Mission Work

“”T^UEING the year 18G2, our mother instituted ca sort of mission among the poor in Bedford street, a place where the very ofFscouring of the city congregated, and I joined her in the work. The “baby” referred to in the following letter came from this mission, as also the two little boys. There was much that deeply interested our father in this work, and it ultimately resulted in his very interesting mission school among the colored peo2:)le, to the account of which we shall come soon.

‘’Philadelphia, Sd month, 22d, 1862.

‘• Precious Polly: — We want thee to come on soon as possible. Enclosed is ten dollars to bear thy expenses. We feel as if the time has been very long since we had a visit. The other day, going home to dinner, Henry, the coachman, met me, and said he had brought a baby home. Mother was in Burlington, and Hannah and Alice had the use of the horse ‘Charley.’ Well, thinks I, what next? I was pnzzled, and asked Henry if he was going to nurse the baby? He turned up his whites. * A baby 1 and what is to be done with it,’ I thought. On going in found baby up stairs in the nursery; Hannah, Alice and M. C. Whitall fussing over it. I had a mind to be considerably tried, but took to reading ‘Phipps’ Original and Present State of Man,’ which, by-the-by, is a good composition. Pretty soon found they intended sending it to the Home of the Friendless.

I proposed that they should go there (at Chestnut Hill) right after dinner; so Charley posted off’. I waited to see them loaded up, only too glad to get the baby off my hands, knowing that one crop of babies is enough for mother, unless their own mothers are along. I don’t believe there are any other two women in Philadelphia who would have taken hold of a baby under the circumstances. Perhaps H. has written to thee about it. She is a rouser, and will tell thee lots of curious adventures.

‘’ Dear love to Minnie, and tell her to bring her book to read to me and Jack and Harry Parry — give them kisses; and love to the Doctor, who I hope will come with thee, if he can spare the time. Write and say when thou art coming; we will meet you with furniture car for trunks. Affectionately, thy father,

J. M. WlIlTALL.”

“P. S. — While reading this to mother, in came Hannah, with two boys, nine and five, whose drunken mother she has just left at the Alms House. Now what shall we do with these two boys? I do believe Hannah and mother are puzzled. They are down in the kitchen, and blue-eyed Johnny from next door is there, looking at the boys, who are right bright. But ’ the poor ye have always with you.’”

To this our mother adds:

“Five o’clock. We have got the children washed and combed! and clean clothes on, and they look real nice. But I have not time to say anything; but do come right away, and send word when we may hope to see you. There is a long history about these boys, but nothing more now.”

On the 28th of 3d month, 1863, our father wrote to
our mother:

“Sixty years old to-day, dearest. Hope thou art as wise as one should be at that age. It don’t seem to make any difference to me; for added years bring not wisdom, I fear. * * * This sad rebellion! I cannot help hoping it is on its last legs. The North feel confident and the South desperate. My trust is in the Lord. If He has decreed the death of slavery, all the powers of evil cannot prevent it, which consideration has been a great stay to my mind throughout this terrible war.”

The next letter was written to my sister Sarah and myself, when we were visiting our sister Mary in Baltimore, leaving our children at home; and the little “Mary Ella” referred to, my sister Sarah’s two years old daughter, was evidently staying at her grandpa’s.

“5th month, lith, 1863.

Precious DArcHTERS: — I asked Mary Ella if she would not like to send love to her mamma? She said, very cooly, ‘No!” Love to Bessie?” No!” Love to Minnie?” No!” Love to Johnny?’ No!’ Love to Hadge-padge?’ ‘No!” Love to Bonny Boy?” No! ’ and she stuck to ‘No! ’ all through.

“We have a teachers’ meeting here this evening. They are useful and encouraging. Our school in Shippen St. increases in scholars and interest, and we hope the blessing of our Lord attends. We have not a doubt but that He sent us to labor in that field. Oh, if we can only so fulfil our mission as to gain souls to Jesus and glorify Him. We may then hope to enjoy the light of His countenance; and truly His favor is better than life, and the knowledge of Him than hid treasure.”

The school here referred to was an object of deepest interest to our father from this time on until he was too feeble to continue it. Durino; the winter of 1862 our mother in the course of her work among the poor people in the lower part of the city, had felt the great need there was of religious instruction for the adult colored people of that section, especially as just at this time there were a great many fugitives from the South, ‘’contrabands of war,” as we called them then. She proposed to our father to open a First-day School for the adults only, and as he had always been deeply interested in the colored race, and had years before felt impressed that he would one day hold such a position in relation to them, he consented, although he felt at first very diffident as to its success. The school was opened first in the church called “Little John Wesley,” in Shippen street, and the scholars began to crowd in. In a very short time this church was found to be too small, and the school was moved to a mission church in St. Mary’s street, between Sixth and Seventh, owned by George H. Stuart, and kindly rented by him to our father for the use of his school.

In a letter to his daughter Sarah he thus speaks of
his interest in this school:

“We enjoyed our school-room last First day; 158 present, and we had an Interesting time. The scholars seemed appreciative and very attentive. It is marvellous to myself how at last I should have got into the position which years ago felt comfortable and desirable — to be a teacher to the colored people. Perhaps I never before was quite ready. If Heavenly Father will please make use of so poor an instrument to bring souls to Jesus great would be my joy. Earnest are my desires to love Him more and serve Him better.”

The whole expenses of the school were borne by our
father, and he alone was responsible for its management. But he was aided by a large corps of faithful
teachers, and for several years our mother assisted
him in the superintendence of the weekly sessions of
the school. The colored people called her the ‘’Head
Woman,” and the name pleased our father so much
that he adopted it in his playful moments, and would
often come into the house and call up stairs in his
happy voice, “Where’s the sweetest Head Woman in all
the world?”

The school was attended largely at first by ‘’ contrabands,” as they were called, from the Southern States, and their eagerness to learn made it a great pleasure to teach them. But there were also many of the poorest colored people from the neighborhood, which is the most wretched in the city. The interest and enjoyment of all classes was very great from the first, and the number present generally averaged from one hundred and fifty to two hundred.

