miles from its mouth at New Orleans, and is the largest city in the
State. The Mississippi rises in Minnesota; at its source it is 3,160
miles from its mouth, and passes over more than 18 degrees of latitude."
During our visit to St. Paul the weather was intensely cold, but the air
was of the dryest, purest, most invigorating character, and is
considered particularly healthy even for invalids.
On March 20th, we went to Minneapolis, where, on the morning of Sunday,
the 21st, Mr. Mueller spoke at the Hall of the Young Men's Christian
Association, and preached in the evening at the Plymouth Congregational
Church, to about 1,800 people. On March 22nd, at a pastors' meeting, he
addressed 50 of his brethren in the ministry, by whom he was most
affectionately received; preached on the 24th at East Minneapolis, on
the opposite bank of the Mississippi; held a meeting for the Germans on
the 25th; answered written questions at the Methodist Episcopal
Centenary Church the following evening, which had been handed in; and on
the 27th, addressed the students of the College at Minneapolis, 275 in
number.
The following note from a pastor at Minneapolis was received after our
departure:--
"Dear Brother in Christ,--I cannot express to you the pleasure I have
enjoyed in listening to your addresses in this city, all of which, in
the English language, I have heard. My faith in God, as the hearer and
answerer of prayer, has been greatly strengthened, and I feel that,
through his abounding grace, I have, during the last week, enjoyed
especial nearness to Him, and have been better fitted for the ministry I
love. I shall ever be thankful for your visit to Minneapolis, and think
of you and your work with affectionate interest. For twelve years I have
ministered to the church which I now serve, and God has been pleased to
give me some souls as seals of my ministry; but I long to be more like
my Master, and more successful in my work. God bless you, dear Mr.
Mueller, and your beloved wife, your Orphanage in Bristol; and may He
abundantly prosper all the labours of your hands. If it shall never be
my privilege to meet you again in this world, I shall hope to be filled
with your company in our Father's house above."
"Yours, until He come."
The State of Minnesota, in which St. Paul and Minneapolis are situated,
is remarkable for the richness and fertility of its soil. The land is
divided into sections which contain many hundreds of acres each, and the
field operations carried on are conducted by hundreds of men, who form a
little army, and work at the same time, with military order and
regularity. The harvesting machines used are so constructed that the
corn is reaped, gathered into sheaves, bound into bundles, and thrown
aside by one single machine; and as there is no ploughing by hand--at
the time of seed sowing furrows, seven miles in length, are made across
the prairies by ploughing machines which turn up the soil, deposit the
grain in the earth, and then cover it over.
On March 27th we left by rail for Northfield, a village in Minnesota, 42
miles from Minneapolis, where (on our arrival at the Archer House) we
found the wife of a Baptist minister of Faribault kindly waiting to
receive us, who, when only 12 years of age, was converted at Bristol
through my husband's ministry. The next morning (Easter Sunday) Mr.
Mueller preached at the Methodist Episcopal Church to a crowded audience
from 1st Cor. xv.; in the evening, at the Congregational Church, he
addressed a union meeting of the various Northfield congregations; and
before our departure held a meeting for the Germans at a German Church.
The morning of March 31st was ushered in by heavy thunder storms,
accompanied by high wind; but the weather moderated in time for us to
reach the station at half-past 8. After passing through Faribault, we
changed trains at Austin, travelled thence to Plymouth Junction, on one
of the great prairies, and at half-past 8 p.m. reached Cedar Rapids, on
the Red Cedar river (222 miles from Northfield) where we passed the
night. The next afternoon our journey was continued, and at 5 p.m. we
arrived at Mount Vernon, Iowa, where a rough, covered waggon conveyed us
to the village inn. There, in the evening, and twice on the following
Sunday (April 4th) Mr. Mueller preached at the Methodist Episcopal
Church, to large attentive audiences; but, as engagements had been made
for other places, our visit to Mount Vernon was of brief duration only.
On April 5th, accordingly, we rose at half-past 4, and at 6 left for
Davenport, Iowa; where (after waiting at De Witt for an hour and a half)
we arrived in the middle of the day. That evening, and on the 6th and
7th, Mr. Mueller preached at the German Congregational Church; during the
remainder of our stay at Davenport he held meetings at the Methodist
Episcopal, Congregational, and Baptist Churches; and addressed about 200
students at the High School besides.
