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 TAe EDITH //W LORNE PIERCE 
 COLLECTION of CANADIANA 
 
 ifr 
 
 §lueen's University at Kingston 
 
 at QuuK's Universitu Cfumt 
 Gdmt(yicam.J^Urct^Jv^^ 
 
 SXJ' 
 
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 }* t ', 
 
v--;; 
 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS 
 
 M 
 
 .._ '/-^v?/) 
 
 «-*^" 
 
 7?^z/. ANSELM SCHUSTER, 
 
 LATE CITY MISSIONARY IN BELLEVILLE. 
 
 —TOGETHER WITH- 
 
 SoME OF His Articles Published in "Our Mission," a 
 Memorial Sermon by the Editor, and Miscel- 
 laneous Writings bearing upon the Mission. 
 
 — EDITED BY — 
 
 REV. DAVID MITCHELL, 
 
 Pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Jersey City, N. /., aitd formerly 
 of John Street Presbyterian Church, Belleville, Ont. 
 
 BELLEVILLE, Ont.: . 
 
 PRINTED AT THE DAILY INTTELLIGENCER STEAM PRINTING HOUSE. 
 
 1886. 
 
^ 
 
 ^<> 
 
 
 > 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 —TO — 
 
 PART I. 
 
 » 
 
 i 
 
 I* 
 1^ 
 
 The popular lecture on his early life, conversion, entrance into the 
 
 Ministry, and work among the Germans on the Ottawa^ which our beloved 
 
 brother so frequently deliveied, was put into my hands for revision by Mrs. 
 
 Schuster. It was my intention to have written a brief memoir of my dear 
 
 friend. But finding the manuscript to have been carefully written, it 
 
 became evident that I should let him tell the story of his life in his own 
 
 words. The only change will be found in the division into chapters with 
 
 headings indicating their contents. This, I am sure, will answer the 
 
 purpose of the volume far better than to have given the lecture as it stands. 
 
 At the same time, one has only to read on through the seven chapters 
 
 to have the lecture as delivered. Mr. Schuster himself told me of the good 
 
 to souls with which it had pleased the Spirit of God to bless what he called 
 
 his humble effort. I feel certain that the many friends of the late esteemed 
 
 City Missionary will like to possess his work as a memento of his life and 
 
 labours. Mrs. Schuster is also encouraged by the thought that a lecture 
 
 which was so greatly blessed by God during the life-time of its author, 
 
 will still further be made instrumental in winning souls to Christ. With 
 
 the conviction that this little volume will do good, I have pleasure in 
 
 commending it to the public of Belleville and Canada, and to all who are 
 
 interested in Our Mission, now so faithfully and successfully continued 
 
 by Mrs. Schuster. 
 
 The Editor. 
 
PART I. 
 
 * »■■■ ■ ■> ■ ■ -y I- .i m iM "t^w 1 * ■ r i"- ' - 1 HIM 
 
 <l 
 
i 
 
 How large the promise — how divine, 
 
 To Abram and his seed, 
 '• I'll be a God to thee and thine, 
 
 Supplying all their need." 
 
 The words of his extensive love 
 
 From age to age endure ; 
 The Angel of the Covenant proves. 
 
 And seals the blessings sure. 
 
 Jesus the ancient faith confii ms, 
 
 To our forefathers given ; 
 He takes young children in his arms, 
 
 And calls them heirs of heaven. 
 
 Our God, — how faithful are his waysl 
 
 His love endures the same ; 
 Nor, from the promise of his grace, 
 
 Blots out the children's name. 
 
 Watts. 
 
 nl 
 
., 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth — Jewish Parentage — A Mother's Love — Sickness 
 — Early Education — Learning A Trade. 
 
 I was born in the city of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, generally 
 known as the capital of Germany, brought up and trained 
 under Jewigh influence, instructed by a strictly moral father, 
 and nursed by a kind and tender-hearted mother. My father 
 was a man of strictly moral principles — a moral man, but 
 shaken in the Jewish faith. He thought that as a Jew he could 
 not live, aad of the Christian Religion he was entirely ignorant. 
 He called himself a reformed Jew. He often visited the Syn- 
 agogue on holy days, but it seemed to me that he only went 
 to please my mother, as it was generally a burden for him to 
 go. 
 
 My mother was kind and tender-hearted, a great friend to 
 the poor and a strictly pious and devoted Jewess. At her 
 request the days set apart for devotion under the Jewish 
 Economy were strictly kept, she did all she could to observe 
 them and by love persuaded us to follow her good example. 
 Her heart was often filled with joy when she felt that all of us 
 would be obedient to her desires. She felt great pleasure in 
 having everything ready previous to the celebration of 
 the days of special worship. The Sabbath Day among the 
 Jews commences on the Friday evening, and closes by the 
 appearance of the first star on the Saturday evening. Mother 
 always told us surely to be home early on Friday evening, and 
 she was glad wlien she was surrounded by the family she so 
 much loved. All things were ready for the coming of the 
 Sabbath day to enable us all to worship God withont being 
 careful about many things. It would be to us who live in the 
 
8 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 midst of gospel light an example to follow, to have everything 
 prepared on Saturday to enable us to worship God on the 
 Sunday, and I believe if our hearts and bodies were more 
 prepared for the reception of the truth before hearing it, 
 ministers would see more of the fruits of their labors. 
 
 \ i 
 
 The Sabbath day is kept very strictly, no work is done, no 
 money carried nor expended, no fire kindled, even no clock 
 nor watch wound, but the Jews think it no sin for their hired 
 help to work on the Sabbath days. The hired help (a Gentile) 
 did the work, and when I was a little boy, watching these 
 things very closely as most boys do, I questioned myself 
 if working on the Sabbath day is a sin to the Jew why is it 
 not to the Gentile ? and I must confess that on that account I 
 often transgressed the law of keeping the Sabbath day holy by 
 lighting matches, by kindling fire, by spending money when I 
 had any, and often by winding my watch; but I always took 
 god care so that my dear mother did not see me, being 
 aware that if she knew it her heart would be grieved. 
 
 My years of childhood cost my parents many sorrowful 
 hours and many anxious thoughts. I was told that I could 
 not walk when I was three years old. The Jews have many 
 superstitious ways of curing diseases, and many of them were 
 applied to me to teach me to walk. I was told that one day 
 my mother was informed by a woman, who must have been 
 possessed of a large amount of brain, that if she would purchase 
 the first fruit on the market, give me half of it and would eat the 
 other half herself, this would cure me. Having faith in this 
 advice, my mother went to the market and when the first fruit 
 was very high in price she bought an apricot, paid a good 
 price for it, gave me half of it, ate half of it herself, but the; 
 cure was an entire failure. When I was young I was told that 
 my dear mother took me often to the river Maine to bathe 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 me. The story I have not forgotten. You may imagine seeing 
 her hastening, early in the morning, to the shore when nothing 
 could be heard but the voice of the night-watch announcing to 
 sleepers that all is in peace and safety, when nothing can be 
 seen, only in the distance the glance of a candle by which 
 perhaps some mother was watching for the recovery of a sick 
 child. My mother applied the warm sand to me to cure me. 
 
 Has that Jewish mother spent many sleepless hours, has she 
 had many anxious thoughts, has she broken her rest and wept 
 many tears for naught ? Has she travelled through the many 
 streets of that large city to bathe her infant on the bank of the 
 Maine river in vain ? Surely not. He that ruleth the universe 
 and holds in His hands the livesof men — Hehas guided me and 
 led me according to His will. He has led me away from the 
 parental roof for His own purpose. Has that Jewish mother 
 been the means, by her strict outward performance of religion, 
 of showing me by the types and shadows of Judaism that there is 
 a reality in Christianity, and the Saviour whom I was taught to 
 despise and reject? Yes. God has led me away from home 
 to Canada, there to hear the gospel, there to remember the 
 strict observance of the religion of my mother, and there to 
 embrace Christ as not only the Saviour of the world but to 
 receive Him and claim Him as my own. My years of child- 
 hood passed away. 
 
 My father had the full control over matters concerning our 
 temporal prosperity, mother cared especially for home and the 
 spiritual welfare of the family. 
 
 It was my father's wish that I should receive a good and 
 thorough education, and also learn a trade,* so that if the 
 education failed, the trade would provide a livelihood. He 
 adopted a proverb among the Jews, "He that does not feach his 
 child to work teaches him to steal." 
 
 Mr. Schuster learned the trade of a Jewell er^ 
 
He leadeth me ! oh, blessed thought, 
 Oh, words with heavenly comfort fraught, 
 
 Whate'er I do, where'er I be. 
 Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. 
 
 Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom. 
 Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom, 
 
 By waters still, o'er troubled sea — 
 Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Law Anent Exile — Going to America — Arrival in Lon- 
 don — The Crystal Palace — Astray — Too Late — Re- 
 markable Escape — Sailing Vessel — Fever — Saved. 
 
 At that time reigned in Germany a strict and tyrannical law 
 which in all cases had to be obeyed. After a person had 
 learned a trade, he was forced by law to travel three years. 
 "Without the observance of this he could never start business 
 for himself. This rule must be strictly obeyed in every case. 
 And in consequence of this I left home with the intention of 
 returning after three years absence to start business. 
 
 It was my father's wish that I should go to America, the 
 land of gold, thinking that I would return in a few years with 
 some of her riches. To me also this was a very pleasing 
 thought. The idea of going to America was pictured to my 
 mind like a beautiful landscape. I could see the gold diggers 
 just pitching the gold from the mines and all I had to do was 
 to pick it up and in a few years return with the treasures of 
 America as a rich and an independent man. "But God moves 
 in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." Instead of the 
 riches of earth, He gave me riches far greater, "where there is 
 neither moth nor rust, and where thieves do not break through 
 nor steal." 
 
 Soon the time for my departure came. All arrangements 
 were made, and with the grasp of hand and the parting kiss to 
 my dear parents I left my native land. It was the last grasp 
 of hand and the last kiss (thev being now dead)^ and when I 
 stood at their graves a few years ago, the days of my child- 
 hood and God's providential dealings to me came fresh to my 
 mind. 
 
12 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 Before I left home father authorized me to purchase my 
 ticket for America at Rotterdam. Arrived at Rotterdam, I 
 accordingly bought my ticket via London and Liverpool. 
 Let me now relate a miraculous escape I had from death. 
 Arrived at London I felt anxious to see the Crystal Palace, 
 at that time moved to Hyde Park, to which place a railway 
 was running. As I could not speak the English language, I 
 told the owner of the hotel, who spoke German, to write on a 
 slip of paper his name and the name of the street, so that, 
 should I return late, I would be able to find the house without 
 difficulty. Giving me the slip of paper he advised me to give 
 it to a cab driver, who would bring me home in safety. I left, 
 being assured that all would be well. After I saw everything 
 of interest to me in the Crystal Palace, I ventured home with 
 full confidence in the slip of paper I had received from the 
 hotel keeper ; but to my great surprise, I found when looking 
 for my paper that it was lost. I could speak to no one. Here 
 I was indeed a stranger in a strange land. I was afraid. My dear 
 mother had sewed several sovereigns in the lining of my pants, 
 and when I lost my way I thought every one knew that I had that 
 money and that some one would take it from me, and surely 
 would take my life. For the first time money was a burden to me. 
 Full of fear I travelled through the City of London. I 
 noticed before leaving the hotel, that on the corner of the 
 street there was a saloon, beautifully decorated outwardly with 
 gilded pillars. This was the only hope I had to find the place, 
 but even this passed away, finding that almost on every corner 
 ot the street there was such a saloon with similar gilded 
 pillars. Through many streets of London I went in and out, 
 travelled forward and backward, kept running — and walked 
 when tired — until the next morning at three o'clock, when I 
 arrived safely at the hotel. Soon I left for the station, arrived 
 at Liverpool, went to the dock, inquired for the Arctic^ the 
 steamboat for which I held a ticket bought at Rotterdam, 
 
\ 
 
 REV. A. SCkuSTlf.il. 
 
 »i 
 
 and to my surprise and great disappointment, was told that I 
 was too late, that the Arctic had left a few hours ago for New 
 York. I was disappointed because I was too late. Too 
 late ! For what ? To escape a terrible disaster. You remem- 
 ber that the Arctic was lost without anything ever having been 
 heard of her. I took a sailing vessel which was loaded with 
 passengers. On the passage a fever broke out. Almost all 
 around me died from the disease and in the midst of it my 
 life was spared. 
 
 id 
 
 Stay, thou insulted Spirit ! stay, 
 Though I have done thee such despite ; 
 
 Cast not the sinner quite away, 
 Nor take thine everlasting flight. 
 
 Though I have most unfaithful been 
 Of all whoe'er thy grace received 
 
 Ten thousand times thy goodness seen ; 
 Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved. 
 
 Yet oh, the chief of sinners spare, 
 In honor of my great High Priest, 
 
 Nor in thy righteous answer swear, ' 
 
 I shall not see thy people's rest. 
 
 Now, Lord ! my weary soul release, 
 Uphold me with thy gracious hand ; 
 
 Guide me into thy perfect peace. 
 And bring me to the promised land. 
 
 C. Wesley. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Hatred of thp r« 
 
 Familv Worship <t^^^~CAup MEETivr r- 
 
 o«sh,p-Search.ng the ScR^wuRErr°~""""«' 
 I heard the first .. :. ™''=^-Conviction. 
 
 time to time T """^ °^ '^e Gospel in r,„ ^ 
 
 '"one.in.eri'i.J-f !,' '"^^ "-> ^mZIIT!:' 
 
 blackest lie /ever.fS '"^ °'^" ""'^ 1"«»on Th /°"''"- 
 «nd as dark as ^1, '" ™^ "^ I >vas full ^ "'"' ""-" 
 
 ' P"-'' concerning spiritual Th^g"" °' P'^J"*'-^ • 
 
 At another time I h ^ 
 
 '^e neighboring woodf /' ^^"^^ ^^^^'"g to be h.M • 
 whom tijese «. • ^ ^^s invited .n^ ^^^ ^" 
 
 in; 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 a 
 
 as bad as I possibly could. Just when I was writing, having 
 my letter about half finished, I was arrested by my conscience 
 so much that I had to stop writing. I was convinced that I 
 did wrong, put the letter in the fire and burned it. From that 
 time I was convicted. I was more attentive to hearing the 
 Gospel, began to like the ministers of the different denomina- 
 tions, and looked upon the Methodists more favorably, and 
 felt sorry for abusing any one who spoke to me about my 
 spiritual welfare. 
 
 My conviction was not deep enough to realize my entire 
 nothingness in the sight of God, but I soon learned a lesson 
 of great importance. I was invited by a Christian family to 
 remain all night. The father of the family was absent from 
 home, the mother asked if I would not be kind enough to 
 read a chapter in the Bible and pray with the family in the 
 absence of the father. I consented. The Bible was handed 
 to me, and I thought that I could pray, fancying at that time 
 that man could do so at any lime when called upon; but to 
 my surprise I found out that I was mistaken. I knelt down 
 and so did the whole family, all waiting for the prayer, myself 
 included. We were all on our knees for a time, until at last 
 we rose without prayer. Never did I feel so much ashamed of 
 myself. I could hardly look up, and very soon I asked for a 
 light to go to bed. Here the lesson was impressed upon me 
 that prayer has its foundation not in the head but in the heart. 
 
 From that time I felt my entire nothingness. I began to 
 search God's word, especially the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah, com- 
 pared the Old T*jstament with the New, and came to the con- 
 clusion that the Messiah of the S3rd of Isaiah is the Messiah of 
 the New Testament, and, thinking of the religious training and 
 instructions I received at home, especially of the day of atone- 
 ment, on which day my mother sought the forgiveness of sins, 
 and being reminded of all the types and shadows of the old 
 
i6 
 
 tiPt ANb Labours 6^ 
 
 dispensation, all doubts as to Christ being the Saviour of 
 sinners were removed. 
 
 I attended regularly the churches of all denoiiiinations, and 
 I became very fond of going, and listened attentively. One 
 Sunday morning I stepped into the Bible Christian church at 
 Tyrone. An aged local preacher took the pulpit, and at the 
 close of his sermon said that if any one should be found in the 
 congregation seeking salvation, to remain for awhile and he 
 would give any one such advice as he could. There seemed 
 two voices speaking to me, one saying remain, the other go. 
 I went, but half way on my way to my boarding house, 
 stopped, heard again two voices, one *'go back" the other "no." 
 I went to the church door, heard some speakmg of Christ's 
 love but was afraid they would laugh at me ; I returned home, 
 spent a week of sorrow, waiting anxiously for the coming of 
 the next Sabbath. 
 
 He that goeth forth with weeping, 
 Bearing precious seed in love, 
 
 Never tiring, never sleeping, 
 Findeth mercy from above. 
 
 Soft descend the dews of heaven. 
 Bright the rays celestial shine, 
 
 Precious fruits will thus be given 
 Through an influence all divine. 
 
 Sow thy seed, be never weary, 
 Let no fears thy soul annoy ; 
 
 Be the prospect ne'er so dreary. 
 Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy. 
 
 Lo ! the scene of verdure brightening, 
 See the rising grain appear ; 
 
 Look again ; the fields are whitening, 
 For the harvest time is near. 
 
 , 
 
 Hastings. 
 
REV. A. SCHUST£ft 
 
 17 
 
 » 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Conversion — Opposition of Relations — Attending Con- 
 ference AT Toronto — His Brother Denying Him. 
 
 As soon as I was converted, I wrote home all about my 
 religious convictions and my conversion, asking and exhorting 
 my frie. ds to seek the same Saviour, who would be just as 
 precious to them as He is to me. I received letters of the 
 most bitter hatred against me for being such a fool. I was 
 asked to return home, to leave this nonsense alone. The 
 best situations were offered me, and when these did not move 
 me, letters of hatred and malice were sent me. I was rejected 
 by all earthly ties and stood alone. This all I had expected 
 previous to my conversion, and I was not at all disappointed. 
 But I knew in whom I believed and none of these things had 
 any power to move me. My likeness, previous to my conver- 
 sion, they kept, but the likeness I sent home after my conver- 
 sion was burned. Many instances of hatred from friends and 
 nearest relations I could mention had I time, but before I pass 
 on let me mention one only. 
 
 A number of years ago I attended a Conference held in 
 Toronto, in which city I had a brother who kept two stores 
 and was, by all appearance, well off. He lived on Queen 
 Street. A few doors from their residence lived a family by 
 name of Bell, who kept a tin shop. Mrs. Bell, reading my 
 name in one of the Toronto papers as one of the ministers 
 billeted in Toronto to attend Conference, and, as she was 
 acquainted with my brother and knowing that he was an 
 Israelite, she was anxious to find out whether I might not be a 
 brother of her neighbor, Mr. Schuster. Her eagerness to 
 
i8 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 know this grew stronger as conference time approached. One 
 day she inquired of my brother's wife, who was passing, whether 
 this Mr. Schuster, billeted to attend conference, was a brother 
 of her husband. My brother's wife answered boldly, '"No!" the 
 Mr. Schuster, Methodist minister, is not my husband's 
 brother; he only bears the same name." Mrs. Bell, not 
 being satisfied with this, and suspecting something wrong, 
 asked my brother, "whether I was his brother." He said "No, 
 this Mr. Schuster, who is a minister, bears the same name, but 
 is not my brother." Of this I knew nothing until I left Toronto, 
 the conference being over. I had frequently visited them 
 during my stay in Toronto, and, making them my last visit 
 before leaving for my new appointment, I wished them fare- 
 well. As I grasped my brother's hand for the last time, he 
 put his hands round my neck, embraced and kissed me, and 
 with tears in his eyes, he said, "My brother, I must confess 
 I have denied you." He told me the whole story, how it 
 happened; but as Adam blamed Eve, so my brother blamed 
 his^wife, saying that he would have not denied me had it not 
 been for his wife, who told him rather to say that which was not 
 true than to expose her before Mrs. Bell as a liar. I took the 
 explanation for what it was worth. He continued to excuse 
 himself, and to prove his innocence he unfolded letters for 
 me to read, which he received from home. In them was my , 
 parent's advice to my brother, should I ever come to Toronto 
 to see him, that he should reject and deny me. The time for 
 parting with my brother had come. He again clasped his hands 
 round my neck, and again cried, saying, "Brother, I am sorry I 
 have denied you." I wished them both good-bye, was con- 
 tented and happy, knowing that God was with me. 
 
 I was not over two weeks on my new appointment, just 
 having nicely settled, when I received a letter from my brother 
 stating that he was burned out, lost all he had and nothing 
 
RKV. A. SCHUSTF.R. 
 
 19 
 
 lefty asking me if I could not send him money to help him. 
 I had just agreed with a farmer for a ton of hay for my horse 
 I cancelled the order, believing that the Lord would take 
 care of my horse if I discharged my duty to my brother now 
 in great want. I sent him all I had. He left Toronto, 
 went to New York and there died in a few months. 
 
 Go labor on ; spend and be spent, 
 
 Thy joy to do the Father's will ; 
 It is the way the Master went ; 
 
 Should not the servant tread it still ? 
 
 Go, labor on ; 'tis not for naught ; 
 
 Thine earthly loss is heavenly gain. 
 Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not ; 
 
 The Master praises— what are men ? 
 
 Go, labor on ; enough while here, 
 
 If he shall praise thee, if he deign 
 Thy willing heart to mark and cheer ; 
 
 No toil for him shall be in vain. . 
 
 Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice ; 
 
 For toil comes rest, for exile home ; 
 Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice, 
 
 The midnight peal : " Behold, I come." 
 
 H. Bojr AR. 
 
 -■. '■, ■ :' > •' : 
 
3d 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Working Like Paul That he Might Preach the Gospel, 
 Studying for Special Work — Mission on the Oitawa. 
 
 Soon after my conversion I received a letter from Rev. Dr. 
 Freshman who had heard of me. He invited me to coine to 
 Hamilton to assist him, and prepare myself for the German 
 work which the Wesleyan church had then opened, and which 
 Dr. Freshman had under his charge. With a heart anxious to 
 be useful for God 1 started for Hamilton to prepare for the 
 Gospel Ministry. I had no means except what I 
 could earn. I studied a few days in the week, 
 and worked the remainder to earn sufficient to 
 pay for board, etc. Here 1 did all kinds of work to get 
 along. My trade came good to me now, and when I could 
 find no work at my trade, I earned what I needed week by 
 week. I remember once being out of work and out of money. 
 I heard that the Railroad station had been destroyed by fire 
 and plenty of work could be found there. I went, inquired for 
 work, was sent to a foreman, a big stout and rough looking 
 man. When I asked him if he had any work for me he looked 
 at me from head to foot, saying, "Can you work?" He thought 
 such a thin, small looking and tender appearing little fellow 
 looking tor such work was impossible. He asked me again, "Can 
 you work?" I said "Yes," and pointing at the black timber 
 lying on the ground, the remains of the fire, he said, "here is 
 plenty of work such as it is, it is wet, black and dirty, if you 
 have a mind to work here and keep up with the man I give 
 you as partner I will give you the same wages as I give him, 
 but you cannot work with these clothes. Get yourself overalls, 
 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 31 
 
 come back after dinner,and you may try what you can do." I went 
 home, returned at one o'clock in time to go to work. The partner 
 he gave me was a man stronger than myself, a big-bodied 
 Irishman "Here," he said, "is a cross-cut saw and here is 
 your man and your work." The timber was black and very 
 wet, as it had rained the night previous. My readers may 
 imagine that I never handled a stick of timber before, never 
 took hold of a cross-cut saw, besides having this able, stout, 
 and strong man to keep up with. Soon my soft hands began 
 to blistor and my body became weary, but I kept up, worked 
 for a number of weeks, got good wages. I had thus given me 
 a new, fair and prosperous start for another period of study. 
 In this way I accomplished my studying, and paid all 
 expenses besides purchasing books and so forth. 
 
 About that time the Wesleyan church opened a mission in 
 the Ottawa Valley, to which the Germans emigrated. They 
 were enticed by Agents to settle on rather bad land. Mr. 
 AUum. who also studied at Hamilton, was sent to that field of 
 labor. After he had toiled for God over a year, he saw that 
 the Gtrman emigration was increasing and that he could not 
 do the work alone on so large a field of labor He applied to 
 the Conference for an assistant, but could not get one, as there 
 was no one to go and the Missionary money was scarce. He 
 came to me to Hamilton, asking me to go with him. He 
 said he could promise no salary, but that many souls are 
 anxious to hear the Gospel which he could not reach. I 
 thought this to be a call from God, and, should I refuse to go 
 these hungering and thirsting souls after the bread of life 
 would surely rise in judgment against me. Without any 
 any other consideration, except asking God to guide me and 
 make me useful in His vineyard, I went to the Ottawa 
 Valley to work in the mission. 
 
22 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 BY-AND-BY. 
 
 What will it matter, by-and-by, 
 Whether my path below was bright, 
 Whether it wound through dark or light. 
 Under a gray or a golden sky, 
 When I look back on it, by-and-by ? 
 
 What will it matter, by-and-by, 
 Whether unhelped, I toiled alone. 
 Dashing my foot against a stone. 
 Missing the charge of the angel nigh. 
 Bidding me think of the by-and-by ? 
 
 What will it matter, by-and-by. 
 Whether with laughing joy I went 
 Down through the years with glad intent ; 
 Never believing, nay, not I, 
 Tears would be sweeter by-and-by ? 
 
 What will it matter by-and-by. 
 Whether with cheek to cheek I've lain 
 Close to the pallid angel, Pain ; 
 Soothing myself through sob and sigh, 
 "All will be elsewhere by-and-by " ? 
 
 What will it matter ? Naught, if I 
 Only am sure the way I've trod. 
 Gloomy or gladdened, leads to God ; 
 
 Questioning not of the how, the why, 
 
 If I but reach Him by-and-by. 
 
 What will I care for the unshared sigh. 
 
 If, in my fear of slip or fall, 
 
 Closely I've clung to Christ through all j 
 Mindless how rough the path might lie. 
 Since He wijl smooth it by-ond-by ? 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 93 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 Life in the Ottawa Mission — Extent of the Mission — 
 Weary Journeys — Clothes Torn — Answers to Prayer. 
 
 Mr. Aliura lived in the centre of the mission in the Town- 
 ship of Wilberforce. He and his wife occupied only one 
 room; but where was my abode? It was in a place which was 
 formerly a log house, but on account of its unhealthy state it 
 was in use now for almost anything and everything, for old 
 harness, pots, kettles, pans, sheep-skins, old iron, horse shoes, 
 old leather saddles, rags and bags. In short it was a store for 
 all articles useless and worn out. It was airy, so much so 
 that the wind blew through and through. In it the rats and 
 mice felt very much at home and thouejht it to be no harm to 
 visit me at night. My bedstead was made of small poles 
 fastened to the log wall. There was no danger of it ever 
 being spoiled or broken, but being no carpenter by trade, I 
 made it rather slanting, so much so, that very often I found 
 myself outside in the morning, having moved downward with 
 my eyes shut. The mice and rats used to practise their 
 gymnastic exercises up and down these poles, but they did 
 not disturb me as I slept very sound after returning from my 
 appointments, frequently a journey of one hundred miles. 
 
 The mission was so large as to include three hundred miles 
 in circumference. I had no horse, and these three hundred 
 miles had to be travelled every month, besides visiting special 
 cases of sickness, etc. You may think it a hard and laborious 
 task to undertake this work without a salary, but when you 
 remember that God is ready, able and willing to answer 
 
24 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 w 
 
 prayer, and that He says, "Ask and ye shall receive," all the 
 diflficulties are removed out of sight. 
 
 After having travelled the mission for about six months, the 
 fall of the year set in. By the appearance of nature and 
 its surroundings it could now be seen that frost was nigh at 
 hand. The leaves of the trees began to fall, and the cold 
 winds from the North blew fiercely. My clothes were nearly 
 worn out, my boots patched time and agam, the climbing of 
 hills and rocks and travelling through the thick forest, finding 
 out the new settlers, did not spare even the best of my clothes, 
 but unmercifully tore them to pieces. 
 
 On a certain Friday eveni . before starting to one of my 
 appointments, a journey of about sixty miles, I was a little 
 anxious about the future, as I did not know how I could get 
 along without help. Certain things were necessary without 
 which I could not continue to labor. I went on my knees 
 and asked God as a child would ask a kind father. I said, 
 "Lord, thou knowest my wants," mentioning the articles I need- 
 ed. Before I rose up, I knew that help would come. Assured 
 of God's presence I left for my appointment on the Pettawawa. 
 
 On my return from that appointment, I was in the habit of 
 calling at a little log school house in which a class met. The ' 
 class was conducted by a Mr. .Clark, from Pembroke, who was 
 the leader. As usual, I called at that school house, and when 
 Mr. Clark, the Leader, saw me, he said, "Mr. Schuster, you 
 are just the man I wanted to see. You must come to see me 
 at Pembroke to-morrow morning, I have something of import- 
 ance to tell you." I answered that it was an impossibility for 
 me to come, having so far to travel to reach my next appoint- 
 ment. I hesitated, Pembroke being out of my way. At last 
 I consented to remain in the neighborhood over night, and I 
 walked to Pembroke on the next morning. As I entered Mr< 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 as 
 
 Clark's shop he said, "Mr. Schuster, I have a parcel for you." 
 "A parcel for me!" said I. "It must surely be a mistake." He 
 answered me that it was left in his care, and urged me to take 
 it. I opened it, and to my surprise, found the very things I 
 needed most, and for v.hich I had asked God to give me to 
 continue His work. You may imagine that my heart was filled 
 with thankfulness. Tears of joy were the expression of my 
 heart, which were impossible for me to restram. When I 
 opened the parcel I found a slip of paper on which were 
 written, "This is a present from Mr. and Mrs Fraser, of West- 
 mea*h, wishing you great prosperity in the work in which you 
 are engaged." It is remarkable that the parcel was left in Mr. 
 Clark's care on the same day on which I asked the Lord to 
 send me these things so necessary. Encouraged, knowing thftt 
 I had found favor in the sight of God, and that He had called 
 me to do His work, I labored on at His command. 
 
 On another occasion help came immediately from God. 
 Having walked the mission for a length of time during the 
 summer season my blood got chilled, becoming heated from 
 walking, and chilled from sudden changes. In consequence 
 of this my skin broke out in blisters. I was troubled about it 
 on account of the work in which I was engaged. I made it a 
 matte* of principle never to spend more than I had, even if 
 some one would be inclined to trust me. A certain physician 
 met me at Pembroke. 1 advised with him about my trouble. 
 Ho said, "I can cure you. If you come to my office I will 
 give you a receipt, but you mu^t get it at the drug store." I 
 went, he gave me the receipt, but the receipt did me very 
 little good without the medicine. I had no money to buy it. 
 Just when about opposite the drug store, Mr. McClatchie, 
 now living in Sidney, junior Grammar School Teacher at 
 Pembroke, met me and asked me how I got along. I said 
 "all right." Before parting from me, he grasped my hand, 
 
26 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 and while he grasped my hand I felt that he had laid some 
 money in it. I kept my hand close to his, and for a time we 
 were moving our hands. He would have me to take the 
 money, and I was not willing to take it. At last he said, 
 "Take this, Mr. Schuster." I immediately went to the drug 
 store, ordered the medicine, and when I asked the price it 
 was seventy-five cents, just the amount Mr. McClatchie had 
 given me, and I was soon cured and went on in God's work. 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 
 ■ V. 
 
 STAY THOU NEAR BY. 
 
 By Rev. D. Mitchell. 
 
 Stay Thou near by, O God above, 
 Look on thy child with tender love, 
 May help to me be always given 
 To lead me on the way to Heaven 
 
 Stay Thou near by, let grace be mine. 
 To make me pure and keep me thine, 
 Through all life's ways shine Thou on me 
 That I may ne'er depart from Thee. 
 
 Mid toil and care, stay Thou near by. 
 Be Thou my Rock more high than I 
 In which my soul will find her rest 
 And be with Thee for ever blest. 
 
 Stay Thou near by, that when my foes 
 Would cast me down to lasting woes, 
 My bleeding heart will then be free 
 With hope and joy to look to Thee. 
 
 Stay Thou near by, that work be done 
 To honor Thee, my God, alone. 
 Work — that I lost souls may win 
 From darkest woes, from hell of sin. 
 
 Saviour dear, stay Thou near by 
 That when to death I'm drawing nigh ; 
 
 1 may not fear or doubting be. 
 