A mother’s meeting was sometimes carried on in connection with the school, where the women attended, and spent three hours making up clothing, which was afterwards sold to them at a very low price. At these meetings some one always read aloud an interesting book or tract. At other times there were distributions of free coal made to the most worthy, from the fund of the Grandom estate, of which our father was one of the managers. Every scholar was also given one dollar in money whenever they had attended the school twenty-four times.

One of our most devoted teachers, M. M., very soon after the opening of the school began to feel called of the Lord to devote her whole time to visiting the scholars in their homes, and laboring with them privately and personally. As she had no property of her own, it was a trial of faith thus to devote herself to the Lord’s work, without any assured means of support; but the call was so plain, that she felt she dared not disregard it, and she has often told us since, that from the hour when she thus gave herself up to obey the Lord in this, she has never wanted in any necessary thing, although she lias made her wants known to none but the Lord alone. From this time on she tried to visit every scholar as often as possible, and was greatly blessed in her ministrations to them, both temporal and spiritual. We all feel that the great success of the gospel work among the scholars was largely owing to her services, and our father valued her very highly as one of his most important aids. The Annual Reports were made up mostly from her memoranda. As it will interest the grandchildren to know something about the work in which their beloved grandpa was so deeply interested, I will insert some extracts from the yearly Reports which were presented to the Conference of the Friends’ First Day School Association of Philadelphia and its vicinity.

In 1864 the Annual E,eport contains the following:

“In our last annual report it was stated that our school was located on Shippen St., below Eighth. We had then only recently commenced our work, and soon found that the room was quite too small to accommodate the numerous applicants for admission, and a commodious one being offered in St. Mary’s Street, between Sixth and Seventh, it was rented for the purpose, where our number now averages one hundred and sixty. The small congregation who assemble in the chapel in Shippen Street, seemed greatly to regret our leaving, believing that the school not only had a tendency to increase their numbers, but was also working a change in the neighborhood; and certainly a more respectful recognition of the day was observable. The following letter received from the trustees of the chapel is an evidence of their grateful feelings: —

‘” To Mr. and Mrs. Whitall, the Sabbath-school Teachers, and the rest of the Friends:

‘’ We, the members of ’ the John Wesley’ African Methodist Episcopal Church, feel grateful and very thankful to you for the unmerited and almost boundless benevolence in paying our ground-rent, which we saw no way to do, and assisting our poor and those of the neighborhood, and organizing, supporting and teaching the Sabbath-school, etc. We have been and are astonished at such munificent kindness — and to who? to the most obscure, smallest church in the city or suburbs. We cannot express our feelings; the thought is too large for utterance. May the blessing of Him who said, ‘Come hither, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom; for I was hungry, thirsty and naked, and you clothed, and fed and comforted me;’ and Oh! may the Father of the spirits of all men bestow upon you and yours the blessings, with every necessary comfort, including everlasting rest and peace, is our prayer.” Yours, respectfully,

James Davis, Elder,

John Climer, Secty,

John Flamer,

Daniel H. Carter, his X mark.”

‘’One instance, among many of a similar character it maybe interesting to notice, as showing the advantage of extending the hand of kindness and interest to even the most degraded. A man of very ragged and unsightly appearance came, at the opening of the school, from a cellar near by, where two families lived, with one of whom he was a boarder; it was hardly believed he would come the second time, but he has not once been absent, and his whole appearance is so improved that he could scarcely be recognized as the same person. When inquired of if he could read, the reply was, ‘he thought he could spell a little;’ but upon getting a book in his hand, the instruction received in former days seemed to come back, and he now reads verj’ well, and repeats every week several verses from the Bible to his teacher, and highly appreciates the privileges of the school. And when we remember how many of this class are in our very midst, who never go into a place of worship, have none to read to them, are without a Bible or even a tract in their comfortless dwellings, we may well recur to the command given, ‘Go ye into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.’

“Few of the teachers have time to do much visiting, but there are some who labor successfully in this exceedingly important part of our undertaking. One of our teachers endeavors to visit every scholar, and while the sad scenes of suffering and wretchedness which must be witnessed, make it an arduous task, yet she is often cheered by the warm welcome and interest manifested to hear a ’ little Bible reading,’ several of the families gathering into one little room for the purpose; and there have been seasons when the visitor and visited have been refreshed together, and made to feel that we are all one in Christ. ‘Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him?’”

1867. —” One of our women who was induced to come to the school through the invitation of an acquaintance, soon became very much interested, and acknowledged that previously she had been living without hope and without God in the world, but that at the school she had been taught to see her condition as a great sinner, and to feel her need of a Saviour. Many things in the Scriptures were then made plain and clear to her, and she believed she had experienced the new birth which was so frequenily spoken of there as being necessary.

‘’Another aged scholar, in the midst of poverty and sickness, after speaking in a touching manner of her life of toil and trial, said she had so much to be thankful for now in her old age. ‘Why, honey,’ she said, ’ look what de Lord has done for me and my people. He has given us our freedom, and He has set my soul at liberty; and then, honey, look at the blessed school I go to, where I have learned so much, and have such a kind teacher, and the blessed words I hear there, too. Oh, dat school, it has been great gain to me! I have many things here in my heart dat I have heerd there, and dey comes right to me in de night when I can’t sleep, and I can’t tell you how much good it does me.”

1869. — “A family who came from the South during the war in a. most destitute condition were brought to the school by their neighbors and were diligent attenders, and to use their own words, ’ the instruction received there has been meat and drink to our souls.’ They soon got to living quite comfortably, and in reply to the inquiry how it was brought about, said, ‘It is all from the Lord. He gave us grace in our hearts at de school, and dat has lifted us out of de gutter. Mr. “Whitall told us dat if we would pray earnestly to de Lord, He would help us; we did pray, and He heard our prayers, and it is because of His mercy dat you sees us so well to-day.’

