Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... XVII "WEARY WITH THE MARCH OF UFE" Dr. Verbeck aged visibly during the last year of his life. He had lived out two-thirds of a century, years of intense activity. From the first, his constitution had been none of the strongest; and his wonderful life is another proof of the fact that what one accomplishes depends more on temperance and intelligent care of the health than on natural vigor. In October, 1897, the physician forbade evangelistic tours, and it was a great disappointment to the doctor that he dared not undertake a proposed trip to Kiushiu. The day after Christmas a complication of chronic ailments prostrated him, and from that time on he was never quite himself. Gradually, however, he seemed to improve; only there were new pains in the chest that were supposed to be caused by indigestion. He was seized with terrible paroxysms at times, but would not go to bed and took his regular exercise whenever possible. In Tokio he still continued to preach, the last time on the night of February 26th. One of the last works upon which Dr. Verbeck was engaged was the preparation of an address in English to the emperor of Japan, on the occasion of the presentation of a handsome copy of the Bible in Japanese, the result of many years of the united labors of Verbeck, Hepburn, Fyson and many others. The other work, which filled heart and hand within a few hours of his call to higher service, was his reply to the fourteen questions submitted in writing to him, by Mr. Robert E. Speer, on the present state of Christianity in Japan. In this paper, one of the last of his utterances, this unflattering truth-teller, ever loving and kind, gives his impressions of the Japanese man, uttering his faith also in the coming better man of Japan, " created anew...