THE BIBLE FLOWER MISSION.
It is needless to say that the appeal thus made has been answered by thousands of loving hearts. The work at the Home of Industry is thus carried on:—Twice in the week one of the spacious floors is devoted to receiving these fragrant treasures, and dear friends from a distance come, some of them many miles, and spend one or two hours in arranging them, and attaching to each little cluster an ornamented card with some message of redeeming love. By twelve o'clock the baskets are generally filled, and all assemble to hear, either from Miss Macpherson or some other tried servant of the Lord, words of counsel and cheer; and then to seek wisdom for the labourers, and to spread before the Lord the spiritual needs of those to whom they are going,—many cases continually occurring for whom the comfort of earnest united prayer is felt.
When the lovely burdens are carried forth, it is hard for the bearers to resist the entreaties from many a doorstep for "one flower, one single flower." Of the thankfulness with which they are received when they reach their destination, we might tell countless instances, and of conversions through the messages they bring we believe not a few. Indeed who can say where the blessing ends? for those who have found a blessing themselves will not keep the cards under their pillow, but have sent them to soldier sons in India and China, and to sailors afar off upon the sea.
The following lines were written by a poor woman, aged 70, in the
Mile-end Union:—
"Many an eye with the film of death,
With fading pulse, and bating breath,
Have cast a look on those things so bright;
And perchance a prayer with electric light,
Has passed through the brain with magic power,
Brought to the heart by a beautiful flower.
Beautiful thought to bring to the sad,
Sweet bright things to make them glad."
Of the numbers of labourers and abundance of texts and flowers required, some idea may be formed when it is mentioned that thirteen Hospitals, four Unions, some containing over 1000 inmates, and one Lunatic Asylum, are provided for from the Home of Industry. Nor is this all. The secretary supplies Bible women and city missionaries with flowers for solitary sick ones at home, and receives constant appeals from various, missions for these bright messengers of God's love.
Who can read the following without praise to the Giver of every good and perfect gift? Those who knew the condition of Spain had earnestly prayed for evangelists for that dark land. One (Senor Previ) was raised up through the instrumentality of the Bible Flower Mission, and the following extract, from the report of a workers' meeting, as given in the "Christian," tells of his conversion, and the way in which the Lord led a fellow-labourer to join him in this almost untrodden path.
"He came from Malaga in the summer of 1875 to the Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields, for treatment. One afternoon, two ladies belonging to the 'Bible Flower Mission' at the Home of Industry, brought flowers and texts to give to the patients. One of the visitors was about to offer a bouquet to the Spaniard, Senor Previ, when the nurse remarked, 'It's of no use giving him a text, for he is a Roman Catholic, and besides he can't speak a word of English.' 'Never mind,' was the reply, 'I will offer him a bunch of flowers, and then see what I can do.' But what about a text? Surely it was the Lord's doing that for the first time she had brought one written in French; and it was indeed appropriate? 'There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.' After pointing him to the Great High Priest, she asked if he would accept a Spanish Bible. This he refused to do, saying, 'No, I cannot, for it is a bad, forbidden book; besides, I shall leave the hospital to-morrow morning.' 'Nevertheless, I will send you a copy,' was the answer. With great difficulty the lady procured a second-hand Spanish Bible, and sent it off just in time for him to take away.
"Senor Previ then told us how, after studying that Bible for several months, the eyes of his soul were opened to see Jesus as the 'one Mediator.' Thus was fulfilled that promise so precious to all seed-sowers? 'My Word shall not return unto Me void.'
"Soon afterwards he entered Mr. Guinness's College, employing his free time in distributing Gospels, &c., on board foreign ships, and assisting every Sunday at the services in the Spanish Chapel, thus gaining experience for future work in the vineyard. He spoke most warmly of the kindness of Miss Macpherson, and the happy hours spent in the 'dear Home of Industry,' where, at a previous workers' meeting, the ardent desire had first been kindled in his heart to tell the good news of Jesus, the 'one Mediator,' to his own countrymen. For some time he prayed earnestly that the Lord would raise up a friend to go with him. This petition has been fully answered.