15 The Prayer of Faith
Chapter 15 THE PRAYER OF FAITH
(1899) The most notable event in Miss Reed’s experience of this year was her visit to Lucknow in January-February. She journeyed thither at the unanimous request of the Missionaries of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society (of America), with whom she had been so long associated, and who, at their North India Conference in 1898, had passed the following resolution :
"That, as year by year, we hear that our sister, Mary Reed, is not only continuing in active service, but is also in better general health than in former years, we assure her of our sincere gratitude to God for His great goodness to her, and of our prayers that He will bless all her service in His name, and we send her a hearty invitation to attend our Annual Conference (of January, 1899), and to give us the joy of welcoming her in our midst once more." In accordance with this invitation. Miss Reed packed up her camp outfit and made the eight days’ journey to the foot of the mountains, in the congenial company of her dear friend, and sister-Missionary, Dr. Sheldon. From Kathgodam, eighteen or twenty hours by rail brought them to Lucknow, where a right royal welcome was accorded to her who had been for nine years absent from the gatherings of her colleagues. Profound gratitude was the uppermost feeling in Miss Reed’s mind, at finding herself once more assembled with so many friends and fellow-workers, and when Bishop Thoburn summoned her to the front with a request that she should address the audience, she felt unable to utter any words but those of praise As she stood before that great company, the desire was flashed into her mind to express her thanksgiving in song. She simply said, ’ham git gawen " (let us sing) ; and joyfully hearts and voices went up to God, in the beautiful Hindustani translation of the fine old hymn - O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace ! The experiences of these days at Lucknow were at once sweet and bitter. Sweet, because of loving welcomes from so many from whom she had been long severed, and because the greeting so often was, " How well you look." While these friends marvelled at the wonderful degree of health restored to Miss Reed, they also rejoiced with her to recognize the hand of God in it, and to see how He was crowning His servant with loving kindness and tender mercies. Among the privileges most valued by her were interviews with the Rev. F. B. Meyer, to which reference is made in the introduction to this volume, and which were amongst the most inspiring of Mr. Meyer’s experiences in India.
It is perhaps scarcely a matter for surprise that some showed a tendency to shrink from intimate association with one who had been for years ’’without the camp," owing to the taint of this most dreaded disease. Miss Reed frankly admitted the reasonableness of this attitude, and showed then, as always, the utmost solicitude for the safety of those with whom she was brought into close contact. But the really " bitter " drop in her cup at this time was the pronouncement of a self-appointed body of four medical missionaries that the disease from which Miss Reed had so long suffered was not leprosy at all. While differing materially among themselves as to the real nature of the malady which for nine years or more had driven this brave soul into exile, they more than hinted their skepticism as to her ever having contracted this most dreaded of all diseases. This opinion, however hastily arrived at, having been expressed by those possessing apparently some medical qualification, necessitates a restatement of the evidence against which their hasty dictum was placed.
After many months of perplexity as to the nature of the complaint which first attacked the forefinger, and subsequently further betrayed itself by a mark on the cheek. Miss Reed became at length convinced that leprosy had overtaken her. In this conviction she was confirmed by the decision of several eminent medical men, whose names will be recognized as those of leading authorities on this class of disease. Their opinions, it should be added, were arrived at in every instance after close personal examination. Miss Reed’s case was diagnosed as one of undoubted leprosy by the following specialists, who examined her in the order named : Dr. P. A. Morrow, of New York City, who is regarded by the profession in America as their highest authority; Sir Joseph Fayrer, K.C.S.I., M. D., and Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, F.R.C.S., of London, both members of the Committee of the National Leprosy Fund ; Dr. Chowsky, physician of the Bombay Leper Asylum ; and, lastly. Dr. Condon, a medical man of many years Indian experience. To this body of medical testimony may be added the decided opinion of Mr. Wellesley C. Bailey, the secretary and superintendent of the Mission to Lepers, who spent some days with Miss Reed in 1895, and felt no doubt whatever as to the nature of her disease. Mr. Bailey’s opinion derives weight from his experience of work among lepers, and from many years special study of the subject. To all this is to be added the fact that Miss Reed herself has never faltered in her conviction that she was ’’set apart " by personal experience of this most dreaded malady for work among its victims, and in that belief has submitted to eight years of almost entire isolation. When, moreover, some of her own descriptions of her symptoms (already quoted) are borne in mind it will be obvious that but little importance can attach to an opinion formed upon a cursory and incomplete examination, and which was arrived at moreover, at a time when the distinctive symptoms were exceptionally abated and the general health remarkably good.
