_JOTTINGS FROM JOURNALS._
Mr. Balfour, as we have seen, was little given to speaking about his
motives or the springs of his actions. We saw the life and we inferred
the source. In such a case, however, any written revelations of what
passed within him, are of value, especially for the sake of those who
did not know the man. Mr. Balfour did not keep any regular or extended
journal; but a number of little annual volumes remain, giving his
pencil-jottings, so far as he made them, from day to day. Occasionally
these jottings swell into some fulness, but generally they are very
brief, and they are often intermitted for a length of time. When
journeying by land or sea he was usually more careful, briefly to note
passing events and passing thoughts. From these jottings, where not of a
nature too private for publication, we cull a few extracts which
illustrate his character and indicate his motives. The years are
mentioned, not always the day or month.
“1863. Urged Mr. ---- to ask direction and help in business from the
Lord.” “---- told me that he had this night found rest to his soul in
believing.”
“Waited with deputation on the Earl of Ellesmere, regarding Sunday work
at Bridgewater Canal.”
“_September 5, Sunday._ At Westward-Ho. Most precious reading of
Scripture (2 Cor. v.) with ---- and ---- on the rise of hill near top;
prayed that Jesus might seal instruction with His blessing.”
1871. Diary supplies touching details of visits paid with the Rev.
Drummond Anderson, chaplain of the Seamen’s Orphanage, to the homes of
widows whose husbands had lately perished at sea. Incidents like the
following are given:--“Dinner of potatoes and dripping; the dresses of
the girls and the mother in pawn for food.” “Sold an eight-day clock and
bought a few groceries: all house clean.” Thus visiting the fatherless
and the widow in their affliction, he was spurred on to ever-increasing
effort in behalf of the Seamen’s Orphanage.
This year he sailed to Spain, and during the passage the following
entries occur:--“Prayer for mind of Jesus Christ (Psalm xxv. 6, 7).
Prayer for family blessings; prayer for help for seamen, for Mr. ----,
for Chile, for Spain, for personal friends.” “Rose at six in the
morning; have tried to lay _all_ (oh how many many they are!) my sins on
Jesus.” “Spoke to second-class passengers; went to forecastle.”
“1872. Prayer that heart of ---- be led to give. Prayer for Mrs. Birt’s
work. Prayer for consolation to Mr. and Mrs. ---- in their trial. Prayer
regarding Sunday closing of public-houses. Prayer for acceptance by
Christian friends of proposal for united prayer.” Thus were all his
doings mingled with prayer. One page contains a long list of gifts, from
2000 dollars and downwards, for beneficent and Christian efforts chiefly
in Chile, such as “Union Church,” “Escuela Popular,” “Valparaiso Bible
Society,” “Hospital,” &c.
1873. On April 20th he has a list of topics of prayer which indicate the
subjects of his constant thoughts, and show how all were humbly brought
to the throne of grace. “Prayer for Orphanage,--that out-door relief may
be continued. Prayer for Ragged School Union. Prayer for Y. M. C. A.
Prayer for grace to consecrate money.” It were well if the last of these
petitions were widely offered through the Church of Christ. Then would
the treasury of the Lord be full, and He would surely pour us out a
blessing.
In a letter to his mother, written from the Engadine, 26th September
1873, Mr. Balfour gives a description of his journey by the Julier Pass.
In it he says:--“Leaving Bovia, which is 5800 feet above the level of
the sea, the road still ascends till you reach the summit of the Pass,
which is 7500 feet above sea-level, and where you find two round pillars
standing, which, it is said, one of the Roman generals placed there. By
the time I had got there--for I walked on before the carriage--the sun
had set, and the snow-summits all round were being faintly lighted by
the new moon, which appeared as a slender crescent. There was scarcely a
breath of wind, and the whole scene was comforting and inspiring. I was
glad to think that the Saviour, who had formed these mountains, was near
to bless me and each of His people. At what I thought was the highest
point of the Pass, I knelt to thank God for His goodness, and to beseech
Him for His grace to myself and others.”
With this extract may be fittingly associated a jotting from his diary,
in which he describes his descent on another occasion from the Piz
Julier by a steep and rugged path:--“Leaning always _to_ the rock, not
away from it, and taking support from the alpenstock, I was much
reminded of the Psalmist’s words, ‘Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort
me;’ and so I reached the bottom safely.”
“1874. _Sunday, June 21._ Thanks for £100 to Council of Education
by ----. Thanks for Report by Royal Commission on Shipping.” Often was
the desire of his heart granted him, and it would seem never without his
grateful acknowledgment to the Giver of all good things.
“_September 13._ Confession of unbelief and disobedience. Prayer for
contrition and forgiveness. Prayer for consecration of all I have to the
Lord. Prayer for denial of self, and sin, and world. Prayer that ----
and ---- may make the surrender of themselves to the Lord, and that their
voyage may be blest.”
“_September 30._ Seamen’s Orphanage opened by H.R.H. the Duke of
Edinburgh. The ceremony a great success, for which thanks to God.”
