Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-24
ECbristian Gmneabor|
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BY {
? HARVEY S. IRWIN.
TOPIC:
The Home Missionary
Whose Life Has Most In
spired Me.-Acts, Io:23-35.

~ FTER the remarkable revelation
" made to the Apostle Peter, record
~ ed in the tenth chapter Of Acts, we
find him uttering the words:
"Of a truth. perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: but in every nation
he that feareth Him and wor<eth right
eousness is accepted with Him.
The word Sin every nation necessarily
include every race and condition of men.
The fact that God has equal regard for
all men who fear Him and work right
eousness Is the warrant for missionary
endeavor at home and abroad in teach
ing the fear of God and the principles of
Righteousness to every human being.
Amos r. Wells said that character is
the one rank in the kingdom Of heaven,
and the sooner our human society con-
forms to the celestial peerage the better
for our society,"" The Office and work of
the missionary is to emphasize this truth.
No discrimination is to be made where
God makes none. 1.-THE glorious gospel of
the blessed Cod is to be preached ito
every creature The terms ''home" and
foreign" as applied to missions are used
for convenience in plans of Organiza-
ton for the one single purpose of spread
ing religious teaching throughout the
world at home as well as abroad.
THE spirit Of missions is the spirit of
Christ, and the spirit of Christ is the in
carnation of the fatherhood Of God.''
Our topic for this week directs our
thought to missionary work in our own
land. There is long roll of home mis-
sdonary heroes whose lives have afforded
inspiration to the lovers of mankind,
among whom may be mentioned Dav d
Brainerd, who, in the early days, per-
formed such self-sacrificing work and
splendid ministry of loving service to the
eastern Indians.
William Duncan, among the Indians of
British Columbia. for whom he did "a
civilizing work without parallel, alike re-
markable for the original thought and
genius displayed and for the heroic
courage in execution"
Marcus Whitman, Of whom it has been
testified that his heroic ride across the
continent, over untried ways, reused our
government to the value of the great
the nation. and whose martyr death has
borne such rich fruit in concentrated
lives"
We should not here fail to record the
name Of Mrs A. r. MacFarland, whose
loving, patient, self-denying work stands
as a monument to the heroism of
women's devotion to the cause of mis-
sions. She was the first missionary to
ASC LII AidShd. duu SpCnL d WlHIcT there
before any other missionary came. OF
each of those named, and many besides,
long history Of splendid achievements
could be written that should give inspira-
ton to all our hearts.
In considering the home missionary
whose life has most inspired us we are
attracted to one name, because of his and
his family 5 Identification with our own
city. [ refer to DR.. Sheldon Jackson. We
feel specially proud of the great deeds of
those who in a sense belong n nrovin.
cially. Yet he belongs to the whole coun-
try-in fact, to the world-in which
and for which he accomplished so much
good. Young Christians should be famil-
lar with the history of his strenuous and
noble life, that inspiration may be
aroused for like Christian endeavor. and
for this reason give a brief record of
this great home missionary, as expect to
do of other missionaries as opportunities
arise in the topics assigned. I am in
debted to Rev. DR.. Robert L. Stewart. D.
D., for some of the incidents and facts
here given.
was among the western Indians and the
natives of Alaska.
Those whose privilege 1t has been to
travel over the Rocky mountains can
realize something of the grandeur Of those
regions in which DR.. Jackson rendered
his remarkable services to mankind, and
as they think Of those majestic noun
tains and far-reaching plains. and then
think of the elevated character and broad
scope of Jackson's personality, they are
reminded of the poets thought when he
sang:
Bring me men to match my mountains;
Bring me men to match my plains
Men with empires in their purpose
And new eras in their brains.''
During DR.. Jackson's labors in Colo
RADIO, Wyoming and Oregon he had ever
before him the wish and hope to go to
Alaska. This feeling grew into an in
tense desire, and when. by reason of an
open revolt among the Nez Perces In
dams. mission work was well-ngh i'm
possible in the places to which heN had
arranged to go. he took counsel with
the promptings Of his own desires, fol-
lowed the leadings of Providence, and
in August, 1877 visited Alaska.
He was accompanied by Mrs. MacFar-
land q missionary friend who had rem
dered faithful service for several years
at Santa Fe. They received a warm well
home board of his church had previously
decided to open mission in Alaska, and
as soon as DR.. Jackson had completed
arrangemments for the continuance OF
charge and returned to his own field of
labor in Colorado.
Reporting what he had done to his
church board. consent was given for con-
tinuance Of the work already begun. but
with the understanding that no funds
were available for this field.
He undertook to secure a special fund.
He appealed to the women OF the church,
made public addresses in cities and viii
lagos. at missionary and educational
meetings. which resulted in the securing
of fund of over $4,000. Out Of this
sum a home for the helpless young In
dian women was provided.
The successful inauguration OF mission
airy work in Alaska was accomplished.
Notwithstanding the serious opposition
met. The indomitable will and sublime
faith Of this frontier apostle OVERRIDE
jackson to Alaska were without prece-
dent. He undertook the work on his
own responsibility and gave seven years
of toll. during which time he had no
connection with either mission or school.
yet labored in the interest Of both. His
service to the natives Of Alaska was
not limited to missionary work. By in
terviews with and letters to influential
men Of the nation he did much for the
establishment of public schools and for
the foundation Of provisional govern
ment, for the administration Of justice
and the protection Of life and property.
In view Of the great difficulties encoun-
tered the results were most encouraging.
One Of the interesting features Of DIR.
Jackson's great work in Alaska was the
introduction of the reindeer. Those IA
miliar with all the different modes of
transportation in arctic regions say that
on long journey the dogs Of team
cannot haul sufficient provisions through
an uninhabited country to feed them
selves. A reindeer accustomed to the
harness can travel with 200 pounds on q
sled over mountains and plain without
road or trail for weeks at a. time, and
keep in good condition by browsing on