The Irish Society

For Promoting the Scriptural Education and Religious Instruction of the Irish-speaking Population, chiefly through the medium of their own language.

17, UPPER SACKVILLE STREET, DUBLIN,

10th Fune, 1879.
Resolved — ju 79

That this Committee has learned with very deep regret of the death of Miss Frances Ridley Havergal, to her a blessed change, for her removal from the work for Christ on earth was to be with Christ, which is far better; but a loss to the church of Christ throughout the world, and a serious loss to the Irish Society, for which she had been an indefatigable collector and advocate, for which she had written her popular little book ‘‘Bruey,” and established the Juvenile Branch called the ‘‘ Bruey” Branch, and for which she was about to undertake a tour of visits to its mission stations in Ireland, with the intention of writing sketches of her tour, when it pleased God to take her to Himself. The Committee desires to convey to her family the expression of deep and heartfelt sympathy; copies of this resolution to be sent, in sorrowing remembrance, to her sister, Miss Havergal, of the Mumbles, Swansea, and to Giles Shaw, Esq., her brother-in-law.

Moved by Rev. Henry Carleton, Hon. Sec.
Seconded by Denis Crofton, Esq.

Frederick Homan, Esq., Chairman.
Unanimously,

HOW F. R. H’s WORK FOR THE IRISH SOCIETY
BEGAN, IN 1856.

It was her brother-in-law’s custom to drive into Dublin

every Tuesday morning, at seven, to attend the committees of the Hibernian Bible and the Irish Society,

Frances often accompanied him. While Mr. Shaw was preparing the financial report she got into conversation with Mr. Robert Wyon, the accountant of the Irish Society. He interested her so much in its work, and gave her such stirring details, that she at once took her first collecting card. From collecting £1 in 1856, she had in March, 1879, sent in more than £900 to this Society.

In 1859, with her dear father’s full consent, she organized a branch society in Worcester. Its meeting was addressed by the Rev. Thomas Moriarty, and we give her own bright words at this time.

Fune 6, 1859. Our Irish ‘‘go” went off tip top. I determined to leave no stone unturned within my power. I wrote a sketch of Mr. Moriarty’s conversion from Romanism, and papa let me send it to the Worcester Journal, The room was full, and the platform too. Mr. Moriarty’s speech was glorious, not faultless, but effective and telling. The hardships he has gone through are incredible, but in his beautiful seagirt Ventry he has now two hundred confirmants around him. He is still sowing and watering, and may a yet richer ingathering be vouchsafed to him! That man fascinated me to the last degree. After the meeting he and papa were deep in ‘‘ signs of the times,” and all that style of thing, so interesting! When Mr. Moriarty went away, he laid his hand on my head, and said in a way I shall never forget, so gently, solemnly, and holily, ‘‘ God be very gracious to you,

my child.” It was like dew, as if a tangible blessing came in it.

In connection with the progress of her Irish Society’s work, the following particulars will be interesting. Frances’ first collector in Worcester was a little girl named “Bruey.” The book so called was written after her death. The outline of her simple story is true. One of her names was Bruce, hence her pet name of Bruey; the sketch of her character is founded on recollections and incidents. Bruey’s Sunday-school work, the Irish meeting, the Irish card, and the forty-one names, her illness and peaceful death, are all facts. “Bruey” has been translated into most lively. and idiomatic French by Mdlle. Tabarié, changing the name to “Lilla.” *

My dear sister’s collectors so increased, that she thought it would be well to make them a branch of the Irish Society’s tree. Because Bruey was her first collector, she called it the “Bruey Branch.” The first who collected in this branch was a lovely child, “Little Nony.” Hearing of her illness some months after, Frances sent her this sweet little note.

My DEAR Nony, —

I had no idea you were suffering so much all this time. I think Jesus must have been carrying you in His arms all the while, because, you see, when anybody can’t even walk they must be carried. And I am quite sure He must be loving you ever so much, I mean with a very special and tender love, because it says, ‘Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.’ I thank you so much for the violets. I have such a number of Bruey collectors that I hardly know how I shall manage them all, We shall have a famous Report

next yearI hope..... Very much love from your loving friend, F. R. H.

