the Gipsies of this country, it may call forth the zeal of other nations
to improve their still more degraded condition on the Continent, where
more than half a million of them wander, ignorant as the heathens of all
that is necessary to salvation. Those of this country loudly call upon
us for instruction, which may easily be given them. Let all who have
either time, money, or ability, give a helping hand; and, above all,
assist by their unfeigned and earnest prayers. It may be very advisable
to pray publicly for them in places of worship, and at the family altar,
after visiting them in the highways and hedges. It might impress those
of them who attend, with a grateful sense of the gracious care of God,
and lead Christian congregations to think more of them, and to do more
for them. May the merciful God of heaven and of earth, hasten the happy
period, when the Gipsies of this, and of all other countries, shall
embrace, and love, and be obedient to the Gospel of the gracious
Redeemer!
CHAP. XIII. Further Account of encouraging interviews with Gipsies, and
interesting Correspondence.
The author laments that he has passed so many years of his life wholly
careless of the Gipsies of this country. Having travelled many times
through England, he has had frequent opportunities of seeing them. But,
till now, he looked on their conversion as a hopeless case, and nearly
wholly neglected them. He has already stated the manner his attention
was first roused to consider their condition and necessities more
particularly, and he reflects with pleasure on the kindness of Providence
in leading him to witness those events which called for sympathy towards
them; and on the mercy of God so apparent in blessing the labours of
himself and others in their behalf.
The late Rev. Legh Richmond felt a deep interest in the conversion of
this people. To awaken the sympathies and energies of his countrymen to
that subject, he composed the following hymn on their behalf.
THE GIPSIES' PETITION.
Oh! ye who have tasted of mercy and love,
And shared in the blessings of pardoning grace;
Let us the kind fruits of your tenderness prove,
And pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race
For long have we wandered, neglected and wild,
Esteemed by all people as wretched and base;
Nor once on our darkness has light ever smiled;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.
Like you, we have lost that pure gem, which, when lost,
Not the mines of Golconda {115} can ever replace;
To redeem it the blood of a Saviour it cost:
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.
Like us, you were wild in the sight of your God;
But he looked, and he loved, and he pitied your case;
The Redeemer has cleansed you in streams of his blood;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.
Ye, who have found mercy, that mercy display;
Ye sons of adoption, your origin trace;
And then sure you cannot your face turn away,
But will pity and pray for the poor Gipsy race;
That we may form part of that numerous throng,
Redeemed from destruction by infinite grace;
And mingle with you in the heavenly song;
Then pity, oh! pity the poor Gipsy race.
It has been the custom of the author to have a yearly meeting of the
Gipsies at his own house, which is then open to all their families.
Here, early in the year 1830, those who were in the lanes and on the
common near Southampton, met many of their kind and religious friends,
who are interested in their happiness. The morning was agreeably spent
in a religious service, conducted for their spiritual benefit; after
which some attention was paid to their temporal wants. Forty-eight of
them, all nearly related to each other, who were at that time assembled
in the neighbourhood to renew their family friendships, attended on this
occasion, and were much pleased with the services in which they engaged.
Different portions of the Scriptures were read and expounded to them,
after which they had a plain and familiar address. It was a pleasure to
meet these people at a throne of grace. After partaking of bread and
cheese and ale, during which they conducted themselves very properly, a
blanket was presented to the proprietor of each tent, a pair of stockings
to every individual, and a quantity of calico for changes for the
children. There were thirteen reformed Gipsies among them, who spent the
rest of the day in reading the Scriptures to their brethren at their own
houses.
These people expressed themselves very gratefully. One of the families,
of whom the mother could read, begged a bible. Some weeks after this
bible had been given, the family was visited in its tent, when this copy
of the Holy Scriptures was shewn to him, who observed many of the pages
doubled down to mark the passages with which the reader had been
impressed. The father of the family said--"I will never rest till I can
read that book through." This poor man now attends divine service
whenever he has an opportunity, although he strongly opposed, at one
time, the reading of the Scriptures in his tent.
A lady, who was present at this meeting, asked one of the reformed
Gipsies, how she had felt herself on that morning? She replied--"I never
was so happy;" and, after a short silence, continued--"The dinner we had
last year, was much better than that we had to-day, as it was roast beef
and plum-pudding; but what I heard then, of the minister's address, was
only the word of man to me; but to-day, it has been the word of God; I am
sure it has."
