Welsh Journals

July i, 1892. THE WELSH WEEKLY. spot. The inhabitants are hearty and homely, and though cut off from many of the advantages of the main land they manifest an exceedingly thoughtful disposition, and as citizens of a great empire on which the sun never sets, they take a deep interest in current events. On the whole the islands are prosperous because the inhabitants are industrious, but it would, doubtless, be much to their advantage if the present regime were abolished, as there can be but little enter¬ prise whilst everything is subject to the approval of one man. Although little and comparatively unknown, Scilly has yet played a great part in history, both ancient and modern, and passed through troublous times, as her warlike defences testify, but now peace has dawned upon her, we trust a lasting peace, and she no longer fears the crash of arms or the thunder of battle, but in modest retirement rests securely mid the ocean wave, ever ready to welcome those who delight in the beauties of their native land. MR. MOODY AT WOLYERHAMPTON. UNITED MISSION SERVICES. The four days' united mission, organised in con¬ nection with the visit to Wolverhampton of Mr. D. L. Moody, the famous American evangelist, was opened on Monday, June 13 ult., in the Volunteer Drill Hall, which, by the way, is capable of holding an audience of 5000. The doors were thrown open at 7 p.m., the meeting commencing an hour later. Long before 8 p.m. the ball was packed, and reminded one very forcibly of (he days when the late Eev. Richard Owen was doing such glorious work in Wales. There is a permanent stage in the Hall, and this was occupied by the united choir. Projecting from the stage another smaller platform bad been fixed, and was occupied by the evangelist, the ministers, and clergy¬ men of the various chapels and churches in the town. Mr. Moody took for a text the 7th and 8th verses of the 6th Chapter of Galatians. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soeth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." He said he preached from this text and believed it on the occasion of his visit to England in 1867, and he had believed it more and more on his successive visits in 1872, 1873, 1881, 1883, and now in 1892. They could not blot out the truth that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. The law had been in force these 6000 years, and it was surprising men had not recognised it more. Who had not been deceived ? There were but two g0(jg—the god of this world and the God of the Bible. The former had been a deceiver all those years, but the true God never had deceived nor could be de¬ ceived. He (the speaker) would divide his discourse under four heads:—1st, a man expects to reap when he sows; 2ad, a, man expects to reap the same kind of seed he sows; 3rd, a man expects to reap more than he sows ; 4th, ignorance of the kind of seed makes no difference, a man would reap the same kind of seed as he sowed. There was nothing more solemn in the Bible than the statement that God made a man reap in His kingdom the same kind of seed as he sowed. This fact was illustrated by Mr. Moody in a variety of ways. He referred to the holding of drink shops, and asked if it were not the safest thing for those in them to get out of them as quickly as they could. The money from such a source would burn some day; it would bring ruin one way or another. It became every man, as a thoughtful and rational being, to know and consider the kind of seed he was sowing. A farmer sowing some seed, he did not know what, was not half so mad as_the man who was sowing thoughtlessly for eternity. Let people ask themselves the questions—What am I sowing ? What is going to be the harvest? What am I going to reap in the evening of life ? Take for example a young man who spoke scornefully and contemptuously of his parents. For such a man he had great contempt, and never knew one to flourish yet. The reaping would be dark and bitter if such a course were continued. He did not like to see people laughing at or cheering a man who was sowing his " wild oats," as it was called. It would be a reaping in tears of blood, in disgrace and agony, and there would be no levity then. The address was very earnest, and had a telling effect. On the second night Mr. Moody took for subject matter the 3rd chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, and delivered a powerful address, plainly pointing out the impossibility of securing everlasting life without having first been born of the Spirit. At the close of the meeting a slip of paper was given to Mr. Moody by an evidently anxious enquirer, bearing the following question : ""Why is it so very hard to repent," and in response to the enquiry the Evangelist on the third night took his text from Isaiah lv. 7 : "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughtp, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him." He could not see that it was a difficult matter to repent; it only required to give up sin, and to walk by God's help, and under the guidance of the Spirit, in holy and virtuous ways, and to banish the evil and. selfish thoughts from one's mind. Repenting meant nothing more than to give up sin and evil ways, and to live a holy and pure life. A soldier was once asked what had caused such a change in his career, and his reply was : —" I heard a voice shout Halt! Attention ! Right about face! March ! and I have marched on for Christ ever since." The statements expressed by the preacher throughout were very clear, and evi¬ dently reached the hearts of not only the anxious enquirer who gave the slip on the previous evening, but also many others in the vast audience. On the fourth night Mr. Moody spoke from the words, " Thou are not far from the kingdom of God " (Mark xii. 24), as applied to the scribe who asked Christ ques¬ tions regarding the way of eternal life. The burden of the discourse was " break away with sin while you have the opportunity." Better, said Mr. Moody, not to be near the kingdom at all, than to come " not far " from it, and fail to gain the inheritance. It was evident that his telling words produced a great effect upon his hearers, and at the close, when he invited any anxious to know more of divine things to remain, fully three-quarters of the large audience remained. Although a four days' mission had only been arranged, Mr. Moody finally decided to stay a day longer, and on the Friday night conducted his farewell service, and gave a very stirring and effective address from Luke xiv., 16-24. After the close of every service an after-meeting or a Seiat was held, the members of the various denominations remaining, as well as a great many others who hitherto were not members. Mr. Moody, supported by a good mumber of pastors and workers, descended from the platform, walked amongst the large assembly, and freely dis¬ cussed matters pertaining to the spiritual and life everlasting ; in fact, held what I may really term an individual Seiat brofiad. It was a sjght to be remem¬ bered to see many—rich and poor, young and old— express their weaknesses and shortcomings, and seeking anxiously for assurance and rest to their troubled minds. The seed had evidently been sown, and God grant that the same may grow in the right direction, and that there will be a reaping to His glory. The singing of the united choir was excellent, and called forth high compliments from the evangelist. Mr. Moody left early on the Saturday to open a mission at Cardiff, fixed for Sunday, June 19. THE LADIES' COLUMN. Florencia.