Part 9 (1/2)
”_9th._ We took a walk to an old ruin said to be the temple of Diana.
We also went to La Fontaine, where a large volume of water springs from the earth. We also saw a beautiful Corinthian temple--'la Maison Carree'--said to be eighteen hundred years old.
”_11th._ Held a meeting for some serious soldiers who have lately left the Roman Catholic wors.h.i.+p. We had a good meeting with them; one of their number spoke very well, at the close of our meeting, on the immediate teaching of the Holy Spirit. This evening went to Congenies by diligence, accompanied by R. and C. Alsop, leaving dear Eli to attend meeting at Nismes.”
After this Eli and Sybil Jones and their kind friends and helpers attended many meetings at Nismes and at neighboring towns, going often to Congenies and Fontanes. Meetings at the latter place seemed especially opened and favored. Also held meetings, much a.s.sisted and encouraged by the _pasteurs_, at Calvisson, Cordonion, Aujargues, Aubais, and Vistric, many of which, they had evidence, were singularly blessed by the Master of a.s.semblies. They had many pleasant meetings with the young people, and were helped to utter words of cheer and encouragement to those whose life-work was just beginning. Very frail in body, and at times almost sinking under the felt duty, yet they sought to improve every moment of time, not wis.h.i.+ng to make any plans without a direct showing from their heavenly Leader. All places of Protestant wors.h.i.+p were open to them, and they often used the large national places of wors.h.i.+p called ”temples.” In Fontanes they held a greatly blessed meeting in the parlor of their friend Daniel Brun.
They were always saddened, especially after a meeting at Saint Giles, by the noticeable scarcity of men in meetings. Indeed, they found in their meetings generally in France mostly women and children.
One of the morning meetings in the Friends' house at Nismes was a most remarkable instance of the overshadowing of the divine Spirit. The solemnity was most impressive, so that many wept before a word was uttered. Sybil Jones was favored to see the time to rise and testify to the people that a ”pure spiritual wors.h.i.+p is what is required, and is the highest joy of Christians.” The visitors attended meeting at the school supported by Friends in England, and felt it to be a profitable occasion for all present.
Sybil Jones's mind was often occupied with deep thoughtfulness of the infinite importance of their mission to this land, and she besought the Lord earnestly that their dependence might be on no other, and that all their labors might be Heaven-directed. It was very cheering to these tired laborers to have persons come to them after meetings to acknowledge that they had been strengthened and to converse on those things which pertain to G.o.dliness.
They attended a meeting sustained by young men in Nismes for general improvement, reading useful books, etc. They were invited most cordially to come by the young men, who told them that if they wished to speak to them on religious subjects, they would be pleased to hear them. E. and S. Jones felt it a providential opening, and S. Jones was led to speak from the text, ”The Lord loveth an early sacrifice.”
They felt especially moved to thank the Lord for the ”way” so wonderfully made for them. They had not had to ask for a place to hold a meeting, but when they felt the impression a place was always offered. This seemed most wonderful to them, as the laws of France forbid an a.s.sembly exceeding twenty persons at any place except in a ”temple” or consecrated place. Sometimes they had but ”crumbs” to hand out to the spiritually hungry, but at other times they had abundant refres.h.i.+ng from the Master's table. They prayed ever that the ”creature might be abased” and that whether in ”heights or depths”
they might wear the entire ”armor of faith.”
On the last day of the year 1853 they were at the home of Lydia Majolier at Congenies. Sybil Jones writes: ”This is the close of the second year since I left the land I so dearly love. The retrospect of the whole affords consolatory reflection. With the remembrance of innumerable mercies my poor little sacrifices sink into insignificance. May they be accepted by Him who looks at the heart! If any good has been done, it is the Lord's doings.--Grant, most merciful G.o.d, that the year 1854 may all be devoted to Thy service, with more faith and love!”
The next two-months' meeting was a season of great encouragement. The meeting for wors.h.i.+p was large, and the Master honored it with His life-giving presence. The meeting for business was a blessed season, and all felt that the power of the Lord had been abroad in the land; two members were received and two young men requested to be admitted.
At meeting of the school committee it was concluded ”to solicit subscriptions from Friends here, and see what amount could be raised, and propose to Friends in England that the school be continued under the care of Justine Paradon as superintendent and Clarence Benoit as teacher, and that a school for boys be opened under the instruction of Jules Paradon, with an a.s.sistant. The committee were encouraged to persevere in the work, as the school had already proved a blessing to the youth, and by some changes for the better might be more so.”
A long rainy period hindered these dear Friends from holding many meetings. They occupied the time when they were confined to the house in writing to America, studying French, etc.
At a meeting held in an outlying village at the house of a woman named Ann Mapit all seemed tendered before the Lord. Near the close a woman left and went to her aged father, who had not attended a religious meeting for fifty years, and begged him to go and hear these people, ”for they preached as though they would take them all to heaven.” The old man came and was quite moved, and spoke highly of the meeting, although he had said on a former occasion, when a meeting was proposed for a Friend, that they ”would beat the drums.” They saw plainly the wonder-working power of G.o.d. On every side they saw evidences of the ”shaking” power.
