(Continued from last week)
‘THIRTY YEARS passed and it was I the Sunday School Centenary celebrations. At Bradford 30,000 Sunday school children, besides thousands of parents and friends, met on that occasion.
Mr. Russell, now an aged man, was present with his family. A well-built and neatly dressed gentleman gripped his hand. “Why, Mr. Russell, I am delighted to see you,” he exclaimed.
“I can’t place you, my friend,” returned Mr. Russell.
“Don’t you know me? I know you.
Why, I’d know you 100 years from now. Don’t you remember Joe Braley?”
“You’re not Joe Braley, are you?” exclaimed the old evangelist in joyful surprise.
“I am; but, praise God, I’m not Joe Braley as you knew him. I love the Lord now, and I have been preaching His gospel for years.” Then, turning to a happy-looking little lady at his side, he went on, “This is Mrs. Braley. She also loves the Lord; and my three daughters here are all believers. Forget you? Never! We must ever praise God that we know you.”
Among the glad hearts that returned from that large gathering, we venture to believe that not one thrilled with truer joy than did that of James Russell, this old servant of God, as he told the tale of the long lost one now found, and testified once more to the truth of God’s unfailing promise: “Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” Eccl. 11:1.
ML-04/11/1971