‘’ M. P., one of our scholars, gave our Visitor the following interesting account of her experience. She said:

“‘I have longed to see you, to tell you what the Lord has done for ray soul, and how it was brought about. I hope you can stay a good while, I have so much to tell you. You know, before I came to the school, I had heard a great deal about it, and I thought I would go and see it. The first time I went I thought it was about the best place I ever was in, so quiet — the Bible explained in such a way I could understand it. I had often read it myself, but never paid attention to what I read until I heard it explained at school. Every Sunday when I came home I used to say to my mother, ‘Oh, mother, I wish you were able to go to the school; I never thought there was so much in the Bible I could understand before.’ It was in October, 1867, at the opening of the school, that the Superintendent gave out the words, ‘Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you;’ he explained it, my heart was touched, and I felt that I was a sinner, and asked ‘Can it be possible that the Saviour would open unto me?’ I left the school with a burdened heart. I tried to stifle conscience to get rid of my feelings, but I could not; the words sounded in my ears, ‘knock and it shall be opened untayou.’ I commenced praying to the Lord to have mercy on me. I went on in this way until the first of the year. I then entered into solemn covenant with the Lord, promising to be His, if He would receive me. The first Thursday in the year I was at the wash-tub, praying to the Lord to receive me, when these words. ’ this is Jesus,’ came to me with such power that I dropped my washing and sat down on a chair. ‘I am Jesus!! why don’t you believe? ’ was repeated and my burden was gone! I cried out, ‘It is the Lord ’ — the precious blood has been applied to my poor soul. Now do you wonder I love the school; it has been auch a blessing to me, I recommend it to all my friends — and I can tell you more — three persons date their awakening and conversion from mine. I must tell you one thing more and then 1 will stop — I was in a gi-eat strait; ray husband was out of employment, I was sick, my aged mother and an orphan child were depending upon us for support, there was not a piece of coal in the cellar, I prayed to the Lord to open a way for us. You came down the next day and told mother you would send her half a ton of widow’s coal. A little while after we were again in a terrible strait; I was not able to sit up, ray husband still out of employment; but I said to mother, ‘The Lord is all-sufficient, do not fear.’ I raised my heart to Him, believing some way would open. Two days afterwards, at half-past seven, a knock was heard at the door; a lady I had worked for sent a man to inquire about me; he brought an envelope; I opened it and found Jive dollars in it; this lady thought I would need it. I felt it was the Lord, and Him alone — He inclined the heart of this lady to send it. He answered my prayer and fulfilled my petitions.”

1870. —” The St. Mary’s Street Mission School for Colored Adults continues to be large and interesting. The average attendance during the past winter has been one hundred and eighty, with twenty-two teachers. The scholars, among whom are many aged men and women, show a deep inlerest in the school, and some of them come from long distances in order to be present. Their eagerness to learn to read, and their appreciation of the simple and clear expositions of Scriptural truth given by the Superintendent and others, are very encouraging and gratifying. Many of them seem to feel that on account of this valuable teaching, the school is more blessed to them than even their own places of worship. The Lord Jesus Christ as a present and all-sufficient Saviour, both from the guilt and from the power of sin, is our weekly lesson, and we rejoice to believe that the blessed understanding of a life of faith in Him, hid so often from the wise and prudent, is revealed by the Holy Spirit to many of these ignorant and humble ones. There is something so peculiarly receptive and child-like in the faith of the colored race, that our scholars are often a lesson to their teachers.

‘’ Since our last report some of the scholars have passed away to their eternal home, giving good evidence that they have been made new creatures in Christ Jesus. One of these, named Sarah Cooper, had been a regular attendant at the school for about three years, and never missed unless prevented by sickness, although the distance she had to walk was over two miles. The remark having been made to her one stormy First-day evening, ‘Why, Sarah, did you venture out this stormy day? ‘She replied, ‘Oh, yes, and I was more than paid for going. The gospel I hear there is marrow and fatness to my soul. I feast on it all the week.’ She was confined to her bed for twenty months, unable to leave it without assistance, and was most of the time alone, as her daughter was obliged to go out to work. But when asked how she passed away the time when thus alone, she replied, with much feeling, ‘I am never alone; I am happy in a Saviour’s love, blessed be His holy name. I lie here and pray for all my friends and for my blessed school; and one word after another that Mr. Whitall has said comes into ray mind and comforts me so much. I can’t tell you what good it does me.’

“Charles Brassy was a member of the school for about two years. He had resisted for a year the urgent solicitations of his wife to attend with her; but when once he began to go, he was rarely absent, and esteemed it a great privilege. He said to one of the teachers that he never went without receiving fresh supplies of spiritual strength. When confined at home with a suffering disease, the faithful Visitor for the school had many deeply interesting interviews with him. At one time, when a small present of money was given to him, he exclaimed ‘Bless de Lord, while I was calling Thou didst answer me! ’ and then added, ‘How many times has Mr. Wliitall told us to make our wants known to the Lord, and, if we were faithful, He would answer our prayers. I cannot tell you how often his words have comforted me. I will never see him again, but I want you to tell him that.’ At another time he told her that he felt the school had done and was doing a great amount of good among his people, and he often spoke of the happy hours he had enjoyed there in reading the Bible and listening to the explanations given, and in communion with his dear Saviour.

“Calling upon one of the most regular attendants, who had been absent a few weeks, our Visitor found her sick. The poor woman said that during part of her sickness she was unable to raise a hand to help herself, and that one day found her without a morsel of food in the house, and no money to buy any. ‘But,’ she said, ‘I cried. Lord, be pleased to look on me, a poor creature, and send me some bread or something to eat; and, honey, look at that little trunk; by eight in the evening it was full of bread. Now, can’t I trust the Lord? Praise his name! I know He hears prayer. Don’t Mr. Whitall tell U3 every week to trust the Lord, and it is true, we can trust Him.’ ‘’ In another family a young man was found to have been awakened and converted through the teaoliings he had received at the school. His mother said, that night and morning he always prayed a little prayer which the Superintendent had tried to impress upon the minds of the scholars week after week: ‘Lord Jesus, convert my soul! Lord Jesus, make me like Thyself! ’ urging them to make it their daily prayer. This young man had thus prayed, and the result has been that God has converted his soul, and for a long while now he has maintained a steady, consistent Christian walk. His mother added that he was a great comfort to her, and helped her in every way.

