(164-165) Edgar, M. D., and wife, and after a most refreshing sleep we were ready for the second day of the Convention. Saturday, April 18th, opened with a ‘‘Colporteur Meeting’’ in the forenoon. We spoke for two hours to the colorteurs, sharpshooters and volunteers on the character, importance and methods of the Harvest work. Incidentally we assured them of our agreeable surprise that the British work had so remarkably progressed during the five years since our last visit; and that we foresaw still greater things in their midst for some years to come. And here we assure you all that undoubtedly God has many loyal children in Britain for whom the Harvest message will surely be ‘‘meat in due season.’’ Their awakening time has come! The ‘‘New Theology,’’ Theosophy, Christian Science and Socialism are awakening public thought along religious lines; and all this must inure to their preparation for ‘‘The Old Theology’’ of the Bible, which we have for them. In the afternoon we answered questions for an hour— nearly all of which were quite to the point, the audience showing keen appreciation of the truth. Dr. J. Edgar followed us in a very helpful address on ‘‘Humility.’’ Then came tea, and after it our discourse on ‘‘Baptism,’’ closing another interesting and, we trust, profitable day. On Sunday forenoon, April 19th, the immersion service busied the convention, while we visited some of the sick who were unable to attend the meetings. Seventy-eight symbolized their full consecration into Christ’s death. At 2 p. m. Brother Hemery gave an address, said to be excellent, on the subject, ‘‘I am the Vine, ye are the branches.’’ We regretted inability to attend because of necessary private appointments. The evening service was at ‘‘St. Andrew’s Hall,’’ of a reputed capacity of 4500. It was full to overflowing and Brother Hemery addressed about 500 at the overflow meeting on the same subject that we used at the larger service, namely, ‘*The Return from Hell.’’ The occasion was an inspiring one. The audience was an extremely intelligent one, and gave profound attention for about two hours, At the door free literature was taken with avidity. An hour later we were on the railway train bound for our next appointment—Liverpool. Many of the dear friends had posted themselves relative to our train and its time for departure, for they gathered to the number of about 200 to bid us farewell again, singing, ‘‘God be with you till we meet again’’ and ‘‘In the sweet by and by.’’ As the train pulled out we waved our handkerchiefs to each other, while some ran alongside to the full end of the platform. Our heart was deeply touched and we thanked God for the tie that binds his people to him and to each other. The convention continued a day after our departure, and, we learn, was profitable to the close. The attendance was estimated at 800. Undoubtedly many others would have been there had they not been preparing for our coming to their cities or vicinity—attending to advertising, etc. THE LIVERPOOL MEETINGS Although our train reached Liverpool at the very inconvenient hour of 4.40 a. m., before the electric cars were running, about 15 came to the depot on foot to meet us, rising even at 3 o’clock. Their hearty greetings we returned with good appreciation, and with glowing hearts remembered the Lord’s words, that all who became his disciples in truth shall have even in this life ‘‘an hrndred fold’’—houses, lands, brethren, etc. Soon Brother Hay had us in a cab, en route for his home and its comforts; and presently Sister Hay received us and cared for our temporal interests most hospitably. After some personal visiting in the afternoon (April 20) we addressed an appreciative audience of about 500 in a Baptist chapel rented by our friends for the oceasion, and we were informed that nearly all of the congregation were ‘“brethren’’ and ‘‘friends’’ of Liverpool and surrounding cities. We were gratificd indeed, and praised God for the increased numbers since our last visit, but also and specially for the evidences we subsequently had of the growth in grace and knowledge amongst the dear friends. The beginning of the interest in present truth in Liverpool was with dear friends connected with a ‘‘Mission,’’ and quite naturally the mission methods for a time influenced them and led to ‘‘frothy’’ rather than ‘‘solid’’ methods of Christian fellowship and endeavor. We rejoiced with them in their zeal manifested on the ocasion of our visit five years ago, and hoped and prayed for their growth also in knowledge Now we rejoice that they have grown in knowledge without having lost their zeal. The evening session had been advertised and the attendance was estimated at 650, who yave closest attention to our topic, ‘‘The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire.’’ An hour after ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, the evening service we boarded the steamer en route for Belfast, Ireland, and to our surprise about 150 of the dear friends gathered on the pier to give us a farewell. They sang for us several hymns as the boat delayed for a rail connection,— ‘*Blest be the tie that binds,’’ ‘‘God has promised a glorious day,’’ ‘‘All hail the power of Jesus’ name,’’ and ‘‘God be with you.’? THE BELFAST, IRELAND, MEETINGS As the steamer reached Belfast next morning we caught sight of five brethren on the dock. We recognized each other, though we had never met before. Indeed not one of the present Belfast church was in the Truth at the time of our previous visit, five years ago. The greetings were warm, as usual, and soon Brother McComb had us in a cab hurrying us to his home, where we were warmly received by his wife, Sister McComb, and her mother—both beaming with joy, and thinking, of course, not of us, whom they had never before seen, but of the truth which bound all of our hearts to each other and to the Lord. Soon after breakfast a number of other friends joined us in the McComb parlor and we had pleasant fellowship in the truth—cheering and comforting and building up one another in the most holy faith. After dinner we had a meeting in the little hall generally used by the friends. Our subject was along lines of general helpfulness, suited as best we were able to their needs. After about two hours we adjourned for tea, and the entire twenty-four who were present thus spent the interim of time until the evening meeting, which was advertised for the public. A very intelligent audience of about 300 attended the evening service and manifested a deep interest in our subject, “(The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire.’’ At the conclusion of the service a man wished to oppose our presentation, and, mounting a chair, began a harangue on the text, ‘‘The wicked shall be turned into hell, together with all that forget God.’’ We asked him to sit down and we would answer his objection; and the audience insisted that he do so. We then briefly showed that the wicked are such as sin wilfully after they have knowledge to the contrary, and that those who ‘‘ forget God’’ could not include the heathen who had never known God; that the word hell in this text is sheol in the Hebrew and means the tomb; and that the Hebrew really says that the classes described will be ‘‘returned to sheol’’—returned to death;—implying their previous recovery and release from it for the trial secured for them and for all through Jesus’ death. Then another mounted a chair and objected that the church do not die because Jesus said, ‘‘He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.’’ We reminded him that he should quote the entire passage, namely, ‘‘And I will raise him up at the last day.’’ Briefly we pointed out that the life given us now is ours by faith and promise and that the Word says, ‘<This life is in his Son,’’ and ‘‘When he who is our life shall appear we also shall appear with him in glory.’’ After a good night’s rest we on the 22nd started for Dublin, joined by Brother Hemery and five others. We arrived after noon and ere long were with the brethren and friends (about 40) in their usual meeting room. At their request two hours were spent in answering their written questions on Bible topics. At the conclusion they expressed themselves as well pleased, and we proceeded to enjoy a social tea which had already been prepared. The evening meeting was for the public, and drew a remarkably fine audience estimated at 1,000 or more. Before the opening we received from Mr. O’Connor, secretary of the Y. M. C. A., his card with a request thereon for an opportunity for questions. We announced the fact and promised to entertain the questions after concluding the lecture on ‘‘The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire.’’ Our address of an hour and a half long was well received, and at its conclusion nearly all of the audience remained to hear Mr. O’Connor’s questions and our replies. Then came stirring times, for Mr. O’Connor had many friends at the rear of the hall who loudly applauded when he commented that the speaker had not used a Bible and had not asked the audience to turn to his quotations. We replied that surely we had quoted much more Scripture than we could have read from the Bible in the same time, and that we had given the intelligent audience credit for being familiar with the Scriptures quoted, and that as for ourself we had our Bible here—pointing to our forehead. The audience recognized the fact that the criticism of Mr. O’Connor was a captious one, that the Scriptures had been quoted rapidly and voluminously by us in the lecture, and the applause on our behalf and in support of our reply was tumultuous, and showed that we had the sympathy of about nine-tenths of the audience, [4178]
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