Although it may be feared, that to many Gipsies then present, the reading
of the Scriptures, and the familiar address, were only as _the words of
man_, yet is there reason to hope they understood it, and that they will
benefit thereby.
This woman had an only surviving brother who was killed in fighting, and
whose death was instantaneous. She was exceedingly distressed, and
observed, in reference to this awful circumstance, "I should not have
thought of his soul after death, at one time; but now I can read my
Testament, I am sure that none can go to heaven but those who are born
again." And she made an observation, too, of the utmost importance,
shewing the great necessity there is for the Gipsies to be taught to
read. _My being able to read myself_, said she, _has a great deal more
effect upon me_, _than it would if another read it to me_, _and I could
not read_; _for now_ I AM SURE IT IS IN THE BOOK. She carries her
Testament in her pocket when she goes a journey, and reads it to her
former companions, when she meets them on the road; and if they express
any wonder at the change that has taken place, she refers them to the
Scriptures as the cause, and her kind friends at Southampton, as the
instruments.
The following circumstance lately occurred, and will shew the improvement
that has taken place in her daughters. One of them had been sent by her
mother to receive the weekly sum allowed her. On receiving the money,
she said, "This is twopence too much, sir." Being accustomed now and
then to give her a few pence towards buying a Testament, she was told to
keep it for that purpose. "I thank you," said she, "I have got a
Testament, now, and mother has given her's to my next sister, since she
has had a bible; and my youngest sister had a Testament given her at the
Sunday School: but one of us is saving money to buy a hymn-book with; I
will give _her_ the twopence."
This incident, trifling as it may seem to some, will not fail to gratify
others, whose hearts are anxiously desirous of improving the Gipsies.
In the autumn of 1830, the author felt a strong desire to visit Farnham,
where were, at that time, thousands of poor people assembled to pick
hops, among whom were many Gipsies. Stanley was sent a few days before
to make known his intentions of preaching to them on the evening of a
fixed day. While at Farnham, Stanley ate, drank, and slept in some of
their camps, by which he gained their confidence and affection.
During the author's stay he accompanied Stanley to various
hop-plantations, where great numbers of the most wretched part of the
community are employed in the hopping season. Great numbers of tracts
were distributed among them, while the author entered into many free and
familiar conversations with them. Many were found very much depraved;
but none were more depraved among the Gipsies, than many of the other
class; for they were blasphemers of God and his religion. One man, like
many of old, stirred up the people to reject and despise the truth. He
said, "No one would get any thing by praying to God;" and, "if people
wanted bread on a Sunday, it would be better for them to steal a mess of
potatoes, and wood to cook them with, than go to church." Some of the
poor shuddered at his boldness, and contempt of God's law. With much
impudence he declared, "that he knew a man who put his dough into the
oven on a Sunday without heating it, and then went to church to pray that
God would bake it for him; but that the fool was disappointed." The
minister said to him--"You know that you have told a wilful lie. You
never knew such a man. There is not one of these little children will
believe you." He appeared confounded at this unexpected rebuke. May
this sinner repent and be saved!
Among the hop-pickers of Farnham were many Gipsies the visitors had long
known; and their smiling faces spoke the gladness of their hearts and the
warmth of their gratitude, when they were noticed by their friends
affectionately and kindly; nor had they forgotten the favours that had
been shewn them at Southampton.
Those of the Gipsies who were not acquainted with the object the author
had in view, in paying them a visit, were much alarmed when enquiries
were made for the Gipsies in the hop-grounds; supposing they were pursued
by the magistrates. One youth told Stanley, that he knew not whether to
run, or stay where he was; but recollecting to have been _in no spray
lately_, he resolved on staying. When Stanley spoke to him in his own
language, and introduced the minister, all his fears vanished. The
Gipsies were astonished that any one should travel forty miles to see
them.
