Closing Years of Life

Andrew Reed

In addition to those labours on behalf of the various asylums already described, Dr. Reed was indefatigable in all the ministries of usefulness and love. There was no field left untilled by him; no enterprise of Christian ministry untouched.

His sympathies were early awakened on behalf of mission work in heathen lands. As a boy, he accompanied his mother to the early meetings of the London Missionary Society. This Society, indeed, was founded by ministers and gentlemen who were familiar with his parents, the enterprise being a frequent subject of conversation at the home fireside; so that he might be said to have grown up in intimate acquaintance with missionary and philanthropic movements from his infancy. Twice he placed himself at the disposal of the directors, when at the height of his influence as a London minister, in order to go to China; but each time the directors felt that Dr. Reed could do more good at home. He preached the annual sermons for the Society more than once, and with such power, that his words became a marvellous inspiration to those who had heard them. He looked upon those who were labouring in the mission-field with such affectionate interest, that when Dr. Milne, of China, died, he opened his house to the family of orphans who came to England for education. From that time the whole number, — three sons and one daughter, — were reckoned as his own children. It is recorded of these young Milnes, that the daughter died young, after a short but beautiful Christian life, while the sons filled positions of honourable usefulness, — one being a missionary and interpreter to the British Government, in China, and another a minister in Lancashire. He was at all times ready to sacrifice ease, money, and self, if only he could benefit the heathen, or aid those who were actively engaged among the heathen; while, ever and anon, he cast earnest glances at the work for himself.

As a consequence, his circle of missionary acquaintance was large; and included some of the most honoured names in different fields of labour. Among them were Micaiah Hill and Thomas Boaz, of India; Dr. Gutzlaff, Dr. Medhurst, and Mr. Abeel, of China; Robert Moffat, Dr. Philip, and Mr. Christy, of Africa; John Williams and others from the South Seas. All these, together with many others, made their home at Dr. Reed’s house, on visiting England, for more or less time, and submitted their written compositions to his editorial care. And every Saturday evening, when the labours of the week were over, and he had prepared his discourse for the Sabbath, he remembered for an hour at the throne of grace the names of these and other Christian workers in far-away places.

The story of his ministerial success reads almost like a dream, were it not remembered that the secret of it all lay in his own beautiful motto, Eminent piety is essential to eminent usefulness y Some friends who had remarked his career as a minister, said that the results might be called “A continuous revival.” Deeply humble himself, anxious for the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit in his own soul, and ever on the look-out for opportunities of usefulness to all classes of his hearers, it cannot be wondered at that admissions to his Church were counted by hundreds — as many as seventy being admitted at one Church meeting. It is recorded that on more than one occasion, 2,000 people remained behind the more public services of the sanctuary, for prayer and praise. Young and old came forward, testifying of their conversion by means of the sermons, preached in some cases years previously; and these people were of all ranks and ages, but were so powerfully acted upon by the same discourses, that it became plain to all that an Almighty power had blessed the spoken word. But Dr. Reed notes that every season of remarkable revival was preceded by a striking work of grace on his own heart — a personal increase in humiliation and prayer.

He also abounded jg;reatly in evangelistic labours for the good of other churches. He was so sought after, that at one time he records having to write fifty letters of denial to the people who asked him to preach for them, within three months.

Among more public works, however. Dr. Reed established a Savings Bank for East London, and a Penny Savings Bank, beside helping forward largely the Emancipation of West Indian slaves. He also set on foot a Grammar School at Hackney for middle-class education, which conferred much benefit on the youth of that neighbourhood for some years.

On the completion of forty years of his pastorate, his affectionate people at Wycliffe Chapel desired to make some presentation to him as a substantial memorial of their esteeem. But he refused everything which tended to his own profit, or seemed to savour of self-flattery. At length he reluctantly agreed to the execution of a marble bust, which was. done by Mr. Foley, R.A. and then placed in the vestry of Wycliffe Chapel, as his gift to his people. At the expiration of fifty years, they presented him with an affectionate address, and a sum of £SQO, Shortly afterwards, he handed the cheque to the secretary of the Asylum for Fatherless Children, saying, “Take it, and make the best of it for the fatherless.”

During his last few months of life, one of his sons mentioned to him his desire for materials wherewith to write a biography, which might some day be asked for. Dr. Reed immediately negatived the idea; with his ever-ready self-depreciation, he he desired to lie forgotten, behind his works. A few days afterwards, he wrote the following lines to his son:

“to my saucy boy who said he would write my life, and asked for materials.”

“A. R.

“I was born yesterday;
I shall die to-morrow;
And I must not spend to-day
In telling what I have done.
But in doing what I may for Him
Who has done all for me.
I sprang from the people;
I have lived for the people,^
The most for the unhappy:
And the people, when they shall know it
Will not allow me to die out of their loving
remembrance.”

During 1860 and 1861, it was easy to be seen that Dr. Reed’s strength was unequal to his pulpit work. He paid a last visit to the family graves at Cheshunt, lingered for a while beside the beloved mounds where repose the honoured dust of his father, mother, and sister, and then took a last look at the places endeared to him by early recollections. The journey was performed in an easy carriage, accompanied by one of his sons. Halts were made at some of the Orphan Asylums; at the chapels at Ponder*s End and Enfield Highway; at the houses in which his father and mother had died; at the oak under which he had, when a youth, preached to the villagers at Cheshunt; and then he returned home, as if conscious that he had soon to lay down all things and die. At the close of 1861, he set his study in order, arranged his papers, and records of the charities, and bade “good-bye” to his old books — the gifts of his father and mother, in those far-back days of study. Then his family knew that the end could not be far off.

On the last Christmas of his life, he was compelled to forego his usual custom of entertaining the aged poor widows of his congregation; debility of both mind and body prevented it. But even in the weakness which preceded death, he would speak most impressive and persuasive words, as if still occupying the pulpit, and beseeching his people to accept salvation.

At last, life gradually ebbed away, and on the morning of February 25th, 1862, he entered into rest.