“One old scholar of eighty, who is very regular in her attendance at the school, was found when visited in her home to be poor indeed as regards this world’s goods, but rich in faith, and an heir of an eternal inheritance. Upon being asked how she was prospering, she replied, ‘Oh, honey, I find the Lord all-sufBcient. He fills my heart with his love; He keeps me day by day, and never leaves me to suffer. Often when I get up in the morning everything looks dark; but I ask the Lord to send relief, and, honey, He sends it. Don’t Mr. Whitall tell us to ask the Lord for what we want, and, if we are faithful. He will hear our cry? and I know it is so. He always hears my prayers, bless His Name! I will trust Him. He sent you here to-day to read His blessed Book to me. Praise His Holy Name! ’

“This Visitor has often small sums of money given to her to bestow upon any especially needy and deserving cases she may meet with, and it is very precious to note how often her aid is afforded at just the time when some poor child of God has been crying to her Father for help. On one occasion during the winter she felt impressed to send some coal to one of the scholars, a poor Christian woman; and upon calling to see her a day or two afterward with the impression that she must also hand her some money, as she entered her poor room the woman exclaimed, with tears streaming down her cheeks, ‘Bless the Lord, oh my soul! I knew He would not let me perish with hunger. He has sent you here to-day in answer to prayer, for I have nothing to eat and no money.’ She further told the visitor that for two days previous to receiving the coal, she had been praying to the Lord to incline the heart of some one to send her some; and she added, ‘I felt sure that I would get it, and when it came I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and exclaimed,” I thank Thee,

0 Lord, that while I was calling Thou didst answer!” ’

“On another occasion, while conversuig with one of the scholars — a woman who appeared to be in comfortable circumstances — the Visitor felt impressed that she needed help; and although she did not make her situation known, could not leave without handing her something. Upon her next visit the poor woman spoke in a very feeling manner of God’s care over her during the past year, although her daughter had been confined to her bed most of that time, and her own health had been very poor. ‘But, through it all,’ she added, ‘I have not suffered for anything. Many times I have realized the blessed truth of what I so often hear from Mr. Whitall, that if we take our troubles to the Lord, He will hear us and make a way for us. And don’t you recollect the last visit you paid me? Well, that day I was without one cent, but I fell on my knees and asked God to send me some relief. In the afternoon you came, but

1 did not expect you to give me anything, for you thought I was comfortable; but before leaving you gave me a dollar. So you see how the Lord answers prayer.’”

“In 1871 the E,eport notices 250 on the roll-list with an average attendance of 175, and goes on to say:

‘’There is much cause for gratitude in the evidences of a work of grace in the hearts of many of the scholars; and the superintendent and teachers are greatly cheered by the close attention that is given to the exercises of the school, and by the delight with which many of them seem to drink in the blessed truths of the gospel of Christ which are set before them from week to week. It is our earnest desire that the aim of our school shall be to hold up before the eyes of these poor and needy ones, the Lord Jesus as a perfect supply for all their needs, both spiritual and temporal; and we rejoice to believe that many are thus led to cast all their sins and all their burdens at His feet, and to trust Him as their all-sufficient Saviour. 5tNever does the gospel seem more precious than when it is being ‘^’^lus proclaimed to the poor and lowly of this earth, to whom it is indeed glad tidings of great joy; and never does the protecting care and loving-kindness of our Father in Heaven seem sweeter than when pointing so many aching, anxious hearts to cast all their cares upon Ilim. We rejoice also to believe that the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth in many of those who have found peace in believing, and that they do truly long to serve Him fiiithfully, who has done so much for them.

“The same faithful Visitor, who gave us such deeply interesting accounts of her work last year, has still continued her labors, and from her notes we will glean a few of the most interesting particulars.

‘’ Upon one of her visits to a certain street, she found one of the scholars sick and very poor. Asking her what she needed, the reply was, with much emotion, ‘I want nothing but my Saviour; I have been praying for pardon ever since I began to attend the school. Won’t you pray for me, and ask your friends to pray, for I am afraid I will be lost?’ Prayer was offered, and a portion of scripture read suited to her condition. Weeks passed; the faithful Visitor spent many hours with this poor penitent in conversation, reading and prayer, but apparently all in vain. She refused to be comforted. Her distress was bordering on despair. Her constant cry was, ‘I am lost; there is no mercy for me, but I shall perish crying for mercy.’ One morning, however, as the Visitor entered the poor little room, the sick woman exclaimed, ‘Oh, I have such good news for you. Jesus has washed my sins all away and made me clean. You told me He would, but I said, not such a sinner as me. But, praise His blessed Name! He has washed my sins in His precious blood. And now I want to tell you about that blessed morning. When I waked up I thought I was lost, I could not eat any breakfast, I was so wretched; but I said, if I go to hell, I’ll go praying. I heard read at school about praying in. the closet, so I went into the closet to pray, and I felt worse. Then I ran into the yard and threw myself down and prayed, but no hope. Then I went up to my own room again and threw myself on the floor and cried. Lord, what must I do? In a moment it seemed as if I heard a blessed voice say, “Do nothing; I did all for thee,” and then it seemed as if I could see the Saviour with the blood streaming from His side, and it seemed as if He looked down upon me with a smile and said, “All this for thee.” At that moment I knew I was for-

17 given, and I was so happy I praised the Lord with all my heart, and wanted to run into the street and tell everyone I met that I hat found the Saviour. I wanted to bring everybody to Him.’ The Christian life and walk of this woman since has proved the reality of the change she thus vividly described.

