Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-12

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 evangelistic work
which Ind the same worldwide scope
that Paul's mission had for the Chris.
| tinn religion. If the religion of Jesus
Christ is the benefcent thing that we
profess to believe It. are we justified in
keeping the knowledge of it to our
selves? Are we not bound as debtors
to the whole world to repay our obh-
cations by making 1t known far and
wide?
The medical profession sets us an
example in its performance of this
duty. No sooner does physician dis
cover means Of alleviatlng physical
suffering than he places IL at the dis
posal Of his professional brethren the
world over. When Edward Jenner
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 adj
vocate it lest he might be prosecuted
by such medical authorities as DR.. In
genhousz and DR.. Pearson? Oh, no.
As an intelligent man he deplored the
awful destruction made by this terri
Bile 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 it was
made helpless by the invasion Of this
1, of al
pox. When the pilgrim fathers landed
upon the Massachusetts shores, they
found Tint the Indian tribe which the
year before had been inha biting that
part Of the country had been entirely
oblitcrated. with the exception of one
man. by the fatal ravages Of smallpox.
! So. In the face Of dcrieion and persecu-
ton. Jenner proclaimed the gospel of
vaccination. Though he might. and to
a great extent did, destroy his private
practice. he kept crying to suffering
humanity: Here is remedy for this
dreadful and malignant disease. Take
it and live. Take it and Iive,"
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 world. And to-
day thousands upon thousands of men
and women who have been 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 bacili,
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 n lesson do these illustrious
benefactors of the human race teach
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 a means of removing de-
formity how eagerly he makes the dis
covery known that all the world may
share in the benefit! In our hands we
have a reveal ton of infinitely greater
value. Their discoveries can at the
best prolong life only a 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
20 publish the knowledge of that rem
cdy. They say: "If the Chinese are not
willing to receive our gospel missiona-
ros. then let those missionaries stay
Mt home. Let the Chinese hordes grow
el and die, Let the human streams of
heather life become choked with moral
yermin! 1t is their own lookout, not
ours" I tell you today that Christian
Americas foreign obligations can new
. 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 thousand
where we have one gospel messenger
now for hundred thousand people we
should have so great number that ev,
cry foreign town and village, as well
as every city, should be persuaded tc
receive the open Bible and to study the
. word of God. Christian America will
not be free from responsibility unit
, the gospel of the Lord Jesus is preach
, ed unto all peoples. If those peoples
receive it not, then they, not we, must
, bear the responsibility.
, The nations OF the world have also
, other claims upon us as a Christian
people that must not be ignored. II
, we have the spirit of Christ. we shall
? not be unmindful of their materia
wants. He who had compassion OF
the multitude because they had moth
: Ing to eat" would never have closed hi
, ears TO the cry of famine stricken
, nation. If we would be like him, we
( too, should feed the hungry and succo
, the homeless, the widow and the or
z phan. How better can we make know
| the grandeur and beauty of the Chris
tlan faith than by proving to other ma
. tons its bcneticent influence? AS til
q hand Of Christian America is stretche,
= out across the seas, bearing bread 70
3 the starving, they see Christ llvin
Z again in IFS and bless his dear name
= Having accepted from us the brea,
q that perishes. they will listen as W