 But still find'peace and joy in Thee. 
 
 And then on wings of faith I'll rise 
 To Thy pure mansions i.n the skies, 
 No more my soul shall need to cry. 
 Oh loving Friend, stay Thou near by. 
 
 I 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 27 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Germans on the Ottawa — Their Sufferings — Their 
 Thankfulness — Mr. Schuster a Cook — An Economical 
 Bone — Missionaries Suffering — The First Convert — 
 A Holy Kiss. 
 
 Many other instances of powerful answer to prayer could be 
 related, but time will not permit me. I must hasten to the 
 work among the Germans on the Ottawa. 
 
 The Germans settling in the Ottawa Valley had the great 
 disadvantage of getting poor land, and more so because they 
 emigrated at a time when there was a great want of provisions. 
 Their condition was very bad, so much so that often after the 
 four weeks without a visit to my congregation, I could see 
 plainly that hunger was staring them in the face, the eye 
 became dim, and the countenance fallen. As missionaries 
 we carried not only the Gospel, but also provisions to our 
 congregation to keep them alive. Under these circumstances 
 my readers may easily imagine that the first missionaries had 
 their difficulties, but all these sink into nothing compared with 
 the joys connected with laboring for God. 
 
 They are very thankful to the missionaries who bring them 
 the Gospel, more especially when they receive the forgiveness 
 of sins. I remember once that a woman came to me and, 
 expressing her thankfulness for the Gospel, she said, "xMr. 
 Schuster, I could give you all I have, but I am sorry that I 
 have not anything to give you," thus showing her thankful- 
 ness and willingness to give if she only could do so. 
 
 At another time, when on the evening of a prayer meeting 
 
i > 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 
 a certain person was made happy in the forgiveness of past 
 sins, and not knowing what to give me as a token of thankful- 
 ness, she offered me a bushel of potatoes. As I had twenty 
 miles to walk and the load being rather heavy to carry that 
 distance, I thanked her for her good Avill, and her desire to be 
 thankful to the missionary. 
 
 The population in the townships already mentioned is 
 mixed, and in consequence the other congregations had their 
 ministers who preached in English. 
 
 A minister by the name of Walker was sent and stationed on 
 the Alice Mission, somewhat near the centre of the German 
 mission. He came during a time of great want. He was 
 just ordained, and as all ministers and many others feel that 
 it is not good for man to be alone, he made preparations for 
 the coming important event. As he could not find a house 
 furnished to live in, he concluded to furnish one which stood 
 in the neighborhood and which consisted of four empty log 
 walls. He at once began to work. While thus toiling and 
 engaged in daily labor, he came to me one day kindly request- 
 ing me to help him. But I was neither a carpenter nor a 
 mason. I replied that my help would be of little or no use. 
 He said, "Mr. Schuster, if you cannot do carpenter work you 
 can cook for me." I consented, but my lady readers, you 
 know perfectly well that it is not an easy thing to cook when 
 you have little or nothing to cook with. Mr. Walker's pro- 
 visions were small, and the cook is only now entering upon 
 his apprenticeship in this line of household work. 
 
 • A piece of meat, in the centre of which there was a very 
 large bone but which fortunately contained plenty of marrow, 
 was all we two had to live on. It was no small task, as the 
 house could not be finished for five days. 
 
kEV. A. SCttUSTEfti 
 
 *9 
 
 You allow me, my lady readers, to give you a lesson of 
 economy. I boiled the meat with the bone in the centre, 
 and made soup of it. What kind of soup it was I can hardly 
 tell you. It was neither French nor English soup. It was 
 something so called soup. Brother Walker pronounced it to 
 be good, very likely because there was not anything better 
 for him. We ate this soup warmed over and over again for a 
 day or so, atterwards warmed the meat, and finished it. But 
 what to do next? Still we had a few more days to finish the 
 house. Now, my lady readers, just beho!d my skill as a cook. 
 I put the bone mto the pot again (of course I had the marrow 
 left), and made another soup Thus we ate soup and soup 
 and soup and soup, until the house was completed, after 
 which Brother Walker waited patiently for one to arrive who 
 could cook better than I could. Sorry I am to say that even 
 Mrs. Walker had hard work to cook on account of the scarcity 
 of provisions, so that one evening Brother Walker told me 
 with a sad heart, "I d:m\ know how we can get our break- 
 fast to-morrow morning." Vet God has kept them. It is a 
 solemn reality, indeed, that missionaries even in our ow i land 
 have to suffer jjrivatioris of the sorest nature. 
 
 I could give you miny instances which would prove by the 
 record of the history of the Octawi mission, that if the church 
 is to prosper, her members must be at work, and all of them 
 must be toiling for the Alaster. 
 
 The first convert among th j Germans was an aged lady, who 
 was called the mother of German Metho.lism. She was in the 
 habit of kissing me whenevLT I entered the place of worship, 
 which was a large shaaty in which she lived. After I got 
 married, I told my wife not to be surprised it an old lady 
 would put her hands round my neck and kiss me. And so 
 it was. When Mrs. Schuster went the first time with me to 
 the appointment, the old lady put both hands round my neck 
 
JO 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 
 iM 
 
 and kissed me. It was all right. Mrs. Scliuster was glad, 
 the old lady was glad also, and we were glad all round. Surely 
 this was a holy kiss every time. She was seventy years of age, 
 but she was soundly converted, true to God, the change in 
 her life and the converting power of God could be seen and 
 felt by all who knew her. She was the means of spreading 
 the Gospel from home to home. But even with this the 
 people were not satisfied. They sought the salvation of their 
 friends at home. But where are they? Far from them, but 
 not too far for God's Spirit to reach them. The great desire 
 for the salvation of those with whom they lived in sin was so 
 much increasing that they were not only driven to prayer in 
 their behalf, but also to work. They sent the Gospel by letter 
 to their friends, speaking of the pearl of great price, and how 
 they had found it. 
 
 My dear friends, I had the privilege of writing some of these 
 letters for them, and very often while I was writing their tears 
 dropped on the paper, thus mixing the tears with the ink. 
 Like David in ihe 56th Psalm asking God to put his tears 
 into his bottle, so these poor Germans put their tears of love 
 into letters to their friends. While I was writing, their heart 
 was full of joy, inquiring of me what I thought their friends 
 would say when the letter or letters arrived. These were 
 scenes I shall never forget. They were scenes which pen and 
 ink cannot describe, and which human tongue can neither 
 express or explain. These scenes, I believe, are recorded 
 in heaven, and they shaU only be fully realized and understood 
 when all things shall be revealed. The desire of having their 
 friends come to Canada to hear the Gospel increased, reached 
 their pockets, and I have known some who borrowed as much 
 as one hundred dollars, at ten per cent interest, for the purpose 
 of bringing their friends here, for their spiritual and eternal 
 welfare. The money we sent with the prayer that their 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 «^ 
 
 utM.a^jUM»itm-m 
 
 friends may hear the Gospel and find salvation, and they were 
 not disappointed. In almost every case their hopes were 
 realized, and soon they and their friends could rejoice in 
 God's forgiving power. 
 
 My dear friends, there is no time to be lost. We should be 
 ready to labor and be prepared to win souls for Christ. Our 
 fellow men are dying unsaved, thousands are going to destruc- 
 tion. Can we save them? Satan says "No." The world, the 
 flesh and the devil say "No," but Christ says "Yes." Shall 
 we say "No"? God forbid! 
 
 "Let him know that he who converteth a sinner from the 
 error of his way shall save a soul from death and hide a multi- 
 tude of sins." 
 
 .>' 
 
3« 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OF 
 
 
 I'' 
 
 " NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE." 
 
 The following poem was found among the papers of the Rev. A. Schuster. 
 It bears the marks of his own composition and it is evidently intended for 
 his beloved wife. Mr. S. frequently expressed his thoughts in this manner. 
 The verses are beautiful in themselves, but our readers will feel them to 
 be full of deepest meaning at the present time when we are all mourning 
 the loss of our dear friend. It will be seen that our Brother had a certain 
 promonition of his coming end. — Ed. 
 
 Loved one, art thou sorrow stricken, " 
 
 Did thy home seem reft of light, 
 Ditl thy sunshine turn to darkness 
 
 When they bore me from thy sight ? 
 
 Cease thy weeping, look above thee, 
 
 I'm not lost, but gone before. 
 Though my earthly form is hidden. 
 
 I am near thee as of yore. 
 
 Near, to cheer thee on thy journey, 
 
 Near to watch, to guard, to guide, 
 And when danger hovers o'er thee, 
 
 I'll be ever at thy side. 
 
 And betimes thou mays't forget me. 
 
 Mingling with the bright and fair, 
 Even then I'll softly whis) er, 
 
 And thou'lt know that I am there. 
 
 I will come to thee in silence. 
 
 When the twilight shadow flees, 
 I will sing the heavenly music 
 
 In the "Zephyrs" 'mong the trees. 
 
 Yes, the friends long loved and cherished, 
 
 Who have passed from earthly view, 
 They it is who are the angels, 
 
 Ever ministering to you. 
 
 Hearken to the gentle whisperings, 
 
 Floating o'er from angel land, 
 God will keep thy feet from straying, 
 
 If thou canst but understand. 
 
RBV. A. aCKVSTSB, 
 
 S3 
 
 LAST CHAPTER. 
 
 BY THE EDITOR. 
 
 The preceding chapters present a vivid picture of the young 
 Jew coming out of darkness into God's marvellous light. 
 There are wanting several links to complete the chain of 
 Brother Schuster's life, and these we will attempt to give in 
 this concluding chapter. In the preceding autobiographical 
 sketch, Mr. Schuster goes at once from his conversion to his 
 work in the Ottawa Valley. On the third day of June, 1870, 
 he was examined by the Conference in Toronto at 6 o'clock 
 A. M. in German, and in the afternoon in English. After a 
 searching examination, he was recommended for ordina- 
 tion, and approved by Conference to enter upon the Gospel 
 ministry. On the following Lord's day Mr. Schuster, together 
 with a number of young men, was ordamed and received in 
 full connection with the Canada Methodist church by Dr. 
 Punshon. He says in a letter to his future wife, "I thank 
 God that He has directed me in the days which are passed and 
 gone, and He will be with us in tne future." At the same time 
 he expresses his thanks to God for the prospect of having "one 
 with him prepared to work for souls, one to sympathize, 
 comfort and rejoice in my rejoicing, and share with me the 
 difficulties of life, and of the Christian ministry. * Be of 
 good cheer, the Lord of Hosts is with us.' " On the 20th of 
 June of the same year he was married, and as Mr. Schuster 
 died on the 27th of June 1885, these two, with the blessing 
 of God upon them, travelled the path of life for upwards of 
 fifteen years. It is not out of place for me to say that I never 
 knew a couple better suited to one another. Their happiness 
 
34 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OP 
 
 
 was not demonstrative, but resembled a calm, deep river, 
 flowing almost unconsciously, although with a volume far 
 exceeding that of tumultuous waves or the rapid brook 
 noisily rushing over its pebbly bed. They were blessed with 
 two boys, who, I pray God, may ever walk in the footsteps of 
 their loving father. In the earlier years Mr. Schuster, on 
 account of pressing duties, was much from home. But ever 
 since I knew him he appeared in his home and family to the 
 best advantage. As a man of God, he "walked within his 
 house with a perfect heart," and had evidently taken for his 
 motto Joshua's resolution, "As for me and my house, we will 
 serve the Lord." He was quiet, but very firm in dealing with his 
 children. The blessing of this man surely rests upon his widow 
 and their offspring, and the promise of God will be found true 
 that ''He will judge the widow and fatherless." "He will be 
 on their right hand, and on their left," and will "never leave 
 them, nor forsake them." 
 
 Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Schuster spent a few months 
 in the German work. He was one year in Campbell ford, and two 
 years in Pickering, part of the second year of which he was 
 engaged in evangelistic work in Palmerston. After this Mr. and 
 Mrs. Schuster spent some time in Napanee, doing the Master's 
 work wherever he found an open door. He was next called 
 to the Bible Christian church at Lindsay, where for six months 
 he was found toiling in the Master's service. At his next station, 
 Maripossa, he and his wife spent two years. In the midst of 
 severe labors in this place, both he and Mrs. Schuster turned 
 sick, and it was then they undertook the journey to Frank- 
 fort-on-the- Maine, described in the preceding narrative. On 
 their return from Germany, where they remained nine months, 
 Mr. Schuster was sent to the Bible Christian church in 
 Belleville, where for nearly two years he labored earnestly for 
 souls. In this charge the people enjoyed several seasons of 
 revival and refreshment. It was to me a great pleasure to assist 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER, 
 
 35 
 
 my brother in his work, and I well remember being present at 
 various meetings of thrilling interest, and I can never forget 
 the earnest pleadings of this man of God with sinners, "to come, 
 take up the cross and follow Christ." During the first year of his 
 pastorate in Belleville, Mr. Schuster was appointed Represent- 
 ative in Canada of the "British Society for the propagation of 
 the Gospel among the Jews," and continued faithfully to 
 discharge his duties as such until the close of his life. 
 
 Mr. Schuster had long pondered the problem, "How to 
 reach the poor and minister to those who were outside of the 
 church." Looking on Belleville, he saw a city "white unto 
 the harvest." He opened his mind on this subject to several 
 brethren, and I well remember how he used to come into my 
 study and talk over the subject of City Mission work. There 
 was one point on which he was very clear, viz., that he should 
 not accept any salary, but should cast himself upon the Lord, 
 and depend upon Him to put it into the hearts of the 
 people to send money or gilts according to his requirements. 
 Over and over again I remember debating this question 
 and saying at length, "I believe you are right." Brother 
 Schuster had estimated the cost and was prepared for any 
 suffering, counting such all joy provided he could carry on 
 his Master's work. The origin and growth of the City 
 Mission are well worthy of careful study. I remember 
 preaching the first annual sermon on Zech. iv. lo. "For who 
 hath despised the day of small things?" and how well suited 
 to the occasion this text was felt to be from the number then 
 present. But look at "Our Mission" now, according to the last 
 report,and see how well Mr. Schuster had calculated. The build- 
 ing itself is a monument that speaks of God's faithfulness to His 
 children. It was simply marvellous how the mission building 
 grew. Well might we say "Except the Lord build the house, they 
 labor in vain who strive to build it." When dedicated, as is 
 

 i 
 
 M* 
 
 11 
 
 a< 
 
 LIFE AND LABOURS OP 
 
 most right, it was free of debt— not one cent owing. The 
 \7ork which Mr. Schuster did in connection with this mission 
 will be found in the "annual reports and various articles" con- 
 tained in the Second Part of this work. 
 
 It is almost certain that Mr. Schuster felt he was laying the 
 foundations upon which others would build. This was evident, 
 not only from its being one of his last utterances, •'! have 
 laid a foundation," but from his whole manner during a few 
 weeks before his death. On the very last Sabbath he spent 
 upon earth, he spoke as one who was walking on the "border 
 land." He preached at the jail in the morning on the words, 
 "And ye will not come to me that you may have life," John 
 V. 40. and in the Mission House in the evening on James i. 
 12. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, fv.)r when 
 he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord 
 hath promised to them that love him." His peculiarly earnest 
 manner was noticed by many, and well I remember watching 
 him from my window, and saying, as on several occasions I 
 observed him standing at the door of his house opposite mine, 
 "there is something very solemn and impressive about the look 
 of Mr. Schuster." 
 
 Perhaps sufficient has been said concerning the death of 
 this good man, and yet it appears to me that too much cannot 
 be written in connection with this. It v/as a death-Led scene 
 I can never forget. The necessity of having a surgical opera- 
 tion led him to speak to me of his affairs, and to give me' 
 directions as to his funeral. He spoke calmly — as a man of 
 faith. He was prepared. He suffered much after the opera- 
 tion, but never did his mind waver. Ease at length came to 
 him, and he was taken away from our sight. What a lesson it 
 was to myself, and to all others, that he who had so lovingly 
 ministered to me during my long continued sickness, was the 
 first to be called away. 
 
 lilll 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 37 
 
 The funeral services were fittingly performed, first at tne 
 Farm, and afterwards in the City Mission building, which could 
 not nearly contain all who came to honor the man. Brethren 
 in the ministry spoke tenderly of the faithfulness, the zeal, the 
 devotion and the love of the missionary. In subdued accents 
 his favorite hymn, "Rock of Ages," was sung, and then the 
 body of our deceased friend was borne to its last resting place. 
 Over the grave in which he lies, there stands a beautiful bronze 
 monument with the following inscription facing the West, 
 ''Erected by the many Belleville friends to the memory of the 
 Rev. A. Schuster, City Missionary, who died on Saturday, 27th 
 June, 1885, fifty-one years of age." 
 
 "He was the poor man's friend and trusted God for his 
 support." ''For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost 
 and of faith." Acts xi, 24. 
 
 On the North side the words "God is Love," our friend's 
 
 favorite text, is enclosed in a fine wreath. The ground and 
 
 the monument were generously subscribed tor by a large 
 number of fellow-citizens. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 — TO — 
 
 PART II. 
 
 I 
 
 Articles and Reports of the Rev. A. Schuster are contained in the 
 Second Part of this work. Mr. S. clearly and forcibly expounds the faith 
 principle as he understands it, while the City Mission reports which follow 
 well illustrate the duty he lays down for himself of taking no thought for 
 the morrow. The sermons or expositions found in Part II. will be 
 valued by our readers as fairly representing our brother's mode of treating 
 scripture. The article on the Good Woman I read with much interest at 
 the time of its publication. While the style is quaint, there is a quiet 
 humor running through ihe sermon which gives interest and point to its 
 lessons, I regret that we have not more of the short, piiliy and practical 
 expositions with which lie favored his people. Had Mr S. been able to 
 express himself freely in the English langungc as he did when speaking his 
 mother tongue, he would have been a rare preacher. As it is he appears 
 to great advantage on the printed page. 
 
 The Editor. 
 
 !?,: 
 
FAITH WORK AND ITS MEANING. 
 
 A PAPER READ BEFORE THE MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION ON 
 MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2 1 ST, BY REV. A. SCHUSTER, 
 AND PRINTED BY REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT. 
 
 To a great number of persons Faith Work is a thing un- 
 known. Many make light of it, and others ridicule it. It 
 seems to me that every reader of God's word must see that the 
 Gospel Ministry is not one of entire sameness, but that it may 
 be divided into different spheres of labor and usefulness; some 
 Evangelists, others Pastors and Teachers ; all these are work- 
 men appointed by God, who gives certain work and duties 
 which they are called to perform. The minds of men difler, 
 it is therefore not strange nor surprising to know that the mind 
 of Ministers of t.e (Gospel are not the same. One has a mind 
 for the pulpit, and he becomes a pulpit orator, another is a 
 profound Bible reader, the third a Pastor, a nurse to young 
 christians, a good adviser, and a family friend. It would be a 
 good thing could all these qucilificaiions be found in the Gospel 
 Minister, but this is very seldom or not at all the case. God 
 gives special qualifications lor every branch of his work. 
 
 Faith in God is necessary for the work in all its branches, 
 and without faith and prayer being linked together, none of 
 them can be successful ; therefore every Christian's work done 
 with the single eye to the glory of God is a Faith Work in this 
 respect. 
 
 The duty before me now is to speak of Faith Work in con- 
 nection with the temporal support of the workman and his 
 work ; and the question might be asked, Will God supply the 
 
I 
 
 I if I 
 
 f 
 
 R : ■ • 
 
 42 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 wants of both in answer to faith and prayer. We say yes, 
 when certain conditions are complied with, a few of which I will 
 mention. 
 
 1. The person casting himself and family upon God must 
 know that it is God who calls him to the work he has under- 
 taken. 
 
 2. He must be willing to do the work in obedience to 
 God's call. " No one has has hired me," should not be the 
 language of his heart. 
 
 3. No matter what he may possess, he must not call any- 
 thing his own, no matter how much he may love it, and how 
 near and dear it may be to him, he must leave all in God's 
 care. By so doing, he, his family, and all he has, become the 
 Lord's property, as much so as if he never possessed it. There- 
 fore he can claim that all will be cared for, protected and sup- 
 ported by God. 
 
 Faith Work is too often misunderstood ; it is thought to be a 
 rock of naked faith, not inclnding works. This is a very great 
 mistake, and no one knows it better than those who believe in 
 faith work, and are working on that principle. It means faith 
 and works in every respect ; it cannot mean anything else, be- 
 cause the word of God declares that faith without works is 
 dead, therefore any Christian work undertaken by faith only 
 would be lifeless and unscriptural, and cannot be therefore 
 successful. What then, is the difference between those who 
 say they do faith work, and other ministers laboring with and 
 for organized congregations, with a regular membership and in 
 fully established churches ? We answer, there is a difference, 
 namely : — A minister called by a congregation, and that con- 
 gregation producing him a certain amount of money for the 
 support of himself and family, has no need to ask God for sup- 
 port, because he is already provided for. The same holds good 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER 
 
 43 
 
 in reference to missionaries sent out by Missionary Societies, 
 Conferences, Synods, etc., supplying them with necessary 
 funds. 
 
 I will explain what I mean : It would be inconsistent for a 
 person to ask God to send him the price of a loaf of bread, 
 when he has lo or 12 cents in his pocket to pay for that loa^ 
 We can only ask God for the supply of our need when we are 
 not supplied already, or otherwise provided for. 
 
 When a minister feels it his duty and his call to preach the 
 gospel among the poor who cannot pay him for his labor nor 
 reward him otherwise, and when he knows that this special 
 work is laid upon him that he must do, and woe nnto him 
 should he refuse to do it, he may go forth in faith and prayer, 
 asking God for guidance, direction and support, aud his wants 
 will be supplied. God's word speaks of the faith principle. 
 The disciplet were not to provide gold nor silver, neither two 
 coats ; and in Matt, vi, 25, we read, " Take no thought for 
 your life," "the fowls of the air are in this passage brought be- 
 fore us." " God feedeth them," and it ends by giving us the 
 full assurance that God will supply ouv wants, being much more 
 than they. In Phil. iv. 6, " Be careful for nothing, but in 
 everything by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving let your 
 request be known unto God." We are not informed when 
 stated salaries to ministers began, it may very likely have been 
 the outcome of a lack of faith in God, hence the necessity of 
 the present mode. On the faith principle the Disciples went 
 forth to preach the gospel. "To the poor the gospel is preach- 
 ed." This means not asking them lo support the ministry 
 when they are themselves in want of the necessaries of life. 
 Some may ask what would you do should the means of sup- 
 port not come in time when needed ? I answer that this ii one 
 of God's great test* of our Christian faith and character, and 
 a proof whether we trust God in time of need or not, at such 
 
44 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 k 
 
 ■ he. ,'V ' 
 
 times we must only allow patience to have her perfect work, 
 relying upon the promise in Phil, iv, 19, "My God shall supply 
 all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," 
 and claiming this promise we can go on. 
 
 To be satisfied with little and using economy in every res- 
 pect IS oue of the qualifications, I may say Christian graces, 
 necessary to do faith work. We c^anot live by faith except we 
 practise self-denial ; by it God is honored, if it is done for 
 God's glory. This was Paul's experience on that point, Phil. 
 iv, II, 12 and 13, " Not that I speak in respect of want ; for I 
 have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
 I know both how to be abased, and I know now to abound, 
 everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full 
 and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can 
 do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ; 
 
 Our desires are many, but are we always seeking for things 
 only necessary ? Surely not. We imagine we stand in need 
 of many things because our neighbors or friends have them, 
 when in reality we can do without them. Self-denial is the 
 outflow of love to God and man, and it is one of the fruits of 
 Christian manhood if practised for Christ's sake. It is our 
 duty to deny ourselves daily. God cannot look on extrava- 
 gance with delight, and he does not bless it, neither in church 
 members nor church edifices, neither in the workman nor in 
 his work. 
 
 FAITH WORK BF^ARS FRUIT. 
 
 It is strengthening, it strengtheneth daily those who are en- 
 gaged in it, and it is the means of arousing others to believe in 
 God's promises. It is one of those silent voices which gives 
 no uncertain sound. It is the means of reaching those who 
 were never reached before. Faith work always begins small, it 
 rises slowly, but its success is sure, and, like charity, it never 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER, 
 
 45 
 
 faileth. It does more to honor God than any other system, 
 because it ennobles God's cause, while other means, too often 
 adopted at this our day to Jaise funds for the support of the 
 gospel, weaken Christianity. 
 
 The persons who live by faith do practically what in reality 
 every true Christian professes to live by. 
 
 The world may make light of this; the persons who under- 
 take it may feel for a time as though they have to stand almost 
 alone ; the work may be called a thing out of the way, and 
 when the supply does not come as readily as they think it 
 should jome, it may be said, where is their faith and their faith 
 work ? Nevertheless, it will nover fall to the ground ; it will 
 stand and prosper because it is of God, and although the work- 
 man mny pass away from the field of labor before enjoying the 
 full development of his work, neverthless God will bless it and 
 make it a blessing to many. 
 
 On the faith principle the City Mission was established and 
 has been conducted. 
 
 THE POOR AND THEIR DISADVANTAGES. 
 
 In the XXX chapter of the Book of Proverbs 7, 8 and 9th 
 verses we read these words : — " Two things have I required of 
 thee, deny me tliem not before I .die; remove far from me 
 vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me 
 with food convenient for me ; lest I be full and deny thee and 
 say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor and steal and take the 
 name of my God in vain." 
 
 If this prayer was written upon the walls in every dwelling 
 and would be enforced upon the heart of every individual, it 
 would make dissatisfied persons contented and thankful for 
 God's goodness, mercy and love. 
 
46 
 
 ARTICLES AND REP0RT3 OF 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 The hist clause of these verses show that there are disadvan- 
 tages connected with poverty, which will lead the poor into 
 temptations, such as stealing and taking God's name in vain, 
 There are other disadvantages the poor have, which are very 
 often forgotten, and therefore in many instafnces, they are 
 wrongly judged and too often harshly treated ; instead of 
 looking at their position, circumstances and disadvantages and 
 then judge them accordingly. It is said that they are to 
 blame for all their misery. This may be true in some cases, . 
 but in many it is not so, when we consider that everybody 
 could be blamed for his or her own difficulties in life. Let us 
 now see some of the disadvantages the poor have. 
 
 I have no hesitation in saying that the poor pay more for al- 
 most everthing they purchase, as they buy in very small quan- 
 tities. They pay also higher rent than the so-called better 
 class, compared with the accommodation, etc. ; and I am sure 
 in stating that the landlords of these miserable wrecks (I can- 
 not call them dwellings) who let them to the poor have a 
 greater income and a smaller outlay than the landlords who 
 are letting good and comfortable houses. I am acquainted 
 with some of these wrecks, many of which are not worth $20. 
 Three or more poor families are living in one house, and each 
 are paying at a rate of $1.25 per month. Thus the landlord 
 is receiving nearly $4 per month tor such a place. These 
 wrecks are a disgrace to humanity and civilization, and it is 
 certain they are no credit to the City of Belleville. 
 
 The poor are very often blamed for not keeping the floor 
 and walls of these houses clean, but if you would make up 
 your mind to see these places, you would think as I do, that it 
 is almost an impossibility to keep them in order, ana that they < 
 would defy even the best housekeepers. You have no idea of 
 the state of these places. 1 would advise you to get your life 
 insured (if not already done), should you venture to visit them 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 47 
 
 as there is a possibility of falling from the upper floor down as 
 far as you can go in a hurry. 
 
 We have societies everywhere for the protection of animals, 
 which are doing much good, but a society for the protection of 
 poor humanity would be of still greater value and benefit. 
 These wr^jcks should not be allowed to be lost. They should 
 be examined by proper authorities. If not thoroughly repair- 
 ed, they shall be condemned. 
 
 Another great disadvantage stares some of the poor in the face. 
 When they seek employment, trying to begin to do better, and 
 to make a livelihood in the future, they are generally asked 
 their name, and as soon as their name is mentioned in many 
 cases they are rejected at once. The sins of the parents are 
 resting upon their children to a few generations at least. Thus 
 the difliculty presents itself before those also who are doing 
 their best in helping to give the poor a start in life. The 
 greatest battle for any one to fight is the battle of long-seated 
 prejudices. The manner and ways m which most of the poor 
 are brought up have much to do in creating disadvantages, not 
 easily overcome, The poor children, some of whom are bright 
 even smart, are suffering severely, therefore we must not forget 
 that had even the very best of us to battle with the same dis- 
 advantages, we could do no belter ; some even would do 
 worse than those who are helpless, poor, wretched, even cast 
 
 out. 
 
 Many more of the disadvantages could me mentioned, but 
 
 I must conclude by saying, that we will never be able to see 
 
 the disadvantages of the poor as they are until we are willing 
 
 to look into the matter calmly, without prejudice; when we 
 
 can pray in their behalf — " Lord help me," thus carrying the 
 
 burden of their mi'^ery to God, as if they were our own. Then 
 
 only we are able to sympathize, have patience with them and 
 
 do them good. 
 
 A. Schuster, City Missionary. 
 
48 
 
 A^TICLSS AND REfORTS OF 
 
 i 
 
 FIRST REPORT OF THE BELLEVILLE 
 CITY MISSION. 
 
 READ IN THE ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ON 
 
 TUESDAY, MAY 17TH, 1 88 1. 
 
 City Mission work lias occupied my mind for about lo years, 
 so iiiuch so that wherever I was stationed I did this work more 
 or less as flir as time would allow me, namely, going from house 
 to house, irrespective of denominational differences, and labor- 
 ing thus I felt (lod's blessings resting upon me. I never had 
 a shadow of a doubt that a good work could be done in that 
 way, and I had the impression that in due time God would 
 open my way to be fully engaged in it. I waited patiently, 
 praying that He would in the meantime prepare and qualify 
 me for the discharge of a duty so great and important, and that 
 he would give me the willingness to consecrate myself to the 
 work whenever called to do it. 
 
 In May, 1880, while calling on the Rev. M. W. McLean, 
 our conversation led to the subject of City Mission work, 
 namely, visiting from house to house, spreading tracts, person- 
 al conversation on the subject of religion and individual 
 application thereto. We were of one mind as to the working 
 of such a mission and to the great and final benefit as its * 
 result. Having never opened my mind freely to others on the 
 subject, and not knowing the opinion of any one particularly, 
 I felt very much encouraged by this conversation, and from 
 that time I believed God would according to His good pleasure 
 open my way. 
 
 I began to make City Mission work more than ever a subject 
 of meditation and prayer, and the more I thought upon its 
 greatness and importance, the more I realized the assurance of 
 the blessed results which would flow from it. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 49 
 
 As my charge in the Bible Christian Church in this city. 
 was small, outside work was needed and building up was neces- 
 sary. I found here a great field of usefulness before me, and I 
 could occupy all my spare time visiting especially non-church 
 goers. 
 
 One day I was led to visit South Belleville, the neighbor- 
 hood of South John, Wharf and Church Streets. Going 
 through these streets spreading tracts for the first time, a great 
 many boys and girls followed me, and their little voices, like so 
 many birds, could be heard, "Give me some tracts." They 
 took the tracts from house to house, doing their work gladly, 
 as could be seen by their glittering eyes and by their joyful 
 hearts. Thus the Lord opened the way, and wherever I went 
 the people received me kindly and accepted the tracts cheer- 
 fully. 
 
 In the meantime the matter of this City Mission work had 
 been spoken of by the members of the Alliance. Its necessity 
 had been felt, and the good results that would flow from it had 
 not been doubted. As last, in the month of June last year, 
 the matter was officially spoken of, and as I was from home, I 
 received a letter that the brethren were wishing me to engage 
 in it, at the same time they would allow me to keep the charge 
 of the Bible Christian Church. When I received this letter I 
 felt thankful to God for the confidence the brethren placed in 
 me. However, I did not see my way clear to undertake it, 
 knowing that while I held a charge in connection with one par- 
 ticular branch of the Church, it could not answer the purpose, 
 namely, laboring at the same time in the interest of a non-de- 
 nominational City Mission work. I felt also that the confi- 
 dence the Alliance placed in me to do justice to the work, and 
 at the same time having a charge of a separate congregation, 
 was more than I deserved. Thus the matter remained. I 
 
50 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 
 
 worked as usual, discharged my duty to my congregation and 
 did my best, by God's assistance, to raise the church under my 
 charge. I spread tracts as I was accustomed to do, and visited 
 non-church goers especially. 
 
