the word giveth light_; _it giveth __understanding to the simple_. After
giving her some suitable advice, and with it his benediction, he left
her; but not without hopeful expectations that the seeds of grace were
sown in her heart.
"He next overtook the grandmother and several of her grandchildren. She
was pleased at his noticing her, and answered his enquiries with modesty
and propriety. She corroborated what her daughter had said, and in her
answers discovered not only an acquaintance with the general truths of
the Gospel, but a feeling sense of their importance. She said, 'I love
to go to church, and do go _now_, sir, when I can; but do not always meet
with the right doctrines: my prayers I offer up night and morning, under
the hedge. I hope God Almighty hears my prayers.' The clergyman
observed, that sincere prayer was acceptable to God any where, equally
under the hedge, as in the parlour, or in the church. When arrived at
their camp, he promised them a Bible, as they had none, and directed some
of the party to call at the friend's house in the neighbourhood where he
was staying. Soon after his return thither, a knock was heard at the
door, when it was announced, 'Two Gipsies, sir, are come for a Bible.'
On going out, he found in the hall the young man who could read, and a
younger brother, a fine boy of about fourteen years of age." The
gentleman who wrote the account, adds as follows:--
"Their countenances were very animated and expressive; there seemed to be
a ray of heavenly brightness resting upon them; and while I gave them a
charge how to read the sacred gift, they were much affected: the boy, in
particular, listened with eager attention, fixing his eyes first on me,
then on the Bible. After I had inscribed their names in the title-page,
they departed with my blessing; and what is better--with the blessing of
God."
At another part of the year, this clergyman returned to the same spot
where he had before been so delightfully engaged in attempting to benefit
the poor Gipsies. He found out another camp, and thus writes of them.
"On my approach to the camp (where was a group of nearly naked children,)
the Gipsy girls rose up, and, in a modest and respectful manner, answered
my questions; while the little swarthy group of children gathered around
me. To one of these girls I said, 'How is it that you bear such a
wandering and exposed life?' In reply, she said, 'Sir, it is _use_;
_use_ is second nature.' 'But have you any religion? Do you think about
God, about judgment, and eternity? Do you know how to pray?' She
answered, 'I say my prayers, sir, night and morning.' I then said, 'can
any of your people read?' 'Yes, sir,' she replied, 'one of our men that
is not here, can read very well.' 'Have you a Bible among you?' 'No,
sir; we should be thankful for one, sir.'"
On leaving the camp, the clergyman promised to call on them again, when
the other part of the family should be returned from the town, where they
were gone to vend their wares.
"On my return to the encampment," says he, "I was met by two men who came
out to greet me. I asked them kindly of their names. They informed me
it was Bosvill. The women and children were now collected around me. I
inquired who among them could read. Captain Bosvill, for so I called
him, answered me, 'My wife, sir, can read any thing in English.' I was
glad to hear this, and asked them if they had any books. Bosvill went to
a package and brought forth his stock, fragments of an old Testament, and
an old spelling-book. 'And what use do you make of your spelling book?'
asked I. 'My wife,' replied Bosvill, 'when she has time, teaches the
children their letters.' I now shewed them the Bible I had in my pocket,
saying, that as it was so holy and blessed a book, it ought not to be
given in an indifferent and common manner; and asked, if I were to ride
over in the evening to give it them, and to explain to them its use,
whether they would be all together to hear me. 'Yes, yes;' was the
reply, from many voices. I appointed seven o'clock for the purpose. I
then distributed amongst them some tracts, containing passages for every
day in the week, and also the tract of Short Sermons; for which they were
very thankful. I told them that I intended to give them a Bible in the
evening, a book which few of them had ever seen, and which fewer
understood. I was pleased with the modesty of their deportment, and with
their eagerness for instruction. Surely they are a people whose hearts
the Lord has prepared for the reception of his word.
