Adoniram Judson
Our association with Adoniram Judson is also noteworthy. Adoniram Judson was born in Malden, on August 9, 1788, and although he left Malden (Salem Harbor) as a Congregational missionary in 1812, he became a Baptist on his way over to Burma. His missionary work in Burma is the basis of a legendary epic, well described by his biographer, Courtney Anderson in the book “To the Golden Shore.”
Adoniram Judson died at sea on April 12, 1850, on a return trip to Burma. In 1888, our church commemorated the 100th birthday of Dr. Judson with a service attended by many dignitaries, including the son of Dr. Adoniram Judson, Rev. Edward Judson, D.D. (Foxon, 1979).
A sermon by Dr. George Tooze, Pastor, “Our Judson Heritage,” reprinted in the Special Anniversary Issue of the Witness, 1978, is available in the Corey Room. Dr. Tooze summarizes the missionary activities of Judson, with emphasis on the baby blanket to which he was born, and the pillow in which he hid his translation of the scriptures, while he was imprisoned in Burma.
The pillow was taken away by the jailors, and discarded. It was found by one of Judson’s servants and returned to Adoniram Judson after his release from prison. The pillow was given to our church by the great-granddaughter of Adoniram Judson. The pillow was held by Adoniram Judson’s sister, Abigail, until she died. It then went to the Plymouth Congregational Church, and then to the Plymouth Baptist Church, with the statement “for Judson belonged to the Baptists.” In 1945 the blanket was framed and placed in the Judson house, in Malden.
In 1988, our church voted to loan many of the Judson artifacts to the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABC/USA, Valley Forge, PA), and this agreement was extended in 1993. In 1998 the church voted to place the artifacts on permanent loan. A two-page list of these artifacts can be found in the 1988 Annual Report.
For many years, the Judson House was owned by our church. Many of our present members can tell you of the problems addressed by our Board of Trustees in trying to maintain this piece of history, while renting the space for low-income housing. The 100th Anniversary booklet (1903) shows a picture of the Judson house, at that time. In the 1960″s the Ko Ko Gyi family arrived from Burma, on a sabbatical from their missionary duties, and stayed in the Judson House. more >
Your comment is welcomed. Thank you.