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Pour faciliter notre tâche en Amérique, et nous faire entrer de suite au cœur de la place, notre hôte, le vénérable docteur Isaac Léa, sa fille Miss Léa, et notre amie dévouée Miss Chase, avaient invité pour la soirée d'hier, jeudi 8 mars, une centaine de pasteurs et leurs dames, et quelques autres personnes. Je ne saurai vous dire l'impression que j'ai ressentie au milieu de cette foule d'élite, empressée pour nous serrer la main et nous souhaiter la bienvenue. Quoique je ne connusse aucun visage, je voyais sur chacun d'eux la même marque, ce cachet de bonté, de sympathie auquel on ne se trompe pas, et qui distingue en tous pays les vrais enfants de Dieu.

Après que nous eûmes été présentés à chacun des invités, un cercle se forma et le président du comité de réception, le Rév. Dr. Breed, prit la parole. Je ne puis reproduire son discours; l'éminent docteur parla un termes chaleureux de la France, et du service que nos ancêtres ont rendu à l'Amérique. "Ces huit millions de communiants de toutes dénominations, dit-il, et ces huit millions d'élêves de nos écoles du Dimanche, avec leur 800,000 moniteurs, ce vaste déploiement des forces évangéliques dans notre pays, tout cela existerait-il si la France, par le moyen du Lafayette et de Rochambeau, ne nous eût aidés à conquérir notre indépendance et à assurer ainsi notre développement?" L'orateur évoque ensuite les souvenirs de la Réformation, " époque à laquelle la France fut le porte-étendard de la vérité." Il termine en nous souhaitant la bienvenue au nom de ses collègues, les pasteurs de toutes les dénominations à Philadelphie. Après lui l'honorable M. John Welsh, ex-ministre des Etats-Unis à Londres, nous adresse la parole au nom de la cité, heureuse, dit-il, de recevoir cette délégation d'un pays cher aux Américains. Il insiste sur l'influence pour le bien général des peuples que la France pourrait exercer, si elle était pénétrée par l'esprit de l'Evangile. Ce discours, qui emprunte au caractère de celui qui le prononce une haute éloquence, nous émeut profondément. Ma pensée involontairement se reporte vers notre République à nous, et je ne puis m'empêcher de me demander si nos diplomates sauront bientôt apprécier, comme celui qui vient de parler, l'importance de la religion de Christ pour la sécurité et la grandeur de la France.

Et maintenant, Miss Chase parle à son tour au nom des femmes chrétiennes de l'Amérique, qui aiment la France, qui veulent travailler pour elle, au nom du comité auxiliaire de Philadelphie, an nom de la Société nationale sur le point de se former Mon émotion, je l'avoue, était à son comble, en voyant au milieu de ce cercle brillant, tout composé d'hommes et de femmes appartenant à l'élite de la société, une dame, ce que nous appelons en France une grande dame, donnant à d'humbles évangélistes l'assurance la plus cordiale de l'intérêt qu'elle et ses sœurs prennent à notre œuvre, si méconnue en France même. En ce moment là, je n'ai pas songé à l'Evangéliste d'Alphonse Daudet, ni aux attaques du Figaro.

Ce n'était pas tout. Le Rév. Dr. Chamberlain, l'un des pasteurs les plus distingués de l'Eglise congrégationaliste et notre secrétaire et correspondant honoraire en Amérique, parle en dernier lieu au nom de tous nos amis dispersés dans le pays "qui ne verront jamais nos visages, car ils sont trop loin pour que nous puissions es visiter mais qui pensent à nous, qui prient pour nous, qui travaillent pour nous." Je vous fais grâce, cher monsieur Mac-All, des paroles d'affection toute particulière, d'estime et d'admiration, que chacun des orateurs a eues à notre adresse. Votre modestie eût

souffert si vous eussiez été présent, mais votre cœur eût été réjoui. Certainement vous et notre œuvre occupez une grande place dans le cœur des chrétiens d'Amérique.

Je ne dirai pas ce que nous avons répondu : je m'en souviens à peine; nous parlâmes, M. Robert Mac-All et moi, de l'abondance de notre cœur, profondément ému. J'ai senti combien peu, combien mal, je représentais dans cette assemblée ma chère patrie; les difficultés du langage se joignaient à toutes les autres et rendaient ma tâche ardue. Malgré tout, cette soirée comptera parmi les plus belles de ma vie.

Courage donc, et en avant, cher monsieur Mac-All. J'ai la confiance que nous n'avons rien fait encore, en comparaison de ce que la libéralité américaine nous permettra de faire, avec l'aide de Dieu. Oui, j'ai maintenant la conviction que ce "mouvement national" en Amérique produira un "mouvement national" correspondant en France, et que ces deux peuples, que tant de similitudes unissent, sont destinés à présenter sur les deux hémisphères, non-seulement les mêmes couleurs à leur drapeau, mais les mêmes principes de liberté, de salut, et de vie éternelle.