"At the hour appointed, I put the Bible in my pocket, and rode again to
the camp. The evening was particularly fine: the sun, hidden behind some
thick fleecy clouds, had thrown around a mild and pleasing tint; the
birds were every where singing their evening song; the ploughman was
'whistling o'er the lea;' and nature, after the labours of the day, was
preparing for her wonted rest. It was a fit time for meditation, prayer,
and praise. Such an evening, perhaps, as that which led the patriarch of
old to meditation, when he lifted up his eyes and saw the returning
servants of his father bringing home his future wife. As I drew near to
the camp, I began to revolve in my mind the best way of making them
acquainted with the importance of the most essential doctrines contained
in the holy book I was about to give them. On my arrival, I found that I
had been long expected. The men, however, were not there; they were gone
to water a horse, which they had lent all the day to a farmer; but a
tawny girl ran with great speed, barefooted, and brought them to the
camp. I now dismounted, and gave my horse, with my stick, to the care of
one of the men. The family circle was formed into an irregular circle
round some pale embers, some of them sitting cross-legged on the grass,
and others standing. I placed myself so as to have the women and
children chiefly before me. The woman who could read, was seated
opposite me: the men, the tents, and the package to the right; while the
horses and asses belonging to the tribe, were quietly grazing at a short
distance in the lane. All was solemn stillness; all was attentive
expectation. As I took from my pocket the Bible, the eyes of the whole
company were instantly fixed upon it. This book, said I, which I bring
you, is the book of God; it is sent from heaven to make poor miserable
and dying man happy. I then spoke a short time on God; on creation; how
God created man upright; how he was once happy in paradise; the way in
which he sinned, and broke the law of his Maker, and became guilty,
polluted, and exposed to death and hell; that to save men from this
dreadful state, God devised a plan of mercy; that he sent his Son, and
the Scriptures of truth, which shew unto us the way of salvation. This
was something of the outline of my lecture; but I added the
responsibility of men to read the book, and to seek to understand it. I
solemnly charged them, by the sacred book itself, and by the account
which they, at the day of judgment, must give to God for it, to make the
most sacred and constant use of it, by reading it together daily in their
camp. In the course of my discourse, I stopped, and said,--'Now do you
understand what I say?' Captain Bosvill's wife replied, 'We understand
you, sir; but we have not the same words which you have.' In conclusion,
I spoke of the coming judgment, when they and all men must stand and be
judged at the righteous bar of God. The Bible was then delivered to the
care of the captain of the gang, and of his wife, the woman who could
read.
"Now, I said, let us all kneel down on the grass, and pray for God's
blessing with this holy book. Instantly a female brought from her tent a
small piece of carpet, and spread it before me on the grass, for me to
kneel upon; and then all kneeling down, I prayed that the minds of these
miserable outcasts of society might be enlightened, to discover the
exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the blessedness and efficiency of the
Saviour; that the sacred book given them through the influence of the
Holy Ghost, might lead them into the way of righteousness, and finally
guide them to everlasting life. When we rose from our knees, gratitude
was seen in every countenance, and expressed by every tongue. '_God
bless you_, _sir_; _thank you_, _sir_;' echoed throughout the camp."
The next evening this clergyman went again to the camp, when one of the
Gipsies came to meet him, and informed him of the arrival of some of
their relatives. "I shook hands with them," says the clergyman, "and
asked of their welfare. Never was a king received with a more hearty
welcome, or with greater attention and respect.
"As I was expected, the utmost order, cleanliness, and quiet, prevailed
throughout the camp; and all were dressed in their best clothes to
receive me. The arrangement of my congregation was much the same as the
preceding evening. I spoke to them of the blessed Jesus; his birth, his
ministry, his death, passion, and grace; and his glory at his second
coming _in the clouds of heaven_, _to judge the world in righteousness_.
I spoke also of death, and of the immortality of the soul.
"I had not proceeded far in my lecture, before several farmers and
passengers, some on horse back, and others on foot, joined my
congregation.
