FAREWELL SCENES.
ON returning to Scotland, every day was crowded with engagements for the
weeks that remained, and almost every mail brought me contributions from
all conceivable corners of the land. My heart was set upon taking out
two or three Missionaries with me to claim more and still more of the
Islands for Christ; and with that view I had addressed Divinity Students
at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. Again and again, by conversation
and correspondence, consecrated young men were just on the point of
volunteering; but again and again the larger and better known fields of
labor turned the scale, and they finally decided for China or Africa or
India. Deeply disappointed at this, and thinking that God directed us to
look to our own Australia alone for Missionaries for the New Hebrides, I
resolved to return, and took steps towards securing a passage by the
Orient Line to Melbourne. But just then two able and devoted students,
Messrs. Morton and Leggatt, offered themselves as Missionaries for our
Islands; and shortly thereafter a third, Mr. Landells, also an excellent
man; and all, being on the eve of their License as preachers, were
approved of, accepted, and set to special preparations for the Mission
field, particularly in acquiring practical medical knowledge.
On this turn of affairs I managed to have my passage delayed for six
weeks, and resolved to cast myself on the Lord that He might enable me
in that time to raise at least £500, in order to furnish the necessary
outfit and equipment for three new Mission Stations, and to pay the
passage money of the Missionaries and their wives, that there might be
no difficulty on this score amongst the Foreign Mission Committees on
the other side. And then the idea came forcibly, and for a little
unmanned me, that it was wrong in me to speak of these limits as to time
and money in my prayers to God. But I reflected, again, how it was for
the Lord's own glory alone in the salvation of the Heathen, and for no
personal aims of mine; and so I fell back on His promise, "Whatsoever ye
shall ask in My Name," and believingly asked it in His Name, and for His
praise and service alone. I think it due to my Lord, and for the
encouragement of all His servants, that I should briefly outline what
occurred in answer to these prayers.
Having gone to the center of one of the great shipbuilding districts of
Scotland, and held a series of meetings, and raised a sum of about £55
only after nine services and many Sabbath School collecting cards, my
heart was beginning to sink, as I did not think my health would stand
another six weeks of incessant strain; when, at the close of my last
meeting in a Free Church, an Elder and his wife entered the vestry and
said, "We are deeply interested in you and in all your work and plans.
You say that you have asked £500 more. We gave you the first £100 at the
Dundee Conference; and it is a joy to us to give you this £100 too,
towards the making up of your final sum. We pray that you may speedily
realize your wish, and that God's richest blessing may ever rest upon
your head."
Another week passed by, and at the close of it a lady called upon me,
and, after delightful conversation about the Mission, said, "How near
are you to the sum required?" I explained to her what is recorded above,
and she continued, "I gave you one little piece of paper at the
beginning of your efforts. I have prayed for you every day since. God
has prospered me, and this is one of the happiest moments of my life,
when I am now able to give you another little bit of paper."
So saying, she put into my hand £100. I protested, "You are surely too
generous. Can you afford a second £100?"
She replied to this effect, and very joyfully, as one who had genuine
gladness in the deed, "My Lord has been very kind to me, in my business.
My wants are simple, and are safe in His hands. I wait not till death
forces me, but give back whatever I am able to the Lord now, and hope to
live to see much blessing thereby through you in the conversion of the
Heathen."
My last week had come, and I was in the midst of preparations for
departure, when amongst the letters delivered to me was one to this
effect:
"Restitution money which never now can be returned to its owner. Since
my Conversion I have labored hard to save it. I now make my only
possible amends by returning it to God through you. Pray for me and
mine, and may God bless you in your work!" I rather startled my brother
and his wife at our breakfast table by shouting out in unwontedly
excited tones,--"Hallelujah! The Lord has done it! Hallelujah!" But my
tones softened down into intense reverence, and my words broke at last
into tears, when I found that this, the second largest subscription ever
received by me (£1000, by one friend, have since been given to the "John
G. Paton Mission Fund"), came from a converted tradesman who had
consecrated his all to the Lord Jesus, and whose whole leisure was now
centered upon seeking to bless and save those of his own rank and class,
amongst whom he had spent his early and unconverted days. Jesus said
unto him, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the
Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
Bidding farewell to dear old Glasgow, so closely intertwined with all my
earlier and later experiences, I started for London, accompanied by my
brother James. We were sitting at breakfast at Mrs. Mathieson's table,
Mildmay, when a telegram was put into my hands announcing a
"thank-offering" from Lord and Lady Polwarth, received since our
departure from Glasgow. The Lord had now literally exceeded my prayers.
With other gifts, repeated again by friends at Mildmay, the special fund
for outfit and traveling expenses for new Missionaries had risen above
the £500, and now approached £650.
In a Farewell Meeting at Mildmay the Lord's servants, being assembled in
great numbers from all quarters of London, dedicated me and my work very
solemnly to God, amid songs of praise and many prayers and touching
"last words." And when at length Mr. Mathieson, intimating that I must
go, as another company of Christian workers were elsewhere waiting also
to say Good-by, suggested that the whole audience should stand up, and,
instead of hand-shaking, quietly breathe their benedictory Farewell as I
passed from the platform down through their great Hall, a perfect flood
of emotion overwhelmed me. I never felt a humbler man, nor more anxious
to hide my head in the dust, than when all these noble, gifted, and
beloved followers of Jesus Christ, and consecrated workers in His
service, stood up and with one heart said, "God speed" and "God bless
you," as I passed on through the Hall. To one who had striven and
suffered less, or who less appreciated how little we can do for others
compared with what Jesus had done for us, this scene might have
ministered to spiritual pride; but long ere I reached the door of that
Hall, my soul was already prostrated at the feet of my Lord in sorrow
and in shame that I had done so little for Him, and I bowed my head and
could have gladly bowed my knees to cry, "Not unto us; Lord, not unto
us!"