Talk About Personal Work at Northfield

For nearly forty years after my first resolve to be faithful in this line of personal, or individual, work for Christ, as God gave me opportunity and power, I do not think that it occurred to me that my methods of Christian eiIbrt,forthe good of single souls, were in anyway exceptional or peculiar. The circumstances of my being won to Christ, and of my beginning to work for him, made this method seem to me the natural and reasonable way; and I simply kept at it, year after year, without considering specifically whether others worked in the same way or not But after nearly twoscore years of this experience, a circumstance forced on my mind the truth that other Christians needed to be told that this was the better way for them, as well 125 as for me, to work fer CSirist and for

souls.

I was at Norihfield oac summer, attending the notable Students* Confia-ence conducted by Mn Moody. Several hundred students were there from twoscore or more collq;es ot America and Great Britain, But I was more interested in one student, whom I had gonethither to accompany, than in the hundreds of students who had been drawn thither by its general attractions and advantages. I am always more interested in the one than in the hundreds. When I am thinking of one to love and to live for, and to influence and to benefit, I can give my whole attention and all my efforts to that one. And my whole being is needed for my best work in whatever is worth doing and that I am set to accomplish.

I had had a part in the conference in several of its earlier days, and I was now about to return home, leaving the young friend, whom I had taken thither, in surroundings that I was confident he would 126 lit llonMet6

enjoy. To Mr. Moody’s urgent request that I would remain another day, and again address the students, my reply was that I was not needed. He had helpers enough. The evening before I was to leave, as I sat on the platform just back of Mr. Moody, young G. B. Studd, of Cambridge University, who was one of the &mous cricketers, was making an earnest address. In speaking of his early Christian life, he mentioned that when, on one occasion, he thanked a lady who had done him a kindness,he had spoken to her direct words for Christ In thanking him for these words, she said that never before had any one Spoken such a word to her. At this, Studd said that he asked himself why none of her friends who were friends of Christ had ever been faithful to her spiritual wel&re.

As Studd said this, I leaned forward and whispered to Mr. Moody:

“You have been asking me to stop over another day, and address the students. I have thought I couldn’t, but Studd’s talk 127 has stirred me. Now, if you*d like it. 111 stop over to-morrow night, and talk about ‘Personal Work for Souls, Only you must promise me that my words shall not be reported in the papers, for I shall, perhaps, use real names, as illustrations, that had better not be in print”

Mr. Moody was glad to have the arrangement made, assuring me that the reporters would do as he wished, and that he would ask them not to report my remarks. That night, and the next day, I thought and prayed over the matter, in preparation for the next evening’s meeting. Up to that time, I do not remember to have ever, at any time or place, spoken on this subject, or on this method of Christian work. Its importance had been in .my mind simply for my own guidance. Of course, I had no notes, or memoranda, of former thoughts or experiences in this line of Christian efibrt But the theme grew in prominence and importance, as I thought of it hour by hour; as, indeed, any phase of Christ’s work grows, 128

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as we thoughtfully consider its magnitude and worth.

In the next evening’s talk I told how I had been moved to this address by Mr. Studd’s narrative of his experience in speaking for Christ to a single soul. I related how I had been, as it were, won to Christ by a word from one who had for years deferred speaking that word when he knew that he ought to speak it; and how I had, since then, made it my life purpose to speak for Christ to an individual, as being a more hopeful and important work for souls than addressing a multitude. I emphasized the fact, in addressing that large gathering of students, that I wanted to address them individually, instead of collectively; that I wished to have each one feel that I was speaking to him alone, as if no one was there except just he and myself. And, as next best to this as a fact, I wanted each student present to press home the truth of the evening to some other single student

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A number of the incidents and expen ences related in these pages were included in the address of that evening; but, in addition, there were’ instanced several prominent Christian workers whom those students had reason to know well, who had been won to Christ, or guided in his service, by just this kind of personal Christian endeavor. Of course, such particular individuals were not to be instanced in print, then or now. But the mention of these cases, at that time, gave emphasis to the truth that this is the way to work for Christ

The facts of the address seemed a surprise to all, perhaps more to myself than to any one else; for I had, long before, come to look at this truth, that one is more than many, as almost a matter of course, — a spiritual axiom, as it were. As the students were warmly interested in the subject of the evening, they began to mani* fest their interest by signs of applause, as was their wont, when it concluded. Mr. 130

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Moody, in his intense way, putting up his hand, and shaking it deprecatingly, said:

“Hush I This is no matter for applause. It’s too solemn a truth. Brother Studd, will you lead us in prayer?”

