Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons

Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons

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Title: Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons
Author: Arabella W. Stuart
Release Date: October 13, 2005 [EBook #16863]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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LIVES
OF THE
THREE MRS. JUDSONS:

_MRS. ANN H. JUDSON_,
_MRS. SARAH B. JUDSON_,
_MRS. EMILY C. JUDSON_,
MISSIONARIES TO BURMAH.
BY
ARABELLA W. STUART,
(MRS. ARABELLA M. WILLSON.)
A self-denying band, who counted not Life dear unto them, so they
might fulfil Their ministry, and save the heathen soul.
BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.
NEW YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five,
By Miller, Orton & Mulligan,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of
New York.
[Illustration: Mrs. Ann H. Judson.]
[Illustration: Mrs. Emily C. Judson.]

PREFACE.
Among the many benefits which modern missions have conferred on
the world, not the least, perhaps, is the field they have afforded for the
development of the highest excellence of female character. The limited

range of avocations allotted to woman, and her consequent inability to
gain an elevated rank in the higher walks of life, has been a theme of
complaint with many modern reformers, especially with the party who
are loud in their advocacy of woman's rights. That few of the sex have
risen to eminence in any path but that of literature, is too well known to
admit of denial, and might be proved by the scantiness of female
biography. How few of the memoirs and biographical sketches which
load the shelves of our libraries, record the lives of women!
The missionary enterprise opens to woman a sphere of activity,
usefulness and distinction, not, under the present constitution of society,
to be found elsewhere. Here she may exhibit whatever she possesses of
skill in the mastery of unknown and difficult dialects; of tact in dealing
with the varieties of human character; of ardor and perseverance in the
pursuit of a noble end under the most trying discouragements; and of
exalted Christian heroism and fortitude, that braves appalling dangers,
and even death in its most dreadful forms, in its affectionate devotion
to earthly friends, and the service of a Heavenly Master. Compared
with the true independence, the noble energy, the almost superhuman
intrepidity of the Mrs. Judsons, how weak and despicable seem the
struggles of many misguided women in our day, who seek to gain a
reluctant acknowledgment of equality with the other sex, by a noisy
assertion of their rights, and in some instances, by an imitation of their
attire! Who would not turn from a female advocate at the bar, or judge
upon the bench, surrounded by the usual scenes of a court-house, even
if she filled these offices with ability and talent, to render honor rather
to her, who laying on the altar of sacrifice whatever of genius, or
acquirement, or loveliness she may possess, goes forth to cheer and to
share the labors and cares of the husband of her youth, in his errand of
love to the heathen?
And it seems peculiarly appropriate that woman, who doubtless owes
to Christianity most of the domestic consideration and social
advantages, which in enlightened countries she regards as her birthright,
should be the bearer of these blessings to her less favored sisters in
heathen lands. If the Christian religion was a Gospel to the poor, it was
no less emphatically so to woman, whom it redeemed from social

inferiority and degradation, the fruit for ages of that transgression
which "brought death into the world, and all our wo." Never until on
the morning of the resurrection "she came early unto the sepulchre,"
was she made one in Christ Jesus (in whom "there is neither in male
nor female") with him who had hitherto been her superior and her
master. Nor does she seem then to have misunderstood her high
mission, or to have been wanting to it. The 'sisters' in the infant
churches rivalled the brethren in attachment and fidelity to the cause,
and to their "ministry" the new religion was indebted in no small
degree for its unparalleled success.
Perhaps an apology may be deemed necessary for another memoir of
the distinguished females whose names adorn our title-page. With
regard to the