Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

not remarkable individual, as IL seemed,
in any way. He was like the man with
two talents, in the parable, neither very
rich nor very poor in the qualities and gifts
which make success possible. Joseph
Damien was Just an ordinary, common
place man, having no particular genius lot
anything, unless q genius for being ana
doing good be taken account of-tnat ne
had. This man wanted TO do good. 10
the depths of his very soul he wanted TO
help somebody who was down. 1t was NOS
with him a theory, nor a sentiment, but
really passion, an absorbing desire Ana
when this plain, good man, with the long
ing in his heart to help, put his foot on the
island of Molokai, a new era began there
Such is the contagion Of
GENUINE, SINCERE GOODNESS.
Father Damien Is best described by say
ing that he was a Christian. All his in
spiratIon came from his faith. He did what
he did and was what he was, because he
simply and loyalty followed Christ. That
brave life of his is an example Of what
Christian faith is still helping men to do.
In spite of all the frowns of the critics, in
spite of all the assurances of philosophers
that the foundation has been quite removed
from beneath the Christian religion, there
is good deal of faith still left in this world.
/ do not believe that there is a single
Christian village anywhere in which there
are not ten Christians living at this hour
who would for Christ's sake do Just such
work as Father Damien did, if it came in
their way as it did in his. Indeed, who
will deny that there are Christians beyond
numbering who, in obscure ways, under
various burdens, with crosses of various
shapes, are to-day doing God just as good
service as Father Damien did. Two years
ago who of us had heard of Father Damien?
Yet there be was, doing his good work, wit
Messing to Christ's power in this epicurean
century.
In the number of the Nineteenth Century
in which 1 learned the facts of Father
Damien life, there is another notable article
standing just next to this. Itis DIR. Wade's
reply to Mr.. Huxley. Mr.. Huxley had
affirmed, in the common fashion of the
modern opponents of the Christian religion,
that all good scholarship to-day denies the
authenticity of the New Testament Scriptures
as adequate records of Christ's life. This,
everybody will remember, was the position
assumed in Robert Elsmere." The books
in that remarkable library which the Squire
had, overturned the whole system of Chris
tian belief. But DR.. Wade, as it happens.
knows just as much about Biblical criticism
as Prof. Huxley does about natural science.
And he shows by quotations from the very
authors whom Prof. Huxley names that
their conclusions are by no means those
which great many people take for granted.
The best scholarship to-day afirms the
authenticity of the New Testament Script
ures. The article is strong and able de-
Tense of the Christian faith against honest,
but ill-informed attack. Still, for the most
of us. Father Damien's defense is better.
The best argument for Christianity is
A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
Four years ago Father Damien became o
leper. On the 18th of April, four months
ago he died. Thy will be done" he said,
when he knew .he plague was upon him.
March. The good God is calling me to keep
Easter with Himselfi God be blessedp' As
Palm Sunday drew near one of the priests at
tending HIM begged him to leave HIM his
mantle, as Elijah left his cloak to Elisha.
why, what would you do with it?'' he asked,
keeping to the end his perfect simplicity, lack
of cant, good sense. What would you do with
itf Il is full of leprosy." I'VE had the great
one who was with him at the last. "And how
poorly of he was! He VINO had spent so much
money to relieve the lepers had so far forgot
ten himself that he had not , change of linen
or bedelothes,". So he went to his reward.
And now that Father Damien is dead sud-
denly his name is on everybodys lips. They
had great difficulty in getting money to help
him in his work while he was doing it. Father
Damien had small reward in the shape of ap-
probation while he lived. But now he is dead,
money is abundant There is "Damien Me-
tihcany investigated. England is going to look
into the condition of her $50 900 lepers in India.
That is part of the advantage of death"
From the days of the earliest martyr death has
emphasized character pleaded the cause for
which life has been given. made people think
But how much better all around il we could
think and help without waiting for such tragic
emphasis. ~ GEORGE HODGES