FIRST PEEP AT THE "DAYSPRING."
WE embarked at Liverpool for Australia in _The Crest o' the Wave_,
Captain Ellis; and, after what was then considered a fast passage of
ninety-five days, we landed at Sydney on 17th January, 1865. Within an
hour we had to grapple with a new and amazing perplexity. The Captain of
our _Dayspring_ came to inform me that his ship had arrived three days
ago and now lay in the stream,--that she had been to the Islands, and
had settled the Gordons, M'Cullaghs, and Morrisons on their several
stations,--that she had left Halifax in Nova Scotia fourteen months ago,
and that now, on arriving at Sydney, he could not get one penny of
money, and that the crew were clamoring for their pay, etc. etc. He
continued, "Where shall I get money for current expenses? No one will
lend unless we mortgage the _Dayspring_. I fear there is nothing before
us but to sell her!" I gave him £50 of my own to meet clamant demands,
and besought him to secure me a day or two of delay that something might
be done.
Having landed, and been heartily welcomed by dear Dr. and Mrs. Moon and
other friends, I went with a kind of trembling joy to have my first look
at the _Dayspring_, like a sailor getting a first peep at the child born
to him whilst far away on the sea. Some of the irritated ship's company
stopped us by the way, and threatened prosecution and all sorts of
annoyance. I could only urge again for a few days' patience. I found her
to be a beautiful two-masted Brigantine, with a deck-house (added when
she first arrived at Melbourne), and every way suitable for our
necessities,--a thing of beauty, a white-winged Angel set a-floating by
the pennies of the children to bear the Gospel to these sin-darkened but
sun-lit Southern Isles. To me she became a sort of living thing, the
impersonation of a living and throbbing love in the heart of thousands
of "shareholders"; and I said, with a deep, indestructible faith,--"The
Lord has provided--the Lord will provide."
Since she sailed, £1400 had been expended; for present liabilities at
least £700 more were instantly required: and, at any rate, as large a
sum to pay her way and meet expenses of next trip to the Islands. Having
laid our perplexing circumstances before our dear Lord Jesus, having
"spread out" all the details in His sympathetic presence, pleading that
the Ship itself and the new Missionaries were all His own, not mine, I
told Him that this money was needed to do His own blessed work.
On Friday morning, I consulted friends of the Mission, but no help was
visible. I tried to borrow, but found that the lender demanded 20 per
cent for interest, besides the title-deeds of the ship for security. I
applied for a loan from the agent of the London Missionary Society (then
agent for us too) on the credit of the Reformed Presbyterian Church's
Foreign Committee, but he could not give it without a written order from
Scotland. There were some who seemed rather to enjoy our perplexity!
Driven thus to the wall, I advertised for a meeting of Ministers and
other friends, next morning at eleven o'clock, to receive my report and
to consult _re_ the _Dayspring_. I related my journeyings since leaving
them and the results, and then asked for advice about the ship.
"Sell her," said some, "and have done with it."--"What," said others,
"have the Sabbath Schools given you the _Dayspring_ and can you not
support her yourselves?"
I pointed out to them that the salary of each Missionary was then only
£120 per annum, that they gave their lives for the Heathen, and that
surely the Colonial Christians would undertake the up-keep of the ship,
which was necessary to the very existence of the Mission. I appealed to
them that, as my own Church in Scotland had now one Missionary abroad
for every six Ministers at home, and the small Presbyterian Church of
Nova Scotia had actually three Missionaries now on our Islands, it would
be a blessed privilege for the Australian Churches and Sabbath Schools
to keep the _Dayspring_ afloat, without whose services the Missionaries
could not live nor the Islanders be evangelized.
Being Saturday, the morning Services for Sabbath were all arranged for,
or advertised; but Dr. M'Gibbon offered me a meeting for the evening,
and Dr. Steel an afternoon Service at three o'clock, combined with his
Sabbath School. Rev. Mr. Patterson of Piermont, offered me a Morning
Service; but, as his was only a Mission Church, he could not give me a
collection. These openings I accepted, as from the Lord, however much
they fell short of what I desired.
