Extension of His Work
George Müller
These labours were not always pleasant In addition to the care of all these orphan houses, the schools, and other departments of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, Mr. Muller was subject, like most other servants of the Lord, to misrepresentation and slander. False reports were spread about by the enemies of the work, to the effect that the orphans had not enough to eat, and that they were cruelly treated; while others tried to discredit the undertaking, by representing that Mr. Müller’s chief object was money-getting. But he took these matters, in common with his other anxieties, to the Throne of Grace. He never shrank from meeting the accusations and refuting them: at the same time, he looked upon painful trials of this sort as circumstances adapted to try his faith. He laid down two good rules for his own guidance in respect to these painful experiences, rules which might be equally advantageous to other Christians. They were — first, that believers should not shrink from situations, positions and circumstances, in which their faith may be tried; and second, that they should let God work for them when the hour of the trial of their faith came, and not work out a deliverance of their own. It is not wonderful that he was kept in “perfect peace” amid all emergencies and anxieties, sustained as he was by these principles.
Strengthened by experience of the past, Mr. Muller opened a fourth orphan house, in Wilson Street, in March, 1844. He had, not long before this, received ;f 500 for the funds of the Institution; and with a part of this money he resolved to furnish a house for the reception of thirty additional orphan girls above eight years of age. The house was quickly filled; but about a year and eight months afterwards some complaint was made by people living in the same street that the noise of the children in their play was a serious inconvenience to them. These complaints raised the question of removal to another locality.
It appears, that for ten years Mr. Muller had been looking about in different places for accommodation for the children, but not finding any, had allowed the matter to remain in abeyance. Now, however, the necessity appeared imperative ;/even works of benevolence could not be suffered to interfere with the comfort of other residents. But to contemplate building. a large house, when only money sufficient for present need came in, appeared to some to be the height of madness. From calculations which he made, he found that to secure land and build a suitable orphanage fit for accommodating 300 children, which was the lowest number he intended to commence with, he required a sum of £^,QOO. Whence could this be obtained? It seemed ridiculous to entertain the project But Mr. Müller felt convinced that he must build, or give up the orphanage part of his enterprise; for, to whatever locality in Bristol he might remove, the same objections were liable to arise; while the construction of ordinary dwelling-houses was such that complete isolation could not be obtained in outbreaks of infectious disease, or even suitable accommodation.
This point being settled, Mr. Müller debated within himself whether it would really tend to the honouring of God to give up a work which had so marvellously been blessed by Him. And having, prayed much over it, he came to the conclusion that the increased and sustained dependence upon the Al, mighty alone, which would be requisite in carrying forward such an undertaking, would be far more to the praise and glory of God than if he resigned the work.. Assured that the Lord would provide, Mr. Müller decided to build a house capable of accommodating 300 children, so providing room for the 126 already in Wilson Street, and for many other applicants who were waiting for admission. He then applied himself to prayer that money for the building fund might come in.
During the first fortnight not a penny was sent for this purpose.
Thirty-three days passed by, and still only a few small amounts had come to hand. At last, on the thirty-fourth day, he received a large donation of ;f 1,000 for this purpose — the largest donation, in fact, which had ever reached him. Other contributions followed, and soon, a second £iyO0O. After this, he prayed for a piece of land on which to build. Some weeks passed in this way, when he heard that a suitable site was for sale on Ashley Down, and he promptly sought out the owner.
After two or three unsuccessful efforts to see this gentleman, who was a merchant of Bristol, he secured an interview. To his delight, he found that although the land was worth ;^200 an acre, yet he might have It for that particular purpose at ;£’120 an acre. A contract was immediately signed for the purchase of seven acres, so saving £^60 upon the market price. After this, little by little, the money for building came in, so that in two years Mr. Muller felt himself justified in giving orders for the erection of the first orphan house. It was finished and fitted up for the reception of 300 boys, girls, and infants, under eight years of age; and when all was done and paid for, more than ;^6oo remained in hand- The training of the children and household arrangements remained just the same as in Wilson Street; while the means for the support of this enlarged home came to hand in reply to the prayers of faith.
No. 2 orphan house followed, because admission was sought for hundreds of children who could not possibly be accommodated in the first house. Indeed, Nos. 2 and 3 were erected next; but the undertaking involved the purchase of additional land, so that the total expense amounted to about ;^40,ooo. Some friends discouraged Mr. Müller from such a gigantic task, representing to him that it savoured of presumption, and some enemies said that he had already ;£’30,ooo in hand toward this matter, thinking thereby to deter subscribers and donors from sending any money.
