CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY--FAITH--THE MACHINERY MAN--MAN'S INNER
WORLD--SIN REPROVED--CONVERSE UPON AN OMNIBUS--THE INFLUENCE OF
TRUTH--THE BIBLE ONLY--COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED--BROUGHT NIGH,
VERY NIGH.
THE BOOK FOR ALL:
ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD.
"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to
hear the Word of God." ACTS xiii. 44.
"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament:" they
who have the wisdom of God in a mystery, or the hidden wisdom,--the
knowledge not to be found by searching the works of creation, or in the
discoveries and developments of science and philosophy. This wisdom
cometh from above, and is therefore communicated by the all-wise and
eternal Jehovah. This, and this alone, can enlighten man spiritually,
invest him with power to comprehend the central and infinite in truth,
and lead him to the attainment of those graces and perfections which can
alone fit him for the reception of reflected glory, and raise him to a
place before the throne of ineffable light and purity.
This wisdom (like its counterpart in the natural world, the sun) casts
rays of light, beauty, and restoration very widely. When He, the essence
of uncreated light, stood with "the glory He had with the Father"
veiled, as the Teacher of men, He uttered a truth so mighty that
wherever it is repeated the darkness fleeth away; wherever it is sounded
forth with power, be it in the palaces of kings, in the hovels of the
poor, or in the deepest recesses of moral corruption, the blackness of
the shadow of death which surrounds the immortal soul is dispersed as by
the voice of Omnipotence. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he
that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light
of life."
The Church militant, the royal priesthood, the ransomed people, is an
assemblage of individuals called out of darkness into His marvellous
light. This community of the blessed occupies the place of the absent
Lord, and has to show forth His glory. As children of the day, they
renounce the hidden things of darkness; and as vessels of mercy
illuminated by Divine grace, they show forth "the light of the Lord."
They of necessity do this by letting men see their good works, by
reproving sin, by giving instruction in righteousness, by holy zeal in
efforts to increase the kingdom of truth and purity. Possessed
themselves of the Word of God, through which and by the Holy Spirit they
are being sanctified, they use that same word for purposes of the grace
of God which bringeth salvation. The Bible in the hand of the Christian
is as the wisdom of God in the hand of Ezra, leading them "to judge;" to
give wisdom and prudence "to all such as know the laws of their God, and
to teach them that know them not." Hence it is the duty and high
privilege of each Christian, be he minister or layman, ordained or
unordained, to communicate precious truths, to teach from the Holy
Scriptures which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith,
which is in Christ Jesus.
We have a conviction that the individual members of the Church have not
yet risen to the dignity of every man saying to his neighbour, "Know the
Lord." This witnessing for God is not a professional matter, but a
religious duty. Masses of people in our great cities perish for lack of
knowledge, while many partakers of precious faith are content to live
without an effort to add one immortal spirit more to the ransomed from
the earth. They, alas! are many who are under the "woe" pronounced
against those "who live at ease in Zion." There are no laity in the
theocracy of grace. All are priests. And they who have heard the call of
Divine compassion, and feel themselves sheltered in the covenant of
love, are commanded to say "Come," or for ever bear the reproach of
being unfaithful servants. This standing back from the great conflict,
this looking on instead of joining in the holy strife, is a reproach to
the royal people, an injury to our neighbour, and a withholding of
blessing from this sin-stricken world. There is work for all in the
great vineyard, and opportunities for usefulness are ever occurring. It
is not those only who dwell in squalor that require the Gospel: the
respectable mechanics, the trading and professional classes; yes, and
the educated, and the noble, and the princes of the earth: all who have
not passed into the kingdom of grace need the same truth, the same
restoring and elevating force. While, therefore, it is right to send the
Gospel of the grace of God to the lower orders, this does not
_exonerate_ from the duty of influencing the other classes to the
acceptance of truth and the practice of holiness. The necessities of the
world require that every Christian should carry a pocket Bible, and
study how to use it well. Then would the kingdom of God come with power.
There can be no doubt that the practical infidelity and viciousness of
the classes immediately and very much above them has a most injurious
effect upon the lower orders of society. The wealth of the rich is often
used to the demoralization of the poor, while skilled workmen are the
chief propagators of scepticism among them. Those, therefore, who give
themselves to the labour and care of uplifting the very low, have a deep
interest in the religious elevation of the more refined and educated, as
the classes act with marvellous effect upon each other. These
considerations must be our excuse for devoting this last chapter to
narratives of like Christian work among the more advanced in the social
scale. As infidelity is so terrible a foe, we commence with two
instances of recovery from its destructive influence.
One evening the visitor had occasion to call at a public institution,
and stopped in the lobby to examine a microscope and set of lenses. The
optician showed him a telescope by which he said stars at a great
distance could be seen and particulars accurately defined. In answer to
the inquiry, "If those distinguished by the appellation 'telescopic
stars,' and ranging from the seventh magnitude upwards could be seen by
it," he gave a very clever answer, which led to a long and pleasant
conversation. At parting, the visitor observed "that there was an
instrument now much in use by the 'wise,' of higher range, and called by
the name of 'faith,'--a gift of God, a power by which Christians could
look through the clouds, beyond the nebulæ, even to the place where
Jesus is seated at the right hand of God."
The optician shook his head, and said that "he believed in all that was
true in creation, in all that could be demonstrated; but that his
credulity stopped at the uncertain."
The subject was renewed upon another visit, and continued at intervals
for some months; so that he became well instructed in the principles of
that faith which is said to "abide" and to "dwell" in the true
Christian, and which the unbelief of men cannot "make void." After a
time the optician left the institution, and was lost sight of for nearly
three years. He then addressed a letter to his friend of the telescope,
from Middlesex Hospital, telling him that he had suffered sad reverses,
and that he was a patient there with a painful eruption; and added,
"Through the mercy of God I have obtained precious faith, and I hope to
be ever mindful that I can only conquer the enemy by giving myself up,
and entirely depending upon the blood of the Lamb. I feel, my dear
friend, what tongue or pen cannot describe: I feel that I am preserved
by our blessed Saviour from that doom I so deserved; and I now place all
my dependence upon this new Friend, and I trust that I may continue in
the faith, and rest in the Lord and wait."
When the visitor called he found him afflicted with a kind of leprosy,
being covered with sores from head to foot. He however looked happy, and
in the course of conversation, observed, "That remark, sir, about the
telescope when you first spoke to me, was the leading step in my
conversion: I never lost its impression. When I packed or unpacked the
instruments I used to think about it, and at last got to desire your
statement to be true,--that 'the Lord Jesus, by a power of the soul,
could be seen pleading for and saving sinners;' but now, blessed be God,
I feel that I have the heavenly gift, and pray for its increase." He
recovered from his disease, and has for years proved his faith by holy
living.