At the Morning Service I informed the congregation how we were situated,
and expressed the hope that under God and their devoted pastor they
would greatly prosper, and would yet be able to help in supporting our
Mission to their South Sea neighbors. Returning to the vestry, a lady
and gentleman waited to be introduced to me. They were from Launceston,
Tasmania.
"I am," said he, "Captain and owner of that vessel lying at anchor
opposite the _Dayspring_. My wife and I, being too late to get on shore
to attend any Church in the city, heard this little Chapel bell ringing,
and followed, when we saw you going up the hill. We have so enjoyed the
Service. We do heartily sympathize with you. This check for £50 will be
a beginning to help you out of your difficulties."
The reader knows how warmly I would thank them; and how in my own heart
I knew _Who_ it was that made them arrive too late for _their_ plans,
but not for _His_, and led them up that hill, and opened their hearts.
Jehovah-Jireh?
At three o'clock, Dr. Steel's Church was filled with children and
others. I told them in my appeal what had happened in the Mission
Chapel, and how God had led Captain Frith and his wife, entire
strangers, to sound the first note of our deliverance. One man stood up
and said, "I will give £10." Another, "I will give £5." A third, "I
shall send you £20 to-morrow morning." Several others followed their
example, and the general collection was greatly encouraging.
In the evening I had a very large as well as sympathetic congregation. I
fully explained the difficulty about the _Dayspring_, and told them what
God had already done for us, announcing an address to which
contributions might be sent. Almost every mail brought me the free-will
offerings of God's people; and on Wednesday, when the adjourned meeting
was held, the sum had reached in all £456. Believing that the Lord thus
intervened at a vital crisis in our Mission, I dwell on it to the praise
of His blessed Name. Trust in Him, obey Him, and He will not suffer you
to be put to shame.
Clearing out from her sister ships, then in harbor, the _John Williams_
and the _John Wesley_, our little _Dayspring_ sailed for Tasmania. At
Hobart we were visited by thousands of children and parents, and
afterwards at Launceston, who were proud to see their own Ship, in which
they were "shareholders" for Jesus. Daily, all over the Colony, I
preached in churches, and addressed public meetings, and got
collections, and gave out Collection Cards to be returned within two
weeks.
We received many tokens of interest and sympathy. The steam tug was
granted to us free, and the harbor dues were remitted. Many presents
were also sent on board the _Dayspring_. Still, after meeting all
necessary outlays, the trip to Tasmania gave us only £227: 8: 11 clear
for the Mission fund.
Sailing now for South Australia, we arrived at Adelaide. Many friends
there showed the deepest interest in our plans. Thousands of children
and parents came to visit their own Mission Ship by several special
trips. Daily and nightly I addressed meetings, and God's people were
moved greatly in the cause. After meeting ail expenses while in port,
there remained a sum of £634: 9: 2 for the up-keep of the vessel. The
Honorable George Fife Angus gave me £241--a dear friend belonging to the
Baptist Church. But there was still a deficit of £400 before the
_Dayspring_ could sail free of debt, and my heart was sore as I cried
for it to the Lord.
Leaving the ship to sail direct for Sydney, I took steamer to Melbourne;
but, on arriving there, sickness and anxiety laid me aside for three
days. Under great weakness, I crept along to my dear friends at the
Scotch College, Dr. and Mrs. Morrison, and Miss Fraser, and threw myself
on their advice.
"Come along," said the Doctor cheerily, "and I'll introduce you to Mr.
Butchart and one or two friends in East Melbourne, and we'll see what
what can be done!"
I gave all information, being led on in conversation by the Doctor, and
tried to interest them in our work, but no subscriptions were asked or
received. Ere I sailed for Sydney however, the whole deficiency was sent
to me. I received in all, on this tour, the sum of £1726: 9: 10. Our
_Dayspring_ once more sailed free, and our hearts overflowed with
gratitude to the Lord and to His stewards!