Probably nine tenths of all our diseases have their origin in the mind, or brain. It is through the brain that the Creator communicates with man. Through it he transforms the life, and imparts life and health to every part of the body. Through the nervous system conscious and unconscious impulses are conveyed from the brain to other organs and members of the body. These impressions influence them either for good or for evil.
It is well known that the organs of digestion may be retarded or entirely arrested in their work, and actual disease produced, through fear, worry, despondency, fault-finding, anger, impatience, etc. If the stomach is deranged, all other organs are deranged. How important then to heed the warning: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The issues of life proceed from it because it is the seat of the Author of life. “The kingdom of God is within you.”
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” “Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them.”
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you;” for the Spirit itself giveth life. If God is allowed his place in the mind, if he is permitted to rule upon his throne, life and health will flow from it to every organ and tissue of the body. Thus he heals our diseases. “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
“Who healeth all thy diseases.” Healing comes from within, not from without. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—are the life-giving impulses sent forth from the brain to the various members of the body when Christ is enthroned within. In these there is health. These are the evidences of Christ’s rule. By these we, and our neighbors as well, can tell whether Christ abides within. “Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” “Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven (that is, to bring Christ down from above)? Or, Who shall descend into the deep (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead)? But what saith it? The word [Christ] is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.” Christ is our life. Christ in us is the only hope of health and glory.
On one occasion, as I was called to visit a patient, his wife said to me, before I saw him, “He is a Christian, doctor, but an inveterate smoker. I think this has much to do with his illness.” He was a little hard of hearing, but we carried on, as best we could, the following conversation: “You are a Christian?” “Yes,” he replied. “You use tobacco?” “Yes,” was his answer. Then I said, “Christ does not use tobacco.” He looked at me surprised, and said, “No, I use tobacco.” “But,” I said, “I am dead, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;” and Christ in you does not use tobacco.” I could see that this made quite an impression. It is true that Christ within does not lead a man to gluttony or intemperance, or to defile his holy temple with tobacco, alcohol, or any other poison or impurity. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
When a captive in Babylon, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” It was witnessed of him that “an excellent spirit was in him.” This excellent spirit was God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit in man to-day will keep him from defiling his body, and will lead him to eat and drink that which is pure and good. Daniel requested, “Let them give us pulse to eat [the simple products from the earth], and water to drink.” The result was, the three captives were fairer and healthier than all the children that ate the king’s meat. “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” When Jesus entered upon his ministry, he cleansed the temple at Jerusalem. But his mission to this earth is not to cleanse lifeless temples made with bricks, stone, and mortar, and built by human hands. This is merely held up as an object lesson. His work is to cleanse living temples, made without hands. To the members of the Laodicean church he says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock [showing that Jesus is on the outside]: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” When he enters, he will again say, “Take these things [the things which cause disease, and defile the temple] hence.”12
The difficulty with the human family is, they have chosen the mystery of iniquity, or sin, in place of the mystery of godliness, which is Christ in you. There can be but one remedy for our diseases, and that is to welcome Jesus into our temple once more, and let him cleanse it, and let his house once more become a house of prayer, instead of a den of thieves. “He shall save his people from their sins.” By saving them from their sins, he saves them also from the consequence of sin, which is disease and premature death. They that are saved “shall call his name Emmanuel, which . . . is, God with us.”
Transformation must precede reformation. Reformation always follows transformation. It is the product of the renewed mind. The only thing that is of any avail is a new creation with new desires and new tastes. Such a person will love the things he once hated, and hate the things he once loved. The carnal mind will always be at enmity with that which is good, whether it is good food, pure drink, or whatever it may be. This was illustrated in the experience of Israel. With most of them it was an effort at reformation without transformation. But it proved a failure; they soon turned back in their hearts to the fleshpots, leeks, and onions of Egypt. “With many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. . . . Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him [the reformer] that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” “Finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” When these laws are written not upon tables of stone, but upon the fleshy tables of the heart, the keeping of them becomes a delight, a pleasure. Reforms will then be taken up cheerfully. It will not be so difficult to give up tea, flesh, and other impurities. We shall not regard self-denial a hardship, and God as a hard master. When God is allowed to take his place in the mind, we shall not lust as Israel did. When his kingdom is set up within, his will will be done in these earthen vessels as it is done in heaven. It will be said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
I have seen men under the influence of a mesmerist eat tallow candles, and call them sweet because they were called sweet by the mesmerist. They seemed to enjoy them until they came from under his influence, then they showed signs of disgust and nearly vomited. Satan, the great mesmerist, has blinded the minds of most men, so that they call good evil, and evil good. They are led captive by him at his will.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed [not reformed] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Only the transformed, or renewed, mind can appreciate fully that which is good. Until Satan’s spell is broken, men will despise that which is good, and will say, as did the children of Israel, “There is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” “Our soul loatheth this vile bread,”—the very bread from heaven, angels’ food. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you.”