Their public meeting was after the labours of the day, near one of the
hop-grounds, about half an hour after sun-set. A few small candles gave
light to a small tenement, used as a lodging place for the hop-gatherers,
where the congregation was accommodated. A few of the inhabitants of
Farnham, and some of the female Gipsies, who were much delighted to
mingle with them in the worship of God, were put inside, and the men,
with such women and children as could not get in, stood outside, the
place being very much too small for so great a number of people. The
preacher stood on the threshold of the door and addressed the people, of
whom those without could only be seen now and then, as an adjacent wood
fire cast at intervals upon them an intermitting light. The Rev. Mr
Johnson kindly attended, and assisted in the devotional part of the
service; and some of his congregation obligingly assisted in the singing.
On this occasion the Gospel of Christ was addressed to many who had never
before heard an exposition of the blessed word of God. The sermon was
from Psalm lxxxvi. 5. After service the Gipsies were exhorted to seek
for opportunities of attending the house of God; to beg of some minister
a bible for every tent; and to ask every one who may come near them to
read certain of its pages to them.
During the address, many of _their crimes_ were enlarged upon, and their
dread of, and liability to punishment for them in this world; and they
were urged to call on the God of all compassion and mercy, for help and
for forgiveness, by that all-powerful motive, that he will never be
inattentive to the prayers of the most helpless, wretched, and guilty
sinner, when presented to God by faith in our only mediator, Jesus
Christ.
Stanley, who, after the service, accompanied the Gipsies to their tents,
found that the sermon afforded conversation for the whole evening. One
of them said, "The minister has told us every thing, as though he had
lived with us." Another observed, "If it be all true what the gentleman
has said, not a Gipsy can be saved." A third exhorted his children
"never to say bad words again." The little creature replied--"Then I
hope my _grandfer_ (grandfather) will never swear any more." Many of
them talked of the evils of fortune-telling, and some resolved on going
to Southampton, to see the reformed Gipsies.
During the stay of the minister in that neighbourhood, eighty of them
were visited, among whom was a dying woman, who very gladly received
instruction, and heard prayer. A minister, in the neighbourhood, had
been asked to visit her, but had neglected to do so.
The author must not forget to acknowledge the kindness of the farmers who
assisted him in the distribution of tracts, &c. &c., and who solicited
that some might be left them for that purpose.
This visit afforded an opportunity to contradict many false reports of
the treatment with which the Gipsy children had met in the Infants'
Schools at Southampton. It was said that they were all confined, and
would at a future period be transported. This shews how easily people
who deceive others, are imposed on themselves.
The following letter was addressed to the author by a Gipsy woman when
she was in great trouble of mind. It is presented to the reader just as
it was received, and may be found interesting to the friends of their
cause.
"Sir,
"I Hope you will Excuse Me for Riun These few Lines too you, I did
Not Now where To Cend to My Sister, I Have Been very Il and my
Familee. My Children Ave Had The Measils, They are Got Well from
That. I am Sorry to hinform you I Have Had A Shockin Accedent To my
Little Girl, She was Burnd to Death. I Give My Luv To My Son Job.
Plese to Give My Luv to My Sister Paishince, and Hur Childern. Plese
to Give My Luv To My Ant Pheny, and Plese to Lett Me Now How My Cuzin
James doos Go on, Plese to Lett Me Now How My Unkil Charls and His
Famly Is. Wm Duff Gives His Best Rispecs To All. Plese To Tel My
Sister too Anser This Letter By Returne of Post. I Am So unappy in
My Mind Till I Do Hear From Er. Dear Sister, I Have Mett With so
Much Trubel Sinc I Saw you Last, That I Am Sorre To inform you.
Plese to Tel my Child from Me To Bee A Good Boy, and Think Imself Wel
off Wher He Is. My Distris and My Trubel Makes Me Think More of My
Sister. Ples To Direct the Letter To Be Left At The Post Offis, for
Haryett Duff, Till Caulld for, in Bristil. Plese To Give My Luv To
My Son Job. So No More At Prezint from your Umble Sarvint. Plese
God I Am Coming To See You Some time This Munth.
"My Littel Girl Met The Accedent Wednesday, April 23, 1828."
The following letter, too, refers to the writer of the above.
_Bristol_, _August_, 1830.
"My dear Sir,
"As I know that you are deeply interested in every circumstance
relating to the Gipsies, I trouble you with the following anecdote.