—We are glad to oblige you with the following recipe for making gooseberry jelly;—Put the gooseberries, after cutting off the tops and tails, into a preserving-pan, and stir them over the fire until they are quite soft; then strain them through a sieve, and to every pint of juice allow three-quarters of a pound of loaf sugar. Boil the juice and sugar together for three-quarters of an hour, stirring and skimming all the time ; and if the jelly appears firm when a little of it is poured on a plate it is done, and should then be taken up and put into small pots. Cover each of the pots with an oiled paper, and then with a piece of tissue-paper brushed over on both sides with the white of an egg. Store away in a dry place. Robin.—Builth Wells is a very pleasant spot to spend some of your summer holidays at. It is near Llanwrtyd Wells, and, better still, near Llandrindod, the " Queen of Welsh Spas," from both of which daily excursions are organised to Builth Wells. You will find plenty of attractions there, and numbers of young people; but as you are going to have a month's holiday, would you not prefer spending, say, a fortnight at Builth and neighbourhood, and a fort¬ night by the seaside. ? We think "a fortnight by the sea would be very enjoyable—much more so than the whole month inland. Two Young Lady Friends.—You did not give us your proper names nor a nom de plume. We have given you a name by which we hope you will recognise your answer. The question of emigrating from one country to another is such a serious one, especially for young ladies with some means at command, that we cannot possibly advise you unless you are more explicit. What sort of a " house " or business do you mean ? Have you any knowledge of some particular line of business ? If you will let us know a little more we will gladly give you the information you require. Frank H.—" The English at the North Pole," by Jules Verne, and " The Ice Desert" by the same author, are published for Is. each by Ward, Lock, and Co. " Cressy and Poictiers'] you can get a very good edition of for 3s. 9d., published by W&*d, L^ck, and Co. for 5s. We wtiT'gladly look over your papers if you will send them to us, and you must not think it will be a trouble. Pharmackon.—We scarcely think you are really a loser in the long run, after spending five years at a trade and returning to echool at 19. You will find all your questions answered respecting entering the medical profession in the last Student's Number of the Lancet, published in September, price 7id. by post, and Keetley's Guide to the Medical Profession, price about 3s. 6d. You need not serve any time with a doctor. You must pass a preliminary exami¬ nation in art?, that is, English, history, arithmetic, Latin, Euclid, and some science, as chemistry or botany. Then you can enter a hospital for four or five years. The least you can qualify for is about ;£100, apart from cost of living. Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Irish hospitals cost much less than London. Bede writes as follows on the dancing question, fairs, &c:—"A Methodist Minister's Wife" cannot see any harm in dancing, but rather sanctions it, because it gives pleasure to the person, grace to the figure, and exercise to the body. Why so much care to the body, which must soon moulder in the grave, to the neglect, and often ruin, of the soul ? She also says that upon receiving good news our feet move to dancing. I think the Christian would Bhow his joy in a breathing of thankfulness to the Great Giver of every good. I am glad to see this subject taken up in the Welsh Weekly. I fear we, as professors, are sliding towards this and other evils. A scholar of mine was persuaded by one high in office in the Church to enjoy the full pleasures of a fair the week before she was to be received into communion, though her mother had taken great pains to warn her not to do so. A Conceited One writes:—I agree with the sentiments of Principal Edwards, in Great George Street Chapel, Liverpool. " I believe " said he, " that the grand mistake of the Christian Church is to educate rather than to save, to bring culture to bear upon men rather than to briDg salvation to bear upon sinners. Some think dancing adds to the gracefulness of those who indulge in it. That is the teaching of the world, not of the followers of Christ. How many have gone the downward road, even in this world, without speaking of the one to come." QUERY ? Anxious to Know would be obliged for answers to the following questions:—(1) Is it possible to induce Dr. Talmage to pay a visit to Wales ? (2) The best way for a superintendent of a Sunday School to make said school a success. All communications to the " Ladies' Column " to be addressed to GWYNETH, Office of the Welsh Weekly, 19, Moira Terrace, Cardiff. The second line in " Gwythr's" letter should read thus :—" betraying such abundant amount of ignorance " LITERARY NOTES. Helping Words, for June, edited by Rev. H. Lloyd Jones, Cardiff, contains answers from leading men to the question—" What is it to be a Christian ? " The Rev. Principal Edwards, M.A., D.D., of Bala Theological College, says :—" To be a Christian is to consent to be saved through Christ, and to seek to be like Him ; not the one without the other." The Rev. R. H. Lundie, D.D., of Fairfield Presbyterian Church, Liverpool, says:—"A Christian is one who begins by accepting the grace of Christ; who lives under the influence of the Spirit of Christ; who grows by imitating the example of Christ; M'ho is perfected in sharing the glory of Christ." Livkbpool and Manchester have been enriched by a bequest of £200,000, left for the benefit of the working classes of those towns. An American Presbyterian paper propounds this conun¬ drum: "What is tiie difference between Friends and Methodists? " and answers it by saying: '• The former are Quakers, and the latter earthquakers." The number of Welshmen engaged in the General elec¬ tion beyond the Welsh border includes :—Peckhatr, Edwin Jones, L; Woolwich, B. Jones, L and Labour; Ashton- under-Lyne, O. V. Morgan, L ; Liverpool (West Toxfceth), E. J. Griffith, L; Rochester, H. S. Davies, C; -West Bromwich, Lee Roberts, L; Cornwall (Launcesoi), T. Owen, L; Gloucester (Stroud), Brynmor Jones, L.