J'allais oublier la manière touchante dont plusieurs orateurs et un grand nombre d'amis nous ont parlé du cher et regretté Dodds. Son nom et celui de M. Réveillaud, sont inséparablement unis de ce côté-ci de l'Océan, où leur passage a laissé un excellent souvenir.

Croyez-moi, cher monsieur Mac-All, votre bien dévoué en Christ,

R. SAILLENS.

M

OUR BRETHREN IN AMERICA.

R. WILLIAM NEEDHAM is now working at PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, and his labours seem to be greatly blessed of God. He occupies the position of pastor to a church of sincere and intelligent believers, who support him with sympathy and prayer.

He

is teaching them to be careful to maintain good works, as may be judged from the fact that he forwards a contribution from them to the Congo Mission, which, though not very large in itself, is decidedly so as coming from them, and which is sent as a token of hearty sympathy with the brethren of the Livingstone Inland Mission. His former fellow students and his many friends will be glad to hear that Mr. Needham has received from the Lord the gift of a good wife, who seems likely to be a valuable helpmeet. He was married on the 6th of February last, and will, we are sure, be glad to hear from his old companions on the occasion. His address is: 142, Branch Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island.

From MR. TURNER and MR. MILLIGAN we have had cheering accounts of their arrival in the United States, after a somewhat trying and stormy voyage. At Baltimore, their first halting place, they were cordially welcomed by the secretary of the Y. M. C. A., and found themselves at once launched into gospel work. Mr. Turner writes:

The day after our arrival (Sunday) we had more openings for work than we could use. In the morning we preached at the Friends' Mission, where we had a very hearty meeting. In the afternoon we went to the penitentiary, and preached Christ to about six hundred convicts, numbers of whom were murderers, and two-thirds of whom were coloured men. Their singing of Sankey's hymns was grand to hear, and they listened with earnest attention to the message of life. I saw tears in the eyes of more than one hardened criminal.

We went on to New York, and had meetings in the Grand Opera House there; these were largely attended, and we hope much blessed. When they were over, at ten p.m., we went to 27th Street, a quarter where every kind of vice is carried on, and where there is a mission hall holding about one hundred and twenty, which is always packed full after a short singing of hymns outside. Some sweet singing, and the gospel preached simply and earnestly, melts many of these poor degraded ones to tears, and night after night some stood up to ask our prayers.

While in New York I went to Blackwell's Island, where all the government institutions are, and preached at the penitentiary, in a large chapel where male and female prisoners are divided by a curtain, but can all be seen from the pulpit. Afterwards I read and prayed with some of them in their cells. One, a burglar in prison for the third time, said he wished to give his heart to Jesus, and try by His grace to lead a new life. 66 I won't wait till I leave this place," he said; "I will begin now."

These brethren were about to proceed westward, by way of Harrisburg and Chicago, to their field of labour among the silver miners in Colorado.

Our dear brother EDWARD JAMES, with his wife, moved from Texas to Missouri in March last. He writes:

We are now working in this State. The invitation to come here was so pressing that we could not resist, and we have found by the result that we were rightly guided. Still the need is great in Texas; in fact, all over these southern states the call for simple gospel teaching is urgent.

We had large meetings in Texas, but these have exceeded. They have been "union meetings," all the pastors agreeing to send us a joint invitation.

The mission commenced in the largest church, which seats between four and five hundred. By the third night the church was packed to excess, and we were obliged to take the opera hall, which seats between eight and nine hundred.

This also became too small, and the crowds continued to come twice a day for five weeks. On Sunday nights we were obliged to use the church for an overflow meeting; and even there several hundreds were unable to gain admittance.

The two ante-rooms in connection with the opera hall were filled with seekers every night. It was a blessed sight! old and young seeking the Saviour, and finding peace and joy in His all-sufficient grace.

Many professed unbelievers found repentance and faith in these meetings, as did also three Roman Catholics. These were bright cases, and we met with others of the same creed who were under deep conviction.

The mayor's wife, her sister, and brother in law, were converted in this mission. High and low, rich and poor, came alike and laid their all at the Saviour's feet. Since the meetings closed we have heard of others who found peace in believing.

We have several further engagements in this State, Peirce City, Joplin, Springfield and Nevada, which will occupy our time till the hot weather, when we hope to rest a little. My health has been very poor all the winter, but I am now beginning to regain strength.

MESSRS. ROCK and M'QUISTON are at work among settlers in the outlying parts of Canada. They write: "There is room here for many consecrated workers for Christ, if any of the brethren are at a loss for a field of labour."

VILLAGE WORK IN MICHIGAN.

MR. WM. DENMAN writes from Cambria Mills, Hillsdale, Michigan.

