Adonriam Judson - Baptist Cameos | The Reformed Reader

Adoniram Judson, D.D., The eldest son of Adoniram and Abigail Judson, was born in Malden, Mass., Aug. 9. 1788. In the sixteenth year of his age, being sufficiently advanced in his studies, he entered the Sophomore class in Brown University, becoming a member of the institution on the 17th of August, 1804. He graduated in 1807 with the highest honors of his class. At the time of leaving college he was inclined to be skeptical in his religious opinions. The sudden death of a classmate, under circumstances of peculiar interest, was the means of arresting his thoughts and putting him upon a course of serious examination of the claims of religion to his personal attention. For the purpose of pursuing his inquiries, he was admitted as a "special student" into the Andover Theological Institution. He soon became a hopeful Christian, and was received into the fellowship of the third Congregational church in Plymouth, Mass., of which his father was the pastor, on the 28th of May, 1809. In the seminary he found other young men of kindred spirit, who joined with him in urging upon the Christian churches the claims of the heathen. The zeal and earnestness of these students gave power to the spirit of missions, which had already been aroused in the hearts of Christians. That honored society, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was formed June 28, 1810. Mr. Judson had been licensed on the 17th of May previous by the Orange Association of Congregationalist ministers, in Vermont. Soon after his graduation he was sent to England by the American Board to confer with the London Missionary Society on the matter of combining the efforts of the two societies in the work of carrying the gospel to the heathen. He embarked Jan. 1, 1811, in the ship "Packet." The vessel had not been long at sea when she was captured by the French privateer "L'Invincible Napoleon," and carried to Bayonne in France, where he was immured in a dismal dungeon. After his release of a short confinement, and various adventures, he reached England, presented his credentials, and was cordially received by the Christian friends to whom he had been commended.

After his return to America the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions decided it was wiser to pursue the work of missions independently of any other organization, and accepted as their missionaries Mr. Judson, his wife, Ann Hasseltine Judson, and Messrs. Nott, Newell, Hall, and Rice. They set sail Feb. 19, 1812, from Salem, Mass., and reached Calcutta the 17th of the following June. During the voyage Mr. Judson's view of baptism underwent a change, which led him to be immersed by Dr. Carey, Sept. 6, 1812, in the Baptist chapel in Calcutta. This event severed his connection from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and led to the formation of the Baptist Triennial Convention, on the 18th of May, 1814, under whose patronage Mr. Judson and his Baptist associates were taken.

After experiencing months of hardship, on account of the hostility of the East India Company, who opposed the establishment of his mission in India, Mr. Judson decided to commence his work among the Burmese. On the 14th of July, 1813, he reached Rangoon, and began at once the study of the language. After nearly the end of his five years' residence in Rangoon a rayat was built, and opened with appropriate religious services and Mr. Judson made this place his religious headquarters.

For many years, Dr. Judson devoted a part of his time to the translation of the Scriptures into the Burmese language, and the compilation of a Burmese dictionary. On the last day of January, 1834, the closing page of the now wholly translated Bible was written by Dr. Judson. Many years were given to the careful revision of this work. For several years Dr. Judson kept up his missionary labors, the blessing of God accompanying him in his toil. The failing health of Mrs. Judson (second wife) forced him, in 1845, to leave Burmah for America. She died at St. Helena, where she was buried. Dr. Judson continued his voyage, and reached Boston in the month of October. After a few months of residence in this country, he returned to his Oriental home, with the third wife, who was to share his fortunes, the prayers of thousands of Christian hearts followed him.

An attack by the fever of the country completely prostrated him. A sea-voyage was recommended. The vessel sailed April 8, and four days after he died, and his body was committed to the deep.

Cathcart Baptist Encyclopedia, 1881