120 JEWELLERY VERSUS MISSIONARIES. Гост. officers should be constrained to say, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded!” Shall the church never see that day under the dispensation of the gospel? Were all the diamond rings, and breast-pins, and ear-jewels, and bracelets, that now adorn the persons of Christ's professed followers, brought together and dedicated to His service, what a goodly sight it would be! Why, there are not a few Christian disciples, from whose persons, individually, there might be jewellery enough taken to send out a Missionary, and to sustain him for a long time in his work of recovering lost souls to Christ. And as much, even then, might be left, as would be decorous for an humble follower of the self-denying Saviour to wear. All ornaments are not to be despised. Some are worn as tokens of affection, and others as mementoes of departed friends, and others are useful as well as comely. But, making all due allowance for these, too often do they serve no other purpose than to make a vain show, and gratify the vanity of the wearer. Might not the disciple of Christ better testify his sense of the value of the gospel to those who are perishing in their ignorance by casting these costly jewels into the treasury of his Lord, than by wearing them as ornaments on his person? Might he not more truly honour his divine Master by aiding to bring lost sinners to behold Him as their Saviour, than by attracting to himself their envious gaze by the glitter of his shining diamonds? Oh, would not those ransomed souls that might be recovered by his offerings, shine more brightly in his crown of rejoicing in that day, than all the brilliants he can heap upon his own decaying body? Oh, Christian! you who daily pray, "Thy kingdom come!" and whose chief business it is to labour for the promotion of that kingdomcontemplate the condition of a lost world for which the Saviour died, and ask yourself what more you can do than you are now doing to give it the gospel. Is there no sacrifice you can make? Have you no jewels, costly and precious it may be, that you can offer to this work? Can you best honour your Lord, and exhibit your devotion to Him, by wearing what you have? Take them off and look at them. Open your casket, and bring out those that are laid so carefully away, to be exhibited only on special occasions. Bring them all together, and lay them down before you. Estimate their value; first to yourself, in setting off your person; and then to those who know not the Saviour, in supplying them with the means of salvation. Kneel down and ask the blessing of Him, to whom you have consecrated all you have, upon your decision of this question; and may it be such as to bring joy and peace to your own heart, and glory to His name! These thoughts have been suggested by a plain gold ring, that has come into the hands of the writer as the first offering of a school-girl, who has just found her Saviour. Like Mary, she would bestow upon Him some precious token of her love.. While away from home, and struggling with scanty means to get an education, it has pleased the Lord to touch her heart and claim her as His own. Besides the surrender of herself, she has little else that she can bring. Such offerings are precious in the sight of Him who scans the heart. What recompense more sweet than His benediction," She hath done what she could?" May the Lord bless both the giver and the gift; and may many others he encouraged to go and do likewise! [Albany, in "The Macedonian." M THE STONHAM ASPAL MEETING. IN the county of Suffolk, a few miles from Ipswich, is situate the village of Stonham Aspal, a quiet, sequestered little spot, which has for many years past displayed a zeal and energy in the cause of the Church Missionary Society which might put to shame many wealthier commu 122 THE STONHAM ASPAL MEETING. [NOV. nities. In fact, were other places in England to contribute as liberally in proportion to their population, that division of the kingdom alone would subscribe five millions annually for the conversion of the heathen. Nor can it be said, large as is their offering, that it is a burden to the inhabitants. What is given is given cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and no inconsiderable portion of the sum is derived from thank-offerings, the givers of which are known only to their minister. These have now increased from three or four pounds to between thirty and forty pounds. They had their origin in a question of conscience continually urged from the pulpit, that it is not becoming in Christians to acknowledge their mercies in words alone. In the hope of interesting many in the cause of Missions, and of giving Christians of all classes the opportunity of joining in a social repast, it was determined, six years ago, that a tea-party should precede the annual meeting. The measure of success attending the movement exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its promoters; and this meeting is looked forward to with pleasure on all sides. To provide shelter for so large an assemblage was, even at the first, no small matter, and in the end proved a great difficulty. A large booth was erected, the materials of which had to be borrowed or bought wherever they could be found. At last, with a view of saving all this trouble and expense, it was proposed to purchase a tent by small subscriptions. The suggestion was acted upon by the Rev. Charles Shorting, rector of the parish, and in a few months he had received such support as justified him in contracting for it. The tent was built by Mr. James Smyth, of Aldeburgh, in the county of Suffolk in length it was 120 feet, and in breadth 28 feet, and, when erected, its appearance was very striking. A long line of flags was flying on the top, with every national device-the Union Jack of England in the centre-" God save the Queen" at one end, and " Go, teach all nations," at the other. Nor was the interior wanting in attrac tion: flowers, tastefully arranged, met the eye in every direction; here and there a flag peeping out from a mass of laurel and evergreen had a very pleasing effect; while numerous texts reminded all present of the responsibilities of a Christian profession, and of our Lord's positive injunction to send the glad tidings of great joy to all "them that are without." The whole expenditure incurred for the tent, flags, and all necessary expenses, did not exceed eighty pounds. We had the privilege of attending the anniversary this year, which was held on the 1st of August. As the hour fixed for the commencement of the meeting drew near, the church bells-remarkable far and wide for the beauty of their tone, and from which the village derives the name of "Stonham ten bells "-sounded forth a cheerful welcome. The day previous the weather was most unpropitious, but the promoters of the meeting were enabled to continue their preparations in faith, knowing how many were bearing them in their hearts before God; and the beauty and loveliness of the succeeding day could not but be regarded as a marked and gracious answer to those many prayers. Wagons neatly and even gracefully decorated with laurel-garlands, and festoons of roses, began gradually to arrive from the neighbouring villages, filled with visitors, young and old, all clothed in their Sunday attire. Every countenance wore a happy look; and the object for which the assembly was held may be allowed to prove that the pleasures of country-folk 1855.] THE STONHAM ASPAL MEETING. 