The Rest of a Saint of God
By Heyman Wreford.
In January, 1932, I received the following letter:
Stamford, Conn., U.S.A.
My dear Dr. Wreford, Father (Henry Belden Whelpley) passed away peacefully in his sleep, Monday morning, after a brief illness. Although he was in his ninetieth year his mind was very clear unto the end.
Among his papers he left a request that you be notified.
Sincerely yours,
Edith E. Whelpley (Mrs. A.)
For years I have known our beloved brother, through our correspondence, but I have never seen him in the flesh. His sweet and gracious letters have been a joy to me, for years. His never changing interest in my work for God, and the personal love in Christ we had for one another, will be a blessed memory forever.
I should like to print a few extracts from a few letters only, I received in 1931 — the last year of his earth life. They will show the manner of man he was, and the manner of our love for one another.
Letter 1.
New York, February 10th 1931.
Beloved brother Wreford,
I duly received your loving letter of January 10th 1931, but have been hindered from answering it. My correspondence has fallen in arrears through combined inability to keep up with my work, and sickness.
Yes, I know the very great famine there is in the world now. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word of God. (Amos 8:1111Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: (Amos 8:11)). Men want to live without the Word of God (Deut. 8:33And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)), but if they do succeed it is spiritual starvation.
I am deeply grateful, dear brother, for your prayers for my children, and I wish you to know I am praying for yours. O, that God would answer us both. We know that He hears. Shall we not plead with Him on the ground of His word in James 5:16: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Elijah prayed and was heard and answered....
I close with earnest love from Miss Morris and myself.
Affectionately yours in Christ, H. B. Whelpley.
Letter 2.
Manhattan Avenue, N.Y., February 21St 1931.
Dear brother Dr. Wreford,
I received your last letter, and it was a real comfort. The expression of love is a comfort to a brother or sister’s heart.
Through brother Pennington am glad to hear you are much better in health, and able to press on in the Lord’s work.
With unchanging love,
Your brother in Christ,
H. B. Whelpley.
Letter 3.
New York, May 28th 1931.
My beloved brother in the Lord,
Your Circular Letter, “The Cry of the World,” of May, 1931, is just at hand, and I am glad to be able to make a reply to it. I am enclosing ... as a response to this call. I pray also that many Christians over the length and breadth of this earth may be strongly moved by the Holy Ghost to cheerfully and heartily join to swell the tide of givers to the Divine call for souls to come into the wedding feast before the door is shut. How many are yet in slavery to Satan?
May God send deliverance. Continue to plead with God for my children.
My deep special love to you, Dr. Wreford, the Lord strengthen you for this divine work. Also pray, please, that I may, if the Lord will, be able to have fellowship with the Lord in this, a little longer. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Yours in His love,
H. B. Whelpley.
Letter 4.
New York, Aug. 1St 1931.
This is a sacred letter speaking of his early life, and his devoted love to, his parents, especially his “precious darling mother”— his father died when he was very young, he tells me. He speaks of August 11Th being a memorable day for him and for myself. We were both born the same day of the same month, but not the same year. He speaks of the profound joy it was to him and his mother when he could say, “Mother, I have given myself up to the Lord Jesus.” He says, “I shall never forget it, and the light His love has shed upon my journey through the valley of the shadow of death! To God be all the praise! “He says also,” dear brother, don’t leave my children out of your prayers, and concludes his very precious letter by saying, Ah! we look forward to seeing the Lord soon, and those also who have gone to Paradise. Even so, come Lord Jesus.’ Ever yours affectionately, dear brother, H. B. Whelpley.
Oct. 6th 1931: — He says at the end of this letter, the last I shall quote from now: “My love in Christ to you dear Dr. Wreford, my friend.”... H.B.W.
They’re passing from amongst us — one by one —
Earth’s storms all weathered, and the haven won;
Life with its April scenes of hope and care,
And Time with all its turmoil ended there.
Toil-worn and weary — with the journey o’er,
They hail the Home eternal, God’s rest for evermore.
H.W.
Letter just received from Miss Morris about Mr. Whelpley’s home-going.
U.S.A.
Dear Dr. Wreford,
I wrote you about three weeks ago. I had not heard then of the death of my precious brother in Christ, Mr. Whelpley. His passing away was as follows: — He had a bad heart attack, and was improving in health, when his children went up to see him, and the excitement proved too much for him. He said “Good-night” to his two grand-daughters, naming them each, after which he repeated the 23rd Psalm. Then he fell asleep, and awoke at 4:30 in the morning to be with Jesus...
Yours in Christ Jesus, M. M.