 In the providence of God a prayer meeting was established 
 on Wharf Street, it being the result of my first vi^it in the 
 neighborhood of South Belleville. The house being small, it 
 was thought best to rent a larger room on the corner of Wharf 
 and Church Streets, at one dollar per month, which was fitted 
 up for the use of public worship. Special services commenced 
 and were continued for four weeks, in which most of the city 
 ministers took part, and which were successful. Regular ser- 
 vices have been held every Sunday at 2:30 o'clock and one 
 week evening service. Much of God's presence has been felt, 
 and some good has been the result. I am glad to be able to 
 say that some of those who have attended these services have 
 received a taste for religious worship, and some are now attend- 
 ing the churches of their choice. 
 
 Circumstances which need not be adverted to here, at length 
 led me to resign my charge of the Bible Christian Church, 
 which I held until the Conference officially released me, and 
 appointed a successor. On the 21st day of February, havmg 
 received the endorsement of the city mmisters and after inform, 
 ing the Rev. Father Farrelly also of the object of my future 
 labors in the city, and inspired by the good will and sympathy 
 of the Evangelical Alliance and others, I began to give my 
 whole time to this work. My way was opened and depending 
 upon God for guidance I proceeded in a more systematical 
 ,way. 
 
 I began at the City limits, east of the Kingston Road, from 
 thence westward to Church Street, from Church Street north to 
 Bridge Street, irom Bridge Street I took all the streets south as 
 
REV. A. SCHtrSTER. 
 
 51 
 
 and 
 
 my 
 
 Mted 
 
 far as Bleecker Avenue, from thence to the Grand Trunk Stat- 
 ion, visiting from house to house. *" 
 
 My visits are generally brief except on special occasions of 
 sickness inquirers of religion or on other similar occasions. 
 
 My conversation is on the subject of religion especially and 
 is directed by personal application to the wants of those with 
 whom I come in contact, trying to show the beauty of religion 
 and the benefit of loving and serving God fully. I have tried 
 by the help of God to urge by love, persons not acquainted 
 with God to become acquamted with him through Christ, the 
 sinner's friend and prove His love and mercy, doing this I try 
 to watch favorable opportunities. 
 
 I keep a record of the families I visit, the Church they attend, 
 whether they attend regularly or not, how many children go to 
 Sabbath School, and wherever I find those who attend nowhere 
 I urge them to go to the school in connection with the church 
 which their parents attend. I report the sick, the distressed, 
 the inquirers, the non-church goers and the strangers to the 
 city ministers under whose charge they are wishing to be placed. 
 
 I have a regular route which I continue from house to house, 
 but make special calls to any when requested or when other 
 duties call me to see them and afterwards return to my regular 
 route. 
 
 The Tracts I am spreading are mostly Leaf Tracts, with 
 passages of God's word printed in large type, they seem to be 
 highly approved of, being the word of God unmixed. 
 
 The paper is a gift from the Napanee Paper Mills for God's 
 cause which I received with thankfulness. The printing is done 
 here. 
 
 I started with a stock of 12,000 of these tracts, besides 
 others which I received from the Tract Society, from Miss 
 
5« 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 Bilbrough and others interested in the City Mission Work. 
 Several thousands of tracts have been given out. I have attend, 
 ed three times a week regularly until the njth of March in the 
 City Hall to receive parcels for the Home for the Friendless, 
 and to give poor persons employ who were willing to work for 
 their living. This effort has been a success in some measure, 
 but I am sorry to say that not more have been employed ; 
 while I had the names of those who said they were seeking 
 work, and some of them by all appearance were willing to toil 
 for their family's support, only a few came to employ them. I 
 am certain that if the public would encourage this method, and 
 would work with me in this or a similar plan that may be pro- 
 posed, much money could be saved, idleness would be discour- 
 aged, and the deserving poor could be easily helped by helping 
 themselves. 
 
 Public religious services have been held and a meetmg at 
 Bethel Hall arranged to reach passers by, especially on Satur- 
 day evenings. The hall was given free of any charge by Mr. 
 Haines. At present we occupy the hall over Mr. Nathan Jones', 
 which Mr. Jones has kindly granted me free of rent until the 
 2oth day of this month, and I feel it to be a duty to express 
 my thankfulness to both these gentlemen for their kindness. 
 The hall is fitted up and services have been held regularly on 
 Tuesday and Saturday evenings. 
 
 Cottage prayer meetings have been established as follows. 
 At South Belleville on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and in 
 the same neighborhood on Monday evening. On Thursday 
 evening in the neighborhood of Flint & Holton's mill extend- 
 ing westward. On Friday evening in the nighborhood of the 
 Grand Trunk station, and as there is a very successful cottage 
 prayer meeting already established and led by Mr. Northrup 
 and others in the north part of the city extending to the south, 
 with the above named additional meetings, the whole city will 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTFR. 
 
 53 
 
 be surrounded with these services, so that all can easily reach 
 them. I am glad to say that they are steadily increasing in 
 numbers and spiritual interest and influence. 
 
 Accompanied by Mrs. Schuster, and with the permission of 
 Mr. Gardner, we held two children's services in the Pinnacle 
 St. School. The dear children were very attentive to the 
 children's sermon, and it could be seen and felt that they knew 
 the solemnity of the occasion. The deepest silence prevailed 
 during prayer, and we left them very much encouraged and 
 glad in heart. The dear boys and girls are asking me often 
 when we could come again to hold another meeting. 
 
 I visited all the public schools and with the permission of 
 their respective teachers I took the names of the children who 
 do not go to any Sabbath School and I reported them to the 
 Superintendent of the School, placing them in the same charge 
 and care of the church which their parents attend. 
 
 I find as the work is going on, new ways of usefulness are 
 opening before me ; and as the desire for greater usefulness in 
 the work increases, the way is opened to extend it, so much so 
 that a Hall or a large room in the centre of the city will become 
 necessary. 
 
 So far, all arrangements have been left with myself. While 
 I am thankful for the confidence the Alliance and others placed 
 in me, having; had the full control and charge of the work ; yet 
 I would perfer the appointment of n. Central Committee, there- 
 by affording me the privilege of consulting with them when 
 necessary, as I am aware that "in the multitude of counsel 
 there is safety." There is no doubt that the work will extend 
 more and more. In this we must follow the leading of Pro- 
 vidence — at the same time to guard not to go ahead of God's 
 guidance. 
 
54 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 The expenses of the work thus far are as follows : — 
 
 Paid for rent corner house of Church and Wharf Streets $ 5 ^'O 
 
 Paid Printing Tracts. 5 oo 
 
 Expenses for fitting up Room, also lor wood and oil 3 15 
 
 Tickets for the employment of persons seeking work I 25 
 
 A little table for hall ; i 00 
 
 $1540 
 Receipts from all sources : — 
 Net proceedsfromlecturein John St. Presbyterian Church. Feb.4lh $ 8 50 
 Received per Post Office Irom a person whose name could not be 
 
 found out 5 00 
 
 Received from Mr. Northrup 5 0° 
 
 Received from Mr. Ponton I OO 
 
 Collections during special services in South Belleville I 15 
 
 From the Baptist Church for supply 5 0° 
 
 I owe for a stand lamp . 
 
 $25 65 
 » 75 
 
 $23 90 
 Expenses 1 5 40 
 
 After all is paid, on hand $ 8 50 
 
 The large lantern outside of the Hall has been given by Mr. 
 Bean, and the chandeliers in the Hall have been given, the 
 one by Mr. Yeomans and the other by Mr. Geen, — for all 
 which I express my thanks. 
 
 In conclusion, I am thankful for the general interest which 
 has been taken in the work by many. Of late some young men 
 are wishing to go with me. One young man has made up his 
 mind to accompanv me. I thank God for the blessings result- 
 ing from the work ; it is like bread cast upon the waters. 
 When I see some who were non-church goers, now finding their 
 way to the church they have made their choice, are compar- 
 atively doing well, and have the appearance of a change for 
 the better, noiv spending their Sabbath day worshipping God, 
 and when I meet their dear children, better dressed, going to 
 their Sabbath School, I am encouraged ; and knowing that I 
 have God's approval in the work, I can rejoice. My trust is in 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 55 
 
 God, the giver of all things, and the bestower of all blessings. 
 The good seed is sown feebly but beli ivingly, and as "the hus- 
 bandman waiteth for the early and the latter rain with patience," 
 so we will wait for God's power to bring forth fruit in abun- 
 dance to His honor and glory, so that this city may bficome a 
 spiritually prosperous field ; and if your Missionary has accom- 
 plished any good, that good is of God, to whom all praise be- 
 longs. 
 
 With the earnest request that you will remember me and the 
 
 work in your prayers, 
 
 I remain, yours truly, 
 
 A. Schuster. 
 
 THE CITY MISSION. 
 
 missionary's report and financial statement. 
 
 City Hall, November 7th, 1881. 
 
 About one hundred people, principally ladies, braved the 
 inclement weather last evening to attend the City Mission 
 meeting in the City Hall. 
 
 At eight o'clock the meeting opened by the Chairman, A. G. 
 Northrup, Esq.. reading a portion of the Scriptures, after which 
 Rev. David Mitchell engaged in prayer. 
 
 The choir then favored the audience with some music. 
 
 Mr. A. G. Northrup briefly referred to the work that had 
 been accomplished by the City Missionary, and recommended 
 him to the sympathy and support of the Christian community. 
 
 THE MISSIONARY S REPORT. 
 
 kev. Mr. Schuster then came forward and read the following: 
 
S6 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 m 
 
 r - ' 
 
 ■ 1 ■■ 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 In presenting this report before you I feel thankful to 
 Almighty God for his mercies bestowed upon us. Since my 
 last report was given, I continued visiting from house to house 
 until the very hot weather when I was obliged to retreat from 
 my regular route, and visited only those who demanded my 
 immediate attention. To carry out the objects of my visits it 
 was thought best to prepare a card of introduction to the per- 
 sons I visited. The card is answering the purpose well and is 
 calculated to make known my mission to the people at once, as 
 some might have objections to a visit from a minister outside 
 of their own church, and as the card of introduction is pre- 
 sented before entering, they are left to their own choice to 
 give an invitation or not. 
 
 The City Mission Cottage Meetings have been kept up regu- 
 larly in the different parts of the city, evening after evening 
 with the exception of Wednesday, on which evening the people 
 have the privilege of attending the prayer meeting in their 
 respective churches. 
 
 It is a matter of the greatest satisfaction and thankfulness to 
 God that I am able to say that all the services have been kept 
 up regularly every evening ; even during the warmest season, 
 they have increased in influence and numbers. I found no 
 difficulty in providing places for them, the people were glad to 
 welcome us to their homes, and since the weather is becoming 
 cooler they are still increasing and we have had the best atten- 
 dance in the last few weeks. 
 
 Through the kindness of Mr. Rathbun, of Rev. D. Mitchell 
 and Rev. Mr. Craig, the Waiting Room was granted to us for 
 Sunday Services, which were started, and are continued at 3 
 o'clock every Sunday afternoon. The public service was at 
 first followed by children's Meeting which became so large that 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 57 
 
 it was advisable to commence a Sabbath School, which we are 
 glad to be able to say is increasing. The School is taught by 
 able teachers and we have no doubt it will continue to prosper. 
 We are thankful to God that he has provided teachers just 
 when they were needed who are willing to work for the master. 
 The attendance has been increasing to 30, often 40 children. 
 Most of them we believe go to no other Sabbath School. 
 
 In connection with the S. School we held a Pie-Nic acroills 
 the Bay, An invitation was given to the inmates of the Home 
 for the Friendless, which they accepted and a good and pleasant 
 time was spent, which will not soon be forgotten, A number 
 of ladies of the Women's Christian Association were enjoying 
 the day with us, who kindly and cheerfully assisted to take in 
 their carriages those who were to feeble too walk to the Pic-Nic 
 ground and back to the Home. The eatables were provided 
 by persons most of them not known to us, for which we express 
 our thanks, hoping that we will be spared to meet on a similar 
 occasion and again enjoy ourselves. 
 
 We are contemplating having a pleasant time with the child- 
 ren of the City Mission School on Christmas, to which we look 
 forward with joy, likely a Christmas tree. 
 
 It is a matter of great importance just now to consider where 
 we shall hold our Public Service and School in the winter. 
 However, we are satisfied that God will guide us aright in this 
 matter of very great importance at present. We believe that 
 he who has begun this good work is able to carry it on, and he 
 will make others willing to help the work along. I am glad to 
 say that an offer has been made to purchase a suitabl<t lot for a 
 City Mission Room, and we may consider this a token o( God's 
 love, and of sympathy on the part of many with the work. 
 
 It is the intention of the Missionary to commence a service 
 in the Police Court Room on Saturday evenings. The Court 
 
S8 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Room has been granted for the purpose by His Worship the 
 Mayor, and by the City Council, for which favor we are very 
 thankful, but the Saturday Evening Service cannot be started 
 until regularly organized by co-workers. In order to carry on 
 these services successfully, we need the co-operation of many 
 Christian workers and singers of all denominations, who can 
 spare time on Saturday evenings to help us. If the Saturday 
 Evening Service is once organized and carried on with faith i 
 perseverance and love, much good will be the result. 
 
 The City Mission work may be divided into two spheres of 
 labor, both being one in purpose and in spirit, namely ; the 
 temporal and the spiritual. While we seek the spiritual welfare 
 of the City, we do not intend to forget the temporal. We 
 desire to combine both m one. Mr. Hodgson kindly gave us 
 the use of his office to attend to the temporal part of the work, 
 namely : — Helping to give employment to those seeking work. 
 Those persons who are willing to work, and those who wish to 
 employ them, can both have their wants supplied. At first I 
 appointed the hour from lo to ii to meet both parties, but as 
 they called at all hours and at all times, it was advisable to 
 provide a slate which is placed in the office, on which both 
 parties may put their respective names, their address, what kind 
 of employ they wish, or what work the employer will give, etc. 
 In this way work has been provided for a number, and others 
 have been supplied with men, women, boys and girls, accord- 
 ing to their necessities. Most of them are doing well, and my 
 heart has rejoiced, and Mr. Hodgson often shared wi*h me, in 
 the pleasure of hearing that both parties are satisfied. In this 
 part of the work the co-operation of all citizens is needed, and 
 as there can be no difference in opinion, as to its propriety.yea 
 even to its necessity, I believe I have your sympathy, but I 
 desire your co-operation. You believe with me that the best 
 way of helping the poor is to give them a chance to help them- 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 59 
 
 selves ; it is more than money to them. Idleness is a curse, 
 and great as this course is it can be removed by helping to 
 give work, thereby encouraging ihem to make a living, which is 
 one of the means to put many temptations out of the way, and 
 to restore the fallen. There are many :n the world who would 
 work, but they get so discouraged and so low, that they have 
 not the power .*).nd energy to give themselves another start. 
 They are afraid even to go to any place, or any person fdr fear 
 of being rejected because their outward appearance is much 
 against them. Knowing this I have often gone to the places 
 with them, and introduced them, thinking that they might get 
 discouraged by the way. 
 
 My friends, the work needs friends and sympathizers. Often 
 a cheerful look, or a grasp of the hand to a forsaken one, will 
 do much in showing that he or she is not forgotten entirely. 
 But above all, friendship. Man needs the '*friend that sticketh 
 closer than a brother." I ask your co-opt "ation and the result 
 will soon be seen and felt. 
 
 Thus far, God has led us along, and we are greatly encour- 
 aged. Knowing that the work is only in its infancy, and it 
 being a work of faith and love, we cannot expect everybody 
 united with it, but aiming only at God's glory and the welfare 
 of humanity, we believe that He, who has began it, will carry it 
 on and continue to bless it. I have received the sympathy and 
 love of all the ministers in the city, yea, even from some of 
 thoj:e at a distance. All of them are rejoicing when hearing 
 of the good work. 
 
 The spiritual part of the City Mission is calculated to gather 
 persons impressed with the truth, and receiving Christ into the 
 different churches without exception, and at all times to the 
 church of their own choosing. The same with children of the 
 S. Schools, placing them in the S. School of their parents choice. 
 
6o 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 
 1 w 
 
 !!;> 
 
 
 The object of the spiritual part of the work is also to inspire 
 believers to greater zeal and earnestness ; to work diligently in 
 the vineyard of the Lord, and become co-workers with God. 
 Our aim in holding Cottage Prayer Meetings in the different 
 parts of the City is to surround the City by spiritual influence 
 and to draw Non-Church goers to worship God, by getting a 
 taste for the means of grace. Many would not at first go to 
 any of the churches but rather choose to spend an evening in 
 the house of a neighbor or friend in a prayer meeting. Some 
 after having been moved by God's spirit may attend some place 
 of worship. We can rejoice in saying that God has shown us 
 his approval of the work. While we have sown the precious 
 seed of God's word, some persons have been drawn by love 
 divine to accept Christ. " It is not by might nor by power but 
 by my spirit" saith the Lord. All the honor belongs to God 
 and not to man. 
 
 I am thankful that I am not alone in the work. A member 
 of a certain church met me yesterday, saying " Mr. Schuster, 
 you may think you are alone ; don't become weary ; many are 
 with you." It encouraged me to hear such words of kindness, 
 and I felt that a great number of persons from all the churches 
 are willing and ready to help in carrying on this work, and we 
 trust that the number will increase. 
 
 Personally, I have not a shadow of doubt of still greater 
 success, knowing that God does always own and bless his people 
 in laboring for the conversion of souls, as long as our motive is 
 pure, and as long as we do all for his honor and glory. 
 
 From 4,000 to 5,000 tracts have been distributed. They are 
 mostly Scripture passages. In places where religious reading is 
 found, I leave the tracts for the hired help. 
 
 Our motto is *' Onward," because God is with us. Our aim 
 is to raise the fallen, to rescue the perishishing and care for the 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 61 
 
 dying. Our object is to bring them under the power and 
 influence of the Gospel, which we believe is the only remedy, 
 the power of all powers. The same gospel which has saved 
 us, the chief of sinners, we can heartily recommend, because 
 we know it has influenced us to love God and serve Him, and 
 it is ?ilways, and even this evening, the power of God unto sal- 
 vation to every one that believes. We will persevere, sowing 
 the precious seed, waiting for a plenteous harvest, even should 
 we sew with tears. We give up no one as long as there is life, 
 and as long as we can bring persons in some way under the 
 Gospel's influence. Of this we are certain and when we hear 
 from time to time prayer offered coming from the lips of those 
 who have been brought from ruin's brinlc, such words as these, 
 " Lord save such a one. Thou hast saved worse, because thou 
 hast saved me," we can be surely encouraged to go on and 
 persevere. With the Bible in our hand, and with the God of 
 the Bible to guide us, we cannot, yea, we dare not, give up any 
 one and allow the fallen to perish. No, we cannot afford to 
 k-t them sink while there is such a powerful, successful and 
 divine remedy, which is so suitable, so reasonable, so powerful, 
 and so full of compassion and love. We cannot do otherwise 
 than labor, toil and believe. 
 
 We arc thankful to the editors of both papers for their kind- 
 ness in publishing the City Mission Service every week, and 
 trust that our repeated calls upon them have not and will not 
 discourage them, and that they will not bicome weary in well 
 doing. 
 
 It is true our faith was put to the test some months ago, but 
 never yielded to discouragements. We have found the Lord 
 as good as his word. 
 
 Truly God is good ; he has guided and led us, and our wants 
 
 have been supplied. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 A. Schuster. 
 
62 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF* 
 
 The following letter was read : — • 
 
 Rev. a. Schuster, 
 
 City Missionary, 
 
 Belleville, Ont. 
 
 |!)ear Sir, — Yours of the 6th received, also one from Rev. 
 Mr, Mitchell. Please say to him we have directed that a coil 
 of steam pipes be put in the waiting room. This will make it 
 comfortable for all the winter, and we trust will meet your 
 wishes. 
 
 We are glad to hear of continued success in your good 
 
 work. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 ■ H. B. Rathbun & Son. 
 
 financial statement. ' ' 
 
 ■ , ■ . -'J J 
 
 A. G. Northrup, Esq., submitted a statement of the monies 
 and goods that had been received in aid of this work since the 
 meeting held in St. Andrew's Church in May last, showing the 
 total receipts to be $46.65. Besides this several miscellaneous 
 articles had been received by the Missionary. 
 
 Mr. Harry Hodgson bore testimony to the good work which 
 is being carried on by the Missionary. Mr. Schuster, he said, 
 had omitted to mention his personol labors and the difficulties 
 with which he had to contend. 
 
 Rev. D. Mitchell spoke at some length, highly eulogizing 
 the work carried on in the city by Mr. Schuster, whu, he said, 
 was laboring in the interests of the Lord. He had attended 
 the three o'clock meetings in Rathbun's waiting room, on differ- 
 ent occasions, and found upwards of 70 people present. The 
 Sabbath School held there also numbered about 30 children, 
 and was prospering. 
 
feEV. A SdHUStfitt; 
 
 «3 
 
 Rev. M. W. Maclean was in tavor of the house-to-house 
 visits, the method adopted by the Missionary, to search out 
 those of our citizens who do not attend any church. He was 
 entirely at one with the work being done in the City and hoped 
 it would continue. 
 
 1 
 
 Rev. Mr. Turnbull spoke words of praise, and thought the 
 Mission ought to receive the recognition of all. The work 
 required more support, however, and he hoped it would receive 
 it. He promised to give his assistance in future, and he hoped 
 others would do likewise. ^ . 
 
 Mr. Draycott also spoke very warmly of the work. 
 
 The Treasurer remarked that in the future he trusted the 
 contributions would be more liberal than they had been in the 
 past. He thanked the local press for their gratuitous and liberal 
 support of this movement. , , , 
 
 The thanks of the meeting was tendered Prof. Oldham and 
 the choir for their generous services on this occasion. 
 
 Rev. M. W. McLean moved that a member be appointed 
 from each congregation of the city, to canvass for subscriptions 
 in aid of the work. — Carried. 
 
 Mr. Hodgson moved that the Clergymen name the member 
 to be appointed from their respective congregations — Carried. 
 
 When the nominations were all made, it was suggested that 
 the Treasurer call them together for the purpose of organizing 
 a Committee. 
 
 Singing, followed by the benediction pronounced by Rev. Mr 
 Turnbull, brought the meeting to a close at lo o'clock. 
 
64 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 THE CITY iMISSION. 
 
 The meeting held in the City Hall yesterday afternoon, m 
 connection with the commemoration of the first anniversary of 
 the establishment of the City Mission, was fairly attended. After 
 the opening devotional exercises, led by Rev. Dr. Jaques, Rev. 
 D. Mitchell preached an able and practical discourse, his text 
 being Zechariah Iv. lo, "For who hath despised the day of 
 small things ?" He stated that things which have small com- 
 mencements should not be despised, for it was a universal law 
 that everything which had growth had a small heginning. The 
 speaker illustrated his subject by referring to the growth of 
 plants and trees from seeds ; by the growth of animals and 
 persons, and by the feeble commencement but rapid growth of 
 Christianity. Applying his text to the City Mission, he said 
 one might as well speak of failure in connection with the work 
 of Paul or Luther as with that of a man going forth in faith 
 and with enthusiasm in a work like this. He sketched the 
 history of the mission from its feeble beginning a year ago, and 
 stated that its progress had been wonderful. A mission 
 preaching house would be built, which would be a reservoir 
 supplying the other churches. This City Mission, now in its 
 day of small things, might become a great institution in 
 Belleville, and we should therefore assist it every way in our 
 power. At the close of the discourse the meeting was 
 brought to a conclusion by the Rev. Dr. Badgley leading m 
 prayer. The singing by the children of the Mission Sunday 
 School was favorably commented on. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER, 
 
 «5 
 
 THE CITY MISSION. 
 
 ANNIVERSARY MEETING — ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
 
 MISSIONARY. 
 
 Last evening a public meeting was held m the City Hall in 
 honor of the first anniversary of the City Mission Work. The 
 attendance was large, and much interest was manifested, in the 
 proceedings by the children of the Sabbath School, their par- 
 ents and others. In the absence of Mayor Lingham, ex- 
 Mayor Patterson was asked to preside at the meeting, which j 
 opened by the Missionary, Rev. A. Schuster, reading a portion 
 of the Scripture. The children of the School then sang the 
 hymn — '* Rescue the Perishing." The Chairman m a few re- 
 marks referred to the grand work that had been accomplished 
 m the city by the Rev. Mr. Schuster and his wife, after which he 
 called upon the former to read his 
 
 ANNUAL REPORT. 
 
 This being a yearly report, and whereas quarterly reports 
 have been already brought before the public and published, it 
 is not necessary to repeat what has already been said on pre- 
 vious occasions. I think it a greater benefit to look over the 
 work, and see if we are justified in believing that the hand of 
 God is in its beginning and continuation, and judge whether 
 we have a right to look for future prosperity or not. 
 
 A year ago to-day at the noon prayer meeting the work com- 
 menced, and with the prayer and sympathy of my brethren, 
 the city ministers and others, I started trusting in God to help 
 me. I had the full assurance that according to his word, if I 
 acknowledged him in all my ways, he would direct my path. 
 At the beginning, no one knew that such a mission would be a 
 success here ; it was proposed therefore to give the work a 
 trial for three months, after which a report should be given. At 
 
66 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 ill 
 
 the close of that time in May last, the first report was laid be- 
 fore a congregation then assembled in St. Andrew's Church. 
 The report was adopted and the Mission established. 
 
 When I began I knew first, that such a work was necessary ; 
 secondly, that if the work was not done by some one, many of 
 the poor in tiie city would never hear the gospel. Of this I 
 was aware because I had gone through the field and got ac- 
 quainted with the people when I held the pastorate of the 
 Bible Christian church, spreading tracts and visiting among 
 non-church goers. Thirdly, and above all, I knew that God 
 had called me to do this work. This I knew for years, but had 
 to wait for an opening, and as the way was opened here, I 
 was also fully aware of the difficulties in connection with such 
 a work, especially in its beginning. I was also sure that Ged 
 would protect me, so he did, and all is well. 
 
 A year ago to-morrow morning I started from the Kingston 
 Road city limits, visiting every house, and continued for a 
 number of months. This was done to bring the Mission be- 
 fore the people, find out non-church goers, and children 
 attending no Sabbath School, but I soon saw that our work and 
 time should be mostly employed with the people in the south 
 part of the city, and that non-church goers and the children 
 going to no Sabbath School in other parts of the city, could be 
 reached by holding City Mission Cottage Services in the even- 
 ings ; they were commenced, continued and have been carried 
 on now for about nine months every evening. Even in the 
 warmest season, there is no lack of interest. New openings 
 offered themselves which resulted in much good. 
 
 When the work began I had no work on Sunday, and I 
 visited the different congregation of the city and worshipped 
 with them, but I am glad to say that my rest was not of very 
 long duration. Mr.Rathbun kindly offered his Waiting Room, 
 which was thankfully accepted, and the first Sunday Service 
 
 I 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 67 
 
 was opened and continued successfully; in the warmest season 
 Capt. Jellett kindly permitted service to be held on the. boat. 
 When we began this service we had no idea of a Sabbath 
 School, but when we saw that after all the efforts put forth, 
 gathering the children into Sabbath Schools of the different ' 
 Churches, that numbers were running about the wharves, 
 breaking the Sabbath day, we asked them kindly to come and 
 listen to God's word ; they came, listened to the truth and signs 
 of interest were manifested ; they came regularly and behaved 
 well, and any observer could see that they were deeply im- 
 pressed with the truth, and as the Master has said : '* Forbid 
 them not tor of such is the Kingdom of Heaven," we had a 
 right to make room for them ; and as their numbers increased 
 every successive Sabbath, Mrs. Bonar and Mrs. Schuster 
 thought it wise to commence a children's meeting after the 
 close of the Public Service, which was held, and which in- 
 creased so that it was necessary to gather them into a S. 
 School, which was held after the public service closed. Now 
 help was needed, and help came when needed. 
 
 A young man, Mr. Armstrong, who attended the City Mis- 
 sion services from their beginning and who has received 
 spiritual benefit by them, was given to the mission by God to 
 help carry on this new S. School. Mr. Bonar's family and 
 others came also to our help at the right time, and they have 
 continued and encouraged us in every way. The school still 
 increased and Mr. Rathbun's waiting room was soon filled with 
 children, so that there was no room for larger persons. We 
 concluded to give up the preaching service and hold the S. 
 School at 2:30. Mr. Rathbun's waiting room soon became too 
 cold, and as we had no other place some anxiety was felt by 
 those interested, as to our future, but we did not despair, 
 knowing from past experience that God would open some way 
 for us. Just at the darkest hour Mr. Rathbun wrote saying 
 
, 1; 
 
 68 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 that he would put a coil of steam pipes in the room, and would 
 make us comfortable for the winter, and by the following Sab- 
 bath all was in good order. We were full of joy and the 
 children too ; but this joy was soon interrupted. The steam- 
 pipes burst during the first very cold nights and the waiting 
 room could not be occupied in the future. We were again 
 without a place, but before the next Sunday arrived Mr. 
 Covert's store was leased, stove, seats and all things necessary 
 were soon got and here we started our day school on the 9th 
 day of January. 
 
 The starting of the day school was not a matter ot chance ; 
 it was commenced providentially ; it grew out of the S.School. 
 Mrs. Schuster found out that some of the larger children at- 
 tending the Sabbath School did not know their letters, and 
 when they were asked why they did not go to school they said 
 they would be laughed at. Mrs. Schusier was moved to begin 
 the school for larger children only, who had neglected previous 
 opportunities, but one had no idea that 30 and 35 children 
 would attend, who had attended no day school. Mrs. J. 
 Bonar with her usual kindrjess, sympathy and love, came in 
 to Mrs. Schuster's assistance, thus supplying the want of 
 teachers, Mrs. Schuster and Bonar teaching the English 
 branches and arithmetic, and I teaching writing. The attend- 
 ance is good, and although at first some were a little unruly, 
 we can say that they behave well now. They love us and we 
 love them, and hope with patience, perseverance and God's 
 blessing we may be able to see them prosper and become use- 
 in the world ; and we have no doubt of the future success of 
 the school. There is no excuse for any of the children not 
 attending school because they are poorly dressed, as there is. 
 provision made for them in the school. It is our intention to 
 help the children in getting them situations ; a few have al- 
 ready gone to places, some of whom are doing well. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 69 
 
 There is one difficulty for which bv God's assistance we are 
 about to make provision. The girls especially know little or 
 nothing about hou^^e keeping or any other kind of work, and 
 except they go a place where the lady of the house can occupy 
 all her time, and with the greatest patience teach them how to 
 work, they are in many cases little or no use. It is our inten- 
 tion to remove this difficulty very soon. We have leased Mr. 
 E. Carscallen's house on the Kingston Road, into which we 
 mtend moving on March the 25th, and take a ^"^w girls with 
 us, should they be willing and their parents or ^ ardians per- 
 mit them to live with us. They will be taught all kinds of 
 house work in the best way possible by some one fully equip- 
 ped for the work, thus enabling them to make a livelihood in 
 the future anu work to the satisfaction of those under whose 
 charge they may be placed in the future. Even in this we can 
 trace God's guidance by finding the right place in a good situ- 
 ation for the City Mission work generally and for an industrial 
 school. I believe that Providence has to do with this, strange 
 as this may appear to some. We believe that in this also we 
 will fully realize the blessings which we are seeking to 
 accomplish. 
 
 In the beginning of the winter my time was only occupied 
 once on the Sabbath, but soon too other new openings pre- 
 sented themselves. I was invited to see Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- 
 son, they wishing to arrange with me for City Mission Services 
 on Sabbath evenenings. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson expressed 
 the desire of having service comm^ced if possible imme- 
 diately, They commenced on the -roth of November and are 
 continued. We are happy to say that the attendance is on the 
 increase and although Mr. T'hompson is making every effort to 
 make room, it will be almost an impossibility to provide for 
 those who come, should the congregations increase in the 
 future as they have in the past. The second opening of late 
 ^s at Bleecker's Mill» where we commenced about four weeks 
 

 
 if 
 
 i * 
 
 J 
 
 
 70 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 ago. A friend told me to visit Mr. Minor and a service was 
 arranged in his house for the Sabbath morning. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Minor are taking a great interest in the prosperity of the 
 work. A Sabbath School was started at 10 and preaching ser- 
 vice at 1 1 o'clock. My time is now fully occupied — office 
 hours from 10 to 11, day school from 2 to 4 every day, even- 
 ing services from 7:30 to 9 o'clock — on Sunday Eleecker's 
 Mill at 10, S. School— preaching service at 11, Sabbath School 
 in the City Mission Room (Covert's Store) at 2:30, and preach- 
 ing Service at 6:30 p. m., at Mr. Thompson's. From the be- 
 ginning of the work we have new openings gradually. They 
 were opened voluntarily and God prospered and guided the 
 work without a single exception. 
 
