Judson’s Conversion
Judson’s Conversion
Adoniram Judson was born on August 9, 1788, in Malden, Massachusetts. He was the eldest son of Adoniram Judson Sr, a Congregational minister. At an early age, Adoniram’s parents recognized his intellectual prowess. In fact, by age three he could read an entire chapter of the Bible.[2] By age ten, Judson had a reputation for his proficiency in both arithmetic and Greek.[3] In 1804, at the young age of sixteen, he entered Providence College, subsequently called Brown University. Three years later, Judson graduated as the valedictorian.[4] This was followed by a brief stint as a teacher in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he authored “Elements of English Grammar” and “The Young Lady’s Arithmetic,” both secondary level textbooks.[5]
Judson’s excellence in the realm of academics was not accompanied by a pursuit of his parents’ God. To be sure, Judson was acquainted with the piety of his parents and had an intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures, but he personally rejected God. Influenced by a college friend, Jacob Eames, Adoniram espoused the theology of Deism and proclaimed himself a “free thinker.”[6] His newfound belief led to open debate with his stern, Congregational father. Unable to reason with his father and longing for the world’s pleasures, Judson traveled to New York City to seek a life of independence from his parents’ spiritual pressure. The brief visit was discouraging as his company of friends turned to petty theft and crime to make ends meet. Judson had no place to go, but back home.
On his journey home, he had occasion to stay at an inn. The events of this evening changed the course of his life, as his son Edward later recounts:
The next night he stopped at a country inn. The landlord mentioned, as he lighted him to his room, that he had been obliged to place him next door to a young man who was exceedingly ill, probably in a dying state; but he hoped that it would occasion him no uneasiness. Judson assured him that, beyond pity for the poor sick man, he should have no feeling whatever, and that now, having heard of the circumstance, his pity would not of course be increased by the nearness of the object. But it was, nevertheless, a very restless night. Sounds came from the sick-chamber---sometimes the movements of the watchers, sometimes the groans of the sufferer; but it was not these which disturbed him. He thought of what the landlord had said---the stranger was probably in a dying state; and was he prepared? Alone, and the dead of night, he felt a blush of shame steal over him at the question, for it proved the shallowness of his philosophy. What would his late companions say to his weakness? The clear-minded, intellectual, witty E---, what would he say to such consummate boyishness? But still his thoughts would revert to the sick man. Was he a Christian, calm and strong in the hope of a glorious immortality? Or was he shuddering upon the brink of a dark, unknown future? Perhaps he was a ‘freethinker,’ educated by Christian parents, and prayed over by a Christian mother. The landlord had described him as a young man; and in imagination he was forced to place himself upon the dying bed, though he strove with all his might against it. At last morning came, and the bright flood of light which it poured into his chamber dispelled all his ‘superstitious illusions.’ As soon as he had risen, he went in search of the landlord, and inquired for his fellow-lodger. ‘He is dead,’ was the reply. ‘Dead!’ ‘Yes, he is gone, poor fellow! The doctor said he would probably not survive the night.’ ‘Do you know who he was?’ ‘O, yes; it was a young man from Providence College—a very fine fellow; his name was E—’ Judson was completely stunned. After hours had passed, he knew not how, he attempted to pursue his journey. But one single thought occupied his mind, and the words, Dead! lost! lost! were continually ringing in his ears. He knew the religion of the Bible to be true; he felt its truth; and he was in despair. In this state of mind he resolved to abandon his scheme of travelling, and at once turned his horse’s head toward Plymouth.[7]
Throughout the remainder of Adoniram Judson’s life, he credited the events of this evening for altering the direction of his life.
On October 12, 1808, Judson was accepted as a “special student” at Andover Seminary—“special” in that he had not made a profession of faith. On December 2, 1808, that changed when Judson made a solemn dedication of himself to God. In September 1809, just one year shy of his conversion, Judson was giving serious contemplation to world missions. In February 1810, he resolved to be a missionary to the heathen abroad.