The other instance occurred in the International Exhibition. A visitor
who frequently embraced opportunities to direct attention to some truth
contained in the good old Book, was one morning worming his way through
the machinery annex, when his progress was stopped by a barrier. As it
was the midday hour for refreshment, the whirl and clatter was stayed,
the machinery being at rest. A man, a fine specimen of the English
mechanic, sat by the motive engine reading Goldsmith's History of
England. The visitor noticed this, and, handing him a Gospel of St.
John, said, "Here is part of the great biography,--some leading passages
in the life of the King now crowned with many crowns; but whose life
here was a miracle, from the manger to Golgotha."
"I have read it, sir," the man replied, taking the book; "but I cannot
believe all the Bible says about Jesus Christ, and other matters."
"If you have time, I should like to know how it is that you reject the
testimony which _God_ has given of His Son?" said the giver of the Book,
and the following conversation took place:--
"Well, sir, this is how it is: I was religious in my youth, but when an
apprentice, my shopmates induced me to attend theological lectures
followed by debates. These discussions shook my faith in the Christian
system, and the reading of books has strengthened my convictions."
"This is a serious matter: do please tell me your chief difficulty."
[Illustration: "It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with
the various machines."]
"Well, sir, this is one: the Bible says that every man in order to be a
Christian must have a change wrought in him called conversion, which to
my mind is simply a change of opinion, with results which could be
effected by other means. Socrates was made good by philosophy; and men
of all opinions, even Mohammedan and Hindoo, have been made moral by the
good in their systems. What we are to aim at is a perfect moral code
free from superstition and spiritual tyranny."
"You must, my good friend, judge of a system by its general influence,
as well as by its effect upon the individual; and I suppose that you
would not like society to go back from the Christian to the heathen
state, because there may have been moral heathens; or to live under the
government of Turk or Hindoo, because some individuals among them have
practised virtue. Now it occurs to me that you may not be quite clear in
your views of the Christian system which you reject. It consists not of
moral principles, which are its results,--but of a new life,--the
communication of Divine influences. Let me illustrate this by your
occupation. It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with the
various machines; and thus by an act of yours a mass of inert mechanism
instantaneously becomes subject to complicated motion, and invested with
great power. It is so with the inner world of man's spiritual being,
which has its facts as well as the outer and material. The soul of man
has wonderful powers and capabilities, even when inert, in a state of
spiritual deadness, resembling the machinery around us, until the steam
force is communicated to it. Man in a state of nature is dead and
incapable of loving _God_, or otherwise exercising the powers of his
higher being; but the ever blessed Creator, by an act of clemency,
pardons sinners who believe in Jesus, and gives His Holy Spirit to them.
These divinely influenced persons form the Church of Christ, and of them
the sayings of this Book are true: 'And you hath He quickened who were
dead in trespasses and sins.' 'Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.'"
The man, who had listened with rapt attention, rose from his seat, and
said with emotion, "I see it all, sir, as if scales had fallen from my
eyes. I have had my machinery, philosophy, science, Bible, and all sorts
of books, but I have never prayed, 'Give me Thy Holy Spirit.'"
"Utter that prayer," said his instructor, "in the name of the
well-beloved Son, and you shall be endued with power from on high; for
He has said, 'I will give my Holy Spirit to them that ask Me.'"
As the time for setting the machinery in motion had arrived, the visitor
promised him a book on infidelity; and after shaking hands with the new
acquaintance, made his way through the annex.
Several other visits followed, and as the blessed result, the man
believed on the Saviour, and gave evidence of having passed from death
unto life. A clergyman who visited the place a few months after, wrote
of him, "Among others I spoke to a man in charge of machinery; a frank,
open-faced, and as I should think, open-hearted Englishman. 'I was,
sir,' said he, 'an infidel, until a gentleman spoke to me here, and gave
me a Gospel. He then reasoned with me, and lent me a book. I am now
persuaded that the Bible is true, and I am trying to be a Christian.' I
think he has the root of the matter in him."
The readiness with which this man received the Gospel is exceptional.
With sceptics of his class prejudice is usually so strong that to remove
it is like working through a granite wall; and, after years of effort,
the good frequently appears to be lost upon them. Such an incident is
therefore a great encouragement to trust in the power of revealed truth.
The reproving of sin is also a plain Christian duty, and yet how few
nerve themselves to do it. Besides, persons who, for instance, are
guilty of profane language, not only show their need of good counsel,
but their very words give the judicious Christian a kind of introduction
to them, which can be used to advantage. We will give two instances in
illustration of this use of the Book.
When travelling in Yorkshire, the visitor one morning lost his train at
a junction, and had to remain in the waiting-room for some time. Three
young men entered, who proved to be a barrister's and two solicitor's
clerks. One of them in his disappointment at not being in time, as he
had to attend a barrister at the assize, uttered an oath, and another
took the Divine Name with worse than lightness upon his lips.
"Be careful, gentlemen," observed the stranger, "or you will never
discover the legal title."
"What on earth do you mean?" inquired the swearer.
"Just this: there are possessions of present value, and a heavenly
inheritance covenanted and held direct from the king, but the profane
and corrupt will never be able to prove their legal claim to them."
"It was a slip of the tongue, sir, as I don't swear," said the young
man, with some confusion.
"Then be careful," was the reply, "not to contract a habit so vile."
As they had to wait an hour, the reprover produced his pocket Bible, and
to interest them in the truth, compared the Old Testament to a court of
law--stern law, in which no sinner living can be justified; and the New
Testament to a court of equity, in which the highest legal Authority in
the universe has pronounced sinners, who believe on Jesus, "Justified
from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of
Moses." After this, he impressively read the words: "The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." As the
train approached the station, the young men thanked their reprover, and
there was hearty hand-shaking.
The second instance occurred under exceptional circumstances, for the
conversation took place at the top of an omnibus. Late one fine summer
evening a Christian man was seated at that pleasant elevation, when, as
they passed a club in Pall Mall, a gentleman came out, ascended to the
top, and lit his cigar. As they passed along, he made a most improper
remark concerning some low people who were quarrelling at the corner of
a street.
"Your sympathies," observed the man addressed, "are evidently with those
persons: as we say in chemistry, there is attraction, an affinity
between you."--
"Thanks for the high estimate you have formed of me," said the gentleman
in an angry tone.
"A very right way to estimate a stranger," was the reply, "as to judge a
man out of his own mouth is a very proper judgment. There are only two
orders of men--the natural or corrupt, and those who have been made
pure in heart. Had you belonged to the latter, those bad people would
have caused a revulsion of feeling within you; instead of that you spoke
with sympathy, and I therefore as a moralist come to the conclusion that
impurity attracts you instead of holiness."
This remark was followed by a long silence, when the gentleman turned
suddenly toward his reprover and inquired,--
"Are you a religious man?"
"Yes: I am."
"Then your reproof of my thoughtless words was very proper; but to
unchristianize a fellow for such a remark is really too bad."
"I did not unchristianize you, but gave honestly the impression your
words conveyed to my mind. And now by way of apology for the sharp
manner in which I spoke, may I return your question: 'Are you a
religious man?'"
