It was indeed a joyous homecoming. The son had come again to the
embrace of loving parents after an absence of nine years. He had
returned to his native land after many adventures in a strange
country, little known to the Western world. He had returned to a
church that keenly felt the solemnity of her commission to preach
the Gospel and had high reverence for her servants that carried the
banner. He had brought back first hand knowledge of pagan lands and
vivid memories of personal experiences and observations. Then a
returned missionary was more rare than even a departing missionary.
The Church at large was eager to see through the missionary’s eyes
the strange peoples to whom they were sending the Gospel message.
Numerous opportunities came to Dr. House to tell his story. Large
audiences greeted him wherever he appeared. These opportunities
he used especially to awaken the Church to the importance of the
work in Siam. The periods of obstruction were past. The treaty with
England had just been completed, and the American government was
about to send an envoy to ask for a treaty. The glowing promise of
the sunrise inspired the hearts of people at home to listen with
a ready mind to his appeal. With great joy he secured two ready
recruits to go back with him, Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Morse. Following
this visitation to the churches a new interest in Siam is manifest
through the reports, and there began a series of reinforcements
checked only by the Civil War.