Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-03-14


Calvary cross. When many years ago
five humble, consecrated students met
behind haystack In old Williamstown,
where used to go TO colleges and
founded the first American foreign
missionary society. one Of the greatest
purposes Of Americas future life was
given practical form. Those five young
men planned an eyangeS'tic work
which had the same worldwide scope
that Paul's mission had for the Chris.
tian religion. If the religion Of Jesus
Christ is the beneficent thing that we
profess to believe =, are we justified In
keeping the knowledge Of 1t to our
selves? Are we not bound as debtors
to the whole world to repay our obli-
cations by making 1t known far and
wide?
The medical profession sets us an
example In its performance of this
duty. No sooner does a physician dis
cover a means Of .aiIeyiating physical
suffering than he places II at the dis
posa of his professional brethren the
world over. When Edward JenDer
demonstrated the marvellous immunity
of a human being who was vaccinated
with cowpox. did he keep his discovery
from the world? Did he refuse to ad-
vocate It lest he might be prosecuted
by such medical authorities as DR.. In
genhousz and DR.. Pearson? On, no.
AS an intelligent man he deplored the
awful destruction made by this terri
bic scourge Of smallpox. He knew that
whole countries had been almost depop-
ulated by the pest Mexico was not
conquered so much by Cortes as 1t was
made helpless by the invasion of this
king of horrible plaques called small
pox. When the pilgrim fathers landed
upon the Massachusetts shores, they
found that the Indian tribe which the
year before had been inhabiting that
part of the country had been entirely
obllterated, with the exception of one
man. by the fatal ravages of smallpox.
So. in the face Of derisiOn and persecu-
ton. Jenner proclaimed the gospel of
vaccination. Though he might, and to
great extent did destroy his private
practice, he kept crying to suffering
humanity: Here is a remedy for this
dreadful ard malignant disense. Take
It and live Take it and live"
When James Y Simpson perfected
his investigations in chloroform, did
he keep them to himself? Did he pat
ent them and say. You come to me or
suffer and die?" No. He freely gave
the anesthetic to the worlo. And to-
day thousands upon thousands Of men
and women who have beel compelled
to lie upon an operating table have
risen up to call him blessed. Is the
German physician, Robert Koch, work
ing in his laboratory for personal gain? ?
oh. no. He is trying, purely on phil
anthropic grounds, to cure consump-
ton. which causes at least One-fourth
of the total annual mortality among
the human race. If he ever perfects a
germicide for the tuberculosis bacilli,
he will at once tell all he knows. He
is struggling and working and analyz-
ing purely to save dying race.
Make Known the Revelation.
What a lesson do these illustrious
benefactors Of the human race teacn
us. How they study and investigate
and labor to alleviate suffering and In
crease the longevity of mankind! And
when any of them discovers remedy
for disease or means of removing de-
formity how eagerly he makes the dis
coyery known that all the world may
share in the benefit! In our hands we
have a revelation of infinitely greater
value. Their discoveries can at the
best prolong life only few years
while the gospel Of Jesus Christ Is the
gospel of eternal life and the remedy
for the universal malady Of sin. Yet
there are among us men calling them
selves Christians who make no effort
TO publish the knowledge Of that rem
edy. They say: IF the Chinese are moi
willing to receive our gospel missiona'
ries. then let those missionaries stay
at home. Let the Chinese hordes grow
ell and die! Let the human streams ol
heather life become chOked with mora
verminl 1t is their own lookout, moi
oursw | tell you today that Christian
Americas foreign obligations can ney
or be Cancelled until Jesus Christ Is
preached to all people. Where we have
now one missionary in the dark cont
nents we should send a thousand
where we have one gospel messenger
now for a hundred thousand people W.
should have 80 great number that ey
ery foreign town and village, as wei
as every city, should be persuaded Il
receive the open Bible and to study tn
word of God Christian America vii
not be free from responsibility unit
the gospel of the Lord Jesus is preach
ed unto all peoples. If those people
receive it not, then they, not we, mus
bear the responsibility.
The nations Of the world have ais
other claims upon us as Christian
people that must not be ignored. l
we have the spirit Of Christ, we shal
not be unmindful of their materia
wants. He who "had compassion o.
tne .nurrItude because they had notf
ing to eat" would never have closed hi
ears to the cry Of a famine stricke
nation. II we would be like him, w
too. should feed the hungry and succo
the homeless, the widow and the o.
phap. Row better can we make know
the grandeur and beauty Of the Cnri
.ian faith than by proving to other nj
tions It's benefcent infuencef A. tn
hand Of Christian America is stretche
|, out across the seas, bearing bread fC
the starving, they see Christ hvin
eyain in us and bless his dear nam
Having accepted from us the brea
, shat perishes, they will listen as W
tell them of the Bread that came dow
from heaven, of which If man eat
shall live forever Were the WELDON
ing doors of heather India ever mol
widely opened for the gospel messal