"Well, yes: I am certainly baptized, and am regular in attendance at
church with my family; but after all I am not quite right, as there are
mysteries in the faith which trouble me."
"Are you a new creature in Christ Jesus?"
"That doctrine has no doubt a depth of meaning and much beauty in it,
but I can only see the beauty. With me it is not a reality, as the
longer I live the more difficult it is for me to conceive of the
_Almighty God_ and a vile creature, an unit among hundreds of millions,
holding intercourse and affecting a transaction between them."
"And yet such is the fact, established by the verities of the Truth
Himself, who has said, 'Your heavenly Father will give His Holy Spirit
to them that ask Him.'" And then pressing the arm of the gentleman, the
speaker continued, "It is thus: just as matter can influence matter, so
can spirit influence spirit. Your body feels the grasp of my hand, and
it is as possible for your soul to be touched by the Holy Spirit of God
and to be made conscious of that blessed influence."
The conversation was continued, and deepened in interest until the
omnibus came to the end of its journey in the suburb. The passengers
alighted, and then the gentleman in a most graceful way said, "You have,
sir, reproved me wisely, and made the truth, which for years has
disturbed me, so plain, that duty to myself requires me to ask your
friendship, certainly for the favour of another long conversation."
"I am much occupied," was the reply, "but will gladly spare an hour or
so to-morrow evening, should you be disengaged."
"Then I will give you my card, and will remain at home to receive you. I
have only to ask you as a point of honour not to mention my foolish
remark."
The promise was given, and the gentleman handed his card to the
religious teacher, who was startled at the rank of the man to whom he
had spoken so faithfully; but addressing him by his title, he
endeavoured to fix the Scripture in his mind: "If any man be in Christ
he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new."
Upon the next evening the promised visit was paid, and the stranger was
introduced by his new friend to the family circle. For a time his lady
was reserved (as well she might be), but after an hour's converse about
"things spiritual," she became genial and kind. Before he left, the
servants were called in, and the Missionary read and gave a short
exposition of the chapter commencing with the words: "And you hath He
quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;" after which he engaged
in extempore prayer.
This was the first of many pleasant visits, and the commencement of a
friendship with the family which had its proof of blessing,--certainly
with its head, who received the doctrine of regeneration in its fulness.
When a believer is impressed with the duty of witnessing for God,
opportunities for doing so are sure to occur, and if he keeps simply to
the Bible, good will of necessity result. He may speak with conscious
feebleness, but his infirmity has nothing to do with the matter. The
secret of success in Christian work is humility before God and meekness
of wisdom before men, united with firm faith in the truth and power of
the Divine Word. That Word can be spoken by, but can gain no improvement
or strength from man. All experience gives proof of this, and we add two
narratives, in confirmation of others, which show that the lodgment of
passages from the Holy Scriptures is sufficient to accomplish the
purposes of grace.
A Christian man was in the studio of a celebrated sculptor, fixing upon
designs for the first drinking-fountains erected in London. When the
order was given for cutting passages of Scripture in the solid granite,
the sculptor objected, upon the ground of "leading the vulgar to despise
the Scriptures, by making its words common." The point was reasoned with
him, and the position taken, "that any word of God may lead the thoughts
of men up to Him, and that the honouring of His truth must therefore be
attended with beneficial results." The order was carried out, and for
years the drinking-fountains of London have at the same time refreshed
the people with pure water, and instructed them in words of heavenly
wisdom. Upon one of them, in the Edgeware Road, is the Proverb, "The
fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." One evening two young men
passed it. The eldest was a barman, and the other was his youngest
brother, who had just come up from the country. They had planned the
robbery of the master in this way: the youth was to enter the bar as a
stranger, to call for liquor, and to hand his brother sixpence; change
for a sovereign or half-sovereign, according to the money in the till,
was then to be handed back to him. This was to be repeated several times
during the evening, and next day they were to meet and divide the spoil.
As they passed the fountain the eye of the youth caught the inscription,
"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life," and he gazed at it with
riveted attention. The teaching received at Sunday-school and a
succession of corresponding Scriptures flashed into his mind. Turning to
his brother, he said, "God will see us, and I dare not do this
thieving." Next Sunday he attended a meeting of "The Young Men's
Christian Association," and soon after became a decided Christian. Who
can tell how many have been thus blessed by Wisdom making her voice
heard in the public ways!
The other instance was that of an opportunity being embraced of speaking
faithfully to eighteen highly intelligent young men. They had assembled
in a classroom at the Royal Polytechnic, to receive instruction from a
professor in chemistry. A Christian man had occasion to enter the room,
and upon being informed that several of the young men were telegraph
clerks, he reminded them that the word "religion" in Latin really meant
"binding again,--the re-uniting of a broken communication;" and added,
"This is the condition of us all in our natural estate. Communication is
cut off between the sinner and the _Almighty Creator_. Faith in the Lord
Jesus and the reception of the Holy Spirit are the only means by which
communication can be re-established between the creature on earth and
the offended Majesty of heaven; as it is written, 'Ye who sometimes were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.'"
More than a year after this circumstance a young man lay upon his
death-bed. A rapid consumption had reduced him to a shadow, and when he
felt the end drawing nigh, he sent for the Christian visitor, to thank
him for speaking so clearly of Jesus in the hall of many sciences. He
was at that time "far off," but by faith in the risen Lord he had
obtained mercy, and a blessed hope of everlasting life. He spoke of "the
comfort of prayer," and "his sweet anticipation of glory," as proofs
that communication had been established between him and the Father of
his spirit. Soon after this he fell asleep in Jesus. In him the great
object of the Church in all her labours was accomplished. Being
ignorant, he was instructed in saving truth. Being separated from his
_God_, he was drawn by the cords of Divine love; and then, being assured
of resurrection life in Jesus, he laid down his mortal body that he
might follow with the ransomed of the Lord, who enter Zion with songs,
and everlasting joy upon their heads.
This great good resulted from one Scripture being fixed in the mind of
that young man, "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ." To every Christian the Word is
committed, and it is the duty of all to use it for the spiritual
enlightenment of others. All whose communication with heaven has not
been re-established, must be instructed in the saving truths of Holy
Scripture. Opportunities to instruct the intellectual and the higher
social classes in the grand but simple truths of salvation must not be
lost; but to the poor the Gospel must be preached. They were and ever
will be the objects of the deep solicitude of our Lord. He in a special
manner was their Teacher: for them as for others He lived and agonized
and died. They must not be permitted, as in our great cities, to
continue in ignorance and sin, and with multitudes to die the death that
is eternal. The Church universal must answer, "No!" She must gird on her
strength, and convey the Book of God, which sheds the light of His
salvation, into every dark dwelling,--that redemption's work may spread,
and the people learn righteousness, to their salvation and to the praise
of the glory of Divine grace.
APPENDIX.
CAN YOU INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST?
