The Story of our Health Message

Dr. Peter Parker

In 1834 a ship making its long, tedious journey to the Orient carried as one of its passengers Dr. Peter Parker, also from the United States. Dr. Parker, having studied both theology and medicine, had been ordained to the ministry in the Congregational Church and was now en route to the Far East as a missionary for that denomination. He began his work in China by establishing a small hospital at Canton, which very soon became an important center. His fame as a skillful physician and surgeon gave him access to multitudes of people, among whom he quietly but effectively bore witness to the Lord Jesus as the healer of soul as well as body. SHM 261.3

On the outbreak of war between England and China in 1840 his hospital was closed, and he returned for a time to the United States. While passing through Edinburgh, Scotland, he was entertained by Dr. Abercrombie, who was so greatly interested in Dr. Parker’s experience that he invited to his house a few influential friends, that they might hear his story showing the great value of the healing art in connection with the preaching of the gospel. SHM 262.1

This group of interested listeners were thus led to become the nucleus of an organization called The Edinburgh Association for Sending Aid to Foreign Countries. It was later known as The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. For a number of years the society functioned chiefly in seeking to inspire medical missionary activity in heathen lands by disseminating information regarding its effectiveness. In 1851 they began to use some of their funds in helping worthy medical missionary students through their college training. SHM 262.2

In 1848 Dr. Handyside, one of the directors of the society, received a request from a missionary to visit professionally some of the sick poor in Edinburgh, and soon the doctor and the missionary were laboring side by side. SHM 262.3

“It was not long till Dr. Handyside discovered that the kind and successful treatment of the wounded and diseased body opened a way for the application of the ‘balm of Gilead’ to the sin-stricken soul; and, revolving in his mind how best to turn to account the influence thus acquired, the idea suggested itself of establishing a medical missionary dispensary.”—John Lowe, Medical Missions, Their Place and Power, p. 206. Chicago: Fleming Revell and Company, 1886. SHM 262.4

In an old whisky shop, which was temporarily vacant, the Cowgate Mission Dispensary was opened, where both medical and evangelistic lines of work were carried forward for the poor. Christians of all denominations were welcomed as helpers, and scores of young men passed through the doors of this institution, working among the poor and needy in their spare time while taking the medical course in regular medical schools. Then, as representatives of various mission boards, they went forth into the dark places of the earth to spread the gospel of life and light. SHM 262.5