The Vintons and the Karens

Calista V Luther

The Vintons and the Karens

Published by Good Press, 2022

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EAN 4066338091925

Table of Contents

PREFACE.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XV.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE END

PREFACE.

Table of Contents

The following memoirs have been prepared at the earnest and repeated request of many who felt that the simple record of such devoted lives would be for the glory of God and the good of his Church. They are sent forth with the hope that they may inspire others to show a devotion and earnestness similar to those so markedly displayed in the consecrated lives of Justus H. and Calista Vinton.

The verses at the head of each chapter are selected from Hymns of Faith and Hope by Horatius Bonar, a little book which, during the last years of my mother's life, comforted and cheered her in many dark hours. Her own copy, purchased in George Muller's orphan-houses in Bristol, Eng., lies before me as I write. Its worn binding shows the evidences of the long voyage to India and the many jungle-journeys, during which it never left its owner's side. Marked in many pages, it seems to speak to us, with her own gentle voice, words of heavenly cheer.

I take this opportunity to thank those friends who have so kindly furnished me with letters and reminiscences of my beloved parents, from which many of the facts in the memoirs, especially with reference to the life of my parents in America, have been drawn.

I also wish to acknowledge with thankfulness the great assistance which my dear husband has rendered in every stage of the work. In the midst of the labors and cares attendant upon the charge of a large parish, he has cheerfully spent many days of patient work in arranging and making available the crude materials by the aid of which these memoirs have been written.

CALISTA VINTON LUTHER.

.

