Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-04
IlIn nav. cnonon rInnsoy.
biogr"phy of the Foreign ana Home
Missionary Hero.


Henrietta, Tex, FEB. s.--As far
back as the memory of man goes his
ancestors We're first Christians and
secondly Presby terlans. In early life
he gave himself to Christ with hearty
devotion. He was born in New Jer-
sey May 10. 1926, but his parents
moved to Illinois. going the whole dis.
tancc In covered wagon, when he was
u mere boy. In 1913 he graduated
IRON Illinois college. and In 1851 from
Andover Theological seminary, intent
upon being missionary. lie then
studied medicine two years In Gin
cinnati, the better to prepare himself
Tor foreign work. In 1854 he vailed
for the Micronesian Islands, intending
to settle on the Island Ebon, among
saNages of low type. No man had
ever set foot on those wicked shores
without guard of soldiers The cap
tain of the ship would not believe
1t possible that sensible man could
contemplate an act SO foolhardy.
II seemed Il mysterious Providence
that raised storm that drove the
ship 100 miles out of Its course and
landed II, disabled, on another island,
but there was no mistake made by the
guiding hand that causes all things TO
work together for good. Mr. and Mrs
Pierson waited nearly two years be-
fore there was an opportunity to find
snip to take them TO the saYages of
the Island of Ebon. In the meantime
100 natives OF Ebon were caught in
their canoes and swept across the
ocean 100 miles, landing on this same
island in starved condition. Some
Were dead. almost all were sick The
Rings son was among them. Mr..
Persons medical skill came into good
service. When they were ready to
return who should tell them what
course to take? The missionary dl-
reoted them, and all reached home in
safety Time, like a wounded snake,
dragged It's Slow length along, and n
chip set sail for Ebon carrying the
missionaries. When the island was
approached the entire population
rushed TO the shore, hoping that their
MAN OF Cod who had rendered
such service, was aboard.
Their hootings, ceilings and gestures
alarmed the captain, and he pushed
out the heavy wire screens all around
the sides of the vessel to prevent these
wild men from climbing up. They
came out in canoes they swan out;
they crowded the shores. The ex-
! perienced captain prepared for a sharp
| defense. Finally Mr.. Pierson recog-
nized the kings son, and directed that
U
royal canoe. The captains pleas We're
of no avail, and Mr., and Mrs. Pierson
| were given over to the sayages. 1t
| would be useless to describe the noise
/ and uproar that followed. When the
/ water was shallow enough for wading
/ the islanders took the missionaries on
/ their shoulders safely TO the shore
! What was their surprise to find u
! parsonage awaiting them and the
| kings guard to protect them. The
| guard. however, was sent back to the
! king with the information that there
/ was great God who protected mis-
| sionaries. After civilization began TO
Secure comfort TO these heathens 1t
/ became manifest that Mrs Picrson
must return 10 this country II her life
was to be prolonged, Two natives
carried her TO the ship In a chair.
one of thom was so impressed BY her
manner that he became a Christian.
and after years of study became a
missionary to other unevangelized
Islands.
The foreign missionary now became
home missionary.
| At Brooklyn, Cal, he found town
without u church OF any name in 1860.
After while a house OF worship was
to be built. a saloon-keeper was
asked for n contribution. mo, sir,
| he said; but I'll tell you what L VIII
| do. when your church Is done you
10 into the pulpit and l will stand at
the door with a barrel of whisky and
the fellow that gets the biggest crowd
is in the right After awhile the
faded wife OF the sRloon-keeper died
and in the course of time he married
member Of Mr.. Persons church,
After a few days OF honey he
ordered her to 20 behind the bar and
sell liquor, as the other wife had done
mot l." she said, 81 am Presby-
terrain" He undertook to whip her
as he had done the former wife, and
he was laid up under a doctors care
for ten days. During his brief indls'
position his affeetlonate wife gave hin
loving care. Among other kindly
things she said, My dear. you know
that IL you continue in this business
such things as this are liable 10 hap
pen again. Don't you think you nae
better quit?" The pulpit overcame th'
whisky barrel and the saloon man be
came member of the Presbyterian
church,
MIR. PIerson went to Abel, Iowa, IL
1871. leaving house OF worship,
membership of 81 and Sunday-schoo
OF co. at Brooklyn. stu home mis-
slonary, Mr. Pierson settled at solo
mon, Kan, In 1876, and in Henrietta
Tex, in 1884. Here he built mana
come house OF Worship WIN -
nnining bank account OF 80 cents
Far and near he has been called
everywhere trusted and welcomed
. He has attended more funerals am
married more people than all othe
resident ministers combined, TheT
was an odor OF piety about him. II
was one faithful minister who die
without an enemy. He was WIS
PRESBYTERIAN. and as stated clerk o
the North Texas Presbytery he eNerte
a wide influence.
Last sunday he did not feel we
enough to preach, for the frst tim
since coming to Texas. He suffere
vim neuraigia until Thursday an
felt better. There was no anxiet
morning. February !, he asked bless
} inr al the table then leaned ms hea
! In his two hands, became uneon
! scious. and in half an hour came anne nv M
the realization OF that which eye ma
, not seen nor ear heard, nor the hear
, Of man conceived. H. S. LITTLE