refreshments were served, - during which H. M. left us. When he returned he presented to - us each, as a memento of our visit, a very heavy gold ring - of Siamese manufacture, set with five sapphires. After being - shown through some of the apartments, at sundown we took our - leave.” - -A belated sequence of this royal welcome was an invitation to Mrs. -House and Mrs. Jonathan Wilson (newly arrived) to dine with the -queen and some of her ladies in the palace the following year. - - -AN INDUSTRIOUS WOMAN - -We catch glimpses of the indefatigable industry of this woman -slightly from her few letters but chiefly from those of Dr. House. -Within a month after landing, before the house was fairly settled, -she began where the first opportunity presented: - - “My good wife has already begun her true missionary work, - for she has a Bible class of nine of our young folks, whom - she instructs Sabbath mornings through the English tongue - which they have partially acquired.” - -Promptly she took up the important task of learning the language: - - “I love the Siamese language very much indeed. The first - month I was here I took no lesson and I have lost two months - since by sickness and absence, but I have read and nearly - translated the gospel of Matthew; and I begin to make myself - understood.” - -During the dry season for the first several years Mrs. House made -tours with her husband. One of these was to Prabat, the scene of -the “footstep of Buddha,” where the doctor had experienced rough -treatment on his previous visit; on this occasion, however, no -attention was paid to the presence of foreigners. Mrs. House took -pains to write vivid accounts of many of these tours for the -home Sunday school; these and parts of her letters found their -way into the missionary magazines of the day and afterwards were -incorporated as a part of the volume, _Siam and Laos_. - -In the summer of the second year we find her teaching an -hour-and-a-half daily in the mission school and giving two hours -daily to the study of the language beside the domestic cares. She -had already taken under her maternal oversight the native girl -Delia, and also accepted charge of Nancy, whom Mrs. Mattoon had -raised; and while in some ways these wards were an assistance, yet -their care and direction was a great responsibility. Comments upon -her zeal appear frequently in the doctor’s letters, and ten years -after her arrival he continues to mention her diligence: - - “Harriette is as industriously engaged as ever. She will - teach three full hours a day, besides what she does for her - girls at home, reading and translating with the Siamese - teacher. Nor can she be persuaded to spare herself. Has just - started under superintendance of Delia and Ooey, alternately, - an infant sewing and singing class.” - -Thus by assistance of the girls whom she had already taught she -undertook to extend her reach, training these girls in teaching -under her own direction. After she had fairly mastered the language -she sought further to enlarge her influence by preparing tracts and -translating pamphlets. She is credited with these productions: - -_Questions in Gospel History_, 1864; _Stand by the Truth_, 1869 -(these two in conjunction with Dr. House); _Catechism in Bible -Truth_, 1870; several juvenile story books. - -Concerning the _Catechism_, Dr. House wrote to Mrs. House while -she was in America (1871): “I take great satisfaction in the -circulation of that little tract _Bible Truth_ you toiled on so -faithfully, and I like it better each day. Our whole school recite -their ‘verse a day’ from that now.” - - -PRECARIOUS HEALTH - -While admiring her industry. Dr. House expressed foreboding very -early, writing six months after her arrival: “H. is really very -well now, but is far too industrious. I am curious to know the -effect a Siamese sun will have on such habits of diligence as she -has brought from the United States.” - -That the tropical rays were not to be ignored, even by consecrated -diligence, early became manifested by a strange “burning sensation -in the top of the head,” from which Mrs. House began to suffer -within a year and which continued, sometimes with alarming -discomfort, throughout her residence in Siam. As the pain increased -rather than abated after seven years in the tropics, her physician -recommended a sojourn in her native climate in hopes of gaining -permanent relief. Accordingly Dr. and Mrs. House left Bangkok in -February, 1864, and spent two full years in America. The change -brought relief which at the time it was hoped would be permanent. - - -BEGINNINGS OF FEMALE EDUCATION IN SIAM - -It is not possible to ascribe to Mrs. House the beginnings of -education of women in Siam. Even apart from the efforts of the -women of the other missions to teach the Chinese women, Mrs. -Mattoon had at the outset of her career taken native girls into -her home with a view to educating them. Later she succeeded in -gathering a class of little girls in the Peguan village across the -river from the capital. When Mrs. House came, in 1856, Mrs. Mattoon -was conducting a class of six or seven married women whom she -taught to read while at the same time giving religious instruction. -Shortly after the coming of Mrs. House, Mrs. Mattoon seems to have -withdrawn from such work in her favour, as her own time was then -largely occupied with her domestic duties. - -Modern female education in Siam may be said to have begun when the -newly crowned King Mongkut, in August, 1851, requested the ladies -of the several missions to come to the palace in turns for the -purpose of instructing some of the royal ladies. This was five -years before Mrs. House reached Siam. The intention of the king, -as he expressed it, was to qualify the ladies of the palace to -converse with him in English. The effect of this royal patronage of -female education was not only to break the bondage of custom which -held women in perpetual ignorance but to quicken popular interest -in the mission school. - -Though Mrs. House promptly enlisted in assisting her husband in -the school for boys, her greatest sympathy was with the girls of -Siam. From the first she sought to reach out toward them, making -her first point of contact by a class in English Bible. As she came -to perceive the age-long inheritance of ignorance that impoverished -the successive generations of Siamese women she was kindled with -a desire to share with them the heritage of Christian women. This -lack of education she pictures: - - “When we first went to Siam not one woman or little girl - in ten could read, although all the boys are taught by the - priests in the temples to read and write. One day a very - bright interesting little girl, twelve years old perhaps, - came to our boat to see the strangers. When asked if she - could read, she did not answer yes or no, but with surprise - exclaimed, ‘Why, I am a girl’—as if we ought to have known - better than to ask a girl such a question.” - -The chief obstacle to education was the notion that education -had no value for them. Woman’s place was to serve and please man. -So long as she could cook rice, take care of the children and do -necessary work without knowing books, why learn? Perhaps Mrs. House -did not have a vision of making education an established factor in -the customs of Siam; that possibility was too vast and too remote -to conceive under the circumstances. But she did have a clear -vision that education was indispensable to the amelioration of -womankind. - -Her first step was taken in 1858, concerning which the doctor -wrote: “Daily now Harriette has four female pupils about her, -and the first day they were present, she came to me looking so -happy, saying: ‘O, I have been in my element today—teaching girls -again.’” This step was of importance chiefly as the beginning of -her definite work in female education. Otherwise it was rather -commonplace. These girls were just the girls whom the missionaries -had taken into their homes primarily to influence for Christ. All -the missionary families have done this and are doing so today. Mrs. -House gathered them into a class in order that they might have more -regular school training, and as other families came and other girls -were taken into the homes the number in her class increased. This -class was partly industrial, for besides instruction in reading the -Bible and other elementary subjects, the girls were taught to sew. -With the aid of an American sewing-machine their skill was utilised -to make garments for the boys of the boarding school; showing their -work could be of value. About this time Mrs. House also succeeded -in winning the confidence of a group of older women whom she -instructed in an informal manner in domestic economy. - -Along with indifference there was a more concrete obstacle to -progress in education of girls—the economic factor. Time spent -in class was time lost from labour in the house or in the field; -and this was a serious matter. While Mrs. House had demonstrated -the economic value of domestic training for girls by the saving in -expense for the boys’ school through their sewing, it remained for -Mrs. S. G. McFarland, at Petchaburi, in 1865, to apply this fact -in such a manner as to draw women into her classes. She offered -prospective pupils employment at a wage equal to that they could -earn elsewhere. So long as they brought in earnings their fathers, -or husbands in some cases, were not particular how they worked; -and if foreigners were foolish enough to pay them to learn, the -returns were a little more certain than in other markets. One of -the conditions of the school was that each pupil would devote a -part of the time to learning to read. The skill of hands which they -acquired by training enabled them to earn their wage and still -leave a good margin of time for this instruction. The result was -a demonstration that trained hands could do more and better work, -and that trained minds made those hands more thrifty. Here was the -answer to the economic objection to female education. - -When Mrs. House returned from America, in 1866, she took up her -work with women again. Reporting home, the doctor wrote: “Harriette -is greatly engaged in her labours of teaching etc., going out to -the school room and calling to her at home the women about us of -whom she has a class now morning and afternoon, learning to read.” -This is only a glimpse, but it shows that she returns with her -purpose steady in mind. While Dr. House was on his ill-fated trip -to Chiengmai Mrs. House assumed full charge of the boys’ school and -boarding department, and at the same time continued her classes for -women. Perhaps it should be explained that while the term women is -most commonly used in the doctor’s references to her work, the word -really refers to the young married women for the most part, girls -whom we would class as of the high school ages or just above. - -At length Mrs. House introduced the plan which Mrs. McFarland had -tested at Petchaburi, paying women for their work which in turn -was disposed of to advantage, but on condition that part of their -time should be devoted to general instruction in the rudiments -of learning, always including the Bible. With this advance her -work for women passed from the stage of voluntary classes to a -recognised established school. Writing in 1868, Dr. House reported -home: - - “Harriette is greatly engaged in her new industrial - school for women. A busy scene on our back verandah every - morning,—eight