123 are not always, in England, as we fear is the case in Popish countries, the mere "crackling of thorns under a pot." Over the entrance of the grounds in which the tent had been erected was suspended a large banner, with the appropriate text, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." For three-quarters of an hour the company continued to stream in, until above eight hundred had been admitted, and it was necessary to refuse at least two hundred who had neglected to provide themselves with tickets. In the tent itself perfect order prevailed, all necessary arrangements to accommodate so large a party having been made by Mr. and Mrs. Shorting. It is but right here to observe, that the parishioners, in the most kind and hearty manner, co-operate with their minister in this work, and seem to take real delight in holding up his hands, and bidding him God speed in his labours of love. At four o'clock a hymn was sung, a few words of hearty welcome addressed to all present, and the tea-meeting had commenced. We do not intend to tell our readers how many acres of bread and butter, and columns of cake, were consumed. A better idea of the amount may be formed, when it is known that there were sixty-five tea-makers, each of whom had some twelve or thirteen guests to attend to. To every one of these ladies a Missionary box was given, and she was requested to dispose of it to one of her party. Very many were taken, to the prospective benefit of the Church Missionary Society. When tea was over, and the tables cleared, the meeting was addressed at some length by Mr. Shorting, who affectionately called upon all present to examine into their own state before God, suggesting a few appropriate questions for this purpose, illustrated by interesting anecdotes. He urged them to consider what advance they had made since the last anniversary in spirituality of mind; whether they were growing in humility and in brotherly love; whether their graces were visible; what kind of hearers of the word they themselves were; whether they heard with a personal application to their own souls. He pressed on them a favourite maxim of the late Rev. Charles Simeon "Talk not about myself. He urged them to consider whether they were separating more and more from the world; warned them of the danger of mixing in it, and the certainty, if they did, of their silver getting tarnished and their God dishonoured. He expressed a hope that there were not such religious curiosities amongst them as he had lately been reading of, viz. 1. Professors praying with great fervour that God would convert the world, yet never giving a farthing to Missionary Societies to help the work. 2. Professors who have a periodical headache returning each Sabbath morning. 3. Professors who dared not expose their health by going to church on a wet Sunday, but who are quite strong, and not at all afraid of weather, on Monday, though it rain never so hard. And he concluded with a few solemn remarks on the final account that we shall all have to give, when it shall be said to us, "Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayst be no longer steward." 124 THE STONHAM ASPAL MEETING. [NOV. The Rev. F. Storr, vicar of Brenchley, Kent, and formerly residing in the neighbourhood, then addressed the meeting, and was received with the warmest applause and most affectionate greeting. Many had come from a distance to welcome one who had been their spiritual father, or their most faithful, devoted, laborious pastor. We unhappily do not possess any notes of his loving and interesting address. The Rev. J. C. Ryle followed, and spoke with even more than his wonted power and eloquence. He expressed the gratification he felt at meeting his friend and brother, Mr. Storr, on the present occasion. This was the kind of work of which they would never need to be ashamed, and he trusted both would continue doing such work to the best of their ability until they met in heaven. He congratulated his beloved brother, Mr. Shorting, on the successful issue of his labours in the matter of the new tent in which they were now assembled. He always regarded a tent as a most apostolic meeting-place. It was recorded that the Apostle Paul was a tent-maker. It was a cause for great thankfulness that the Religious-Worship Bill, which had passed the House of Lords, would remove all doubt as to the legality of such meetings as they were now holding. He trusted that such meetings, and many others too, for religious worship, would now multiply rapidly in every part of the country. He next desired to remind all present what it was that had brought them together. It was the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That was the great loadstone which had drawn them from so many different parishes to one common centre. They were assembled, not merely to drink tea and to eat cakes-not merely to meet friends and to see strange faces-not merely to have a merry-making, and to enjoy themselves-no! they were assembled for a far higher purpose-to promote the spread of the gospel of Christ all over the world. He entreated all to remember this. The gospel was the grand cord of union among men. He rejoiced to think that not a few Nonconformists were present among them. He was glad of it. If they really hoped to sing the praises of the Lamb together in heaven, it was hard indeed if they could not agree to work together for the cause of the Lamb during the short time they were on earth. The more they worked for Christ, the less would they quarrel and fall out by the way. They would soon find there was so much to be done, and so many enemies to oppose, that there was room enough, and to spare, for all real labourers, and no time for quarrelling and falling out. As the gospel had called them together to-day, he hoped they would all feel pledged to spread the gospel. The very tea and sugar, and the cake, were all so many remembrances of the need of heathen souls. Tea came from China, and in China there were 350 millions of people. Sugar came from many parts of the world, and not least from the East Indies. In the East Indies there were 150 millions of people. The currants in the cake came from the Mediterranean. There, also, were many millions of people in utter darkness about eternity. He earnestly entreated them to remember this. He begged they would all go away feeling pledged to spread the gospel of Christ. But he would ask them one thing more. He would ask them all to live the gospel, as well as to spread it. He implored them to remember that those who laboured to make the glorious gospel known to others were especially bound to adorn that gospel by their own lives. If they did not so, they would pull down faster than they built. Justification |