“We had a great singer, Mrs. Fitch, whose singing was greatly used of God to call men to repentance. Thanksgiving Day was a great day on earth, at the Gospel Mission, and a great day among the angels of heaven who saw sinners redeemed.”
CHRISTMAS AT THE GOSPEL MISSION
of 1909 was described by the writer in the following sketch of the January, 1910, Gospel Tidings:
“Christmas at a mission takes on a great element of thanksgiving; first for the great gift of God—and no anthems sound so sweet, so deep, reaching into the deep places of the soul as, 'Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.'
“The first thing on Christmas Day was to remember our brothers in bonds. Down at the barracks in the guard-house, we have two converted men. One a soldier whom we believe is receiving four times the punishment for neglect of target practice which he ought to receive; we can only counsel patience, comfort by our visits and send him a good dinner.
“Then a dear Jewish brother is there. He had been in the army two years ago, but he was baited, tormented and outraged in his poetic soul until he deserted. After that he was converted, and felt with us that he must go back and take whatever the United States had for him. One of our workers went with him to the Secretary of War, who said, 'Why, man, don't come to me; take a carriage for fear you be arrested on the street.' Mr. Ellison, our helper, took a carriage and went directly to the Commandant at the barracks. The Commandant said, 'We are sorry for Mr. L., but he will get two years in the penitentiary at hard labor.'
“Mr. Ellison said, 'Commander, this man is the servant of the living God; you will give to this Jew that mercy you yourself will at the last expect from the Judge of all the earth, who came to this world as a Jew.' Well, it would be a long story to tell of the court-martial, but, in answer to prayer, the Jew got only six months in the guard house, and that time will expire this month.
“Then two poor workmen are in the hospital, and four sinners who promised reformation in the workhouse, must have a remembrance. Kindness in shame often leads men to Christ.
“But the great event of the day was the service from twelve to one o'clock, followed by a dinner at which from two hundred to three hundred lonely men were fed. In the evening a service, at which the old, old story of love is told, heart-broken men are redeemed, and we all go home wondering at the never-ending miracle of the gospel, which takes tongues which blaspheme and makes them sing God's praises, feet that walk in the ways of sin and makes them run in the ways of righteousness, hands that steal and makes them do God's service. Oh, it is a wonderful gospel, and a wonderful Saviour!
“'O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all forever. O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all forever. O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all forever. O ye that are holy and humble of heart, bless ye the Lord, and praise and exalt Him above all forever.'”