The Younger White Brother and the Golden Book

 

From "The Burma Baptist Chronicle-1963.
The Boardmans were the first missionaries to focus
on the Karen people. And Ko Tha Byu was the first
Karen Christian and soon became a dedicated and 
effective evangelist.

While this blog is intended to be “our” story, it doesn’t seem complete to talk about evangelism among the Karen people and not mention the story of the Younger White Brother and the Golden Book. This is truly a Karen story though, so I will just give an introduction. If interested in more detail, it would be best to consult a Karen source as suggested below.

The Karen languages (yes, there are several dialects) were not put in writing until Baptist missionaries came on the scene in the 1800s. Prior to that time, and likely even until today to some extent, Karen history was recorded and recalled orally. Specifically, there were a series of lengthy poems called “Tahs”. Certain people in the village that were gifted with the ability to remember, recall and recite these Tahs were then tasked with the duty of being the human historical receptacles for the village and all the Karen people. The history, myths, legends, and stories from ancient days until now were all housed and maintained in walking, talking, human libraries. At times then, they would be called upon to recite these poems to remind people of where they had come from and where they might be going.

As relates to evangelism and faith, the Karen Tahs spoke of an all-powerful God called Ywa which of course is similar to the Hebrew, Yahweh in both concept and pronunciation. That and some additional parallels between the old Karen poems and the Hebrew Bible led some to theorize that the Karen might be among the lost tribes of Israel. But what really got the Karen interested in the Bible and the story the missionaries and evangelists had to tell was the prophecy of the Younger White Brother.

The Tahs told the story that the father of the Karen people had several sons. The Karen son was the oldest brother and he was given a book that had the answers to life and could guide him and all Karen to a life of wisdom and prosperity without suffering. However, this book was made of leaves, was not properly cared for and was lost or destroyed. The loss of this book then, was the reason the Karen people struggle.

Among the brothers however, was a Younger White Brother. This brother was given a Golden Book that likewise had all the answers to life. This brother took care of his book but traveled the world. Though prone to wander, one day this Younger White Brother was going to return and bring the knowledge contained in the book back to the Karen people. When this Younger White Brother was to come, the poems described him coming by sea in large, tall ships and would be accompanied by soldiers marching in formation. Early missionaries like the Judsons, Boardmans, and Masons were certainly white. Further, they arrived on the British sailing ships and the British soldiers that soon followed seemed to fulfill the prophetic Tahs.

Francis Mason depicted here translated the Bible in
the Karen language in 1853. He also recorded the
meanings of some of the Karen Tahs that related to
God/Ywa. From "Burma Baptist Chronicle - 1963

Ko Tha Byu, the first  Karen Christian convert apparently knew the story well. Once becoming
Christian he became a dynamic evangelist leading thousands of Karen to Christ. I understand that reminding people of the story of the Younger White Brother was often part of his message and that missionaries then, were seen by many Karen as fulfillment of the Karen prophecy.

To see a better description of this story and how it affected the Karen people, please refer to Dr. Angelene Naw’s book titled “The History of the Karen People of Burma”. She discusses the topic in Chapter 2, pages 23 – 27. Dr. Naw also includes many of the parallels between the ancient Karen Tahs and the Hebrew beliefs of God and creation. The parallels are remarkable. The story of the Karen and the Golden Book is also discussed in the 1981 book “Eternity in Their Hearts” by Don Richardson.

As we began working with the Pwo Karen Evangelism program in 1985, I don’t recall the evangelists making much mention of this story. In fact, the idea that Christianity was a “white person’s religion” was often an obstacle they had to overcome. Often, it seems the main reason people became Christian was because they had come to the end of their resources and no longer had any funds or animals left to sacrifice to appease the spirits. Others became Christian after getting medical help and/or being healed from some health matter or accident. Still others, and especially younger people, became Christian as they were attracted by being accepted into a group and especially into a group that liked music. But the story of the Younger White Brother was always in the background and would occasionally be re-told in one form or another at meetings and gatherings large and small.