A PRINTED report of a year’s work amongst the villages of Worcestershire lies before us. We are personally acquainted with the beloved fellow-laborer, and desire to commend him in his service for the Lord to the prayers of our Christian readers.
We would also suggest to all who take an interest in gospel work — and every true Christian should — that something might be done in the same way in all the counties of England, to say nothing of Scotland and Ireland.
The spiritual darkness of the villages is appalling. We recently spent two or three days in a village four miles from where our friend is now at work, and had opportunity to observe a little of what is the ordinary life of the place. From early morning till late at night, men, women, and even little children may be seen drinking beer at the public-house — Sundays as well as week-days, in spite of legislation.
One of the saddest sights is to see parents holding the glass of ale to the lips of tiny mites of three and four years of age — alas! no uncommon sight. It makes the heart sicken to look forward into the future of those little children, thus early acquiring a taste for what will, but for the miracle of the grace of God, blight their lives and ruin their souls.
But is there no spiritual ministration in this village? Yes, there is the parish church. Returning rather earlier than usual on the Sunday night, we stood in the porch and heard the sermon. Not one word of Christ or the gospel from first to last. That sermon stirred one more even than the scenes witnessed near the village inn. The name of Christ was not mentioned, the atoning sacrifice of the cross was not alluded to. The text was good “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” &c. — but the sermon! It was, in a nutshell, “How to avoid the little worries of life.”
It was only too evident that the poor man in the pulpit had never experienced the converting power of God’s grace. Not a word was said that was calculated to arouse the conscience of any of his audience; some were visibly asleep — all were asleep in a spiritual sense; and so they come and go week after week. It is difficult to believe that there is a single truly converted member of that congregation; surely the awful darkness of the pulpit would have stirred them up to some activity for the souls of the perishing people around them. In this village there is not even a Methodist Chapel or Mission Hall.
What can be done for the villages?
First, let every Christian feel that he and she has a direct responsibility in the matter — a responsibility towards the God who has saved them, and a responsibility towards the world amongst whom they are bidden to shine as lights.
Secondly, let every Christian pray the young convert’s prayer, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
Thirdly, let every Christian do with all their heart what their Lord and Master bids them do. All are not preachers, but each one should be a fisher of men.
The friend to whom we have alluded has bought a movable wooden hall or tent, capable of seating about 150 people. It is now pitched in a village near the dark one we recently visited. It is refreshing to go round and hear what the Lord has done in that place, and of how He has saved souls.
Might not the like be attempted in many villages? The initial cost of such a hall is not great, and young Christians could go round with gospel books from house to house, and gather sometimes the children, at other times their parents, and simply tell forth the good news of the grace of God.
“Work for the night is coming.”
A hall of this description can be used in winter as well as in summer, and the winter is often the best time for such work. ED.