 In addition to the services, Mrs. Bonar assisted by Mrs. 
 Schuster, is holding a Prayer Meeting with the girls, about 20 in 
 number, on Thursday afternoons, who are showing signs of a 
 true desire to serve God in the future. Many of the children 
 attend the City Mission Cottage Meetings, when they can reach 
 them ; they often pray for us and for the prosperity of the work 
 and we are often cheered and encouraged by their prayers ; 
 they pray so earnestly, so affectionately and so sincerely and are 
 very thankful. All this leads us to love them more and gives 
 us hope to see a brighter future before them and before their 
 parents. 
 
 I believe that the Gospel must be brought to bear upon the 
 heart of all those whopi we desire to do good, if we expect 
 that the good we do to them will be lasting. Assisting the ne- 
 glected poor without endeavoring to bring the Gospel to bear 
 upon their hearts is in a great measure a failure, and the good 
 will only last for a very short time, but when Christ changes 
 the life, he opens the way for a prosperous, lasting and happy 
 future. " I am going to be somebody yet," is the voice of 
 many to-day, and by God's help some will be brought out of 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 71 
 
 this miserable position. The Gospel is the power of God unto 
 salvation. Bring the Gospel to the poor, at the same time en. 
 courage them all you can by your kindness and gifts as far as 
 consistent, and we shall have gained the battle, and victory 
 will be on the Lord's side. The beginning of the world was 
 small, it is small yet, but what man calls small God calls great 
 and many things may appear great unto men that are but small 
 with God. 
 
 Should I be asked how many conversions we have had since 
 this Mission started, I shall answer : We can thank God that 
 we have some,* but I cannot give figures, as I desire to see them 
 prove by their lives that they are changed. God knows them, 
 and if they are true, the world will soon know it, as Christ can- 
 not be hid. Some have united with the Church, others are yet 
 under our charge. 
 
 The financial report shows also an increase. When the first 
 re ion was presented in May last, the income after the deduc- 
 tion of expenses was $8.50. The second report on the 7th of 
 November, after the expenses was deducted $46 ; and the 
 financial statement after expenses being deducted $128.29. 
 
 The want of a City Mission School Room is severely felt, 
 and it this Mission is to prosper m the future, a place suitable 
 for that purpose should be erected soon. 
 
 We have encouraging letters here which the Treasurer will 
 be kind enough to read. One person offered to pay for a lot, 
 but did not tell me the amount. Another offer of a lot is made 
 on which there is $240 to pay, but the lot is worth $350 or 
 $400. 
 
 Mr. Patterson, ex-Mayor has also sent me a letter of 
 encouragement. 
 
 Truly God is with us. He is our strength. Our trust is in 
 
72 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Him, and being thus encouraged we look forward to a brighter 
 future in connection with the City Mission work. .^ 
 
 Asking your prayers, sympathy and love, 
 
 I remain, yours truly, . 
 
 A. Schuster.^ 
 
 The Revs. Parmalee and Williams delivered short addresses, 
 which were listened to with much interest by the audience, 
 after which the children sang — " Oh, where are the Reapers." 
 
 Rev. David Mitchell made a forcible and eloquent address, 
 in which he set forth that hereafter every citizen of Belleville 
 should consider the City Mission as an established organization. 
 He was followed by Rev. M. W. McLean, A. G. Northrup and 
 Rev. A. Schuster. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mitchell then moved the following resolution, 
 which was unanimously adopted : 
 
 Having heard the interesting narrative of the work of the 
 Rev. A. Schuster and his wife during the past year> this meet- 
 mg agree to commend it to the blessing of God. In yieW of 
 the statement which has been given of receipts of money and 
 goods, this meeting recognizes with gratitude, the successful 
 application of the principle of a faith work which has been il- 
 lustrated, and earnestly commend the City Mission to the 
 kindly support of the people. In consideration of the necessity 
 of obtaining a suitable building for the City Mission, this meet- 
 ing pledges itself to do its utmost to further this object, and 
 that Messrs. Patterson and Northrup be a Committee to co- 
 operate with the Missionary to carry on the undertaking. 
 
 The motion was seconded by Rev. A. Campbell. 
 
 "Shall we gather at the River" having been sung, Rev. A, 
 
REV. A. SCHTJSTER. 
 
 73 
 
 Campbell made a few brief but encouraging remarks, accom- 
 panied with the contribution of $5. 
 
 The Treasurer, A. G. Northrup, Esq., read letters from 
 Messrs. R. S. Patterson, Wm. Sutherland, E. W. Rathbun and 
 Flint & Holton, stating their sympathy with the work, and con- 
 tributing to the cause, or offering to do so to the amount of 
 $200 in all. 
 
 Rev. M. W. McLean moved that this meeting petition the 
 City Council, through the Missionary, for a certain lot on 
 which to erect a suitable building for the Mission Work. — 
 Carried. 
 
 The congregation was dismissed by pronouncing the Bene- 
 diction by Rev. M. W. McLean. 
 
 A NEW PROJECT. 
 
 A new project will be put into execution by Rev. Mr. Schus- 
 ter in connection with the City Mission. This is nothing less 
 than an industrial school, on a small scale, for poor girls. The 
 girls will be taught general housework, in order to enable them 
 to earn an honest livelihood, and will, if possible, be maintain- 
 ed during their attendance at the school by the work which is 
 given them to do. The site of the new school has not yef 
 been selected, but will probably be somewhere near Dundas 
 St. An institution of this kind cannot but be productive of a 
 great deal of good. 
 
 THE CITY MISSION DAV SCHOOL. 
 
 Having been requested to give a short report of the City 
 Mission day school in your paper, I comply with the request, 
 feeling it to be a duty to those who smpathize with the City 
 
74 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Mission work, at the same time and above all acknowledging 
 that all good accomplished has its foundation from the Giver 
 of all that is great, good and noble. 
 
 The City Mission day school began on the 9th of January 
 and has since been continued, every day from 2 to 4 o'clock, 
 with the exception of Saturdays and the Easter holidays. 
 We began with 28 scholars, which number increased to 35, 
 none were received from other schools, except a few who 
 brought permission from the head teacher of their school, 
 some of whom attended only a few days. The children are 
 taught by Mrs. Schuster, assisted by Mrs. Bonar from time to 
 time. Penmanship is taught by myself. Since the school 
 started 14 have gone to situations and are earning their own 
 living, and are helping their poor parents, most of them are 
 doing well, and considering the short time of training they 
 received, they are doing better than we expected. About 25 
 scholars are attending now, most of them are learning well, 
 which is very cheering and encouraging to us. The running 
 expenses, including rent, wood, books, slates, etc., including 
 the expenses of the City Mission Services held in the school 
 room, are about $12. The room is small, but has answered 
 the purpose so far. As soon as a suitable building is erected 
 we intend inviting all who have not had the privilege of an 
 education in their youth, to come with us for an hour or two, 
 believing that there are many in this city who are at service 
 feel the want of education bitterly, and if they are permitted 
 to attend for a short time every afternoon, this want would in 
 a measure be supplied. We hope many will gladly accept this 
 opportunity. 
 
 I remain, yours truly, 
 
 Anselm Schuster. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 75 
 
 CITY MISSION BUILDING. 
 
 Parties interested in procuring a lot for the purpose of erect- 
 ing a building for the purpose of the City Mission, have been 
 looking around, trying to secure a suitable place. Several lots 
 have been examined and prices fixed upon, but none finally 
 settled, the desire being to procure a lot best adapted for the 
 purpose. The building, when erected, will not only be used 
 for school and mission services, but a portion of it as an office 
 for the City Missionary to transact the business which is 
 growing on his hands in obtaining work for those desiring it, 
 and workers for those wishing to employ. We are satisfi^ 
 funds will be supplied for the building as soon as a lot is se- 
 cured, but in order to get the lot, funds are necessary. The 
 work will go on as fast as means are supplied, It being a 
 faith work, no person will be asked directly to contribute, the 
 whole matter being now made known, the public will be left 
 for voluntary donations, believing as we do that the Lord will 
 by inclining the hearts of the people to supply the means, that 
 a work so manifestly His may be carried on in our midst. 
 
 The following has been received towards the lot : — Grant 
 from the city, $50 ; from a Lady, $10 ; A. G. Northrup, $25. 
 Towards the Mission Building : — From a friend, $10 ; City of 
 Belleville, $50 ; A. G. N., $25 ; E. B., 60c. ; Mrs. Job Ling- 
 ham, $5 ; J. P. C. Phillips, $1 ; Potter, 25c ; 3 Ladies, each 
 $5 ; W. Ray, $1 ; Jno. Taylor, $5 ; Memorial gift, $75 ; 
 Anonymous, $5 ; Mr. Schuster, $10 out of $25 sent from 
 Winnipeg; E. W. Rathbun, $100 ; John St. Bible Class, $5 ; 
 W. F. Meudell, $2 ; H. A. Hodgson, $50 ; Mrs. Whiteford, 
 $5 ; Jas. McCrudden, $1. 
 
 The following has been paid out :— Mrs. Dougall, for land, 
 $235 ; Spratt, digging foundation, $5. 13; Benson, drawing stone, 
 
76 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 $2 ; Harris, on account stone, $15 ; Gibson, sand $2 ; Foster, 
 lime, $2 ; Sundries 92c. Stone is not all paid for ; Mr. West, 
 for mason work is not paid. We will require more sand and 
 lime to finish foundation. The Trustees intend erecting a 
 brick building, when funds come in to warrant them going on. 
 
 Belleville, June 28th, 1882. 
 
 A. G. NORTHRUP, 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
 CITY MISSION. 
 
 1 
 
 k 
 
 1 
 
 1': 
 
 i 
 
 1. 
 
 5 
 
 I' 
 
 A RED LETTER DAY IN ITS HISTORY — LAYING THE CORNER 
 STONE OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING. 
 
 Though of recent origin and small beginning, the Mission 
 has grown beyond its present accommodation and the corner 
 stone of a new school building on the Kingston Road was laid 
 last evening. 
 
 Notwithstanding the heavy rain shower just at the time ap- 
 pointed, there was much to encourage Rev. Mr. Schuster, to 
 whose zeal and faith much of the present success is due, in the 
 attendance at the open air gathering last evening. 
 
 The hymn, " O for a thousand tongues to sing," was heartily 
 sung and the Rev. Mr. Forneri engaged in prayer. The fol- 
 lowing portion of scripture was read by Rev. Mr. McLean, 
 Psalm 27, Psalm 127, i verse and Phil. 4, 6 & 7. The stone 
 was then laid in due form and " Rescue the Perishing" sung, 
 after which the Rev. Mr. Schuster explained the objects of his 
 work and the success attending his labors. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Clarke in a lengthy address said that though they 
 had a splendid school system, yet our schools did not reach all 
 and this school was in advance of the public school because it 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 77 
 
 gave religious teachings with the secular. The Rev. Mr. For- 
 neri said he rejoiced in the Christliness of the undertaking. 
 The Rev. Mr. McLean said that ofttime out of small begin- 
 ings great enterprises had come for good. Rev. Mr. Watch 
 sympathized with all such work, and as the only representative 
 of work in some few respects familiar, that of helping the 
 children, he was there to say God speed to these endeavors. 
 
 Mr. Northrup than read the financial statement. $492 had 
 been paid or promised. It would take about $1,000 to finish 
 their building. Everything so far had been paid for and they 
 had $100 in hand, and were confident that God's blessing 
 would so rest upon the efforts made, that money would be sup- 
 plied according to the need. 
 
 The meeting was closed by prayer and the benediction by 
 the Rev. W. Watch. 
 
 THE OPENING OF THE NEW CITY MISSION 
 
 BUILDING ON FRIDAY EVENING, 
 
 DECEMBER ist, 1882. 
 
 The new City Mission building was opened on Friday 
 evening. H. A. Hodgson, Esq., occupied the chair. His re- 
 remarks were few, but very forcible. He thanked God for tl.e 
 happy hours enjoyed since connected with the City Mission 
 work, having especial reference to the prayer meeting which 
 was held during the erection of tiie building in the house ot 
 Mrs. Bonar. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Stacey opened with prayer. Passages of scripture 
 were read by the Missionary suitable for the occasion, after 
 which his report followed. 
 
 The Chairman read Rev. Mr. Forneri's letter. 
 
 The Chairman called on the Treasurer, who read also a letter 
 
78 
 
 ARTICLES iVND REPORTS OP 
 
 from Rev. D. Mitchell, after which he read the financial report 
 of the building. The meeting was then left open for any re- 
 n>arks. Encouraging addresses were made by Rev. Mr. Parker, 
 Rfiv. Mr. Watch and Rev. D. Williams. 
 
 The playing and singing by Mrs. W. H. Gordon and Miss 
 McClosky were much appreciated. 
 
 REV. A. Schuster's report. 
 
 At the first anniversary of the City Mission held in the City 
 Hall on the 21st day of February last, after the City Mission- 
 ary's report, the Rev. D. Mitchell moved the following 
 resolution : 
 
 " In consideration of the necessity oj obtaining a suitable 
 building for the City Mission, this meeting pledges itself to do 
 its utmost to further this object^ and that Mr. Patterson and 
 Mr. Norihrup be a Committee to co-operate with the Mission- 
 ary to carry out this undertaking." 
 
 The motion was seconded by Rev. A. Campbell. 
 
 There was also another motion recorded. 
 
 Moved by Rev. M. W. McLean, that this meeting petition 
 the City Council, through the Missionary, for a a certain lot 
 on which to erect a suitable building for the City Mission 
 work." 
 
 According to the motion the desire of the congregation was 
 carried out, the Council was asked for a suitable lot, but after 
 the matter was fully considered by them, they thought best not 
 to dispose of it, as the land might be used by the city to con- 
 nect the G. J. R. track with the (at that time) proposed smelt- 
 ing works. The members of the Council sympathizing with 
 the City Mission cheerfully donated $50 towards the purchase 
 of a suitable lot somewhere. ' 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 79 
 
 As the future success of the Mission depended much on the 
 situation of the lot, we were anxious to be directed rightly so 
 as to get a suitable place, and desirous to be directed by God 
 in this as in all things, we asked, believed, and God heard our 
 prayer. Quite a time had passed away, many lots were oflfered 
 by different individuals, but none seemed to be the right one. 
 About the loth day of April a lady friend of the Mission called 
 and urged upon us the necessity of the establishment of a 
 special prayer meeting, in which to ask God's guidance in all 
 matters concerning the City Mission work, and as we were 
 about to start building this house, having neither lands .nor 
 money wherewith to build, this prayer meeting might be so 
 blessed and owned by God, that according to his promise all 
 our needs will be supplied. The meeting was commenced at 
 once, and we met for the first time in the house of Mrs. Bonar, 
 on the 14th day of April, and it has been kept up from that 
 time to this. Many happy hours have we spent because we re- 
 alized God was pleased with us thus meeting together, and many 
 answers to prayer were received. We were not long without 
 realizing that God's promise is true, '* Ask and ye shall re- 
 ceive." Week after week we received tokens of God's 
 approval. 
 
 About the first day of May, Mrs. Schuster coming to the 
 school room on Church street which we formerly occupied, she 
 said to me that she had passed a place just now to which her 
 mind was powerfully directed, believing it to be the right spot 
 to erect our building. She said and she repeated saying that 
 she was fully convinced that it was just the place. After the 
 close of the school we walked home, and coming to the lot on 
 which this building stands Mrs. Schuster said, " This is the 
 place," and I felt at once that there could be no better situa- 
 tion in the city for the purpose ; so much so that I stood quite 
 a while with astonishment, asking myself why ? We have 
 
8o 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 *.: 
 
 M ' 
 
 1',*, Im 5'! 
 
 passed here time after time and day after day and yet never 
 thought of this lot. 
 
 I was so fully convinced that is well that I inquired at once 
 of Mr. Martm, who owns the land, and instead of going home, 
 turned about, went to Mrs. Dougall, told her our mission, 
 spoke of our intentions ; she was pleased and consented at 
 once. Thus the way was opened, clearly showing us that we 
 were guided by God, and in a few weeks all necessary arrange- 
 ments were completed, the money came soon to hand, the 
 deed was executed and made over to three trustees, Mr, A. G. 
 Northrup, Mr. Hodgson and Mr. C. Holton acting in behalf 
 of the City Mission. Afte the deed was registered, the land 
 secured and paid for, the bunding was then under consideration. 
 At first it was thought best to put up a frame structure, and for 
 this purpose a plan was prepared by Mr. John Forin, architect, 
 who also superintended the building. After due consideration 
 as to cost, durability and appearance, it was thought that a 
 brick building would add to the appearance of the city and the 
 neighborhood, that it would be warmer and more comfortable, 
 the cost not much more, and as we received at that time a 
 donation of brick, we were more fully led to the conclusion 
 that we would do better to build a brick building. The 
 money for stone, lime, sand and paying the masons for build- 
 ing the foundation, also the amount of purchase money for 
 land came as needed ; thus encouraged by God's goodness we 
 were led on step by step. The ground was broken up on the 
 6th day of June, and the corner stone was laid on the 27th of 
 July ; thp mason who contracted to erect the building laid the 
 stone. 'J'hose who were present on that occasion will remem- 
 ber that the stone was laid between two heavy showers of rain, 
 having only ufficient time to lay it. A good number attended, 
 although the evening was very unfavorable. God's presence 
 was with both speakers and hearers. 
 
■■%■ 
 
 REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 Si 
 
 The next day the brick work was commenced. The work 
 went on slowly but surely, and this evening we are celebrating 
 an event long looked for, namely, the opening of this house. 
 The opening of this building now is a necessity to carry on 
 the City Mission work for the winter. The placed we rented 
 is too small ; it answered the purpose for the beginning of the 
 work. The dedication will follow after all expenses are met. 
 
 We are glad to be able to say that we rejoice exceedingly, 
 having from time to time realized in what spirit the condition;^ 
 had been given ; and had I time this evening to relate facts 
 more fully, I believe they would convince any unbelievers that 
 there is a reality in the answers of believing prayer. Persons 
 gave with pleasure, feeling it to be their duty, realizing that it 
 is more blessed to give than to receive. Of late the Treasurer 
 advanced sufficient money to complete the building. 
 
 This house is to be used for an office in which the Mission- 
 ary may be found for one hour every day, to assist in giving em- 
 ployment to those who need it and are willing to work, and to 
 send persons to those who are wishmg to employ them. It is 
 to be used also for a day school two hours every day, from 2 to 
 4 o'clock, to instruct those who go to no other school. Miss 
 Effie Wright has voluntarily offered her services for this de- 
 partment. Sabbath School, prayer meeting and service for the 
 explanation of God's word, will be held (D. V.^ regularly, and 
 we are only too glad to welcome united efforts for the salvation 
 of souls here. . 
 
 As I shall give my yearly report in February, when the second 
 anniversary will be held, it is therefore not necessary for me to 
 say much more at present, especially as the Treasurer's report 
 is to follow : Suffice it to say now that I have received about 
 
.(J-i'V,:: 
 
 ^2 
 
 ARTICLES ANI) RtSPORTS OlP 
 
 
 $150 of voluntary donations for the support of the work apart 
 from what has been given to the building. 
 
 Our aim is to elevate through the Gospel which is the only 
 means of true elevation, and to tr^in intellectually, morally and 
 spiritually those who otherwise would be without. For this 
 purpose we have erected this building and we believe that we 
 have done God's will by so doing. We are also assured that ' 
 this building will be the means of bringing glory and honor to 
 His name, and we are satisfied that we have been and are now 
 moving in the right direction. The uplifting of our fellow 
 men and the salvation of souls is the greatest desire of our 
 hearts. Our strength to accomplish this is in the Lord. 
 
 Members of the different churches of the city are more or 
 less connected with the work, and we are workers together with 
 God. We have reason to expect to see great things. Thus 
 encouraged to pray, to work and to believe, we shall go on, 
 knowing that our success is of God. 
 
 . ' . A. Schuster. 
 
 TREASURER S REPORT. 
 
 Expended for land, $235; for building, $670.12; total, 
 $905.12. 
 
 Total cost $1,550. Contributed $1,030. Still due $520. . 
 
 
 1 :■;■ 
 
 Li 
 
 DEDICATION OF THE CITY MISSION BUILDING. 
 
 Last night the chapel of the City Mission was crowded on 
 the occasion of its being dedicated to the Lord. There were 
 on the platform Rev. Mr. TurnbuU, President of the Minister- 
 terial Association, and Messrs. Mitchell and Schuster, while 
 

 83 
 
 immy of our leading citizens were in the audience, among 
 whom we noticed Thomas Holden, Esq., P. M., and Messrs. 
 George Robertson, G. Parker, H. S. Parmalee, A. G. Northrup, 
 Murray, of Rossmore, Geo. Keith and Jno. Forin, architect. 
 Rev. Mr. TurnbuU conducted the opening devotional exercises 
 and preached upon Exodus xv 33x34. ** So Moses finished 
 the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, 
 and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Following 
 the train of thought suggested by the text, the preacher refer- 
 red feelingly to the completion of the City Mission Building, 
 to the fact he believed that the work had been undertaken ac- 
 cording to the Divine plan, and to their expectation of seeing 
 the glory of the Lord continually filling this church in the 
 salvation of men. A hymn was then sung, after which Mr. 
 Northrup, Treasurer ^f the City Mission, first of all read 
 letters explanatory of absence received from Rev. Messrs. 
 McVety and Parker, and then made a statement which showed 
 that on Friday they had sufficiept money to pay off every cent 
 of indebtedness, leaving a balance of 2« cents to the credit of 
 the building fund. Since then various sums had heen received 
 which would go to the necessary expenses of the mission in- 
 curred by heating, lighting, books, &c. He stated that nO 
 money for the v. ty mission and its building had been asked. 
 A few persons, from the time it was felt that a building must 
 be provided cr they must give up the mission, had met weekly 
 to ask God to give them a building. The money had flowed 
 in very much as required. Sometimes for want of funds they 
 had been compelled to stop, but generally when this was the 
 case they could not go on for want of men or material. On 
 Dec. I, '82 when th* chapel was opened, they found there was 
 a balance of upwards of $500 of indebtedness, but he was 
 happy to say the Lord had put it into the hearts of several 
 persons to give in various sums what was sufficient to pay 
 everything, and now they were met to dedicate the building 
 
»4 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 l:'^- 
 
 free of debt. He pointed to a tablet which would be placed 
 above the entrance containing the words : — 
 
 " Asked of the Lord 
 April i6, 1882. 
 Received from the Lord 
 December 30, 1882. 
 
 He might also say that in answer to prayer the Lord had sent 
 them a lady-teacher for the day school, well qualified for the 
 work, who was earnestly desiring to be wholly consecrated to 
 the Lord's service in connection with the City Mission. Rev. 
 David Mitchell then in a very solemn manner and with fer- 
 vent prayer dedicated the building to the Lord, alter which a 
 tlianksgiving service was held, in which a number of addresses 
 were delivered and suiiable hymns sung. At the close jurt 
 after singing " Praise God from whom all blessings flow,'' a little 
 girl stepped up and gave a dollar to the Mission, the first sub- 
 scription after dedication, which Mr. Mitchell, in praying and 
 giving the benediction, beseeched God might be multiplied 
 many fold m the future of the Mission. Miss McLuckie pre- 
 sided at the organ and rendered the music in an eff'ective 
 manner. 
 
 ^:-^. 
 
 THE CITY MISSION. 
 
 Hi 
 
 If" ; 
 
 THE missionary's ANNUAL REPORT READ FEB. 2 2ND, 1 883. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the City Mission, last Friday 
 evening, the Missionary, Rev. A Schuster, read the following 
 report : — 
 
 At the close of another year in the work to which God call- 
 ed us, we thank Him that we are able to say, " Truly God is 
 with us." . 
 
REV. A SCHUSTER. 
 
 «s 
 
 The year has been one of great success. In it, God reveal- 
 ed Himself as a God to His promise — " I will never leave nor 
 forsake thee." In Him we trusted and not in vain. 
 
 The day school started on the 9th of January in Mr. Covert's 
 shop, and continued there until the summer holidays. , jt 
 was taught by Mrs. Schuster up to the first of January last 
 During the summer, Sunday services were held at Mrs. Hart- 
 graves, (Sutherland's Mill), and at Mr. Miner's (Bleecker^s and 
 Lingham's Mills), and open air meetings were kept up as loog 
 as the season permitted. The cottage prayer meetings were 
 resumed and continued in the different parts of the city during 
 the months of September, October and November. In the 
 month of November God opened another sphere of labor at 
 Ferry Point. The place was visited from house ^.0 house,tract8 
 were given out and a service arranged to be held every Thurs- 
 day evening, but ihc congregation soon felt anxious to have 
 service on Sunday morning. The Missionary goes now to 
 Ferry Point and speaks to the peuple every Sunday morning. 
 Mr. R. Murray was appointed Treasurer of the Ferry Point 
 congregation. The prospects for future prosperity are good 
 and very encouraging. 
 
 I need not speak of the erection of this new buildmg ; how 
 it was erected, how the money was received and how God led 
 us step by step. God's providential goodness and love will 
 neve be forgotten by those who with us have experienced his 
 leading providence in its erection. 
 
 The dedication services has already been brought before the 
 public, tlierefore suffice it to say that we were favoured to 
 see this building presented to God free of debt at the dedica- 
 tion. We have realized and are realizing now God's presence 
 
 here. 
 
 Since the opening of this place the day Sabbath School and 
 pther religious services are increasing in interest and numbers. 
 

 ^Tym^ 
 
 86 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 i. 
 
 ft*.?' ' 
 
 11 'ir-' 'i 
 
 ■' !i 
 
 The building answers every purpose, it is warm and comfort- 
 table, the present teacher of the day school is much encour- 
 aged and is able to keep the children under good control, most 
 of them are advancing, attend regularly and are very anxious 
 to learn. 
 
 Our Sabbath School is well attended, very few are absent, 
 the children are very orderly and especially of late they see 
 their favorable opportunities and take advantage of them ; the 
 teachers are rejoicing, seeing some fruits of their toil. 
 
 We subscribed in the summer for a Sabbath School paper, 
 '' Apples of Gold," which we received for six months ; now we 
 receive from time to time copies of papers from the different 
 churches. In the summer we gave the children of both Day 
 and Sabbath Schools an excursion to Massassaga Point. 
 
 Since we began both day and Sabbath Schools 85 children 
 have been under our care and have been taught. 25 of them 
 have got situations through the Mission. These children are 
 earning a living and are also helping their paFents, some of 
 them are permitted to go to school every afternoon ; others 
 twice or three times a week. ^^ 
 
 The children are behind in their education ; we are therefore, 
 anxious to get them places where they are permitted to go to 
 school a few hours every week at least. 
 
 The olifice hours from 10 to 11 o'clock have been regularly 
 attended to by the Missionary and a number have received 
 employment. 
 
 The Mission receipts are also increasing, slowly but surely. 
 
 Receipts this year are $194 95 
 
 Expenses 20 5 
 
 Balance $ 1 74 90 
 
 Besides this amount the Treasurer paid for coal . . r^ 12 00 
 
 Paid for Gas .... 2 00 
 
 Total ! $1400 
 
f ■ /a 
 
 - -^ 
 
 REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 87 
 
 Small as this may appear in the eyes of some, it is great after 
 all, when we consider that $1,500 have been given to erect this 
 building, and when we see the steady progress of the work- in 
 all its departments. We have great reason to be thankful, and 
 financially we are not behind when we compare also the past 
 with the present. The first report shows the receipt of $8, the 
 second $46, the third $150 and this year $194.95, besides $14 
 paid for coal and gas. Surely we can be encouraged. 
 
 Spiritually we are seeing day by day the fruits of our labor. 
 Our great hope is more especially in the young. To sjive them 
 secular and spiritual education combined is, we believe, the 
 only way of training them for God, and to become useful 
 members of society. This is our aim and in this we shall by 
 God's power continue, believing that as long as we do this 
 work in the strength of God we shall succeed. 
 
 The children feel very thankful, especially of late for what 
 is done for them and they begin to show their thankfulness. I 
 was pleased to see a letter sent to Mrs. Schuster from a dis- 
 tance, in which was enclosed $1 from Sarah Gibbs for the City 
 Mission School. She expressed her thankfulness for the kind- 
 ness she received and feeling it her duty, she enclosed one ' 
 dollar in the letter. This is the first return of money to the 
 Mission in that way. 
 
 The children's hearts are open for the truth and most of 
 them receive it gladly. Besides the other services we intend 
 starting a Band of Hope with them. 
 
 Of late union services have been held here ; laboring for five 
 weeks we have the assurance that Ciod revealed himself by his 
 spirit to the advanced in years, as well as to the young. We 
 have their names and numbers of those who became acquainted 
 with God's love, with him who knoweth all thmgs and who is 
 the searcher of every heart. 
 
88 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 i 
 
 :4, 
 
 -1*1 
 
 Iff. 
 
 The industrial school started on first of May and is different 
 from the day school. The children are taken to our own home, 
 are cared for, and instructed in household work by Mrs. 
 Schuster. They go every afternoon to the day school in the 
 City Mission building, and are thus fitted for future usefulness. 
 Since May we have had 8 girls with us, 2 and 3 at a time, and 
 we are glad to say that most of them have good places and are 
 doing well. The house we now occupy is not suitable for such 
 an institution, and on that account we refused pressing applica- 
 tions which we otherwise wouM have and should have accepted. 
 
 We need a place of our own, suitable for this great and 
 important part of the work, and we believe that he who pro- 
 vided this City Mission building for us, will give us an indus- 
 trial home for orphans and other poor children who need our 
 care. It is our intention, God willing, to establish an industrial 
 school and house for Canadian children, and take them as God 
 sends them no matter wherefrom. It is also our intention 
 
 ' strictly to abide by the principle laid down at the beginning of 
 the work, namely, asking God by faith and prayer for all our 
 needs ; and we have the full assurance that all our needs in 
 all the branches of this work will be fully supplied in the future 
 
 * as it has been in the past. 
 
 We can truly say, " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that 
 is within me bless his holy name." God has prospered the 
 work ; in this we rejoice, all honor and glory belongeth to him. 
 
 Before closing we express our thanks to the Editors of both 
 papers for announcing our services free of charge, hoping that 
 they may do for us in the future as they have done in the past, 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 A' SCRUSTEI^, 
 
 i1 
 
?-*:; 
 
 ^>-y-^-~t ;• 
 
 REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 89 
 
 THE CITY MISSION. 
 
 GOOD WORK UNOSTENTATIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED. 
 
 The history of the conception, inauguration, progress and 
 success of the mission work in this city are familiar to most of 
 our readers. Those who doubted the wisdom of such an 
 undertaking and predicted a speedy failure now acknowledge 
 themselves agreeably disappointed. Not only have the clais 
 of people sought been found and benefitted to a very desirable 
 extent, but important engagements, covering financial respon- 
 sibilities of some weight have been accepted and successfully 
 discharged. In the accomplishment of this result the energy, 
 faith and self-denial of the worthy Missionary and his equally 
 worthy consort have been cheerfully seconded by a public 
 sympathy and liberality that have been as remarkable as they 
 were ennobling to the community. Mr. Schuster did not 
 appeal in vain for the assistance he needed, and the monument 
 of his industry and reliance is found in the comfortable and 
 commodious building that lias been erected by faith offerings. 
 
 A recent visit to the school that is conducted in the City 
 Mission Building for the benefit of the children who are, by 
 reason of home misfortunes, unable to take advantage of the 
 privileges offered by the Public School System, has convinced 
 us that more is really being done than the public imagine. 
 We tbund a large, well-lighted, well-heated, and reatly-furnishecl. 
 room, in which about thirty pupils wt.'re receiving instruction, 
 The children, though showing the pinching hand of poverty in 
 their dress, were all tolerably well clothed and clean. Good 
 order prevailedt Miss Wright, who gratuitously gives hey 
 
90 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 !l^i 
 
 ■ft.t 
 
 hi . .'vt'"' 
 
 
 time as teacher, evidently rules the school by the exercise of 
 kindness combined with firmness. 
 