This is an agricultural village of about five hundred inhabitants, six hundred miles from New York, and seven miles from a railway station. It is situated in the midst of a flat country, well under cultivation and in every direction well wooded. When we arrived about three months ago the landscape looked attractive, but now it is desolation itself! In the town there is no sign that the hard-working farmers have ever cared for anything but work; no public building of any sort, and the only place of worship is that in which we are holding services. To live in such a place long, apart from the work in which we are engaged, could not be said to be pleasant, but we find in it an 66 open door." The cold is very intense now, registering several degrees below zero. The snow has been pretty thick on the ground for about eight weeks, and the frost very severe. When I make an excursion to a neighbouring town to preach, which I do once every week, I have to go in a sleigh which some of the farmers who have been warmed up to the work are willing to put at my service on such occasions.

We have been holding a series of special services for the past three weeks at Woodbridge, a village six miles from Cambria. There are many indications of good having resulted, but we find the farming class hard to impress. The people, being removed from all stirring scenes, are in a state of settled indifference out of which they are slow to move. Many believe in the annihilation theory, and others in universalism. Some of them hold these theories without having reasoned the matter out for themselves, but pin their faith to some American of name, like H. W. Beecher.

There would be sufficient work for two or three good men, preaching and visiting for miles around this neighbourhood. A farmer from Scotland who has been in the country about thirty years seemed glad to see me because I was from the old country; when I asked him to ride over to the services he said "he did not believe in it; if, however, I could teach him how to drive a better bargain in trade he would come." He could not be persuaded that to give up his sins for a blood-bought pardon was the best bargain he could make in this world. During the past few weeks I have called at a great number of houses, scattered over a large radius, from ten to fifteen in a day; but few of them would kneel in prayer with me, they for the most part maintaining a sitting posture !

I have been permitted recently to visit three death-beds. One, a Mrs. Van Wagnor, died very triumphantly, saying the Lord had made dying easy for her; another, an old gentleman who had seen eighty-one winters, and has been an exemplary Christian for many years. He was very weak for some time before death, but his mental powers seemed little impaired; reading, praying, and conversing with him about the land which now he has entered, was truly a means of grace. He seemed to fear somewhat the pains of death, but the Lord closed his eyes to-day in a moment, without a sign of suffering. A third case was that of a man who died from consumption, but who alas! was uncertain about everything. He expected that, if the hereafter were a reality, some proof would certainly be given him as he approached his end. I endeavoured, by reading appropriate passages from God's word and by prayer, to point him to a better hope,

but he did not seem to receive saving faith in the Lord Jesus. A sick young man I am now visiting is about thirty-five years of age and lives eight miles from Cambria in a log hut. I found him suffering from spinal disease, much cast down, and greatly concerned about his soul's welfare. He confessed to having neglected the great business of life till death stared him in the face, and now sees that he has been woefully mistaken! He prays earnestly and questions eagerly for light; may the Lord "lift upon him the light of His countenance, and give him peace."

We have had, since our arrival here, many invitations to preach and hold protracted services both in the east and west, but shall be occupied here for some months yet.

MR. BARON AND THE MILDMAY JEWISH
MISSION.

66

UR sympathy has of late been specially called forth on behalf of gospel work among God's people Israel, by a visit from Mr. David Baron, formerly one of our students, and now a member of the Mildmay Mission to Jews, the Glasgow branch of which has been for some time in his charge. He visited Cliff College from Sheffield, where, with Mr. Barnett's assistance, he has been holding a series of meetings. Their plan was to invite their Jewish brethren to friendly conversation on the character and work of the Messiah, as described in the Old Testament Scriptures." There are about six hundred Jewish families in Sheffield, and Mr. Baron's meetings have drawn them greatly; they have crowded the meeting room sometimes till midnight. A deputation of seven Israelites, headed by the rabbi, waited on him privately, anxious to speak with him concerning the Messiah. In these itinerant missions it is the custom for the missionary to place Isaiah liii., in large Hebrew characters, in the window of his lodgings, and this always excites the interest of the Jews.

Mr. Baron astonished us by saying that experience had convinced him there were multitudes of Jews in Christian England as ignorant of the character and work of our blessed Lord as the heathen in Central Africa. He said he had often been pained by the objection to his work made sometimes even by Christians. "What is the use," some ask, " of preaching Christ to the Jews, when Scripture plainly declares they will not be nationally converted until Christ comes ?" This is true, but it is equally true of Gentiles. No nation will be converted as such in this dispensation, during which the purpose of God is to gather out from amongst Jews, as well as Gentiles, "the Israel of God," the family of faith, in which there is neither Jew nor Greek. We have perhaps been too much influenced by the remembrance that the Jews are at present nationally and dispensationally cut off, forgetting that individually they are in no worse position than any other lost and guilty sinners. "Whosoever will," whether Jew or Gentile, is free to accept the gospel; and now, as

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