“My comrades smile to see me read my ‘mass,’ as they call it, but little by little, the danger and the Spirit of God, help, and they laugh no more but on the contrary, many borrow my New Testament of me, and others come to me when I read, and request me to read to them, and almost all agree in saying that it is truly a Divine revelation. So I pray constantly for my comrades, that God will open their hearts to His love, and I am sure there will be fruit to His glory. Yes I entreat all Christians to raise their supplications to the throne of the Father, for they are beginning to say all around me, in speaking of this terrible war, “It is because we have sinned, that God has sent this dreadful war”. O, that Christians all over the world, would, on their knees, entreat our God and Savior to intervene in mercy, and make His creatures feel what lost sinners they are, and that, after humiliation and confession of faults, He will shorten this unspeakable trial, and lead to repentance many a soul bending beneath their load of sins as we did, and I am sure He will do this. If you could see my comrades around me asking me how it is I am able to believe, and have such perfect confidence in God, and how I can be resigned to the idea of leaving this sinful world, without being terrified, then I tell them where my strength is, in the Lord Jesus, who died for me, to bring me to Himself. We speak continually of the things of God. As soon as the bullets and shells leave us in quietness in the trenches, we press close to each other, and I am able, with God’s help, to encourage my comrades, and to exhort them to give themselves to the Savior, who loves them and calls them. Many seem touched in their souls.
I am often with my comrade, E. H. and when we are not too near the enemy, we sing hymns, morning and evening. In the evening, when we are not on guard we pray together, and then we lie down to sleep peacefully, meditating on the Holy Word of God, and go on day after day sustained and encouraged by our dear Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who carries us in His arms, while we await the day when He shall see fit to reunite us here on earth, or in the house of our Father, where there is fullness of joy forever more.”
Note: Before departing for the war, he showed his indifference to religious things in not taking his Bible with him. His thoughts were on other things. The change in him is so great that many of those who knew him could scarcely believe he was the writer of the letters, received from him. He has been preserved through a thousand dangers.
The writer was converted two years before being called to the front. “I know you are in a fight just as I am, and some day the march will be long and rations will be short, but you have a great Captain.”
O, how I wish I had come under His colors long ago. I might even now be helping at your side, and seeking to bring back those other sheep into the fold.
My work is binding up wounds and it is heart-breaking sometimes. Some of the wounded carried into our dressing stations are just lads, and your heart aches for the mothers.
The other day a boy was carried in by two of my comrades. He had only a stump of an arm left, and his body was full of shell wounds, yet what do you think he was doing? He was whistling, “From sinking sands, He lifted me.” My heart almost stopped beating. I bent over him and began to wash his wounds and he just gritted his teeth, and then went on quietly whistling.
“From shades of night, to plains of light, O! praise His name, He lifted me.”
“Yes, praise His name, He lifted me, too,” I said. You ought to have seen his smile. He stretched out his hand and said, “O, shake hands, will you?” and then in a whisper said, “Would you mind praying, please?” I did, and then the dressing was continued. He fainted under the pain and presently was carried out to the ambulance. unconscious. I don’t suppose I shall ever meet him again. Maybe, he will soon be at home with his mother. He is only one of many who pass through my hands.
My! but I am proud of the Christian boys. You will be glad to know that another stretcher-bearer in my synod has come to Christ. He held out for a long time, although we tried hard to win him. We five (four have been led to Christ by the writer) had announced to have, a Christmas service for any who would like to come. About 50 of our company gathered and we sang the old gospel songs. Then I felt led to read the story of the Prodigal again. It somehow touches my heart most. Then I spoke a little while and made an appeal. This lad rose up and said, “I’m going home to my Father,” and he knelt right down in front, and said, “Father, I have sinned and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” And you guess, he was forgiven, and there was rejoicing, not only in heaven that night, and now he joins us in our little meetings together. We have prayer and Bible reading, and the six of us take good care not to lose an opportunity of speaking to our boys of our Great Captain and His saving blood.
Pray hard, we need all your prayers, and your prayers saved me, you know.”
“One man who was down at the time you were with us and who received a great blessing then, was telling me some wonderful stories of God’s working and answers to prayers. I cannot do better than pass one or two on to you and the praying friends. He and a number of others were clearing out wells; one of them over 160 feet deep was suspected of being poisoned, and the officers decided that one of the men should go down and investigate. W— was chosen. He got down safely, did what was required, then knelt down and had a few moments’ prayer. While kneeling God told him to ask for another rope to be lowered. He did so, and was scoffed and jeered at by officer and men alike. However, he quietly told them that God had told him not to attempt the ascent on the rope he descended on, and would not come up until they grudgingly sent down another. A few yards from the top the first rope snapped, and if he had not had the other to cling to he would have fallen and been killed. This made a great impression, and afterward when they were sent out on special duty the other men always asked to be allowed to go with him. This happened so often that the officer who had jeered was interested, and asked W. if he really believed that God had nothing else to do than listen to him. The day following this conversation two-parties had to go out on a very dangerous piece of work. They were told it meant death to some, if not to all. W— reported “all safe,” the and his company got together and before starting he asked them to bow in prayer. Every man did so, and he commended his men to God. The other company went out, laughing and swearing. The work was done, and the men in charge had to report to the officer. Nearly all the men in the first company were killed. When W— reported “all safe,” the officer would not believe it at first. Some time after he came to W— and another Christian corporal, and asked them if they would come to his dug-out and pray for him and with him. On entering they found other officers there, but before them all they knelt, and the major gave his allegiance to God, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Thank God for a fearless testimony, and thank God for your message, in our hut on “Putting on the whole armor of God.” It not only helped me, but made others brave and fearless in their witness for Christ. Shortly after, the above incident, he and a few others were singing hymns and having a little meeting in the trenches when a captain come along, who had been a backslider for years. He joined peril, and before the meeting was over, had returned to the Lord!