‘’ Calling upon another of the scholars who had been very sick, and who had no means of support except her own daily labor, the Visitor said, ‘I hope you have not suffered for food since I was here last?” Oh, no,’ replied the poor woman, ‘God takes care of rae. When you were here last week you gave me some money, you remember. Well, at dat time I was without a cent, and had nothing to eat. Early dat mornin’ I gave my last money, a ten cent note, to a little boy to buy rae a bucket of coal. Then I remembered what Mr. Whitall tells us in de school, to take all our cares to Jesus and He will help us, and I said to de Lovd, ‘Lord, Thou knowest I am without food and without the money to buy any, please send some one to help me.’ Dat was all I said, and I knowed He would answer my prayer. And when you came in before you gave me anything, I just raised my heart to God and said, “I thank dee, Lord, dat while I was calling Thou didst answer,” for I knowed He had sent you.’

“Among all the scholars there seems to be a very grateful appreciation of the benefits they derive from the school. One old man said, ‘I have been trying to serve the Lord for many years, and have been in a good many places, but, child, I never was in a place where the good Book was made so plain to me. Oh, it’s a blessed place to go to.’

“Another of the scholars, lamenting her being detained at home by sickness from the school, added with great earnestness, * But it is food to my soul when I do go. I believe the Lord raised up that school to instruct us poor creatures. What we have heard there has been blessed to so many of us.’

“Another, who had lost her husband a few weeks before, said, ‘How often I thank God that my husband was led to go to the school; the impressions made on his mind there never left him until he was enabled to read his title clear to mansions in the skies.’

1873. — “The teachers of the various classes report a great desire on the part of their scholars to learn to read; a desire so characteristic of

MISSION WORK. 2o9

this race everywhere over our country at the present time; and great pains are taken to lead them on as rapidly as a short lesson once a week will permit. The improvement in many cases is very satisfactory.

“The principal object of our school, however, is to direct our scholars to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour to save them; their Shepherd to care for them and lead them; and their King to rule them. Kealizing that every need of men of all conditions, and especially of a class so poor and helpless as these are, can be supplied only by Christ, and that in Him they can be more than su, - plied, we desire above everything else to turn their eyes and their thoughts to the One who ‘can speak to their condition,’ and who never casts out any that come to Him. In plain and simple language, we seek to present the glad tidings of the forgiveness of sin-i through the cleansing power of His precious blood to those who have been brought by the blessed Holy Spirit to know themselves to be sinners. And to those who have thus, by faith in the Lord Jesus, been born again into the family and household of God, we endeavor to point out the need of practical holiness, and to exhort them to seek to know for themselves an entire conformity to the will of God in all things, teaching them that as they have received Christ so they must walk in Him, by a daily and hourly faith in His power to save from sinning.

“Our Visitor says, that on resuming her visits after the summer recess of the school, it is very gratifying to hear from the scholars so many testimonies to the blessing which during the summer’s intermission, had followed the teaching of the previous winter. One of them greeted her with, ‘Why, honey, is this you, and have you all got back again to us poor creatures? Why, I am so glad I could shout. But I must tell you that what I heerd in de winter has bin feedin’ me all de summer; and when dis pore old body was laid on de bed of sickness, de words dat Mr. Whitall has so often told us about de Lord’s care over us, and that if we asked Him He imuld keep us, came to me; and didn’t it fill my soul with joy! And I would cry out loud, “Bless de Lord for giving him to us!” So you see, honey, it does us good in summer too.’

“Another scholar said to her, ‘Oh! we are so glad to see you all in the llesh again, for we miss the blessed words we hear in the

2C0 JOHN M. WHITALL.

school. But we do not forget them in the summer. One word after another conies into my mind, and my old man’.s too, and we talk over them, and they comfort and help us on our pilgrim journey; and we pray to the Lord to bring you all back again to us poor creatures.’

1875. — ‘’ The St. Mary’s Street School has been very prosperous, during the past year. The average attendance has been about 175, and the interest of the scholars has been unabated. Our sessions are often precious times of very near access to the Lord, and of a sweet sense of His realized presence; and the scholars seem to value the instructions received there as among their chief means of enlightenment and strengthening.

‘’ Our Visitor in going among them from house to house, hears many testimonies concerning the blessings received at the school, which are veiy comforting to those engaged in it, and cause us to hope that the dear Master is with us, and that His Spirit leads us. Dpring one of her visits to a poor woman, who had been greatly tried with poverty and suffering, and who had been a constant attender at our school, the woman told her that she had been a Christian for many years, but that until she came to the school she had never realized much joy and peace; but added, ‘the blessed truths I have learned at the school, about trusting the Lord for everything, have brought me into a far brighter experience, and now I do trust Him, and although I have been in tight places this hard winter, I have not suffered. I have just gone to the Lord and asked Him to send relief, and, praise be to His Name, He always has; and I am as happy with poverty, trusting in Jesus, as I could be if I had money enough to get all the good things of earth.’

“Another one, under circumstances of great trial, was enabled to bear it all with a calm trust and peace that seemed indeed to pass all understanding. When spoken to about it, she said, ‘Oh, how I praise God for that school! What a blessing it has been to me. I .have learned there how to trust the dear Saviour. I know we are taught in the blessed Book to trust Him; but in the school every word is made so plain that we can understand it better than when we read it ourselves. It is there that I have learned how to cast my burdens on the Lord, and He does sustain me.’

“Several of our scholars have passed away during the past year, rej )icing in the Lord. Among them was William Thomas who had united with our school when in 1863 it was first started in Bainbridge Street. He had been regular in his attendance from that time, and valued it as one of his greatest religious privileges. On one occasion he said, ‘I loved that school more than I can tell; what I heard there has helped me on my journey home, and not only me, but many others who have crossed the Jordan, and a host of others who are on their way. Often %vhen I have been listening to instructions there, it has been all I could do to keep from shouting. But I knew Mr. Whitall would make me keep it in, so I would wait until I got home, and then I would have a good time! ’

“The disease from which this aged saint was suffering was cancer of the mouth, which often made it impossible for him to speak, or even to eat anything. Once, when a little better, he said concerning this, ‘I am so happy all the time, I hardly know how to contain myself; the Saviour is so precious to me. How glad I am that I gave my heai’t to Him when I had health and strength; and now I ask Him to help me bear with patience all He sees fit to lay upon me, and blessed be His name He does it. And sometimes when my mouth is so bad that I can’t eat, I just ask Him to take the hungry feeling away, and it is taken away, and I feast on His goodness to me.’

