The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-23
p @ o @ o o o 9 . @ o o o O O
LEARNING TO LOVE THE
LEPERS.

g LEARNING TO LOVE THE @
LEPERS. :"
@ o 9 o @ o o o o . . o o o o o o
Rev. John Lake in "The New East
Asked today, by the editor of the
New East to write an eccoun. Of my
unworthy efforts in behalf Of the lep-
ers, and especially Of what led me to
this undertaking, l have commenced
the task, between very, very frequent
calls.
Frequent calls-for, besides this
work for the unfortunate lepers, l
have the cars, in Canton City and
Province, of more than thirty church
es and chapels; and my wife and | are
kept busy trying to do our duty by
the more than a thousand members
in these little scattered congrega-
tions, and by our more than hum
dred Chinese preachers, teachers,
Bible women, colporters, and student
workers-for, connected with these
churches, there are more than tWen-
ty day schools, to say nothing OF the
Sunday schools, and the special or
carnations for women and for young
people.
But the editors request brushed
aside, for the moment, the things that
hourly press so heavily upon me-and
I was college boy again, back IN
my native county of Edgefeld, S. c.,
and in the town of Edgefeld, where
l spent some of the years. of my child
hood and early manhood.
1t was about the year 1890, either
while I was on vacation from Cher
lesion, or between my student days
in Charleston and in Columbia, that
l noticed a book belonging to the
late Mr.. Alvin Hart, in his place of
business, in Edgefeld
The book was entitled, "The Lep-
ers Of Molokai''-an account of the
work, among those sorely afflicted
outcasts in the Hawaiian islands, OF
the Belgian priest, Joseph de Veuster,
generally known as "Father DAM
ien." Mr.. Hart was absent, but one
Of the young clerks, Mr.. I. B. Lam
ham, a friend through all these years,
loaned me the book, which l took
home Ito east Hill") for few days
and there ins that quiet Well-shaded
hilltop retreat, 1but without telling to
parents or brothers or sisters what
was in my heart, l read it through;
and there l eommuned with God
about work for the lepers, and re-
solved that ifoHis call should ever
come to me, Tiwould be willing to un-
dertake such "a task, somewhere /
had already become student volun-
teer for foreign missions, while at
summer school, in Northtield, Mass,
more than year before.
The thought Of such an uadertak-
ing made me shudder, | must con-
fess-ah, I haye shuddered over it
since, and oyer the loathsome, re-
voting objects that demanded: my
pity and help, many and many, "a
time but shuddering and shrinking
have given place to the joy of such
a service for Him, and for those
He loved to touch and heal, in the
days of His .fesh-and over whom
He yearns today.
A beautiful Bible reading on "Je-
sus and the Lepers" could be made.
from the three parallel passages,
Matt. S;2-4; NIX. 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-
IA; and from Matt. 1877, 8 and Luke
l7:11-16.
Strangely enough, I did not think
of the lepers when l decided to come
to South China, where the disease
is so common, or when I first reach
ed Canton; but on my first journey
to the Sz Yap country, few weeks
later, saw some lepers, for the first
time in my life-however, as l threw
them plying, but almost frightened
glances, and threw them some coins,
knew that must now begin to do
something for them, as l had
promised God. I would be willing to
! do.
Soon after that, I visited, with Dr..
Beattie, of the Presbyterian Mission,
the leper work was then carried on
out beyond the East Gate of Canton.
And soon | became acquainted with
sEather Conrardy." who was found