05. Settled

Settled His decision to go to the foreign field came about in this way; his oldest brother, Edmund, was in seminary preparing to preach, and was also a Student Volunteer for the foreign field. During va- cation one summer Edmund was engaged in Sunday-school mission work in Montana. He con- tracted the mountain fever. The doctor advised his speedy return to his home in Illinois; so with his railroad ticket and instructions to the different conductors pinned to the lapel of his coat, he started. He became delirious before reaching home, but arrived safely. After a few days he passed away. John, who was already expecting to preach, was deeply impressed by his brother’s death. There would be a break in the ranks on the foreign field, and he wondered if it were not God’s will for him to step into the gap. The decision was not finally reached till the next year, his last in seminary. Late one Saturday night he went to a classmate’s room and asked him for all the arguments he could furnish on the question of the foreign field. His classmate told him that it was not argument he needed; what he should do was to go to his room, get on his knees before God, and stay there till the question was settled. The next morning at Chapel he said to his classmate, "It is settled," and his shining face was enough to show which way the decision had been made.