Part 28 (1/2)

CHAPTER LxxxVI

MY CAMPAIGN IN IRELAND

MY steps were next directed towards Ireland, ih; first to 'Derry, where the Presbyterian assembly was met in annual conclave, and thereafter to Belfast, where the Pan-Presbyterian Council was shortly to sit The eloquent fervor of the Brethren at 'Derry was like a refreshi+ng breeze to my spirit; I never met Ministers anywhere, in all my travels, who seemed more wholehearted in their devotion to the hich the Lord had given them to do

I addressed the assembly at 'Derry and also the Council at Belfast The reat and learned and famous men--for many of the leaders were eminently such--so deeply interested in the work of God, and particularly in the Evangelizing of the Heathen World and bringing thereto the knowledge of Jesus, was to reat inspirations of my life I listened with huhtof the Council, I entered upon a tour of six weeks aations and Sabbath Schools of Ireland It had often been said to me, after my addresses in the assemblies and elsewhere, ”How do you ever expect to raise 6000? It can never be accoet their larger subscriptions Our ordinary Church people have h to do with themselves Trade is dull,” etc

I explained to them, and also announced publicly, that in all similar efforts I had never called on or solicited any one privately, and that I would not do so noouldelse to be settled betwixt the individual conscience and the Saviour--I gladly receiving whatsoever was given or sent, acknowledging it by letter, and duly forwarding it to enerous souls offer to go withsubscriptions; but I steadily refused--going, indeed, wherever an occasion was affordedforth the clai, having fixed my soul in the conviction that one part of the as laid upon me, but that the other lay betwixt the Master and His servants exclusively

”On what then do you really rely, looking at it froly ask me

I answered, ”I will tell my story; I will set forth the claims of the Lord Jesus on the people; I will expect the surplus collection, or a retiring collection, on Sabbath; I will ask the whole collection, less expenses, at week-nightCards for Sabbath Scholars; I willations or froth, in the faith that the Lord will send me the 6000 required If He does not so send it, then I shall expect He will send o back to my ithout the shi+p”

This, in substance, I had to repeat hundreds of ti or incredulous smile hich it was received, or to hear the blunt and eot in that unbusiness-like way”

I generally added nothing further to such conversation; but a Voice, deep, sweet, and clear, kept sounding throughthe year 1884, as is well known, Ireland was the scene of reat distress Yet at the end of st the Presbyterian people of the North principally, though not exclusively, a sum of more than 600 had been contributed to our Mission Fund And there was not, so far as e subscription; there were, of course, old from those well-to-do, but the ordinary collection was s and pence of the masses of the people Nor had I ever in all led with any Ministers enerally and deservedly beloved

CHAPTER LxxxVII

SCOTLAND'S FREE-WILL OFFERINGS

RETURNING to Scotland, I settled down at ow; and thence began to open up the uidedthe aid of no Committee, I cast myself on Minister after Minister and Church after Church, calling here, writing there, and arranging for three s every Sabbath, and one, if possible, every week-day, and drawing-roos, wherever practicable, in the afternoons My correspondence grew to oppressive proportions, and keptat it every spare moment from early morn till bedtime Indeed, I never could have overtaken it, had not my brother devoted arding arrange the ”Share”

receipts for allalland reducing the heap of co into hopeless arrears

I printed, and circulated by post and otherwise, ten thousand copies of a booklet, ”State, besides ow address, a condensed epitome of the results of the New Hebrides Mission and of the reasons for asking a new Steam Auxiliary shi+p To this chiefly is due the fact, as well as to reater portion of all the h no doubt a little exceptional, as many as seventy communications reachedfor our fund-ranging froh every variety of figure up to the wealthy man's fifty or hundred pounds I was particularly struck with the number of tiirl that loves the Lord Jesus;” or ”Froirl that prays for the conversion of the Heathen” Again and again I received sus, with notes such as--”Fro- on you and work like yours every day in Faraphic, varied, and intensely interesting notes and letters were not preserved; for by the close of my tour they would have formed a wonderful volume of leaves froious Convention to which I was invited, or to which I could secure access The Perth Conference was e subscription for our shi+p, and bythe acquaintance of a beautiful type of Christian , at which I had the privilege of speaking, an Aentleman introduced himself to me We at once entered into each other's confidence, as brothers in the Lord's service I afterwards learned that he had h only in the prie and flourishi+ng business--but why? to devote _the whole profits_, year after year, to the direct service of God and His cause ale contribution hich the Lord had yet cheered me God, who knows me, sees that I have never coveted money for myself or my family; but I did envy that Christianthe heart to use it as a steward of the Lord Jesus!

Thereafter I was invited to the annual Christian Conference at Dundee Aasked to close the forenoonwith prayer and the benediction, I offered prayer, and then began, ”May the love of God the Father--” but not another ould co was blank except the words in Aniwan, for I had long begun to _think_ in the Native tongue, and after a dead pause, and a painful silence, I had to wind up with a siht have been wiser, as the Chair in Aniwan, but I feared to set theues” Worst of all, it had been announced that I was to address them in the afternoon; but ould come to hear a Missionary that stuck in the benediction? The event had its se the interval in a very fever of prayerful anxiety A vast audience asse His people in Missions, it was certainly then and there As I sat down, a devoted Free Church Elder froow handed me his card, with ”I O U 100” This was reatly cheered I praised the Lord, and war these words in hts;”

and also, ”Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee”

During irls, not unlike our Island girls, sat near the platforest, apparently about twelve years of age, rose, salaales fro, ”Padre, I want to take shares in your Mission shi+p by these bangles, for I have no money, and may the Lord ever bless you!”

I replied, ”Thank you, les, but Jesus will accept your offering, and bless and reward you all the sa, ”Padre, do receive them from me, and may God ever bless you!” a lady, who had been seated beside her, cairl will break her heart She has offered them up to Jesus for your Mission shi+p”

I afterwards learned that the girls were orphans, whose parents died in the fahters of a Missionary, had adopted them to be trained as Zenana Missionaries, and that they intended to return with thest the daughters of India Oh, what a reward and joy e easily reap for herself in Ti service! Take action when and where God points the ait for no one's guidance

The ivers One donor sentmy expenses The first 5 saved I enclose that you ives the best interest, and the ow a lady called at , ”Is the Missionary at hoain”

Being asked into my room, she declined to be seated, but said, ”I heard you tell the story of your Mission in the City Hall, and I have been praying for you ever since I have called to give you my mite, but not my name God bless you We shall meet in Heaven!” She handed me an envelope, and was off almost before I could thank her It was 49 in bank-notes

Another dear Christian friend carne to see htful conversation, said: ”I have been thinking much about you since I heard you in the Clark Hall, Paisley I have coive a little bit of dirty paper for your shi+p God sent it to reat pleasure” I thanked her war it, after she was gone, it turned out to be 100 I felt bowed down in humble thankfulness, and pressed forward in the service of the Lord