When William Duncan went among the Alaskan Indians to convert
them to Christianity, he won them first by his kindness. He
visited them, helped them with simple advice, and administered
to their ailments from his medicine-chest. Long before he could
make himself understood in words he spoke intelligibly in his
works. They understood the language of his love and sympathy and
kindness. By relieving their suffering he found a way at length
to relieve their sins, in the gospel that he learned to utter in
his message to them from the Word of God.
There is a gospel without words, as there is music without words; and
he is the real linguist that can talk from the heart to the heart by a
vibrant love.
(1923)