Part 29 (1/2)
Having gone to the center of one of the great shi+pbuilding districts of Scotland, and held a series of s, and raised a sum of about 55 only after nine services andto sink, as I did not think my health would stand another six weeks of incessant strain; when, at the close ofin 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 ave you the first 100 at the Dundee Conference; and it is a joy to us to give you this 100 too, towards theup of your final sum We pray that you may speedily realize your wish, and that God's richest blessing may ever rest upon your head”
Another week passed by, and at the close of it a lady called upon htful 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 God has prospered me, and this is one of the happiest ive you another little bit of paper”
So saying, she put into enerous 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 ive back whatever I a thereby through you in the conversion of the Heathen”
My last week had come, and I was in the st the letters delivered to me was one to this effect:
”Restitution money which never now can be returned to its owner Since my Conversion I have labored hard to save it I now h you Pray for me and mine, and may God bless you in your work!” I rather startledout 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 iven 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 class, ast whom he had spent his early and unconverted days Jesus said unto his the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had coow, so closely intertwined with all my earlier and later experiences, I started for London, acco at breakfast at Mrs Mathieson's table, Mild a ”thank-offering” from Lord and Lady Polwarth, received since our departure froow The Lord had now literally exceeded ain by friends at Mild expenses for new Missionaries had risen above the 500, and now approached 650
In a Farewell Meeting at Mildreat numbers from all quarters of London, dedicated s of praise and th Mr Mathieson, intio, as another co 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 passed froreat Hall, a perfect flood of emotion overwhelmed me I never felt a humbler man, nor more anxious to hide ifted, and beloved followers of Jesus Christ, and consecrated workers in His service, stood up and with one heart said, ”God speed” and ”God bless you,” as I passed on through the Hall To one who had striven and suffered less, or who less appreciated how little we can do for others coht haveere 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 Hiladly 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 God The Church and people of ht joyful welcome, and in public assembly presented , but which all the sahly-prized expression of their confidence and estee my absence at the Islands, to which I immediately proceeded, they unanimously elected me Moderator of their Suprehest Chair of honor in the Presbyterian Church God is s in themselves ever have been coveted by me; but hohen they have cole 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 Steaed and constantly enlarging requirehteen 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 s of the Lord's stewards, in the es ”Behold! What God hath wrought!”
Of this sum 6000 are set apart to build or acquire the new Mission shi+p The remainder is added to e 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!”
As to the new Mission shi+p, unexpected delay has arisen There are differences of opinion about the best way of carrying out the proposal