Homes for Destitute Orphans

NV OV. 20, 1835. — This evening I took tea at a sister’s

house, where I found Franke’s life. I have thought of laboring in a similar way, on a smaller scale. May God make it plain!

Nov. 23. — To-day, I had ten pounds sent from Ireland for our Institution. The Lord, in answer to prayer, has given me, in a few days, about fifty pounds. 1 asked for forty. This has been a great encouragement, and stirred me to pray about the establishment of an Orphan House. Through pastoral labors, correspondence, and brethren who visit Bristol, I have had, constantly, cases brought before me, which prove that one of the special things the children of God need in our day is to have their faith strengthened. This is the primary reason for desiring the Orphan House. I desire to be used by God to benefit the bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and to train the orphans in the fear of God; but the first object of the work is that God may be -magnified,

Nov. 28. — I have been, every day this week, much in prayer concerning the Orphan House, entreating the Lord to take away every thought concerning it if the matter be not of Him; and have repeatedly examined my heart concerning my motives. Have been confirmed that it is of God.

- This morning, asked the Lord specially to teach me through a brother, and went to him, that he might 47 probe my heart. He greatly encouraged me. Therefore I, this day, took the first step by ordering bills printed, announcing a public meeting on December oth, to lay before the brethren my thoughts about the Orphan House, as a means of ascertaining more clearly the Lord’s mind. `

Dec. 5, — This evening I was struck with these words: “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Ps, lxxxi, 10.) I was led to apply them to the Orphan House, and ask the Lord for premises, one thousand pounds, and suitable persons to care for the children.,

Dec. 7, — Received the first shilling oe the Orphan House.

Dec. 9. — The first piece of furniture was given — a large wardrobe. This evening, at the meeting, I was low in spirit about the Orphan House; but, as I began to speak I received peculiar assistance from God. After the meeting, ten shillings were given. There was, purposely, no collection, nor did any one speak but myself, for I sought only to be quite sure about the mind of God. A sister offered herself for the work. I went home confident that the matter would come to pass, though but ten shillings had been given,

Dec. 10. — Sent to the press the substance of what I said at the meeting. Received a letter, in which a brother and sister wrote, “We propose ourselves for the service of the intended Orphan House. If you think us qualified, and will give all the furniture the Lord has given us for its use, without receiving any salary whatever, believing if it be the wil) of the Lord to employ us, He will supply all our need.” In the evening a brother brought three dishes, twenty-eight plates, three ‘basins, one jug, four mugs, three saltstands, one ene four knives, and five forks.

Dec. 12. — While praying, this morning, that the Lord would give us a fresh token of His favor concerning the Orphan House, a brother brought three dishes, twelve plates, one basin, and one blanket.

I thanked God, and asked Him to give, even this day, another encouragement. Shortly after, fifty pounds were given by an individual from whom I could not have expected this sum. Thus the hand of God appeared more clearly.,

Dec. 13. — A brother offers to give four shillings pei week as long as the Lord gives the means; eight -shillings were given by him as two weeks’ subscription. A brother and sister offered themselves, with all their furniture and provisions.

Dec. 14. — A sister offered her services for the work. In the evening another sister offered herself.

Dec. 15 — A brother brought a quantity of household articles, and told me a sister would send, to-morrow, one hundred pounds.

Dec. 18 — The brother brought the hundred pounds.

Since the publication of the second edition, the donor ‘of this money has died. She earned her bread by needlework, and got only two to five shillings a week. Some time before I established’ an Orphan House, her father -died, and left her 480 pounds. The father, given to drink, died in debt, which debts the children wished to pay, but not in full, and offered the creditors twenty-five per cent, which they accepted. A. L. said to herself, “However sinful my father may have been, he was my father, and, as I have the means of paying his debts to the full amount, I ought to do so, seeing my brother and sisters will not.” She went to all the creditors, and paid the full amount of the debts, which took Ae pounds more of her money.

Her brother and two sisters gave fifty pounds each to their mother; but A. L. said to herself, “I am a child of God; surely I ought to give my mother twice as much;” and so she gave her mother 100 pounds. Shortly after, she sent the hundred pounds for the Orphan House. I was surprised, for I had known her as a poor girl, and never heard of her having this money. Before accepting it, I had a long conversation with her, in which I sought to ascertain whether she might have given it in the feeling of a moment, without having counted the cost. But I found she was a calm, considerate follower of the Lord, who desired to act according to the words of our Lord, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” (Matt. vi, 19.) “Sell that ye have, and give alms.” (Luke xii, 33.) When I remonstrated, she said, “The Lord Jesus has given His last drop of blood for me, and should I not give Him this hundred pounds?” She also made me take five pounds for the poor saints.

Four things are to be noted about this beloved sister:

1. She did this in secret, avoiding all show. She did not desire the praise of men. T suppose not six people knew she ever possessed four hundred pounds, or had given one hundred to the Orphan House. (Matt, vi, 1-4.)

2. She remained humble and lowly, proving she had given to the Lord, and not to men.

3. All the time she had this comparative abundance, her dress remained as before. It was clean, yet as simple and inexpensive as when her income was three shillings a week. There was no difference as to dress, lodging, or manner of life. She remained the poor handmaid of the Lord as to outward appearance.

4. She continued working at her needle. She earned her two or five shillings a week as before; while she gave away the money in sovereigns or five-pound notes.

Apr. 26. — This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving, as the Orphan House is now open.

George Muller’s wife, referring to this time, tells us:

Donations came in until he was able to rent a large house, No. 6 Wilson Street, and furnish and prepare it for thirty orphan girls above eight years of age, and two helpers, who volunteered their services, He was in a position to appoint a time for interviews with persons in the vestry of the chapel, who desired to obtain, for orphan girls, admission to the Institution. The morning arrived. He sat for two hours and a half in the vestry; but no one came, and was obliged to leave without a single application. Walking home, he thought, “I have prayed about everything connected with this work — for a house, for money, for helpers, and various articles of furniture, but never asked the Lord to send orphans.” Taking it for granted they were to be had by the thousands, he had never asked for them. Remembering the text, “In everything, by prayer,... let your requests be made known,” he shut himself in his room, cast himself on the floor, and lay, for three hours, on his face before the Lord, confessing his failure, beseeching pardon for neglect, and praying that children might be sent. The next morning, application was made for an orphan girl. At the expiration of a month, forty-two had been applied ‘for. The house in Wilson Street was filled with thirty girls, who were taken charge of by a matron and a teacher. At the end of eight months, another house in the same street was taken, and furnished for thirty-six boys and girls, Eight suitable assistants for the work presented themselves, and, in nine months, a third house in Wilson Street was opened for thirty orphan boys above eight years. Mr. Müller and his nine helpers. had now ninety-six orphans. The blessing of God rested manifestly on-the work, and everything went on satisfactorily; but at the expiration of twelve months the whole of his money was expended. But having set about the Orphan Work for the purpose of showing what God is willing to do in the hour of deepest trial for those who really trust Him, he secretly rejoiced at having this glorious opportunity of taking Him at His word, and letting a skeptical world and an unbelieving Church see what a deliverance in answer to believing prayer He would certainly accomplish,

He therefore called his fellow-laborers together, and, kneeling down, they spread their case before the Lord, entreating Him to send help in their time of need; nor had they to wait long; money and provisions speedily came, and their prayers were turned to thanksgivings.