In the month of January last, when walking in the city of Bristol, I
met a Gipsy woman, who accosted me with the usual salutation of her
race, "Shall I tell you your fortune?" I enquired her name, and then
said, "You well know that you are not able to tell me my fortune; and
I am sorry to see you carrying on such deception." I then
endeavoured to speak to her about the importance of considering her
eternal welfare, and of seeking the salvation which is in Christ
Jesus; at the same time pointing out the certain condemnation she was
bringing upon herself, by willingly following the _multitude to do
evil_, even carrying _a lie in her right hand_. She urged that her
trade (which she acknowledged to be built on deceit and falsehood)
was her only support; and that she must starve if she followed my
advice. I reminded her that she would be like Dives, if she gained
the whole world and lost her own soul; but that were she indeed to
honour God, by giving up her wicked trade, because she knew that it
was displeasing to him, he would never suffer her to want any good
thing. After much more conversation, she assured me that she would
never tell fortunes again, and would discontinue her evil habits of
life. I told her that I could not allow her to make to me any
promise of the kind; for she did not know her wickedness, nor the
power which could alone prevent her from committing sin. I again
besought her to avail herself of the means of instruction within her
power.
Before leaving the city, I commended her to the care of some pious
friends, who were interested in my account of her, and who kindly
promised not to lose sight of her. Since that time I have received
very pleasing accounts from them respecting her. They have purchased
materials in order that she may be able to support herself by
basket-making, which she has begun; and I trust she has relinquished
her former trade. She is making progress in reading, and constantly
attends the preaching of the Gospel. I hope also that she is really
in earnest for the welfare of her soul. I earnestly wish that every
one would take an interest in the same; and I should be much rejoiced
if the circumstance which I have just mentioned, should be the means
of encouraging any one to notice those Gipsies with whom they may
occasionally meet, and to exert themselves in saving them from their
present degraded condition.
"I am, my dear Sir,
"Yours respectfully,
* * * * *
_Wm. Stanley's Letter to the Author_.
"Hon. Sir,
"As you wish me to give you some account of the Gipsies, I gladly
comply with your request. I am a poor individual of that wandering
race, called Gipsies; yet, by the mercies of God, I was _rescued_
from that wandering life. In my _youthful days_ I entered into the
Wiltshire militia, when it pleased God to bring me under the
preaching of the Gospel at Exeter; and it was the means of awakening
my conscience. _From that time I have often been led to bepity the
sad state of the people whereof I made a part_. I have given them
the best instruction that lay in my power, and by reading the
Scriptures to them; but with very little visible effect for many
years. Neither did I think, till lately, that there were any of them
in the world, that cared for their souls, till the year 1827; when I
was quite _overcome with love to God_, _to find that the Lord had put
it into the hearts of his dear people at Southampton_, _to pity them
in their forlorn condition_; and now wonder not if I am at a loss for
words to speak the feeling of my heart; for, since that time I have
seen _seventeen or eighteen_; _nay_, _from twenty to thirty_; _nay_,
_from forty to fifty attend divine worship_; and _add_ to this the
many happy hours I have spent with them in their tents near
Southampton, in reading and praying with them; and some of them that
six months ago would not stay in their camp on my approach to them,
but would go away swearing, will now receive me gladly, and produce a
Bible or a Testament, which _had_ been given to them, and desire me
to read it to them, saying, this book was given to me by our dear
friends in Southampton. But, _dreadful to relate_, I find some
children, _from three years old to fifteen_, who never _said a prayer
to their God_; who never heard any one pray, and who _was_ never in a
church or chapel, nor have heard of the name of Christ, but in
blaspheming; and these are the inhabitants of England! Oh, England!
England! they are living and dying without God: no wonder if they
draw down the divine vengeance of Heaven on the land!
"Many of these poor _ignorant mortals_ do not know that they are
doing wrong by fortune-telling; and being informed that it is
displeasing to God, and ruinous to their own souls, they will say, it
is _of no service for me to give attendance to religion_, for I am
forced to ruin my soul for every morsel of bread I eat; but if God
spares my life I will leave it off as soon as I can; while others who
are both ignorant and hardened in their crimes, have told me it was
the gift of God to them, by which they were to gain their living.
Surely they call _darkness light_! Many of my people who join in
talk with me, declare, that if the Bible which I read to them be
true, there cannot be many saved. But they say that a reformation is
needful, and this is promised by them; and I am in great hopes that
the time is at hand. Oh, Lord! work for thine own glory, and stir up
the minds of thy people in all parts of the land, that they may help
forward this good work amongst these poor wanderers!