Before our departure, we visited Rock Island, in the Mississippi, upon
which a town of the same name stands; and drove through Moline,
celebrated for its large arsenal. Rock Island is connected with
Davenport by a bridge.
On April 13th we set off for Jacksonville, Illinois; and in the course
of our journey south, found the weather become as hot as an English
July. At this town (which is 85 miles from Davenport) we arrived at 9.20
p.m.; and, after alighting from the train, were driven to the Dunlap
House, about a mile distant from the station. The next evening Mr.
Mueller preached at the Methodist Episcopal Church, to a large
congregation, where, as the thermometer was at 80, its 14 windows and
the front doors were left open, that no inconvenience might be
occasioned from the oppressiveness of the heat.
On April 15th we visited the "State Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb," a
most interesting institution, where the Principal (Dr. Gillett)
conducted us to a large hall, in which the inmates of the Establishment
(consisting of 460 deaf and dumb pupils, male and female, and 35
teachers) were at dinner. All eyes being immediately directed towards
us, Dr. Gillett explained at once by signs and finger language, who the
visitors were; and announced that at half-past one, Mr. George Mueller,
of Bristol, England, would address the whole assembly in the Chapel;
upon which, a young man (one of the deaf mutes) stood up, and with his
fingers said--"My ears itch to hear him." Our attention was then
directed to 'the happy family' seated at two adjoining tables, the
members of which included a Pole, some Jews, a German, a Portuguese, a
Frenchman, a negro, a Swede, an Englishman, an Irishman, a Scotchman,
an American, and an Italian. At the hour appointed, we went into the
Chapel, which adjoins the Institution, and there, from a high platform
(with Dr. Gillett standing close to him, who, with his fingers,
interpreted as rapidly as the words were uttered) Mr. Mueller preached
the gospel to the large community of deaf and dumb, and afterwards (by
particular request) gave a very brief account of the Orphan work on
Ashley Down, Bristol, and the other branches of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution. At the close of his address, an attempt was made by
the--_hearers_ (can they be called?) to express their satisfaction by
applause; but the desire was checked instantly by Dr. Gillett. We then
distributed some gospel tracts amongst them, and afterwards visited the
educational and industrial departments of the Institution, including a
room devoted to drawing, painting, and other artistic employments, in
which some of the deaf and dumb pupils excel. All the furniture used in
the Establishment, as well as the boots and shoes worn by its inmates,
are made on the premises. This is the largest Deaf and Dumb Institution
in the world.
Before our departure from Jacksonville, Mr. Mueller preached twice at the
Presbyterian Church; but, having made engagements for other places, was
unable to prolong his visit.
On April 17th, therefore, we rose at half past 4, set off by an early
train for Bloomington, Illinois (90 miles from Jacksonville), and
arrived there the same morning at half past 10. The next day (Sunday,
the 18th), my husband preached morning and evening at the First
Presbyterian Church, when the congregations were larger than could have
been expected, considering the unfavourable weather, which was
oppressively hot, with very high wind and rain that fell at intervals in
torrents. These storms gradually increased, and on Monday, in the middle
of the night, we were roused by a cyclone, which broke over the town.
The high wind then became a hurricane, the sky was in a blaze with
lightning for hours, loud peals of thunder burst overhead, and rain,
mixed with hail, swept down upon the streets in a complete deluge. Every
moment we expected our windows to be blown in, and feared that a
frightful crash in some part of the hotel would announce that great
damage had been done; but, happily, towards morning, the wind gradually
abated, and at last (through the Lord's kindness) the storm ceased. For
a few days the newspapers contained alarming accounts of this tornado,
and mentioned numerous places devastated by it, amongst which was
Marshfield, where the destruction was overwhelming.