Birth and Early Years of J. H. Vinton.--Conversion.--Call to

Preach.--Licensed by the Ashford Church.--Enters the Institution at

Hamilton, N.Y.--Decision to become a Missionary.--Revival Work,--Death of

Belinda Vinton

Calista Holman.--Bitter Experience.--Conversion.--Baptism.-First

Communion.--Strange Recovery.--Consecration.--Goes to

Hamilton.--Proficiency in the Languages.--Marriage.--First Studies in

Karen.--Learning a Language by the Natural Method.--Mr. and Mrs. Vinton

set sail for Burmah.--The Cashmere.--Labors for the Crew.--Anxiety of the

Missionaries.--Many Conversions

Landing at Maulmain.--Immediate Work in the Jungles.--Method of

Labor.--The Karens.--Burmese Cruelty.--Jungle Labors.--Discouragements

Mr. Vinton's Faith.--Elder Swan.--Visit to a Karen Prophet.--Unkind

Reception.--Day of Fasting and Prayer.--Tenacity of Purpose.--Conversion

of a Karen Chief.--The Cloud breaks.--The Prophet foiled.--Lakee

Labors among English Residents in Burmah.--Sympathy of English Residents

and Officers with Mission Work in India.--The Christian Heroes of the

Indian Army.--Mr. Vinton's Sunny Disposition.--Amusing Description by

Mrs. Vinton.--Rainy Days.--Indifference to Insults.--"Sister

Miranda."--The Vinton Children.--Voyage to the Cape.--Death of Harvey

Vinton.--Return to America

Failure of the Missionary Spirit in America.--Mr. Vinton's Addresses and

Singing.--The Missionary's Call, written by Dr. Nathan Brown.--The

Five-Franc Piece.--Frank's Chapel.--Enthusiasm of Contributors.--Return

to India.--Voyage interrupted at the Cape of Good Hope.--Continuation of

the Story of Frank's Chapel.--English Contributors

A New Field.--Rangoon.--The Desire for Education.--Cruel Oppression of

the Karens by the Burmans.--Karen Martyrs.--Praying for War.--Demands for

Compensation by the English Government.--Joy of the Karens.--The English

Fleet returns.--Karen Spies.--Rousing the Villages.--A Nation's

Deliverance.--Burmese Preparations for War.--Rangoon and other Posts

captured.--Horrible Revenge of the Burmans.--Fearful Suffering of the

Karens.--The Cry of the Churches to Mr. Vinton.--He takes the

Responsibility, and goes to Rangoon.--Life in the Stockade.--Terrible

Scenes among the Karens.--Hospitals.--Death of Pah-yah.--Dr. Kincaid's

Letter.--Many Conversions.--Treaty of Peace.--The Government orders the

Missionaries to remove.--Removal to Kemmendine

A New Trial.--Famine.--Mr. Vinton distributes Rice to the

Starving.--Generous Conduct of Rice Merchants to Mr. Vinton.--Anxiety of

his Friends.--Fruits of Generosity.--Thousands converted.--The Vote of

Censure by Brethren in America.--Mr. Vinton's Justification.--Separation

from the Missionary Union.--Consecration Anew to the Work.--The Karen

Home Mission Society.--Generosity of the Natives.--Completion of Frank's

Chapel

The Pegu High School.--Mrs. Vinton as a Teacher.--School

Discipline.--Teaching Greek to her Children.--Their Surprising

Discovery.--Parting from the Children.--The Children in

America.--Kindness of Friends.--Abundant Labors.--Training Native

Helpers.--A Happy Life

Modes of Conveyance.--Romance and Reality.--An Elephant's

Sagacity.--English Contributors to the Mission.--The Carriage.--Trials of

Faith

A Crisis in Brother Vinton's Affairs.--The Shadow of the Cloud.--The

Last Jungle Journey.--Illness.--Mrs. Vinton's Letter.--The Closing

Scene.--Funeral Services.--Mr. Rose's Address.--Mr. Vinton's Last Letter

Sympathy.--Shall She return Home?--Dr. Kincaid.--Decision to

remain.--Fruits of the Maulmain Normal School.--The Work of

Oversight.--Donations from Scholars.--Mrs. Vinton's Remarkable Dream

Return of Mrs. Vinton's Daughter to Burmah.--She engages at once in the

Work.--Travelling by Buffalo-Cart.--The Dismayed Cook.--The Kalah Cook as

an Institution.--Arrival at the Village.--Mrs. Ingalls.--Travelling in

state

Milking a Buffalo.--Experientia docet.--Fermented Fish.--Foolish

Questions.--Housekeeping under Difficulties.--The Solution.--Put Yourself

in His Place.--Too Proud.--The Voice of Jesus.--Ignorance

Training Servants.--Native Helpers.--George and Isabella.--Brainerd's

Return.--Mrs. Vinton sails for England.--Cheltenham and

London.--America.--Rev. R. M. Luther.--Home at Last

Fruitful Labors in America.--Canada.--Philadelphia.--Return to

Burmah.--Last Illness.--Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Luther.--Closing

Scenes.--Death of Mrs. Vinton

Miranda Vinton.--Mrs. Binney's Letter.--Mrs. Stevens's Letter

THE VINTONS AND THE KARENS.

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CHAPTER I.

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    "Be brave, my brother,

Fight the good fight of faith

    With weapons proved and true.

Be faithful and unshrinking to the death:

    Thy God will bear thee through.

Grudge not the heavy cost.

    Faint not at labor here:

'Tis but a lifetime at the most;

    The day of rest is near."

Justus Hatch Vinton has been in his heavenly home for twenty years; but his memory, with that of his no less devoted wife, Calista Holman, is still tenderly cherished in the hearts of those who know any thing of the first thirty years of mission work among the Karens of Burmah.

Rarely have two kindred souls gone forth to their life-work so peculiarly adapted to the scenes of hardship and trial, mingled with glorious successes, as were these.

Justus H. Vinton was born in Willington, Conn., Feb. 17, 1806. Calista Holman was born in Union, Conn., April 19, 1807. Both emphatically learned to bear the yoke in their youth. Mr. Vinton was early led to Christ. When only ten years of age, he was converted, and soon after united with the Baptist church at Ashford, Conn., and even at that age evinced many of the traits which made his after-life such a grand success.

At the age of sixteen, the increasing gravity of his demeanor and the fervency of his devotion awakened apprehension in the mind of his mother, who feared that it might be the result of failing health; but, in reply to her questionings as to the cause of his changed conduct, he answered, Mother, 'woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel.' This was the first intimation he had given to any one of his determination to enter the work of the ministry.

In the year 1826, when scarcely twenty years of age, he entered Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution.

He had, some time before going to Hamilton, offered himself to the church at Ashford for license to preach. Strange to say, there was some hesitancy in granting him a license, owing to the remarkable absence of all self-assertion upon the part of the candidate. The venerable John G. Wightman, who was present, was requested by the brethren to decide for them. He replied that he had no doubt as to the advisability of licensing the young man to preach. He was convinced that he had the grace of God in his heart; and that, as no babe was born six feet high, there was a reasonable hope that the young brother would grow.

Strange that the brethren should have hesitated to license one, of whom the record of Madison University says, He was pre-eminently a man of revival-power; and probably no single life in Burmah has shown larger results in the ingathering of souls to Christ.

In 1829, after the most careful thought, he appointed a day of fasting and prayer, in order that he might learn his duty with regard to devoting himself to preaching in the then sparsely settled West. In a letter written to his parents he says, When the day came, I retired that I might be quite alone with God, that thus I might, with more freedom, pour out my soul before him in fervent supplication for his Spirit to guide me in the decision I was about to make as to the field of my future labor. Here it was, while upon my knees before the Lord, that I received my first impressions that it would be my duty to leave my native land, and go far away to the benighted heathen, that I might preach among them the unsearchable riches of Christ. I had previously designed to spend the day in prayerful consideration of the claims of the West; but at this time I was so strongly impressed that it would be my duty to go to Burmah, that during the day I could think of little else but the forlorn condition of that deluded and infatuated people.

