We must pray for them, and give them the Word of God. We must thank God that in the ranks there are real men of prayer, working unceasingly for the salvation of their comrades. Six thousand soldiers are writing me every month for a Testament, and I wish it were sixty thousand. Through the kindness of friends I have been able to supply all who have sent. A dear Christian in Australia has enabled me to purchase eighteen thousand Testaments. A mother sends me a gold lever watch that belonged to her daughter now in heaven, and wants me to sell it to send Testaments to the soldiers. A Christian in the North of England sends me a spade guinea to get Testaments. Children are sending their pennies, women their jewels, for Christ’s sake. Will you help to win these men for Christ? Will you do what you can to put a Testament in the pocket of a soldier? For 5/- you can send a parcel to the Front, for £5 I can get one thousand Testaments. Millions are longing for the precious truth. A dear friend sends me the following: ―
“I Have Found Jesus”
“I have found Jesus.” Now these are words I have just read (September 15th) from a dear soldier at the Front. He adds: “I have found the great truth at last, out in the trenches,” and yet some people at home, in unrepenting England, are saying, “We have done enough; we are tired of helping to save souls.” Tired! tired of working for God? Shame on you. Turn to God yourselves and then by His loving mercy and grace seek to win others whilst there is time. Even if it were only this one soul who has found Jesus, would it not be worth while sending thousands of Testaments to the Front? Now a million more men are called by the War Office. Think a minute―one thousand thousand—and then think again, “How can I help to supply them with God’s Word?” Dr. Wreford must receive money to buy the Testaments as well as money to send them. Pray, pray, that you may no longer be tired, but become vigorous to help him; or alas! you may be one of such of whom it was said by an Indian gentleman speaking of England, “I am sending my son to England to be educated lest he should become a Christian.” Yes, thousands have become Christians in India and China owing to the Word of God taken to them by our missionaries, and hundreds of our dear soldiers and sailors are turning to God in this War owing to the Word of God as well. Therefore, dear readers, hasten to help that many more may be led to say with truth, “I have found Jesus.”
Emily P. Leakey
P.S.―Second thought. These same words were said two thousand years ago by a man called Andrew. He went to find his brother Peter, and said, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ, i.e., Christ Jesus), so he brought him to Jesus (John 1:41-4241He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:41‑42)). Will you not, dear soldier, seek your own brother or fellow soldier and bring him to Jesus, and thus save a soul?
What Will You Do?
November has come, with its fogs and rain and cold. Our dear soldiers have to face these conditions. Remember the words of the Christian sergeant in October “Message”― “Our battalion is well fed, well equipped, but is starving for God’s message.” Will you not help to feed them with the Living Bread? If you will help me I will send to every soldier without a Testament. Read the last page of “Message.”
Pray for Edward Somerville
He is the son of Monsieur and Madame Somerville, of Tremel. His mother has sent me his photo, and has given me some details concerning him. She says in her letter: “He was twenty-one when the War broke out, and was serving his two years in the Army when the War was declared. He was in the band, and in consequence was ‘brancardier.’ He was wounded in the knee and taken prisoner on August 22nd 1914, at Messin, in Belgium. First he was taken to Ohrdruf in Thüringen, then in December he went to Erfurt. In June, 1915, he was removed to a reprisals’ camp at Soltau in Hanover, where he remained till October, and was then taken back to Erfurt, where he passed the winter. In April he was again taken to Ohrdruf, and from there sent to a reprisals’ camp in Russia called Rakischké. His last letter, dated July 20th, which we received on August 28th tells us that he has gone about eighty miles more to the north of Russia, but he cannot say more... Our dear boy says that it is in such circumstances that they appreciate the privilege of belonging to Christ. He alone can strengthen him and give him the courage to endure all. Pray for him, and for us, that our faith fail not. The inscription on the photograph is his address, which means 3rd Co., 21St Section 1 No. 63.”
This dear soldier bears the marks of what he has suffered on his face, but he bears it all with Christian fortitude and resolution. I ask you to pray that he may soon be put in easier circumstances. He says he did not think it possible that the human body could endure such hardship.
A Closing Word for the Diary
Next month (D.V.) we issue our December number of “Message,” and it will be a double number of thirty-two pages, and the price will be one penny. It will contain a supplement, and in it I hope to give an account of our work and of our needs. The Publisher, Mr. Race, would like your orders for this number as early as possible, so that he may make arrangements for printing, etc. I want you all to read this number, for I hope to make it tell you the story of our work for God among the soldiers and sailors. And now I will close my Diary with a letter from a dear soldier who had one of the Testaments that you have helped to send given to him, and this led him to write to me.
Coming Home to Christ
“I am writing you a few lines because I think I ought to, although it is extremely hard to write to a perfect stranger, but I feel you are a friend and a dear one at that already.... I was home on leave and returning back to barracks, and passing near a theater, my attention was drawn to a crowd of people listening to a man who was doing his very best to convince the crowd of the love of Christ. I stopped and listened and it did me so much good. He told us all how he had been saved, what he had been and what he was now. After listening for some time I was presented with a New Testament, and on inspection I found your name and address―hence this letter. Arriving back in camp, when I lay down to try to sleep I could not for thinking of my sins. Tears came to my eyes, the first for many a day, and I was not comforted until I had prayed to Him and asked for forgiveness. I awoke this morning and felt easier in my mind than I remember ever doing before. Dear friend, do please remember me when you pray tonight. Please do write to me soon.... Thanking you for the Testament, and hoping you will have every success in your work. ― D.J.C.”
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WORK, OR TO HELP US IN THE WORK, WRITE TO― DR HEYMAN WREFORD,
THE FIRS, DENIVIARR ROAD, EXETER.
On the Balkan Hills
One of the R.A.M.C. writes: ― “Having found one of your tracts blowing about on the Balkan Hills, I happened to be the lucky one to find it. When I had read it through I came across your name and address at the bottom. I therefore decided to ask you for a small pocket Testament, for I can say that ever since I picked your tract up and read it I have turned over a new leaf, and started to trust in God for guidance and support. Do send me the Testament, I want it to read. I am just resting in my dug-out, listening to the shells bursting. ― A.E.E., Greece.”
A Lance-Corporal says: ― “I was glad of your last parcel, and I can assure you the New Testaments did not last long, for we were in billets, and I simply stood and handed out tracts and New Testaments till I had finished. Then, having a nice crowd of men, I told them of One able to save to the uttermost. Four days later we were in one of the hottest corners, and many of the listeners were among the wounded. ― Lce.-Cpl. I.R.”