"This part of the country" (said the "Daily Sentinel," of Indianapolis)
"was visited last evening by one of the most terrific cyclones on
record. After passing through several miles of country, it struck
Marshfield about half past 6 p.m., when, an eye witness of the
approaching storm, described it as a frightful-looking black cloud,
lined with fleecy white. It was funnel shaped, and moved like a
screw-propeller with wonderful velocity, literally destroying and
blowing away everything in its path, which was about half a mile wide,
and carrying death and destruction with it. Seventy-eight people were
killed instantly, and eighty-five were wounded. Large trees were twisted
off, telegraph wires were snapped, houses were blown from their
foundations, and what was a beautiful, peaceful, quiet town 24 hours
ago, is now a waste of desolation."
Before our departure from Bloomington, Mr. Mueller preached at each of
the two Presbyterian Churches, and held one German meeting.
On April 21st we went to Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana (166 miles
from Bloomington) a beautiful city on the western branch of the White
River, surrounded by an extensive plain. There my husband preached at
the Second and Third Presbyterian, the First Baptist, the Meridian
Street Methodist, and the German Methodist Churches, and attended a
meeting of pastors on the 26th, when he addressed many of his brethren
in the ministry for an hour.
From Indianapolis, on April 28th we proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio,
where, during our visit of 10 days, he preached three times at the Vine
Street Congregational Church, and twice at the Central Presbyterian
Church; gave an address at the Friends' Meeting House, conducted three
services in the city for the Germans (of whom there are many thousands
in Cincinnati), addressed about 200 ministers at a pastors' meeting,
and, on the evening of May 5th, preached in German at Immanuel Methodist
Church, Covington, Kentucky, about five miles distant. Besides these
services, on May 1st we visited Mr. Shipley's Home for Children, when he
gave a short address to the young people.
Cincinnati is 861 miles from New York. It extends along the northern
bank of the river Ohio, and has a population of between three and four
hundred thousand.
From there, on May 8th we went to Dayton, Ohio, 56 miles from
Cincinnati, where Mr. Mueller preached the same evening at a German
Church. During our stay, he held meetings also at the First Presbyterian
and First Baptist Churches, and gave an address at the Hall of the Young
Men's Christian Association.
On May 11th we visited the "Central National Soldiers' Home," three
miles and a half from Dayton, which consists of a group of buildings
more than 40 in number, where (up to that time) 4,245 men had been
received, all of whom were soldiers disabled or invalided by wounds,
received during the late war. The Brick Hall (which seats 3,000) is the
largest dining hall in the United States. As numbers of these soldiers
were either walking or sitting about in the beautiful grounds belonging
to the Institution, we were able to distribute tracts amongst them. The
average expenses of the Home are 400,000 dollars (or L80,000) per annum.
From Dayton, on May 12th, we went to Cleveland, Ohio, 190 miles distant,
where, on that evening and the next, my husband preached at the United
German Church.
On the 14th we left for Buffalo, and the following day continued our
journey to Dansville, Livingstone County, New York (283 miles from
Cleveland) where, at "Our Home on the Hill Side" (a Hygienic
Institution) we spent eleven days, having received an invitation from
Dr. Jackson, the Principal of the Establishment, to be his guests.
There, on Sunday morning (the 16th) Mr. Mueller preached at "Liberty
Hall" (the Chapel belonging to the Institution) to the patients, and the
other inmates of the Home; and in the evening addressed a large, crowded
audience, at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Dansville. During the week,
he conducted morning family worship at "Our Home," gave one or two
addresses at the prayer meetings; and on the following Sunday (May 23rd)
preached at the English and German Lutheran Churches.
This Hygienic Institution consists of one large main building, and a
number of smaller detached residences, which belong to it. Here, "all
the natural agencies, such as air, water, food, sunlight, electricity,
exercise, rest, and recreation are brought into use for the restoration
of the sick, and obedience to the laws of nature is enjoined, as one of
the first requisites for recovery."
On the morning of May 27th, Mr. Mueller gave a farewell address to the
inmates of "Our Home;" at half past 3 we left for Rochester, and in the
evening went on to the Sanatorium, at Clifton Springs, 90 miles from
Dansville. There he preached at the Chapel on the evening of the 28th,
conducted family worship on the mornings of Saturday the 29th, and
Sunday the 30th, and preached on the evening of the 30th at the Chapel
to a large congregation. On Monday evening (May 31st) he preached again
at the Chapel of the Sanatorium, gave a farewell address at the same
place the following morning; and, at a little prayer meeting in the
evening, we were both commended to the Lord for our approaching voyage
to England.
