First Aid on the Battlefield

Philip Dad’s beautiful and expressive picture on the cover brings before us the terrible sufferings of this horrible War. The helplessness of the stricken soldier so faithfully portrayed, the stretcher-bearers coming to bear him gently to a resting-place, the beneficent surgeon bending over him to render the first aid to try and keep life in the poor, wrecked frame, and to mitigate the suffering he is enduring, all speak to us eloquently of the bodily needs of those who are fighting for us at this time. We are thankful for the wonderful way in which our wounded are cared for. And how thankful we are to God for the loving interest manifested in the care for the souls of our soldiers.
The work of the Royal Army Medical Corps has been praised by Sir John French in his dispatch of February 2nd. Let us so work for God among the soldiers, giving first aid to those who lie wounded on the battlefields of sin, that the Lord Jesus, in a day to come, may say to us, “Well done.” If we do not help them now―these dear fellows―by all the means in our power, the sin of neglect will lie at our doors. Let us think of the “Good Samaritan” going to the wounded sinner and bending over him, binding up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine—the oil to heal and the wine to cheer. Let us emulate Him, and seek by all our means to show our love for Christ and His example now, by following in His footsteps to where the sin-maimed, helpless sinners are, and by doing Christlike deeds to them. The mighty need is facing us. I have a pile of letters by me from those who are working night and day among the soldiers, and these letters go to my heart.
A Y.M.C.A. President writes: ― “Your kind letter could not have come at a more opportune moment. We have soldiers here; sometimes 8,000, sometimes 20,000... My stock has come down to a few dozen Gospels, and I was wondering how to get more.... I shall be delighted to receive and to distribute as many copies as you can send of the ‘Message from God,’ Gospels, ‘Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment,’ etc. The opportunities we are having now will never come again.”
An Army Scripture Reader writes: ― “The Testaments came just when I most needed them. I had run out, so very thankful to God for His ordering, just to fit in....I need more Testaments and literature. May God abundantly bless you.”
Another writes: ― “Many sincere thanks for your latest parcels. I do not think you will be surprised, but I am sure you will be very interested to know that the evening previous to the arrival of the last parcels I had given away the last Gospels I had, so God arranged I should not be without. Many you have sent have already been carried to the firing line. I often give the last message men receive before going into action, and the importance of the opportunity can scarcely be overrated....Words fail to describe the needs of the moment.”
Another writes: ― “Many thanks for parcels received. The Testaments are just the size needed (the size Isaiah 4⅝ by 3 by 7-16―it just fits the soldier’s pocket) ...It’s God’s Word the troops in France want.
Another writes: ― “Never before was God’s Word received more readily than just now. Thank you very much for the two parcels.”
Another writes: ― “What we want in France is Testaments (small) and Gospels. They are asking for the living Word.”
Another writes: ― “I have nearly run out of French Gospels. I have had many Belgian and French wounded soldiers here, and so they have gladly accepted a copy each.
I really could distribute thousands if I had them. The people are absolutely ignorant of the Word of God. As soon as they get the Gospels the men sit down and commence to read them. I feel sure very many have never heard or seen the Word of God. How they seem to devour it!”
I can quote no more now. Through the kindness of friends I have been able to send more than 100 parcels to the Front, and to the Fleet, and to Camps in England. By the time you read this I shall have sent the following parcels: —

To the Front |40 parcels|
To the Fleet |20 |
To India |5|
To Germany |1|
To Camps in England |44|

If friends continue their kind help I shall be only too glad to go on sending. I want a large number of Gospels, and Testaments, and “Message from God,” and “How Can I Be Saved?” and any other Gospel Magazines or Booklets suitable. A generous friend is sending me 10,000 Gospels, for which I do indeed thank God. I should be very glad of another gift like that in a short time. I want also 5,000 or 10,000 Testaments. The proper size for the soldiers is the one just issued by the British and Foreign Bible Society, 146, Queen Victoria Street (nonpareil 16mo., 4⅝ x 10:3 x 7/16 No. 3120K on their list; khaki leather cloth, two pence each). That is the size the soldiers can carry in their pockets. I expect the Scripture Gift Mission have the same size. Could some kind friend get me a grant from either of these of a large number, as the need is so urgent. I am pleading for the souls of men facing death and eternity. If I had 20,000 I could send them. If friends will send me the means to buy these Testaments I can order them at once.
Through the kindness of many I have had hundreds to send, but I have none now.
Message just come from the Front: ― “God richly bless you. I shall never say stop sending, as I have more troops coming in and more going out.”