Page 201 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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6 NEGLECTED ARABIA

and his servant who were afraid to ask Samuel's assistance without at
least offering him a quarter of a shekel.
How did Christ, the Great Physician, react to ingratitude? Some ;
one has remarked that in the case of the ten lepers cleansed, He had (o :
put up with a 10 per cent, gratitude return for services rendered. We !
shall be fortunate if we can improve on His figures. We missionary :
doctors can echo the cry, “Where are the nine?" We know, in sonic 1
measure, wlial ihe Master felt as lie watched those nine men disappear
over the hill without even turning their heads to acknowledge the gilt
of life and health so marvellously bestowed.
Let us turn for a moment to another aspect of this theme. It Im
been the privilege of the doctor in Arabia to have in his possession thi
key to the doors which, in many instances before his coming, were fag
locked. The physician and, particularly, the surgeon have been able by
virtue of their skill to effect an entrance to territories closed to other
callings. It is, perhaps, not too much to say that we could scarcely have
occupied Arabia as we have done, had it not been for the ability of aU
our missionaries, to a greater or lesser extent, to use the science of
medicine. Kuwait, which for years had been fast closed against \iii
finally opened its doors to the doctor, while the Nejd is still closed to
the missionary save only the doctor. Here, surely, is something worth
while, not only to the doctor but also the Mission. For the moment
are concerned with the rewards of the doctor, so we will leave the quo- .
tion of the Mission’s advantage. But how the hearts of Bennett, of
Harrison and of Dame must glow within them as they think of Kuwait,
of Riadh, of Anaizah. To know that their hands have unlocked thou
doors which have been closed for centuries, must be a reward worth :
any man's utmost effort, for it is the reward of the pioneer and rank* i
them with Livingstone, with Henry Martyn, and Robert Morrison and ;
all the rest of the glorious line. The reward is all the greater became
the work has been done under the driving power of love. These meo
have not gone out for fame or riches but on the contrary have forsakes •
all and followed Him. They have proved the promise in this world a \
hundredfold" and will doubtless later on prove the second part of the
double promise.
There is yet another reward which is one of the doctor s compensation!
in this country of Arabia. It is a subtle thing ami nut easily defined •
described but it is a reality nevertheless. Ihe profession of medicine
carries with it in Arabia, as in most countries, a certain distinction That
is an Arab proverb which places medicine above religion. Ike voy
word, doctor, becomes in the Arab’s mouth, Hakeem, the \\ ise l lan. And
so it is that in Arabia, the medical man is one whose advice is asked for
and listened to, whose influence counts in the community and in who*
hands lie many opportunities to mould public opinion and to lay thf
foundations of Christian progress in a quiet unobtrusive way, disarming
alike to religious fanaticism and racial prejudice. t«iven the right |)cr-
sonality, the Christian doctor’s potentiality for good in a country lib
Arabia is almost limitless. It is surely a matter for surprise that it i*
so difficult to get recruits for medical work on the mission held. I|
only the youngsters at home could realize the rewards of the doctor c»
the mission field we should have no need to hold out appealing handk •
The supply would far exceed the demand. j