To a large extent it is believed that you can! God in His providence _has
brought within your_ reach representatives of the various nations of the
Globe; and has placed them in the best possible position to influence the
whole earth; so that _if you act upon them, you act upon the world_!
But where is this great gathering of the representatives of the nations
to be found? Our minds at once advert to London, the Metropolis of the
United Kingdom and of the whole earth!--the Modern Babylon!--a city
which now contains nearly four millions of inhabitants!
Are you a Scotchman? There are about as many Scotch people and their
descendants in London, as there are in Edinburgh? Are you an Irishman?
There are more Irish and their descendants in London, than there are in
Dublin! Are you a Welshman? The Welsh and their descendants living in
London about equal the united populations of six of the principal Welsh
towns? Or are you an Englishman? The population of six, eight, or ten
towns in some of the English counties, represent the number of persons
_born in those counties_, who now live in the great city! You may thus
act upon almost every city, town, and village in the United Kingdom by
means of their own representatives now living in London.
And if you should specially pity the poor Jew, because he rejects the
great Messiah;--then you should remember that there are more Jews in
London than there are in Palestine! If, again, you regard Popery as the
great Antichrist; you are reminded that there are more Roman Catholics
in London than there are in Rome! Its 2,000 ITALIANS can here be
prepared to carry home to their countrymen the glad tidings of a
completed salvation! Are German Neology and French Infidelity the foes
to the Redeemer which you would oppose? It is affirmed that above 60,000
GERMANS, or their descendants, and about 40,000 FRENCH and their
children, are now to be found in London! The mighty Russian Empire, with
its Sclavonian races, sunk in ignorance, or in the corruptions of the
Greek Church, is numerously represented in London! Some 6,000
MOHAMMEDANS AND EAST INDIAN idolaters are also found yearly in London!
and _there_, with perfect safety, can be taught that there is one God,
and one atoning sacrifice. _There_ also are found vast numbers of Danes,
Dutch, Swedes, Swiss, Spaniards, Portuguese, Greeks, Turks, Africans,
Arabians, Persians, Chinese, Brazilians, Americans, American Indians,
West-Indian, and South Sea Islanders, and probably from every other
nation under heaven! These are brought together by Divine Providence, no
doubt, that they may be instructed in the wonderful works of God. THESE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH ARE BROUGHT WITHIN YOUR
REACH; AND THROUGH THEM, BY THE AID OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION, YOU CAN
INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. Alas, that these representative bodies
should have entered a city in which a million and three-quarters of its
people cannot find room to worship God in its Protestant Churches and
Chapels!--a city in which myriads of its inhabitants are addicted to
crime.
THE LONDON CITY MISSION enables Christians to act on individuals of
every class and nation resident in this most important spot of the
earth, this _diseased_ HEART _of the body politic of the world_. The
simple object of the Society is to take the Gospel to every house,
garret, and cellar, and to beseech men to be reconciled to God. It knows
nothing of sects nor parties, nor does it seek to proselytize in any
other way than to make the wicked holy, and the worthless valuable
members of society. Its Missionaries, 450 in number, communicate the
Gospel in twenty-three languages, each to about 2,000 persons. But if
each Missionary employed continues to have about 2,000 persons to visit,
AT LEAST 400 MORE MISSIONARIES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MONSTER CITY. Who
then is willing to endeavour--by personal consecration, or by helping an
agency that is ready at hand, fitted for the work, and blessed in the
doing of it--to _influence the world for Christ_?
COMMITTEE OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION.
Treasurer.--Joseph Hoare, Esq.
Secretaries.
Rev. Josiah Miller, M.A.
Rev. J. P. A. Fletcher, M.A.
Auditors.
J. Herbert Tritton, Esq.
E. Brodie Hoare, Esq.
Arbuthnot, Geo., Esq.
Ashton, Charles, Esq.
Barclay, J. Gurney, Esq.
Bevan, R. C. L., Esq.
Bevan, Francis A., Esq.
Boulnois, W. A., Esq.
Buxton, J. H., Esq.
Charles, Robert, Esq.
Clarke, Frederick, Esq.
Coles, William, Esq.
Denny, T. A., Esq.
Ellice, William, Esq.
Fox, Chas. Douglas, Esq.
Garwood, Rev. J., M.A., _Hon. Member._
Hanbury, George, Esq.
Kinnaird, Lord.
Lycett, Sir Francis.
M'Arthur, W., Esq., M.P.
Marten, C. H., Esq.
Maynard, H., Esq.
Morris, H., Esq.
Noel, Hon. Henry.
Paton, R., Esq.
Pocock, T., Esq.
Robarts, Henry, Esq.
Sheppard, John Geo., Esq.
Sheppard, S. G., Esq.
Smith, Basil Woodd, Esq.
Spicer, Edward, Esq.
Tritton, C. Ernest, Esq.
Trotter, Stuart, Esq.
Watson, J. G., Esq.
Williams, George, Esq.
Wood, F. J., Esq., LL.D.
Examiners of Missionaries.
Rev. H. Allon, D.D.
Rev. W. B. Carpenter, M.A.
Rev. Burman Cassin, M.A.
Rev. J. P. Chown.
Rev. J. H. Clay, M.A.
Rev. Flavel Cook, B.A.
Rev. Frederick Cox, M.A.
Rev. John Edmond, D.D.
Rev. A. T. Edwards, M.A.
Rev. H. E. Fox, M.A.
Rev. B. Gregory.
Rev. J. G. Gregory, M.A.
Rev. D. B. Hankin.
Rev. J. C. Harrison.
Rev. S. Hebditch.
Rev. W. G. Lewis.
Rev. Peter Lorimer, D.D.
Rev. A. Macmillan, B.A.
Rev. John Matheson, M.A.
Rev. Thomas Nolan, D.D.
Rev. G. W. Olver.
Rev. Aubrey C. Price, M.A.
Rev. Robert Redpath, M.A.
Rev. Henry Sharpe.
Rev. Gervase Smith, M.A.
Rev. G. W. Weldon, M.A.
Country Secretary for the South--Rev. W. Lionel Green.
Country Secretary for the North--Mr. Francis Palin, 15, Chichester
Street, Chester.
District Secretary--_West (portion of) and North London._--Mr. Charles
M. Sawell.
District Secretary--_West (portion of) and East London._--Mr. J. M.
Weylland.
District Secretary--_South London._--Mr. Hugh Pearson.
Accountant--Mr. Thomas R. Marrison.
General Superintendents of Missionaries.
Captain H. J. R. Lowe.
J. Rennie, Esq.
Captain Charleton.
Captain Thom.
CONSTITUTION.
I. The name--"The London City Mission."
II. The object of this Institution is to extend the knowledge of the
Gospel among the inhabitants of London and its vicinity (especially the
poor) without any reference to denominational distinctions, or the
peculiarities of Church Government.
