The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-26

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
John Williams, the Apostle to the
South Seas" typifled consecrated in
genuity. He was born in 1886 At the
age of IA he was apprenticed for seven
years to an ironmOnger in London. He
became one of the wild youths of that
city. Standing on street corner one
Sunday evening, waiting for some boon
companions whom he was TO accom-
pany to the Highbury Tea Gardens, his
employers wife on her way to church
saw him. and urged him to go with her.
He refused, but she persisted in her
entrea ties till he reluctantly consented.
That was the turning point Of his life.
He was converted that very day and
went to work Immediately in the Sun
day school. awaiting himself of every
opportunity to prepare for usefulness in
Christian work. At 20, hearing Of the
missionary work in the Society Islands,
he offered himself to the London Mis-
siOnaTy society and was sent to those
islands Enthusiastic, Jealous, and in
tenseiy devoted John Williams viii
always be remembered in missionary
annals for the original methods he used
in his work. In ten months by meth
Cd of his own he had mastered aNlang-
uage which usually took three years.
Every noble life is a summons to US
to live nobier lives The men on the
heights are Gods invitations. The
long roll of missionary heroes is an
appendix to the Great Commission. It
is demonstration of the practica bility
of Christs last command. and of the
blessedness that follows obedience
thereto. Since the Gospels vanguard
has pushed the outposts of the church
so far into the religion of godlessness,
there is increased obligation laid upon
every Christian to become a mission
airy soldier. The very first lesson to be
learned from missionary biography is
Go thou and do likewise
No small man can be a missionary.
He must have a great heart of love.
broad sympathias and a wide vision Of
heavens harvest-feld.
Perhaps Gods kingdom has known
no greater hindrance than that old ex-
cuse which has closed purses against
the Lords work, has kept labOrers at
home. and has engrOssed the minds Of
Christians with the affairs of this
world-"A man must live, you know. "
Jesus did not think so. Paul did not
think so. The apostles and all their
train Of martyrs did not think So.
Bishop Patterson, as he fearlessly ad-
vanced towards the island where Fill
arrows were to pierce his heart, did
not think SO. John Williams, as he
sacrificed his life to a cannibal feast,
did not think so. Bishop Harrington.
martyred on the march to Uganda did
not think so. The host of gospel
heralds in Turkey and China and in
OlN0I DARK corners OF the eaILn, VINO
for Christs sake did not count their
lives dear unto them. did not think So
No. a thousand times no! The gospel
must be preached and men must be
true, but there is no law in heaven
that "a man must live" The history
of self-sacriicing missions is one long
protest against this selfish creed.
No man who takes God at his word
can be coward
4
The most famous ship constructed
in the South Sea Islands was 1.-The
Messenger of Peace built by John
Williams. It was sixty feet long, built
almost without men and with tools
made by himself. He made the rudder
to this ship out of a piece of pick
axe, cooper's adj and a long hoe.
This illustrates the ingenuity he show
ed in all his work. Altogether he built
five ships which he used in carrying
the gospel from one island to another.
Seek the center and heart and mo-
tive of the missionary movement and
you ind rough wooden cross, stain
ed with the blood of the Goldman
} esus Christ, who thereon gave up his
life for the whole world of lost man
not merely for Cfalilee or Judea or
JeWry or America, but for all the sin
ming sons of sinful man. We have not
at all learned the lesson of missions
unless We have learned the truth and
power and presence of the cross of
salvation.
Men may have the might Of the
Master on the mission of the Master.
Most persons get their ideas of mis-
siOnaries from the funny papers. Those
of US who number many missionaries
among our personal friends, or who
have seen such great gatherings as the
! Student Volunteer convention in Nash
/ vile, know how false these caricatures
are For the missionaries are a sunny
! lot If they were not Optimists they
! would not be missionaries. And it Is
/ by their cheerfulness and serenity and
that the gospel of peace is to be com
mended to the unconverted people
among whom they live.
Hereism is most natural to the fol-
1 lowers of the greatest Hero of history,
Jesus Christ
All the world admires a hero. Red
blOoded manliness is honored wher-
ever found Courage, daring, enter
prise. perseverance, and self-sacrifice
indeed all that IS wrapped UP in the
! word herOism. is praised among all
peoples. AS Kipling says,
s'There is neither east nor west, nor
border, nor breed, nor birth,
/ When two strong men stand face to
face. though they come from the
ends of the earth"
SO the heroes of the mission fields in
so far as they are real heroes, merit
| the honor of all men. The roll OF