Missionaries as Saviors of Men by Delavan Leonard Pierson

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 4, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 39.

Missionaries as Saviors of Men

By Delavan Leonard Pierson

Delavan Leonard Pierson in S. S. Times

It is these wise, God-fearing, man-loving men and women that have gone all over the world founding hospitals to save men's bodies; it is the missionaries like Livingstone that have aroused the world to put an end to slavery; they have led the way in the emancipation of woman; it is the missionaries like John G. Paton who have fought the sale of strong drink to the child-races; missionaries have been pioneers in world-saving by their work of translation, education, exploration; they are working to-day to save the Kongo natives from destruction; they are caring for the lepers and the famine sufferers and plague-stricken. Where the missionary goes, and his God-given advice is heeded, there peace supplants war, ignorance is crowded out by knowledge, vice gives way to virtue, civilization drives out barbarism, love destroys hate, and life reigns in place of death. Even those who do not receive the full blessing of the missionary's Gospel partake of the benefits that come from the missionary's fellowship.

A striking illustration of the secondary benefits that come from having a missionary in the midst is given by Mr. H. J. Whigham, a war correspondent. He was in Manchuria after the Boxer rebellion, when the Russians were restoring order by destroying towns and cities. At Liao-wang, the Boxers refused to yield, and opened fire on the Muscovite troops. The general was just about to order the town destroyed, and every inhabitant put to the sword, when a missionary, Mr. Westwater, appeared before him and asked leave to advise with the leaders of the town. Having obtained permission, the missionary went alone and unarmed into the midst of the "roaring hive of armed Boxers." His bravery and their knowledge of his truthfulness so impressed the leaders that they laid down their arms, and their lives were spared. It was one of the few towns to escape the frightful excesses of the Russian soldiers.

In body, mind, and soul, the people of the world are being saved by the missionary servants of God.