True Sympathy
If you have a friend worth loving,
Love him — yes, and let him know
That you love him, ere life's evening
Tinge his brow with sunset glow.
Why should good words ne'er be said
Of a friend till he is dead?
If you hear a song that thrills you,
Sung by any child of song,
Praise it — do not let the singer
Wait deserved praises long.
Why should one that thrills your heart
Lack the joy you may impart?
If you hear a prayer that moves you
By its humble, pleading tone,
Join it — do not let the seeker
Bow before his God alone.
Why should not your brother share
The strength of two or three in prayer?
If you see the hot tears falling,
Falling from a brother's eyes,
Share them — and thus by the sharing
Own your kinship with the skies.
Why should any one be glad
When a brother's heart is sad?
— New York Tribune.
O Lord, My Soul Rejoiceth in Thee
“O LORD, my soul rejoiceth in thee,
My tongue thy goodness is telling,
I’ve found thy love so precious to me,
My heart with its rapture is swelling.
“Wonderful love! O wonderful love!
I’ll sing of its fullness forever;
I’ve found the way that leadeth above,
The way to the life-giving river.”
Need of Attention to Hygiene
By A. B. Olsen
A. B. OLSEN, M. D.
OUT of every one thousand children born, only one hundred reach the age of seventy-five. Four hundred perish before the age of five, and the average life to-day is about half the threescore and ten of which we read in Holy Writ. The five principal diseases, those which account for by far the larger number of deaths, are consumption, bronchitis, convulsions, pneumonia, and common fever, and all these diseases can to a large extent be prevented by careful attention to hygiene and sanitation.
To illustrate, in Northumberland is a little village in which in twenty years one hundred and forty children were born, and at the close of the period all were living. What does this show?— That it is not necessary for half or nearly half of the children to die before the age of five if they could only have healthful surroundings, a wholesome diet, etc.
A famous physician in London, noted for giving very original advice on various occasions, had as a patient a man who possessed much of this world's goods, and little of the wealth that we call health, and who was constantly consulting the physician about some pain or ache. Finally the genial old doctor almost got out of patience, and he startled his patient by saying, one day, “Young man, I advise you to go and steal a horse.” “What do you mean, doctor?” asked the patient, indignantly. “I mean,” said the doctor, “that if you steal a horse, you would probably be caught, and then you would be taken care of properly, and would not have an opportunity to keep fashionable hours, and injure your digestive organs as you are doing now.” This advice was not so far out of the way.
The contracting of disease depends upon two chief factors: The first is exposure to disease germs, and we have not much control over that. The other and more important factor is the amount of power that the body has to overcome the disease. The body might be likened to an army; if we wish to obtain and keep sound health, we must keep it in a fighting condition, because there are all the time about us conditions which invite disease, and we must be able to resist them.
People do not always stop to consider that the food that is eaten becomes muscle, brain, and nerve. The food that you swallow to-day is blood to-morrow, and it is soon built up into the body tissue. If the bodily organs are to be sound, full of health, ready for vigorous work, then the material of which they are built must be wholesome and pure. Simplicity should enter into all the details of one's life, including the preparation of one's food. Simplicity involves abandoning the eating of pickles, peppers, rich sauces, and all those things that require a large amount of work in the kitchen, and also prove burdensome to the digestive organs. A simple, wholesome diet, consisting largely of fruit, will conduce greatly to health and vigor of mind and body.
