p. 18 | England by C. H. Castle

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 5, 1903

England

By C. H. Castle

LEICESTER.—Several reports of the work in England have appeared in the REVIEW, but mostly of a general character. I wish to give a few items in connection with the work that has been done and is being done at this place.

The first of a series of tent-meetings was held June 7, in a new tent donated to this conference by our American brethren. Elder Corliss preached to a small but interested audience. This effort continued until July 26, when the tent was taken down, and moved to the location where our general meeting was held, on the opposite side of the city. This meeting was one long to be remembered by many. An interest was aroused during the ten days’ session, and nightly meetings were held for several weeks, and then we removed to a hall in the center of the city. Still the interested ones followed.

One incident in connection with the camp-meeting is worthy of special notice: A sister whose home is in Birmingham is a very devoted Christian worker; but having lost her hearing, she was greatly handicapped in her work, it being almost impossible to converse with the people to whom she carried Present Truth from week to week. She wrote to the office before the meeting, stating that she was very anxious to come to the meeting, but that she did not know how to get there, as she had no money. Means was provided, and she came. Before coming she was impressed that the Lord would give her relief from her difficulty, and prayed that this might be so. She made known the impressions she had regarding this, and the brethren working upon the ground talked with her, and decided that they would have prayer for her. They did so, and as her experience was of an encouraging nature, we quote, by permission, from a letter she sent to the office after returning to her home. After giving expression at some length to her gratitude for all God’s mercies, she says:—

“I had neuralgia for four months, night and day, and it was making me feel worn out; it was bad each day until the prayer-meeting which the ministers had in my behalf. I had realized that Jesus was there to bless us all, even me, and never shall I forget that season of prayer in the children’s tent. It was indeed the mount of blessing and transfiguration to my soul. I am telling you my experience because I wish all to know what great things the Lord has done for me. When Brother Andross asked me if I wished to be prayed for, I felt that it was too good to be true; but when we went into the tent, I found it to be true. When the ministers began to pray, the air seemed to become very oppressive, and I found myself panting, as it were, for breath, and then I saw myself as I was—a poor, weak, sinful creature in God’s sight. I began to tremble and fear. Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, . . . and I will give you rest,’ and the Holy Spirit gave me that beautiful hymn, ‘How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear.’”

After quoting, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth,” she says, “I have heard these words many times, but never before saw and felt such power in them. As these words came to me, life and power came into my trembling soul. The sun seemed to be shining directly on the top of my head, and to go right through my body, filling me with light, warmth, and peace. I felt every nerve relax, as if a hand were gently untying strings, and then I was free; all pain and suffering had gone, and I felt as if I was loosed from bondage.”

She goes about her usual work, but instead of leaving the people with simply a smile, she is able to converse with them, and tells how the Lord healed her of suffering, and caused her to hear what is said to her.

We praise God for this manifestation of his power, and with courage press forward, “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

C. H. CASTLE.