The recruits to the mission force so far had been temporary
additions only. Owing to the death of his wife, followed by the
failure of his own health, Mr. Bush was compelled to resign after
four years. Mr. Morse, who went out upon Dr. House’s return, was
forced to give up within two years by reason of health. At the end
of ten years there had been only one net increase in the mission
force, Mrs. House. In 1858 two men arrived who became important
factors in the work, Rev. Daniel McGilvary and Rev. Jonathan
Wilson, with his wife. When the announcement was received that
these two men had been commissioned, Dr. House wrote home:
“These two friends became interested in Siam mission at the
time of my visit to Princeton. If they reach us, I shall have
new reason to bless the heavenly Guide who led me almost
unwillingly back to my native land.”
The doctor’s estimate of the reflex benefit to Siam from that trip
to America was all too modest; for that visit was the beginning
of an ever increasing interest in that country on the part of the
church and of a constantly enlarging supply of men and money.
Concerning this visit to Princeton, Dr. McGilvary says in his
Autobiography:
“I was entering upon my senior year when it was announced
that Dr. S. R. House, of Siam, would address the students.
Expectation was on tip-toe to hear from this new kingdom of
Siam. The address was a revelation to me.... My hesitation
was ended....
“The call found Jonathan Wilson and myself in much the same
state of expectancy, awaiting for a clear revelation of duty.
After anxious consultation and prayer together and with Dr.
House, we promised him that we would give the matter our
serious thought; and that if the Lord should lead us thither
we would go.”
With the increase of ordained men on the field, the time seemed
ripe to associate themselves together in the official relationship
of a Presbytery. At an informal meeting in the summer of 1858 the
following call was issued:
“Whereas, in the providence of God there are now in the
mission a sufficient number of ordained ministers to
constitute a Presbytery and as it seems expedient that we,
cut off as we are from the privileges and oversight of our
respective Presbyteries, should meet together from time to
time in a formal public capacity as a judicatory of the
Church of Christ to consult for her best interests in this
our field of labour; and hoping that it may be beneficial to
ourselves and the Church at large,
“Therefore, Resolved, That in accordance with the resolutions
of the General Assembly held in Baltimore in May, 1848,
making provision for ‘the formation of Presbyteries by the
action of missionaries in foreign fields’ a Presbytery be
constituted at Bangkok on the first day of September next, to
be called the Presbytery of Siam and to be composed of the
following persons, viz.: Rev. Stephen Mattoon and Rev. S. R.
House, of the Presbytery of Troy, New York; Rev. J. Wilson,
of the Presbytery of Beaver, Pennsylvania, and Rev. Daniel
McGilvary, of the Presbytery of Orange, North Carolina;
and that said Presbytery be opened by a sermon by Rev. S.
Mattoon, the oldest of the ministers of the mission; and
“Resolved, second, That the day of the opening of the
Presbytery be observed by the members of the mission as a day
of special prayer for the blessing of the Spirit of God upon
us, and that a special meeting for prayer be held at 9 A. M.”
At the appointed time the Presbytery of Siam was formally
organised, Rev. Samuel R. House being chosen first Moderator and
Rev. Daniel McGilvary being elected Stated Clerk. Mr. Mattoon, who
was about to take a furlough in America, was appointed the first
commissioner to the General Assembly, to meet in Indianapolis the
following spring. Here, again, as in the organisation of the first
church, the missionaries were taking a step in anticipation of the
fruit of faith more than in actual need. Two of the very important
functions of a Presbytery are to oversee the churches and to ordain
candidates for the ministry. But there was only one church in
Siam at the time and there were only two “native” members on the
roll; and a Presbytery could add little to the fellowship of the
missionaries except the formalities. However, the workers in the
field were certain of the harvest and in simple faith they went
about setting up the organisation for the proper care and nurture
of the native churches that were yet to be established.
In December of 1858, when the dry season had returned, Dr. House,
accompanied by Mr. McGilvary, made a twelve-day tour up the Meinam,
commencing labours at Angtong and continuing as far as Bansaket.
The results of the tour were unusually hopeful:
“In two or three instances it did seem as if the Spirit
had prepared their hearts to welcome the doctrine of
Christianity.... I could not but say to my good Brother
McGilvary, who as well as myself was struck with the deep
interest manifested, ‘Surely there must be much prayer going
up for us here in Siam.’ Tears would come in my eyes as I
solemnly urged them to leave their refuge of lies and trust
in a living Saviour, ready and mighty to save. And on their
part they desired to know, not how they might make merit
(the usual question of Siamese), but what they were to do to
secure the salvation, the news of which then for the first
time reached their ears. It seemed like the dawning of a
better day.”