Part 29 (1/2)

Having gone to the center of one of the great s.h.i.+pbuilding districts of Scotland, and held a series of meetings, and raised a sum of about 55 only after nine services and many Sabbath School collecting cards, my heart was beginning to sink, as I did not think my health would stand another six weeks of incessant strain; when, at the close of my last meeting in a Free Church, an Elder and his wife entered the vestry and said, ”We are deeply interested in you and in all your work and plans.

You say that you have asked 500 more. We gave you the first 100 at the Dundee Conference; and it is a joy to us to give you this 100 too, towards the making up of your final sum. We pray that you may speedily realize your wish, and that G.o.d's richest blessing may ever rest upon your head.”

Another week pa.s.sed by, and at the close of it a lady called upon me, and, after delightful conversation about the Mission, said, ”How near are you to the sum required?” I explained to her what is recorded above, and she continued, ”I gave you one little piece of paper at the beginning of your efforts. I have prayed for you every day since. G.o.d has prospered me, and this is one of the happiest moments of my life, when I am now able to give you another little bit of paper.”

So saying, she put into my hand 100. I protested, ”You are surely too generous. Can you afford a second 100?”

She replied to this effect, and very joyfully, as one who had genuine gladness in the deed, ”My Lord has been very kind to me, in my business.

My wants are simple, and are safe in His hands. I wait not till death forces me, but give back whatever I am able to the Lord now, and hope to live to see much blessing thereby through you in the conversion of the Heathen.”

My last week had come, and I was in the midst of preparations for departure, when amongst the letters delivered to me was one to this effect:

”Rest.i.tution money which never now can be returned to its owner. Since my Conversion I have labored hard to save it. I now make my only possible amends by returning it to G.o.d through you. Pray for me and mine, and may G.o.d bless you in your work!” I rather startled my brother and his wife at our breakfast table by shouting out in unwontedly excited tones,--”Hallelujah! The Lord has done it! Hallelujah!” But my tones softened down into intense reverence, and my words broke at last into tears, when I found that this, the second largest subscription ever received by me (1000, by one friend, have since been given to the ”John G. Paton Mission Fund”), came from a converted tradesman who had consecrated his all to the Lord Jesus, and whose whole leisure was now centered upon seeking to bless and save those of his own rank and cla.s.s, amongst whom he had spent his early and unconverted days. Jesus said unto him, ”Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compa.s.sion on thee.”

Bidding farewell to dear old Glasgow, so closely intertwined with all my earlier and later experiences, I started for London, accompanied by my brother James. We were sitting at breakfast at Mrs. Mathieson's table, Mildmay, when a telegram was put into my hands announcing a ”thank-offering” from Lord and Lady Polwarth, received since our departure from Glasgow. The Lord had now literally exceeded my prayers.

With other gifts, repeated again by friends at Mildmay, the special fund for outfit and traveling expenses for new Missionaries had risen above the 500, and now approached 650.

In a Farewell Meeting at Mildmay the Lord's servants, being a.s.sembled in great numbers from all quarters of London, dedicated me and my work very solemnly to G.o.d, amid songs of praise and many prayers and touching ”last words.” And when at length Mr. Mathieson, intimating that I must go, as another company of Christian workers were elsewhere waiting also to say Good-by, suggested that the whole audience should stand up, and, instead of hand-shaking, quietly breathe their benedictory Farewell as I pa.s.sed from the platform down through their great Hall, a perfect flood of emotion overwhelmed me. I never felt a humbler man, nor more anxious to hide my head in the dust, than when all these n.o.ble, gifted, and beloved followers of Jesus Christ, and consecrated workers in His service, stood up and with one heart said, ”G.o.d speed” and ”G.o.d bless you,” as I pa.s.sed on through the Hall. To one who had striven and suffered less, or who less appreciated how little we can do for others compared with what Jesus had done for us, this scene might have ministered to spiritual pride; but long ere I reached the door of that Hall, my soul was already prostrated at the feet of my Lord in sorrow and in shame that I had done so little for Him, and I bowed my head and could have gladly bowed my knees to cry, ”Not unto us; Lord, not unto us!”

CHAPTER XC.

WELCOME TO VICTORIA AND ANIWA.

ON the 28th October, 1885, I sailed for Melbourne, and in due course safely arrived there by the goodness of G.o.d. The Church and people of my own beloved Victoria gave me a right joyful welcome, and in public a.s.sembly presented me with a testimonial, which I shrank from receiving, but which all the same was the highly-prized expression of their confidence and esteem.

During my absence at the Islands, to which I immediately proceeded, they unanimously elected me Moderator of their Supreme Court, and called me back to fill that highest Chair of honor in the Presbyterian Church. G.o.d is my witness how very little any or all of these things in themselves ever have been coveted by me; but how, when they have come in my way, I have embraced them with a single desire thereby to promote the Church's interest in that Cause to which my whole life and all my opportunities are consecrated--the Conversion of the Heathen World.

My Mission to Britain was to raise 6000, in order to enable the Australian Churches to provide a Steam Auxiliary Mission s.h.i.+p, for the enlarged and constantly enlarging requirements of the New Hebrides. I spent exactly eighteen months at home; and when I returned, I was enabled to hand over to the Church that had commissioned and authorized me no less a sum than 9000. And all this had been forwarded to me, as the freewill offerings of the Lord's stewards, in the manner ill.u.s.trated by the preceding pages. ”Behold! What G.o.d hath wrought!”

Of this sum 6000 are set apart to build or acquire the new Mission s.h.i.+p. The remainder is added to what we call our Number II. Fund, for the maintenance and equipment of additional Missionaries. It has been the dream of my life to see one Missionary at least, with trained Native Teachers, planted on every Island of the New Hebrides, and then I could lie down and whisper gladly, ”Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace!”