Another event of personal moment to the doctor was his ordination
to the Christian ministry. Before his first departure for Siam
he had been licensed to preach, a Presbyterial authorisation
necessary to give the seal of approval to the preaching which it
was expected would be incidental to the medical profession. But
now, having given himself exclusively to the Gospel work he sought
full ordination with its authority to administer the sacraments
and perform the rites of the church. In January, 1856, he was duly
ordained by the Presbytery of Troy.
Accompanied by the new recruits, Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Morse, Dr.
House and his bride sailed in March, 1856, by way of England and
Singapore, and arrived at Bangkok in July. The reception accorded
Dr. and Mrs. House was an evidence of the position which the
missionary had attained in the esteem of the Siamese. He was the
recipient of many gifts from the Chinese and Siamese servants and
attendants at the mission; while a period of two weeks was largely
occupied with calls from the prime minister, the minister of
foreign affairs, several of the princes, many of the old friends
among the nobles, the old teachers and a multitude of native
friends at large. The welcome was so spontaneous that it gave
evidence of a genuine honour, and of an appreciation of the years
of service rendered by the doctor higher than he had imagined the
people felt.
But perhaps the most signal token of esteem on this occasion was
shown by King Mongkut. No advance notice of the arrival of Dr.
House and party having been received, their appearance at the
customs house some miles below the city was a surprise, which in
some manner was quickly heralded to the king, so that when the
party approached the city, officials were waiting to receive them:
“Before we got to our own landing our friendly neighbour,
H. R. H. Prince Kromma Luang Wongsa, hailed us, and we must
needs land at his place. Shaking of hands was not enough, but
his arm was offered in English fashion ... and thus escorted
by the leading prince of the kingdom was Harriette conducted
to her future mission home, Mr. Mattoon and I following....
And soon our native church members and teachers and the
school children came flocking around.
“But the king had heard of my arrival and the prince had a
message from him for me that he was waiting to see me at
the palace. So, thither I must go—the prince took me in
his own boat. Some public ceremony was going on, and the
whole court was assembled at the river house in front of
the palace. The king, on a lofty platform handsomely roofed
over, by the water edge; while yet at a distance he saw me
and called out my name, inviting me to ascend the steps that
led to his pavilioned seat, when he shook hands cordially.
His Majesty spoke of the letter he had received from me while
away. Then he said, ‘Your wife has come with you!’—and then
turning to his courtiers added, ‘Formerly Maw House declared
he would not have a wife, and now he has taken one.’ ‘Oh,
your majesty,’ I replied, ‘wisdom has come to me and I have
changed my heart in that matter,’ which made them all smile.
“He then said my wife must come and visit the royal palace.
He had missed me very much. I must come and live near him.
Turning to one of his ministers he said, ‘He guessed they
must build a house over there’ (pointing out a spot near the
palace). I must take an office under the government. The
prime minister told me I must become a Siamese nobleman.”
Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon were sent for again by the king a few
days later, and availed themselves of this occasion to present to
His Majesty several useful presents sent out by American admirers.