III. To effect this object, Missionaries of approved character and
qualifications, who shall give themselves entirely to the work, shall be
employed and paid by the Institution. Their duty shall be to visit from
house to house in the respective Districts that shall be assigned to
them, read the Scriptures, engage in religious conversation, and urge
those who are living in the neglect of religion to observe the Sabbath
and to attend public worship. They shall also see that all persons
possess the Scriptures, shall distribute approved religious tracts, and
aid in obtaining Scriptural education for the children of the poor. By
the approval of the Committee, they shall hold meetings for reading and
expounding the Scriptures and prayer, and shall adopt such other means
as the Committee may think necessary for the accomplishment of the
Mission.
IV. As the object of the Mission is to extend the knowledge of the
Gospel, it is a fundamental law that the following doctrines be
prominently taught by the Agents and publications of the Mission. They
are given, "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the
Holy Ghost teacheth."[3] "All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God."[4] "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."[5]
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."[6] "The
blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin."[7] "Being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ."[8] "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."[9]
"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."[10] "Ye are sanctified--by
the Spirit of our God."[11]
[3] I Cor. ii. 13.
[4] Rom. iii. 23.
[5] John i. 1, 14.
[6] John iii. 3.
[7] I John i. 7.
[8] Rom. v. 1.
[9] Acts v. 12.
[10] Heb. xii. 14.
[11] I Cor. vi. 11.
V. The general business of the London City Mission shall be conducted by
a Committee consisting of an equal number of members of the Established
Church and of Dissenters; and the Examiners of Missionaries shall
consist of an equal number of Clergymen and Dissenting Ministers, all of
whom, with the Treasurers, Secretaries, and Auditors, shall be members
of the Committee, _ex officio_.
VI. Persons subscribing one guinea annually; every donor of £10; an
executor on the payment of a legacy of £50 and upwards; and Clergymen of
the Established Church, and Dissenting Ministers, as representatives of
their congregations, who subscribe or collect for the Mission the sum of
£5 annually, shall be members of the Institution.
VII. A General Meeting shall be held annually in May (and oftener if
necessary) to appoint the office-bearers, and receive a Report of the
proceedings of the Mission and of the state of the funds. All matters
proposed shall be determined by the majority of the Members present. The
Meeting shall be opened and concluded by prayer, and the President for
the day shall sign the Minutes of the proceedings. In connection with
the Annual Meeting, one Sermon, or more, shall be preached, of which due
notice shall be given.
VIII. The funds of the Mission, arising from donations, legacies,
subscriptions, collections, etc., shall be expended, under the direction
of the Committee, upon the salaries of Missionaries, the purchase of
tracts, and in meeting all necessary charges in conducting the business
of the Mission.
IX. That no alteration be made in this Constitution, except at an Annual
Meeting, or General Meeting, specially convened by the Committee, upon a
requisition stating the nature of the alteration, signed by fifty of the
members, and to be held within twenty-one days of the receipt of such
requisition.
We give the following extract of speeches delivered at the last, or
Forty-third Annual Meeting of the London City Mission, which was held in
Exeter Hall, on Thursday, May 2nd, 1878; Lord KINNAIRD in the Chair.
* * * * *
The large assembly having sung three verses of the hymn,
"All hail the great Immanuel's name,"
the Rev. JOSIAH MILLER read a portion of Scripture and offered prayer,
after which--
The Meeting was addressed by the CHAIRMAN as follows:--
I have been asked to preside on this special occasion from the fact that
I believe I am one of the oldest members on service on this Committee.
For upwards of forty years I have been permitted to join in this great
and important work, and I can only say that each year, as it rolled on,
I felt more and more thankful that this work was flourishing and
advancing. When it began its work in London, the principles on which it
was founded were not so generally recognised as they are now. I well
remember, for instance, when we had to contend for the very principle of
lay agency in quarters where now it would be frankly recognised. Three
principles seem to underlie all our work. First, that evangelical truth
has the only claim for recognition as being in full accordance with the
Word of God, and as being fitted to persuade men to be reconciled to
God. Secondly, that the duty of proclaiming it does not exclusively rest
on ordained ministers, but that all men share the obligation, which
flows from the Divine command to go into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature, and also to go into the lanes and hedges and
invite men to the Gospel feast. And thirdly, that the members of the one
Church of Christ, though connected with various denominations, should
combine in the work of evangelization, thus manifesting in some degree
the unity for which the Saviour prayed, and proving to men that the
points on which they agree are of far more deep and lasting importance
than those on which they differ. The steady growth of our London
population, which, when Mr. Hoare and myself began, was about a million
and a half, but which is now rapidly approaching four millions, makes
the need of this Society, in some respects, even greater than it was
when it first started. We may be very thankful that so much has been
accomplished through its instrumentality, and very thankful, too, that
other kindred Societies have sprung into existence following in our
steps. But I would impress upon you that there must be no relaxation of
effort on our part. Perhaps no claim could be stronger than that
connected with the evangelization of special classes, which is the
peculiar feature of this Society. It has been my privilege at different
times to superintend many missionaries, and especially those to
foreigners. That work is continuing, and we may thank God for it. What
should we now do without the City missionary? In any moment of
perplexity, when new difficulties arise, one generally has to seek the
aid of an experienced missionary to help in starting a movement for the
relief of some evident spiritual want. My own experience is, that it has
pleased God in a marvellous way to use this Society for the advancement
of His kingdom. We must not, however, try to monopolize. There are
Scripture readers, and, above all, there is that wonderful
instrumentality of the Bible-woman and the Bible-nurse. The idea of
these has been taken from us. We were the pioneers in the work. God has
blessed it, and it is apparently prospering. There are fields of labour
amongst our increasing population, which, but for such an agency as
this, would make us tremble for our great City. I had hoped to have seen
here our excellent friend Mr. Garwood, whose labours have been perfectly
indefatigable. But though he is absent in body he is with us in spirit.
It has been very refreshing during the past year to see him constantly
attending our Committees, as earnest and warm a friend to the work as
ever he was in his younger days. Long may he be spared to us, to give us
the benefit of his sage counsels. I have now to call upon the Secretary
to read the Report. It is one full of deep interest, and I trust that
you will give it your earnest attention.
The Rev. J. P. A. FLETCHER then read an abstract of the Report of the
Society for the past year.
* * * * *
The Bishop of SODOR and MAN:--My Lord, I have to move the first
Resolution:--
"That the Report, an abstract of which has now been read, be adopted,
printed, and circulated, under the direction of the Committee."