There, is, however, another aspect, beside the medical one, to this question of the holding in check, or partial healing of the disease of leprosy in this remarkable case. When we remember that in the decided and unanimous opinion of the experts just named, Miss Reed has been for nine years suffering from a disease which in that period usually reduces its victims to a condition of hideous disfigurement, and when we also bear in mind that she has always declined the use of medical remedies, and that, nevertheless, she is now, and has been for many months past, in better general health than she frequently enjoyed in former years, we must admit that we have to do with a very unusual case indeed. And our wonder is enhanced by the fact that, at times, the outward symptoms so far subside as to be scarcely visible to an ordinary observer. But to the believer in the prayer of faith the explanation is not far to seek. There have been few missionaries for whom more constant prayer has been made than for Miss Reed. Since her story became more widely known, multitudes of Christian hearts, on both sides of the Atlantic, have offered up earnest petitions for strength, and, if it pleased God, even healing, to be granted to His servant. We cannot doubt, moreover, that Miss Reed’s wonderful health is closely connected with the splendid spirit of consecration in which she accepted her cross of suffering and isolation. She has found an opiate for her own sorrow in devoted service among those whose sufferings far surpassed her own. The record of self-sacrificing labor contained in these pages, and the spirit of courage and consecration breathing through her letters, as well as the marked blessing vouchsafed to her efforts, are ample evidence that these many prayers have been graciously answered. But the wonderful health granted by the Divine Master to His faithful servant has brought with it some misunderstanding. Ardent enthusiastic sympathizers have hastily jumped to the conclusion that their prayers have received the full answer for which they longed, and currency has been given to premature statements that Miss Reed has been healed. But the truth, as usual, lies between the two extremes. While the eager expectations of those who would fain see in Miss Reed an example of Divine cleansing from physical leprosy is not borne out by the facts, the skepticism of those who question that the disease has ever been present is still less justified. But on this vital point it is as well that the subject of this biography should speak for herself, and my readers will be glad to peruse the following notes kindly contributed by Miss Reed, under date of June 9th, 1899. Referring to the doubts expressed by some who saw her when the outward marks of the disease were least evident, she writes :
’It was a great grief to me, and to some of my nearest friends to realize that there are those even among our dear missionaries who prefer to doubt the existence of this most dreaded of all maladies rather than believe in what is by many called ’ faith healing,’ but what, in reality, this manifestation of God’s keeping power is to me viz, Divine Health,
" And so after that ordeal, which was followed by continuous trial for some months because of untrue and conflicting newspaper reports, I was enabled to make over to Him who cares and will not let me have too much to bear, this new phase of the trial of which we shall never know the full meaning here on earth. We shall know hereafter. Since my return home I have more than ever enjoyed singing with all my heart :
" I leave it all with Jesus, For He knows How to steal the bitter From life’s woes ;
How to gild the tear-drop With His smile, Make the desert garden
Bloom awhile ; When my weakness leaneth On His might.
All seems light.
"I found such a beautiful text only to-day. And because it has been, is being, and will continue to be verified to me I quote it : ’ The heavens and the earth shall shake ; but the Lord will be the hope (or the place of repair, or harbor) of His people and the strength of the Children of Israel’ (Joel 3:16, with marginal reading). That is the secret ! The Lord Himself our ’ place of repair ’ and our harbor in times of storm. His presence is Salvation. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, and does not wish us to bear and carry them any more than the burden of sins.