 The twig is so easily bended, 
 
 She has banished the rule and the rod ; * 
 
 She has taught them the goodness of knowledge. — 
 
 They have her the goodness of God. * 
 
 Her reproof is a dungeon of darkness, 
 
 Where she shuts them from breaking a rule, — 
 
 Her frown is sufficient correction ; 
 
 Her love is the law of the school. 
 
 The walls are decorated with tablets, maps, &c., and an air 
 of cleanliness and sincerity prevades the exercises. 
 
 Aside from the moral and intellectual training imparted by 
 the Sunday and day schouls, Mr. and Mrs. Schuster are quietly 
 and unostentatiously doing a noble work in teaching the more 
 destitute children the rudiments of household and other domes- 
 tic duties. When made useful, places are procured for them 
 in fart>ilies where they can begin to earn a livelihood, while 
 still enjoying the benefits of the mission school. In this way 
 many little boys and girls are being transferred from desolate 
 homes and dangerous surroundings to the comforts and safe- 
 guards of well trained families. We repeat that it is a noble 
 work, and those engaged in it deserve the approbation of the 
 public. 
 
 THE SEgOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY 
 -V ;.. ^ ' MISSION. 
 
 The City Mission Building was well filled last evening, even 
 befi re the opening of service. Precisely at 7.30, Thos. Holden, 
 Esq., P. M., took the chair, and with a few pointed remarks 
 opened the meeting. After singing by the children he called 
 upon the Missionary to open with prayer and reading the 
 Scriptures. The children sang again and this was followed by 
 recitations; Although this was their first effort they recited 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 91 
 
 well. Questions on the lesson of the Life of Moses were asked 
 by Mr. A. G. Northrup. The questions were well answered by 
 the children. 
 
 The Chairman called for the report, which the Missionary 
 read. He gave first the financial statement and then read the 
 report of the Mission work. The financial statement showed 
 that $194.95 has been given to the Mission, of which $Si Were 
 given through the Treasurer, and the balance to the Missionary 
 personally. The expenses were $2008, besides $14 for coal 
 and gas had been paid. Over $1,500 were received for the 
 erection of the City Mission Building. 
 
 After the report was read, the Chairman spoke highly of 
 the work. Its result could be seen that evening. The blessings 
 of such a work upon the parents, children and community 
 were great. He was greatly pleased in what he had heard and 
 seen, and congratulated those who have taken such a deep 
 interest in it. Parents and children should be very thankful, 
 he said. The recitations were good, the conduct of the 
 children and their appearance as well as any in the city. The 
 Chairman must have been greatly pleased, as his address was 
 full of encouragement and sympathy. 
 
 Mr. Richardson, of the Montreal Bank, addressed the 
 children. He spoke of their precious opportunities in this 
 place, and if they take hold of them, they will surely become 
 good men and women. He asked them to ]' e for a good 
 purpose, and God would prosper them in this life and in the- 
 life to come. He said that no doubt the Missionary and his 
 wife may have often felt that they were almost alone in this 
 work, but he assured them that they have the sympathy of 
 many in the city. He was glad to hear by the report that the 
 work is still extending, and that the erection of a suitable 
 building for an industrial school for orphans is spoken ofi 
 
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 93 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Mr. A. G. Northnip spoke pf the result of forming bad 
 habits early in life, and dwelt especially upon the use of 
 tobacco, a habit which the young are so easily forming. He 
 said it is generally linked with the use of intoxicating drmks. 
 He kindly and earnestly exhorted the children to keep from 
 both, as they will too surely ruin them. 
 
 Mr. Connors^ a teacher of the S. School, said he could speak 
 from experience. The children are well behaved and are 
 interested in what is taught them. He said the different 
 churches of the city are beginning to see the benefit of this 
 work, and he had no doubt they would encourage it in the 
 future. He received from his own church ico volumes of a 
 library which had been in use. The last speaker, Rev. Mr. 
 Watch, spoke of small beginnings bringing great results, which 
 fact he illustrated by what he had seen and read. He liked 
 the principles on which this work is founded, namely: — on Faith 
 and Prayer. The erection of the City Mission Building was 
 sufficie;nt proof and security to be encouraged. The work is 
 going on quietly but gloriously. 
 
 At about 15 minutes past 10 this successful service closed. 
 Rev, Mr. Watch prono need the benediction. Mrs. Holton 
 presided at the organ, and led the children in singing. 
 
 CITY MISSION ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 l.i 
 
 m 
 
 The 3rd Anniversary of the City Mission was held last even- 
 ing, a stormy night, but a good number assembled in the 
 Mission Room, Dundas st. Mr. D. C. McArthur presided. 
 The meeting opened with singing and prayer, after which Mr. 
 McArthur read the the 4th Chapter of the Epistle by James, 
 ^r. Schuster said that the report was read for two reasons. 
 Jhc ^rst and most important was to glorify God and the second 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 even- 
 the 
 sided. 
 IhMr. 
 lames, 
 sons, 
 lecond 
 
 93 
 
 is to give an account of the money received. He then rea|i 
 the report, which was adopted by the congregation, on motidii 
 made by A. G. Northrup, Esq., Treasurer of the Mission., 
 seconded by Mr. Marsh. Mr. Northrup said he was acquainted 
 with the work from its beginning. When the work started Mr. 
 Schuster asked for nothing else than the co-operation of the 
 Christian people of Belleville ; he started trusting in God ; he 
 was glad to see such results after three years labor. Hie 
 expressed his sympathy with the Missionary and his wife, who 
 must have had many difficulties in these three years of toil, but 
 they persevered, having faith in God. He hoped thai the 
 editors of the city papers, who have been kind in the past, will 
 publish the report. He said there should be a greater interest 
 taken in the work, as it is of great importance. He was glad 
 to see that children from the Mission Day School have gone. to 
 other city day schools ; Sa^^bath School children to different 
 Sabbath Schools ; and grown up persons can be found in almost 
 all the city churches and in the Christian organizations, wjiio 
 were first instructed here and that there is a financial increase 
 ^ut not as much as it should be. Mr. M^rsh made a few 
 choice remarks, after which a Gospel meeting was held, Mr. 
 McArthur dwelling on the theme of "God's love.*' Prayer 
 was then offered and a good and spiritual influence prevailed. 
 The service closed with the benediction by the Missionary. 
 The children were then treated with good things ; the most of 
 the congregation remained, enjoying to see the children eat ; 
 and at about 9:30 all went home, glad and hslppy. 
 
 THE CITY missionary's REPORT. 
 
 After another year of labor lor God in this Mission work, We 
 rejoice in saying that we are still encouraged to persevere. The 
 work should be sufiiciently known by this time, without statjng 
 again that it is calculated to be a channel through which 
 children who otherwise receive no secular or religious training 
 
 
 
94 
 
 ARTICLES AMD RSPOEtS or 
 
 •re educated, and grown up persons not going to any place of 
 worship particularly, are attended to. This had been accom- 
 plished as far as possible, and considering the short time the 
 Mission is established and the obstacles which had to be 
 dyercome, we arc thankful to be able to say that it is successful 
 through God. Vo Him we look for help, wisdom and power. 
 
 The appointment over the bay at Rossmore was given up. 
 A^ S3on as the several Ministers of the different denominations 
 attended to their people, the Missionary felt that his work was 
 done for the present. . 
 
 In the place of it the- jail is visited every Sunday morning. 
 " God is with us " while speaking to the prisoners of Christ, 
 His love and mercy and we believe not without good results. 
 
 Miss Wright, who had taken charge of the day school, got 
 sick after she taught a short time. Mrs. Schuster and myself 
 took charge of it again, as formerly. 
 
 We fin J on tlie Sabbath School record 989 marks for the 
 children who attended during the year ; we taught 43 Sabbaths, 
 making an average attendance of nearly 22 scholars. 
 
 In the day school register we find 3,080 marks for .scholars 
 attending the school, we taught 163 afternoons, making an 
 average ot about 19 scholars in the day school. 12 children 
 .were kept in our own home at different times for instructions, 
 and 25 from the school and from our home are at work and 
 have now good homes provided for them. 17 children have 
 gone from our day school to other city schools most of them 
 to the Market. Six children remove4 from the city. 
 
 A good number who came formerly to our Sabbath School 
 can now be found in other Sabbath Schools, and yet we keep 
 up the number of scho'ars in our own school. The heavy 
 snow storms this year interrupted the school for a time. Visit- 
 

 ^f.r 
 
 95 
 
 '■■m 
 
 ing and the spreading of tracts has been attended to. We felt 
 the necessity of securing a permanent home tor the children, in 
 which we would be able to keep- them, give them work and 
 instruct them- to become good and useful The necessity for 
 such a home being situated away from the city, was also felt' 
 and we are glad and thankful to be able to say that God has 
 provided a suitable place, which has been secured at the cost 
 of $1,500; part of that aihount has been paid, it consists in a 
 good and substantial brick house, barn, stable, Q}4 acres of 
 land, on which are about 100 fruit trees ; when the pl^ce is 
 finished it will cost about $2,000. On the 20th of November 
 we moved there and attended the work« here also, waiting for 
 some one to take charge of the home. In the providence of . 
 God we were led to get a foreman who himself and wife are 
 well qualified for the work, and both are fully devoted to God's 
 cause. Having now the schools and the mission work here, 
 which is attended by ourselves, and the Home with plenty t f 
 work for the children, over which Mr. and Mrs. Hay are placed, 
 the whole work formerly planned has become fully arranged. 
 The children sent to the Home will be provided for, and they 
 will do such work as may be given them to do, and as much 
 lime as possible will be devoted to secubr education also ; and 
 we hope by next year to arrange for them also employment 
 during the winter season. 
 
 Net income to the Mission, $222.00 
 
 A shed has been built behind the Mission room, bill of 
 lumber not on hand, therefore cannot give the cost. 
 
 The clock is a gift from Mrs. A. G. N. and the gas stand lamps 
 from a friend of the Mission. 
 
 We have also received several useful articles, as tea from a 
 merchant traveller ; 10 lbs. of sugar from Conger and Brother ; 
 material to put in lime for the house from Mr. Mullen of 
 Canifton; from Messrs. Lingham, Bleecker and Sutherland 
 
 m 
 m 
 
 

 REV. A. SCHUSTBR. 
 
 9» 
 
 pine wood ; a load of hard wood from an unknown friend ; 
 crockery from Mr. Rous ; a number of worn but good clothing, 
 l)oots and shoes for the children from different parties, besides 
 other kindnesses received for which we are thankful. 
 
 The editors of the city papers have published some of our 
 Mission notices free of charge, and the Napanee Paper Mills 
 furnished us with writing paper for the use of the Mission. 
 
 If we look back to tlie 3 years since the Mission was estab- 
 lished, we have reason to be encouraged. God has done much 
 for us, and we can trace his guiding hand in the work. Three 
 years ago we had no Mission, Day nor Sabbath school, no 
 place to hold our services and no home for poor children, all 
 this has been provided for. The Children who formerly ran 
 about and would not be seen in any Day nor Sabbath School, 
 lire now to school euher in the Mission or other schools in the 
 city. 
 
 Financially we are also progressing. At the first yearly report 
 we received $130, the second $194 and the 3rd we have $222. 
 
 Spiritually the work is progressing also, and we are thankful 
 to say thnt there is a great change in the children and in their 
 homes. Such a change could not have taken place had it not 
 b.en lor the power of God. People who have attended the 
 Mission Room can now be found in different churches and 
 other places of worship, and many in the Army. 
 
 Who can measure the results of inr.y work where God is the 
 foundation, and the power to lead souls to Him when his 
 workmen are led by the spirit ? It is our intention to keep the 
 Mission Room open every evening during the year, D. V. 
 God is blessing us now in our Gospel Meetings, which are 
 being held every evening. Our expenses will increase as the 
 work goes on, but we firmly believe that God will supply all 
 ,our needs according to his riches through Christ Jesus. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 97 
 
 m rn' m ^^ m tmmmm^ 
 
 CITY MISSION ANNIVERSARY SERMON. 
 
 Sunday, February 22nd, 1885, 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Leach, pastor of Bleecker St. Methodist 
 Church, preached the Mission Anniversary sermon in the 
 Mission building J^esterday afternoon, to a fair congregation. 
 Mr. Leech took for his text part of the 4th verse of the 1 7th 
 chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel : " Then answered Peter and 
 said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good to De here ; if thou wilt, let 
 us make here three tabernacles." The preacher, after describ- 
 ing the scene of Christ's transfiguration as a grand and magni- 
 ficent sight, entered more fully upon the words of the text ; he 
 said that there are places, to the christian now just as dear, 
 glorious and magnificent ; so much so that they shall never be 
 forgotten by them. He spoke of the first sight of Jesus to the 
 pardoned sinner, after having accepted Christ, also of the place 
 where God's children worship, the house of God, and the 
 blessings of the sanctuary^-also when in conversation about 
 Christ and His love, and the fellowship of Christians with each 
 other, feeling frequently to say, '• It is good for us to be here." 
 The Christian feels like remaining — like dwelling in such 
 fulness of joy. But it is his duty to go elsewhere. We cannot 
 remain always on Mount Hermon. We are called to go out 
 to lead others to the Saviour to work for the Master. Mr. 
 Leech then made reference to the mission work. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Schuster and those who labor with them in this good 
 work have come from seeing the greatness of Christ's love and 
 feel it their duty to come to this part of the city, erect this 
 building, preach God's word and instruct the children, and 
 some of those whom he addressed have no doubt felt many 
 times in this building to say " Lord it is good for us to be 
 here," but you must not remain at Mount Hermon. you must 
 work and spread the Master's praise. He closed by saying 
 
98 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF. — 
 
 that nothing would gladden the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Schuster, the teachers and others who work with thein more 
 than to see those that are instructed here become missionaries 
 of the cross of Christ. The sermon was listened to with 
 greatest attention by the children, their parents and others. 
 
 THE FOURTH CITY MISSION ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 A large audience assembled last evening in the Mission room, 
 Dundas Street. The last year has been far above any year 
 since the existence of the Mission, exceeding former years in 
 spititual and financial results. 
 
 Precisely at 7.30 the meeting was opened by the Missionary 
 with the hymn " We're marching on to Zion." Rev. Mr. Leach 
 read a portion of God's word and Rev. Mr. Curts led in prayer. 
 The report was then read by Mr. Schuster and several instances 
 of prayer being answered during the year being related, the 
 meeting was left open for addresses. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Leach rose and moved the adoption of the report. 
 He said he believed m such a work as this. He did not care 
 so much for these rushing movements, but the noiseless, sub- 
 stantial and powerful ; he expressed his pleasure at having had 
 the honor and privilege of being with the congregation yester- 
 day, preaching the anniversary sermon. He believed that God 
 had chosen the persons who are engaged in this work, and he 
 approved of the manner the mission is conducted. He said 
 that according to the report the most of the support had come 
 from a distance, but he hoped that Belleville will not be behind 
 in the future. He closed by expressing his approval of this 
 good work, wishing it great scccess. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. -Curts then rose, saying he felt it his duty to 
 second the adoption of the report. The report proves that 
 
RkV. A. Schuster. 
 
 99 
 
 God will provide in time of need. He thought Mr. Schuster 
 the richest man in Belleville, he applies to the best and the' 
 never failing banlcand he is sure to receive his pay from God : 
 while he was sitting hearing the report read he felt inclined to 
 throw away the salary system and trust in Mr. S's. Bank. He 
 said our salary is promised but sometimes we fail in getting it, 
 but God never fails, because all the riches of earth and Heaven 
 belong to Him. He then related the early life of Dr. Morrison, 
 who was a poor, neglected, wicked boy ; he was brought to a 
 Mission School by a devoted and persevering Christian lady. 
 At first he was almost uncontrollable. He left the school time 
 after time, but the lady brought him again and again to the 
 school. At last he accepted Christ and afterwards became a 
 great Missionary, leading many souls to Christ. The speaker 
 very touchingly described the death of Dr. Morrison and that 
 lady who was leading him to Christ, and Mr. Curts led the 
 congregation's imagination to the scene in Heaven where the 
 lady, Dr. Morrison and all the converts with them meet. He 
 closed by saying, Who can measure the results of this Mission 
 work ? anfl addressing the children, he hoped some of them 
 will become Missionaries of the cross of C 'st. 
 
 The resolution was ably and eloquently n. ved and seconded 
 and the speeches were listened to with the greatest order and 
 attention. Young and old were then treated with good things 
 and about 15 minutes to 10 o'clock the meeting closed with 
 the benediction by Mr. Schuster. 
 
 THE FOURTH CITY MISSION REPORT. 
 
 READ AT THE ANNIVERSARY ON THE EVENING OF THE 23RD OF 
 
 FEBRUARY, 1 885, IN THE MISSION ROOM, DUNDAS 
 
 STREET, BELLEVILLE. 
 
 We have lived to see the end of the 4th year of the existence 
 of this Mission. In the past year we have labored in weakness 
 
too 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 but God has strengthened us and we are thankful to be able to 
 state that we have not labored in vain. The year has been a 
 year of test and not without its trials, difficulties and tempta- 
 tions, but in the midst of all of them we found always a way to 
 escape. Instructed by God's word we know that all these are 
 only the trial of our faith as declared in I. Peter, i, 6, 7. 
 
 As we do not organize members and are not working as a. 
 regular organized church, we have no claim upon any who have 
 received spiritual good through the labors of the Mission. 
 Many who have received Christ have gone elsewhere and are 
 united with organized religious societies, some are still remain- 
 ing with us and are helping us to carry on the work. We have 
 now under our charge and care at the close of the 4th year, 
 the Mission day and Sunday School, the Home for Workers in 
 the city, and the Industrial Home 2 ^ miles from the city 
 north from the Kingston road, These three places have been 
 provided for; 10 have been instructed and cared for ; 7 of 
 them are now engaged in other employments and 3 are still 
 with us. Mr. and Mrs. Hay, who took charge of the Home, 
 left this fall on account of illness, which necessitated us to take 
 charge of it ourselves, waiting until God will provide a suitable 
 person, one who ha§ sufficient love to (iod for His cause and 
 for the poor to be satisfied with a comfortable living and one 
 who is willing to work as unto the Lord. The day and Sunday 
 Schools have been well attended. Mrs. Schuster and myself 
 took charge of the day school until the 2nd of Oct. last, when 
 by the kind Providence of God help came. Miss Wright assisted 
 by Miss Lowry, took charge of the school. Miss Lowry left 
 at Christmas and Miss Wright's sister assists her now. We are 
 glad to say that Miss Lowry and other devoted Christians have 
 started a work amorig the poor in the neighborhood of the 
 village of Tweed, which is carried on in the same way as the 
 mission, and they report success, which is a proof that there 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTF.R. 
 
 lOI 
 
 is need of such a work even in villages and smaller places than 
 Belleville. 
 
 From the 21st of February until Oct. 2d, Mrs. Schuster and 
 myself taught 88 afternoons ; and from the 2d of October to 
 Friday the 20th of February, Miss Wright, assisted by Miss 
 Lowry and her sister, taught 88 days. The average attendance 
 from the 21st of February to the 2nd of October is 17 scholars^ 
 and the average attendance from the 2d October to February 
 2ist is 1 5 -scholars. In January a number of scholars failed to 
 attend, on account of sickness. The school has been open 
 every afternoon from 2 to 4 o'clock, ♦ith the exception of 
 holidays, which we took", in harmony with the other City 
 Schools. Our summer vacation commences earlier. The 
 average attendance of the Sabbath School is 31 ; we taught 
 every Sabbath during the year. The value of this attendance 
 of both day and Sabbath School must be considered with the 
 fact, that almost every week some are going from us to other 
 schools. The Mission is distinctly undenominational, — helping 
 all classes, without respect of persons or creed. Our aim is to 
 better the condition of those we can reach, and we are willing 
 to do anything in a scriptural way that we might win them for 
 .God. 
 
 r In the summer, invited by E. W. Rathbun, we enjoyed a 
 sail to Trenton per str. Quinte. A meeting was held in Purdy 
 Hall, which was given free of charge for the occasion ; the 
 Trenton friends of the Mission gave us a reception, and pro- 
 vided refreshments for us. On the return trip, all were treated 
 with strawberries provided by Mr. E. W. Rathbun. Our sail 
 to Trenton will not soon be forgotten. 
 
 The Missionary attended the Volunteer encampment near 
 Trenton in June. The officers and volunteers received me 
 kindly, and accepted the tracts thankfully. The evening open 
 
102 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 air services were well attended, and some of the resident 
 Ministers of Trenton took part in them ; they were seasons of 
 spiritual good. 
 
 Our regular services on Thursdays and Sunday nights are 
 T/ell attended and are seasons of God's presence and spiritual 
 good. We have the knowledge while we meet from time to 
 time that the Master is with us, we try in a way easily to be 
 understood, to explain God's word, and while we believe in 
 Christian profession we hold up the possession of Christ first. 
 
 In our day school ^e have the word of God and its guidance 
 as the key of all other instructions, we unite the secular and the 
 spiritual, without doing so the work would be an entire failure. 
 We have continued to ask God to supply our need in the past 
 year and we know He will supply us in the future. 
 
 We find it very inconvenient for the teachers to live away 
 from the Mission Room, and it has become a necessity to see 
 to it that they should live nearer to the work. Seeing this 
 great need a lot opposite the Mission Room has been secured, 
 the half of its cost is paid and the remainder is payable in 
 January next. We hope, God willing, to erect a suitable 
 building and we believe for this also God will supply the means. 
 
 The jail was visited during the year every Sunday morning 
 at about 1 1 o'clock with the exception of two Sundays, when I 
 was at Montreal. I can say that it is to me a great privilege 
 to speak to those confined in prison. I try in a friendly and 
 easily understood way to explain God's word. The services 
 are successful and I have good reason to believe that at least 
 some who have served their term appointed have left with the 
 determination in God's strength lo live better lives in the 
 future. The services in the jail have been to me also seasons of 
 rejoicing in God, a^d I have the assurance that God is blessing 
 his word. In the fall I visited Montreal with the view oif 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 103 
 
 looking into the prospects of establishing a Mission there, but 
 more especially to inquire if poor children of Jewish parentage 
 could be found who need care, training and instruction; 
 arrangements were made for a future visit, and the British 
 Society for the propagation of the gospel among the Jews, of 
 Which I am the representative for Canada, has been informed 
 of my visit ; in the meantime our industrial home is open to 
 children of Jewish parentage, as well as for others. I am of 
 the opinion that the present situation of the Mission is only 
 the beginning of a work which is calculated to spread to other 
 pfinsf^in Canada. We have been thinking of making Belleville 
 a centre fff^ which other branches may be formed ; at present 
 we must remaiat at home until such time when Gud will send 
 us workers who love God's cause more than dollars and cents, 
 wiHing to work for God and full of the spirit of the Master. 
 We havfi patience and wait for His biddiog ; when we are 
 commanded to go forward we shall go and we believe that with 
 the command God will provide the means. 
 
 The ftni^icial statement showed that the collections for the year 
 
 amounted to $360 75 
 
 L^acy through Mr. W. N. Ponton 700 00 
 
 Ten dollars and ninety-five cents is due to the Treasurer, which he over 
 paid. 
 
 As we have only one purse and that belongs to God, all 
 expenses are paid from the money voluntarily received, the 
 above stated sums were given to Mr. Northrup, the Treasurer, 
 through the mail or to myself. Last year's receipts were $222. 
 There is also an amount to be added from Mrs. C. S. Holden, 
 a gift of an account, I cannot give the amount as the bill is 
 not to hand. We received also a supply of coal oil from Mr, 
 Yeomans, a parcel of socks, etc., from Mr. Adams, jr., a hood 
 from a merchant, from a lady 2 pair well-knit socks which were 
 knitted by her on the bed of sickness, for the Missionary tea 
 from Mr. White> tea agent, and sugar by Conger Bros. We 
 
I04 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 cannot forget our thankfulness to Capt. Porte, of str. Varunoy 
 for his many kindnesses to my family and myself during the 
 summer season, also our thanks to the editors of the daily 
 papers. We also acknowledge the receiptof other tokens of 
 sympathy which I have been forbidden to mention m the 
 report, also several parcels of good warm clothing have been 
 received. 
 
 There is something in this financial report which may be 
 worthy of notice. The most of the monies have come from a 
 distance, unexpected to us, reminding us of what some of our 
 friends said when the Mission came into existence, namely, 
 that Belleville will not support such a work, they knew more 
 about Belleville than we did at that time ; but we hope this is 
 a mistake and. the future may prove it to be so. ' * 
 
 Whether the work is supported in Belleville or not, we knoN 
 not ; but we know that we lived and prospered ; f/tts is sttfficiem 
 We have received support wheiever we stood in need of it, i 
 a proof of God's loving kindness and approval ; and had I tin 
 I could mention facts of the most convincing character thv 
 God hears prayer. 
 
 Of late we have issued a little paper, Our Mission y\<\i\Q\\ 
 will (D. V.) be continued monthly. It costs $3 per issue ; 
 1,000 copies will be distributed free of charge. The Napanee 
 paper mill has so far furnished us with the paper for its produc- 
 tion, for v'hich we express our thanks. 
 
 " OUR MISSION." 
 
 Our little paper, entitled "Our Mission," has made its 
 appearance. It is small, but we hope it will accomplish some 
 good. We have several reasons for publishing it, a few of 
 which we will mention. 
 
 ».i W V t. . 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 105 
 
 1. We think Belleville should have a religious paper. 
 
 2. The Editors of the city papers have, been kind enough 
 to publish some of our services and our yearly report free of 
 charge ; we arc afraid they might think it imposition, should 
 
 this be continued much longer. 
 
 ' • ■ ■ • ' . ..' 
 
 3. We think we can do good publishing this little sheet. 
 
 D. V. this paper will appear every two weeks, We intend 
 distributing as many copies as we can free of charge, which 
 will be carefully attended to. W» shall have no objection to 
 recei>^ifig volunteer subscribers, who will help and encourage 
 us, and we will accept any short article of a moral and religious 
 nature calculated to benefit and lift up mankind, with the 
 condition that any such article is signed by the writer's name 
 in full to be placed under the same. ' 
 
 We expect to toil on, (D.V.) with the assurance that God is 
 
 with us. We have been severely tried since the Mission began, 
 
 yet we know that we can do all things, " Christ strengthening 
 
 us." We intend to labor in the future as we have done in the 
 
 past, namely, for the spiritual and temporal welfare of mankind 
 
 without exception. The children under our care will be trained 
 
 for future usefulness, so that they may become *' diligent in 
 
 business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." We desire to be 
 
 the means, God helping us, to make homes happy, and we 
 
 hope to be able to do all in our power for both the parents 
 
 and their children under our charge. "Going about doing 
 
 good " is the work of the Mission audits workers. We have 
 
 been often discouraged, bet we stand because ihe Mission is of 
 
 God and not of man. The work is a faith-work, we look to 
 
 God for the supply of all our needs. 
 
 Rev. a. Schuster. 
 
 ' > iift- 
 
 H: '1 a. 
 
 I* 
 
 ^''i- 
 
 
 •,: -.r 
 
 
it)6 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 KEEPQIG TIP A£P£AilANCES. 
 
 Wl^at does it mean to keep up appciiBiaces ? It means that 
 the penont «4ie indulge in it desire to appear lipficiie the public, 
 difierfiiUy, higher, better, greater,, and richer than tHo^.aii; in 
 reality. It is therefore in itself dishonest, not only deceivn^ 
 others but ourselves. Let us keep up appearances ! is the cry 
 everywhere ; it seems that some people cannot exist without it, 
 they are everlastingly thinkiiig about the subject, and are 
 plannii)g to accomplish the end in view. It must be done, they 
 say, if it is at the risk of reputadoii» character, and even life 
 itself. This is an evil which very often begins very ]fOtii§ in 
 years ; frequently children are taught it by their patented and 
 guaiduins' example, and if it is impressed upon the youthful 
 mind \\ will soon lead to a passiou most stubborn to subdue. 
 It is the ciluse of much sadness and distress, in many cases it 
 tears ^under the harmony and peace of home, it leads persons 
 to purchase or otherwise secure articles for which they are not 
 able to pay, and when the bills for payment are presented, they 
 ^re an unei^pected and unwelcome guest, often treated with 
 hatred ; the'goods have become bad and the charges in the bill 
 $ire too high, the result of it is, the party has run in DEBT, 
 which makes its appearance like a monster and like a whir- 
 wind sweeps everything away as it goes along, or like a detecl 
 tive, it follows the victim most unmercifully, step by step, 
 preventing him from lifting his head by day, and robs him of his 
 rest by night, until at last driven to madness and despair. 
 People, who are not satisfied with the humble position in which 
 providence has placed them and ^are not willing to live accord- 
 ingly, are generally those who are most anxious to keep up 
 appearances, in consequence live unhappy, dissatisfied, and 
 uncomfortable lives, and when circumstances prevent them 
 keeping up appearances, they feel forsaken and forgotten; It 
 
REV. A. SdiUSTER. 
 
 nyj 
 
 is one of the greatest evils in social life, and it is prevalent ta m 
 great extent in this our beloved country. 
 
 We too often think our wants are far greater than they are in 
 reality, but half of them are only imagination and not at all 
 needful. We desire to have things costly because our neighbor 
 has them, who is in a better position to purchase. If we 
 cannot drive horses and have carriages to ride in, let us walk, 
 and if we have not money sufficient to buy silks and satins, Ij^ 
 us do without them and secure cheaper, but let us be contented. 
 
 ** Godliness with contentment is a gain." — i Tim. vi. 6, |ni| 
 let our daily prayer be Prov. xxx. 7, 8. — "Two things hay^ I 
 required of Thee, deny "me them not before I die. ReQ},Qy^ 
 far from me vanity and lies, give me neither poverty nor richj^^, 
 feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full a|id d^y 
 Thee, and say, who is the Lord, or I be poor and steal afid 
 take the name of my God in vain." If these precious passajgcs 
 of God's word were written in our hearts and we would teach 
 them to our children and practice them ourselves, we 'would 
 have no desire to keep up appearances. Let us keep the world 
 under our feet and overcome it, or it will overcome us. — As, 
 Canadians, with the religious and social opportunities and 
 privileges we could make our homes full of sunshine, if we don't 
 allow them to be blasted by keeping up appearances and by 
 running the race of extravagance with others when we are not 
 able. 
 
 CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Careful and thoughtful people think it one ol the most 
 solemn steps to be called upon to give evidence and testify to 
 the truth in rhatters of law, they step carefully into the witness 
 box, and with just as much care give their testimonies to the 
 truth as those who give them at the expense of life> fearing 
 
io8 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 that something might be said which might have the least 
 appearance to create doubts or in any way mislead. " Yjb are 
 my witnesses saith the Lord." Isa. xliii, io. 
 
 God calls His children who have experienced the power of 
 His truth to become witnesses as a testimony that His record 
 is true, that He has pow^er to forgive sins and keep His own 
 from evil. These testimonies must be true to be of any value. 
 With what reverence, then, should they be given. If solemnity 
 is necessary to testify as a true witness in the defence and 
 protection of the Queen, the law, and the government of the 
 land, should it not be treated with greater reverence when in 
 defence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? The 
 prophets and old testament believers By their lives of devoted- . 
 ness, their doing and suffering for God, have given testimony to 
 the truth of our religion ; the apostles in line with them have 
 been witnesses for the truth as it is in Christ. Peter said " we 
 are witnesses of all things He did in Judea and Jerusalem." 
 
