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The Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons
This remarkable book, first published in 1851, and passing through over 20 editions in the years preceding the Civil War, relates the stirring true story of three courageous pioneer women missionaries. If indeed, as one writer stated, that ‘the chief end of biography is to embalm virtue and perpetuate usefulness,’ then this present volume certainly merits the consideration of thoughtful Christians everywhere.
Ann Hasseltine, Sarah Boardman and Emily Chubbuck, each successively the wife of Adoniram Judson, the first American Baptist missionary to a distant foreign field, demonstrated in their lives the noblest of Christian virtue, and supreme dedication to the cause of Jesus Christ in spreading the gospel to what was then known as the Burman empire.
It was no small thing in those days to consecrate one's life to missionary endeavor. The sacrifices were great—both in leaving, and in going.
No more fitting monument to the Judsons can be erected than that of remembering their story. It is a story of love and courage not to be forgotten.
These biographies of the three Mrs. Judsons can not only serve to shake us from our mediocrity but also inspire us to greater service in the Kingdom of God. If the reprinting of this work achieves these noble ends, then the publishers will be more than rewarded in their labors in bringing this new edition before the public.
Ann Hasseltine, Sarah Boardman and Emily Chubbuck, each successively the wife of Adoniram Judson, the first American Baptist missionary to a distant foreign field, demonstrated in their lives the noblest of Christian virtue, and supreme dedication to the cause of Jesus Christ in spreading the gospel to what was then known as the Burman empire.
It was no small thing in those days to consecrate one's life to missionary endeavor. The sacrifices were great—both in leaving, and in going.
No more fitting monument to the Judsons can be erected than that of remembering their story. It is a story of love and courage not to be forgotten.
These biographies of the three Mrs. Judsons can not only serve to shake us from our mediocrity but also inspire us to greater service in the Kingdom of God. If the reprinting of this work achieves these noble ends, then the publishers will be more than rewarded in their labors in bringing this new edition before the public.
- GenresHistory
378 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 3, 2023
“That the life of any faithful missionary is one of exile, toil, and privation, we are not disposed to deny. The world knows it too well; and seeing that such toils are uncheered by the acquisition of fame or wealth…the world considers the life of the missionary a living death, endured like martyrdom, only for the sake of its crown in the life to come. But not in this light was their life considered by the noble three whose history we have sketched in this volume, nor by Dr. Judson.”
Adironam Judson was a well known missionary to Burma; however, “there was a feature in Dr. Judson’s affection as a husband, which was, I think, peculiar. He was, as it is well known, married three times, and no man was ever more tenderly attached to each of his wives…Those that were once loved were loved to the end; but this did not prevent the bestowment of an equal amount of affection on a successor.”
“With the intrepidity that always marked her character,” the first Mrs. Judson passed through “the strange vicissitudes” of a new land. The second Mrs. Judson “would sweeten the cup of life to those who drank it with her.” After a career as an author, the last Mrs. Judson “commenced…the biography of her predecessor, the second Mrs. Judson.”
“History has not recorded, poetry itself has seldom portrayed a more affecting exhibition of Christian fortitude, of female heroism, and of all the noble and generous qualities which constitute the dignity and glory of woman. In the midst of sickness and danger, and every calamity which can cross the human heart, she presented a character equal to the sternest trial, and an address and a fertility of resources which gave her an ascendancy over the minds of her most cruel enemies, and alone saved the missionaries and their fellow captives from the terrible doom which constantly awaited them.”
Adironam Judson was a well known missionary to Burma; however, “there was a feature in Dr. Judson’s affection as a husband, which was, I think, peculiar. He was, as it is well known, married three times, and no man was ever more tenderly attached to each of his wives…Those that were once loved were loved to the end; but this did not prevent the bestowment of an equal amount of affection on a successor.”
“With the intrepidity that always marked her character,” the first Mrs. Judson passed through “the strange vicissitudes” of a new land. The second Mrs. Judson “would sweeten the cup of life to those who drank it with her.” After a career as an author, the last Mrs. Judson “commenced…the biography of her predecessor, the second Mrs. Judson.”
“History has not recorded, poetry itself has seldom portrayed a more affecting exhibition of Christian fortitude, of female heroism, and of all the noble and generous qualities which constitute the dignity and glory of woman. In the midst of sickness and danger, and every calamity which can cross the human heart, she presented a character equal to the sternest trial, and an address and a fertility of resources which gave her an ascendancy over the minds of her most cruel enemies, and alone saved the missionaries and their fellow captives from the terrible doom which constantly awaited them.”
December 13, 2023
Well-written and worth the read. Be aware that these are not complete treatments/biographies of all three Mrs. Judson. Ann, the first, gets the fullest treatment which each of the successive wives (Sarah and Emily) getting less. Still, in all, a good read about three good and godly women.
July 15, 2026
This book was really touching and left me with the impression of how much imminent danger these remarkable women faced. Paul's words in the bible "I die daily" were true for them too. Oh that I would willingly pour out my life for the gospel 🙏🏽
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews