Bless God and Take Courage: The Judson History and Legacy

by Rosalie Hall Hunt, Rosalie Hall

This was the life of America's first foreign missionaries, Ann and Adoniram Judson. Since the publication of the Adoniram Judson biography "To the Golden Shore in the 1950s, much more has been learned about his life and legacy. Rosalie Hall Hunt has provided a well-researched, thorough, and scholarly account of Adoniram, of the three women--"Ann, Sarah, and Emily--"who accompanied him at different times during his ministry, and much more. An engaging and in-depth tale of a couple who influenced the birth of American missions, "Bless God and Take Courage (one of Ann Judson's favorite sayings) provides an intriguing trail of never-before-published discoveries about the Judsons. Hun skillfully examines events from their first trip to Burma and their influence on the formation of a denomination to Adinoram's imprisonment at Let Ma Yoon and the aftermaths of the Judsons' deaths. Hunt goes beyond the life of the Judsons to relate valuable information on their enduring legacy. She explores the subsequent investigation of the Let Ma Yoon death prisons, the tracing of the Judson birthplaces in New England, and the poignant lives of their children.

Genres: Biography, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction

404 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2005

Reviews

[Aubrey Amundson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work was primarily useful because of the extensive research put into the life and history of the Judson's and their legacy still alive in Burma as of the copyright date, 2005. I believe the author tried to accurately represent the Judson's mission, including excerpts from their compiled letters and reports, along with an account of the circumstances they were written under, so as to give the reader a firmer grasp of their actual situation and the projects they undertook.
Adoniram’s mission is distinctly purposeful and optimistic, aptly summarized in the following quote from his journal. Judson and a friend are en route to Ava to present the gospel to the Emperor and on their way they overlook the ancient Buddhist city of Pah-gan covered with temples and monuments of every sort and size. Judson writes: “O shade of Shen Ah-rah-han! Weep o’er thy falling fanes; retire from the scenes of thy past greatness. But thou smilest at my feeble voice. Linger then, thy little remaining day. A voice mightier than mine, a still small voice, will ere long sweep away every vestige of thy dominion. The churches of Jesus will soon supplant these idolatrous monuments, and the chanting of the devotees of Boodh will die away before the Christian Hymn of praise.”
The book also offers helpful insight into Buddhist culture and the Burmese political climate of the 19th century, includes an account of the origins of the Baptist Missionary movement in America and concludes with the testimony of faithful churches and believers attributing their first knowledge of the gospel and their Burmese Bibles to the work of God through Adoniram Judson a century and a half ago.
Unfortunately, some of the author's writing and worldview is inconsistent with the Judson's. For instance, Mrs. Hunt sees the arrival of the Judson's children as unfortunate "facts" that "must be accepted", adding "yet another dimension to Mrs. Judson's already fragile health". The author provides no evidence whatsoever for this attitude in any of Judson's wives and fails to understand the concept that just because they went with their husband to the mission field does not mean they were progressive feminists.
These facts aside, Rosalie Hunt's book was an excellent introduction to the story of God's work in Burma over the last two hundred years, familiarizing readers with the life, mission and character of kingdom workers.

[Bud Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalie Hall Hunt offers a unique and comprehensive look at the extraordinary missionary journey that brought lasting fame to the Judson name. Hunt’s account complements and updates Courtney Anderson’s To the Golden Shore (1956) [which I prefer]. Hunt gives much of the credit for Adoniram’s success to his three wives, and she constructs the narrative around these intriguing love relationships. Ann Hasseltine, herself an able translator of Scripture, stood valiantly by Adoniram’s side throughout his brutal twenty-one-month imprisonment during the Anglo-Burmese War and is credited with saving his life before she died from smallpox that same year. Sarah Hall, a missionary widow, married Adoniram in 1834, and together they bore eight children before she was struck down dysentery. His last wife, Emily Chubbock, a well-known literary figure who wrote under the pen name “Fanny Forester,” outlived Adoniram, who died in 1850.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost like reading another volume of the Book of Acts. Very interesting. The only negative thought is that it came away with the feeling of praise of the man and his wives more than praise for God. But that is just me. All n all I highly recommend this book to lovers of biographies and history. Personal note: I found mu autographed copy in a thrift store .

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A VERY thorough account of the lives and legacy of Adoniram, Ann, Sarah, and Emily Judson, American Baptists' first foreign missionaries. Hunt's rendering serves as both inspirational and historical in sharing how the Judsons faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ and literally gave their lives in service in Burma (Myanmar). I highly recommend this to your reading.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly amazing! What these people had to endure in the foreign mission field just blows my mind. I could not imagine sending my children back home to the states to remain in a foreign country.