Orphanages by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 24, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 25.

Orphanages

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

INDIA. NO. 10.

Orphanages.

As the saints of God enter the kingdom of glory, the Saviour has told us in plain words why it is that they will be pronounced blessed of his Father, and invited to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The essential characteristic is not what church we belong to, what theory we professed, upon what church book our name was recorded, but the following are the characteristics which are absolutely essential to enter the pearly gates, partake of the tree of life, and live where sin and sorrow can ne'er invade: "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me." Matt. 25:35, 36.

It will be noticed in these two verses there are eleven personal pronouns by which the Saviour directly refers to himself as being fed when hungry, receiving drink when thirsty, being taken in when a stranger, clothed when naked, and visited when sick and in prison. Was it Christ, personally, to whom these deeds were done? It was, but in the person of his saints; for he identifies himself with the afflicted and sorrowing. "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Heb. 6:10. A tender, sympathizing heart for those in affliction, and especially for those who are suffering the greatest oppression and neglect and are the most helpless, is a spirit valued in the courts of heaven. It is current through all the angelic host; it is a condition in which an interest is taken by every unfallen being. It was introduced into this world by our Lord Jesus Christ. He became the author and finisher of such a faith. It is the pith and essence of the Christian religion. One ounce of this is worth more than cart loads of theory of which men may boast and prove themselves Pharisees.

Homes for the homeless, orphanages for the helpless, are directly designed by man to make manifest and illustrate these principles. We call them Christian institutions because of the Christian principles that are embodied in them. They are and should be regarded in this country as institutions planned in God's providence; and he who takes no interest in them or the principles illustrated by them, knows nothing of the Spirit of Christ. These are established in India. And God has witnessed his approval of the work by the conversion of many souls through these instrumentalities in as remarkable a manner as any in the United States of America. Many a little waif has been picked up by them, rescued from a life of shame, and become useful in the cause of Christ.

While visiting one of these orphanages, the following incident was related concerning a girl of about fifteen, who repeated more Scripture upon the various subjects contained in the Bible readings than any other one in the orphans' home. She was a poor blind girl, rescued from sin and probably death by some one of the missionaries, and placed in this asylum when quite young. The lady who has it in charge at the present time said that when she first came into the position of superintendent, she was informed by her predecessor that this girl would have to be dismissed, because she was so mischievous; that she had been labored with in every possible way, by punishment and moral suasion, and her unfortunate condition of blindness was the only reason she had been retained. If any trouble existed, which there was almost daily among the children, it was always traced to some plot of hers. If any accident happened, she usually had made some plan by which to bring it about. She was unkind and arbitrary with the children; she would learn nothing, commit nothing to memory; was stubborn, selfish, possessing almost every evil trait without the good. The superintendent said she had found everything that was told her more than true. She had talked with her and had prayed with her, and would have dismissed her had it not been for the fact that should she have done it it would have been her eternal ruin; but then to retain her was poisoning the minds of scores of other children that were in the institution.

Finally, one day, upon examining into the merits of some difficulty that had risen, she found that in that particular case this girl had been misjudged. She therefore gave her an approving look, and spoke of her commendingly. She said that for the first time her countenance brightened. She was sure that she had touched a chord which never before had been touched, that was the secret spring to her heart. From that time she followed the example of Christ in her case,—to never censure but see what there was in every instance that she could approve, and gave her all the commendation that she deserved, without alluding to her wrong course in any denunciatory way whatever. At once she became a changed girl. A short time before I was there, knowing that the lady frequently prayed with the girls, as it was her practice to do whenever they desired it, this girl came to her and said: "You pray with the other girls that they may have strength to resist temptation. Why don't you pray with me?" She did so. The girl's heart melted before God, she became converted, and became the kindest and most affectionate orphan that they had in the institution, the most ready to learn, and, in case of sickness, the most devoted to those under her charge. And not only this, but she was noted as the peacemaker in the institution. The lady mentioned this to illustrate the power there was in carrying out the gospel of Christ, and that she never before had seen so marked a case in all her life. "But," said she, "these institutions are greatly in need of laborers. We have plenty that will connect themselves with them, but they fail in the Spirit of Christ to take these young Hindu minds and train them in a manner that they can appreciate the love of Christ."

Here is an open door for young ladies wishing to connect with God's work in a heathen land. The same argument may be used as in other instances: Is there not work of this nature at home to be done? We answer, Most assuredly there is; but also ask, Shall we neglect the heathen where God's providence has opened the way, and not even offer a prayer for God's blessing to rest upon such efforts? Would it not be well for our hearts to enlarge and realize that God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life; for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Oh! that our hearts might be touched with a live coal from off the altar, and we seek more to exemplify the life of our divine Master.