I should have been very much wanting in gratitude if I had failed to
respond at once to the kind invitation that was sent to me, asking me to
take part in the proceedings of to-day; for I shall always look back
with pleasure to my connection with the City Mission when I was a
working clergyman in London. Only this morning, as I was coming to this
meeting, I met a gentleman who said to me, "Where are you off to? Which
of the meetings are you going to attend?" I said, "I am going to the
anniversary of the City Mission." "Oh," said he, "but that is not a
Church of England Society." "No," I said, "but it is an old friend of
mine; it is an unsectarian Society." When I was a clergyman working in
London, the City Mission gave me support in two parishes; and now I am
made a Bishop, I am not going to refuse to give my support to the City
Mission. The truth is, there is room enough in this vast city of London
for all the Societies that are working for the spread of God's truth. We
could afford to have twice as many Societies; and if all the City
missionaries, and Scripture readers, and Bible-women, and district
visitors, were quadrupled in number, there would be room enough for all,
and we should want more. But the benefit of such Societies is not only
to be found in their evangelistic work--that they carry the Gospel of
the grace of God to the masses--but I take it that it is to be found
above all in the fact that they unite Christian people together for the
Lord's work. This is what we especially want in the present day. The
enemy is carrying on his work with the greatest activity. The Lord's
people must be united, and I rejoice in the working of such Societies as
this, because they bring Christian people together, and unite them in
the grand common object of the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. It
is now some years ago since I first entered upon the work of my first
parish in London. I received a district of 10,000 people in the parish
of Marylebone, cut off from St. Mary's, Bryanston Square. There were no
rich people in the district, and I had to set about the work with many
difficulties to contend with. I had the help of a Scripture reader, a
Pastoral-aid worker, and three Bible-women, but still that was not
sufficient. As we went on with the work we found a City missionary
working in one corner of the district, and we found that he got hold of
the people that we were getting hold of. I felt, "This will never do,
because we are treading upon each other's heels." So I went to the
Committee of the Society and represented the case to them. I said, "We
have got a common object in view; we only want to take the Gospel to the
masses. I am unfortunately in this position: that I cannot go beyond my
bounds. I am tied by the parochial system (a very good system, too).
Now, I will undertake the superintendence of the missionary if you will
kindly let me do so." The Committee at once said they would, and from
that time I began to work heartily in connection with the City Mission.
But this was not the end of my connection. I was asked to undertake what
I believe to be a most important part in the work of the Society; I was
asked to become one of the examiners of the City missionaries. I say
this is perhaps the most important part of the whole work, for our
success very much depends upon the men whom we select to carry on the
work. There is a tendency in the present day for men to take up this
kind of work when everything else fails. Well, that will never do. We
must not have this work undertaken simply as a profession. We want men
constrained by the love of Christ; we want men with an accurate
knowledge of the Word of God to go and deal with the masses of the
people; and if we have not this class of men as our City missionaries,
the work will fail sooner or later. We may have five hundred City
missionaries, but unless they are men of God, unless they know the Word
of God, they will never carry out the work of God. I look back,
therefore, with the greatest pleasure upon my connection with this
Society. I dare say there are some missionaries now before me who have
passed through my hands. I hope they did not find me very severe; but if
they did, I can tell them that I was only severe in my examination of
them because I was anxious about the good of the Society. The question
before us this morning, as it seems to me, is, How can we stir one
another up to take greater interest in the work? I believe there are
three things which are necessary. We need first of all a deep sense of
our responsibility in the sight of God; we need secondly a keen sense of
sin in God's sight; and, last of all, we need a lively sense of God's
presence and power with us. I believe these three things are necessary,
and I am substantiated in that conviction by a reference to three of the
greatest City Missions that we find mentioned in the Word of God. We
have a grand work before us in connection with London, the largest city
in the world that was ever seen, but I do not think that we must run
away with the idea that London is worse than other places; the only
thing is, that we have so much evil brought together, with its seven or
eight thousand streets, and its nearly four millions of population. It
is a tremendous place, but after all I do not think upon London as worse
than other places. It is, so to speak, the heart of the world. The blood
flows from London throughout the world, and therefore, if we are to deal
with the world outside, we must deal with the heart. We must bring the
Gospel to bear upon the masses of London, and then we shall do a mighty
work for the world. There are three grand essentials that we need in
carrying out the work, and I would substantiate this by a short
reference to three of the greatest City Missions that we read of in the
Word of God. I said, in the first place, that we need a true sense of
our responsibility in the sight of God. The portion of Scripture which
has been read to us reminds us of Nineveh and the Mission to that city.
It was a vast city, somewhat on the scale of London, but its wickedness
had gone up to heaven. God commanded His prophet Jonah to go and call it
to repentance, but he went on board ship and tried to flee from the
presence of God. He went down into the cabin and fell asleep. It was not
till a storm sent by God aroused him--it was not till the captain put
his hand upon his shoulder, and said, "What meanest thou, O sleeper?
Arise, call upon thy God," that he was awakened to a sense of his
responsibility. I believe there are many just in the condition of Jonah,
and it is not till the world makes an appeal to them that they are
aroused. For you will notice that it was not a man of God who awakened
Jonah to a sense of his responsibility, but it was a man of the world,
the captain of the ship, a heathen. Dear friends, the world wants us to
speak to it. There are people around us who want us to take the Gospel
to them. They know what our privileges and blessings are. But how is it
with many? They just flee from the presence of God; they go down into
the sides of the ship and fall asleep. We need, then, first of all, in
our Mission to this great City, a true sense of our responsibility and
duty in the sight of God. But let me remind you of another city of quite
a different character, blessed with every privilege of a religious
kind--the city of Jerusalem. Though that city had every blessing which
God could shower on it, the people rejected God in all His love, and
grace, and kindness. Their wickedness may have been of a different kind,
but it was as great in the sight of God as that of Nineveh. The Lord
Jesus Christ Himself came as the great Missionary to that city--the city
of His love. He beheld the city and wept over it; its sins, its
wickedness, its rejection of God's love, drew tears from His eyes, and
He said, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the
things that belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine
eyes." And as I think of that, I learn the second grand essential for us
of a keen sense of sin. Oh! if you realize more and more the wickedness
of this great City, you would be more and more constrained to work, so
as to let others know of that Saviour who has proved so precious to you.
Lastly, let me refer you to another Mission--the Mission to the city of
Corinth. It was the centre of the commercial world; through it flowed
all the wealth from the East and the West; and as it was famous for its
wealth, so it was notorious for its vice. We are told of the Apostle
Paul visiting that city for the first time, and being discouraged; but
we are told that the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision and said, "Fear
not, Paul; be not afraid; I am with thee. I have much people in this
city." So he was encouraged in his work. He went forward in the cause of
the Lord with his hands strengthened with the blessed assurance that the
Lord was with him. Let me, in conclusion, remind you what a glorious
work is performed in this Society. If we are only true to God, God will
be true to us. His promise is sure. His people shall be gathered out. As
we look at the various discouragements, difficulties, and trials with
which we have to contend, we can go forward with hope and firm
assurance, remembering that blessed promise, that He has prepared for us
a city.
