The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-14
John LefShton Wilson, DID.

I
at Richmond, Va. has just made splendid
contribution to religious literature in vol
ume entitled memoirs Of Rev. John Leigh
ton Wilson, DID, 1t is from the pen OF our
own gifted and conSecrated missionary in
China, Rev. Hampden c. DuBose, ID.
Possibly the writer's strong attachment to
the author and personal regard for the noble
character of the Biographical while still with
| TO the real worth OF the volume. But be this
as 1t may, he esteems 1t a gem Of INTRINSIC
value. and worthy a place IN the hearts OF
Thornwell." Edwards "Life of David
Brainard,' the Lives of Edward Payson"
Henry Martyn," "Summerfield" and others
OF that class. He feels that the department
of Religious Biography has been enriched by
it. Certain 1t Is that It's perusal brought more
moisture to the eye and warmer throb.beats to
the heart than any book he has read for
years.
OF the author, he has this to say, that no
living name on the roll Of the Southern Pres
byterian church stands higher In the esteem
DuBose. Genial. affable, warm-hearted. cul.
tured, he is a South Carollnian, OF the olden
type, Of whom his native State has reason TO
be proud. The writer first met him In Co
lumbia, at the Theological Seminary, in the
session of 1859, when the foundation OF
lifelong friendship was laid. Graduating
there in IL he set outa few months later ior
China, where he was stationed at Soo-Chow,
| In the Province OF kiang-Su, on the Grand
Canal, which has been his home ever since.
Returning to this country In lS9O, on q visit
he was by unanimous vote CHOSEN MooeratoI
that year at Yorkville. In May OF the follow
| ing year he was In like manner made Modera-
| tor of the General assembly OF the Southern
Birmingham, His facile pen has given to the
press several volumes OF high order. such
| e. e. as "Preaching in Sinim,' or the Gospel
and Demon" or "The Three Religions OF
China" But 1t is in his memoirs OF John
Leighton Wilson" that the writer knows him
best. There both head and heart are IN exact
alignment The author was certainly favor
ed above most men In having such subject
to sketch and the Biographed was hardly
less favored in having such Biographer.
or John Leighton Wilson II is almost need
less to speak, at least to Carolina Presbyter.
| ians; for 10 them he stands forth as grand
Colossus, whose name was for many trying
! years Gibraltar-rock, around whose base
| fresh Inspiration after the most calamitous
war of the Nineteenth Century.
| Born in Sumter County South Carolina, In
1909, of a Cody ancestry, OF the approved
IScotch-Irish variety, his early life was spent
amid the rural enjoyments OF the typical old
| time, Southern home. He graduated at Un.
ion College, Schenectady, n. 7. IN 1879; and
in 1881 entered the Columbia Seminary, a
mem Der Of It's first class. Then followed his
| marriage, and his bridal tour to the Ozark
| Continent where, for nineteen years. he
lived and labored-the pioneer Missionary OF
the American Board in Western Africa. For
seven years he was stationed at Cape Palmas,
just outside the Eastern boundary OF Liberia.
There, from his modest little Mission-Home,
broad stretch of the blue Atlantic on the one
hand; and on the other, on the jungle-groves
where lurked wild beats, and men hardly
There. ali but isolated from congenial COM
partnerships, save that OF his devoted young
bride, he was stricken down with the deadly
African fever-the same which, In more re.
cent years, deprived the Southern church OF
| its glorious young IIapsley on the threshold
| of his promising career. After seven years OF
semi.im M olation at Cape Palmas, he was
| transferred to the Gaboon, statlon sun low.
er down on the Equatorial coast. just above
the mouth of that great river. the Congo-on
whose banks the Presbyterian church now
has a prosperous Mission, mintstered TO by
that remarkable son OF Africa. the gllted ana
eloquent Shepard!
After a dozen years of faithful service in
the Gaboon he came back TO his native land
with health enfeebled, and constitution much
unquenchable for the perishing Of the Ozark
Continent" His heart ever continued TO be
"Where Afrlc's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand"
Soon after his return he was made AssIs-
tant Secretary of Foreign Missions in the
Presbyterian church. But with the disrup-
ton OF that body, on the out-burst OF the Civ
pie OF his native southland. At once he was
called 10 the Secretaryship OF Missions OF the
| Presbyterian church in "the Confederate
States OF America" Cut Off from the outside
world by the block ade Of our entire sea coast,
his energies were for The time restricted to
labors for the Indian Tribes In the south west,
and to Gospelling the Confederate Armies.
But with the advent OF peace-wlth ruined
homes, dismantled churches, and an impov-
erisned people all around him-his extraor-
dnary administrative ability shone forth
with a briIlincy seldom equaled.. Fired by
his stirring appeals christian people went TO
work to re.habitate their PROSTATE Zion !;
and as their consequent, chaos soon gave
place to order. Courage, enthusiasm, hope,
were inspired by his counsel and example,.
New houses Of worship sprang up everywhere
as If by magic; and the Southern Pres6yte-
rian church emerged from It's desolation,
"reJoicing as strong man To run race" It's
magnificent Missionary operations Of today
which. in q measure, be-girdle the world,
were the project of his brain! God be praised
| for the gift OF such man!
| This, In brief, Is the meagre and imperfect
outline Of the man and his work, us SO ad-
mirably given us by his bographer. Reader,
buy that book and let DR.. DuBose himself
tell you the thrilling story OF John Leighton
Wilson. 1t costs only Sl50.
J. Lowrie Wilson.