REPORT 1876-7
IV. SANITARY
month in the Sword and Trowel; they are all received with gratitude, and we take this opportunity of repeating our thanks. It is a cause of grief to us when friends do not receive a prompt acknowledgment of their gifts, but in almost all instances where this has occurred, the donor has failed to send name and address with the present. We are too grateful for any help, however small, to risk giving pain or offense to those who remember us, and we respectfully request to be informed of the transmission of presents at the time, and their receipt shall be duly acknowledged. As the work is carried on in dependence upon God, and as His blessing evidently rests upon it, we are confident the mean will be forthcoming as the need arises.
The work is of the Lord, and therefore the Lord’s people should help us in it Will it need much pleading? If so, we cannot use it, as we shrink from marring the willinghood which is the charm of such a service. No collector shall ever draw a commission from us for dogging unwilling subscribers, nor will we press and squeeze niggard gifts from reluctant hands. God will see to his own work, and though we do not use the method of sitting still and waiting without action, but rather stir Up the minds of the Lord’s stewards by way of remembrance, yet we are sure that he who feeds the ravens will give his children bread.
Subscriptions large or small, will be gratefully received by C. H.
SPURGEON, Nightingale Lane, Clapham, London, S.W. Gifts of Food, Clothes, Books, Toys, and other useful articles, are always welcome, and should be directed to MR. CHARLESWORTH, Head Master, the Orphanage, Stockwell, London.
VI — MODE OF ADMISSION
Applications for the admission of children should be addressed in writing to the Secretary, and full particulars given. If the case appears eligible, a form of application is sent, the questions on which must be answered by the applicant, and the form returned as soon as possible. The slightest untruthfulness will necessitate the immediate rejection of the case. After the case is entered on the list of candidates, the Trustees, as soon as convenient, appoint a visitor to make personal inquiries into it, Should these be satisfactory, the child appears before the committee and the doctor, and, if duly elected, enters the Institution as soon as there is room.
As the number of most necessitous candidates is largely in excess of our
accommodation there is no difficulty in supplying vacancies as they occur.
The Trustees, therefore, issue forms of application very sparingly, as they consider it unwise to encourage hopes which are not likely to be realized.
Friends, who are only acquainted with the case in which they are specially interested, must not be surprised at its rejection by the Trustees, if it is proved by them to be less necessitous than others. The election of children not being determined by subscribers’ votes, the Trustees endeavor to maintain the strictest impartiality while considering the claims of the various applicants, and the greatest need has the loudest voice with them.
In every case certificates of the marriage of the parents, the death of the father, and the birth of the child will be required. The cases of illegitimate children are not within the scope of the Institution.
Applicants are requested not to call upon the Trustees privately, as they are bound not to attend to them otherwise, than officially. Cases will be
considered on their own merits, and they will derive no advantage from personal solicitation. MR. SPURGEON cannot personally see any
applicants, and should not be written to. All letters on this business should be addressed to the Secretary, MR. CHARLES BLACKSHAW, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, London, S.E.
The Orphanage is open for the inspection of the public on the afternoons of Tuesday and Thursday in each week. At other times an order is necessary, which can be obtained of MR. SPURGEON, or any of the Trustees. All letters requiring an answer must contain a stamped envelope.
THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL
AUGUST 1877
HOW THE BOOK FUND PROSPERS.
BY MRS. C. H. SPURGEON
FOR many weeks past I have had a great desire in my heart to write out the gracious details of the Lord’s dealings with the Book Fund during the present year, but almost constant pain has fettered both head and hand, and rendered the fulfillment of the heart’s wish well-nigh impossible. But even the “school of affliction” has its “holidays”’ (true holy-days these), and as the “good Master” has granted me one such today, I will consecrate it to his honor and glory by telling what great things he hath done for me and my work since I wrote last. The commencement of the new year was marked by an offer of six volumes of the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit to every minister who had formerly been a student of the “Pastors’ College”
and so enthusiastically was it responded to that in three months’ time 164 of our own old students had received 980 volumes! I had intended this effort to be an extra one, and extend over the entire year, but the Lord had more work for me to do than I knew of, so he would allow of no lingering, but graciously gave me strength to accomplish easily what at first sight Seemed a formidable task. During this time the usual work of the Book Fund was not neglected, all applications being cheerfully responded to, one notable feature of interest being the sudden and simultaneous awakening of Primitive Methodist ministers to the fact that they could have the “Treasury of David” by asking for it. Nearly 100 of their “traveling preachers” have received the four published volumes since January last, and if God grant his blessing on them (as he certainly will)we may look for a hundred-fold harvest from , such seed sown in such soil. Very poor in this world’s goods, these brethren are rich in good works, and as a rule labor more abundantly than any of their brethren. They must urgently need books, and it is certain that their terribly small allowances cannot procure them, and therefore it is a true Christian charity to relieve their mental need. A good
book given to an idler is a doubtful speculation: to a worker it is a sure benefit.