“Our Visitor had frequent interviews with this afllicted saint, and found him suffering at times intense agony, but through it all his joy in the Lord was overwhelming, and seemed to outweigh every pain. And in his life and death it seemed granted to him to prove in a very special manner, the reality of the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as able to deliver out of trial, and to keep the soul in perfect peace, and even in a joy unspeakable and full of glory, in the midst of earth’s darkest hours. Well may we wonder and adore the grace which can so turn hard things into easy and bitter things into sweet, as to make darkened and sorrowful lives like these, full of brightness. And with thankful hearts we are constrained to join in the Apostle’s shout of triumph, ‘Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

“A ‘mother’s meeting’ has been held weekly during the winter, where some of our women have met with their kind friend our Visitor, for counsel and sympathy, and for such help in material for clothing as she has been able to afford them. Several hundred yardsof musli n and flannel, and calico have been sold at these meetings at lialfprice, and many struggling lives have been brightened by this weekly cheer. Our Visitor says concerning these meetings, ‘They were commenced in the eleventh month, and have been mostly well attended. They have always been times of religious refreshment, when we have been sensible of the presence of the dear Saviour in our midst, and have realized that He met with us to. bless our feeble efforts put forth in His name. We have relied on His promise that what is sown in weakness shall be raised in power, and we leave the results in His hands. It has been very encouraging in these meetings to hear the constant testimony from the poor care-worn mothers present, to the blessing and help received at the school. The secret of a life of full trust seems to be easily learned by this simple-hearted race, and the seed sown brings forth an abundant harvest.

“Temporal help is afforded, as the funds contributed for this purpose enable, and it is done with so much wisdom and care on the part of our Visitor, as to make it a very timely help to many a case deserving of need. She has distributed in this way during the past winter about two hundred dollars, which was entrusted to her by generous Christian friends for the purpose, and she says words would fail to tell the blessed comfort and relief she has been privileged to bring into many a sorrowing heart and home. In liiany instances the little gift has come in direct answer to prayer, and has been the Lord’s messenger of love and care to His needy, trusting disciples.

“One woman who had been a member of the school for eight years and who deemed it a precious privilege, has passed away during the past year, and said on her dying bed, ‘That school has been the greatest blessing to me. From the teaching there I have learned to cast all my cares on the Lord and to trust Him fully. I take my troubles to Jesus, and blessed be His name, He gives me strength to bear them. Before I went to this school, even after I had professed to love the Saviour, I used to try and carry my burdens myself; but there I was taught to take them to my Saviour, and I find I am as strong again.’ This dear Christian passsd away in the triumphs of faith, amid agonizing bodily suffering, her last words being, ‘Bless the Lord! Victory through the blood of the Lamb 1”

“Upon one occasion, one who had been for many yerr. a member of our school, but who was about to go to the Colored Home for Old Women, was found on her knee.. As she rose shesaid, Yes I wanted more strength, and I was asking God to gjve U to me; for, honey, Satan thought he would rob me of my peace; but I know where to go to drive him back. I am so glad you came to-day, for you may never see poor old Lydia again. And how I will miss you a; I loved my school so much. I am afraid I wi never hear the superintendent, or the lady, or my dear teacher talk agam. It used to do me so much good, and I often felt like shouting; but you know we had to be quiet there. But bid them farewell for me, and tell them that poor old Lydia said if she got to heaven first-as one and another comes from the school, won’t I be glad to see them; and then we’ll all have a glorious shout! ’

“Another one who has passed away was a member of our school from the very beginning, and had had her eyes opened by the teachings she heard there, to see in Jesus a perfect Saviour. Through seasons of intense suffering she was enabled to be more than conqueror through faith in Him. On one occasion, when a.ked it her faith held out, she replied, triumphantly, ‘Oh yes, and not only holds out, but grows stronger and stronger; and my prospect of heaven grows brighter, and my Saviour becomes more and more precious. I have been having to-day a foretaste of heaven, a glimpse of the glory so soon to be revealed to me And I was with you in spirit in the school, and it seemed as if I could hear the superintendent explaining the Scriptures, and entreating us to give our hearts to the Saviour; and I prayed that the teachings there might be as blessed to others as they had been to me.

The year 1876 was the last year that our father was able to superintend the school. In the summer of 1874 he had a shcht stroke of paralysis, and from that time grew more and more feeble every year. But his interest in his school was so great that he continued his attendance there until long after a less energetic man would have given it entirely up. It was my privilege to wait on liira backwards and forwards durins; those last winters, and very sweet is the remembrance of it now. It was a most touching and teaching sight to the loving eyes of the scholars, as they saw him, week after week, walk with his feeble steps up to the head of the school; and the lessons of unfailing trust in the Lord came with tenfold emphasis, because uttered by slow and often trembling lips. It was the last of all his public duties to be laid down; and long after our dear mother’s tender anxieties would have kept him awav, he continued this one most beloved mission. He and I would often have a little fun together over his missteps and threatened falls, his first word always being, ‘’ Well, Han, what would the sweetest head-woman in the world say to that? “and then he would make me promise not to tell her, laughing and saying, “AVe know how to keep our own secrets, don’t we?” But I generally found that pretty soon after we would get home, out it would come, and our father would heartily enjoy in his own way her expressions of fright and her earnest warnings.

