"To the Golden Shore"

Biography of Adoniram Judson

Author: Courtney Anderson
Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.
Date: 1956
Rating: Recommended (See ratings guide)

This is the biography of an amazing man from whom people can learn so much. He went through various trials such as imprisonment, the death of several children and two wives. 

He lived in the 1800’s and was one of the first American missionaries to be sent out. His goal was to be a missionary in Burma and he eventually was though it took several years to get there. Adoniram’s life was full of unsettledness. He seems to have spent half of his life on board various ships traveling for the purpose of gaining favor with the nationals, recovering from illness, or getting supplies. He lived the other half of his life in extreme sickness. He was imprisoned unjustly in horrible conditions for almost 2 years. I can’t imagine what a prison in Burma in the 1800’s would be like. Adoniram accomplished the translation of the whole Bible into Burmese and he also wrote a dictionary to aid others in learning Burmese.

One thing I would like to comment on that the book did not seem to handle very well: After the death of Adoniram’s first wife, Nancy (Ann), and his father in the States Adoniram’s retrospection and grief caused him to fall into depression and guilt. He felt that his whole life had been focused on his selfish ambition of being the first missionary from America. He had achieved a lot of great things but he despised himself for the selfish motives behind all of his actions. He actually demanded that his sister and mother destroy all the letters that he had sent to them because he was so ashamed. This was a great loss to us now to not have these letters, but anyway… I myself have been plagued by guilt before and the only thing that truly can pull me out of that is if I realize the truth: God loved me when I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8). No matter what I do God will still love me since he was able to love me at my worst point. It is arrogant for me to think that my righteousness could add anything to God’s love for me (Job. 35:7).

This was a great book; one that I was sad to see end. It caused me to immediately begin looking for other books on Adoniram Judson’s life.