For a short time during the months just flown by it seemed as if the Lord were trying my faith by sending me more “needs” than “supplies,” but I am almost ashamed to speak of fears which then possessed me, they have been so utterly routed and destroyed by subsequent favors. Now I see that the Lord only brought a cloud over the sun to veil its brightness, lest the heat of labor should overpower his weak child, and cause her to faint under the burden of the day. So, blessed be his name, he “leads on softly” as “we are able to bear it.” Turning over the pages of my “day-book” I cannot but rejoice to know that already nearly 3,000 volumes have been distributed since the beginning of this year, and though this number falls woefully short of supplying the need which exists, yet I thank God and take courage. The few following extracts from letters will show that the intense appreciation and loving eagerness with which these gifts were at first received has not abated one whit. The first letter, written by a venerable pastor, a true
“bishop” in his district, runs thus: —
“My dear Mrs. Spurgeon, — Last night I received the parcel of books, and what shall I say? I hardly know how to express my thanks to you and your excellent husband for such generous and Christian kindness. As I could do nothing else, I asked the Lord to bless you and reward you most amply for such a valuable gift. I can say it is to me better than thousands of silver and gold could be; for I could never get from earthly riches what I this morning obtained from reading Mr. Spurgeon’s comment on Psalm 23. The books may well be called the ‘Treasury of David;’ I shall keep it as a ‘Treasury’
for my own use, and will never let it go out of my family, the Lord so helping me. You cannot tell What a nice show the volumes make in my little library; and while I am quite proud of the outside I delight myself with the thought of what I shall find within, both for my own comfort and I trust for the benefit of others. I am quite a book-worm, I assure you, and it pleases me beyond expression to find So many good old authors quoted in the ‘Treasury.’ I pronounce it one of the most useful works a minister can have in his library. When I think of such Herculean labor as this, together with so many other things, I am lost in astonishment as to how Mr.
Spurgeon pushes through all as he does. But a passage comes to my mind which solves the mystery — By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but labored more
me.’”
“My dear Mrs. Spurgeon, — Though I have watched with interest and pleasure, the birth, growth, and usefulness of your ‘Book Fund,’ I little thought I should ever be so deeply indebted to you as I find myself today.
The nice parcel you so kindly sent came as ‘cold water to a thirsty soul,’
and judging from the feelings of gratitude and delight produced in my own breast I feel your work of love has made not a few pastors’ hearts to ‘sing for joy.’ I rejoice also to know that the work yields such sweet solace of joy to you in your affliction; I really think it must be one rose at least on this sin-blighted earth ‘without a thorn.’”
What this dear brother says is perfectly true. The Book Fund is the joy of my life, and ever since the Lord gave the sweet service into my weak and unworthy hands he has led me by green pastures and beside still waters, and crowned me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. The next letter is from a much-tried servant of God, who, with a wife, invalid daughter, and four young children to support (there are nine children living) on eighty pounds per annum, may well be “unable to buy books.”
“My dear Madam, — Most gratefully do beg to acknowledge the receipt of the four volumes Of the ‘Treasury of David.’ The gift, I can assure you, is a most acceptable one. Often when at the homes of my brethren I have seen the work, and longed for its possession, deeming the desire however quite Utopian, seeing that the purchase of such books is altogether beyond the limit of my slender income. Ten years have elapsed since my return from ____, where for a long time I labored, and those years have been one long protracted struggle for bare existence. Blessed be God, that is not all;
for if my tribulations hare abounded, so also have my consolations,
‘Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.’ The Psalms of David are ever a tower of comfort to tried saints, and your honored husbands work is to my mind the best book that I have seen, in that it brings out the marrow and fatness of the text. Again, I thank you most deeply and sincerely for the gift, as also for the good wishes by which it was accompanied.”
The foregoing letter (and, alas! I have hundreds like it) reminds me of a few sentences which I read the other day, translated from the German of Pastor Harms, of Hermanusburg. They are so quaint, and so much to the point, that I cannot resist quoting them. He says, speaking of a
representative country minister in the “Fatherland,” “With temporal goods,
however, this pastor is not specially well provided and, were it not that he has a living God in the heavens, he must many a time grow anxious and dispirited, which, in truth, he does not always escape, as he himself humbly confesses. For if you have a small benefice, a large family, and a couple of children at school to boot, sometimes that gives even a believer the headache; though, indeed, there is no need for that, were faith but strong and prayer simple enough.”
The two letters which follow are from a “Methodist” preacher and a,
“Baptist minister, both being charming expressions of a glad and grateful heart. When I receive such epistles I always wish they could be passed round to every kind friend who has contributed to the “Fund,” that their might catch glimpses of the abounding happiness which they thus bestow on others.