Fearful lest he might be mistaken, and being continually urged by some of his fellow-students who were under appointment to the West, and were anxious to have him accompany them, he concluded to defer definite decision for a year. At the end of this period he reconsidered all the arguments presented, and decided to go to Burmah. From that moment he never wavered. His conviction became stronger, until, as he says, his whole soul became absorbed in the delightful anticipation of carrying to benighted Burmah the news of an ascended Saviour. He paid the expenses of his college course by teaching district and singing schools, and by supplying churches in the neighborhood of Hamilton. He apologizes, in a letter to his mother, for not having written home for several months, saying that his studies had been pressing him very hard, and that every Saturday he had ridden thirty miles to supply a destitute church. In other letters he speaks of teaching district-schools for twelve dollars per month; and in one letter he congratulates himself greatly on having by judicious firmness secured the privilege of boarding all the time at one place.

His singing-schools were very popular, and are still remembered by older residents in the vicinity of Hamilton.

It has been said that there never was a Vinton who could not sing; and the rich, full voice with which God had blessed him, not only helped to supply his scanty purse while a student, but in the jungles of Burmah it won the heart of many a wild Karen; and thousands of redeemed souls in glory to-day could testify that Mr. Sankey was not the first who ever thought of singing the gospel.

At this time his letters home were upon one topic, and that was religion. Frequently is the record made of the wonderful way in which God had blessed his labors: in one revival, over seventy were converted within three weeks. Many times he notes the fact that the singing-school had been turned into a prayer-meeting.

At one time his district-school became the scene of a precious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This was at Laurens, Otsego County, N.Y. From the work there begun, over fifty in the town alone were converted at the date of his letter; and the work continued for months after.

These facts are not recorded as strange, but simply to show the spirit of the man. What more unlikely field for divine grace than a country singing-school, unless, perhaps, it be the ordinary district-school of forty years ago?

Once, when home on a vacation, he heard of a church that had become so cold and lifeless that it had ceased to hold any public service. He went to the place, and gave out an appointment to preach. As might have been anticipated, when the hour of service came, not a soul was present save himself. Without appearing to think that he should have been discouraged, he sat down upon the church-steps, and began to sing. Soon a crowd gathered; upon which he invited them into the church, and preached so fervently, that a large number were convicted, and a revival began which extended throughout the whole township.

It was during this time that his beloved sister Belinda, who had cherished the desire of accompanying him to Burmah, was suddenly smitten down by disease, and died. He, at Hamilton, heard only that she was very ill. Unable to leave at the time, he wrote the following touching letter:--

DEAR SISTER BELINDA,--From a letter received from our dear parents, I learn that you are upon a bed of sickness, perhaps upon a bed of death. This is what I had least anticipated. I have for a number of weeks been thinking of writing to you upon the glorious theme that has so enchanted both our hearts; but alas! it seems that I have nothing more to do with counselling and encouraging you respecting your future labors here on earth. Allow me, then, dear sister, to say one word with reference to your work above. My poor soul almost breaks forth with ecstasy while, for a moment, I allow my imagination to carry me forward, to witness your employment when you shall have dropped this clay tenement, and your disembodied spirit shall have soared away to breathe the pure and holy atmosphere of heaven. There shall you be introduced into the presence of your once suffering, now glorified Saviour. You shall see him as he is. You shall be permitted to gaze on his uncreated beauties, and vie with the angels in praising your Redeemer.

But what is that I see just before you? It is a dark and lonely vale; but fear it not, my sister. Come, let us walk together to the entrance of this dark valley.

Does your courage seem to fail you? Lean upon that tried arm: it will sustain you. Are you disheartened at the ruggedness of the way? Cheer up your drooping spirits: the way is short, and heavenly music shall attend your course, and scatter all the gloom. And when heart and flesh shall fail you, when friends can accompany you no farther, then angel-forms shall guide you, and, more blessed than all else beside, Jesus the Saviour shall be with you, and lead you by living fountains of waters.

Allow me one word with regard to your encounter with the last enemy, Death. Your victory and future triumph are secure. It is true that the enemy you will encounter is haggard in his form; but be not afraid of him. His deadly power has been taken from him; so that all he can do is but to cut the cord which binds you here to earth, and free your captive soul, to be with Christ. Meet him, then, dear sister, fearlessly. Meet him with a shout of victory; and, as you enter on the contest, say triumphantly, O Death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

And should you for a moment seem to fall beneath