* * * * *
The Rev. Dr. MANNING (Secretary of the Religious Tract Society):--Ten
minutes ago my name stood last upon the list of speakers. That, of
course, meant that I was not to speak at all; that was the clear and
obvious inference from the place in which I was put, and it is only fair
to say that I was put in that position at my own urgent request, not
having time to prepare anything to say to you to-day. In the absence of
Mr. Waddy, I venture, very unexpectedly, to stand in the gap to second
the Resolution so ably moved by the Bishop of Sodor and Man. The other
day I was reading the memoirs of the late eminent aural surgeon, and
scarcely less eminent a metaphysician, the late James Hinton, who, on
one occasion, found himself in one of the very vilest haunts of London,
surrounded by the most abandoned and depraved of this great city. He
spoke to them of Jesus of Nazareth, and told them how, through Him, they
might reascend to virtue and hopefulness; and then, his eyes brimming
with tears, he turned to a gentleman who was accompanying him, and said,
"If the Lord Jesus were back again upon earth where would He be? He
would be here." And then with emotion, he turned away. So, when I think
of the work of the City Mission, when I remember that I have before me
some four hundred or four hundred and fifty agents of this Society, who
are descending into the very depths of misery and vice, carrying with
them the tidings of the great salvation, I cannot but think, in the
words of James Hinton, if the Lord were here upon earth, He would be at
the very work to which you, my friends, have been called, and in which
this great Society is commissioning and sustaining you. Therefore, with
very deep sympathy, I bid you God-speed, and rejoice with you in that
very affecting and even eloquent (not so much in words as in facts)
Report to which we have just listened. During the meetings of this week,
and of this month, I wonder how often our Lord's great commission will
have been quoted, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every
creature." However often it may be quoted, it cannot be quoted too
often; and yet in this meeting especially, one cannot but remember that
there is a certain limitation imposed upon the disciples--"beginning at
Jerusalem." Why? It seems to me that almost every ground and reason
which prompted that limitation to begin at Jerusalem, may by fair
application and analogy, be brought to bear upon the work in which you
are engaged. Throwing out of account the special position of the Jewish
people, which, of course, entered into our Lord's consideration, what is
the meaning of that limitation as applied to us? I think, first of all,
it may teach us the duty of beginning the work which lies next to hand.
They were at Jerusalem, and they, therefore, began where they
were--began at once, and on the spot where the Master placed and found
them. There is a proverb often misquoted and mis-applied, to which,
however, I do attach extreme importance, that "Charity begins at home."
I would not give much for the charity which does not begin at home, as I
would not give much for the charity which ends there. The charity which
is good for anything, and which the Gospel inspires, and which the
Master teaches, is the charity that begins at our own door, and with the
work which lies next to hand. In this great mission work for the world
there is very much of romance;
"Its distance lends enchantment to the view,
And gilds the mountain with its azure hue."
And thank God for all that romance which prompts the imagination to
enlist itself on the side of conscience. In this work of ours, however,
there is little of romance; there is shown hard, terrible reality, vice
in all its gaunt, hideous, and repulsive forms, which has to be grappled
with; but, thank God, there are faithful men who will begin at London,
this million-peopled city, with all its manifold share of vice, as the
disciples began at Jerusalem. Then there is another point to which the
Lord Bishop, who has just sat down, has adverted--that Jerusalem was the
great centre of world-wide activity. "Parthians and Medes, and Elamites,
and the dwellers in Mesopotamia"--every nation on earth was there
represented; for at that time the Jew, as to-day, was the world's
banker, carrying on the commerce of the world, and found in every city
of the world. Is not that the position of London to-day? When the great
Jew banker, Rothschild, some years ago was under examination by a
Committee of the House of Commons, he was asked what was the influence
upon the exchanges of the world of an alteration in the rate of discount
in London, and he rose almost to a strain of poetry in his reply.
"Gentlemen," he said, "London is the heart of the world, and every pulse
and throb of the London market is felt in every part of the world." Why,
my Lord, wherever commerce is spread, the power of England is felt;
wherever trade is carried on, the sails of our ships whiten every sea,
and the agents and missionaries of commerce are found dauntless and
fearless in the pursuit of gain. Oh! what would the world soon be if
this great London of ours were converted to God, if from this great
centre of civilization and commerce there should go forth, not only men
seeking earthly gain, but men who would carry with them, in the
transactions of their lawful business, the love of Christ in their
hearts, and the message of salvation upon their lips! From this London
of ours an influence would spread over the whole world, and tens of
thousands of volunteer and unpaid missionaries would go forth, without
fee or reward, to carry the glad tidings of salvation. Then our Lord in
His ministry always appealed to kinship. Andrew findeth his own brother
Simon, and then they go and find their friend and fellow-townsman,
Nathaniel, and to each one the glad tidings are communicated, "We have
found the Christ." "Go, call thy husband, and come hither." This sense
of family relationship, friendship, and personal attachment is used to
spread the Gospel. And we, too, are to remember that our kinsmen and
brethren are, first of all, to receive from us the glad tidings of great
joy--the heathen not forgotten, but the heathen at our own doors, bound
to us by ties of brotherhood, are to have the first message of the
Gospel. Then there is patriotism. How proud the Hebrew has ever been of
his ancestor! With what pride the Apostle again and again boasts that he
is "of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin!" You look back
upon that long line of heroes, of whom the world was not worthy. My Lord
Kinnaird, we have a history behind us only second in nobleness to that
of the Jew. We are born of earth's best blood, and have titles manifold.
Admitting all the crimes of which our nation has been guilty, I yet
thank God--and in that sentiment I but utter the feelings of every
British heart--that I am born a Briton. Therefore it behoves us, as
Britons, to spread far and wide throughout our beloved and honoured land
that which can carry on its liberties and its prosperity to a yet higher
height. Not very long ago I was standing before one of those meetings in
the Faubourg St. Antoine, organized by that wonderful man, Robert McAll,
who is carrying on that marvellous City Mission in Paris. I stood there
amidst a crowd of gaunt, hollow-eyed Communists and Red Republicans,
with their long dishevelled hair, and white, haggard faces, and I said
to them, "I come simply to tell you what it is that has made England
free and prosperous and happy. Our hearts have bled for you in the
calamities which you in these recent years have endured. What can lift
you up from this abyss of ruin into which you have fallen? What is it
that can make you partakers with us of those national privileges which
we enjoy? It is the Gospel, and nothing but the Gospel. Let London and
Paris be found side by side falling at the feet of Jesus, and these two
great master cities of the world will yet win the world for Christ!"
