Excerpt from Medical Missions: As Illustrated by Some Letters and Notices of the Late Dr. Elmslie

IN the year 1841, the Rev. Peter Parker, M.D., a medical missionary from America, who had laboured in China, and was returning on a Visit to the United States, passed through Edinburgh, and was the guest of the late Dr. Abercrombie. Dr. Abercrombie was so greatly interested in the intelligence he thus received, that: he called together a few Christian friends to hear Dr. Parker's account of the work in China, and to consider the possibility of forming an auxiliary association in Edinburgh to promote Medical Missions.

The writer of this paragraph was one of this small company, and well remembers the scene in a parlour of the Waterloo Hotel. On that occasion he was accompanied by the Rev. William Swan, who had just then returned from Siberia, the mis sion in which he had served for many years having been suddenly broken up by the Russian Govern ment, through the hostile influence of the Holy Synod Of the Greek Church. When Dr. Parker heard the name of Mr. Swan, he eagerly inquired if he were the author of Letters on Missions, and was delighted to be introduced, explaining it was that book that had made him a missionary.

It was soon agreed to form an association. Dr. John Coldstream, who was not present, having been proposed as Secretary, it was resolved to apply to him to take the responsible charge. He consented, and that was the first formation of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society.

It was some time, however, before the project Obtained general recognition. Several distinguished members of the medical profession, one after an other, gave it their countenance and gradually the Society at its annual meeting took a more promi nent place. But for several years it did little more than expound the principle from the platform or by the press. Sir Culling Eardley Smith had early recommended a mission to Syria; but it was long found impossible to secure the services of any man sufficiently qualified for the work, and it was not till a much later period in the history of the Society that their mission at Nazareth was commenced.

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