The report for this last year abounded in deeply interesting incidents: —

“The average attendance for the past year has been 200. The exercises are as follows: The school is opened by the scholars repeatino: in concert a text which was given them the preceding week. This text is then explained and commented on by the Superintendent or his Assistant. A chapter from the Bible is read and explained, and a season of silent prayer follows, sometimes closing with vocal prayer from one of the teachers or scholars, as they may feel led of the Spirit. The text for the following week is given out, and the different classes then take up their lessons until

MISSION woee:. 265

the time for closing, when a narrative tract ia read, and the school is dismissed.

“We are still favored with the valuable help of our faithful and devoted Visitor, who might almost be called the ‘mother’ of our school, so deeply interested is she in the welfare of each individual scholar, and so constantly do they all appeal to her in their spiritual and temporal difficulties and enjoyments.

“In consequence of indisposition, she has been able to go out but little during the winter, but even from her sick-room she has exercised her loving care over the scholars, and, by the aid of willing messengers, has been able to minister to their necessities, as she has had the means so to do. She has also been well enough at times to receive visits from many of them, and says these have often been times of sweet spiritual communion and blessing.

“From her notes the following extracts are made concerning these visits: ‘My heart has often been cheered and encouraged this winter in listening to the testimony of the scholars concerning the spiritual benefits they receive at the school. They seem to look upon it as their chief means of grace, and often have said to me that they would rather miss anything else than this. And when, at times, we have had in my sick-chamber a little season of prayer together, it has been very touching to hear their pleadings for our beloved Superintendent’s restoration to health, and for his daughter, that many years may be added to her life, and that father, and daughter, and teachers, may all have many stars in their crowns of rejoicing, in the day when the Lord shall make up His jewels.’

‘’She adds, that, in many instances, the scholars have testified to having found the teaching at the school to be just the supply for their own special needs. ‘Upon one occasion,’ she writes, ‘T. C. told me that the Sabbath before, she had gone there bowed down under a weight of sorrow and discouragement, but that what she heard there about the love of God, and His tender, watchful care over His people, had lifted her right up, and she had gone away peaceful and happy.’ Another scholar, named M. H., called to see me one day, immediately after leaving the school. She was in great poverty and outward distress, having been unable to obtain work, and had not had a mouthful of food to eat for twenty-four hours; but she said, ‘I had such a rich spiritual feast at the school that I do not mind it at all, and I did not even think about being hungry;’ and, she added, ‘I only wish all of my color could go there, it has done me so much good. Them precious texts are explained so nice that I can understand all about them, and they are such a comfort.’

“Many of the scholars, adds this Visitor in her report, seem just to live on what they learn there from week to week, and they are often willing to suffer great pecuniary loss rather than miss attending, many of them making it a stipulation in engaging a place at service, that they shall be allowed to go to the school regularly.

‘’ E. T. united with the school when it was first started, and was very regular in her attendance, frequently telling me she would rather go without her dinner than miiis the instruction she received there. She told me she had been converted in early yeans, but that she had learned more in the school of the duty and privilege of trusting the Lord, and of entire consecration to Him, than anywhere else. And truly her consecration was entire, and it might, indeed, be said of her, that her life was hid with Christ in God. Her domestic trials were of no ordinary character, but it was wonderful to see her forbearance, her meekness and her resignation to the Divine will. She often said to me, ‘The Saviour gives me strength to bear all He sees fit to lay upon me.’

“Calling to see her one day, when she had been for a long time unable to go out to work on account of the long-continued illness of her husband, I found her cheerful and happy in the midst of all her outward trials, and we spent a truly precious hour together communing of the things of God. She spoke much of the sustaining grace that was granted her, and said, ‘Oh how fully I have realized the truth we hear in the school, that them who trust in the Lord shall never be confounded, and I never can tell what blessed times I do have there!’ After a very interesting interview, I left her, without her having in any way alluded to her poverty, but when I had gone about a square from her house, it was impressed on my mind that I must go back and give her some money. As I entered her poor room, I said, ‘Esther, I have come back to bring you some money;’ the tears came into her eyes, and she said, ‘I have no food in the house and not a cent in the world to buy any, but I told my Heavenly Father all about it, and asked Him to send some one to bring mc help, and I knew He would; praise the Lord!’” In a few weeks after this visit, she was taken with her last sickness. I went at once to see her, and found her much prostrated, but, with ahiiost superhuman strength, she sat up in bed, and, I think, I have never before or since listened to such a testimony to the victorious grace of God, given to a poor, helpless sinner. vShe was full of gratitude for all the blessings she had received at the school, and said that no words could ever express it.

“E. V. had been a member of the school many years. She had been converted before she joined it, but her Christian life had not been trustful nor happy until she learned there how to cast her care on the Lord and to commit her ways unto Him. She said to the Visitor at one time, ‘I used to have a very bad temper, which was a dreadful trouble to me, and I couldn’t do nothin’ with it. But one Sunday, soon after I jined the school, Mr. Whitall spoke about people givin’ way to their tempers, and so losin’ their joy and peace, and I knew he meant me. And then he told us to go to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to overcome our tempers for us, and He would do it. Or whatever way we was tempted, he said, just to go right to Jesus, and if we asked Him in faith to help us He would be sure to do it. So I just tried it, and He did help me wonderful, and it’s amazin’ how He has conquered my temper for me.’ At another time she said she was so thankful she had learned at the school what faith was — that it was just ’ believin’ the Lord; ’ and that she had been taught how to give herself wholly to Him, and added, ‘But I never can tell you how much I have learned there, nor what a blessing it has been to me to be told to look to my Saviour, and not to myself. In our churches we don’t understand much that is said, but in the school everything is made so plain that it seems we can’t help understanding it.’

‘’ Another scholar named Susan H. has been sick for six months, and she often said, that almost her only regret in being sick was that she could not attend her school, and added, at one time, ‘Oh, Miss Mary, I miss it more than I can tell you. I have often gone there feeling so much discouraged that I was most ready to faint by the way, but I have heard there some blessed text or explanation of the Bible that went right to my heart; and it has seemed to me, sometimes, as if they must have known just what was in my heart, and meant it all for me.’ She spoke of one text as having been eapecially blessed to her, it was this: ‘Cast thy burden on the Lord ’ and He shall sustain thee, saying it was expLiined in such a way that she couki understand it, and adding, ‘So I just did take my burdens to Him, and I was helped all the way through.’