sewers.... Harriette’s class of women in her - industrial school for women is a success and promises great - good, though it keeps her busy in season and out of season.” - -Mrs. House was able to use in this work some of the older girls who -had been under her motherly care for some years. When, in 1871, she -spent a year in America, her industrial school was continued under -the direction of Maa Kate and Maa Esther, who took full charge. - - -FURLOUGHS FOR HEALTH - -The three years’ absence from Siam proved to have only a temporary -benefit for Mrs. House’s health. The burning sensation in her -head soon set in anew. She worked under constant pain; at times -her head was swathed in wet cloths to mitigate the pain so that -she could discharge her duties. Work and suffering together were -exhausting, and after another three years period she was forced -to seek a respite. To this end, in 1869, she gladly accepted the -invitation of the Burrows, of Canton, that family of good friends -to missionaries, who offered a free passage in one of their ships -and kind hospitality in their home. - -This voyage to China proved to be perilous and alarming reports -of a foundered ship reached Dr. House at Bangkok. Fortunately the -ship’s encounter was not fatal. - - “When twenty-eight days out the ship sprang a leak, made - eleven inches of water an hour, eight feet a day. Men kept - constantly at pumps; had to lighten the ship by throwing over - some one thousand sacks of rice, one-tenth the cargo, and - undergird the ship with a large sail—‘thrumming’ they call - it. Spoke a ship which promised to keep company and to come - and help if at night a certain lantern signal was hoisted. - Lost sight of her however. Were indeed in great peril. But a - gracious Providence brought them in safety.” - -A visit of three months away from the tropics gave renewed vigour -and again Mrs. House returned to Bangkok with buoyant hopes of a -measure of comfort for her work. But as soon as the dry season had -passed the pain renewed its malign attack. At this perspective of -time the wonder is that she persisted in hope of being able even -to remain, much less labour in the tropics. Her persistence is a -silent testimony to her earnest desire to do something for the -Siamese women. After another twelve-month she was again compelled -to seek relief. Desiring to see once more her mother, then eighty -years of age, she sailed alone for America, arriving in the summer -of 1871. - - -APPEAL TO THE WOMEN OF AMERICA - -Return to the temperate climate promptly brought relief and -restored her health. Her demonstrated success in the industrial -school had enlarged her hopes and clarified her vision of the -possibilities of female education; while the rapid modernisation -of Siam under the young King Chulalongkorn quickened her sense of -necessity to place that education upon a broader and more permanent -foundation. Both success and the opportunity impelled her to lay -the burden of responsibility upon the women of the Presbyterian -Church in America. This year in America we find her accepting -invitations to speak in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Albany, -Troy and other places, telling her story and pleading for the -womanhood of Siam. - -Just here it is both interesting and amusing to look back to the -attitude of mind towards women speaking in the Church. The doctor -writes to his brother counseling concerning his wife’s deportment -in this matter: - - “Keep her if possible out of the pulpit—where I understand - the zeal of some returned missionary ladies carries them in - these days of women’s movement in mission work.” - -This would almost be interpreted as a bit of jocular admonition to -a brother’s responsibility, were it not that we find these cautions -direct to the wife: - - “Don’t step out of your sphere into the pulpit. If you - unsex yourself, I am not sure you will be welcome back as - warmly.... O don’t let anything tempt you to go beyond your - proper sphere as a woman; you cannot count upon a blessing - there and you will certainly grieve many that you love.” - -Nor is the doctor quite as sanguine as his wife over this project -for a general advance in work for women even in Siam where he knows -the situation intimately: - - “I sympathise with you heartily in your wish to accomplish - much for Siam before our stay here ... is over. And it may - be that the privilege will be given you of working more for - the women of the land. But there are great difficulties - in the way of this and there will be great trials and - disappointments awaiting you. I fear your distance from - Siam lends ‘enchantment to the view,’ and makes you forget - what the people are—heathen in heart and custom of life. - You ought to know that not a few here are opposed to the - principle of female industrial schools.... It is a very - serious question you propose with reference to bringing a - young lady out with you to reside in your family.” - - -THE “TROY BRANCH” INSTITUTES THE PROJECT - -Mrs. House’s plea for the women of Siam found a response very near -home. It so happened that in the spring of 1872 Secretaries Irving -and Ellinwood, of the Foreign Board, addressed a meeting of the -Synod of Albany, held at Troy, New York. The Woman’s Presbyterian -Board of Foreign Missions of the Synod of Albany met at the same -place, and united with the Synod to hear the addresses. The result -was the organisation of a branch of the Women’s Board to cover the -Troy Presbytery, whence the name “Troy Branch.” The organising -group not only undertook to establish auxiliaries in their -respective churches but resolved as a Branch to assume as their -first and special object a boarding school for girls in Bangkok; -and to inaugurate this project they commissioned Mrs. House, who -was known personally to many of the women of the new organisation. -To begin the work the Branch agreed to provide three thousand -dollars; and for the next four years they raised some one thousand -four hundred and forty dollars. So it happened that Mrs. House -became the official head of the projected boarding school for girls. - -The enterprise which was now committed to her was much larger in -scope than the work she already had under way; and even with small -beginnings there was need of an assistant to share the burden, -lighten the responsibility and aid in council. While Mrs. House -was in correspondence with several young women whose interests had -been turned towards Siam by her addresses a young woman of her own -church at Waterford, Arabella Anderson, offered herself. - - -ARABELLA ANDERSON-NOYES - -Arabella Anderson was the daughter of James McL. and Arabella -Moreland Anderson, who emigrated from Belfast about 1847. They -settled at Waterford, New York, and promptly identified themselves -with the Presbyterian Church. They brought an infant son with them; -another son and three daughters were born to them in their new -home. Arabella was the eldest daughter, having been born Nov. 26, -1848. After elementary instruction in the local school she spent -a year in a nearby academy. At the age of twelve she united with -the Church. Her desire to become a foreign missionary was largely -the fruit of home influence. Both parents were devoted to the -cause of missions. Her father never forgot to intercede for the -work at family prayers. Her mother had been quickened in zeal for -the work in youth by hearing a missionary to Russia; and it was -her hope that her first born son might become a missionary, though -circumstances prevented this. - -In the summer of 1872 Mrs. S. R. House was at her old home in -Waterford planning to return to Siam for the new enterprise which -had been entrusted to her by the “Troy Branch.” The pastor of the -local church, Rev. R. P. H. Vail, preached a missionary sermon -making a strong appeal for a volunteer to accompany Mrs. House as a -missionary-teacher. This came to the heart of Miss Anderson as the -Master’s call for enlistment in the work she had long contemplated. -After counsel with her mother she offered her services to Mrs. -House and was accepted. Two months later, in September, the two -sailed for Siam, reaching Bangkok late in the autumn. It was two -years before the new boarding school for girls could be housed. In -the meantime Miss Anderson took charge of the younger children in -the day school of the mission. - -After the girls’ school was under way, by a happy inspiration -Miss Anderson hit upon an idea that brought the new school to the -attention of the young King Chulalongkorn. The sewing class was -sewing patches to make a quilt cover. It occurred to her that a -specimen of their product brought to the attention of the king -might demonstrate to him the practical character of their school. -Accordingly she had the girls make a quilt from pieces of silk she -had brought from China, with the intention of presenting this to -the king on his birthday. Arrangements having been made through -the Foreign Office, Dr. and Mrs. House, Miss Anderson and Miss -Grimstead (another assistant) were received by the king. After an -address of congratulations they presented the silk quilt to him. -His Majesty expressed his pleasure at the compliment, and his -gratification at having such a specimen of the work being done by -the girls of the school. Droll as this incident may seem now—the -formal reception at royal court and the presentation, to such an -august personage, of a patch-work quilt made by girls of a sewing -class—yet the demonstration made a favourable impression upon -the progressive ruler and won his sympathetic interest in the -educational work for girls newly undertaken by the mission. - -After learning the language Miss Anderson translated several of Dr. -Richard Newton’s addresses for the young, under the title _Bible -Blessings_. Mrs. House and Miss Anderson went to Canton in 1875 -for recuperation. There Miss Anderson met Rev. Henry V. Noyes, a -missionary under the Presbyterian Board. The acquaintance led to an -engagement, and the two were married at Bangkok, Jan. 29, 1876. -Two years were spent in America in work for the Chinese on the -Pacific Coast, and then the couple returned to China, where Mrs. -Noyes co-operated with her husband, especially conducting Bible -schools for women. - -After the death of her husband, in 1914, she continued to labour -in China in a non-official capacity until 1922, when she returned -to America, having served in the foreign mission work fifty years. -One son, Richard V. Noyes, died as he was about to enter upon a -missionary career; the other son, Rev. Wm. D. Noyes, was for some -years a missionary in China under the Presbyterian Board. A sister -of Mrs. Noyes, Sarah Jean (1854-1902), graduated in 1875 from the -Women’s Medical College of New York and in 1877 sailed for China -as a medical missionary under the Presbyterian Board. Ill health -compelled her to resign two years later. Afterwards she married -Mr. Richard C. Brown and resided in England, where she rendered -valuable services for the cause of temperance. - - -BOARDING SCHOOL ESTABLISHED AT WANG LANG - -The first step necessary to establish the new boarding school was -to procure a suitable building. Space at the mission compound -did not permit of a new building with room for future expansion. -It so happened that the mission had already purchased a piece of -land with the intention of opening a second station. A residence -had been begun but remained unfinished for lack of funds. It was -decided to