The Message in the Cook Islands
By A. H. Piper
A. H. PIPER
On the first trip of the brig “Pitcairn,” three of the Cook Islands—Mangaia, Raratonga, and Aitutaki—were visited. This was in April, 1891. A variety of our publications were sold and given away at each place. Three years later, in 1894, on the third trip of the “Pitcairn,” Dr. J. E. Caldwell and family and Brother D. A. Owen and family were located on the island of Raratonga.
WHERE THE SCHOOL OPENED
Dr. Caldwell opened up a medical mission, which, until it was closed in 1900, was a means of blessing to many of the natives. Through its agency several were led to accept the truth. One of these, a woman who was afflicted with one of the foulest diseases known to mankind, and who for years had hardly moved from her hut, was greatly benefited by treatment. The queen of the island wished the doctor to let this woman alone, that she might die, but he did not listen to such advice, and to-day, although not altogether free from disease, she is one of the most intelligent Sabbath keepers in the group. She and her husband were the first of the Cook Islanders to be baptized.
In 1895 Sister Owen was laid to rest, and Brother Owen left the island, and located in Samoa. About this time the “Pitcairn” brought other workers to the field, all of whom have since been compelled to leave. The work progressed slowly, and a small company was gradually gathered who were obedient to the faith. Among them was the government translator, who has since translated several of our books, such as “Steps to Christ” and “Christ Our Saviour,” as well as a number of tracts, into Maori.
In the beginning of 1900 there was quite an awakening on the Sabbath question throughout the whole group. Previously to this year the inhabitants of these islands had kept the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, having been taught to do so by the early missionaries. However, in the latter part of 1899 the local government had passed an act ordering that the Sabbath be observed on the first day of the week, in conformity with the rest of the world. Our brethren, by all that lay in their power, warned the natives that the proposed change was not according to the Word of God. When the time for the change came, the local churches were almost deserted by their adherents. Large companies in the several villages of Raratonga continued to worship on the seventh day. At the villages in which our brethren lived, many came to the meetings held by them. Then began a severe persecution on the part of the authorities. The natives were fined if they worked on Sunday, and did not attend church. Policemen were placed at the gates of the places where meetings were held on the seventh day, and would not permit the natives to enter. Many had their lands and offices taken away from them, and gradually by this means and through fear of the chiefs the majority were led nominally to worship on Sunday.
Still there was one company that held out, and they invited our brethren to minister to them at their village, Titikaveka. This they did, and about the middle of the year, Brother E. H. Gates, who was visiting the mission, baptized twenty of them. They were still tested by the threat to deprive them of their homes and land, and then they were fined and ordered to work on the road for twenty-eight days. Still they were firm.
About this time, Dr. Caldwell and his family were beginning to suffer because of a protracted stay in the tropics. My wife and I came from Australia to relieve them. We tried to get land on which to build a meeting house, but were baffled by the chiefs who own the land. Our next move was to clear a piece of land for the purpose of building a church on a section that was placed at our disposal for twelve months by a white man. As soon as we started, all our native brethren and sisters were again called upon to work on the roads. We did not go on with the building because of the shortness of the time that we were to have the land. We made up our minds to wait and pray, and in the meantime met in the deacon’s house for worship each Sabbath and two mornings in the week. After thirteen months of waiting we secured the piece of land that we wanted in the beginning. This was brought about one week ago. We thank the Lord for it, and take courage.
During the year 1901 all the old workers retired from the field, leaving us alone. But since then Sister E. Gooding has come from Australia, and we have been able to open an industrial school on a small scale. Beyond a visit now and then on the part of our workers, nothing has been done in the other islands. For a long time the natives of Aitutaki have been asking for help, and we believe that the Lord would have us help them. We are about to begin to train one of our native brethren as a worker, and trust that he will become a useful man. As soon as I can leave this island for a time, I intend to visit the other islands. Owing to the irregular shipping, one never knows on leaving Raratonga when he will be able to return. This makes it rather perplexing with the field undermanned.
Respecting the call from Aitutaki, we believe that a married couple should be sent there. One of them should have a thorough knowledge of nursing, as the natives of this island have no medical help whatever, and are in a bad condition, physically as well as spiritually.
