Encouraging Success—The Stranger
Encouraging success — The stranger — Assists in organizing another Sabbath school — Arduous labors — Illness — Female prayer meeting — Plan of proceeding — Various objects of importunity — Mr. L.’s sermon — Interesting experience of a lady.
My school continued to increase in interest as well as numbers, and in a few months I had nearly fifty scholars, among whom were adults of both sexes. The Lord truly prospered me in all my ways. As I entered my school one Sabbath afternoon, I perceived that a stranger, apparently about forty years of age, had come in with us. I supposed that he had come for the purpose of assisting as a teacher, and, therefore, invited him to take a class. To my great astonishment he replied, that he had not come to teach, but to he taught, as he did not know how to read! He then voluntarily took a seat appropriated to the little boys, and gave me fifty cents for my library.
About four miles from this place was a Methodist Church, where they were anxious to establish a Sunday school. They had requested me to assist in their enterprise, which I consented to do. For some time I regularly attended both this school, which commenced at e’vAit o’clock in the morning, and my own, which commenced at three o’clock in the afternoon. This made it necessary for me to walk eight miles every Sabbath, except when the weather was unfavorable, and then a conveyance was provided for me. As a result of my arduous labors, I was visited, in the month of August, with a severe illness. In answer to the many prayers offered in my behalf, I was again in a few weeks enabled to resume my labors with renewed vigor. I was, however, obliged to relinquish the Methodist Sabbath school, but had the satisfaction of knowing that it still went on prosperously. In addition to other means of grace, it seemed desirable to have a female prayer meeting. This subject had long rested tipon my mind with peculiar weight. I therefore conversed with my sisters in the Church upon the subject, and found them ready to unite with me. We now found a diflSculty in deciding where to meet. I proposed holding it at the school-house, but others objected to it, fearing that it might subject us to persecution and ridicule. I assured them that the
Lord would meet with us, and we need not fear what man can do or say.
After much conversation we at last agreed to meet at the school-house every Thursday afternoon. The notice was read before the school, with a request that all the scholars should invite their female friends, of every age, to attend. We felt that it was a great undertaking; but we assembled in the great name of Him who said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them.” At the hour appointed the place was filled. Some had doubtless come to gratify their curiosity, while others had come in with true hearts, and as sincere worshipers. The principal leaders of this meeting were Mrs. B., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. K., of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. W., Mrs. C, and myself, of the Presbyterian Church.
It was proposed that, on opening the meeting, each sister should present some special subject for prayer. Mrs. B. arose and said, as her family were all converted, she would present the different Churches to which they belonged, with the hope that God would graciously revive his work, and abundantly bless the labors of his ministering servants. Mrs. K. presented her three children; Mrs. C, her husband and three children; Mrs. W., a poor woman, then present, whose curiosity had brought her there; and /presented myself and school.
We now proceeded with our exercises, and found that God was eminently present to encourage and strengthen our waiting souls. Mrs. S., the poor woman alluded to, left the house deeply convicted of sin. Mrs. C. was interrogated by her husband respecting the gathering he had observed at the school-house. She told him there had been a meeting there; but, as he was an opposer, she was loth to tell him what kind of a meeting it was. She did, however, in answer to his repeated inquiries, tell him, that it was a female lyrayer meeting. Upon hearing this, he said, “Did you pray for me?” “Certainly we did,” said Mrs. C. He made no reply; but it was soon discovered that he was less prone to speak evil of the things of God than he had previously been. He also attended Church on the Sabbath, instead of attending to his secular affairs, as formerly. In about three weeks he became a humble and devoted Christian.
no THE USEFUL DISCIPLE,
While Mr. C. was under conviction, he one day came to my school-house and requested me to suspend the duties of my school for a day or two, and accompany himself and wife in their attendance upon a camp meeting, to be held eighteen miles distant. I readily complied with the request, and the next morning we set off. As soon as we had arrived, and were comfortably provided for, I was invited to listen to a sermon on sanctification, from Mr. L. I listened with commingled interest and scrutiny, as I had never before heard a sermon on that subject. A heavy rain prevented evening services, except in the tents. I was greatly fatigued, and therefore retired at an early hour, and soon fell asleep. I was, however, soon awakened by a Miss H., a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who informed me, that a lady on the opposite side of the camp-ground had experienced sanctification. “I have not seen her,” said she, “but they tell me that her face shines as did Moses’ when he descended from the mount.” I felt a strong desire to see her, and immediately arose, and was preparing to go to her, when my friends asked me where I was going. Upon being informed, they remonstrated with me,
A NARRATIVE OF MRS. GARDNER. Ill
on account of the lateness of the hour, and the heavy rain, which descended in torrents. ‘’Wait till morning,” said one dear sister. “0, no,” I replied, “I can not think of waiting; she will be dead before morning: no one can live in that state.” The simplicity of my remarks provoked their smiles; but they assured me that she was now but just readij to live. But I could not be dissuaded from my purpose. The tent was pointed out to me, and I ran with full speed across the ground, till I reached it. When I arrived, and was about entering the tent, a gentleman standing near me said, “You can not go in — it is too full already.” “Hinder me not,” I replied, “for God hath bidden me.” I was then permitted to pass on.
As I entered, I saw a person sitting in the middle of the tent, whom I thought was the most lovely creature I had ever beheld — her countenance was angelic, and heaven seemed beaming from her eyes. She was absorbed in conversation with those around her, endeavoring to point them to the Lamb of God. At intervals she would look up, and, clasping her hands, exclaim, “Precious Jesus! precious Josus!”
The place seemed awful on account of the presence of God. The ground whereon I stood seemed hallowed. I fell upon my knees near her; she extended her hand, and addressed me by the endearing name of sister. I ventured to give her my hand, when she took it in both hers, and began to talk very sweetly to me. She said that she had been struggling for this blessing for ten years; but had never received it till that afternoon, while listening to the sermon from Mr. L. I told her that if the Lord would spare my life, I would be willing to seek it fifteen years, if, at the end of the time, I could feel as she did. “There is no need of that,” said she, “I now see clearly that it is obtained by a simple act of faith. It is taking God at his word. Believe now. It is present faith, exercised in a present Savior.’’ She then said, “Where do you stand?” I said that I did not know. She then told me all my heart, and could not have described my feelings better if she had always known me.
I continued with her till the next morning at ten o’clock, when she returned to her home. I was afterward informed by her brother that she continued in the full enjoyment of this blessing for a year and a half, when she was called home to her reward iii heaven.