The Discoverer of Chloroform.—On 7th June, 1811, James Young Simpson was born at Bathgate, and the centenary of his birth has called forth many tributes to the memory of the great physician whose discovery of chloroform did so much to rob the surgeon’s knife of its terrors and to render possible operations which otherwise would be impossible. Dr. Duns, in his Memoir of Sir James Y. Simpson, and Miss Eve Blantyre Simpson, in her Sir James Y. Simpson (Famous Scots’ Series), have told the story of the great discovery and given the account of a good and noble life. Prof. Sir Alexander Simpson, in a recent article in the British Weekly, gives the interesting information that, “In his student days the cries of a poor Highland woman under Lister’s knife in the Infirmary so pained him that he rushed from the theatre and betook himself to Parliament House with some vague idea of finding less distressing work in a lawyer’s office.” Yet this was to be the man in God’s providence who was to do a world-wide work in alleviating suffering. Strange to say his discovery met with strenuous opposition, but ultimately all objections were overcome through the beneficent results of the great discovery.
His Greatest Discovery.—Sir James Y. Simpson was not only a noted physician, he was also a humble Christian. He had strong sympathies with the Disruption leaders and followed them, but it was not until many years afterwards that he experienced the change which made him see all things new. “What do you consider your greatest discovery?” asked a minister who visited him during his last illness. “That I am a sinner, and that Christ is my Saviour,” was the humble Christian’s answer. The discovery of chloroform, though it carried the fame of his name to the ends of the earth, and will carry it down through the centuries, was a small matter to him in comparison to the above. Sir Alexander Simpson, already quoted, says: “Three weeks before he died he said to me, ‘I don’t know much of theology, but these some years past I never had a doubt, like what many speak of, about the truth of God’s Word. And when I go to appear before God I’ll just hold up Christ to Him.'”
The Knox Club Again.—It may be said that enough criticism has already been made on this Club in these pages, but when one finds some of its officials occupying places on the platform with the leaders of the Irish Nationalists in the interests of Home Rule, we may be pardoned if we have serious doubts as to the virility of their Protestantism. We are further confirmed in our attitude to this Club by a letter in the June Bulwark, where the writer, Mr. W. Macartney, says: “The recently-formed Knox Club has proved so enterprising and energetic on occasions that, as a factor in the maintenance and advancement of Protestant principles, it might have a noteworthy future, but there are elements in it which must be viewed with the most serious misgiving. While one’s political creed, whatever it may be in general, should be no barrier to membership in any Protestant Society, there are political questions of such a nature that one’s relation to them must be determined by one’s Protestantism. Such a question is Irish Home Rule. The proposal to hand over the Government of Ireland to nominees of the Papacy, and thus at once to betray our Irish brethren, and advance the power of Romanism, cannot be consistently supported by any professed Protestant. And yet there are prominent members and officials of the Knox Club who are ardent supporters of Home Rule, and who welcome to their platforms such bitter haters of Protestantism as Mr. Dillon and his colleagues! Gross inconsistency of this kind must destroy all confidence in the Society which tolerates it. There is, moreover, a mystery in the proceedings of the Knox Club which requires explanation. Persons are solicited to join the Club, and according to its rules, applicants for membership are nominated at a meeting of the Committee, and their admission or rejection decided on at a subsequent meeting. But who actually considers the applications, or decides on the fitness or unfitness of the applicants, nobody knows.”
U.F. Minister joins the Church of Rome.—Rev. A. G. Grant, B.D., who was up till recently the United Free minister at Lochranza, Arran, has gone over to the Roman Catholic Church. It will be remembered that this minister’s wife caused a sensation some time ago by taking the same step. Now the husband has followed. Such perversions ought to have a voice of warning as to the fatal goal to which error among Protestants may lead. May the voice also have the effect of checking the tendency of some to hold up to admiration the spurious saints of the Roman Church!