turn this property over to the school and complete the -building with funds provided by the Troy Branch. The locality was -known as Wang Lang, a name which attached itself to the school for -several years. Concerning this site Dr. House wrote: - - “The location of the school is a fine one. It is central, - healthy and breezy; on the west bank of the noble river - Meinam, which rolls through the great city; opposite to, - but a quarter of a mile above, the Royal Palace, where its - buildings such as they are cannot but testify to prince, - noble and peasant as they pass by in their boats of state - or barges what Western Christian nations think of female - education. They also testify to the generosity and friendship - of the American church people.” - -As soon as the building could be made ready Dr. and Mrs. House -and Miss Anderson moved to the new location. On May 13, 1874, -this first boarding school for girls in Siam was opened with six -boarders and one day pupil. The building, originally intended only -for a residence, was none too commodious. The basement contained -kitchen, dining room and servants’ quarters; the first floor had a -suite of three rooms for Dr. and Mrs. House and one common living -room; on the second floor was one small sleeping room for Miss -Anderson and two large rooms which served as school rooms by day -and as dormitories for the girls by night. Within a year a second -helper was added in the person of Miss Susie D. Grimstead. By the -second year twenty girls had enrolled, living in these two rooms, -rather small quarters by American standards but ample according to -native custom. - -In one regard Mrs. House was disappointed in her expectation. It -had been her confident hope to attract to this school daughters of -some of the nobles and princes. A few of this class came at first -but soon the school was left to the girls of the common class. The -value of an education was not yet as highly valued among the higher -classes as among the lowly; for the women of the upper grades not -only had no need to read but no need to work; while on the other -hand the practical nature of the training given in the school -did not meet the requirements of their social position. In later -years, however, there was a decided change, and with the growing -popularity of education nearly half of the pupils in the school -were from the noble families. - - -LEAVING SIAM - -It was the lot of Mrs. House to do little more than to inaugurate -the new school, for her health rendered a long period of service -impossible. But in even initiating the movement she did far more -than she realised at the time, for she was investing in the -enterprise an accumulation of experience and a wealth of influence -among the women of Bangkok such as no one else possessed, and -which gave the institution a capital from which it began to draw -immediate returns. Such a school could not have been organised by -a new leader, however skilled in educational matters, without long -years of cultivation of personal relations with the mothers and -girls. One can see now that Mrs. House’s return to Siam for another -trial of health had a higher wisdom than even she could perceive; -for while it seemed a daring of Providence, it was in fact the -wisdom of the great Teacher for her to expend the final momentum -of her personal prestige and thereby buy up a decade of time or -more at the expenditure of her last four years of effort. - -The return to Siam in 1872 found the climate less kindly to her. -Then came a new development, an attack of asthma which lasted for -nearly eight months, so debilitating her as to render it necessary -for her to relinquish the cherished work into other hands. In -March, 1876, after twenty years of faithful, zealous and labourious -work for the Kingdom of God among the women of Siam, she bade -farewell to her friends there and returned to America with her -husband. - - “Need I tell you that I left Siam with a sad, sad heart? - At the monthly concert this month my feelings overcame me - so that I felt as if I could not attend another till I - became more reconciled to the thought that I can never again - labour among the heathen. I think many of the Siamese truly - regretted our leaving. The dear school girls followed us - weeping to the landing, and we could hear their sobs as long - as we could see them waving goodbye. - - “Had I not felt it a case of life and death, I could not - have torn myself away. It was plain duty but it seemed to me - a dark providence that I should so soon be obliged to leave - this dear school, the result of so much labour and prayer and - of so many trials.” - - -AN ESTIMATE OF HER WORK - -Mrs. House was so modest in the estimate of her own work for women -that she failed to appraise fully what she had done. No doubt -the meagerness of results up to the time of her resignation and -the smallness of the achievement in comparison with her hopes -caused the whole to appear insignificant. None of her letters give -expression to the feeling of accomplishment but dwell largely upon -the great need and the unappropriated opportunity. However, a -careful review of the development of education for women in Siam -gives to Mrs. House a very high place among all the consecrated -women who contributed the labours of hand and head and heart to -that object. Without detracting one iota from the praise that -belongs to others, but rather reflecting light upon their measure -of honour, it may be said that to Mrs. House belongs the credit -for certain important steps which marked the development and -contributed to the permanent establishment of female education in -Siam. - -In the early attempts at educating girls in the homes of the -missionaries the aim in view was the conversion of the girls, -to which the education in reading was incidental. Without -minimising the value of education as an agency for religion Mrs. -House viewed education as an object greatly to be desired in -itself with manifold advantages issuing from it, but especially -having an influence upon the whole social status of womankind. A -second factor utilised by her for the development of her object -was domestic and manual training as a part of the broad policy -of education. Previously the few girls in the homes of the -missionaries had been trained in ways of work to make them more -efficient servants for the earning of their keep, but there was no -attempt to give instruction of this character to others. Mrs. House -included domestic training in the scope of education. Moreover, -she showed herself ready to appropriate valuable ideas wherever she -found them, and when she saw that Mrs. McFarland later utilised -this economic factor to draw girls into her school at Petchaburi, -she readily adopted the same method. - -But if the efforts of several missionary women to teach small -groups of girls may be likened to the foundations of female -education in Siam, then the boarding school which Mrs. House -established must be likened to the corner-stone of the structure -which has since grown into a beautiful and impressive temple of -learning. Hitherto classes had been the voluntary undertaking -of individuals in their eagerness to help their sisters out of -darkness; but in each case the undertaking was not a permanent -project but subject to termination with the removal of the -particular teacher. Mrs. House’s achievement at Wang Lang was the -establishment of an institution with a support and a directorate -that insured permanency. - -In the voluntary classes the girls were in contact with the -teachers for a few hours at the most and then returned to native -environment to which they were subject for the greater part of the -time. It was like taking one step forward and then stepping back. -The influence of the home and of the city largely obstructed the -good impulses received by the girls while with their teachers. The -advance feature of the Wang Lang school was that the girls were -to remain under constant Christian influence, in frequent contact -with the teachers and subject to the daily discipline of an ideal -Christian home. While the girls were devoting their full mental -energy to study, the Christian religion had the fairest chance to -bear its fruit in ennobled character, free from the blighting -influence of pagan customs and morals. - -As indicative of what this school meant for the future educational -program in Siam it is worthy of note that twenty-five years after -the establishment of the Wang Lang school, the entire female -teaching force in the government public schools in Bangkok were -graduates of this school, thirteen in number, all but one of -whom were professing Christians. It is no wonder, then, that the -Minister of Education in Siam, at a commencement of the school, -said: - - “The Siamese formerly had a proverb which was in every man’s - mouth: ‘Woman is a buffalo; only man is human.’ Through the - influence of your school and the teaching of the American - Missionary women, we have thrown that old proverb away, and - our own government is founding schools for the education of - girls.” - -As a mark of honour to the founder this school was named “The -Harriet House School for Girls,” a name which it retained until -successful growth made it necessary to divide the school and seek -new quarters; the higher grades of which are now known as “Wattana -Wittaya Academy,” while the older name still clings to the old -school in its old location. - - - - -XII - -HOME AGAIN, AND “HOME AT LAST” - - -The living pageant, “The Big Mountain and the Little Chisel,” had -not ended, but some of the actors had to retire. Dr. House, who had -been in the leading rôle for twenty-nine years, and Mrs. House, -who had been his loyal understudy for twenty, handed their lines -to other willing players and took their seats on the dais of time -to watch the Divine plot unfold. Repeated efforts on the part of -Mrs. House to recuperate her health only confirmed the physician’s -surmise that the immediate cause of her suffering was the tropical -climate. There was no alternative of wisdom but to return to her -native clime. So it came about that Dr. and Mrs. House resigned. - -Their leave-taking was almost like laying down life itself, for -their hearts had become intimately entwined with the lives of the -Siamese people. In March, 1876, the two sailed for “home again.” -But to return to America was not to abandon their zeal for Siam; -they made themselves ambassadors at large to the Church in the -United States in behalf of the Kingdom of Christ in that land. - - -REARING TWO SIAMESE LADS - -Most notable and doubtless most valuable of their services for Siam -after their retirement was the rearing and educating of two lads -whom they had brought from that country, Boon Itt and Nai Kawn. -These lads are still remembered by the people of Waterford who were -associated with them in their earlier years in America. The story -is told of the two boys having their first experience with snow. -One autumn morning, finding that a light snow had fallen during -the night, the two went out into the back yard, dropped down on -their knees and began to feel the snow; and then getting down on -all fours touched it with their tongues again and again. Among Mrs. -House’s letters was a copy of a letter which Kawn wrote to a boy -friend in Siam, in which he labours to explain how the water of the -river had become hard so that he could walk on it with skates. - -Boon Itt was the son of Maa Tuan, the matron of the girls’ boarding -school under Mrs. House. Dr. and Mrs. House chose him to be the -subject of a Western education partly because he had shown himself -to be a bright pupil in the boys’ school, and partly because he was -one of the few children of second generation Christian Siamese. -After the completion of his elementary education at Waterford, -Boon was sent to Williston Academy, Williams College, and Auburn -Theological Seminary. This long course of education occupied -seventeen years. In 1893 he returned to Siam as a Christian -missionary to his own people. His life and work, worthy of an -extended account, will occupy a separate chapter. - -The other lad, known familiarly as Nai Kawn in America, was Kawn -Amatyakul, born 1865, the son of a nobleman Pra Pre Chah; and the -grandson of Kuhn Mote, one of the progressive nobles who early -formed a lasting friendship with Dr. House because of their mutual -interest in science. Before the boys’ boarding school had been -fairly established, Kuhn Mote placed his son under the tutorship -of Dr. House to learn English and chemistry. It was this son who, -as Pra Pre Chah, learning that his former tutor was retiring to -America, solicited Dr. House to take his son Nai Kawn along and -supervise his education in Western science. To this Dr. House -consented, with the understanding that the son of the nobleman was -to be reared in a democratic fashion as a companion with the son -of a plebeian, and that he would be subject to intensive religious -training according to the Christian faith. - -After his preparatory education, Kawn entered Lafayette College -for a four years’ course in mining engineering, though not as -a candidate for a degree. Finishing there in 1888, he returned -to Siam early the next year. His life work was devoted to the -educational program of the government, his professorial labours -being chiefly in chemistry and physics in various schools and -colleges of the government. At length he became chief of the -examination division of the department of education. He was given -the title of Luang Vinich Vidyakarn in 1902; and some years later -was elevated to a higher rank with the title Phya Vinich Vidyakarn. - -Kawn united with the Presbyterian Church of Waterford upon -profession of faith in 1879. Although he gave evidence of sincerity -in making this profession and in other ways manifested an earnest -purpose to live according to the teaching of Jesus, yet it must -be acknowledged that upon return to his native land he did not -identify himself with the native church and eventually held himself -altogether aloof from fellowship with the Christians. No doubt one -cause for this course was the barrier of social rank. His education -and culture led him to prefer his own class. On the other hand, -it must be recorded that he never made open repudiation of his -profession, at least in any formal manner, neither did he manifest -any antipathy to the Christian faith. His death occurred April, -1922. - - -ABUNDANT IN LABOURS TO THE END - -After her return to the United States, Mrs. House became the center -of a strong influence in behalf of Siam among the women of the -Church at home, especially as an advocate for female education. In -1878 she was elected president of the Woman’s Presbyterian Board -of Foreign Missions of the Synod of Albany and served five years -in that capacity. When the several small synods within New York -were united into the present Synod of New York, in 1883, Mrs. House -was a member of the committee that planned for the consolidation -of the several women’s societies into the Woman’s Presbyterian -Foreign Missionary Society of New York Synod, and became the first -president of the consolidated organisation. As a motto for the -united society she proposed the ideal “Every Woman in Every Church -Working for Jesus”—a motto that reads quite fresh to date. To Mrs. -House is due the credit of originating the series of “Questions and -Answers in Mission Fields,” beginning with a catechism on the work -in Siam for children’s mission bands. This method of disseminating -missionary information may possibly be the germ from which has -developed the current system of mission study. - -In the church at Waterford Mrs. House was accepted as the natural -leader in the foreign missionary society of the women. She so -developed interest in the work that the society maintained a very -high standard of giving and of activities for many years. She was -particularly interested in cultivating an interest in missions -among the children and it was for her own mission band that the -series of questions and answers were originally devised. Mrs. House -had the joyous satisfaction of seeing Boon Itt ready for work in -Siam. But before the time came for his departure she was called -upon to take leave of him for eternity. On July 12, 1893, she -passed to her rich reward in Heaven. - -With return to America, Dr. House continued his activities in -behalf of the Gospel at home and of missions abroad. He embraced -frequent opportunities to preach, and especially responded with -pleasure to invitations for addresses on Siam. He had accumulated -a large collection of curios from Siam, China and Japan, which he -used with good effect to illustrate his talks and interest his -hearers. This collection he left to the people of Waterford, and -it is in custody of the Presbyterian Church. In the home church he -took an active part, serving for many years as trustee, and also as -clerk and treasurer of the board of trustees. He was honoured by -the community with election as President of the village, an office -which he held at the time of his death. - - -“ALL THINGS RICHLY TO ENJOY” - -When the two missionaries returned from their long period of heavy -labours in Siam with impaired health it was with the expectation -that the estate which the doctor had received from his father would -provide sufficient income for a comfortable living. The salary -while on the field had been so small that instead of being able to -save from that income, the doctor had to supplement it from his -private purse. But with economy, he expected that his patrimony -would be ample for the needs of himself and wife. Not long after -his return, however, it developed that the investment of his funds -was unsound, and he suddenly found his reserves swept away. The two -were left largely dependent, though still having their home. - -Without a word of complaint they accepted the situation as one of -the inexplicable dispensations of God. The many years of sublime -but real trust in the care of Providence which they had cultivated -in the mission field and which they had often proven to be an -unfailing means of blessing, now stood them in good stead. Those -who knew them intimately relate instances in which what seemed to -be spontaneous gifts of friends and neighbours reached them at the -moment when they knew not whence a supply for immediate needs was -to come. In a letter to a friend telling of the timely provision of -the Lord for his needs, Dr. House wrote that his old friend Kuhn -Mote, having learned of his straitened circumstances, had sent him -a gift of five hundred dollars. If the record of those later years -could be written it would be a continuous testimony to the simple -reliance upon the goodness and mercy of God, and to the marvellous -justification of the faith of this godly couple. - - -THE JUBILEE YEAR - -When, in 1897, the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions -celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of permanent -work in Siam, the doctor was the only survivor of the group who -met together in Bangkok half-a-century before. None of the workers -in the field doubtless had greater rejoicing at that jubilee than -Dr. House. The following letter of felicitation he wrote on that -occasion to the daughter of his fellow missionary, herself born in -Siam and from childhood knowing him as “Uncle Samuel”; it was a -delicate tribute to the memory of his companions in labours. - - “WATERFORD, NEW YORK, March 18, 1897. - - “_To Miss Mary L. Mattoon_: - - “MY DEAR MARY: - - “You will excuse the familiarity of my address when you learn - why my heart just now goes out to you with affectionate - interest. You are the child, the Siam-born child of the - honoured, now sainted missionary couple who with my unworthy - self just fifty years ago, March 22, 1847, after eight months - of weary voyage, landed in Bangkok and founded the present - prosperous mission of the Presbyterian Board in the Kingdom - of Siam. Yes, the coming Monday, the 22nd, will be the - fiftieth birthday of that mission, and 1897 is its jubilee - year. - - “How vivid are the memories of that never-to-be-forgotten - day of our arrival, our welcome from the old missionaries - of the other Boards, our first impressions of our strange - yet interesting surroundings; and of the busy week and month - and years that followed; and of work for the Master, with - our full share of the peculiar joys and sorrows, trials and - disappointments of mission life! How all the mercies come - thronging into my mind. - - “And what cause for gratitude that God has so honoured the - humble beginning with such glorious results in these later - days. ‘The little one has indeed become a thousand’; yes, - thousands now of baptised converts from heathenism are - rejoicing in Siam and Laos in the knowledge and the love of - Christ who, had that mission not been begun and watched over - and prayed over by those godly devoted parents of yours and - their associate (would he had been a wiser and better man), - would have lived and died without God and without hope, in - the darkness of Buddhistic idolatry and atheism. - - “To God be all glory given! Well may a jubilee be kept by all - who know of the contrast between that day in Siam and the - present. What wonders God hath wrought. - - “Sincerely yours, - “S. R. HOUSE.” - - -Perhaps it was the celebration of this jubilee in Siam that -reminded former pupils of the Bangkok boys’ school of how much they -were indebted to Dr. House for the immeasurable difference between -their Christian enlightenment and the paganism around them. At any -rate in the following summer Dr. House received from a group of -his former pupils a gift of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, -accompanied by this letter: - - “SUMRAY, BANGKOK, June 15, 1898. - - “_The Rev. S. R. House, M.D._: - - “SIR: We have learned that your old age coming to eighty-one - on the 16th of October next. On the occasion we are glad to - subscribe among your oriental scholars of Siam to offer you - a small present, which we obtained for your birthday. - - “We herewith request you to accept this small sum for - your birthday present for the recognition of your Siamese - scholars, and we beg to thank you for the knowledgment - which we obtained from you when you were with us in our - lovely country. And we noted you were the foundation of our - knowledgment, and we will place your name on the stone of our - hearts as long as we live. - - “We pray God to bless you, to comfort and to help you in all - circumstances; and we hope to meet you again in the Kingdom - of our Father. - - “We have the honour to remain, Sir, your affectionate - scholars.” - - (Signed by twenty-eight former pupils.) - - -But that birthday never arrived. Only a few days after the receipt -of this affectionate token and grateful testimonial, Dr. House took -leave forever from his friends of Siam and from his friends of all -the world. On the thirteenth day of October, 1898, he reached _Home -At Last_. - -His affection for Siam outlived his days; for he had provided a -small bequest for the Harriet House school in memory of his wife. -Dr. House and his wife lie buried in the Waterford Rural Cemetery. - - - - -XIII - -BOON TUAN BOON ITT - - -“One of the most remarkable men I have met in Asia.” Such was -the characterisation of Boon Itt given by Dr. Arthur J. Brown, -Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, after a -visit to the Far East. Only when one considers the high quality of -the well-educated native leaders in the Christian church in Japan -or China will this estimate suggest its full measure. Nor does this -evaluation exceed the common esteem in which Boon Itt was held by -those who knew him while in America. By all his fellow students -and by his teachers he was regarded as a man of exceptionally -fine personality, of high moral ideals, and of rare Christian -attainments. - -[Illustration: REV. BOON TUAN BOON ITT] - -In physique he was of medium stature, well proportioned, lithe of -limb and agile in action. He was fond of athletics, and showed -a preference for the more active sports. He loved games for the -sake of sport rather than for the winning chance. His features -were distinctly Asiatic. Yet there was a total absence of that -mysteriousness in countenance which we usually associate with the -Oriental. Americans quickly lost sight of the difference of race, -and received him as one of their own. His voice was low, mellow and -gently modulated, imparting a feeling of confidence by its quiet -yet positive strength. - -The most casual acquaintance discovered in him a winsomeness of -manners. Simple, courteous, modest, responsive, he had all the -marks of a Christian gentleman. He was friendly but free from -effusiveness; hospitable yet without aggressiveness in urging -attentions. He had a warm sympathy but never bestowed the pity of -superiority nor the flattery of patronage. His love of companions -made him a leader among young men. In his nature the æsthetic had -its proper balance. He possessed a love of the beautiful both in -art and in nature, and in this love he found a constant inspiration -to purity and nobleness. The best in literature and in art and -in music found a response in his heart. Without doubt, however, -to those who knew Boon Itt best, it was the spiritual quality -that gave richness to his character. He was deeply religious; he -had a religiousness of soul rather than of mind, free from the -sentimental, the spectacular or the trivial. Faith with him was -not a matter of creed but of simple, profound trust in a God whose -goodness he had proven. - - -“THE FAITH THAT DWELT IN THY GRANDFATHER” - -Boon Itt was one of the earliest of the second generation -Christians of Siam. His maternal grandfather was Kee-Eng Sinsay -Quasien. This name appears in various abbreviations and spellings -in Dr. House’s journal, but here it is given in the form approved -by one of his grandsons, who explains that the first two syllables -constitute the name, while the remainder is the title. It will -not lessen the honour to correct several traditions that have -attached themselves to his story in America. Kee-Eng was not the -first Protestant Christian in Siam, nor the first convert of -the Presbyterian Mission; his wife did not make a profession of -Christian faith; his daughter Maa Tuan was not the first Siamese -woman to unite with the Christian church. His primacy was only that -he was the first “native” to be received into the Presbyterian -Church of Bangkok after its organisation. - -Kee-Eng was baptised Jan. 7, 1844, by Rev. Stephen Johnston, of the -A. B. C. F. M., having been the Chinese tutor to Mr. Johnston for -several years; but there had been other converts previously. When -the A. B. C. F. M. abandoned Siam and turned their work over to the -Presbyterians, Kee-Eng was the only one of their converts still in -Siam in good standing; and he was transferred to the Presbyterian -Church. On this occasion Dr. House reported: - - “Kwa Kieng is a native of middle age (about forty-five), - good education, was formerly Mr. Johnston’s teacher, of - respectable appearance, amiable character and appears for - five years back to have led a faithful and exemplary life - as a disciple of Christ. He has a wife (a Cambodian woman) - and three children—two sons and a daughter [another son and - daughter were born later]—now living at Rapri, one hundred - miles west of Bangkok. Though he speaks Siamese imperfectly, - we can communicate tolerably well with him, and we feel that - Providence may make him the instrument of great good to many - of his countrymen. He would be well equipped in many respects - for a native assistant, and we have confidence in him.” - -In his _Journal_ at this time Dr. House states that Kee-Eng was a -Hakien Chinaman from Amoy. The reference to Cambodia in connection -with his wife must be taken to indicate only that she came from -there. Her name was Maa Hey and, according to her son Kru Tien Soo, -she was the daughter of a Chinese, born in Cambodia. Although, -according to her son, Maa Hey never made a profession of the -Christian faith; yet she did manifest a sympathy with the work of -the mission. All the children of the family were baptised at the -request of the father. - -As early as 1848 Dr. House mentions that Kee-Eng conducted a school -for Chinese boys at Ratburi, or Rapri, as he spells it. When the -boys’ boarding school was established in Bangkok he was chosen -as the teacher of Chinese. For this reason he removed his family -to Bangkok and came to live in the compound. Besides teaching -he conducted weekly worship for his fellow countrymen, served -as interpreter for Dr. House while he taught the Bible class of -Chinese, and still later had charge of a mission chapel for the -Chinese. Kee-Eng died Nov. 23, 1858, a victim of the cholera. - - -“AND IN THY MOTHER TUAN” - -Maa Tuan was the elder daughter of Kee-Eng. At the time the family -moved to Bangkok she was about five years old, according to Dr. -House. She early became a member of the girls’ class in the home of -Mrs. Stephen Mattoon, and was intimately associated with the girls -whom Mrs. Mattoon had adopted. After the father died the family -returned to their former home at Bangpa near Ratburi, where they -were separated from Christian influences except for an occasional -visit of a missionary. Here Maa Tuan married Chin Boon Sooie. -To this marriage three children were born, Boon Itt, Boon Yee, -and Prasert, a daughter who died in infancy. Concerning Chin Boon -Sooie little is to be found recorded, aside from what Dr. House -states in the letter quoted below. His nationality is there given -as Siamo-Chinese, and this is confirmed by his son, who also is -the authority that his father never made a profession of Christian -faith. Chin Boon Sooie died in 1873. - -Concerning Maa Tuan the first important mention by Dr. House was in -a letter to Mrs. House in 1872, who was then in America: - - “Among those present [i.e., at the communion service] were - some of your old pupils: one, speaks of you with much - affection, Tuan the eldest daughter of Sinsay and Maa Hey, - her mother. Tuan is now making her first visit to Bangkok - since she left our command. She evidently has made an - efficient and intelligent woman; reads English quite well - yet; has rather a superior husband, a kind of a headman (man - of property at least) at Bangpa—unfortunate in business of - late but credit unimpaired. - - “Poor Tuan since her last babe was born has been running - down and is poor and sallow just now—she always was short - in stature.... Had not Tuan married a well-to-do trader her - knowledge of books, arithmetic and sewing might be utilised - to the good of the cause. She might be hired to get up in her - native village a day school.” - -In the following year, probably after the death of her husband, -we find her moving with her children to Sumray, near Bangkok, -where the mission school was located, in order that she might -have educational advantages for her children, for at that period -the mission school was the only means to a modern education. In -November of 1873 she united with the Church upon profession of -faith. - -When Mrs. House opened the girls’ boarding school at Wang Lang, Maa -Tuan was engaged as matron and teacher. Concerning her work in this -school Miss M. L. Cort writes in her book on Siam: - - “This school has had the advantage of the faithful and - constant services of Maa Tuan who is an exceptional Siamese - woman and was educated and trained for her position by Mrs. - House.... She has been the chief native teacher and matron - for the school ever since it began, and the interpreter - between the new missionaries and the old pupils, as she - understands English very well. It is through her influence - that many of the pupils have been secured and retained. She - is dignified and kind; and each year adds to her wisdom and - usefulness.” - -Maa Tuan spent the summer of 1880 teaching women in the royal -palace by request. For some years she conducted a private school -at Wang Lang, and so far as records show she was the first Siamese -woman to conduct such a school. - -While her son was in America, Maa Tuan wrote to Mrs. House that -she often rose at midnight to pray that Boon might become a good -Christian and become a preacher to his own people. When the news -came to her that her son had been converted and had united with the -church in far away America, her cup was overrunning with joy. She -died in 1899. - - -THE BOY BOON ITT - -Boon Tuan Boon Itt was born February 15, 1865, in the village of -Bangpa, which was a Chinese settlement near Ratburi. After his -mother removed to Bangkok with her children, Boon Itt and his -younger brother Boon Yee entered the mission school and there -began their primary education. Only three years after that, Dr. -and Mrs. House resigned. When they were about to return home they -arranged to take Boon with them and undertook to have him educated -in America. At the same time the retiring missionaries agreed to -supervise the education of another Siamese boy, Nai Kawn, at the -request of his father. - -Rev. J. A. Eakin, D.D., in his sketch of Boon Itt, gives this -touching picture of the night before his departure: - - “The warm clothing, so different from anything that he had - been accustomed to wear, was all made and packed in his - little box. He had taken leave of his teacher and the school. - On the morrow he was to leave his native land. On that last - night his mother visited him, and sitting together in their - favorite place by the riverside, they talked long of the - future. Years afterward, when he was a student of Theology, - in a letter to his mother he referred to that night, and said - that her farewell words of counsel had always remained in his - mind, and had been a great help to him.” - -The home of Dr. and Mrs. House was to be in Waterford, New York, -and thither they brought their young charges. Boon early became -imbued with the American idea of self-dependence. He sought to -learn to do as American boys do. In vacation time he looked for -jobs to earn money towards his own support. When Dr. and Mrs. -House assumed the responsibility for his education, they supposed -that their income would be sufficient to bear the expense; but -with the failure of their investments a serious problem confronted -them. Fortunately, Boon won his