Eli and Sibyl Jones, Their Life and Work

by Rufus M. Jones

[CHAPTER VIII.]

NORWAY, GERMANY, AND SWITZERLAND.

"A voice spake in their ear,

And lo! all other voices far and near

Died at that whisper full of meanings clear."

Whittier.

Eli and Sybil Jones attended the London yearly meeting of 1853, and were liberated to go to the Continent for gospel work in Norway, Germany, and France. Mary James Lecky was their companion, and was in all respects a most suitable person for this service. Unknown difficulties were before them; new races of people were to be touched through an unknown language; hard journeys were to be made by a feeble, almost invalid woman; still, they turned toward the shores of Norway, believing that He whose finger pointed the way would shield them with His hand. Once more they unquestioningly gave immediate obedience to the word of their great Captain, and they knew His ways well enough to be assured that the result would be the desired one.

Joseph Crosfield offered to go as a caretaker for the little party, and he was of great help to them. When they arrived at Liverpool from Ireland, an elderly doctor was called to see Sybil Jones. After examining her trouble carefully, he said, "You know David had it in his heart to build the Lord an house. In his case the will was taken for the work; so it must be in yours. You must stop your work and go south, or go to your home at once." If this doctor had followed his patient, he would have found her in the northern latitude of Norway. The great Physician's order conflicted with that of the doctor, and there could be no doubt which was to be followed.

On the 11th of 6th month they embarked on the steamer "Courier" for Christiansand, being joined by James Backhouse and Lindley M. Hoag, making a company of six. The passage was very rough, and all on board were brought low with sea-sickness, but the German Ocean was soon crossed, and they came into port at Christiansand, finding it light enough at midnight to read and write and to see the beautiful Norwegian scenery around them.

The western coast of Norway is everywhere indented by arms of the sea called fiords; the coasts are rough and rugged, overhung with crags of rock beaten and worn by the age-long dash of these northern waters. Into these fiords has rushed the ship of many a bold seaman, and the shores are tilled by a hardy race, carrying in their veins the civilized blood of the old Norse warrior. These descendants of Northern mythology rejoice when messengers come to tell the simple way of life and joy through the Saviour, and their boats are ready to bear strangers from one promontory across the fiord to another. They come in crowds to hear of the better way, and yet in many places they have escaped the thraldom of Thor and Odin only to bow their necks to the yoke which the priests make them bear.