“She was subject to fits of fearful oppression, but bore them with great patience, and said to me at one time, ‘If I should pass away in one of these spells, you may know it is all well with me, for 1 am trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His precious blood, and I know all my wants will be supplied until I reach the shining shore.’

“M. M., who died at the advanced age of 90, joined the school about fourteen years ago, and nothing but sickness ever prevented her from being present. No matter how stormy the day, she was always found in her place. She supported herself by picking up coal, and chips, and rags in the street, or by doing any little work she could get, and though so old, never asked for any assistance until about two years before her death.

“Our Visitor writes, that once when calling upon her, in company with two of the teachers, she received them all with great delight, saying, ‘I loves to see any one that is so kind as to come to that blessed school to talk to us; why, honeys,’ she added, ’ when dey tells dere about de blessed Saviour, and how He cares for us and loves us, 1 gets so happy dat I hardly knows whether I am in de body or out of it, and I can’t hardly keep myself in. I feels like I must run out into de street and shout, ‘cause you knows Mr. “NVhitall won’t let us shout in de school.’

“‘My last visit to this aged saint,’ reports our faithful Visitor, ’ was paid early in the morning, and her first salutation, as I entered her little room was, “May the Lord bless you, honey, for coming to see poor old Miriam.” Then at once she said, ‘But that was wrong for me to say jMor, when I have such a rich Father, who has taken care of me for so long, and has never let me want.’ Finding her very feeble at this time, I said, ‘Miriam, I would like to see you in the Home for Aged Women, for you are too old to take care of yourself. I am afraid you will fall on the stove and be burned if you stay here alone.’ She looked at me with the utmost surprise and said, ‘No, honey! / has more faith dan dat! My blessed Master, who has taken care of me for so many years, is not gwine to let me fall into (e fire now! Haven’t we been told often enough at de school dat if we trusts in de Lord we shall have nothin’ to fear, and I means to trust Him to de end. Dey may find old Miriam dead some time, but what will it matter? De blessed Lord will take rae right out of dis iore ole room up to one of de mansions He has prepared for His people, and it will be all right.’ These were the last words I heard her say, and shortly after old Miriam was found dead, as she had said, and none could doubt that it was indeed ’ all right ’ with her.

One of our men scholars thus wrote to the Superintendent: ‘’I was invited to attend the school, by Miss Mary, and the third Sunday I felt for the first time in ray life the need of a Saviour, while hearing the text explained. It was, 1 Cor. iii. 1. ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ I thank the Lord that now I have received the new birth, and I hope the school may be a blessing to others, as it has been to me and mine.” Another man writes: “I feel so much benefited by attendin’ the Sabbath-school. I feel the tex bein so beautifully explained has bin the first step to my conversion. I can say of a truth I am a changed man.” Still another writes: “My first impressions of religion I received in the school. Well do I remember many precious texts I have heard pronounced there and explained. And not only do I remember these precious texts, but they have been the means, in the hands of God, of bringing me to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ.”

It was at the close of tins school year at the end of 6tli mo., 1876, that our father found himself compelled by his rapidly increasing feebleness to give up the care of the school. But the work was not on this account stopped, as he handed it over to one of the teachers who felt desirous of carrying it on. The next year, after his death, the scholars held a memorial service, which was thus reported m the” Christian Recorder!’

MEMORIAL MEETING.

“On Sunday afternoon, October 21st, 1877, at the Ruggestion of the scholars, there was held at the St. Mary Street Adult Mission, on St. Mary St., below 7th, a Memorial Service for the late John M. Whitall — the founder, and for nearly fifteen years the superintendent of the school. After the opening exercises, Jacob M. Young, one of the older scholars, offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the school as conveying their sense of the worth to the school, to the neighborhood, and to the community, of our departed friend and superintendent John M. Whitall, — to-wit: —

“Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father, since the summer vacation, to remove from his field of labor and usefulness, the honored founder of this Mission, John M. Whitall, whose constant presence for many years from Sabbath to Sabbath, has afforded hope and cheer almost innumerable times to many of the poorest of the poor, therefore

Besolved, That this school while sadly feeling his loss, would unite on this occasion in humbly bearing testimony to his daily acts of benevolence and sympathy for the lowly and to his oft repeated words of counsel and advice which can never be forgotten.

Resolved, That while a goodly number of those who have been amongst the favored classes, have sympathized with the oppressed and the destitute, the number who have unweariedly laboreil in their midst, going about doing good continually, as was the custom of our lamented friend and benefactor, John M. Whitall, has been very few. Indeed it may be said his like has never been known as a worker in this neighborhood.

Besolved, That while this school will never again be led by their old leader, we have cause for rejoicing that we are not to be left comfortless or without teachers and friends”

Our father’s interest in the BiLle School work was not confined to his own schooh Every movement in this direction found in him a hearty support, and every worker received his warmest sympathy and encouragement. Whoever else might be absent from the meetino’s of the annual Bible School Conferences, our father was always present, cheering and encouraging the workers, and throwing the weight of his influence on the side of the work. Several of the teachers of country schools have told me that his words of interest and approval at these annual Conferences have strengthened them through all the work of the next year; and one writes, “The practical aid and encouragement he extended to my school and to all timid teachers, is vividly remembered by many of us, and we feel that his presence in the Conferences can never be filled.” It is difficult to estimate the amount of good accomplished by him in his labors in this field of Bible school work, but we who witnessed his faithfulness, and his earnestness, and who heard the continual testimonies to the help and blessings realized through his teachings, could not but be deeply impressed by it. I have often felt that this was his especial life work, and his interest in it was so deep that, as we have seen, he could not be induced to give it up until long after we all thought he was far too feeble to make the exertion of attending it.”