way into the hearts of the people, -so that the Presbyterian Sunday school of Waterford undertook to -make an annual contribution of seventy-five dollars, and continued -this amount until his full course was finished. Individuals also -assisted privately. - - -EDUCATION - -The barrier of language of course had first to be removed. For this -reason his studies were begun with private teaching. In the course -of her visits to missionary societies, Mrs. House made an address -at North Granville, New York, and there told of the boys they had -brought to America to educate. This address, as will be observed in -a letter of Boon’s that follows later, prompted a generous offer -on the part of Mr. Wallace C. Willcox, principal of the military -academy at that place, to give free tuition to Boon Itt, provided -friends would care for his needs. This offer was gladly accepted, -and in January, 1880, Boon and Kawn entered the academy. - -In the fall, Mr. Willcox transferred his relations to the military -school at Mohegan Lake, New York, and his personal interest in the -two boys carried them with him, so that for that academic year -Boon was at Mohegan. In the fall of 1881, he was sent to Williston -Seminary, Northampton, Massachusetts, to prepare for college. There -he distinguished himself for brightness of mind and fondness of -athletics, particularly swimming—in which art every normal boy of -Bangkok is an adept from childhood. Graduating at Williston, in the -fall of 1885 he matriculated at Williams College. There he spent -four years, pursuing the classical course, and graduated with the -degree A.B. in 1889. - -The college course finished, there came to him one of those severe -tests of his consecration and high sense of duty that marked his -life at intervals. Between medicine and the ministry he hesitated, -but only to weigh in his mind which of the two professions would be -the one in which he could render the greatest good to his native -land. Of the need of medicine there could be no doubt; even a -young man could perceive the advantage of modern medical science -for a land where ignorance of the body and superstition were the -allies to cause suffering, contagion and pestilence. He could well -appreciate also the value of the gentle art of healing as a means -of winning the people’s attention while others might preach the -Gospel to them. It was no small tribute to the greater power of the -ministry in his judgment, therefore, that he resolved to prepare -himself for that profession because he deemed the Gospel itself the -greatest need for his countrymen. - -Having decided for the ministry he entered the Theological Seminary -at Auburn, New York. There his grace of meekness, coupled with -sterling worth, won for him a high place in the esteem of both -his fellow students and the faculty. He had no ambition to be a -popular leader, and yet in spite of his retiring disposition he -was the center of a warm fellowship because of his high ideals. -During the summer vacation of 1890 he served a parish at Bad Axe, -Michigan, and in the next summer was the acting pastor at Bergen, -New York. He graduated from the seminary in May, 1892, and on the -eleventh of the same month was ordained to the Gospel ministry by -the Presbytery of Rochester. In that year also he acquired American -citizenship. While awaiting the matter of appointment to the -field, he took a post-graduate course at Auburn, at the same time -supplying the Presbyterian Church at Manlius, N. Y. - - -HIS SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT - -The spiritual development of Boon Itt, including both the -obstacles surmounted and the high attainments, will not be rightly -appreciated until one considers the environment of his early -childhood. Maa Tuan left the mission compound at Bangkok upon the -death of her father, and returned to Bangpa with the family. She -was then about fifteen years old and had not yet taken a public -stand for Christianity, although there is every evidence that -the period of her Christian training at the mission more than -counterbalanced the pagan influence of the years that immediately -followed. None of the family were Christians, and the constraint -of custom would involve them in religious practises in common -with the neighbourhood. Then marrying an unbelieving husband, the -young woman could not effectually exclude those influences from -the life of her own children, even though her husband might have -been tolerant of the Christian faith. Like children the world over, -hers were susceptible to the subtle influences of the religion -that prevailed in the village. So it happened that during the -first eight years of his life, the most impressionable period of -childhood, Boon observed the religious customs of Buddhism, the -festivals, the parades, the birthday celebrations, the funerals, -and at the same time would unconsciously absorb the ideas of this -religious environment. It will not be surprising, therefore, if we -find later that some of these ideas had taken deep root in his mind. - -Upon entering the mission school he came under a more exclusively -Christian atmosphere. Concerning his reaction to this condition, -Dr. Eakin writes: - - “The religious side of his nature developed slowly. The seed - sown by his mother’s teaching had not yet taken root in his - heart.... He was regular in attendance in Sunday school and - church. He went to the midweek meeting as the boys of the - school were expected to do. His lessons were well learned - because he delighted in study and he would not disappoint his - mother; but his soul was still in the dark.” - -At once upon reaching Waterford, Boon enrolled in the Sunday -school and continued faithful in attendance until he left for -boarding school. On his return home during vacations he resumed his -accustomed place in the village church with Dr. and Mrs. House. -During this earlier period he united with the Presbyterian Church -Dec. 7, 1879, under the pastorate of Rev. A. B. Riggs, D.D. The -following letter, written by Boon to his mother at that time, has -recently come to light: - - “WATERFORD, Jan. 5, 1880. - - “DEAR MOTHER: - - “It is a long time before we get letters from each other. I - hope you are getting along nicely in the school. I am well - and happy. - - “I have something to tell you. I think God has answered your - prayers for my conversion. I have given my heart to Christ, - and own Him to be my God and Redeemer forevermore. I have - joined the Presbyterian Church. Pray for me to be obedient - and faithful to what I have promised. At first I dreaded to - join before so many people, but when I had done it I felt - a great deal happier. When church was out some folks shook - hands with me and said they were very glad to have me join. - I hope I will see grandmother, uncles, aunts, my brother and - all the folks become Christians; then if we do not meet each - other here on earth we would meet in the other world.... - - “A gentleman by the name of Willcox has a military school - at Granville, about sixty miles north of Waterford, and the - board and schooling is four hundred dollars a year. He made - a great offer to Mrs. House to take me free, if she would - provide my clothes and books and expenses in vacation from - June to September. And now in about two days more Kawn and I - are going up there. - - “The folks in Dr. House’s family say that they will miss us - very much, and we are sorry to leave them. Is this not a - wonderful thing that the Lord brought about for us to go to - this school? It all came about in this way. Mrs. House went - and talked to the ladies of Granville and told them about - Siam, and told them about us. No other boys ever had such an - offer as this. Then a few kind ladies of Waterford gave us - sheets, pillowcases, towels and other things that we will - need. - - “It all came of the Lord, so blessed be His name forever. - Give my love to all. - - “Your affectionate son, - “BOON ITT.” - - -In spite of the devout expressions in this youthful letter, Boon -privately intimated to friends that he had not altogether given -up the religion of his native land. One who knew him well recalls -that Boon said he still believed Buddhism in his heart and that he -would return to it when he went back to Siam. Upon being asked -why he then had made a profession of Christianity he said it was -because Dr. Houses’ life was “so terrible”—by which he explained -that the godly character of Dr. House overcame all his arguments -against Christianity. He could not contemplate all that Dr. House -was doing for him in the name of Christ and at the same time deny -the Christian religion. His love for the doctor impelled him to -declare for Christ. - -Recalling now the influences of his early childhood, it will be -evident that his private expression did not signify duplicity but -rather indicated the presence of vague but unsolved problems. When -a child who has been reared in a wholly Christian environment -becomes converted, that process is chiefly a spiritual change. But -for one brought up in the midst of pagan influences to change his -religion means to change his entire character, ethical principles -and even his theory of existence. Somewhere between these two -extremes was the condition of Boon at the time of his joining -the Church. His conviction concerning the Christian religion, -encouraged by the influence of his dearest friends, enabled him to -make a confession of faith. But his heart outran his head. In his -mind there were still unexpressed but perplexing questions. - -The nature of one of these questions is shown by an incident quoted -by Dr. Eakins: - - “At one time, in his sophomore year, if my memory serves me - correctly, he went to call upon the minister who served as - pastor to the students, and the minister asked him to tell - of any special difficulties he found in the way of becoming a - professor of religion. After a thoughtful pause Mr. Boon Itt - said that his chief difficulty was that he could not see that - there was a personal God. The minister thought that he was - caviling, and he reproved him for trifling with the truth. - From that time on the minister had lost his opportunity to - do the young student any good in a spiritual way. Sometime - afterward, through the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit - in his heart, he was brought to see that truth, to recognise - the love of God in Christ, and to accept salvation through - the Cross. It had been a long slow process, as it is usually - with the Siamese, but it was complete. He was convinced - beyond the possibility of a doubt, and he made a full - surrender of himself to do his Master’s will.” - -Perhaps the incident referred to occurred during the period of -religious awakening among the students of Williams College, which -took place while Boon was there. The common spiritual invigoration -reacted with unusual power upon the individual whose mind was -seeking light. That revival served to quicken his spiritual life -and enabled him to make safely the transition from the youthful -stage of habit and training, across the frail bridge of doubt -that spanned the chasm of unbelief. By it he entered into a -conscious experience of grace and assumed a volitioned course -of life directed by personal devotion to Jesus Christ. The seed -of the Gospel planted by maternal teaching and nurtured by the -affectionate training of foster parents now, under the warmth of -the Spirit and the dew of holy emotions, flowered into