In May, 1851, the king was formally inducted into his regal office
under the title Prabat Somdetch Pra Paramender Maha Mongkut.
The accession was celebrated with prolonged festivities. The
coronation was private, witnessed only by the princes and nobles.
After an interval of a few days came the more public ceremony of
enthronement, and to this the Europeans were invited:
“We all (except of course the ladies) had the honour of
being present by his own invitation. Indeed we had a
regular audience from His Majesty; a strange and not a
little imposing scene it was in that audience hall of the
palace. A dinner was prepared for us after the European
style, and though ‘he could not shake hands with us as he
desired—Siamese custom not allowing it,’ yet he sent some
substantial proof of his regard in the shape of a gold
flower and one of silver, together with a gold salung (value
one-fourth eagle) and other specimens of the coinage of the
new reign.
“You will understand how marked are these attentions when you
are told that no missionary was ever before on any occasion
admitted within the walls of the palace, much less allowed to
have an audience.... We were told from the throne in a public
audience by the King himself (who perfectly understands our
object in coming to his land) that he wished us to find
ourselves pleasantly situated in his country and to go on
with our pursuits as we have been doing—‘Fear not!’ he
added. That was the purport of what he said, and though he
was addressing merchants as well as ourselves we knew he must
have had us in mind as much as them.”
Then came the spectacular procession of the king and nobles around
the walls of the palace:
“According to immemorial custom on coronation occasions,
H. M., with his nobles and princes in grand procession,
marched around the walls of the royal palace, a mile in
circumference. We missionaries with the other Europeans
received special invitations to be present.... As the King
came along, with pomp and glitter and display of wealth,
sitting high on his throne carried by thirty-two men, he was
distributing right and left to the crowds showers of silver
coins. When he saw us he stopped to rain silver upon us with
a right good will.”
A month later occurred the inauguration of Chao Fah Noi as Second
or Vice-King. A public pageant only slightly less magnificent
was given, and again the missionaries with the Europeans were
personally invited and honoured with special attention.
With the accession of King Mongkut a complete change of attitude
towards the missionaries was instant. The new men appointed to
high office were from the group of progressives. Those who were
carried over from the old régime changed their attitude with
facility, for after all they only reflected the royal mind. Princes
who had eschewed intercourse with foreigners now courted their
acquaintance, frankly declaring that fear of disfavour with the old
king had formerly held them aloof. Teachers and servants eagerly
returned to their posts. The people in the streets manifested a new
respect for the foreigners. With great joy Dr. House records the
change:
“A new era with us—at least the dawn of a brighter day.
We have a home at last promised us, and on a really
pleasant spot of ground they are going to allow us to
build. With brothers Mattoon and Bush, went up to visit the
ex-prince-physician (now foreign minister) at his new palace
he falls heir to. Were graciously received. ‘I have laid the
matter of which you spoke, before the King. He said he gives
his permission for you to come here (i. e., to site nearby)
to live; desires me to give you any assistance; permits you
to build for yourselves; can have the whole vacant space to
the canal bank, if needed; wishes you to build many houses;
about a thousand missionaries may come if they wish.’
“Almost too good to be true! Are we really then going to
obtain what we have been seeking for in vain now these four
and one-half years—a place to build a home of our own? A
most eligible spot this; none better in all Bangkok.”
Permanency being assured, the missionaries decided to construct
houses of brick, making them as durable and as comfortable as
possible. The erection of these houses required a constant
oversight of the work and attention to details that cannot well be
understood by people in America, for all the practical problems
that the architect or builder would take care of as a matter of
course had to be solved by the missionaries who had no experience
in such work. In the midst of the enterprise the masons and
carpenters struck and it required much diplomacy to adjust their
demands. The first houses were completed and preaching services
begun at the new compound in February, 1852. This site continued to
be the location of the mission until 1857, when growth of the work
necessitated a change.