In Calvisson the pasteur himself, a kind Christian man, chose to interpret for them, which they thought a great condescension, as it would doubtless expose him to ridicule from some who did not approve of a woman's gift in the ministry. They held a powerful meeting at Congenies, and found that many were there who had not attended a religious meeting before for twenty years. They thought it prudent for a time, being much worn by long service, to rest and try and gain some strength to go on. Eli Jones's health was especially poor. After this short respite they were much refreshed for the work, and attended a meeting at Auvergne numbering fully eight hundred or a thousand people. They appreciated fully the support of the pasteurs, which was so lovingly tendered them.
They felt everywhere the disastrous effects of the degraded position of women. Having so much manual labor to perform, they are unfitted for the proper care of their children; consequently, both their minds and bodies are frequently uncared for, and the home, that great training-school, is not rendered as bright and attractive as it should be. This, S. Jones thought, is what makes the French people so volatile and often skeptical. The places of public amus.e.m.e.nt are often sought in preference to the home.
Their work among the soldiers was a wonderful thing. Many came to their meetings, and, laying aside their swords and taking off their caps, sat meekly down to hear the glad tidings of ”peace on earth and good-will toward men.” A remarkable movement sprang up among them.
One of their number said that at one time but three of them met for wors.h.i.+p, but lately nine had joined their number, and they felt much encouraged. Many meetings were attended by these soldiers, who seemed to appeal directly to Eli and Sybil Jones's sympathies.
They held a meeting at St. Hippolyte with the few Friends there, at the Moravian meeting-house, and were very urgently pressed to hold more meetings in that place. Fears were often felt by their friends that order could not be maintained in their meetings, owing to the novelty of the thing; but they always, even in very large audiences, met with the utmost respect and attention. They went on one occasion to Ma.r.s.eilles, and took a short trip on the Mediterranean, and felt that they gained some strength by the change. Sybil Jones, accompanied by some of her friends and the good pasteur Abausit, who had been such a kind friend and interpreter, went to Montpellier to visit the prison. They were much pleased with the neatness and order of the entire establishment, and met the most courteous treatment from the chaplain and director. There was much tenderness shown by the prisoners. There were in the prison eight hundred Catholic and fourteen Protestant prisoners. They were not allowed to speak to the former, but were enabled to pray earnestly for the other poor souls.
They held a very large meeting in the afternoon, and it was to them a precious season. Sybil Jones visited two prisoners in their cells, and pleaded tenderly with them.
They then returned to Nismes and held a large meeting. One of the pasteurs told them, in explanation of their kind reception on every hand, that the Society of Friends moved along so prudently, peaceably, and happily that they were received by all as Christian brethren. At a meeting in St. Hippolyte great contrition was felt by a man who had not attended meeting for many years, and would not permit his wife to go, and forbade his sister to enter his house because she was religious. He received his sister after the meeting, and seemed greatly humbled. They felt that the Lord was speaking through his instruments, and were encouraged to go forward. They held many large and much-blessed meetings at Gallargues and Congenies, and visited many to whom they were attracted, as they showed a concern for their souls' welfare. Many came to inquire of them the ”way,” and they formed many acquaintances and felt a binding interest in the people, whose souls were so precious.
When the two-months' meeting again a.s.sembled they had renewed cause for encouragement. It was a meeting graciously ordered by the Lord.
The meeting for wors.h.i.+p on First-day morning was remarkably covered with divine power and goodness, and Eli Jones seemed unusually ”clothed upon with gospel unction.” The meeting for business admitted into members.h.i.+p a man who had been a Methodist minister, and received requests from twelve others. They were once invited to the home of a good pasteur named Mensard, where they met five other pasteurs, and their conversation was most pleasant concerning the ministry and ”things of the kingdom.”
And now they felt that the burden of souls in the south of France was rolled off, and they were sweetly released for service in other fields. They held a large parting meeting, and many came to take leave, among them a poor soldier in whom they were greatly interested.
He had been ordered to Constantinople without the companions.h.i.+p of any of his religious friends. Of this they were not aware, and it was remarkable that they felt impressed to read the ninety-first Psalm, which seemed so suited to his case, and Sybil Jones was wonderfully helped to pray for the poor soldier. The parting with the school-children was an affecting season, and they at last set off, leaving a large group of friends at the hotel-door for whom their hearts reached out in tenderness and love.
They went to Avignon, and from there by boat on the Rhone to Lyons. On First day they attended three meetings in that city; where they found an earnest, seeking people. They lodged with a dear friend who was received into members.h.i.+p at the last meeting. He seemed to be exerting a religious influence about him. They enjoyed their intercourse with his interesting family, and M. J. Lecky offered to take their youngest son, Benjamin, to England to obtain a knowledge of the English language; which pleased his parents and he was committed to her care.