 > But how is this so solemn and all important matter treated 
 and brought before the public nowadays ? Testimonies are 
 given in the midst of hissing, shouting, laughing, accompanied 
 by levity, carelessness and irreverence, so much so, that those 
 who respect religion are disgusted. Belleville is no exception 
 to this. There was once a time when religious testimonies, 
 coming from the lips of Christ's followers, were valuable, pre- 
 cious, and profitable, but it has been so abused, made so low, 
 and dragged into such disgrace that its value is almost gone. 
 I mention this hoping that true thoughtful, devoted, and 
 earnest christians will not allow this great and valuable means 
 to be tramped upon and kicked like a foot ball. The religion 
 of Christ is not a sham, not an outward display of performances, 
 but a reality of the truth in the heart, and while we live in the 
 midst of many who will make light of religion and especially 
 of religious testimony, we should be more careful, earnest, 
 
 ■4 
 
•REV. A. SCHUSTBll, 
 
 109 
 
 reverent and solemn in these matters. This trifling way of 
 treating God's truth will not do, because it does more to injure 
 God's cause and advance infidelity than ^/Z the free thought 
 lectures that have ever been given. Let us, then, be firm and 
 solema, fully devoted to God, and true witnesses for Christ, 
 remembering that 'we are eithtr fa/se or true ; as false witnesses 
 we are darkening the light and if true we are helping to 
 brighten it, advance God's kingdom and give evidence that 
 religion is something that is noble and worth having. 
 
 FUNERALS. 
 
 OUR PRESENT MODE tOO EXPENSIVE. 
 
 Our present mode of bringing the dead to their place of rest 
 is too expensive, therefore needs reforming. Think of it, the 
 father of a family earns $1 or. $1.25 per day. he can work only 
 in the summer, he has laid up a few $10 bills for the winter, 
 but death comes to the home, ihe hearse, "Coffin and other 
 expenses cost about 30 or 40 dollars, and should this be 
 repeated during the year the poor man will have to give all his 
 earnings for funeral expenses, and if the unfortunate who has 
 to pay this is a widow matters are still worse. There are not 
 a few catses where people have become helpless, hopeless, and 
 penniless, by these heavy charges for funerals. Gould they not 
 be regulated by law, if not by justice, Christianity, and love to 
 mankind? 
 
 • WORKING FOR GOD. 
 
 No greater honor can be bestowed upon man than the honor 
 to be permitted to take any share, whatever, in God's grand 
 work of the salvation of men, there can be no higher. : It is 
 one of the highest gifts of God's grace, and one of the evidences 
 
if 6 
 
 AttTKJtBS Atlb REI^OI^ 0# 
 
 dfi. pencMifs acquaintance with Him. It is therefore quistion- 
 able whether the man who does no.hing for Go^ will be saved 
 l|e clrtainlf is not like Christ, and the scripture declares if we 
 hive not the spirit of Christ we are none of His. Christ left 
 lis the example of His life, a life of work, of self-denial, of love, 
 ahd'of care for a perishing world. Christians, you profess to 
 He followers of the Lord Jesus. What are you doing for Him? 
 
 Gather them in» the halt and lame. 
 ^ By the winning word and deed ; 
 
 There is healing still in the wondrous Nane, 
 
 And help for every need ; 
 
 Go then and tell them. 
 
 Go and compel them, 
 
 And out of the woe and mire of sin 
 
 Gather them in, gather them in ! 
 
 A GOOD NAME. 
 
 Prov. xxi, I. — **A good name is rather to be chosen than 
 great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and geld." 
 
 Such is the value of a good name, when thit good name has 
 God for its foundation, and when we allow Him to be the 
 source from whence we receive our character. Many people 
 seem to forget that character grows. That as we grow more 
 noble and Christ like, we come to the chief end for which God 
 has created us, n^lmely, " to glorify God,'' our character becomes 
 more thoroughly established. Character grotvSy it is not sotne- 
 thing that is put on ready made, but day 'by day grows with 
 the growth and strengthens with the strength. It is therefore 
 one of the greatest blessings, to be willing through God to form 
 a character when young. The boy and the girl will have the 
 
JIEV. A. SCriUSflER. 
 
 <^ HI 
 
 advantage of longer life, and have therefore better opportunities 
 to establish ^ifirm and Jlxed character. 
 
 Listen, my boy, I've a word for you, ; 
 
 And this is the word : ** be true, be true ! " 
 At work or at play in darkness or light, 
 Ee *rue, be true, and stand for the right. 
 
 List, little girl, I've a word for you, 
 ■Tis the very same, '* be true, be true ! " 
 For truth is the sun, and falsehood the night 
 Be true, little maid, and stand lor the right. 
 
 SHOULD WE MANUFACTURE CHRISTIANS? 
 
 John yi. ch., 44 v. : " No man can come to me except the 
 Father draw him." 
 
 Christian workers shuuld remember that this verse means 
 just what it says: "Except the Father draw him." If the 
 Father draws the sinner, all is well — if He does not draw him, 
 all is wrong. Christian workers are loo often so extremely 
 anxious to see the fruits of their labor— wishing to have persons 
 converted that they take refuge in all kinds of ways and means 
 to accomplish the end in view ; but the faithful worker for God 
 while sowing the seed should have sufficient faitl^ to wait upon 
 God for results. Like the husbandman waiting for the early 
 and later rain to bring him an abundant harvest, so should we 
 do as laborers for God, and the harvest of souls will come in 
 the Msster's own appointed time. 
 
 " No man can come to me except the Father draw him." 
 Don't let us manufacture Christians, and by so doing allow 
 ourselves to be lifted up in our own doings as if we could siav^ 
 anybody, but let us discharge our duty faithfully and allow the 
 Father to draw the souls and not ourselves. Satan will surely 
 tempt us to rob God of His honor and glory, and will flatter 
 
sit 
 
 ARTICLES AMD REPORTS OP 
 
 \is so that we glory in our own great sayings and doings. 
 'Don't forget ; God must have the honor and glory. 
 
 Self-manufactured professing christians deceive the Ministry 
 iand the Minister, the church, themselves, and even the world; 
 <hey are never steadfast, nor established because the Father 
 has not drawn them. 
 
 PROFIT AND LOSS. 
 
 Does it pay to drink and sell liquor ? It does not, as the 
 following is a proof: * 
 
 A few young men come to the bar of an hotel, they ask, for 
 drinks ; they have no mone> or are not willing to pay for them; 
 the bartender takes the hat from one of them for his pay ; a 
 row occurs, bottles and tumblers are flying, the bartender is 
 struck over the eye, the young men are caught and put in jail, 
 and after a number of weeks imprisonment, are brought before 
 a judge and jury ; they are found guilty, and sentenced to two 
 or four years in the penitentiary. 
 
 Loss. 
 
 Profit. 
 
 The prisoners lost their character*! I None. ' . . 
 
 and a few years of the best of life. | All this for a few cerits' worth of 
 The hotel-keeper lost his eye. | hqiior. 
 
 SHOULD PRISONERS AND LUNATICS BE 
 CONFINED TOGETHER IN THE JAIL ? 
 
 We have written about this subject in the Belleville city 
 papers. We have shown the wrong of the present custom, and 
 expressed the hope that a suitable place for the insane would 
 be provided. 
 
REV. A. teHUSTER, 
 
 m 
 
 ngs. 
 
 Istry 
 rid; 
 ther 
 
 the 
 
 .for 
 lem; 
 r ; a 
 :r is 
 jail, 
 fore 
 two 
 
 th of 
 
 city 
 and 
 Quid 
 
 We are glad to see that others have listened to our voice 
 against the present custom, and the following may be read 
 with pleasure by all who love and sympathize with suffering 
 htimanity : — " The Grand Jury of the Carleton assizes, in 
 making their presentment, expressed themselves strongly 
 against the practice of confining lunatics in jail." 
 
 We are glad to see this firm step taken by the Grand Jury- 
 of the Carleton assizes ; we feel that we are not alone in whiat' 
 we have advocated, and we hope that ere long our Canada wiU\ 
 be delivered from this great evil. ' 
 
 DEAD AND ALIVE. 
 
 A short explanation upon the passage Romans vi. 2. — * 'Likewise reckpi^ . 
 ye also yourself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive to God through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. " 
 
 Death robs us of all our bodily activity. The dead have 
 eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, hands and cannot 
 handle, and a heart Jjut cannot feel. The passage means that' 
 the christian should consider himself dead to sin but alive unto 
 God, which his relationship to the Father, the Son and the 
 Holy Ghost demands ; he should be fully interested in God 
 and His cause and not at all interested in sin. Let us consider 
 the meaning of these precious words by our surroundings in ' 
 every day life. For instance ; you have often conversed yirith 
 persons on a subject in which they have no special interest ; the 
 result is, that such a person will give neither you nor the 
 subject any attention ; the eye shows the absence of interest,' 
 and the impression of the countenance gives the appearance of 
 little or no sympathy with it. Of such a person it may be said 
 that he is dead to what you are saying. ~. 
 
 • Again, if a citizen of the United States residing in Canada 
 would be asked to do duty in the defence of our Queen and 
 
114 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 m 
 
 the Canadian Government he would refuse, and perhaps answer, 
 I am a stranger, not a Canadian ; I am therefore not interested 
 in the affairs of your country, or in other words he might excuse 
 himself more forcibly, saying, I am dead to Canada but alive 
 to the United States. \ 
 
 In the same sense, the Christian should reckon (consider) 
 himself dead to sin, although he is living in the very midst of 
 it ; he beholds it, is tempted and surrounded by its influences, 
 yet is not interested in it. Sinning is not the desire of his 
 heart nor the purpose of his life ; indeed he is DEAD to it 
 and when Paul speaks in Rom. viii. 38, 39, and says : — '* For 
 I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
 principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to 
 come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be 
 able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ 
 Jesus our Lord." He declares by these words that he had so 
 little interest in these things that he could not be moved nor 
 influenced by them, or in other words, he reckoned himself 
 dead to sin and alive unto God. 
 
 A 
 
 BEING ALIVE IS THE OPPOSITE FROM BEING DEAD. 
 
 ;>'.■; j 
 
 It may be said of a thorough business man who is interested 
 daily and hourly in his business, and who is earnest, careful, 
 diligent, and hard at work, that he is ALIVE to his business. 
 
 Again, the Physician -who with the greatest skill, interest, 
 sympathy, and care, watches the disease of his patient, for- 
 getting even his own comfort, and who does all in his power to 
 discharge his duty, conquering the disease and saves the life 
 of his patient. Of such a Physician it may be said that he is 
 ALIVE to his profession and to the interest of his suffering 
 patient. < . -• 
 
 The parents who are so much interested in their children's 
 welfare that they cannot rest satisfied until they give them a 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 US 
 
 thorough training and education, thereby seeking their interest 
 for time and for eternity. Of such parents it may be said that 
 they are ALIVE to the well being of their children. 
 
 In the same sense the Christian should be ALIVE to God, 
 the interest for the prosperity of God's cause should be his 
 highest aim, and the whole being should be fully devoted to 
 His service ; the eyes, the hands, the feet, the affections, the- 
 heart, all the energies and talents should be devoted to Himr 
 
 ALIVE TO GOD ! What does it mean ? Please read Ps. 
 cxxxvii. 5, 6, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right 
 hand forget her cunning ; if I do not remember thee, let my 
 tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jeru- 
 salem above my chief joy." How often we fail in preferring 
 God above all our joys and interests ! The children of this 
 world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light 
 Men of business know what they are about, they know it is for 
 their own. interest to be alive, they employ men who are alive ; 
 only such are sought and engaged before any others. 
 
 God, His cause and the church, need men and women fully 
 alive to Him. Dead soldiers are no use in the battle field 
 We cannot be alive to sin and at the same time alive to God. 
 I can understand how an unpardoned sinner can be dead to 
 God but I cannot understand how Christians can reckon 
 themselves alive to God and at the same time alive to sin. 
 The apostle asks this important question in Rom. vi. i, ^. 
 " What shall we say then ? Shall we continue in sin that grace 
 may abound ? God forbid ; How shall we that are dead to sin 
 live any longer therein ? " There never was a time when this 
 sure, firm, fixed principle of the text is more necessary than at 
 present, because it is and ever was the only sure weapon against 
 infidelity and unbelief. The Christian who reckons himself 
 .dead to sin and alive to God, will have greater victories than 
 
fftf 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OP 
 
 any of the world's greatest conquerors. He has power, and the 
 text says that power is given "through Jesus Christ our 
 
 OUR POSITION AS A MISSION EXPLAINED. 
 
 This being the beginning of the year 1885, I think it would 
 be well in as few words as possible to explain our position as a 
 Mission. Although we have toiled about 4 years, yet there are 
 only a few who understand us and the work. 
 
 Weliave undertaken the Mission work in the name of God, 
 j>urely and alone for the benefit of mankind. It has been, and 
 is our aim to gather children and parents for the purpose of 
 teaching them the word of life. 
 
 Being aware that there are many children who go to no 
 School, we have adopted a system by which we are successful 
 in gathering them. With the Bible our guide, and God of the 
 Bible to lead us, we are tiying to teach them the benefit of 
 becoming useful men and women in society, for this purpose 
 they are taught every afternoon from 2 to 4 o'clock, the most 
 necessary branches of education. .,^ ^ 
 
 Our whole system is calculated to teach them reliance upon 
 God and to help themselves. We are trying to impress upon 
 the youthful minds fully to understand that the only way to 
 become useful is to become " Diligent in business, fervent in 
 spirit, serving the Lord." For this purpose we seek for both 
 parents and children, employ wherever we can find it. We 
 have also an Industrial Garden, where children are taken 
 entirely under our charge, they are taught there to make an 
 honest living. Our Sunday School and religious services are 
 well attended, the evening services are closed at an early hour 
 and great care is taken that young girls are protected and at 
 their homes in good time. Our regular evening services arc 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 M7 
 
 held on Thursday and Sunday evenings in the Mission Room. 
 
 For the support of the work, we have. adopted the Faith 
 principle. Believing this to be a scriptural way of carrying on 
 a work of this kind, we intend D. V. to abide by it. We ask 
 not man for means to support the work but God only. All we 
 do is done free of charge, we have only one purse and that 
 purse belongs to God. We fully believe that when God calls 
 workmen among those who cannot support them that He in 
 answer to faith and prayer will provide them with all their 
 need and if they cast themselves upon Him, he will sustain 
 them according to His promises. " But my God shall supply 
 all your need according to his riches, in glory by Christ Jesus." 
 
 Be careful for nothing ; but in everything by prayer and 
 supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known 
 unto God. — Phil. iv. 6. 
 
 We take up do collections, we have no collectors appointed 
 by us, we have received no grants nor stated salary, but are 
 willing to receive thankfully, such iheans which God may see 
 fit to give, and lay upon the hearts of the friends to help 
 voluntarily, believing that the work is of God and worthy of 
 their support. Mr. A. G. Northrup is the Treasurer. He and 
 myself have received the means to help to carry on the work. 
 • God has blessed us abundantly and those He has given us to 
 care for. Many children under our care have good homes and 
 are doing well, we are glad and thankful to be able to say that 
 we have bright prospects of seeing the boys and girls become 
 useful men and women in Society, and they with their parents 
 will yet spend happy lives servmg God. We are no organization 
 and have no organized Membership, but keep a watchful eye 
 over all who attend our Mission Services and Industrial Home. 
 We thank God for the result^. He heard also our prayer and 
 has sent us ladies who have felt that God called them to h^p 
 
^ii8 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 US, who are teaching in the day and Sabbath School for which 
 we are thankful ; like the silent dropping of the rain upon the 
 soil so has God favored us with his blessings, almost noiseless 
 but sure. Four years have nearly passed away, some have said 
 that in Belleville, such a work, supported in such a way will 
 not stand long, yet here we are, the work and the workmen are 
 still alive. Among those who were afraid were our best friends 
 who have felt anxious about us and some of them are anxious 
 about us even now. Often we are asked the question, but 
 how do you live ? We can only say, we have lived and we live 
 now, because He who is wise and good and kind has protected 
 us and taken care of us. We • e never afraid ; we are not 
 afraid now. . - ' - • .^ • 
 
 As a full report of the year will be given at the Anniversary 
 on the evening of February 21st next, this must suffice a' 
 g present. , , 
 
 TRUE BROTHERHOOD. ' 
 
 m\ 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY THE EDITOR. 
 
 One of the greatest evils of the age is that brotherhood is so 
 loosely treated and true sympathy is almost asleep. The 
 stubborn and independent is ever foremost and is never miss- 
 ing, but the feeble, humble, loving, and sympathetic and honest 
 effort^ for the welfare of others are made feeble, and too often 
 discourage and ridiculed. Heip thyself, and lam the man^ 
 were perhaps never so prominently exhibited as in our day. 
 It seems that the more careless and unconcerned persons are 
 in respect to the welfare of their fellow man, the more success- 
 ful they appear to be. The more persons sympathize with-, 
 those iq need, the less encouragement they receive froni th* 
 world. ,. 
 
 it;v., 
 
 \:/. 
 
 ;■• •»/■ 
 
 .^C <ii..f,H 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 119 
 
 ^ 
 
 It is a fact that the most unselfish self-denying kindness, 
 love, and sympathy for others, can be found among the poor. 
 The man who works hard for the support of his family, shares 
 often his small wages cheerfully with his neighbor in need. 
 The poor woman, who, from the early morning to the late hour 
 at night, is hard at work, can most frequently be found by the 
 bedside of her sick neighbor. And why ? It is the result of a 
 growing heartfelt sympathy for those who, under the same 
 trials, discouragements, difficulties, and disadvantages have to 
 make their way through the world. 
 
 The poor man knows and understands perfectly well how 
 terrible any calamity is to the poor and destitute ; he also 
 knows that the life of the poor is hard and discouraging, even 
 in the midst of the most favorable circumstances, and when 
 he sees others in distress such as he himself has experienced, 
 he realizes it, puts himself in the position of the distressed, and 
 shares with him what he possesses. ,_ 
 
 Wealth makes its possessor hard, - and, clinging to self has 
 the tendency to lessen charitable feelings for suffering human- 
 ity. The rich have more self-reliance, therefore are hardly 
 ever closely united with others. They believe they can help 
 themselves out of their own difficulties, therefore, in their 
 dollars and cents rest their dependence. This is the reason 
 why they seldom realize what a blessing kindness is in the hour 
 of need, ^and in depressed circumstances because they are 
 never in need of it. They have no idea of the great value of 
 true Brotherhood and lavors bestowed in the hour of distress 
 and suffering. 
 
 We don't mean to say that the rich have no sympathy at all; 
 but in consequence of the surrounding influences and customs 
 being brought to bear upon the mind of the rich, they fre- 
 quently lose their kind feelittg towards the needy and dis- 
 
 i|;| 
 
I20 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 tressed, it is different with the poor, therefore they are more 
 ready to help their brother, and are by far, more kind in time 
 of need. There are exceptions to this, but such is the case 
 generally. The rich must blame themselves if they become so 
 unfortunate as to have created in their hearts a feeling of 
 hatred against the poor. ^ . , ,^ 
 
 ' Many are of the opinion that the position of the poor is the 
 result of a careless life, and think that they should suffer the 
 consequences. This may be true with some with wliom the 
 wealthy are unfortunately wt?^/ acquainted, but there are a great 
 many of the poor who bear their own sufferings quietly, and 
 will not allow their nearest friend or neighbor to know any- 
 thing about their trials. 
 
 These are the poorest of the poor ; of this class we speak ; and 
 it is they that should be helped. But such are too seldom 
 sought and found out, and are left in the cold, because the 
 
 rich don't peek to become acquainted with their suffering 
 circumstances. 
 
 • Even should it be acknowledged that there is a judgment 
 upon some ot the poor, as the result of a careless and ill spent 
 life^ it would be no means an excuse to any of us, for the 
 neglect of our duty to humanity. No argument or exciise can 
 make void the fact that we zx^ all Brethren. If a brother or 
 sister is hungry or cold or in distress, sick- or afflicted in any 
 way, we should do our duty and help. There are many of the 
 poor who are wishing to help themselves, and who desire to 
 get out of their -misery, but they see no escape ; their life 
 appears before them like a long dreary and dark night of misery 
 and poverty, all linked together by a long chain of sorrowful 
 circumstances of which they seem to have no control. These 
 are. the poof who should enjoy our sympathy, encouragement, 
 love, and friendship. These can be helped withoiit encourag- 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 T21 
 
 ing pauperism and beggary. This class of poor should be 
 found out and assisted ; which is the duty of all, and one of 
 the noblest duties which God and humanity demands. 
 
 . V: V 
 
 THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. 
 
 BAR-ROOM NO. I. 
 
 The place for the so-called respect- 
 able people, and licensed to sell 
 intoxicating drinks. 
 
 . . , BAR-ROOM NO. 2. 
 
 The place for the so-called com- 
 mon people, and licensed to sell 
 intoxicating drinks. 
 
 ■i.r.--' 
 
 THE EVIL RESULTS OF NO. i & 2. 
 
 .-...^.,. ! ' 
 
 The liquor of No. i ruins the so- 
 called respectable people. When 
 intoxicated they are brought home by 
 a kind friend and gently put into a 
 comfortable bed. 
 
 The liquor of No. 2 ruins the so- 
 called common people,' when intoxi- 
 cated they are kicked out of doors, 
 the money and friends are gone, ar- 
 rested by the police and sentenced 
 tb one or two months in the jail. 
 
 BOTH GO DOWN THE LADDER. 
 
 IF CONTINED LONG, SURELY BOTH DROP. 
 
 BEWARE! 
 
 ' X. 
 
 9- 
 
 m<l^;^^-- 
 
 *X't^>:.. 
 
 GOD'S HOUSE DESECRATED. 
 
 r Jl^uke .xix» 45, 46.; "And he went into the temple, and 
 began to cast out them that sold therein, and bought ; saying 
 unto them, it is written, My house is the house of prayer, but 
 ye have made it a den of thieves." . 
 
 „^v ;/»< 
 
 
 Itiiwritten^myhousei^thehous^ofptayer. -^ ,,.' 
 
 ' What shoirid be tlie exclusive use of God's house, and foir 
 trhat purposes is it erected ? We mention a few. 
 
 r For Gqd'i^vorshtp an^. praise. , 
 
 . i%,f* ■'•!»«■ <! 
 
 .>' 
 
122 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Lu^e xxiv. 52, 53. "And they worshipped him, and re- 
 turned to Jerusalem with great joy ; and were continually in 
 the temple, praising and blessing God." 
 
 For instruction. Matt. xxvi. 55. I sat daily with you teach- 
 ing in the temple. 
 
 For spiritual inquiry and to behold God in all His beauty. 
 Ps. xxvii, 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will 
 I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the 
 days of my life, and behold the beauty of the Lord, and to 
 enquire in his temple. 
 
 To under tiand God's ways. "Ps. 73, 17. Until I went into 
 
 the Sanctuary of God ; understood I their end." ,. , . ' ' . , 
 
 ,' ', ' - • ' . ■ ' * 
 
 To meditate ' Upon God's loving kiudness... Ps. 48, 9. "We 
 have thought of thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of 
 the temple." ... 
 
 god's house defiled in the past. 
 
 It has been defiled in the Old Testament dispensation. 
 
 Ezekiel xxiii, 38. Moreover this they have done unto me ; 
 they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day, and have 
 profaned my Sabbath. For when they had slain their children 
 to their idols, then they came the same day in the Sanctuary 
 to profane it ; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine 
 house. 
 
 The modern abuse of the Sanctuary belongs to the dark 
 ages of the world's history, and should have no existence in the 
 19th Century. We are going backward instead of forward, 
 dragging the solemnity of the Sanctuary and God's worship into 
 the very dust. Read Daniel viii 11, 12, The 13th verse 
 reads. Then I heard one saint speaking and another saint 
 said unto that certain saint which spake : " How long shall 
 
KBV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 123 
 
 be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgres- 
 sion of desolation, to give both the Sanctuary and the host to 
 be trodden under foot ? " Well may Christians have such a 
 vision, and may ask themselves the same question. 
 
 It is a solemii thing to worship in Gpd^s house ; so solemn 
 is it that we dedicate it, consecrate it, set it apart ; for what ? 
 For instruction, for praise, for spiritual inquiry, for me^taidoii, 
 and to learn and understand God's ways. We profess to claitti 
 His presence with us every time we meet and yet in modern 
 times God's house is consecrated on Sunday, and oftta desid- 
 erated' on the following Monday. Let us be honest with Go^, 
 and He will surely be true to us. 
 
 '* Christ beg^ to cast out them that sold and bought in th« 
 temple.'^ There are many ways of buying and selling in the 
 temple without taking our goods there and offering them/ for 
 sale. 
 
 
 . " My house is the house of prayer, but ye have m de it a 
 den of thieves." What piercing words are these, h » Jbrn^ 
 how frue^ how convicting ; they viust have made Christ's" hearers; 
 shake from head to foot ; without and within" Ye have made 
 God's place of worship a den of thieves. Supposing some one 
 would have stepped cautiously behind the Saviour, and said to 
 Him " Be silent, Hush ! This will not do, don't speak so 
 plain, words like these will offend and drive people away. 
 Hush ! Be silent, you will arouse enmity." What answer 
 would Christ. have given to such a cautious friend. He would 
 likely have answered, *• Get thee behind me, Satan."^' Christ 
 spoke *as having authority, this was the difference between his 
 words and those of the Scribes ! His authority was God the 
 Father. The'Mestllind Scribes sought to kill him on account 
 6r His piercitig words, yet he did th« will of Him that sent him. 
 
 :..,... . . ^ * ■■>•. '£,-■ •>,' -^i", -< .'/•',. » ■■'■ ' *■' '''.•■- .*''.^■' 
 
124 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 As Christians we are too much afraid of man, afraid of our 
 life, of our support, afraid to speak out for fear of oAence, and 
 afraid to discharge our duty. Satan is ready to stand behind 
 us, saying ; Be silent, Hush ! Don't offend any one, you mak^ 
 enemies. We speak as if we had no authority, and too often 
 we allow Satan to conquer.;, ?,. 
 
 > 
 
 Hi :x 
 
 There never was a time when it was more necessary than at 
 present to exalt the principles of true and undefiled religion. 
 Never was there a time when it was more necessary to hold up 
 before the people the Religion of Christ as a pearl of great 
 price ; highly esteemed^ noblf and valuable^ we should not allow 
 it to be made low nor permit it to be trodden under foot. It 
 IS a very solemn thought that Christ was under the necessity 
 to cast the buyers and sellers out of the temple. Is it not 
 solemn also to think that he had been obliged to say to them 
 " My house is the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den 
 of thieves?" In the 19th Century we have more light, the 
 Christian Religion is established, yet the Sanctuary is too often 
 sadly desecrated. May we not ask ourselves the question, If 
 the buyers and sellers were cast out, How many would remain? 
 
 »V V"l 
 
 ,•; ': V 
 
 ,«-' 
 
 FUNERAL EXTRAVAGANCE. 
 
 Extrac. from the lecture on the manners and customs of the Jews. ' 
 
 The simplicity of burial among the Jews is worthy of imita- 
 tion ; there is no pomp nor pride ; the coffin is made of a few 
 rough boards in whicl^ the body is laid. At death the poor 
 and the rich are treated alike, Che Lazarus is as good as the 
 Rothschild, a custom which is much to be admired and worthy 
 of imitation. Thousands of dollars are unnecessarily expended 
 On funeral occasions. "Why? Because pride i^ taken even 
 beyond death and the grave. It is called r^pectable and 
 
REV. A. SeHtJStBR, 
 
 "5 
 
 honorable to have an extravagant funeral; the poor man is 
 often forced by the spirit of fashion and the custom of the age 
 to spend his last cent to keep up funeral appearance, while the 
 money is necessary to provide for the surviving family. A few 
 deaths in the family will take away all that a father can earn in 
 a year. The wealty Jews spend money on funeral occasions, 
 not in the decoration of the poor dead body, but they gwQ freely 
 to the poor and needy at the day of the funeral and it is o/ily 
 where the Jews live among nominal. Christians, they bury their 
 dead extravagantly. 
 
 >--f;fi 
 
 ti-iii... 
 
 ./iwif . THE MISSION SAVINGS BANK. 
 
 A Mission Savings Bank is about to be organized, its object 
 is to give parents and children the opportunity of saving small 
 sums ot money in the summer to enable them to be better 
 prepared to face the approach of the winter. The money is to 
 be returned on or about Christmas. Responsible officers will 
 be appointed and by the next issue of this paper, we hope to 
 be able to give the good results of this additional work in 
 connection with the Mission. . ^ -. 
 
 A GOOD WOMAN. 
 
 .1 
 
 .I.-. 
 
 Prov xxxt. 30. 
 
 *' Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the 
 Lord, she shall be praised." . ^ 
 
 The subject is most important ; all that is great, noble and 
 good is of God. A good woman such as described in this 
 chapter is one of God's greatest blessings and one of the 
 greatest instrumentalities for good in the world. Upon good 
 wives and motiiers depend the welfare of the church, the 
 nation, the human family, and the homes of our country. 
 
 -* 
 
ia6 
 
 ARTICLES ANtr RfiPOIcrs OF 
 
 The text and the following verses describe woman in all her 
 deportments in life ; she is brought before us as a wife, a mother, 
 a mistress ; as a friend to the poor and also in influence over 
 her family. * >^i>^ 
 
 What are the qualifications of a good woman ? ' ' *^** 
 
 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her (v. ii), he 
 is sure that lie has a good wife, none better ^ she gains the con- 
 Adience of her husband, her aim is to make his life happy and 
 prosperous. In adversity she stands by him, and as in (v. 12), 
 ** She will do him good all the days of her life." The hus- 
 band's interest is her interest, she is one with him and when 
 difficulties are arising she is calculated to be a silent sufferer ; 
 at the same time takes the brightest, the most encouraging 
 view of them, and has always some words to soothe his discour- 
 agements. 1 remember reading of the case of a rich merchant, 
 who had lost in a business transaction all he had gained for 
 years. He became bankrupt, but he had a good wife and. one 
 day as he entered the house, he said to her. My dear wife, we 
 are ruined, the Sheriff will take all we possess. The good 
 woman, with true christian courage and full of sympathy with 
 her husband, answered. My dear husband we are not ruined 
 yet ; there are three things which the Sheriff cannot take. 
 What are ihey ? asked he anxiously, and pointing at him she 
 said, the Sheriff cannot take from you Manhood / and putting 
 his hand on her heart she said, he cannot take from me 
 Womanhood .' and placing her hand upon the child's head 
 sleeping in the cradle, she said neither can he take away Child- 
 hood/ these three cannot be taken from us, and as long as 
 these three are left, we can start life again. From that moment 
 the disconsolate husband felt encouraged and with renewed 
 strength started afresh and prospered. 
 
 A good woman is careful and industrious. — (v. 13 to 20.) 
 
 By her carefulness and industry she will lessen the burdens 
 
 
IIEV. A. SCttUST«:tt« 
 
 137 
 
 red 
 
 of home. She is like a merchant's ship which bringe^h her 
 goods from afar ; by her prudent management she saves, and 
 to the surprise of her husband, the money entrusted her goes a 
 great distance, she hates Debt and doth not purcha§e anything^ 
 her husband is not able to pay ; there are ladies who are afraid 
 or ashamed to work, many thmk it a disgrace to harden their 
 soft hands by toil. God's word gives us examples pf ladies of 
 high rank working, as in the case of Sarah, Gen. vviii. 68 ; 
 Rebecca, Gen. xxiv. is, 18. Rachael, Gen. xxix. 9, 10, also 
 the seven daughters of the Medinn priests worked, they dtew 
 water for their fathers cattle. 
 
 A good woman provides in time of need. — (v. 21.) 
 
 " She is not afraid of the snow for her household." She is 
 not overtaken by the winter's frost, nor by the 'summei's heat, 
 but is willing to woik with her own hands, to provide in time 
 things necessary for the household and what she provides is 
 good and substantial. No sham, nor vanity for popularity y for 
 fashion sake. 
 
 A good woman is a keeper at home, (v. 27), she looketh 
 well into her own household, and eateth not her bread in 
 idleness. She does not live by going about spending her time 
 talking about others. Home is to her the dearest spot on 
 earth, no company so pleasant and so interesting as the com- 
 pany of her own family ; she is not spending her time in 
 arranging worldly entertainments and amuseme*^ts, she is not 
 seeking to be honored by being invited to parties, nor can she 
 be found in places of nightly entertainment. The Toboggan 
 Slide, the Roller Skating Rink, the Ball Room, the Theatres, 
 and other places of amusement are not the delight of her life, 
 she lives for something better, she finds sufficient entertainment 
 at home, she aims to be a moral and religious instructor to her 
 family, and she believes in the passage, I Timothy iv, 8. "For 
 bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto 
 
 1 1 
 
 If 
 
ifS 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 all thing*?, having the promise of the life that now is, and of 
 that which is to come." 
 
