HOPING to preach the gospel, Mr. Judson opened a large room, called by the Burmans a zayat, in the early spring of the year 1819.
Under the shade of its palm-leaf roof would, he thought, be a nice, quiet place for a talk with any who wanted to hear more about the only way of salvation.
There had been much prayer before beginning to build the zayat, and both Mr. and Mrs. Judson had worked so hard to get it ready, inviting quite a number of Burmese to hear the glad tidings, that I think it must have been quite a disappointment when only fifteen grown up people and about half as many children were present at the first preaching service.
Had they been quiet and attentive, Mr. Judson would have been encouraged; but they would not even listen quietly. Some only looked about with a good deal of surprise, partly perhaps because the simple service was so unlike anything they had ever seen before, while others laughed, talked, and behaved very rudely, one or two even telling Mr. J. they did not wish to understand or listen to his words about, what they called, "the new religion.”
It must have been a trying time for those lonely workers, but they remembered that "God giveth the increase," and so the very trial of their faith proved a blessing. Sooner perhaps than they thought, their sorrow was to be turned into joy.
One Lord's day evening a young man, who was quite a stranger to the missionary, entered the zayat. Like many others he seemed wild and noisy, but soon became quiet and attentive, and on leaving accepted some gospel books.
Only two days later, as Mr. Judson was sitting in his veranda writing, the young man, whose name was Monny Koo, made his appearance. He wanted, he said, to learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ, and as he listened to the gospel story of the sufferings and death of the Savior he could not hide his tears. Before saying “Good night," he begged Mr. Judson to pray for him, that he might become a true disciple of Christ. Early the next morning, Monny Koo was again at the mission-house, where he remained nearly all day, asking questions and listening to the reading of the scriptures.
Before sunset another visitor had received a welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Judson, "Monny Nan," a man about thirty-five years old, who came, he said, to learn how he might be saved from going to hell. He showed a very humble, teachable spirit, and it was not long before, in both cases, there was reason to believe that the grace of God had really touched their hearts, making them willing to accept salvation as a free gift.
Monny Nan expressed great sorrow for sin, often saying, "There is only one true God, and yet for many years of my life I have prayed to idols. Will the great and holy God forgive me for what I have done? Ah! yes, through Jesus Christ, for it is only by Him I can be saved.”
After several visits, he told Mr. Judson that he wished to confess his faith in Christ by a public profession, and asked if he might receive baptism. Wishing to test him, Mr Judson replied, “Remember, Monny Nan, if you become a Christian, your countrymen will forsake you. You may be called upon to suffer and perhaps even to die for Christ.”
"Your words are true," was the dauntless answer of the new convert; "but I think it better to die for Christ, and be happy forever, than to live a few days, or even years, and go to hell.”
"But are you not afraid to be the first Burman to become a Christian?”
"No; I think it is a great honor, and I hope you will receive me very soon.”
Six weeks later, the zayat was crowded, for many who had heard that Monny Nan had given up praying to the idols of Burmah, and was about to own himself a disciple of Christ, were anxious to see him and hear from his own lips if it were really true. After giving a gospel address, Mr. Judson asked Monny Nan several questions about his knowledge of what Christ had done for him. Every question having been answered in a simple, straightforward way, Mr. Judson baptized the first Burman convert. On the following Sunday, Monny Nan took his place at the Lord's Table. He also became of great use to the missionaries by helping to explain the way of salvation to new corners.
Perhaps some of you are wondering what an idol temple in Burmah is like. Mr. Judson and his brother missionaries paid a visit to one not very far from the zayat. It was lighted by a great number of lamps; mats covered the floor; and a great number of people were present, the men seating themselves on one side, the women on the other. Each person took a flower and some leaves, and holding them in his hand, said a short prayer, not to God, but to Budda.
One of the priests then read or repeated some of the strange wild stories of the sayings and doings of Guatama, of which there are so many in Hindu books. After listening for about half an hour, the people repeated another prayer and then dispersed quietly to go to their homes.
We may be sure the missionaries felt very sorry for the poor people, so many of whom had never heard of the one only way of salvation. How they must have longed to tell them about their own precious Savior; of all that He had done for them by His death upon the cross; of all that He was to them day by day in that land of idols, and of the bright future that awaited them; of the glorious home where they should see His face.
They were able to speak to a few, telling them in very simple words of the one true God, and several, who had never paid a visit to the mission-house, asked for and seemed glad to get christian books, which they promised to read.
Seed sown that day was, through the blessing of the Lord, to spring up and bring forth much fruit.
The zayat had not been open many weeks before, to Mrs. Judson's great delight, she was able to begin a day-school for girls. At first the number of scholars was very small, but as the room in which she taught them was not much larger than a good-sized cupboard, a large school would have been quite out of the question.
Going to school at all was quite a new thing to these Burman girls, and at first they did not seem quite sure as to how they would like it. But their kind, patient teacher soon won their love, and they got on well with their lessons, though you will smile when I tell you that having very few books, they read, wrote their copies, and worked their sums on small black boards about the size of school slates.
Mrs. Judson taught them to repeat texts and sing hymns which she translated into their language. Most of the girls liked singing, and many of them had very sweet voices. They would often ask leave to sing as they sat at work, and the sound of their tuneful voices as they joined in singing or,
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away”
Or,
"I think when I read that sweet story of old”
must have been a great cheer to the faithful teacher who was, as we find from letters written about this time, really happy in her work.