Statements respecting hospitals in China : preceded by a letter to John Abercrombie / by Rev. Peter Parker.

  • Peter Parker
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statements respecting hospitals in China : preceded by a letter to John Abercrombie / by Rev. Peter Parker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    an interest in the subject of the medical establishments in China, and to take such measures as may seem to them expedient, to obtain the aid required. “It was voted that Drs. Jackson, Warren, Shattuck, Hooper, and Bowditch, be a committee to carry into effect the sixth resolution. “ It was voted that the proceedings of this meeting be published, signed by the names of the chairman and secretary, together with those of a committee appointed for the purpose. <( James Jackson. John C. Warren. George C. Shattuck. Walter Channing. Edward Reynolds. Solomon Townsend. George Hayward. Jacob Bigelow, Chairman. James B. Gregerson, Secretary.” John Jeffries. Enoch Hale. Woodbridge Strong. John B. S. Jackson. J. Y. C. Smith. John Ware, Committee. The object proposed is to raise in England and America a permanent fund for the support of the “Medical Missionary Society in China,” for the maintenance of the hospitals already established, and for the founding of others at every accessible and eligible part of China; it being also a prominent object to train up Chinese youth of talent, to ex¬ tend the blessings through the empire; in all our efforts, never losing sight of the paramount object,—the introduction of the Gospel. A peculiarity of the Medical Missionary Society in China is, that it addresses itself to the consideration of all. The man of science and the philanthropist, who look especially to immediate benefits, are here interested; and to the sympathies of those who, while they equally appreciate the desirableness of contributing in every feasible manner to the welfare of their species for time, contemplate with unspeakably more solicitude those interests which are eternal, it presents an irre¬ sistible, an overwhelming claim. When we reflect upon the present state of surgery and medicine in China, the suffering that is experienced, the lives annually and needlessly lost, and advert to the time when similar ignorance was the misfortune of the nations of Europe; and when we consider the rational basis upon which science is now established, and our facilities for imparting to others the incalculable benefits received from the application of chemistry and natural and inductive phi¬ losophy to the subject of health, in the investigation of the causes and phenomena of disease, and the means of controlling it. The world is a whole—and as the human race approximates to the perfection which it is destined to reach, the principle of union and fellow-feeling will become more and more influential. A Bacon, a Newton, or a Franklin, is not to be mono¬ polized. Such men belong not merely to the nation that gave them birth, but to the whole world. They were doubtless designed by Providence to be blessings, not merely to a single age or country, but to all successive ages, and to every land. Upon those who first enjoyed the boon, rests the obligation to extend universally their principles, which have revolutionized the philosophy and science of Europe, and which, whenever permitted free ingress, will produce similar results in China. Surely, no accumulation of arguments is required to prove a case so clear. If the principle is admitted, that our race is one, then the remoteness of the empire for which we plead cannot neutralize the obligation. When we survey the vastness of the field, the good to be effected, and when, re¬ flecting upon the immense resources of the western hemisphere, we compare these with the small portion of wealth required to secure the desired object, we are con¬ fident that benevolence, disinterested like its Author, and as expansive as the woes of man are extensive, will not withhold the means. A rare opportunity is here afforded to the philanthropist of doing good—of enjoying the felicity of imparting to others, without diminution to himself, some of his richest blessings. He is in¬ vited to unite in accomplishing a great, immediate, and positive good,—is encouraged by the hope of immediate success, to aid in uniting to the great family of nations, this long severed and secluded branch, and in introducing among the people, not only the healing art, but in its train the sciences, and all the blessings of Chris¬ tianity. When passing through this great metropolis, my eye falls upon those noble capitals, inscribed upon hospitals and infirmaries,—“ Founded
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