As the time for our departure from the United States had now arrived, on
Wednesday, June 2nd, at 9.22 a.m., we started (via Syracuse, Richland,
and Watertown) for Cape Vincent, at the north-east extremity of Lake
Ontario; reached our destination at half past 6, and, embarking in the
boat which was waiting, after a pleasant little voyage of eleven miles
across the lake, landed at Kingston at half past 8, and went to the
"British American Hotel."
On the following morning we rose at half past 3, went on board the
steamer "Spartan" and started for Montreal. The vessel was crowded with
passengers, but, the weather being fine, the voyage was delightful.
After leaving Lake Ontario, we passed through the "Lake of the Thousand
Islands" (as the first 40 miles of the river St. Lawrence are called)
surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, reached Ogdensburg in a few
hours, and at 4 o'clock went down "the Rapids," a dangerous passage,
formerly considered impracticable, but now, by the help of Indian
pilots, successfully accomplished. In the evening, at the close of a
long day's voyage, we arrived at Montreal, changed steamers there, and
after a favourable night passage, on Friday morning, June 4th, at half
past 7, landed at Quebec.
On the evening of that day Mr. Mueller preached at the Hall of the Young
Men's Christian Association, but there was no time for him to hold
further meetings before our departure for England.
The next morning, Saturday, the 5th of June, at 9 o'clock, we went on
board the "Sardinian" (Allan Line), and soon after 10 began our voyage
down the river. In the evening, at 7 o'clock, a meeting was held in the
forecastle for the sailors, to whom my husband spoke for 20 minutes, and
at 8 o'clock he conducted a Bible reading in the Chart Room. On Sunday
morning, June 6th, he preached in the saloon, and every day had a Bible
reading with the passengers. After entering the Gulf of St. Lawrence, we
passed through six hundred miles of fogs and icebergs, which so greatly
hindered the progress of the ship, that the voyage occupied eleven days
instead of only eight or nine. On Sunday morning, June 13th, Mr. Mueller
preached again in the saloon, and spoke in the afternoon from Job xvii.
9, at a little meeting in the Chart Room.
On Wednesday, the 16th, at 3 p.m., we landed at Liverpool, proceeded the
next day to Bristol, and arrived on Ashley Down at half past 4; where
the dear Orphan boys and girls received and welcomed us with hearty
cheers. Near the lodge a number of Christian friends also had assembled
to witness our arrival, and, at New Orphan House No. 3, we had the
pleasure of greeting and shaking hands with nearly all our numerous
helpers.
Thus ended our sixth missionary tour (marked in every way by the loving
kindness of the Lord), in the course of which my husband preached 299
times at 42 different places.
SEVENTH TOUR.
CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.
_From Sept. 15th, 1880, to May 31st, 1881._
After Mr. Mueller had laboured for ten months in word and doctrine during
his first visit to America, though he preached 308 times, he had to
leave the country with 108 written invitations which he was not then
able to accept. This led him to go to the United States a second time,
when he stayed nine months, and spoke in public 299 times altogether;
but on leaving found, that 154 written invitations remained unaccepted.
On this account therefore, after staying in Bristol from June 17th,
1880, to Sept. 15th of the same year (where he laboured continually at
the Orphan Houses, and in pastoral work belonging to the three chapels
with which he is connected)--believing it to be the will of God that he
should return to the United States, on Thursday, Sept. 16th, we embarked
at Liverpool for Canada in the "Sardinian;" and, after a favourable
voyage, on Sept. 26th, at 11 a.m., landed at Quebec.
During the passage, he held eight meetings; spoke at three Bible
readings, and circulated about 200 little books amongst the passengers
and crew. On the evening of the 26th, he preached at the Baptist Church,
Quebec; and during the seven days that we remained held eight other
meetings in the city. Whilst at Quebec, a Roman Catholic gentleman of
high position, attended nearly all the services; we conversed with him
afterwards; and he gladly accepted the three volumes of my husband's
Narrative.