" He gives me wondrous health and strength, far, far beyond what could be expected from a purely human standpoint. My general health has never been so good as it has been now for nearly a year past. Some of my friends have the impression from my appearance, and from the fact that Dr. Condon himself stated some months ago that he considered me "practically" healed, that I have been ’made whole.’ But know that the ’seal’ to the work of my Master’s appointing here at Chandag Heights becomes so plainly visible at times that no one could doubt that disease still lingers in my system, though my finger does not now burst open as it did more than a score of times before 1898.
’ Who can fail to recognize the hand of God staying the malady in answer to the prayers of a multitude of Christian hearts bound by the blessed tie of Christian love ?
"Most humbly do I praise and thank God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Fountain of life and health and peace, for marvelously improved health !" He hath heard the voice of my (our) supplications . . . my heart trusted in Him and I am helped ; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him.’
’ And now, in closing this very imperfect review of some experiences of these latter days, let me quote part of one of the chapters of the ’ Book of Books,’ which I committed to memory when a little girl. It made an indelible impression on my mind and heart, and - (dare I say it ?) - upon my life also :
"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.’
"Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God ?
"But our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
"They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not.’ (Psalms 115:1-5.)
"Oh ! how painfully true I have found it here, in this end of the earth, that ’ they that make them are like unto them,’ deaf to God’s voice, and blind to His wondrous love until the entrance of His word, and the influence of His Holy Spirit enlighten and quicken those who are ’ dead in trespasses and sins. ’
" The dead praise not the Lord. . . .
"But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord.
" Please pray for the salvation of the thousands of unsaved souls who have heard the call to come to Jesus and be saved. There are many all about us here who have heard he message of salvation, but are halting between two opinions. Please pray for them every time you think of us here in this outpost.
"As we pray and wait before the Lord, we come more and more to see with His eyes, and think His thoughts. The flame of love burns more brightly, and we become missionary-hearted, with a heart somewhat akin to that of the first Great Missionary who came such a long, long journey to this lost and ruined world, ’ that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ May God help us all to assist in carrying the Gospel to perishing souls. May the Lord Himself teach us, and help us to be faithful in the ’ministry of intercession,’ that His kingdom may come, and His will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven." But few words remain to be added by the compiler of this volume, who would here gratefully acknowledge the spiritual stimulus he has often received from the life and the letters of Mary Reed, in the odd hours of a busy life, during which this labor of love has been fulfilled. At sundry times and in many places the work has been done, and to this the reader is asked in his charity to attribute the defects which a critical eye will readily discover.
Now the sum of what has been written is this : A gentle and sensitive woman awakes suddenly to the appalling fact that she is a leper ! Instantly her purpose is formed to devote herself to work among her fellow-sufferers. In unquestioning obedience to what she regards as the Divine voice, she journeys to the verge of the Himalayas. Near by is a small community of stricken people among whom Miss Reed is at once appointed to minister. Her labors have resulted in the admission, after careful testing, of 123 lepers into the Church of Christ. To this is to be added the provision of food, clothing, shelter, and relief for her large and growing flock, together with the comfort brought to their sad hearts by Christian sympathy and kindness. She has moreover acquired the extensive grounds, and supervised the erection, of what is now one of the finest leper asylums in the world. For nearly eight years she has labored with unswerving purpose, in a degree of health that is amazing, and which all who believe in the power of prayer will gratefully recognize as Divinely bestowed. This record of Mary Reed’s life and work is issued in the hope that it may stimulate others to a consecration as complete as her own, and may, at the same time, call forth compassion and help for the many thousands of outcast lepers in our Indian Empire and other Eastern lands.
Founded 1874. THE MISSION TO LEPERS IN INDIA AND THE EAST.