Then Mr. Studd prayed, and we all had to pray with him. The heavens seemed to open above us, and we were &cetoface with the Lover and Saviour of souls. I think we all realized anew what a duty and privilege it is to represent that Saviour in pleading with a soul that he loves, and that he wants us to bring to him. Even as I was, at that hour, broken down with strong feeling under the power of that inspired prayer, I felt that he who had such ‘’power with God for men” could surely “have power with men for God.” That evening, because of its experiences and accompaniments, marked an era in my life for which I have never ceased to be grateful

But there was a practical result of this considering of the subject of the evening.

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The leaders of the various collies and universities represented in the G>nference at once invited their fellow-students to meet in their several recognized rallying-places, and take action in the direction of personal, or individual, work for Christ in their own field of labor. So, bdbre they separated for the night, they had pledged themselves to labor as individuals with individuals in bringing souls to Christ, in addition to all other ways in which they had worked, or would woi’k. That certainly was a gain.

A single incident of that evening showed how ready God is to open the way for our efforts if we will be ready to enter it for his service. Mr. Studd and some of his Cambridge associates came to me, after the meeting, and asked my assistance in behalf of one of their countrymen who was with them. He was a young man standing high in his university. His father was eminent in the nation. Hence the influence of the young man would be great according as he used it for or against the 133 lit tioftMtelb

right He had, as yet, no interest in the Christian work that had drawn to Northfield some of his personal fiiends. He had come thither because of his intimacy with some of them, but he had little sympathy with them in their interest in what vras represented by the Northfield Conference. They had sought in vain to win his interest in these things on the voyage over, and now they had come for my help.

“Give us your help, Dr. Trumbull,” said Mr. Studd. “It would amply repay us for coming to America if we could only win this man to Christ”

“My dear friends,” I said,” I cannot help you. I have no special power in winning souls. I have merely told you this evening of my habit of speaking a word for Christ to those whom God puts under my influence, or for whom, in some way, he gives me a responsibility. This young man is not one of that sort I have merely met him here as one with you. All I can say is that I will have your request in mind, and if 133

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I meet him so that I have a right to speak to him I will not &il to use the opportunity,”

“Well, we shall be praying for you and him, and I trust that God will open a way for a blessing/*

It was then nearly midnight I left the Auditorium and went across the campus to the hall in which I had my room. As I went up the steps of that hall I saw a young man standing in the shadow. He stepped forward to meet me. It was the young Cambridge student of whom we had been speaking, and for whom his fiiends and associates were now praying. As I greeted him cordially, he said:

“Dr. Trumbull, I was over in the Auditorium and I heard your address. And now I want your help. When are you going away? When can I have a talk with you?”

“Fd gladly talk to-night with you,” I said, “but I am not going away until to-morrow noon.”

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So it was arranged that I should meet him as I came out from the breakfast room early the next morning. Bidding him goodnighty I went to my room to thank God and to pray to God. As I came from the breakfast room I found the ‘’man greatly beloved” awaiting me. Together we sought a retired spot, under the trees, at some distance from the buildings, There we had a plain, free talk. He was entirely ready to take the step of submission to Christ, and of entering his service. As we kneeled together in the open air, and sought God’s blessing on the decision then made and the new life course then entered on, I felt that the incident was one of God’s planning and leading to, and which surely had his blessing.

I was glad to report to those who had sought my help this sequel to their request of the evening before. And when I left them all, that noon, I was confident that the new disciple would be lovingly and feithfuUy cared for and aided in the subsequent days 135 at Northfield and when all returned to their English homes. Some weeks later I had a letter from that young man, speaking most gratefully of that interview under the trees on that morning in Northfield — that heaven on earth,” as he called it, and as any place where God is can &irly be called. God is always better than we anticipate, if we are ready to work for souls in his behalf