At Blantyre, Scotland, on the 19th March, 1813, a child was born to Neil and Agnes Livingstone. We never know when is happening an epoch-making event. Every new soul ushered into the world is a shut casket of possibilities. The boy born in the humble home consisting of a “but and a ben,” was destined to become one of the greatest missionaries; and the most conspicuous and intrepid explorer the world has ever seen; to achieve for himself a deathless fame, a name of imperishable memory, and to leave to mankind a heritage of truth and influence. His cradle was in the peasant’s cottage, but his grave is in Westminster Abbey. I have many times visited the house where he was born, and the mill where he worked, and oftentimes I have read the inscription that is over his grave. I esteem it a great privilege to have lived for years near the birthplace of the great and good David Livingstone. His home was one of those which are the glory of Scotland, the abode of the godly and intelligent working class. His mother was a sweet, gentle woman, and his father was a good man. When ten years of age he went to work. His working hours were from six a.m. to eight p.m. His first week’s wages, sixty cents, he gave with pride to his mother. He saved a few pence and purchased a “Rudiments of Latin,” over which he pored when the day’s work was done. His thirst for knowledge was intense. At the age of sixteen he had read many of the classical authors and knew Horace and Virgil well. [Illustration: DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873) The Great Missionary Explorer. Went to Africa 1840. Died in Africa 1873. How David Livingstone gave.— “I will place no value upon anything I have or may possess except in relation to the Kingdom of Christ.”] It was about his twentieth year that the great spiritual change took place, which was to determine Livingstone’s future life. At that time he definitely received Christ as his personal Saviour, and there can be no doubt that his heart was thoroughly penetrated by the new life that then flowed into it. Religion became the everyday business of his life and his daily prayer was that he might resemble Christ, a petition fulfilled in no ordinary degree. A desire was born within him to preach Christ in China, and that he might be fitted for that work he entered as a medical student in the University of Glasgow, and in due time was graduated in medicine. He received not a cent of aid from anyone. What a struggle he had! What economy he had to practice! Frequently his meal consisted entirely of oatmeal porridge.