“_October 11._ Prayer for help for meeting regarding plurality of
licenses to-morrow. Prayer for help for Permissive Bill Anniversary at
Manchester on Tuesday. Prayer for help for Y. M. C. A. with Lord
Shaftesbury.”
On November 3rd we find the solitary entry, “Prayer for wisdom and
strength to testify at Town Council to-morrow, against electing
publicans to be Aldermen.” When on such subjects Mr. Balfour came into
sharp collision with opponents, it would scarcely be conjectured by
them, from what source this fearless man had drawn his courage and
power. Again, “Thanksgiving for progress towards getting Messrs. Moody
and Sankey for Liverpool. Thanksgiving for our children’s behaviour.” So
were public and private matters blended in his thoughts and prayers.
1875. On his way to Gothenburg with his friend, Mr. Clarke Aspinall, the
Coroner of Liverpool: “Oh that from this day my life may be one of
absolute trust in, and obedience to my Lord and Saviour. Alas! my
unbelief and disobedience, which I deplore, and the consequences of
which I must ever mourn.”
Throughout the year there are brief references to a variety of matters
which greatly engrossed him. Discussion ran high in the Town Council on
questions of temperance and social order, and Mr. Balfour found the
closet the best preparation for public conflict. One of his earliest and
dearest friends was involved to a frightful extent, in the crash
occasioned by the collapse in the affairs of Messrs. A. C---- & Co. He
offered princely financial help, and week after week breathed earnest
prayers and “entreaties” for his friend in the midst of his disasters.
Messrs. Moody and Sankey, at the invitation of himself and other
Christian men, were brought to Liverpool; he watched over their efforts
with intense solicitude, and hope, and gratitude as the time went on. We
well remember a prayer offered by Mr. Balfour at the opening of the
great wooden structure erected for Mr. Moody, and known as Victoria
Hall, in which he besought the Lord that, “as Liverpool had been known
as the ‘Black Spot on the Mersey,’ it might, through the concentration
of Christian effort upon it, become the Bright Spot on the Mersey; and
that, as it had been a by-word because of prevailing evil, it might
become an example of good among cities, and a praise in the land.” His
whole soul was poured into that prayer.
Such entries as the following are scattered through the diary of 1875:--
“_May 30, Sunday._ Entreaty that honey may be eaten out of the slain
lion of disobedience and unbelief. Prayer for state of mind such that
God can use me to speak in Council on 2d June.”
“_May 31._ Went with ---- and ---- to visit public-houses in Williamson
Square and round Sailors’ Home. Inspector says that for twenty years
there has been no such interruption to drinking, as there has been since
Mr. Moody’s meetings began.”
“Prayer for wisdom on Tuesday at deputation to Home Office.”
“_June 18._ ---- ---- awaiting me in the office with tidings of his
fearful involvement with A. C---- and Co.... I wrote letter offering to
pay ultimately £---- to the deficit.”
“_June 20, Sunday._ Prayer that God would mercifully interfere in ---- ‘s
behalf” (the friend named above), “and in some way deliver him, to the
praise of His name.”
“_June 27, Sunday._ Entreaty for direction regarding ----’s affairs”
(the same friend). “Prayer for direction and help regarding Victoria
Hall.[K] Thanks for word of the Saviour, so realised to-day at
communion; heard His still kind whisper, ‘’Tis for _thee_.’”
“_July 4, Sunday._ Thanks for help to purchasing Victoria Hall. Prayer
for help to get money for Victoria Hall. Prayer for direction
regarding ---- ----’s whole concerns, personal and business.”
“_July 23._ Victoria Hall paid for.”
“_August 11, Sunday._ Thanks for funds for purchase of Victoria Hall;
for Convention and farewell address in Victoria Hall on the 3rd.”
“_November 7._ Prayer for help from God to prepare for meeting of
temperance friends, Magistrates, and others, at the Adelphi Hotel
to-morrow, for preparation of their hearts and mine from God Himself;
entreaty for His great blessing on the gathering. Prayer for help for Y.
M. C. A. affairs; for direction as to going to Liverpool for winter.”
“_November 21._ Prayer for God’s own Spirit to fill me, that I may be
able to write pamphlet,[L] entirely according to His will. O God, give
me facts and opinions, and power to express them.”
“_December 19._ Prayer for God’s Spirit that I may write the thoughts He
gives me, and these only. O God, for Thy help!”
“1877. _January 14._ Prayer that the heart of Mr. ----” (the opulent
owner of numerous licensed places), “may be turned to close
public-houses on Sundays; that God may guide and help meetings of Church
of England Temperance Society. Prayer for Mrs. Birt. Thanksgiving for
successful meetings of Council of Education, of Temperance Society, of
Cocoa-room opening. Prayer for blessing on words spoken at above
meetings. Prayer for help regarding Mersey Mission, Y. M. C. A.,
Apprentices’ Home.”
“1882. _Bucharest, May 29._ Fine and tasteful city; no squalor, no
appearance of poverty. What a contrast to our own!”
“_Bonn, June 4._ Dr. Christlieb told me of opportunity to buy
Presbyterian church, as Dr. Graham is retiring. Promised Dr. Christlieb
£100 toward the purchase.”