Dear little Nony’s work for Jesus, and patient suffering, ended on the evening of May rst, 1879, only a month before the founder of the Bruey Branch of the Irish Society was herself called away to rest from her labours.

Possibly my sister’s circular letters to her young friends may hereafter be printed; but the two following epistles will show how thankfully she wrote to those who helped

* Lilla, traduit librement par Mdlle, Marie Tabarié.” Paris; J. Bonheure, 48 Rue de Lille, in the work, and how she did not scruple to ask, for the Society, an introduction which she would never think of working out for herself.

(Zo Emmeline Parkinson.)

MY DEAR LITTLE FELLOW WoORKER, —

I have had a good many pleasant surprises in the course of my Irish collecting, but I don’t recollect that I ever had a pleasanter one than yours. You have actually beaten Bruey herself, for she had forty-one and you have forty-four names! I wonder if this is your first attempt at working for Christ! I think, dear Emmeline, the Lord Jesus knows all about it, knows that you have been trying to bea little worker for Him; is not that very nice? Now, I will ask Him to send you a great blessing on what you have collected, so that those who are taught by means of your money may not only learn to read of Jesus in His word, but may learn to love Him and tell others about Him. Perhaps you have done more for the Irish Society than you suppose! because you have put an idea in my head. Three little girls lately wrote me a letter, something like your first one, having liked ‘‘ Bruey” so much. I was not well enough to write to them at the time, but now I shall write and send them each a book, and make the same request I did to you, and then possibly they too may go to work; and it will really be your doing if they also collect. s

I will tell you about one of my collectors, an invalid. When going to visit her one day, I prayed that the Lord Jesus would help me to say something to comfort her. And then He seemed to put into my mind that if I could only think of some work for Christ for her to do, it would do her more good than anything. So I put a collecting card in my pocket. When I got there she had been particularly wanting to see me that day, for she had been so sad, thinking she could do nothing for Jesus, and for a whole week had prayed He would let her do just something for Him. So I took out my green card, and told her I thought He had guided me to bring her a bit of work to do, and would she try and collect just a little for these poor Irish, who cannot be reached by people who can only speak English? So she was delighted, and took it as God’s own answer, and has ever considered it as the work He had given her to do. May I send my special thanks to your mamma, both for allowing you to collect and for so kindly helping you. Your loving Friend, 19h Aa

(Zo.) PyYRMONT VILLA, LEAMINGTON, Wovember 20, 1872. DEAR Sir, —

I must send a few lines of grateful thanks for your prayer for me. Ido indeed thank you most earnestly, and may our great and beloved Intercessor not only present those petitions with His own sweet incense for me, but return the blessing sevenfold upon yourself and your work.

I wonder if I may ask a little favour! Will you hand the enclosed little notices of a new book of mine to any members of your congregation who may be on the look out for Christmas presents for children of ten to fourteen years of age. I particularly want to reach by it those of Christ’s Z##/e ones who are beginning to wish to love Him and to work for Him. It is ‘‘a story book,” but founded on fact. “Bruey”’ was the real name of a dear little girl in my beloved father’s parish at Worcester.

Your work is immense indeed. How glad you will be of the *‘rest that remaineth”; but it is nicer still to think that “‘ His servants shall serve Him,” without fatigue, or fear, or imperfection, or any failure.

With very best wishes I am, dear sir, yours in Him whom having not seen we love, FRANCES R. HAVERGAL,

By F. R. H.’s wish her work is still carried on, by two Secretaries appointed for the Bruey Branch: Miss Emily Titterton, The Lindens, Leamington, and Miss Mary Fay, Ivy Cottage, Celbridge. And a letter lately received from Mr. Fitzpatrick says: ‘I find that on the completion of our ‘Bruey’ accounts there appears an amount far larger than I mentioned.... It now proves to be 4789 18s. How wonderful! We thank God.”