"Before concluding my address, I said, 'It may seem singular to some of
you that a stranger should interest himself on your behalf in the way I
have done; and it might be expected that I should give some reasons for
doing as I have. My chief reason is a sense of duty. Gipsies have long
been neglected, and left to perish in their sins; but Gipsies have souls
equally precious as others, and of equal price in the sight of God. Who,
I asked, cares for the souls of Gipsies? who uses means for their
instruction in righteousness? Yet must it be equally our duty to care
for them, and to endeavour their conversion and happiness, as to plan
societies, obtain subscriptions, and send out missionaries to the
heathen.'
"I said, moreover, that, 'supposing, when I first saw your camp, I had
rode by you on the other side, and taken no notice of you, nor felt an
interest in your welfare; and after that, had met you at the bar of
judgment; what would have been the language with which you might have
addressed me at that awful period? Might you not have charged the misery
of your eternal condemnation upon me, and said, The curse we are doomed
to bear, thoughtless man, might, perchance, have been prevented by you?
You saw us when riding by our camp lying in ignorance, and unbelief: you
might have rode up to us, and imparted instruction to our perishing
souls; because to you were committed the oracles of God, and you knew the
way to heaven. But, no, _cruel man_, our state excited in you no
compassion, or desire for our salvation. In your conduct there was no
imitation of your Lord and Master. Go, cruel man, and if heaven you
enter, let your felicity be embittered by the recollection of neglect to
the Gipsy wanderers, whom Providence had placed in your way, that you
might direct them to God, but which you neglected.' In conclusion, I
again referred to the holy Bible, which I had given them; and again
repeated the way to use it. After which I said, Now we will conclude
with prayer, as we did last evening. Immediately the same female who
before brought the carpet, again spread it, with great civility, for me
to kneel upon; and again I offered up a solemn prayer for the salvation
of these lost and perishing mortals. The greatest seriousness and awe
rested upon the assembly. Surely the prayer was registered in heaven,
and shall, in time not far distant, be answered.--Come, and take these
heathens for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
thy possession.--When I proposed to take leave of my swarthy flock, it
was not without feelings of attachment on both sides. I had observed
several of them much affected under my discourse, and now they manifested
it more openly. As I shook hands with them, I said, 'You see, I did not
come among you to give you money. I considered religious instruction of
the most value; therefore I have endeavoured to impart it.' 'Sir,'
replied several, 'we did not want your money; your instruction is better
to us than money; and we thank you for coming.' The camp now resounded
with voices, saying, 'Thank you, sir; God bless you, sir;' and every
countenance seemed to glow with gratitude. The young branches of the
family seemed to think a great honour and blessing had been conferred
upon them.
"As I mounted my pony to come away, I observed one of the females, a fine
young woman about twenty-five years of age, the same that brought the
carpet from the package, and spread on the grass for me to kneel upon, to
retire from the rest. She walked slowly near to the hedge, and appeared
evidently much distressed. Her expressive eyes were lifted up to heaven,
while the big tears rolling down her cheeks, were wiped away with her
long black tresses. I thought--Here, surely, are some of the first
fruits!--Thus did the woman, who was a sinner, weep, and with her hair
wipe away the tears from the feet of her Saviour. May those tears be as
acceptable to God: may the same Redeemer bid her go in peace! Her
conduct attracted the notice of her family, and she was asked the reason
of her sorrow. At first she could scarcely speak; but at length
exclaimed, 'Oh! I am a sinner!' Then lifting up her eyes to heaven, she
wept aloud, and again wiped away the falling tears with her hair. 'But
did you not know that before? we are all sinners. What have you done to
cause you so much distress?' She made no reply, but shook her head and
wept."
The author of the GIPSIES' ADVOCATE, who, for the encouragement of his
readers, has embodied the above interesting paragraphs in his work,
sincerely hopes and prays that all ministers of Christ will, ere long, be
led to imitate this clergyman in his benevolent and Christian attempts to
benefit by the influence of religion and the word of God, the lost, and
ignorant, and miserable, and perishing among mankind.
CHAP. XV. Interesting visits to Gipsy camps, including an Anecdote of
his late beloved MAJESTY, GEORGE THE THIRD.
The following account is extracted from the Home Missionary Magazine for
June, 1823.
