XII
FROM  THE  SINNERS'  BENCHES

"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave."

I BELIEVE there are very few among us who
have not heard and do not love this hymn,
written by Fanny J. Crosby, our grand poet
laureate of Gospel song, and W. H. Doane. And
let us 'hope that, in spite of its refined sweetness,
both words and melody have found within us the
permanent echo, which is generally only produced
by the thundering avalanches of harmony.

It is a good and blessed hymn for everybody, but
especially for the men and women who are the her¬
alds of the message " Come unto Me." To those who
have never heard it or have forgotten it, that hymn
could almost be called the text-book of rescue work.

I am very glad to have this opportunity of writ¬
ing about what I consider the shortcomings in our
present rescue-work methods. Elsewhere I have
written about work among the fallen, and have
been right lustily " roasted and broiled " on the spit
of criticism. I am inclined to believe that most of
the letters which reached me were inspired by a
misunderstanding of my position in the matter.

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