On Oct. 4th, at 8 p.m., we left Quebec by rail, arrived at Boston, in
the United States, at 10 minutes past 5 on the following afternoon, and
remained there five weeks. During that period, Mr. Mueller preached many
times at the different places of worship, and attended the "Market men's
prayer meeting" at noon, where he habitually gave addresses. This
meeting was frequented chiefly by men of business, who met every day for
prayer and exhortation from 12 to 1 o'clock. My husband preached also at
East Cambridge, Chelsea, Newton, and Newtonville; addressed the students
of the Theological Seminary at Newton Central, seven miles from Boston,
and on Oct. 27th held a meeting for the students of the Theological
Seminary of the University of Boston.
On Oct. 29th we went to Wellesley College, 16 miles from Boston, where,
on that evening and the next morning, he addressed the 360 lady students
who belong to it, many of whom were Christians. Neither in Great
Britain nor on the Continent of Europe, have we ever seen educational
establishments for young ladies equal to the Colleges which are to be
found in the United States. When visiting four of these Institutions, we
heard that the pupils are not only instructed in the various branches of
a first-class education, but that the young ladies are carefully trained
in a knowledge of housekeeping also, and of the numerous domestic duties
connected with home life. By turns, they each do the portion of the
daily work of the establishment assigned to them, both for the sake of
learning _how_ it should be done properly, and also that physical
exercise may be healthfully combined with the culture of the mind. The
religious training at these Colleges too is excellent, and the spiritual
interests of the young ladies are carefully attended to.
Before our departure from Boston, we visited Plymouth, New England, 37
miles distant, where Mr. Mueller preached at the "Church of the
Pilgrims," an interesting place of worship, because it represents the
Church erected by the "Pilgrim Fathers" on their first arrival in the
United States. Plymouth is noted as being the place where they landed on
the 22nd of Dec., 1620, and as containing the site of the first house
ever built in New England. At "Pilgrims' Hall" are many interesting
relics that belonged to them, brought over to America in the
"Mayflower," which conveyed the strangers across the Atlantic to their
new home. At Boston and in the neighbourhood my husband spoke 38 times
in public altogether.
After leaving this city, Milford, Massachusetts, was our next resting
place, where four meetings were held; and on Nov. 13th we left for
Amherst. Here, on the following afternoon, at the College Chapel, Mr.
Mueller addressed 339 students; in the evening, at the Congregational
Church, he preached to a crowded congregation, and the next morning
attended a pastors' meeting, when he addressed fifteen of his fellow
labourers in the ministry, whom he sought to encourage in their service
for the Lord.
From Amherst we went to Northampton, where, at Smith's College, he
addressed 260 of the lady students. In this town. President Edwards
resided for many years, and the Church, at which he ministered, was
pointed out. On Nov. 18th we paid a second visit to Mount Holyoke Female
Seminary, South Hadley, founded in 1837 by Mary Lyon, where, that
evening and the next morning, Mr. Mueller addressed the 250 lady students
who belong to it. From this Institution, many godly young women have
gone forth as missionaries; and some Christian school-teachers of note,
were trained and educated at Mount Holyoke. On the evening of Nov. 19th,
my husband preached at South Hadley Church, early on the morning of the
20th, he gave a third address to the young ladies at the Seminary, and
on the forenoon of that day we left for Hartford, Connecticut, 52 miles
from South Hadley, where he preached six times, and addressed thirty of
his brethren in Christ at a pastors' meeting. He held three meetings
also in this city for the Germans.
On Nov. 27th we went to New Haven, Connecticut (the seat of Yale
College, founded in the year 1700); and whilst there, through the
courtesy of the President and of the University chaplain, Mr. Mueller had
opportunities of addressing a considerable number of the students, for
whom he held two meetings. This was an important service, which he
gladly undertook, having heard of great blessing resulting from his
labours amongst the students of Colleges, Theological Seminaries, and
Universities, both in Europe and America.
At New Haven he preached twelve times, and once at Fair Haven in the
vicinity. Four of these meetings were in German; at one he addressed a
number of pastors, and at another spoke to 140 children belonging to the
Orphan Asylum.