HISTORY OF THE MISSIONS IN SIAM AND LAOS.
The American trading-vessel, commanded by
Captain Coffin, which in 1829 brought to
this country the famous "Siamese Twins,"
brought also an earnest appeal for aid in evangelizing
that then almost unknown land of their
birth.
The appeal came from the zealous German missionary Gutzlaff and his associate, the Rev. Mr. Tomlin, of the London Missionary Society, who six months before had made their way to Siam, where they found not only an open door, but a large and most inviting field, for missionary labor. Their own societies not encouraging their permanent occupation of this advanced post in heathendom, both these brethren urged the American churches to enter in and possess the land for Christ. In response to the appeal of Gutzlaff, which was specially addressed to them, the American Board of Foreign Missions instructed the Rev. David Abeel, then in China, to visit Siam with a view to its occupancy if he deemed it advisable.