"Their ignorance and their crimes seem to have increased of late
years. When I was a boy, I well recollect their parting expressions,
which _was_ so common amongst them--_Artmee Devillesty_, which
is--_God bless you_. But now it is _truly awful_; it is _darkness
itself_, _for they now ask God to send them good luck_ in their
crimes. I _myself_ thought for many years, _till __I heard the
Gospel_, _that God was like some great gentleman_, _living at a great
distance from us_; but I had not a thought that he was every where
present to notice the conduct of his creatures, or to hear prayer.
The ignorance of _my people_ is a loud call to Christians to assist;
and, blessed be God, they find that assistance in Southampton. The
Bible has often been taken away from Southampton in the Gipsies'
pack, and I have seen it when they have returned, preserved with a
great deal of care, and produced for me to read, with great delight
on their part.
"Surely this blessed book will not be idle, but will do _wonders_
amongst them, _through God's grace_. I see the effects already; do
you say, how? I answer, _Was it ever known_, _till now_, that
Gipsies assembled on the sabbath day on the common and in the lanes
for divine worship? Did you ever see them come to town on a sabbath
day in such great numbers as they now do, when encamping near
Southampton? Some of the most ignorant of them are now learning to
read the Scriptures. This is the beginning of good days. Oh! the
good this will do to _my people at large_! Nothing of importance
took place in their camp all last summer, _and I almost fainted under
the discouragement_; but of late _it shows another face_; and I make
no doubt but it will spread, and I shall soon see greater things than
these.
I am, hon. Sir,
Your most obliged and humble Servant,
WILLIAM STANLEY."
"P. S.--On examining the different _branches of my family_, I find
upwards of 200 of us in different parts of England."
This poor man, when a soldier, and in the habit of attending divine
service, as a part of his duty, often heard his comrades speak of the
text, on their return to the barracks. He one day made up his mind to
bring home the text also, the next time he went to church. He heard with
attention, and when he returned to the barracks, he said, "I've got the
text now." "What is it, Stanley?" he was asked by a comrade, when he
answered, "The 19th day of the month, and the 95th Psalm." When relating
this to the author, he added, "I had the mortification to be laughed at
by all my comrades who witnessed my ignorance." Do not many professing
Christians come away from the house of God as ignorant as this poor
Gipsy? Or if they have been taught to know and remember the text, it is
all they attend to. This man's mind did not long remain in this dark
state. After the above event he learned to read, and one day, taking up
a Testament from the barracks' table, he read a portion of it, (for so he
expressed himself) _The sublimity of the language struck his mind with
astonishment_, and he said, _I will buy that book if I can_. His comrade
asked him three halfpence for it; and he was glad of his purchase;
although the Testament was very much torn. The Holy Scriptures were
scarce in those days, a copy of which could seldom be bought by the poor;
nor, indeed, would the word of life have been useful to them, as not one
in a hundred could read.
Soon after this, he was invited to attend a Wesleyan chapel in Exeter,
where a funeral sermon was to be preached by the Rev. Wm. Aver. The text
was, _Let me die the death of the righteous_, _and let my last end be
like his_. While the minister was describing the happiness of the
righteous, divine light shone upon his soul, he felt that _he_ was not
that character, and that there was no prospect of his dying happily,
unless he possessed it. This sermon was the means of his conversion.
CHAP. XIV. Interesting particulars of the Gipsies, related by a
Clergyman.
The following account is selected from a tract published in York, in
1822, detailing several interesting visits that a Yorkshire clergyman
made to some of the camps of that wandering and neglected people. Were
the author of the little book known, application would have been made to
him, for permission to reprint these extracts. But it is hoped he will
excuse the liberty taken, as the design is to _induce other clergymen and
ministers to go and do likewise_. This clergyman, having fallen in with
a gang of Gipsies on the road, who were travelling to their place of
encampment, addressed a young female among them, and found her not
ignorant of religion. "How," said the clergyman, "did you obtain the
knowledge of religion?" "Sir," answered she, "in the depth of winter,
the men folks only travel; the women and children belonging to my family
and party, always live in the town. In those seasons I have gone with
some of our relatives, who live there, and are religious people, to the
worship of God: in that way I have learned these things."