“My dear Mrs. Spurgeon, — The parcel containing four vols. of ‘Treasury of David’ arrived all safe yesterday. I had been rejoicing over my good fortune in getting as I supposed, one volume of Mr. Spurgeon’s great work; but the receipt of such a gift was a surprise for which I was wholly unprepared. I am entirely at a loss to express all I feel respecting such kindness; but I beg to offer my heart’s deepest gratitude, and my earnest prayers that heaven’s richest blessings may come down upon yourself and upon all through whose disinterested generosity you are able to carry on such a work of love.
“This is a gift indeed! May God help me to use it for his glory. One may, I think, justly feel proud of having four such volumes in his library, and the aid they will afford in my work no one can fully realize but myself.
Probably there are hundreds of grateful hearts lifted up from day to day in prayer for yourself and your indefatigable husband; if my feeble prayers can be of any possible advantage, most gladly will I pray daily that in your affliction the Lord will impart a large measure of his soothing grace, that your soul may always be filled with the brightness and peace of the Savior’s presence, and that you may long be spared to continue the noble enterprise, which has already sent relief, joy, and light into hundreds of homes, and brought blessings into probably thousands of minds.”
“Madam, — The very handsome present which you have so kindly sent me (Mr Spurgeon’s’ ‘Treasury of David’ four vols.) arrived quite safely about half-an-hour ago. It has come upon me as a pleasant surprise, for your kindness hat; much exceeded my expectations. I thought you might send
two; and yet here are the whole four! A valuable present, truly, in more senses than one. I have already been tasting its quality with relish, and feel certain that I shall find it, as you kindly wish, ‘ a treasure indeed.’ Thank you very, very, very much for it; and for your letter with all the kindness of heart which it reveals. Whatever may be the needs and privations of some village pastors, you, at all events, are trying to minister to their joy, and to make them more efficient in the service of the Master. And you know, without my suggesting it, that he will give reward. Again I thank you with earnestness which increases as I continue to look rate the volumes.”
The Book Fund has received this year some splendid additions as gifts, to its stores of works by other authors, and I have rejoiced greatly to have at my disposal such standard volumes of divinity as the works of the sainted brothers Haldane, Dr. Hodge, and others. But the fact becomes more and more evident to me every day that unless already possessed of the
“Treasury of David,” our pastors look upon no other volumes as my gift with complete satisfaction, and that in applying to me for books they fix their heart’s desire upon the “Treasury’ or the “Sermons” as the “summum bonum” of their happiness. And I think this is very natural and very proper, so long as the management of the Book Fund rests entirely in these feeble hands; but I trust that some day when all the churches, awaken to a sense of the urgent need there is that “the poor minister’s bookshelf” should have plenty of books upon it, many a noble volume, both ancient and modern, will take its. place beside the “Treasury of David.”
As to old books which sometimes come to me troublously fast, I am obliged to smuggle them in with the coveted works of my dear husband, and but a very faint echo of any welcome they receive ever reaches my ear.
I really fear that some people think that anything in the shape of a book will do for a minister, or they would scarcely send such things as “Advice to Wives and Mothers,” “Essays on Marriage,” or “Letters to a Son .as aids to pulpit preparation!
On looking over the list of contributors for last year, I find a falling away of some old friends, which somewhat grieves me, for the work is more deeply needed than ever. The famine is sore in the land — not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but a deeply felt and widespread need of mental food, by those under shepherds who have to “feed the flock of God” and I had hoped that all the friends who had so generously aided me
at the commencement of my work would have “continued with me” To the many who have done so I tender my most heartfelt thanks: “God bless you,” dear friends, and return into your own bosom some of the joy, and gladness, and gratitude with which you have filled mine. New friends, too, are cordially welcomed to cooperation in the blessed work, and every gift that comes for the Book Fund is offered to the Lord as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. I am just now rejoicing over the fact that the Lord has inclined the heart of a dear friend to whom I am already greatly indebted to give me a large donation for the purpose of supplying all the Presbyterian ministers in Argyleshire with the “Treasury of David,” and I have another sum of money given by one who is a great sufferer, set apart for the distribution of the same precious volumes in Ireland. So, for the next few months, dear friends, you may know that the “work of the Book Fund” will be in the full swing of business, and I pray you to remember that you can truly and tenderly help me by asking the Lord to set the seal of his blessing on every book sent out. Does any one care to know that my lovely lemon tree is in vigorous health and perfect beauty? I have not dared to count its leaves lately, because I feel it has far outstripped the proportions with which my fancy fettered it; yet I never look upon it or think about it without blessing God for making it grow so wonderfully in my sick room that winter, where it heralded, and illustrated, helped forward, and finally became the emblem of the “Book Fund.”