Then there is just one further consideration to which reference has
already been made why the Gospel was to begin at Jerusalem: it was the
city of profoundest guilt and deepest need. At the point where the Lord
Bishop left off in his touching allusion to Jerusalem, they were already
plotting and conspiring not only to reject but to crucify the Lord of
Life; and the agonies of His dying cries had scarcely ceased from the
hills of Jerusalem, and His blood was scarcely dry upon the stones when
He prayed upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they
do;" and said to His disciples, "Go to these, my murderers, these men by
whose wicked hands I have been crucified and slain, and as they are
deepest in guilt and extremest in need, to them let the first offer of
salvation come." And may not this, in some respects, be applied to
London, too? Men may speculate as they will as to the future condition
of the heathen world, and of those who have never heard of Christ, those
who have been born in the deep, dense, awful darkness of heathenism, a
darkness which might be felt, which like the pall of death hangs over
those degraded nations; they may speculate as they will as to the future
condition of those to whom the Gospel has never come, but what must be
the terrible, appalling guilt of the millions of London who are living
within the sound of the Gospel, and side by side with Christian
influences and agencies, but who yet remain as utterly dead and as
absolutely heathen as the very idolaters of Central Africa! As to their
guilt and ruin there can be no doubt. We, therefore, who hold in our
hands the glad tidings of salvation, are bound first of all to offer
them to these first in guilt that they may be first in hearing the news
of the Saviour. I have looked through the list which summarizes the
action and agency of the Mission, and I see that nearly three millions
of visits have been paid to homes darkened by misery, ignorance, and
vice. Your missionaries have gone, for what purpose?--to dispel the
cloud, and to bring peace instead of discord, joy instead of sorrow. How
many visitors have gone to those homes on a different errand? Last night
a gentleman, speaking in this hall, told an anecdote rather droll in its
aspect, but which may yet illustrate the difference between the visits
of the missionaries and those of many others who go to them. A dead body
had been cast upon the sands, and at the coroner's inquest the persons
who found it were asked, "Did you do anything to resuscitate the
corpse?" They could not understand the question, and the Coroner
repeated it: "Did you do anything to resuscitate the corpse?" "Yes,"
said the men; "We searched his pockets." Now, that does seem to me to
express, in a quaint and droll way, the purpose for which many go into
the homes and haunts of poverty and vice. Our friends, however, go to
teach them, first of all, how to turn a penny into a pound by
temperance, virtue, and religion; and then to give them the yet deeper
blessings of salvation. I cannot sit down without one word of personal
testimony to the work of this Society. I am one of the Secretaries of
the Religious Tract Society. It has been our happiness and privilege to
assist, year by year and increasingly, with large grants of tracts and
publications, the work of this Mission, and its results. I am bound to
say that amongst the most efficient coadjutors of the Religious Tract
Society is this City Mission. There is no quarter in which our tracts
are circulated with more entire confidence and satisfaction to
ourselves, and with a firmer assurance that they will be well and wisely
used, and productive of the best results. I feel, therefore, that while
thanks have been from time to time rendered to the Tract Society for the
help which we have rendered you, we should render you most hearty thanks
for the help which you have given to us; and in the name of our Lord and
Master we bid you God-speed.
The Resolution was unanimously adopted.
* * * * *
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
ROUND THE TOWER;
OR,
THE STORY OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION.
With an Introduction by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G. New
Edition. Twelfth Thousand. Superior Edition, 3_s._ 6_d._; Cheap Edition,
1_s._ 6_d._ 16 Illustrations.
[Illustration: Byword Tower]
"This story is well told, and is of the deepest interest. Not a
page will be regarded as dull or dry."--_Record._
"This book should be read by all who labour among the masses. It is
a story of trials and triumphs."--_Word and Work._
"Lord Shaftesbury has written a good introduction to a graphic
story."--_The Christian._
"Every chapter will be read with satisfaction."--_Rock._
"In this volume the writer displays a thorough knowledge of London,
its poor districts, docks, and river. A vast amount of information
is condensed in its pages, and the style is racy and
pleasing."--_City Press._
"The author speaks with authority. If any one is ignorant of the
strange material that is operated upon by the agency of the London
City Mission, and the wonderful transformation brought about by the
same means, he ought certainly to read 'Round the Tower.'"--_Sword
and Trowel._
* * * * *
_Supplied direct from the Author, post-free._
[Illustration: Palace-like building with many people in courtyard]
_Just Ready. Beautifully Illustrated. Price 5s._
A THOUGHT FOR THE WORLD;
OR,
THE NARRATIVE OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT IN GREAT EXHIBITIONS.
_BY JOHN MATTHIAS WEYLLAND._
INTRODUCTION BY THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G.
* * * * *
"We are informed that the Queen has graciously accepted a copy of
Mr. Weylland's new work, 'A Thought for the World,' and that Lady
Gainsborough has received Her Majesty's command to thank him for
it. Lord Shaftesbury has written a gratifying Introduction to the
book.... We notice in the Author's Preface a clever genealogical
sketch of national and international exhibitions, commencing with
the first, which was presided over by King Ahasuerus.... Scenes of
brilliancy and beauty are described with graphic pen. We consider
this a most valuable and well-timed publication."--_Record._
"This is a most interesting volume. In its pages we are told in a
very pleasing way, from personal knowledge and authentic sources,
the story of Christian effort in the Great Exhibitions of London,
Paris, Vienna, and of Philadelphia. There are good
illustrations."--_The Christian._
"His sketches are exceedingly interesting, and will not only serve
for the encouragement of others, but may prove very useful by
suggesting how those engaged in Christian work should go about it.
A recommendatory Preface is furnished by Lord Shaftesbury; but even
apart from this and on its own merits the book should find many
readers."--_The Rock._
"The work will prove suggestive and useful to Christian
workers."--_Watchman._
"The charm attached to the writings of Mr. Weylland has long been
acknowledged, and the power of description which have won such a
wide circulation for 'The Man with the Book,' and 'Round the
Tower,' appears again in his latest work. It is marked throughout
by a lively style, practical common sense, and the enunciation of
right principles."--_London City Mission Magazine._
_This Book is supplied to Subscribers of the_ LONDON CITY MISSION,
_direct from Bridewell Place, E. C., for 3s. 6d., postage, 4d._
* * * * *
MISSION TRACTS.
[Illustration: Street lamps and people in a fog]
=IN A FOG.=
A Tract for Sceptics. 2_d._
=LIGHT IN THE BARS.=
For Publicans. One Hundred and Fortieth Thousand.
=RINGING THE CHANGES.=
For the Tempted. Fifth Thousand.
=CRAPE ON THE WHIP.=
A Sabbath Tract. Two hundred and Twentieth Thousand.
=THE ROUGH POLISHED.=
For Drunkards. Sixth Thousand.
=THE SCENE PAINTER.=
A Narrative of Grace. Seventh Thousand.
_The above Tracts, in packets, selected. 7d._
=CARDS AGAINST SWEARING.=
For Public and Coffee Houses. 2_d._ each; 1_s._ 9_d._ dozen.
* * * * *
A French Edition of "THE MAN WITH THE BOOK" has been prepared by Pasteur
Pallissier, of Paris, and revised by the Rev. Horace Noel. It is
designed for circulation upon the Continent, and among foreigners
resident in and visiting England. This can also be had at the Mission
for 2_s._ a copy, post free, with reduction according to the numbers
taken. A copy has been placed in each Public and Mission Library in
Paris.
* * * * *
Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Man with the Book, by John Matthias Weylland