A Terrible Affair by L. A. Cartwright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1874

A Terrible Affair.

By L. A. Cartwright

WE have not yet seen a list of the killed and wounded; though a faithful record is kept. No steamboat disaster, no railroad collision, or wreck at sea, ever equaled its horrors. The groans of the victims, and the ghastly wounds of the dead and dying appall all hearts. A few skillful surgeons are doing all they can to relieve the sufferers. But many are perishing for want of care. A well-appointed hospital has been prepared with lint, bandages, and healing medicine. But there is lack of ambulances and nurses. Special invitation is given to every lover of humanity to minister to the pressing need, and, if possible, to prevent such a catastrophe in the future. It was a seeming trifle that caused the trouble, but a ferocious object nevertheless. It is described as an unruly member, which no man can tame, a world of iniquity full of deadly poison, set on fire of hell, scattering firebrands, arrows, and death. Sometimes it is smoother than oil, but it has secretly drawn swords, and the poison of asps is under its lips. It has belched an epidemic over the whole world.

Whoever lives through the pestilence must take sanitary measures at home. To the rescue, then, one and all; for if we cannot restore the dead to life, many of the wounded may yet be saved, and more calamity averted. There is balm in Gilead, and a great Physician, who can extract the poison and heal the wounds. Let us all take his prescription, and help cleanse this “world of iniquity,” and put out this “fire of hell,” by bridling our own tongues in obedience to “the great Head of the church.”

L. A. CARTWRIGHT.