with their wives, had been appointed by the Board in
America, Missionaries to Burmah. They were young men of good talents,
fervent piety, and extraordinary devotion to the object of evangelizing
the heathen.

Mr. Judson, considering himself sufficiently master of the language to
preach publicly, decided to build a small zayat, on a much frequented
road, where he could preach the gospel, and converse with any native who
might desire it, and where Mrs. Judson could meet female inquirers, and
hold a school for religious and other instruction. He knew that this
might draw upon them the displeasure of the higher powers, which had
hitherto favored them because of the privacy of their life, and their
small influence with the natives; for this government, as they
afterwards discovered, though remarkably tolerant to foreigners, is
highly intolerant to its own subjects in religious matters. Dr. Malcom
remarks: "Foreigners of every description are allowed the fullest
exercise of their religion. They may build places of worship in any
place, and have their public festivals and processions without
molestation. But no Burman may join any of these religions, under the
severest penalties. In nothing does the government more thoroughly
display its despotism, than in its measures for suppressing all
religious innovation, and supporting the established system.... The
whole population is thus held in chains, as iron-like as caste itself;
and to become a Christian openly, is to hazard everything, even life
itself." But the Missionaries not being at this time at all aware of the
rigor of this intolerance, resolved to make the attempt, and trust in
the Lord for protection.

In April, 1819, Mr. Judson preached in his new zayat to a congregation
of fifteen or twenty persons, most of them entirely inattentive and
disorderly. But feeble as was this beginning, it was regarded by the
missionaries as an event of no ordinary importance. Here was the first
altar ever erected for the worship of the true God in that country over
which century after century had rolled, each sweeping its millions of
idolaters into eternity; and rude and lowly as were its walls, compared
with the magnificent temples that surrounded it, it was perhaps the
fitter emblem of that spiritual religion which delights not in temples
made with hands, but in the service of the heart, 'which is in the sight
of God of great price.'

The building, which they called a _zayat_ from its