The Story of our Health Message

Rapid Growth

We may judge the rapid growth of the medical missionary program for foreign missions by a statement by J. G. Kerr, who for many years labored in China and was active in promoting the work of the China Medical Missionary Association. Writing in 1895, he said: SHM 263.1

“It is only within recent times that the association of medical practice with the preaching of the gospel has been generally recognized as a department of mission work. In 1850, less than half a century ago, there were only 12 or 15 medical missionaries in all the known Christian world, and it is safe to say that more than one half of the 359 now in the field were commissioned in the last 15 years.”—J. G. Kerr, in Medical Missions, p. 3. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publications, 1895. SHM 263.2

The apostle of this forward movement in the United States was George D. Dowkontt. A native of England, he was at an early age left an orphan. He knew the depths of misery, degradation, and poverty. During a period of service in the British navy he was converted and zealously worked for the salvation of his associates. At Edinburgh he saw the noble work carried forward by the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, and brought to the United States the knowledge and experience he had gained there. After completing his medical course in Philadelphia, he went to New York City, where he was successful in interesting Christian men of means to support his efforts to promote a society similar to that in Edinburgh. Of the growth of this undertaking he wrote in 1894: SHM 263.3

“Beginning with a mission in the worst part of the city, the work was developed until no less than eighty-two of the students of the society, now called the International Medical Missionary Society, have been appointed to India, China, Africa, and other parts of the world.”—George D. Dowkontt, M.D., in Murdered Millions, p. 72. New York: Office of the Medical Missionary Record, 1894. SHM 264.1

In 1885 Dr. Dowkontt rented a large double house as a residence for medical students who were interested in training for foreign mission service. Here they might have the advantages of a Christian home and, as supplemental to the college course, receive additional instruction that would be helpful to them in their soul-saving work. They were also given opportunities for practical service in connection with the several dispensaries now operated by the society. SHM 264.2