_March_, 1823. "Sir,
"If the following facts should afford any encouragement to the benevolent
intentions of the Home Missionary Society, which has, for one of its
objects, the improvement of the state of the _poor Gipsies_, my end in
relating them will be amply answered.
"On Saturday evening, in the month of October, the narrator followed
several Gipsy families. Being arrived at the place of their encampment,
his first object was to gain their confidence. This was accomplished;
after which, to amuse their unexpected visitant, they shewed forth their
night diversions in music and dancing; likewise the means by which they
obtained their livelihood, such as tinkering, fortune-telling, and
conjuring. That the narrator might be satisfied whether he had obtained
their confidence or not, he represented his dangerous situation, in the
midst of which, they all with one voice cried, 'Sir, we would kiss your
feet, rather than hurt you!' After manifesting a confidence in return,
the master of this formidable gang, about forty in number, was challenged
by the narrator for a conjuring match. The challenge was instantly
accepted. The Gipsies placed themselves in the circular form, and both
being in the middle, commenced with their conjuring powers to the best
advantage. At last the narrator proposed the making of something out of
nothing. This proposal was accepted. A stone which never existed, was
to be created, and appear in a certain form in the middle of a circle
made on the turf. The master of the gang commenced, and after much
stamping with his foot, and the narrator warmly exhorting him to cry
aloud; like the roaring of a lion, he endeavoured to call forth nonentity
into existence. Asking him if he could do it? he answered, 'I am not
strong enough.' They were all asked the same question, which received
the same answer. The narrator commenced. Every eye was fixed upon him,
eager to behold this unheard-of exploit; but (and not to be wondered at,)
he failed!--telling them, he possessed no more power to _create_ than
themselves. Perceiving the thought of insufficiency pervading their
minds, he thus spoke:--"Now, if you have not power to create a poor
little stone, and if I have not power either; what must that power be,
which made the whole world out of nothing?--men, women, and children!
that power I call God Almighty."
The night's diversion having received a change, the golden moment was
eagerly seized to impress on their minds the infinite power, holiness,
and justice of their Creator. This being done, the origin of sin, and
the immortality of the soul, were, in the second place, impressed on
their minds. Then followed the awful effects of sin, and the soul's
eternal punishment in hell, because of offending this great God, whose
holiness could not look on sin, and whose justice would punish it.
Representing the soul's eternal punishment by the wrath of an incensed
God, never did the preacher before witness such an effect; the poor
Gipsies, with tremulous voice, crying, '_Did you ever hear the like_! _
What ever shall we do_?' These expressions gave new energies to the
preacher, and still brighter hopes of a good effect. Going on with the
awful representation, and in the act of turning, as if to leave them, he
bade them the long farewell. 'Never, never more to meet till we meet in
hell! Oh! what a dreadful thing it is, my fellow-sinners, that we have
to part in this world with the thought of meeting in an eternal world of
pains, never to see God! never to see heaven! never to see any thing to
comfort our poor souls! Oh! we are lost, lost, poor souls, we are lost
for ever!--farewell!' In the act of leaving them, these poor creatures
cried, 'Not yet, Sir, not yet.' Now was the glorious moment come, which
the preacher eagerly anticipated of proclaiming the glad tidings of
salvation through a crucified Saviour. Asking how long they would stand
to hear the way of escape from the wrath to come, they instantly lifted
up their voices, answering, 'All night, Sir, all night.' Then the
preacher, without much persuasion, exhibited a Saviour, in all his
sufferings, merits, death, and glory. They were sorry that such a good
being should suffer so much; but the preacher took care to show the
absolute necessity of his sufferings. Their manner bespoke an imperfect
idea of a substitute. This was soon made clear to their understandings
by comparisons, when the master of the gang cried, 'I see it, I see it!'
He was asked what he saw? 'I see Jesus Christ getting between us and
God, and satisfying our great God's justice by dying instead of us.'
This truly made the preacher's heart glad, seeing the great plan of
salvation was so clearly understood by those who declared (although in a
land of light,) they never heard of Jesus Christ before.
"The preacher sang the hymn:--
"How condescending, and how kind
Was God's eternal Son, &c,"
and then ended with prayer. They solicited him to return on the sabbath
morning; he did so, and, as he hopes, under the influence of the Holy
Spirit. The master gratefully accepted of a bible; for though the
Gipsies could not read, a little boy was among them, who was not a Gipsy,
that could read remarkably well, having been taught at a Sunday school at
Hastings, in Sussex. They all joyfully anticipated the pleasure of going
to the Rev. J. Carter's Chapel, of Braintree, in the afternoon, but met
with a disappointment, arising from an unexpected decampment. About one
month after, in the latter end of November, two Gipsy women called on the
narrator, earnestly entreating him to go and preach to them, which they
called conversation. Asking the reason, why they entreated this favour?
their answer was, 'We have heard much about your conversation, sir, and
we should like to hear it. Come, do come, and we will be all ready to
receive you.' Asking who they were that told them of the conversation
just mentioned, they said, 'some of our people, Sir, that you were with
about a month since. They told us a great deal about your conversation,
and we should so much like to hear it. Oh! sir, do come to us poor
creatures, for we have an invitation for you, if you would condescend to
take it, to meet with the Gipsies on Christmas day.' That night, the
narrator walked a few miles to their camp, and in their smoky tent
preached Jesus Christ the only way of salvation, to these poor, despised,
neglected creatures. After being with them two hours and a half, he bade
them farewell, and going behind a hedge, anxious to know what effect the
new unheard of doctrines would produce on their minds, he listened for a
short time. In the midst of conversation with each other, one of them
said, 'Well, I know this, if I could get a house near where that
gentleman lives, and could live by my business, I would send all my
children to that school there, and hear him as long as ever I could
live.' While they were conversing about Adam and Eve, and the evil
effects of sinning against God; one of the women said, 'However, you see,
all the punishment that us women get, is sorrow and pains in
child-bearing.' 'Stop, stop,' says one of the men, 'that won't do, Ann,
that won't do. If sorrow and pains in child-bearing be all the
punishment that women are to have, what punishment must those women have
that do not bear children? You are quite wrong, Ann; you women are as
bad as _us_.' This led on to a further discovery, and the conversation
among themselves was truly interesting.
"One of the children telling a lie, the mother touched it on the head,
saying, 'What are you telling lies about? Have you forgotten what the
gentleman said to night? You will go to hell, if you tell any more lies.
Let me never hear you tell another, you bad lad, for God will not take
you to heaven.'
"These, and several remarks about Jesus Christ, afforded no small
pleasure to the preacher, and he hopes that these facts will afford no
small encouragement to the Home Missionary Society.
"Your very humble
Servant,
"J. H. C."
Before the author relates one of the most extraordinary anecdotes with
which he is acquainted, one, of which a King and a dying Gipsy are the
characters, he will relate another interesting account of a visit to a
Gipsy camp, which will, it is hoped, prove that such visits are not in
vain, when made in dependence on the Divine blessing. A Gipsy, in great
distress of mind, and with weeping eyes, came to inform him of one of
their people, who was in great anguish of mind, and entreated him to
visit them at the camp, which was several miles distant. The request was
gladly complied with. On arriving at the tent, he found a woman sitting
in a melancholy attitude on the ground; and distress and anguish were
strongly marked in her countenance. She appeared quite indifferent to
any thing that was said; and kept herself apparently engaged with the
sticks and brands around the fire near the mouth of the tent. The man
also appeared very melancholy. We learned that the cause of their
distress was jealousy on the part of the man, who was called her husband.
The circumstance which gave rise to those unhappy feelings had taken
place several years before; yet the poor man has been so unhappy, that he
has often intended to destroy both himself and his wife; and not many
days before this visit to the camp, he had threatened to execute his
purpose. The author talked and prayed with him, and exhorted him to look
to God for strength and grace. Their repeated conversations were made
useful to him, and those miserable feelings were subdued, and he now
lives happily with the woman he had before hated, even to an intention of
murder. This is another evidence, although a distressing one, that a
want of chastity is evil in their sight.