 A ^ood 7voman is charitahle. — (v. 2q.) She stretched put 
 her hand to the poor, yea she reached forth her hand to the 
 needy. v^ ■• ■ • ■*^: ^^^s i.-^c.-rh-f; i^. 
 
 By her industry, carefulness and love for home she 'is able 
 tp give something to the poor and needy, willing to bestow 
 charity with her own hands. Many have 'nothing to spare 
 because they must have all for themselves and their own en- 
 joyments. 
 
 A good woman shoms her kindness as a mistress.' ' '"''>■ '^ 
 
 She is kmd to everybody, m-her tongue is the law of kind- 
 ness, therefore kind to her hired help (15 v.), she giveth meat 
 to her household and a portion to her maidens. A good woman 
 will give the hired help rest and the privilege of worshipping 
 God, enjoying the blessings of the Sanctuary from time to' 
 time. Esther is an example of this (Esther iv, 16.) "I also 
 and my maidens will fast likewise"; I admire the Christian 
 mistress who is not too proud to call the hired girl and .to 
 permit her to have the pjivileges of family worship and think 
 it an honor to be the means of leadmg her to Christ. y.-,,. \/, 
 
 The influence of a good woman. ' '■' ' ' ■" • 
 
 Such a wife, such a mother, such a friend to the poor, and 
 such a mistress. must have an influence for good. .; r ., 
 
 The Influence upon her Husband. — :(23 v.) * . 
 
 " Her husband is known m the gates when he sitteth among 
 the elders of the land." He is honored and respected; the 
 husband is generally known by his wife. A good woman is 
 the means of exalting her husband, but on the contrary, a 
 careless, extravagant, pleasure-seeking, and party-making wife 
 
RSV. A. SCHUSTER, 
 
 I §9 
 
 of 
 
 :.i:^lh'i 
 
 
 will surely drive the husband from home and family to the bar- 
 room, card and billiard table, and to other places of pleasure 
 and amusement whfch finally lead him into the company of 
 those who seek to destroy peace and harmony, which is the 
 sad experience of thousands in the world. 
 
 " A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband ; but she that 
 maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." — Prov. xii. 4 v. 
 
 T/ie Influence upon her Children. 
 
 (v. 28, 30.) — " Her children arise up and called her blessed." 
 
 A good woman has no need of seekine; popularity and 
 flattery by others. " Give her the fruit of her hands, aod let 
 her own works praise in the gates." — v. 31. Her children arise 
 and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 
 3he is honored and praised right at home ; she will never be 
 forgotten ; her body may mould in the dust, but her remem- 
 brance by the family will always be fresh, sweet, and happy ; 
 because her children will arise and call her blessed. Mothers ! 
 It pays to be a christian. 
 
 The value of a good woman. 
 
 " For her price is far above rubies." — v. 10. She is one of 
 earth's greatest treasures. Who can estimate the value of a 
 good woman ? She is one of heaven's brightest gems ! 
 
 The foundation of all these Excellencies. 
 
 The foundation of all excellency is expressed in the words 
 "a woman that feareth the Lord." The fear of the Lord is 
 the beginning of wisdom, and this is the foundation of all that 
 is good, great and noble. God is, and must be, tlie mainspring 
 of all our actions and usefulness. A good woman's fidelity to 
 her husband, her industry, her love for the family, her sym- 
 pathy for the poor, and the complete formation of her noble 
 
 ; 
 
iso 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 character and life ; all is adorned by her love to .God, by 
 which she is moved to do all for His honor and for His glory. 
 
 Who can find such a woman ? Thank God, they can be 
 found. 
 
 " Favor is deceitful " ; favor is seldom true ; it is unsatisfac- 
 tory. Beauty is flattering ; it is vain ; it passes away ; it is 
 soon forgotten ; but, a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall 
 be praised." 
 
 TRAINING. 
 
 Prov. XXII, 6. — "Train up a child in the way it should go and when he 
 is old he will not depart from it." 
 
 This subject is of the greatest importance, it is so compre- 
 hensive that I am only able to give a few hints. 
 
 I am a firm believer in this passage, it contains most pre- 
 cious truth ; some argue that this text is a failure because they 
 think that good parents may have bad children, to such I 
 would say. You are mistaken. Parents who are truly God's 
 children and who ask God's guidance and direction daily, and 
 who are fully consecrated to Him, can certainly claim the text 
 as one of the most precious gifts. 
 
 It may be asked to what kind of training has the text refer- 
 ence J*" I answer " To home training.^' It includes intellectual, 
 moral and spiritual training at Home ; to mould the character 
 of the child is the parent's duty, and to give it a foundation of 
 true principles on which it will build its future career is the 
 parent's great privilege. 
 
 The fir»t thing necessary for true moulding is a correct pat- 
 tern ; such a pattern must be the Father and the Mother. How 
 great, then, the responsibility, how sad the mistake and how 
 terrible the consequences should the child turn out bad. 
 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 ^31 
 
 Pure metal is another necessity for good moulding and cast- 
 ing, not breakly, sandy and stoney, but pure and good, so that 
 the flow of the metal may not be interrupted or broken up. 
 
 Parents should be mindful to put into the young mind and 
 heart of the child principles pure and true — therefore 
 
 Be a pattern of truthfulness. 
 
 I know the parents desire to be truthful in matters of great 
 value, but most of us are not careful, sufficient in matters of 
 less importance (as we think) ; forgetting that' all things, great 
 or small, are noticed by children who watch us very closely — 
 for instance — 
 
 The bell rings, the mother is not prepared to receive visi- 
 tors ; she is busily engaged, she has no time to spare. The 
 little girl is asked to receive them, but before she reaches the 
 door she asks her ma, What shall I say to the strangers ? Wait, 
 my dear, answers the mother, I will run up stairs to hide before 
 you open the door. Tell them that I am not at home. Im- 
 mediately the bell rings again, the door is opened, the visitors 
 are invited to the parlor and upon the inquiry, if Ma was at 
 home the child answers just as she was told, Ma is not at 
 home ; the callers leave at once, mother runs from her hiding 
 place and cheerfully asks her little daughter, What did you tell 
 them ? I told them that you are not at home. All right, my 
 dear, they had no business to call so early, when everything is 
 out of order, and here is a penny for being so good and 
 obedient ; the candies are bought ^^/- the penny ^ they are eaten, 
 but can you imagine the child's thoughts ? What kind of a 
 pattern is this ? I allow you to judge. 
 
 Be a pattern of unselfishness, don't allow all your love to be 
 swallowed up in yourself. Doing good to others b_, denying 
 yourself has a great and powerful influence upon children and 
 
 'i 
 
 :i 
 
 A 
 
 
 ■"'I' 
 
 m 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 m 
 J 
 
 ■ 'i'i 1 
 
 
 '* 
 h 
 
I3« 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 7T3 
 
 it is one of the most valuable patterns for moulding character. 
 " And if ye lend to them whom ye have hope to receive, what 
 thank have ye, for sinners also lend to sinners to receive as 
 much again, but Ipve ye your enemies and do good and lend^ 
 hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be grej^t and 
 ye shall be the children of the highest, for He is kind to the 
 \inth£^nkful and to the ey*l. — Luke vi, 34, 35. 
 
 Some of you may say, this will ne7>er pay j it may not pay in 
 dollars and cents, but it will surely and finally pay in the train- 
 Qg of your children. May I ask you, )Vho are the good, the 
 iuseful and the g?eat of this world ? Men like Luther, Knox, 
 Wesley and others ; they had before them the pattern of un- 
 selfishness and self-denial and lived for the benefit of others. 
 If you want your sons and daughters to become stingy, selfish, 
 miserly, beggarly and miserable, just show them the example 
 and pattern of selfishness ; do nothing for any person except 
 you are fully paid, know nothing abotit doing favor? ; be ignor- 
 ant of friendship, kindness and brotherly love, never allow 
 your mind to be disturbed by the suffering of others ; take 
 the highest interest for the loan of money when you find people 
 in great need ; be as hard as steel and you will without 
 fail succeed to lead your children to ruin ; you will destroy 
 yourself and reap your final well deserved reward. For with 
 what measure you mete it shall be measured to you again. I 
 have seen parents when old driven from their own homes and 
 firesides by their children, because they had brought them up 
 in the way I have just described ; be therefore a pattern of 
 liberality ; teach your children to sympathize with the poor, 
 the needy and the distressed, and you will be rewarded. 
 
 If parents are rich, their children should know, if possible, 
 nothing about it, it will prevent them from depending upon the 
 Father and Mother for support by which they are not made 
 idlers ; rather teach them that hard work is honorable and give 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 133 
 
 e 
 e 
 
 them the opportunity and great privilege of building up their 
 own career of usefulness, depending upon God and the talents 
 He has given them. 
 
 Be a pattern of influence and example. 
 
 I have been asked frequently, if drinking a glass of strong 
 drink, smoking or chewing tobacco, is a sin. I answer, that f 
 believe it to be a sin of influence and example. If I wanted 
 my boy to learn to smoke or chew tobacco; the best method I 
 could adopt would be to drink intoxicating drinks, smoke or 
 chew tobacco myself ; but if, on the contrary, I would wish 
 my child to abstain from these I must leave them alone. The 
 same holds good in other matters. But some say I have no 
 influence, my children do as they please. I pity you parents 
 if you have lost your influence over your children; please 
 examine yourself and your training, the mistake is at home, 
 find out your error before it is too late. 
 
 beware of Scepticism. — There are different kinds of sceptics. 
 A person may be called a sceptic who trusts no one ; every- 
 body is a liar a thief, and a robber, in business transactions 
 with others, they deal with them as such ; teach your child 
 this form of scepticism and I guarantee it will become 
 a sceptic in religious matters as well, it will believe in nothing 
 sacred nor divine. I do not hesitate in saying that most all, if 
 not all religious sceptics have been thus trained by their par- 
 ents, and by this kind of training the foundation of unbelievers 
 has been firmly laid, first not trusting in anybody, and being 
 led step by step they deny God at last. 
 
 This training at home is the only influence and lasting train- 
 ing. Home is the School of all Schools, the College of all 
 Colleges, a nursery above all nurseries ; no other school can 
 supply the wants of home training, neither the teacher of Sab- 
 bath or day school, nor the Minister who visits the homes. 
 
 i 
 
 • I 
 
 i ij 
 
134 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 Parents are the only teachers of home, no one can take their 
 place, no governor nor governess, no matter how educated, how 
 kind and skillful ; therefore, parents should devote strict atten- 
 tion to home. They should be at home to accomplish this 
 important duty, but as the Father is engaged all day, the 
 Mother is hurried with the affairs of the household, when 
 should this duty be performed. The evening hours should be 
 taken for trainmg. The worst of training is too often found 
 in higher society, because the parents are seldom at home and 
 the training is left to strangers. The parents having no time 
 to attend to the training of their children in the day time and 
 at night go to the Theatre, the Skating Rink or to parties, the 
 children are left in the care of strangers, which is a sad mis- 
 take. I have serious objections on this account to too many 
 night after night services, even should they be carried on under 
 the auspices of religious organizations, as the evil overbalances 
 the good accomplished. 
 
 I know a Minister who held special services for about 12 
 weeks, night after night, in a place of worship, a distance from 
 his home ; most of that time unable to return ; when he got 
 home after the close of these services he found his boy entirely 
 uncontrolable and with bitter feeling of regret he told me he 
 believed his staying too ' often and too long away from his 
 family is the reason of this, his very sad experience. That 
 minister, like many others, was no doubt sincere and zealous ; 
 but made this mistake, he worked for the welfare of others, bu^. 
 neglected his own house and fireside. 
 
 Parents, you cannot be away from home and do home train- 
 ing. Remember, home training must be done at home and 
 done by you and cannot be done by any one else. 
 
 The great blessing of the text^ 
 When he is old he will not depart from you. 
 
 •..^ 
 
REV. A. Schuster. 
 
 135 
 
 Is it true ? Yes it is — Children may forget their age, the 
 events of their past life, they may forget their parents' outward 
 appearance, but their example, their influence, their walk, their 
 conversation, their devoted life, these will not be forgotten, 
 they are as a light always shining in the darkest hours of life. 
 I have repeatedly heard people advanced in years speaking of 
 the words of counsel and advice from their parents which they 
 cannot forget, the remembrance of their home mstructioES, 
 their influence and example was still bright in their memories 
 and hearts. 
 
 The subject is worthy of careful consideration and imita- 
 tion ; no subject of greater importance. A failure in home 
 training of our children is a failure for time and for eternity ; 
 for this life and the life to come ; it is indeed Life or Death. 
 
 PERFECT OBEDIENCE. • . 
 
 Here am I. — Genesis xxii, ii. . 
 
 ♦ 
 
 These words are recorded 3 times in this Chapter. 
 
 /iV^/ in answer to God's call. 
 
 Second^ in answer to Isaac's important question. 
 
 Thirds in answer to the angel's voice. 
 
 " Here I am !" was the language of Abraham, when most 
 severely tried by God, in a moment when the greatest self, 
 denial was demanded of him, when human nature would shrink 
 from the discharge of duty and at a time when the nearest and 
 dearest ties were about to be broken, these words were also the 
 expression of an obedient heart who was about to gain the 
 victory over self. We read the history of Abraham with the 
 greatest delight and interest, we could almost covet his triumph 
 of faith, we become inspired with an earnest desire to have a 
 
136 
 
 ARTICLES AND REPORTS OF 
 
 similar experience and to become like him and weask ourselves 
 the question, What lack I yet ? 
 
 The secret of Abraham's life of faith and triumph was his 
 
 perfect obedience to God's will. "Here am I." What depth 
 
 of meaning in these words ? They mean I am ready to be 
 
 tried and tempted, ready to be discouraged, ready to give up 
 Isaac at thy bidding and willing to withhold my hand from him 
 
 at thy command, the wood, the fire and the knife all is at hand. 
 
 Now Lord speak and Thy will be done; such was Abraham's 
 
 perfect obedience to the will of God. 
 
 Gladly would we accept Abraham's triumphs and victory, but 
 we are not willing to stand the test and do God's bidding:. 
 Read 1 Samuel 15, 22, And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as 
 great delight in burnt ofTerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the 
 voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, 
 and to hearken than the fat of rams." 
 
 In temporal matters we are only too glad to be obedient, so 
 much so, that the world will make slaves of us. People are 
 willing to give up life itself for the world's honors, pleasures and 
 influence ; there are men in the world who are so thoroughly 
 engaged in business that they forget eating, drinking and sleep- 
 ing because their whole life is in their trade. "Here am I," 
 say they; my time, my money, my all is given up, I have no 
 time for anything else. Christians fail in this spiritually. We 
 talk of consecration, sanctification and holiness. Many are 
 sincere in their desires at the time when they give express- 
 ion to them, but with too many it is talk only and not practic- 
 able reality. Our resolutions are like clouds without water, 
 sadly lacking reality, consequently we are disappointed and not 
 blessed. "Here am I," precious words, what is their meaning? 
 Who can describe them fully ; body and soul, linked to live for 
 God. The heart, the affection, the mind, the eyes, the hands, 
 Mie feet, the tongue, all are ready for God's service, as the clay 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER. 
 
 137 
 
 IJl 
 
 tss- 
 :ic- 
 
 in the hands of the potter, so should Christians leave them- 
 selves in God's hands to be moulded for his own glory and pur- 
 pose. Don't dream of sanctification except you are ready to 
 obey ; and except we think obeying it the greatest honor, privi- 
 lege and delight and realize that it is our duty to do the will of 
 God, our anxious desire for holiness is vain. 
 
 Abraham stands before us as an example of faithfulness, 
 "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for 
 righteousness," Rom. iv. 3. We admire his life full of faith, 
 and as you gar.e at it your desire to become like him increases^ 
 then " Here am I," should be the language of every Christian, 
 faith and obedience must be united, separate them and you 
 separate yourself from spiritual power. Perhaps there never 
 was a time when doing God's will was more necessary than at 
 present. People read enough, they hear enough and under- 
 stand enough, but what is most needed in seeing, reading and 
 understanding Christ through living Epistles ; — the Christian's 
 life, " Here am I," frames no excuses for the non-discharge of 
 duty. It does not say, " No man has hired us " but it means, 
 service rendered to God, voluntarily and cheerfully through 
 life. But alas ! how few are willing to do Christ like Chris- 
 ian work. "Here am I," is also the lever which brings out 
 buried talents and abilities to be made useful for God and for 
 his cause Reader, think of these words, allow the spirit to 
 fasten them upon your heart, and resolve to give yourself un- 
 reservedly to God now. 
 
 i>|ril 
 
 Hi 
 
 I At 
 
 * .i 
 
 ay 
 
U'JV 
 
 PART III. 
 
 » ; , 
 
 >-i. ■'.■ ' 
 
 'h^ 
 
 
 
 -4 », ■ 
 
 •\ 
 
 •t i 
 
 Miscellaneous Papers having relation to Mr. Schuster, 
 
 his work and death. 
 
 ;!;< . 
 
 '-«■».■■ 
 
 • -I 
 
'■' fit: 
 
 if' . . 
 
 .;ji. 
 
 
 ER, 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 — TO— 
 
 PART III. 
 
 I have reserved for this Section various articles by others upon the 
 character and labors of Mr. Schuster or upon subjects connected with City 
 Mission work. A " Letter to Mothers " by Mrs. Schuster will be read 
 with deep interest. The testimony of Rev. Bro. Rice is of much value, 
 and the Minute of the Ministerial Association of Belleville, is a sincere 
 expression of sorrow, of appreciation and sympathy. The Memorial 
 Sermon by request finds a place m this part of the Volume. 
 
 , .. The Editor. 
 
 ''-i4 
 
 ■f:\ 
 
 
I40 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 Why do we mourn departing friends 
 
 Or shake at death's alarms ? 
 'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends 
 
 To call them to His arms. 
 
 Are we not tending upward too 
 
 As fast as time can move ? 
 Nor should we wish the hours more slow 
 
 To keep us from our love. 
 
 Why should we tremble to convey 
 
 Their bodies to the tomb ? 
 There the dear flesh of Jesus lay, 
 
 And left a long perfume. 
 
 The graves of all the saints He blessed, 
 
 And softened every bed . 
 Where should the dying membeis rest 
 
 But with their dyiug Head ? 
 
 Thence He arose, ascended high. 
 And showed our feet the way ; 
 
 Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly 
 At the great rising day. 
 
 Then let the last loud trumpet sound, 
 
 And bid our kindred rise ; 
 Awake, ye nations under ground ; 
 
 Ye saints, ascend the skies. 
 
 -Watts, 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER A>»D H[IS WORKS. 
 
 Mf 
 
 xxxx^T — " 
 
 MEMORIAL SERMON. 
 
 REV. A. SCHUSTER'S CHARACTER AND WORK. 
 
 Preacl^ed by the Rev. D. Mitchell in John St. Presbyterian 
 Church, on the evening of 5th July. 1885, upon Acts xi. 24 : 
 " For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of 
 faith." 
 
 There are two views which may be taken of a Christian life. 
 We may regard laith as its beginning, fullness of the Holy 
 Ghost as its continuance, and goodness as its flower and fruit. 
 The narrative of the Philippian gaoler is an example of this. 
 We are told that he first believed, and immediately after, in- 
 stead of cruelly treating his piisoners, he extends to th^m the 
 utmost kindness and hospitality. Again, there is the other way, 
 as in the text, of regarding the outward manifestation of the 
 christian life, and then tracing it up to its source in the in- 
 dwelling of the ^^pirit through faith. Thus of Barnabas it is 
 said, 'He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of 
 faith." 
 
 r 
 
 Barnabas, as we learn from Acts iv. 36, signifies "Son of 
 Consolation." This name is made up of two words : the one 
 son, and the other consolation, or exhortation. It is to be noted 
 here that the term consolation, applied to Barnabas in the 4th 
 chapter, is the noun of which the word "exhorted" in the verse 
 preceding the text is the verb. To be worthy of such a title 
 Barnabas must have been a man of heart as well as intellect. 
 He was a man of feeling. We should judge him to have been 
 an able and acceptable minister of Christ. His path w?^s 
 rather along the valley of humiliation than up the mountaijn 
 slope of lofty ithibition. If he was an Apostle, he was '*a living 
 epistle of Christ." Very little is said about him as compared 
 with Paul or Peter, but what is said sets before us a man of 
 
 m 
 
 liij 
 
 lJijB:| 
 
 H 
 
 Hi 
 
 • I'.'i 
 
 «*'>ii 
 
142 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 true missionary spirit and noble benevolence. He is a pastor 
 in the best sense of the world. 
 
 We are called this day to mourn the loss of a Barnabas from 
 amongst us — one who was in truth a son of consolation, a man 
 Who had a path of his own to serve his Master, and who in his 
 own way reached the highest usefulness and honor. His fam- 
 iliar form will no longer be seen in our streets, nor his voice be 
 heard. But he has lived long enough amongst us and done 
 such work that his name is enshrined in this city as a zealous 
 and successful missionary of the crors. We may well say of 
 this son of consolation as of Barnabas, " he was a good man, 
 and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." 
 
 I. In the first place let me express the conviction that our 
 Gity Missionary was a good man. I have heard a number of 
 persons use this word in saying what they felt concerning him. 
 Such, too, is the sentiment of those who do not pretend to this 
 quality of character. Now, in goodness there are the two 
 ideas of purity and benevolence. As to the first I can bear 
 testimony. I am able honestly to say more regarding my 
 brother than he would have said, for like all really good men 
 he was known by his reticence in speaking about himself. He 
 was far from claiming perfection. But we can all testify that 
 " he kept himself unspotted from the world." He was singu- 
 larly truthful. His yea and nay were the sincere utterances of 
 his heart. His word was as good as his bond. He was also 
 honest to a degree, wronging no man, but on the contraary 
 denying himself that he might " owe no man anything," and 
 when he felt death coming upon him, giving mstructions as to 
 his debts, twenty cents here and so many dollars there. The 
 only person wronged by him was himself, for he lived in the 
 simplest form rather than be a burden to any one. Virtue or 
 manliness was an essential part of his character. I hardly 
 think that even in thought he wandered from the path of recti- 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 143 
 
 tude, but ever kept himself loyal to his family. His longing 
 desire was to see his children and all others walking in the 
 pathway of integrity and honor. And now let me speak of 
 his benevolence. " He visited the fatherless and widows in 
 their affliction." The orphan, the poor, the degraded and 
 suffering were the objects of his special care. Of his preach- 
 ing I shall have to speak later on. Let me rather refer to his 
 activity and zeal in doing good. He loved his fellowmen, and 
 it was the object of his life to take by the hand unfortunate 
 children, and such as had fallen or others suffering in such as 
 had fallen or others suffering in any form. As soon as the 
 Mission house was completed he established a day school for 
 instruction in the three R's, or the ordinary branches. It was 
 not without opposition, but he showed remarkable in depen- 
 dence and fortitude in this undertaking. He felt that such a 
 school was needed, for his experience revealed that there were 
 a large number of children who would or could not attend our 
 public schools, and they must either live on in ignorance or he 
 must take them by the hand. This work was carried on by 
 him and his wife for a considerable time, till relieved to a 
 great extent by a niece of smgular devotional becoming the 
 settled teacher of the school. How many have received their 
 education in this way and have passed into useful and honor- 
 able employment, it is impossible for me to say. But I know 
 that the average attendance has been from 30 to 40, many of 
 them boys and girls and some lads and young women. Feel- 
 ing keenly the evil habits of intemperance and impurity to 
 which many were exposed, he early established a temperance 
 society, which aimed at more than merely abstinence from 
 drink, which aimed at substituting positive virtues for vices. 
 To encourage the young and attach them to the Mission, he 
 instituted summer excursions and social meetings, at which the 
 good things ot life were given in no stinted measure. I have 
 often seen the pleasure thus communicated and I shall always 
 
 II 
 
 ffl 
 
»44 
 
 WRITINGS CONGERNINQ 
 
 regard these occasions with delight. In addition to this the 
 Missionary and his wife did much to relieve actual want and 
 suffering They clothed and fed the poor. Our Mission may 
 be viewed as a Dorcas Society, which accomplished wonders 
 considering its limited means. Tract distribution, to impress 
 the lessons of temperance and virtue, was carried on all the 
 time, Mr. Schuster himself having given away thousands of 
 tracts and pamphlets. Only recently a Savings Bank was 
 'begun to induce people to save money during summer and 
 when work was plentiful, and thus to meet the hardships of 
 winter and enforced idleness. I believe these were only the 
 beginnings of a work which looking into the future and which, 
 under the guiding hand of our brother would have unfolded 
 and developed into grander proportions. An industrial school 
 and home for poor children and needy persons were already 
 provided, and other measures to relieve the destitute and 
 afflicted were i.i prospect, of which I cannot speak now, but 
 which I yet hope to see blossoming into much fruitfulness. I 
 cold say more, but enough has been said to show forth a man 
 governed by the purest motives, engaged in the most unselfish 
 and disinterested labors, and seeking lovingly to relieve sufTer- 
 mg and to build men and women in ennobling qualities. A 
 man with the spirit of Muhler or Guthrie has passed from our 
 midst, and we cannot now fully estimate the goodness of his 
 character. Our Missionary has earned the honorable name of 
 ** the poor man's friend," one in my opinion of greater value 
 than the highest honors of learning or the proudest titles of 
 rank. 
 
 II. Let me remark in the second place that our City Mis- 
 sionary was " full of the Holy Ghost." This leads us to con- 
 sider what the man was in himself. We understand that 
 Christians are filled with the Spirit of God when they show 
 forth certain works Amonst these we mention genuine con- 
 version. " The wind bloweth where it listeth," and so it blew 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK, 
 
 MS 
 
 : of 
 
 lew 
 
 upon the subject of this sketch at the early age of 20. Anselm 
 Schuster was bom at Frankfort-on-Maine. His parents were 
 Jews, the father priding himself in morality and national pre- 
 judices against Christianity, and the mother a typical Jewess 
 worshipping the God of her fathers and givmg heed to every 
 title and iota of the ceremonial law. She was most devoted 
 to this her youngest child and the more because he was feeble 
 and sickly. He received a good education and was carefully 
 trained in the Jewish religion. He thus inherited downright 
 hatred against the Christian faith. Having learned a trade 
 according to Jewish custom, he was required by the law to 
 spend some time in a foreign country. His father advised him 
 to go to America, and while on his way a remarkable deliver- 
 ance from death made a deep impression upon his mind. He 
 had taken his passage out on a vessel named the Arctic, and 
 had proceeded from London to Liverpool to join his ship. On 
 his arrival at the latter city he was mortified to find that the 
 Afctic had sailed. But afterward learning she had foundered 
 at sea and every soul on board had been lost, he realized the 
 danger he had escaped. Coming at length to Canada, he at- 
 tended from mere curiosity several Methodist churches. But 
 again and again he refused to listen to the " still small voice " 
 of God and showed an almost malignant hatred against the 
 doctrines of Christ. At length he began to compare the old 
 and New Testaments and found it impossible to resist the con- 
 viction that Jesus was the Messiah. He gave his heart to the 
 Saviour. He now took pleasure in meeting with Christians, 
 and from that time till his death— a period of upwards of thirty 
 years— he has consistently maintained the walk and conver- 
 sation of a sincere believer in Christ. No one can doubt his 
 conversion, and this being the case there are considerations 
 which render it of special value. He was a narrow prejudiced 
 . Jew, and we know what that means. On account of their hat- 
 red against the very name of Jesus, the Jews are the most 
 
 1 •• 
 
t46 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 difficult subjects of conversion. They are blinded, and the 
 light that is in them is become darkness. As a people, we be- 
 lieve they wiU remain in this condition until certain prophecies 
 are fulfilled, and hence it is only here and there that a Jew is 
 converted. Again, such a conversion is a very intelligent one. 
 We cannot value the Old Testament as a born Jew does. It 
 is with him the word of God. He himself in his exile and 
 despised condition is a proof of what the prophets wrote con- 
 cerning the dispersion and consequent sufferings of his people. 
 He is looking for a Messiah that is yet to come. And when, 
 comparing the New Testament with the Old, and discovering 
 the Messiah to be " a man of sorrows and acquainted with 
 grief," he is led to exclaim, " My Lord and my God," it is an 
 invaluable testimony to the truth of Christianity. Although, 
 as I said, it is only one Jew here and there who is being born 
 again, yet as this is taking place every day, when a cumulative 
 evidence in favor of Christianity is furnished by the hundreds 
 and thousands of Jewish Christians throughout the world 1 
 But we have to consider further that our Brother is eminently 
 the case of a man leaving father and mother and houses and 
 lands for the sake of Christ ; nay, not leaving, but being for- 
 saken by parents, brothers, sisters and friends and being disin- 
 herited. The father of Mr. Schuster, who was wealthy, answer- 
 ed the letter of his son intimating his conversion by casting 
 him out and commanding that no child of his should speak to 
 him. But while loving his family well, our friend loved his 
 Saviour better and contented with his lot — humble and poor 
 though it was — we are glad to say he remained " faithful unto 
 death." 
 
 Another mark of the Holy Ghost being within a man is that 
 he continues steadfast in prayer and communion with God. 
 This was said of the apostles and brethren when "great grace" 
 had come upon them. If you want to know why a tree grows 
 and bears fruit, examine downwards and see the roots growing 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORKS. 
 
 147 
 
 out in every direction, and secretly drawing nourishment from 
 the soil. And so it is with a Christian ; ''his life is hidden with 
 Christ in God." He is asking and receiving, seeking and find- 
 ing, all the time. With the christian life it is not merely re- 
 ceivmg the Spirit at the outset. It is being filled with the 
 Spirit from day to day. To this end he is constant at the throne 
 of grace. I can speak with confidence on this point, and say 
 that our dear brother was eminently a man of prayer — that he 
 breathed its vital air, that it was his joy to go to God and tell 
 Him all, that he pleaded with God on behalf of his work, that 
 not a day passed without an earnest cry for Belleville. And, 
 Oh ! what a responsibility does this lay on us that his prayers 
 were ceaseless in our behalf ! But we can say more — that his 
 prayer rose to communion with God. The Saviour was ever 
 near as a brother, friend, companion, and as the three Jewish 
 youths walked with One like unto the Son of God even in the 
 midst of the fiery flames, so in poverty, affliction and suffering, 
 our brother walked with his Saviour. My friend was to me an 
 interesting study. As he comforted me during my my own 
 long continued suffering, it was always the one thing he said, 
 **Pray, commune, depend upon God." And then I felt that he 
 was indeed a man "full of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 If further evidence were needed to show that our brother 
 was filled with the Divine spirit it was his ever eager, longing 
 thirst for souls. He could well say, "I seek not yours, but 
 you." I have spoken of his well-wishing towards others, but 
 it was all to the end that he might moke them not only good 
 citizens, but heirs of the kingdom of righteousness. What can 
 account for his manner of life but this ? It could not be 
 money; or then he had strangely mistaken his calling. Nor 
 could he be thinking of honor, for he had thrown in his lot 
 with the despised Nazarene ? No, No ! He was after men. 
 He thought only of their salvation, he could only be satisfied 
 with their conversion. It was enough for him that they were 
 
148 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 men and women. Poor they might be, fallen, aye trembling in 
 every fibre with drink or passion, he discerned the broken, dis- 
 torted image of God, and because he was "full of the Holy 
 Ghost" he sought their redemption. 
 
 III. The last point to which I shall refer is that our City 
 
 Missionary was a man full of faith. He believed in the saving 
 
 power of the Gospel of Christ. He was not ashamed of it. 
 On the contrary he preached with faith that the God of Grace 
 
 might bless his words to the winning of precious souls. I have 
 heard of several sermons of his being specially blessed ; and 
 this was because the preacher emptied himself and thought not 
 of the praise of men, but looked on high for power. Remem- 
 ber too his self-assumed office as chaplain in our jail. What 
 took him there every Sabbath morning? It was faith in the Gospel 
 to save our criminals. What led hira to visit the prisoners dur- 
 ing the week ? It was the conviction that nothing but the 
 Grace of God could lift up these unfortunate fellow creatures 
 and restore them to the image of God. For some time past 
 he never entered his pulpit without feeling that this might be 
 his last opportunity and because of this he could only speak 
 with deep solemnity and burning aAection. He had himself 
 received the gift of salvation by believing in the Gospel of 
 divine grace. He felt what it had done for him. He knew 
 what it could for others. And hence with faith in God he 
 presented his message. On the last occasion when addressing 
 his people he spoke from the words in James, "Blessed is the 
 man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried he shall re. 
 ceive the crown of life." He spoke with premonition of his 
 coming death. He solemnly impressed his hearers with the 
 thought that this might be his last sermon. He implored the 
 Divine blessing upon his words. It was with unspeakable joy 
 he spoke of the crown of life. He already beheld the reward, 
 and many were deeply solemnized by his earnest manner. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 149 
 
 Would that every sermon were preached and every lesson 
 taught with like faith ! 
 