Six years were spent, however, in praying and looking to God for the means, when the second house was finished, and opened, with 400 girls. No, 3 house was built upon the newly-purchased portion of land, and accommodated 450 girls. Thus, altogether in the’ three houses, homes had been provided for 1,150 children. This kst was opened in March, 1862, and at this date ;f 1400 remained in hand./
Still, 900 orphans requested admission, for whom no room could be found; and Mr. Müller, in his large-hearted dependence on God, determined to do something more for them. He thought of bis old text — “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” — and resolved to put the promise to a fuller test After laying the matter fully before the Lord in prayer, he came to the resolution to build two more orphan houses, large enough to hold together 900 children; one house to be reserved for girls of all ages, and the other for boys. The total number of orphans, therefore, when the scheme should be carried out, would amount to 2,050, while these would require 1 10 assistants, in the shape of matrons, masters, mistresses, and nurses.
It was a long time before his desire was accomplished; seven weary years passed by in patient waiting; but at length, in 1869, the last house was opened.
Amid the thankful rejoicing at the completion of the labours, Mr. Muller experienced sorrow. His wife, who had been the faithful friend of the orphans for so many years, died in February, 1870. The funeral took place at Amo’s Vale Cemetery, Bristol, when many hundreds of these children followed her to the grave. They, together with many who had left the homes to go out into life, erected a simple monument over the grave, testifying by this act their loving esteem for her. The work went on, however, though it had lost so unwearied a friend, and has so gone on until this day. All the branches of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution have continued in vigorous activity, supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and managed according to the rules of God’s Word.
It is interesting to peep inside one of. the orphan houses, and observe the daily routine. The education includes reading, writing, arithmetic, history, grammar, geography, music, needlework, domestic economy, laundry, and household work; the elder girls taking their turns at the household duties, in order to become efficient as domestic servants. The girls are also taught to make and mend their own clothes, as well as how to nurse properly younger children. Boys learn to knit their own socks, make their own beds, scrub the floors, go errands, assist in the garden, and pick up many other useful ideas. They are generally apprenticed to various trades, when the school course is ended * but in the case of both girls and boys, where any special aptitude of talent, or delicacy of constitution exists, these children are educated for the profession of teachers. Every boy and girl is expected to read the l^lty privately y each day; while systematic instruction in Scripture knowledge forms one of the school subjects.
The holidays consist of a week at Whitsuntide, a week in September, a week at Christmas, and a few days at Easter. These holidays are spent in play and recreation, or in visits to friends. A day in July is also granted for an outdoor picnic and excursion, when the children take their meals in the open air, and much enjoy the ramble.
From the beginning of the work in 1836, up till May, 1884, 6,892 orphans had been received. The conditions required for their acceptance are, ist, that they must have lost both parents by death; 2nd, that the marriage certificate of the parents can be produced, and yd, that they must be left in destitute circumstances. The girls are retained until they are seventeen or eighteen years of age, and then being fitted for domestic service, are dismissed to situations; while the boys are apprenticed at fourteen or fifteen years of age to those trades which they express a preference for; an outfit being provided, and a premium of yi3 being paid with each lad. After apprenticeship, or going out into situations, correspondence is kept up with the orphans, by teachers and friends at the orphan houses, so that the tie between them and their benefactor is not broken.
These orphanages have had their dark days also. At one time 526 children were ill with fever; at another time, small-pox entered a house, and while large’ numbers were ill, two teachers and several children died. Sometimes a boy or girl behaves so badly that reproof fails; and proving incorrigible, he or she is- sent away, sorrowfully, and this for the sake of the evil influence which such/a one would have on all the rest But Mr. Muller casts all these matters on the Lord, as well as all cares connected with the maintenance of the houses. His life is most emphatically one of faith.
Speaking of his absolute dependence upon God, as far as it concerns the time to come, and the future of the orphanages, he says:” Through grace we have learned to lean upon the Lord only, being assured that if we were never to write or speak one single word more about this work, yet should we be supplied with means, as long as He should enable
us to live on Himself alone I have given
instance upon instance, I have brought before you, not this particular case, nor another particular case, but I have purposely shown you how we have fared day after day in our poverty, in order that you may adore the Lord for His goodness to us, and that you yourself may be led to depend upon Him for everything, should you not have done so before. Suppose, now, all is gone. Suppose the expenses are great, but very little, comparatively, is coming in. What shall we do, now y If we took goods on credit, or if we made known our necessities to the liberal Christians who have means, and who are interested in the work in our hands, then, humanly speaking, there might be little difficulty; but we neither take goods on credit, nor do we speak to any one about our need, but we wait upon God. He always helps us, and has done so for more than forty-five years with reference to the orphans. ...... The first and
primary object of the work was, to show before the whole world, and the whole Church of Christ, that even in these last evil days, the living God is ready to prove Himself as the living God, by being ever willing to help, succour, comfort, and answer the prayers of those who trust in Him. From the beginning when God put this service into my heart, I had anticipated trials and straits, but knowing, as I did, the heart of God, through the experience of several years previously, I also knew that he would listen to the prayers of His child who trusts in Him, and that he would not leave him in the hour of need, but listen to his prayers and deliver him out of the difficulty,”