a full-blown -religious character of rare beauty and fragrance. How real that -conversion was is indicated by the reply which Boon gave to a -fellow-student in the seminary who, interested to know what might -be the sense of sin for a man while still in paganism, inquired of -him what his experience had been; to which he replied, “I did not -know that I had sin until I became a Christian.” - - -APPOINTMENT TO THE FIELD - -Having made ready for return to Siam, Boon Itt met another severe -test of his consecration in the question of appointment by the -Foreign Board. Unfortunately the problem was made more difficult -for him by the very kindly intentions of his friends in America who -apparently did not recognise the fundamental principle involved. As -the work in foreign lands had developed it had become the policy -of mission Boards to magnify the native church, and to place -upon it as rapidly as possible the increasing responsibility for -managing its own affairs, as distinguished from the affairs of the -missions. The development of a strong native church in each country -necessitated that ordained natives should share, not the supposed -advantages of foreign missionaries, but the actual conditions of -their fellow native Christians. For this reason, along with others -of a kindred nature, the Board had arrived at the policy not to -commission as a missionary any native, however well qualified. -Provision was made that the mission in the field might employ such -workers according to their judgment. - -While, therefore, the Board declined to issue a “commission” to -Boon Itt they heartily recommended him to the mission in Siam for -appointment on equality with his fellow Siamese Christian workers. -That the principle involved is wise finds testimony in the words -of Boon Itt himself who, when he reached a position of leadership, -said: “To make Siam completely Christian must be ultimately -the work of the Siamese Christian Church, self-supporting, -self-directing and responsible to God—not dependent always on -foreign missions.” - - -RETURN TO SIAM - -The matter of appointment having been adjusted, Boon Itt returned -to his native land in the summer of 1893. Upon return it was -necessary for him first to qualify himself in his native language. -Not only had it been seventeen years—the major part of his -life—since he had withdrawn from the daily use of his mother -tongue, but his training in that language had been arrested when -he was a lad of eleven. His higher education had been in a foreign -language so that his religious conceptions were framed in words -that must find an equivalent in the Siamese. During this period -of language study he was occupied in many ways in the work of the -mission, assisting with the literary work of the mission press, -accompanying others on mission tours, and temporarily having charge -of stations while missionaries were on vacations. On September -20, 1897, he married his cousin, Maa Kim Hock, a graduate of the -Harriet House School. - -It was shortly after his engagement that a flattering offer came -to him to turn aside from religious work and enter business. Dr. -House, writing to a friend under date of Nov. 25, 1896, says: “A -letter from Boon tells me of his having declined an engagement of -five hundred dollars a month (he now has only five hundred dollars -a year from the mission), as he prefers his present work, which he -loves and enjoys and has been blessed in.” - -The proffer of so large a salary might well have been sufficient -inducement to a young man to abandon the less lucrative business of -preaching. But upon consulting his fiancée she replied: “I think -we would be far happier doing the Lord’s work on a little money -than to leave it for so large a sum.” But that was not the only -tempting offer that came to him. After Boon’s death the Minister -of the Interior disclosed that he himself had offered to Boon Itt -“a position which would have led to high titles of nobility from -the King of Siam, to the governorship of a province and to a large -increase in income.” - -Compared with these offers, a salary of five hundred dollars was -indeed a pittance for a college graduate, even with the extra -allowances. The larger salary of eight hundred and fifty dollars -which he was receiving at the time of his death was an economic -injustice compared with commercial salaries. But it needs only -be observed that all missionaries suffered the same injustice. -An American missionary in the same country at the same time was -receiving only one thousand one hundred and thirty dollars, -although he had a family and had served more than twice as long -as Boon Itt. Since then the scale of salaries has been raised, -and graduated according to the length of service; but it is still -true that a missionary receives barely enough for a living. But -the marvel of this comparison is not the disparity of pay but the -readiness of Boon Itt to renounce such dazzling offers and to hold -himself true to the work of preaching the Gospel to which he had -devoted himself. - - -PITSANULOKE - -Shortly after marriage the young couple were assigned with W. B. -Toy, M.D., and family to open a new field at Pitsanuloke, some two -hundred and fifty miles up the Meinam River. While Dr. Toy was to -establish a hospital, funds for which were to be provided by the -Board, Boon Itt was to open a school. Through the good offices of -public officials he secured the temporary use of some government -building. - -Concerning this enterprise Dr. Eakin writes vividly: - - “He began work in a small way, but he did it thoroughly. In - a few months he had attracted attention of the government - authorities. They began to send their sons to the school.... - It was a slow process of growth but it was indigenous from - the start. In this respect it was typical of all Boon - Itt’s work. He tried to work with the Siamese people from - the inside out, instead of following the common method of - applying something foreign largely on the outside. - - “It required rare self-sacrifice in Mr. Boon Itt to labour - on, teaching the rudiments of learning in that little school - when he felt that he was capable of doing a work that would - loom larger in the public view.... But there was a subtler - temptation in the opportunity to do a work that would make a - greater show before the world. He had warm friends at home - [America] who were rising in business and professional life. - An appeal to them would have enabled him to make his school a - more immediate and manifest success.... He felt the cost in - his very soul, when he turned his back upon that temptation; - but he decided that the slow indigenous work was the only - way to secure permanence. - - “The work has gone forward in Pitsanuloke since those days. - A church has been organised there which promises well; but - the present prosperity owes much to the patient digging and - laying foundations out of sight, which was done by Mr. Boon - Itt.” - -After a time the government had use for the building and it became -necessary to seek other quarters for the school. Boon Itt leased a -new site of about ten acres on the west bank of the river adjacent -to the barracks, at a nominal price. As the Board had no funds -available for a building he personally secured subscriptions from -local merchants and officials amounting to four thousand ticals -(two thousand dollars), besides lumber and building materials. A -plain but substantial two-story school building of teak wood was -erected under his personal supervision and partly by the labour of -his own hands. - -The enrollment of the first year was forty boys, of whom twenty-six -were boarders. The average attendance for that year was ninety-five -per cent. In the competitive examinations later the boys of this -school gained the highest standing over the boys of the government -public school and the Royal Survey school. One of the notable -features of his work was the influence he exerted over the young -men personally. No doubt that influence in a measure was due to -the manner of his religious teaching. He himself has described his -method: - - “As I have men who study Christianity I have to spend a good - deal of time formulating what are the fundamental doctrines - of Christianity. We can use phrases in the States and be - understood.... Here it is _de novo_. I use no text-book. I - do not know of any. I endeavour to analyse as honestly as I - know how myself and use my experience as a guide—not as an - infallible guide, but only as a working basis.” - -This plan which he adopted was essentially the apostolic method. -In our emphasis on the inspiration of the letters written by -the apostles we are likely to overlook the fact that they are -discussing spiritual truths out of their own lives; their epistles -are “text books” written out of experience under the guidance of -the Holy Spirit. Boon Itt was following the same method so far as -he could. - -In addition to being superintendent of the school, he regularly -conducted the Sabbath preaching service, worked in the Sunday -school, and made a tour of exploration as far north as the Lao -border. His wife had charge of a girls’ school which she had -organised. Pitsanuloke was formally organised and recognised as a -regular station in 1899. - - -TRANSFER TO BANGKOK - -In 1901, Boon Itt was given a six-months leave of absence for -recuperation. He had planned to spend his furlough in Japan; but -yielding to family interests he got no farther than his old home in -Bangkok. Just before returning to his field, in January, 1902, the -Bangkok Christian community presented an earnest petition to have -Mr. Boon Itt remain in Bangkok and take charge of a new work which -it was proposed to open. - -The demand for his services came about as a culmination of -circumstances. The work at Sumray had become too large for the plot -of land laid out nearly forty years before. A new compound had been -procured in the city proper, and the mission Press had already -been moved thither. A campus for a boys’ high school had also been -secured in that locality and buildings were soon to be erected. -On the part of a few there was a desire to establish a church -near the school as a center for work among the students. This led -to a movement among the Siamese Christians to have this church -erected by the Siamese for the Siamese to the honour of Christ. -A Christian nobleman of wealth and influence offered to give the -major part of the cost, and the remainder was to be raised by the -native Christians. This nobleman was Phra Montri, now Phya Sarasin. -As he had a high admiration for Boon Itt and wished his help and -leadership in the project, a conference was called at which it was -unanimously decided to undertake the enterprise and to ask to have -Boon Itt transferred from Pitsanuloke to take charge of the work; -and a committee consisting of Phra Montri, Kru Yuan, pastor of the -First Church of Bangkok, and Boon Itt was appointed to secure a lot -near the proposed high school and to plan for the new structure. - -Concerning this project and the peculiar fitness of Boon Itt -for it, Dr. Arthur J. Brown, Secretary of the Board of Foreign -Missions, who at that time was making a visit to the Siam mission, -gave a very vivid survey in his report to the Board. After -describing the respective locations of the three churches in the -capital city and the circumstantial limitation of their reach, he -says: - - “Thus there is neither missionary nor church in Bangkok for - the bulk of the population, for the intelligent, well-to-do - classes who are becoming eagerly interested in foreign ideas, - and for the thousands of bright young men who flock to the - metropolis in Siam, as they do in England and America. In - that main part of the city there are scores of young men and - women who were educated at our boarding schools. Many of them - are Christians. I met a big room full of them at a reception - which they very kindly gave in my honour. They were as fine - a looking company of young people as I have met anywhere on - this tour. Properly led they might be a power for Christ. - - “But there is absolutely no place in all Bangkok where they - can attend church unless they divide up by sexes and travel - several miles in a boat to Sumray and Wang Lang. This some - of them do, but their parents and friends do not. Every year - our schools are sending out more of these young people, but - we are not following them up, and they are left to drift.... - For this great work a man and a church are needed at once. - No other need in Siam is more urgent. The man should be able - to speak the Siamese like a native. He should be conversant - with the intricacies of Siamese customs and etiquette; and so - understand the native mind that he can enter into sympathy - with it and be able to mould it for God. - - “There is one man in Siam who meets all these conditions. I - believe that he has ‘come into the kingdom for such a time - as this.’ That man is Rev. Boon Boon Itt ... one of the most - remarkable men I have met in Asia. His station has been - Pitsanuloke, where he has done a fine work in building up - next to the largest boys’ boarding school in the mission. - Another man can do the work at Pitsanuloke equally well, but - no other man in Siam or out of it can reach the young men in - Bangkok as he can. As the head of his ‘clan’ whose family - home is in Bangkok, he is widely and favourably known in the - capital. Young men like him and resort to him for advice - whenever he visits the city.... We can use this man to better - advantage for the cause of Christ. So I proposed to the - missionaries that Mr. Boon Itt be transferred to Bangkok, and - the proposal was unanimously and enthusiastically agreed to.” - -So it came about that Boon Itt was unexpectedly but with great -reluctance persuaded to accept the call to Bangkok. In a letter to -a friend in America he wrote: - - “Now there comes a call for me to come down to Bangkok and - take up the work here with young men and for young men. This - now seems to be my work. I am drawn to it now. I was not - before; I looked at it from a sheer sense of duty. I want to - put my best work in down here, for it is extremely important - to build up homes if purity is ever to be indigenous. When - I went up to Pitsanuloke I was in doubt about the school - work, so I said to the Lord if He wanted me to start a school - there, would He give the money wherewith to build it. He owns - all the riches of the world and people’s hearts are in his - hands; so I asked Him to influence the people there to give - the money and the materials—and He did, and the school has - been built. - - “Well, I learned one other lesson along with that, viz: that - had I asked the Father to give me money for the work in His - own way I would have been spared much unnecessary toil. I am - certain that the Lord will give me the money to carry on this - new work out here. My plan in general is to hire a building - and start a reading room, play room, prayer meeting room, - where we can have classes for Bible studies.” - -As the possibilities unfolded themselves to his mind it was not -solely the undertaking to build up a congregation that engaged -his interests. He sketched plans for work in connection with the -church which would make it a center of social activities for the -cultivation of Christian ideals among the young men; and it was -this phase of the work which appealed to him. He studied the needs -both temporal and spiritual. Through his influence the young men -organised an institution known as the Christian United Bank of -Siam; this was the first banking house founded by the Siamese. It -was organised after the manner of the savings banks and proved to -be very helpful to the Christian community of Bangkok. He also -persuaded a small group of Christian Siamese to organise a Steam -Rice Milling Company on a Christian basis, no work to be done on -the Sabbath and a fixed portion of the income to be devoted to -Christian work. - -Although Boon Itt had made himself felt among the native Christians -during the few years he had spent in Bangkok directly after return -to Siam, he now came to be recognised and accepted as the leader -of the Siamese Christian Church. He did not aim to be a leader; -his intention was just to put himself behind the work and help -wherever he could. But this very helpfulness caused the people -to look up to him with profound respect. They had appreciation -of his understanding of their needs, of his sympathy with their -aspirations, and of his ability to look at things from their -personal point of view. In a few months his house had become the -headquarters for Siamese Christians on the east side of the river, -and little gatherings of friends were of frequent occurrence. This -gave him a personal influence that he alone failed to perceive. - -But scarcely had Boon Itt laid his hands to this great task when -within a year his labours came to a sudden end. He fell a victim -to cholera. After telling of the sudden attack of the disease, Dr. -Eakin recounts the most impressive closing scenes: - - “We were with him until late in Friday night, and left to - return to the High School, telling them to call us if there - should be any change. The weather had been hot and dry. No - rain had fallen for about two months. All animate nature - seemed to be suffering and longing for relief from the - drought. - - “About midnight we were called. As we went to the house, - we noticed that there was a change coming in the weather. - The wind was rising in fitful gusts, and dark clouds were - scudding across the sky. - - “We found that he had passed away without returning to - consciousness. Soon after we entered the house, the monsoon - broke in torrents of rain. The house shook under the fierce - attacks of the raging tempest.... The bereaved wife calmly - gathered the friends together in the little sitting room, - passed around the hymn books among them and asked them all - to sing. Through the long hours of that terrible storm, they - sang those hymns of Christian faith and hope and comfort. In - the interval between these songs of the night, they talked - of the future. One expressed concern about the finishing - of the new church. (A part of his ebbing strength Boon had - spent in explaining the details of the drawings he had made - for the roof of the church.) It would be difficult to find a - contractor who would be willing to take up the work that had - fallen from a dead hand, owing to a superstition that the - building would be haunted. Then Kru Thien Pow, head teacher - in the Boys’ High School and a most devoted friend of the - fallen chief, broke down and wept aloud: ‘I am not thinking - of the new church,’ he said, ‘some one will be found to - complete that work. I am thinking of the Kingdom of Christ - in Siam. Who will take the vacant place in this service?’” - -The death of Boon Itt occurred May 8, 1903. Besides his widow, he -left three children, Samuel Buntoon, Eliza Brante and Phreida. - - -AN APPRECIATION - -The death of Boon Itt caused inexpressible sorrow and dismay among -all who knew him, both in Siam and America. It brought forth -universal testimonies of esteem for the man; friends seemed to vie -with each other in veneration of his memory. Almost spontaneously -there arose the suggestion to erect as a memorial to him a building -that would provide facilities for the social work among young men -which he had inaugurated. Committees both in Siam and in the United -States met with cordial response to the proposal. The Crown Prince -esteemed it a pleasure to make the first contribution for Siam -towards the proposed building, while members of the government -gladly participated in the fund. The king of Siam, who was absent -at the time, expressed his intention to assist when he learned of -the project after his return. - -Prince Damrong, Minister of the Interior, when invited to -contribute to the fund, replied: “I am glad to help in a memorial -to that splendid man. You may not know that I offered him a -position which would have led to high titles of nobility from -the king of Siam, to the governorship of a large province and to -a large increase of income. Yet he declined these high honours -and financial benefits that he might continue in the service of -Jesus Christ. Boon Itt was a true Christian.” As a result of the -movement, the “Boon Itt Memorial Building” now stands as a visible -testimonial to all Bangkok in behalf of the noble character of -this Christian Siamese, and perpetuates the heart’s desire of this -servant of Christ for the young men of Siam. - -Boon Itt gave only ten rapid but full years to the Gospel ministry -for his countrymen, but he set in motion spiritual influences that -will persist many times that brief decade. The marvel is that he -laid the foundations so deep in the hearts of the people and built -so lofty in their aspirations in so short a time. Yet the higher -achievement was not what he did but rather the Christian character -which, by the grace of Jesus Christ, he developed in beautiful -symmetry and completeness. In his life the Spirit manifestly bore -its full fruition of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, -goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” But the unique significance -of his life lies neither in what he did nor what he was; rather -it lies in the notable demonstration that the religion of Jesus -Christ can take a man of any race or religion, completely transform -his mind and heart, engraft in him the Christian culture, and yet -leave him true to his own people. His life is a testimony that the -Christian religion is a universal religion, for all races, for all -lands and for all ages. - - -THE END - - - - -=TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE= - - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the - text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. - - Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added, when - a predominant preference was found in the original book. - - ‘A.M., a.m., P.M., p.m.’ replaced by ‘A. M., a. m., P. M., p. m.’. - - Pg 22: ‘His Excellancy again’ replaced by ‘His Excellency again’. - - Pg 32: ‘Φ Β.Κ.’ replaced by ‘Φ.Β.Κ.’. - - Pg 45: ‘and Mr. Hemmingway’ replaced by ‘and Mr. Hemmenway’. - - Pg 59: ‘fi fi’ replaced by ‘fi fah’. - - Pg 72: ‘McGilvray visited the’ replaced by ‘McGilvary visited the’. - - Pg 136: ‘Ministed assured him’ replaced by ‘Minister assured him’. - - Pg 141: ‘inteligence and enthusiasm’ replaced by ‘intelligence and - enthusiasm’. - - Pg 142: ‘lovingkindness and who’ replaced by ‘loving-kindness and - who’. - - Pg 143: ‘first hand knowldge’ replaced by ‘first hand knowledge’. - - Pg 210: ‘upon a blesssing’ replaced by ‘upon a blessing’. - - Pg 213: ‘by a happy inpiration’ replaced by ‘by a happy - inspiration’. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SAMUEL REYNOLDS HOUSE OF -SIAM *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |