WE have been most savagely assailed for praying the Lord to preserve peace, and if our rulers would not learn wisdom, to remove them. We fail to see any reason for altering the prayer, and only trust that it may be heard. To us mere party politics are nothing; but when we see war
threatened on behalf of a detestable tyranny, contrary to all the dictates of humanity and religion, we cannot do otherwise than implore the Judge of all the earth to save us from such an astounding wickedness, and to remove from office the man whose rash bravados give rise to our fears. It is ours to pray, but it is ever with the deep feeling that the Lord of Hosts will
accomplish his own purposes in his own way, and if the form of his servant’s prayers should not be answered yet the spirit of them will be acceptable with him. Many of the persons who have written us abusively have not signed their names, and we are glad that they did not, for there is hope that some sense of shame remains in them. Did they know how little their fierce language annoys us they would save their paper and postage.
One such note as the following from Slavonia makes amends for a
thousand scurrilous epistles; we do not give the writer’s name because we have not asked his permission, but he is engaged in relieving distress among the fugitives from Bosnia. We suppose he alludes to our former prayer, that the Lord would break the power of the oppressor —
“Palcratz, Slavonla, Austria.
“Dear Sir, — I think it will interest you to know that the little quotation from our prayer which has appeared in the English papers has been translated into German and Serbian, and has been in most of the newspapers in those languages. While to the persecuted Christians of Turkey, and their brethren in race, language and faith, of other countries, the attitude of the English Government is so incomprehensibly hostile, a token of sympathy and pity, and the evidence that they are not despised and forgotten by the English people, is doubly precious. I write that you may have the pleasure of knowing that your words have cheered and
comforted many sorrowful hearts. Oh, may they but be heard! and the thousands now groaning in slavery and exile, the victims of Turkish
barbarism, be delivered from the hand and power of the wicked. I am sure I need not ask you to be unceasing in your supplications for them.”
FUNDS — Thanks be to God, we have no longer to watch the ebb. The Lord has stirred up a host of kind friends, and the Orphanage exchequer, which was more and more closely nearing a condition of vacuum, has now been replenished. We have seldom had such a number of donations in so short a time. Our heart is full of gratitude to God and to the donors. We have a wish, and we take leave to express it to those who take a loving interest in our work. We hope to go to the South of Europe in a few days, and we shall, if the Lord will, be absent for six Sabbaths. We should like to leave enough bread and butter in all the cupboards for orphans, students, colporteurs, and the poor blind, so that we need not even think about them while we are among the olive groves of the Mediterranean Sea. Our rest under such circumstances would then do us the maximum of service. The Colportage, the Blind, and the Orphans are the most in need.
We go to press before Christmas-day, but already we see tokens that the orphans will not be forgotten. Not by any means enough has come in as yet, but there is a beginning made. We intend next month, if all be well, to get Mr. Pike to describe our Christmas festivities. The poor boys are merry indeed on that day.
COLPORTAGE — With the new year additional districts will be started at Sitting-borne, Cardiff, Coseley, Dudley West, Cradley, also Hadleigh in Suffolk. Several other districts promise fairly, and we expect to send colperteurs soon. Increased attention is being manifested towards the work, not only in fresh places, but also in existing districts. The General Secretary has visited Bacup during the past month, where he adressed several hundreds of the colporteurs’ friends, who had previously taken tea together. The owner of a cotton mill who presided said that he had sought the services of a colporteur because of the large number of injurious publications he observed in the hands of his employees, and much good had been done during the past year through the agent’s work. Our balance at the bank is very low, and we have heavy publishers’ accounts to meet in a few days. In this department the “ebb” continues, but must soon have reached the worst, for there will be nothing left.
Nottingham, called Exeter Hall. Of all places we have ever preached in it is at once the most compact, easy for speaking and comfortable. We
recommend all who are building to see it. The cost was the lowest we have ever heard of for a building of such capacity, so substantial, and so elegant.
It seats two thousand, and cost £4,700, apart from the site. Common sense is the characteristic of Mr. Silverton, and he has shown it in this case. The amount raised during the day was £500, and the giving and hearing were of the most enthusiastic order.
Friday, Dee. 15th — The men of the Pastors’ College accepted the
fraternal invitation of their brethren of Regent’s Park College to spend the afternoon and evening with them. There was very hearty intercourse between the students and tutors of the two Colleges, and much enjoyment in consequence. Mr. Spurgeon spoke upon culture, and Dr. Angus upon go. With prayers, hymns, addresses, and speeches the time passed away very pleasantly. The words of wisdom of Mr. Rogers, “the old man eloquent,” will probably abide in the memories of all present for many a year to come. May the two Colleges prosper with the rich blessing of God.
and may the men while in training, and when actually in the field, never forget that “all we are brethren.”
From our College the following brethren have gone forth to pastorates, Mr. G. Dunnett, to Newcastle-under-Lyne, Mr. N. T. Miller to Huraley, Wotton-under-Edge, Mr. T. H. Smith to Shefford, Mr. C. Joseph to Small Heath, Birmingham, where a new interest is in process of formation. Mr.
Davis to Ottery St. Mary, Mr. Blaikie to Irwine, Mr. Bloyto Forncett, in Norfolk, Mr. Sumner to Brentford.
Mr. Hamilton, who left us to form a Baptist church at Cape Town, has been well received, for we have met with the following paragraph in the Cape Times:
“The Rev. Mr. Hamilton has preached for the last two Sundays, at
Temperance Hall, to the Baptist congregation which is now forming in this city. The building is not large enough for the number of attendants, and it is now the object of the congregation to obtain a more commodious place of meeting. Mr. Hamilton is said to be an able and earnest preacher, and it would appear that, as a student in Spurgeon’s College, he has caught something of the master’s tact and power. The Baptists consider
themselves very happy in having Mr. Hamilton’s ministrations, and we hope that they will succeed in procuring a more suitable tabernacle.”
Baptisms at Metropolitan Tabernacle by Mr. V. J. Charlesworth: — Nov.
27th, seven. By Mr. J. A. Spurgeon: — Nov. 30th, sixteen.