We are anxious that when the work of the third angel’s message shall be finished, and that time is not far off, some of the Cook Islanders may, by the grace of God, have proved themselves worthy to be eternally saved.
Raratonga.
China Awakens: A Call to Christian Literature
China sleeps no more. She is awake at last, and thirsts for knowledge; and she will draw that knowledge out of turbid wells unless the Christian church gives it to her. Three or four years ago had the church taken note of the opportunity, it would have been easy to flood the Chinese empire with Christian literature. This literature would certainly have been read, and with God’s blessing, might have brought forth wonderful results. We shall probably never have such an opportunity again; but we will at least humbly accept the teaching of the past, and dispose ourselves to seize the opportunities which God in his great compassion may grant us. Would that every reader might take part in this14work, and, as has been said by a veteran of the China mission field, “stand in the foremost rank of one of the greatest movements which the world has ever seen.” — Missionary Review of the World.
E. H. GATES
By E. H. Gates
From Padang to Deli
E. H. GATES
ON January 14, after a four days' voyage from Batavia, Java, I reached Padang, Sumatra. With little difficulty I succeeded in finding Elder Munson. After traveling over seven thousand miles without meeting a person of like precious faith, it seemed very pleasant to sit down with this family in their own home in that far-off land. Brother Munson was in the midst of his school duties, surrounded by a little company of Chinese students. It seemed good to know that in this distant heathen land the principles of God's truth are being taught. Though Brother Munson was, a few years ago, a confirmed dyspeptic, he is now enjoying better health than for many years. I am sorry to say that his wife is not in such good health. Before I left Sumatra, she was obliged to go to the mountains in order to get a cooler climate. These tropical lands are very hard on those who are physically weak; but the climate in the mountains is agreeable. The difficulty is that our laborers cannot live in the mountains while carrying on their work; for most of the people live in the towns on the coast.
FORT DE KOCK
A few days after my arrival in Padang, I had the privilege of visiting Fort de Kock, a beautiful town away up in the mountains, almost under the equator. The climate was delightful. All the way up the side of the mountain were seen fields where the most excellent rice in the world is grown. The people here are nearly all Mohammedans.
Brother Munson has been able with God's help to bring out a small company of Sabbath keepers among the Chinese. During my stay at Padang, I had the privilege several times of preaching to this company, Brother Munson interpreting in the Malay language. Most of the Chinese can speak that language, having been born in this island. I also had the privilege of speaking a few times to the few English-speaking people at Padang. On Sunday morning I spoke to a small company on the subject of Christ's coming. This was interpreted by Brother Munson into the Malay language for the Chinese brethren who were present. In the evening of the same day, I spoke in a public hall, the use of which had been given to us free of charge by the city authorities . As the night was a stormy one, and as there were but few English-speaking people in the place, our attendance was small; but I never saw a more intense interest to hear. The subject was the signs of the second advent, especially those relating to the Eastern question. The people present listened with the deepest interest, and as I had told them that I had some publications treating upon that subject, at the close of the service they made a rush to the stand, and took every book I had, and wanted more. I am hopeful that good will come from these meetings.
Our health foods are also being used by some. The United States consul makes constant use of them. Others who are suffering from stomach troubles come often to Brother Munson to purchase health foods. I am satisfied that these foods will meet with a ready sale in all these Eastern countries. The hot climate and the unhygienic habits of the people produce a great deal of sickness. Health principles will solve to a great extent the question of how white people can live in these latitudes.
My stay in Padang covered about three weeks. Receiving a cablegram from Brother Teasdale, who had reached Java, it was arranged that Brother Munson and I should proceed to Medan in Deli, on the east side of the island, to assist Brother Teasdale in starting a school at that place. A cablegram was sent to Brother Teasdale, to go directly to Deli, instead of coming to Padang.
February 5 we took the steamer “Reael,” of the Dutch line, by way of the north end of the island, for Penang, in the Malay Peninsula. In the northern part of Sumatra is the district of Acheen, where for about thirty years war has existed between the Dutch and the natives. The Dutch government is slowly gaining ground, but it will probably be many years before the whole district is conquered.
On the 7th we reached Ulali, which is the port of Kota Raja, the most northern point of the island. This is the place where, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Mohammedan missionaries first preached the faith of Islam in the East Indies. Here the natives are all fierce Mohammedans. We were at this place on Friday, which is the Mohammedan sabbath. We visited the large mosque in the town, and were permitted, after removing our shoes, to go inside and see the building. It was a splendid structure, with polished marble floor, but entirely empty of seats or statuary, or anything that could be considered an idol, there being nothing within except a sort of seat, or throne, on which the officiating priest sat.
When we left Kota Raja, we proceeded to a small island north of this place, which is a coaling station. Here we remained for a few hours. Lying in the beautiful harbor were three splendid Russian war ships on their way through the Suez Canal to China, via Singapore. They had put in here to get coal. The Russian government has tried to purchase these islands of the Dutch for a coaling station. The war spirit seems to be in the very air in all these countries. As we left this port, and proceeded along the northern part of Sumatra, we stopped at several places, at each of which was a military post. Here Dutch soldiers were taken on board, and discharged from our ship.
On the 11th of this month we reached Penang, which is a little island just off the coast of the Malay Peninsula. The town is a very beautiful one. Here we were entertained during our stay by a Methodist pastor, an old friend of Brother Munson's. This gentleman and his family did all they could to make our stay a pleasant one. At night we attended the Tamil conference, which was in session, and saw a number of converted Indians who were engaged in the gospel work. The pastor reported having found about seventy-five Christian converts from Burma who had come to the Malay Peninsula to work in the tin mines. They were Baptists, and probably were the descendants of those who accepted the Baptist faith during the work of Judson, in the early part of last century. We also visited the Methodist Chinese school at that place. The pastor referred to was considerably15interested in the matter of health foods, and it was arranged by Brother Munson for him to receive health foods from our manufactory in Calcutta. Everywhere we go, we find people who are interested in our health foods and health publications. I know of no place where these principles are more needed than in this Eastern country.
Leaving there, we proceeded to Medan, which we reached after traveling one day and a night. Being strangers in the place, we did not know where we could find board and lodging for which we could afford to pay. Such accommodations are very high-priced in those countries. But we made it a subject of prayer, and the Lord answered. A Eurasian gentleman received us, and during our stay of about two weeks entertained us free of charge, giving us the best that the house afforded. As soon as possible we arranged for the holding of a Chinese school. It was necessary to get the consent of the Dutch resident. At first he seemed unwilling to grant our request, but in answer to our earnest prayers the way was opened for a school. Those with whom we conversed upon the subject seemed interested in our project. Several Chinese expressed a desire for such a school. While in this place, we visited a school conducted by a Tamil gentleman. He was able to speak English well, and had a number of Indian youth under his instruction. This gentleman was a Christian, and seemed much interested in some publications we gave him. He also invited us to speak to his students in the school-room. Brother Munson complied with this request, speaking to them in the Malay language. The gentleman who entertained us showed great interest in the truths that we carried to him. Before we left, he had given up meat eating, and had practically adopted the principles of health reform, and showed great interest in the truth. We also had the privilege of treating some who were sick. It was a great surprise to them to see how such a simple thing as water treatment could effect so great results in a few hours' time. We must carry these principles to every part of the globe.
Though we were disappointed in getting our school started as we had hoped, yet we felt that our stay in Medan was far from being in vain. Our prayers daily ascend to God that those who so kindly entertained us, and showed such an interest in the principles of truth we carried to them, may follow the light until it leads them to a full knowledge of God's truth for these days.
Cooranbong, Australia.
Native Home Life in India
By Mrs. J. L. Shaw
MRS. J. L. SHAW
HERE in the far East under the blazing sun of a never-ending summer, and the cool breezes from the snows of the Himalaya Mountains, are found one fifth of the inhabitants of the globe. Three hundred million souls in India! One hundred and fifty million women, nine tenths of whom have never heard of the Saviour!
Into some of these darkened homes where only oppression is known, the gospel message, pure and simple, is winning its way, and women bound by custom and caste as truly as though shut behind iron bars, rejoice to hear the story of salvation; and no doubt from these dark corners and high-walled homes will come forth a company to join in the song, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: . . . we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
In company with Sister Hansen, by means of our English Good Health, we have been gaining access to some of the homes of the high class natives of Calcutta. In the home of the widow of a king the way was opened for us to enter her apartments. As she could speak only Bengali, we made an appointment to go there again, and take Miss Burrus with us. The gentlemen of the house, prince, son-in-law, and attendants not a few, carefully inquired as to our business, and after a third attempt we were admitted into the secluded apartments of the queen. Her son-in-law conducted us to her bare, cheerless rooms, where for weeks, months, and years the greater part of her life has been spent. Should she leave it, it must be in a closely covered conveyance shut in from all observation. She received us with covered face, and her son-in-law remained by to entertain us till Sister Burrus, who knew the customs of India, that a woman is never free to speak in the presence of gentlemen, and especially her son-in-law, said, “If you will leave the room, the Moharani [great queen] will be more free to talk with us.” He quickly excused himself, and at once the queen threw off the covering from her face, and began to talk most freely with us. She said, “Why did he remain?” addressing her maid servants who were standing around. “Did he not know that this was my company; and if this lady had not told him to go, I never could have spoken to these ladies?” She then fully explained how particular she must be in the presence of her son-in-law. To speak to others in his presence would be a great breach of etiquette. She said that if she were drowning, her son-in-law or her husband’s elder brother could not save her.
Her husband was killed in the earthquake five years ago. She told us how since then all joyful things had been removed from her life. Although a queen, the curse of widowhood rested upon her as heavily as upon those in less favorable circumstances. Miss Burrus talked with her, and sang the story of Christ’s second coming. She eagerly listened, and tears came to her eyes as she heard the song, Christ the friend of sinners. Though she may never be privileged to hear more of the gospel, these few seeds have been permitted to fall upon her pathway. As we left, she assured us that we would be welcome guests at any time. In many of these places the women would gladly learn of Christ, but the men fear that the women will become unsettled by their contact with Europeans.
The next place we visited was a queen’s palace in reality. A young widowed queen lived here. As her husband’s father and mother were dead, she had invited her own father and mother to live with her, and the government had appointed her father administrator of her immense estate. On a former visit the father had become so interested in the principles advocated in Good Health that he visited the sanitarium, and arranged for daily treatment. He gave us a most hearty welcome, and took great pride in showing us to the apartments of his daughter, and introduced us to a queen indeed, in manners, appearance, and surroundings, a young, bright, handsome girl of twenty, but sad indeed, because a widow; for though surrounded with wealth and beauty, she must be shunned by the world, as widows are an omen of evil. A beautiful garden built on the third story of the veranda shut out the gaze of the outside world, and afforded her a place to walk among the flowers. Her yard was filled with palms and beautiful flowers, where she might walk when there were no servants on the premises, which would be an unheard-of thing in an Indian home of this size. The walls of her home were hung with paintings by her own hand. Having studied English two years, she was able to speak fluently. She expressed a desire to visit us if she might be assured that there would be no gentlemen present at the time. In the course of the conversation her father joined us, and began to explain the difference between Christians and Hindus. He said, “You Christians come here to India, and tell us that we have idols, but Christians have idols as well as Hindus.” His home was facing the great park of Calcutta, and he pointed toward the statues of Queen Victoria, Lord Roberts, and other distinguished persons, and said, “These are Christians’ idols.” The remark made quite an impression on our minds, and we have wondered if in many of our lives there are not idols as truly as the idols of wood and stone to which the Hindu bows down. Through the outward life the missionary is preaching the gospel as verily as by pen or voice. No idol must remain in his life if he hopes to raise the heathen from his idolatry. “And the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”
Calcutta, India.
Christians in India According to the Latest Census
THE Christian people of India, according to the latest census, number 2,501,803, while the population of that benighted land is 290,350,000.
A Whole Christ, Bible, Church, and World
THE great Augustine said, “I need a whole Christ for my salvation, a whole Bible for my study, a whole church for my fellowship, and a whole world for my parish.”