 Ojr brother was full of faith in the providence of God. He 
 had long pondered over the problem of city mission work. He 
 had counted the cost and said, " Here am I, send me." His 
 many friends, who were interested in the Mission when it was 
 first proposed, were anxious about his support. Amid their 
 discussions as to ways and means Mr. Schuster stood up and 
 Said, "I ask nothing from man, I look to God for support." 
 And full of faith in his Heavenly Father putting it into the 
 hearts of others to send him money as required, he undertook 
 the Mission. Surely it was a sublime sight to see this man of 
 God "going forth and weeping, bearing precious seed," without 
 thought of earthly reward. While he had nothing to say 
 agamst the ordinary plan of ministerial support, for a work like 
 his he preferred the principle of looking to God for his main- 
 tenance. I think that as a community we have reason to 
 grive in not having given more to the Mission, yet it is interest- 
 ing to find that the method adopted was so far successful. I 
 believe that during the first year the amount thus raised was 
 less than $50 and the second year ( or 1882 ) $138, while the 
 last report shows an income of $360 with an additional $700 
 from a legacy made payable to any Christian Jew with such a 
 Mission. Had our brother been spared I believe the normal 
 income would have mcreased from year to year. I have faith 
 in a work like this being supported in the manner described 
 for the work appeals to all, it is undenominational, it is intend- 
 ed for the general good. We cannot help wondering at the 
 results of Muhler's labors, who supports thousands of children 
 and has bought lands and built houses for his orphange without 
 asking of man a smgle penny. He has frequently not known 
 whence would come breakfast or dinner for his large family, 
 but come it did. There has never been want. And I believe 
 the work will go on in this way until it again doubles or quad- 
 
15° 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 ruples itself. So it is with many Christian enterprises in our 
 day. Given a benevolent, nonsectarian work that appeals to 
 all, and that is world-wide in its sympathies, and I have faith 
 in its support being ensured from the Lord. As it was, Mr. 
 Schuster was contented with his day of small things. At first 
 I felt most anxious about his support, but he always answered 
 my questions with a smile, saying, "It is all right; God pro- 
 vides." 
 
 The loss of our City Missionary is a severe one. This will 
 be more and more felt as we miss the familiar form of our 
 friend from the streets and our various meetings. I am satis- 
 fied that the work will go on in the lines laid down by our 
 brother. Let me appeal to the community to rally round our 
 City Mission. We know what it is and what it is intended to 
 accomplish- While our Missionary, as he has he said to me, 
 "had a desire to depart and be with Christ," he would fam 
 have stayed a little longer for the sake of the work. He said, 
 "by the blessing of God I have laid a foundation." It is for us 
 now to build upon this foundation. I cannot imagine our not 
 doing so. Everything appeals to our sympathies. The labors 
 of Mr. Schuster, his self-denial, his faith, his sudden death, the 
 ever pressing need of such a work, the good of children, the 
 necessities of the poor, the riot, intemperance and debauchery 
 that abound, the voice of conscience, the call of God, are all 
 saying "keep up the good work." 
 
 Our brother rests from his labors. He sleeps in Jesus. It 
 is my prayer for myself, "Let me die the death of the righteous, 
 and let my last end be like his." Let this also be your prayer, 
 and now in bidding farewell to our beloved friend until we 
 meet again, let me say in these beautiful words : 
 
 "Calm on the bosom of thy God, 
 
 Fair spirit, rest thee now, 
 E'en while on earth thy footsteps trod, 
 
 His seal was on thy brow. 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 151 
 
 Dust ! to the narrow house beneath, 
 Soul ! to the home on high. 
 
 They thai have seen thy look in death. 
 No more may fear to die " 
 
 . A LETTER TO MOTHERS. 
 
 Mr. Editor, — I am not in the habit of writing, I would 
 not write now, but wishing to have a little talk with some friends» 
 and as I have not time or strength to go from place to place, I 
 will take this opportunity, with your permission, of saying a 
 few words through your paper, believing God's blessing will rest 
 upon what I may be directed to say, I am a true believer in this 
 passage, 'Train up a child in the way he should go and when 
 he is old he will not depart from it' He will not depart from 
 it, God says it, and it cannot be otherwise, 'The grass withereth* 
 the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. 
 This is why we have the Mission. It is true that our work 
 may appear to some of little or no importance, but we have 
 this knowledge that God approves of it ; and it is He who says 
 unto us "go forward," *Lo I am with you always,' 'I will never 
 leave thee nor forsake thee.' Don't you think we ought to be 
 encouraged, knowing that this work will and must tell, not only 
 in time, but throughout the countless ages of eternity. We 
 know that from the beginning it has been of the Lord's own 
 planting and not of ourselves. We also have the assurance 
 that our Father will uphold his own cause and will take special 
 care of those who are engaged in it. Please turn to Matthew 
 25th chapter, read carefully from 31st verse through the chapter. 
 •I was in hunger and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty and ye 
 gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me in,' &c. Give 
 attention to the Lord's answer, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it 
 unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it 
 unto me.' Just think of Christ's love for His own dear child- 
 ren, and the bles&ings upon those who help them. They do 
 
 f I 
 
 ri 
 
 ii 
 
 'f 
 
152 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 it unto the Lord himself. Who would not follow such a friend 
 as Jesus all the way from earth to heaven ? My earnest prayer 
 is that you may have your eyes opened to the fearful responsi- 
 bility that rests upon you, mothers, and all those who have the 
 oversight of children. When our boys were about three years 
 old, I saw a strong tendency to evil. So fearful did their case 
 appear to me, that I was led to the conclusion that my wisdom 
 was but ignorance and my strength weakness. This knowledge 
 led me to cry unto God my Father for the right kind of 
 wisdom, that I might live and act before my children as God 
 would have me do ; fully realizing that my words and actions 
 would live in the hearts and lives of my boys ; not only through 
 time but throughout eternity. Oh, mothers ! I call upon you 
 in the name of my Saviour and your Saviour, to look into 
 this all important matter. Will you believe that you are mak- 
 ing a coat tor your child that must be worn not only in time but 
 forever in the world to come ? 1 entreat you, before you close 
 your eyes to-night, for the sake of your dear children, for your 
 own happiness, and for Christ's sake, to no longer neglect this 
 salvation, which Christ now offers to you without money and 
 without price. Receive him now into your heart. 'Learn of 
 me,' are the words of Christ. You cannot teach your children 
 that which you have not learned yourself. Oh ! learn the story 
 of Jesns' love. Although it may cost you considerable self de- 
 nial, it will bring you peace and joy to which you have hitherto 
 been a stranger. As I pass up and down the street sometimes, 
 and look into the innocent little faces of those whom I know 
 are not being trained for happiness here and heaven hereafter. 
 I say to ntyself, how much I would like to have the care, if 
 possible, of all such till they are about ten years old, as I fully 
 believe that if the good seed of righteous living is sown into 
 their young and tender hearts, no earthly power can erase the 
 first impressions, and the precious seed that is early sown will 
 abide forever. M. E. Schuster. - 
 
OUR MISSION—WHOSE? 
 
 By Rkv. J. J. Rice. 
 In the years gone by, my de^r friend, the late lamented 
 Anselm Schuster, gave up his position as a Bible Christian 
 Minister, casting himself as a special charge upon the Lord, 
 and devoted himself with characteristic earnestness to that por- 
 tion of the city population for whose souls no man seemed to 
 care. No doubt, his' best friends deemed the good man erratic, 
 and, in their opinion, the early collapse of his enterprise was a 
 forgone conclusion. But time, which always clears away the 
 mists, and often makes manifest the folly of fancied wisdom, 
 has demonstrated the utility of Bro. Schuster's work and' thus 
 has justified his course. Its vindication is seen in the amount 
 of good accomplished — good the bulk of which, but for his 
 faith in God and zeal in the Master's service, had never been 
 begun; and the ever-mcreasing recogrition of this Evangelis- 
 tic, non-sectarian work, by Christian philanthropists, and the 
 constantly growing sustenation v/hich the good work evoked, 
 IS supplementary evidence in the same direction. And now 
 that the Lord has seen fit to remove His servant from toil to 
 rest, his work has so commended itself to the community, that 
 the Evangelical Alliance, comprising the Evangelical clergy- 
 men of the city, have determined that this work must go on ; 
 and have made out a plan of appointments for the Mission, 
 which the several pastors alternately supply at the regular hour 
 on each Lord's day. Calculating on the forbearance of my 
 people, I filled my appointment at the Mission building, on 
 Sunday evening, 4th October, and, in doing so, I was more 
 deeply impressed than ever with the importance of the work. 
 An interesting congregation had assembled of a class of our 
 population which had evidently been gathered up by devoted 
 missionary effort or they would still have been outside gospel 
 influence and work. The ordinary service over, and after a fe>y 
 
 f^ 
 
words from Mrs. Schuster (now in full charge of the work), 
 several of those present stood up for prayer, and ere the meet- 
 ing closed, some were rejoicing in the God of their salvation. 
 Here was tangible e /idence, most conclusive evidence of the 
 importance of this Mission. Of the regular congregations 
 gathered into the several church edifices on that evening, in 
 how many, I thought, were heard the cry for mercy and the 
 shout of the new-born babe in Christ. Yet in that homely 
 little building, and among a class not certainly the most likely, 
 this was realized ; and no uncommon event there either as I 
 am happy to learn. And now I would repeat the heading of 
 this brief article, " Our Mission— WHOSE ?" Every child in 
 our fair city should havie a proprietary interest in it, and if so, 
 should honor that interest by, in someway, rendering it aid. 
 Those whose hearis the Lord may touch in that direction, will 
 continue to aid financially ; and in this same direction every 
 congregation may render valuable help, without heavy sacrifice, 
 by cheerfully foregoing the service of its pastor, only at long 
 intervals, so that this Mission shall hnve in perpetuity the most 
 effectual supply in our power to bestow. Thus every church 
 member will feel to say of it " Our— my — mission," and as 
 such, will not fail to sacrifice and pray for this, as for every 
 other valuable interest he calls his own. "" ' 
 
 CITY Mission pic-nic. 
 
 The Annual Excursion of the Day and Sabbbath Schools, 
 and friends of the Mission, took place per Str. Quinte, to 
 Trenton on Tuesday, 15th Sept. It was an enjoyable day, 
 and the large number on board enjoyed themselves to their 
 hearts' content. Plenty of good things were enjoyed with keen 
 appetite. We have to thank the Messrs. Rathbun for their 
 kindness on this occasion as well as fpr their general interest 
 in the Mission work 
 
 ■;!-'ii'i'4n!'V> 
 
 
 
 .;-i^||||<i.5.^/ 
 
 :ti 
 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 '55 
 
 THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE. 
 
 The late City Missionary laid down as a distinctive principle 
 not to accept a salary from men. He exemplified the volun- 
 tary principle in its very highest form. He looked to God to 
 put it into the hearts of men to contribute to his support. He 
 did not ask money of any one. When it was urged that steps 
 should be taken to secure a salary, Mr. Schuster steadfastly re- 
 fused, and said he looked to God for what he needed. No 
 one could doubt his sincerity, for during the whole period of 
 his labors as City Missionary he lived in this way. He believ- 
 ed in this principle for his work, and he was not disappointed. 
 
 The City Mission will still be carried on according to this 
 plan. Mrs. Schuster will carry on the work in the lines laid 
 dowd by her beloved husband. She will, as we say elsewhere, 
 visit the poor and sick, conduct the Sunday School and be the 
 leader in the manifold work so well begun. Miss Wright will 
 carry on the Day School in the same way as before. The ser- 
 vants of the Lord do not look to man for support. They 
 undertake for the Master in the faith that He will care for 
 them. We believe they will succeed, for their hearts are right 
 in this matter. We trust to see the voluntary principle even 
 more fully exemplified in their case than it yas with Mr. 
 Schuster. Let us all pray for them and their work. Let us 
 sympathize with them, and when we feel the Spirit of God 
 prompting us to cast into His treasury for the City Mission, 
 let us give at once. He gives twice who gives quickly. 
 
 ' OUR MISSION. 
 
 While the Rev. Mr. Schuster has been taken from our midst, 
 and while deeply regretting the loss to the Mission, we cannot 
 believe that his work is now ended. Such has never been the 
 cage in the dealings of God with his people. The removal of 
 
«S6 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 a servant of His means, we doubt not, the elevation of his 
 work to a higher plain. One nan sows the good seed, and 
 another reaps the harvest of souls. The mantle of Elijah falls 
 upon the shoulders of Elisha. Paul leaves his work to be carried 
 on by his sons according to the spirit Timothy and Titus 
 and the numerous persons whom he was the means of saving, 
 Luther is followed by his Melancthon. A minister who in the 
 estimation of his people is necessary to the congregation dies 
 and in doubt the question is asked, " Where can a worthy 
 successor be found ? " And then God raises up just the man 
 who is suited for the place. So we believe the work of our 
 City Missiouary will be continued. If we be true to our 
 mission, it will be more blessed than ever. In the meantime, 
 it is for us to follow the light which God will give. Blessed be 
 His name, we are not without light now. Mrs. Schuster, who 
 has proved herself an excellent helpmate in the Mission, will 
 carry on the work. With her bereavement sanctified she will 
 be more the friend of the poor and suffering than ever. Who 
 that has heard her telling addresses and earnest prayers can 
 doubt her ability and willingness to take up the task which has 
 fallen to her lot ? She will be aided by the city Ministers, 
 some of whom have conducted the Sabbath evening service 
 during the past month, and the rest will follow in order. The 
 Thursday prayer-meeting as well as a Sabbath service have been 
 conducted by Mr. Northrup ; others are to follow, such as 
 Messrs. Richardson, Vermilyea and Brown. And what of 
 others who are well able to conduct the Sabbath services and 
 prayer meetings of the Mission ? May we not look for many 
 lending a helping hand ? It is a golden opportunity for willing 
 laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. As well as being a 
 blessing to others, they will be greatly blessed in their own 
 souls. Let us have men of faith and prayer, volunteering in 
 the service of the Captain of Salvation and who can doubt that 
 pur Mission will contmue to blossom and bear* fruit ? ^ 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORIt. 
 
 IS7 
 
 •* Prove me herewith, sailh 
 the Lord ot Hosts." 
 
 God declares His faithfulness, and invites His people to 
 prove Him for themselves and see if He will not fulfil His 
 promises to them. Nearly all the promises of God to men are 
 made on certain conditions to be met and complied with on 
 their part. Now, we think we may safely say that all prayer 
 offered to God for blessings promised, when the condition on 
 which the promise was made has not been complied with fully 
 on the part of the praying one — that such prayer will not be 
 answered, and that in offering it we do not in any sense prove 
 God or test His faithfulness. God promises to open the 
 windows of Heaven and pour a great blessing on His people, 
 but only on condition that they " bring all the tithes into the 
 storehouse " and so they cannot " prove Him " until their part 
 is performed. " Return unto me and I will return unto you, 
 saith the Lord of hosts." Here the promise is plain and 
 emphatic. But Israel must return to the Lord first in order 
 to ** prove Him." He says, too, that " He is faithful and just 
 to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'' 
 But when and on what terms does He thus promise ? Why, 
 when we " repent and forsake our sins." He also promises to 
 receive us and to be a Father unto us, and make us His sons 
 and daughters. But on what conditions does He make this 
 great and precious promise ? The conditions are, that we 
 come out from among the worldly and ungodly, and be separ- 
 ate, and " touch not the unclean thing." In case we comply. 
 He invites us to prove Him, and test His love and mercy. His 
 faithfulness and power to save to the uttermost. Christians, 
 are we offering our prayers from " promise grounds " ; or in 
 such a way and manner as to prove the Lord's faithfulness and 
 willingness to save, and to answer and bless ? God is waiting 
 to prove to us that His promises are all sure, and He is asking 
 and entreating us to prove Him and see if He will not fulfil 
 
«S8 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 all on His part. He has an undoubted right to make His own 
 terms consistent with the perfection of His own nature, and 
 
 He will not chana;e them or lower the standard in the least to 
 suit our sinful hearts. Let us get where we can prove the 
 Lord's faithfulness when we pray. A. W. Main. . 
 
 THE OLD HOME. ' - 
 
 ^ •• Backward, turn backward, Oh Time in thy flight. 
 Make me a child again just for to-night." 
 
 Who is there, that has gone out from childhood's home and 
 can see the dear place only by the aid of the eye of memory, 
 through the mist of intervening years, who does not sometimes 
 feel a heartsick, homesick wish that in some way the years 
 might roll backward, and leave us again at the spot we once 
 called home. i 
 
 Sometimes in our dreams we are permitted to visit the 
 familiar scenes, but all too soon we are brought back to face 
 the present and to realize that the swift train of time has carried 
 us miles and miles beyond the door of the dear old home, and 
 there is a sigh in our hearts when we remember that this train 
 only goes one way, and that never again on this earth will we 
 come to the spot so lovingly enshrined in our memories. 
 
 Do you remember that home ? We were boys and girls 
 then, we are men and women now. We had Father and 
 Mother then. They were strong and brave and it did not seem 
 that they could ever be otherwise. There were merry voices 
 then, that made glad music m that circle. We never thought 
 then that that music would be hushed and that our hearts 
 would grow cold and out of tune for want of those happy music 
 makers. 
 
 Father, Mother, Brothers, Sisters, Playmates and friends of 
 
REV. A. SCHUStER ANt) HIS-WORk. 
 
 »S^ 
 
 our young life, where are you now ? In vain we call. There 
 is no answer. The voices that were so loved are hushed 
 forever. The fire upon the hearthstone of that home has gone 
 out and those who once gathered there have left the place in 
 desolate loneliness. 
 
 Some have folded their weary hands, and laying down their 
 burdens they have passed over the shining river. Others have 
 been driven by the winds upon the ocean of life until they are 
 scattered far from each other. 
 
 Will the old home circle, now so broken, ever be reunited ? 
 Not on this earth, not on this earth, but in " the home beyond 
 the river " in " the mansions above." In my Father's house 
 Christ has gone to prepare a home for us. 
 
 i 
 
 In those mansions the old home circle shall again be perfect, 
 the fire shall again be lighted on the hearth. Father, Mother, 
 Brother and Sisters shall be there, and once again our hearts 
 will be made glad by the music of loved ones, and there shall 
 be no more parting, nor sorrow, nor pain, there in that home 
 ;n the mansion of God. . . 
 
 , . Written by Mrs. Schuster for '^ Our Mission^ 
 
 c y''. -, " Learn of Me." — Matt, xi, 29th verse. 
 
 As parents we like to send our children to the best teachers, 
 that they may be well instructed, and get on as fast as possible. 
 After entering the school of our choice, their names are enrol- 
 led, lessons entered upon, &c. Apparently all is prosperous, 
 but soon we hear complaints of long and hard lessons, and 
 many other trifling excuses are given by them to hinder their 
 onward grogress. It is true that,- in proportion as we value the 
 happiness and interests of our children, we will and must urge 
 them forward by giving them every possible encouragement 
 
i6o 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 speaking well of the teachers, their wisdom in choosing lessons 
 best suited to the mind of each child, and the great benefi 
 arising from strict obedience, and as some of them as yet have 
 not learned to value education as they ought, we may at times 
 be compelled to use the rod rather than allow them to have 
 their own way. 
 
 Thus our Heavenly Father deals with us. We who are 
 Christians have entered the school of Christ. Our names are 
 eurolled in the Book of Life ; our teacher is the Lord Jesus, 
 He who is too wise to err and too good to be unkind. The^ 
 lessons He has given us to learn are rather difficult ; more 
 particularly wil] we find them so till we have learned to know 
 ourselves. When we have this knowledge we shall realize 
 " That without Christ we can do nothing." Trusting His 
 strength, we can do all things, and as we go on from conquer- 
 ing to conquest, we hear the Master's voice speaking to us, 
 (Matt, vi, 50 V.) *' Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." 
 
 OUR MISSION. 
 
 ^ ______ 
 
 The work of the City Mission was practically closed for the 
 year with a joyous Christmas Festival. The interior of the 
 building was beautifully decorated with evergreens by Miss 
 Eliza Bonar. Santa Claus was in his glory when h^;. covered 
 our Christmas trees with a variety of gifts. Owing to the 
 kindness of Mr. Thomas Ritchie and other friends there was 
 an abundant supply of good things for the Day and Sabbath 
 School children. The exercises were gladsome and instructive. 
 If earnest wishes that the present year be one of decided 
 success for our Mission amount to anything, we may well 
 expect a blessing upon this work during 1886. For this indeed 
 we pray in faith — nothing doubting — that God will give many 
 signs of His presence with us. While thanking our Heavenly 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 |6| 
 
 Father for the grand work and fragrant memory of our dear 
 brother who founded this Mission, we beheve that his devoted 
 wife with her faithful niece, Miss Wright, will reap, in a large 
 measure, the fruit of his labors. It- is our conviction that the 
 Mission is entering upon an important stage of its history and 
 that no long time will pass away without evidence of this being 
 given. 
 
 A valuable feature of the Christmas Festival was the part 
 taken by Mr. Thomas Duncan, Treasurer of the 
 
 MISSION saving's BANK, 
 
 who brought his books and paid out to the depositors the 
 amounts to their credit, which caused much enjoyment, some 
 returning their money to be again deposited in the bank. The 
 following are the names of those who received from the bank, 
 with their respective amounts : 
 
 Sarah Gibbs, $5.00 ; Lizzie Gilbert, $10.00 ; Ellen Gilbert, 
 $4.60; Kitty Smith, $6.67 ; Ella Hendricks, $3.28; Sparry 
 Vardette, $2.00; Emma Gibbs, $3.00; Cora Foster, $2.40; 
 Walter Phillips, 51c. ; Clara Wallace, $1.75 ; Beatrice Lake, 
 23c. ; Sarah Palmer, $2.00; Mrs. J. Davell, $2.00; Alice 
 Taylor, 50c. ; total, $43-93. 
 
 Th6^ \^lue of the Savings Banjc cannot be over-estimated 
 It is the means of leading poor families to save their earnings 
 during periods of employment and thus having something for 
 times of enforced idleness. It was almost the last saying of 
 Mr. Schuster, •* Put money in the Savings Bank," showing how 
 he was thinking of his work during his dying moments. That 
 it is highly appreciated by the class for whom it is established 
 is evident from the printed statement, and that time will show 
 a growing tendency to cultivate the habit of saving, no one can 
 doubt. To Mr. Duncan, for giving the time and labor to carry 
 
ri« 
 
 WRITINGS COKCBRNINO 
 
 on the bank, our sincere thanks are due and are hereby ten- 
 dered. His highest reward consists in the good he is doing. 
 
 Anptber department of work to which we would refer i^ 
 
 THE BROOM FACTORY. 
 
 The first half ton of the Broom Corn has all been made u,p 
 and sold, yielding a small profit to the factory. The second 
 halC ton hais been bought and paid for, and the work of making 
 brooms is now going on. The design of the factory is to 
 supply work to those who have been reclaimed, or are other- 
 wise needy, and from our experience thus far we can safely 
 Ipok for success. This is one of the objects Mr. Schuster had 
 iDost at heart, and is evidence of his forethought and also of 
 his disinterested efforts in the interests of the poor. We n^ay 
 further state that it is the intention of Mrs. Schuster in the 
 spring to put up another building on the farm in which there 
 will be a shop for the Broom Factory and a play-room for the 
 children. Here we may also speak of 
 
 THE INDUSTRIAL FARM. 
 
 The soil is admirably adapted for fruit raising, and for this 
 purpose work will be needed through the growing and in 
 gathering seasons. This will give employment to a number 
 of persons, and by-and-by there will be accommodation for 
 several more children. The* ground and buildings are dedi- 
 cated to the Lord, and by this means being blessed of God we 
 expect to accomplish much good. 
 
 THE SABBATH SERVICES, 
 
 including Sunday School and evening meetings, have been 
 very well sustained. To those clergymen and laymen who 
 have given their valuable aid in carrying on these, we tender 
 our heart-felt thanks, and it is our hope that these and other 
 laftiten will kindly help us in this v'Oik. It is pleasant to 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 163 
 
 think that we can point to not a few who have been ^iiigiMj^ly 
 blessed at those meetings. We believe that this is but tht 
 beginning of what will prove to be a grand work of tu|ri>iii^ 
 m^ny from darkness unto light, and leading such to accept tl^ 
 gF9^ious invitations of the Saviour. 
 
 We must not omit to speak of 
 
 THE DAY SCHOOL. 
 
 This is kept up with unflagging zeal and unsparing effort bjr 
 Miss Wright. The attendance has »en good all along. 
 Many, who have been led to taste the pleasures of education, 
 have gone to the public schools, while others have learned the 
 three Rs to the extent of bemg useful. There is a constant 
 succession of children, and many young persons are now in 
 employment as household servants. Miss Wright ministers to 
 tlie spiritual as well as to the intellectual wants of the scholars, 
 and is thus doing the very best kind of Mission-woric 
 
 THE WEEK OF PRAYER 
 
 was observed every evening in the Mission building. 'The 
 attendance varied from 23 on Monday to about 7r on Friday. 
 Throughout an excellent spirit was manifested. Many of the 
 converts spoke and sang and prayed. The spirit of God was 
 present with us. Meetings every evening, except Saturday, 
 have been kept up for some time, and they will be continued. 
 We earnestly plead with Christian workers to rally around this 
 centre of missionary work. Let each give an evening to it 
 every now and again, and '"*; can assure such of many blessed 
 results. 
 
 , In addition to the moneys which were sent to the Mission at 
 Xmas, we have to acknowledge the receipt of $20 received 
 from the collection taken up at the Mass lieeting of Sunday 
 Schools held on the last Sabbath of the year in the Bridge St. 
 
164 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 Methodist Church. A finer sight has never been seen in 
 Belleville than the thousand children with teachers, parents and 
 friends assembled in that building. As we write the once 
 beautiful church lies smouldering m ashes. What a change 
 from that bright Sabbath, with the children singing the hymns 
 of Zion ! But we thank God that while the building is in ruins, 
 the congregation remains intact. The whole city is interested 
 in the well-being of this Church. The splendid lecture-room 
 and the Church above it were always at the service of the pub- 
 lic. It will now be a graceful expression of gratitude for 
 Christians in the City to unite in aiding their stricken brethren 
 in the erection of a new building which will be even more 
 beautiful and well adapted than the one which has passed away. 
 
 THE PRESENT EDITOR 
 
 Of " Our Mission," now sorrowfully begs to take farewell of its 
 readers. He goes far hence to occupy another field in the 
 vineyard. One of the happiest thoughts that will ever cherish 
 is that he has had some little to do in instituting and carrying 
 on the City Mission. The memory of his warm friend Mr. 
 Schuster will ever be fragrant in his heart. We take pleasure 
 in commending the work of Mrs. Schuster and Miss Wright to 
 the citizens of Belleville, and it will always be his earnest 
 prayer for the Divine blessing upon 
 
 OUR MISSION. 
 
 OUR MISSION. 
 
 Editor, Rev. A. W. Main. 
 With this issue of " Our Mission," we notice with regret the 
 departure from our midst of Rev. David Mitchell, in whom 
 the " Mission " had a zealous, warm hearted, faithful friend. , 
 
REV. A. SCHUSTER AND HIS WORK. 
 
 '65 
 
 Besides aiding greatly in other work in connection with the 
 Mission, Mr. Mitchell since the death of Mr. Schuster has 
 edited this paper, and faithfully discharged his duties in con- 
 nection therewith. We wish him prosperity and God*s richest 
 blessing in his new field of labor. In assuming the charge of 
 this paper I would ask for myself the prayers of God's people 
 that it may continue to be a blessing in the future as it has 
 been in the past 
 
 THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 A PLEASANT TIME AT THE CITY MISSION — THE ANNUAL REPORT. 
 
 " He leadeth me ! oh ! blessed thought, 
 
 Oh I words with heav'nly comfort fraught, 
 
 Whate'er I do, where'er I be, 
 
 Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth vat.'' —Selected. 
 
 The annual entertainment given by Mrs. Schuster's City 
 Mission Monday night was a very pleasant affair. The child- 
 ren of the Mission furnished the programme. They seldom 
 have an opportunity to witness festivities and to participate in 
 them, seemed to afford them supreme happiness. They w^re 
 treated to good things during the evening. Recitations, read- 
 ing and music made up the programme. Mr. A. G. Northrup 
 occupied the chair, and addresses were made by Revs. A. W. 
 Maine and J. J. Baker. The singing was under the direction 
 of Miss M. Holden, who has labored indefatigably in the in- 
 terest of the Mission. If any names are omitted from the fol. 
 lowing report, the parties interested will confer a favor by 
 reporting to Mrs. Schuster : 
 
 The following is the Fifth Annual Report of the City Mis- 
 sion, read by Mr. A. G. Northrup at the anniversary held in 
 the Mission Room on Monday evening, Feb. 22nd, 1886 : 
 
166 
 
 WRITINGS CONCERNING 
 
 The one great loss I feel in writing this statement, is th^ of 
 my dear husband ; this took place in June last, and was ap- 
 parently sudden, though Mr. Schuster had long suffered, and 
 the thought of death was seldom, if ever, absent from his 
 mind. I felt constrained to take up the work wl^ere my hus- 
 band left off. I was too much disturbed in my mind fit fijrsjt 
 to accomplish much; but by and by the Lprd made cle^r the 
 path in which he would have me go. I am convinced th^ 
 the Mission is fully answering the end for which it was intend- 
 ed, and that it has a future before it of the greatest promi&e. 
 Sabbath evening services have been conducted by Ministers of 
 the £van£;elical Alliance and earnest laymen. There is also an 
 excellent Sabbath School at 3 p. m., attended on an average by 
 about 30 scholars. The following are the teachers : Miss 
 Ritchie, Miss Bonar, Miss Wright and Mr. T. Henry, teacher 
 of the High School. 
 
 The day school is now an established institution, in connec- 
 tion with the City Mission. The scholars on the rpU are about 
 40 in number. Miss Wright has taught 191 afternoons during 
 the year ; average attendance 15. Between 25 and 30 have 
 left since the last report came out. The most of them are 
 now attending the other day and Sabbath schools. Some ap- 
 parently receive a little benefit, and pass away into service and 
 out of view. The Home has now been in operation during 
 the last two years, no fewer than 2() persons have been t^ken 
 in from time to time and cared for, till they received pmplpy- 
 ment elsewhere Scarcely a day passes without some one call- 
 ing for help. 
 
 Our broom making is closed for the present, owing to the 
 rise in the price of corn. Work has been suspended, I trust 
 only for a short time. 
 
 Through the efforts of Rev. D. Mitchell there was raised a 
 sum sufjficient to pay for the lot in which my husband is buriedi 
 
i 
 
 MV. A. SCHUnSR AND HIS WORK. 
 
 167 
 
 for clearing and sodding the same, and tor a handsome bronze 
 monument to his memory. The following is the statement : 
 
 Monument and foundation $icx> 00 
 
 Plot at Cemetery 25 00 
 
 Clearing and sodding 8 00 
 
 Expenses 2 00 , 
 
 .Balance for the City Mission work l6 75 
 
 $151 75 
 
 To Rev. Mr. Mitchell and the numerous contributors to this 
 fund I return my heartfelt thanks for this substantial token of 
 esteem for my husband. 
 
 The following are the sums and articles received since Mr. 
 Schuster's last report in aid of the Mission : 
 
 Last May we received a present of a box of plants for the 
 Home from T. C. Robinson of Owen Sound, for which we are 
 very thankful. The box contained 1,000 strawberry plants, 
 1,000 raspberry plants, and 500 blackberry plants. 
 
 About the first of September we received Mr. Schuster's 
 
 Life Insurance through Mr. Northrup, $1,000. Paid on house 
 
 in which we are living out of this money, $500. Paid on the 
 
 Home, $100. Balance due on our new house is $600. Balance 
 
 due on the farm, $328. 
 
 M. E. Schuster.