M 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 7 
 4 
 
 3 
 1 
 8 
 
 
 
 ll;i!l|':;i^ 
 
 
 'I 
 
 [{I'l 1 
 
 ' ■ ' , . ' ' '■!■'. i.i : 
 
 itTiiT ^^HH|H 
 
 '1 
 
 1 
 
 ii 
 
 1'! 
 
 > ;' , ■ 1 
 
 'i,'!;'; V: ' ... ; ■ V 
 
 '■'■'' i. •',' ' ■ ' . 
 
 
 
UCSB LIBRARY 
 X- M ZG?0 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arcliive 
 
 in 2007 witli funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/fromcoalpittojoyOOowdmiala 
 
Froa\ CoaL"Pit to Joyful 
 News Mission. 
 
FROM COAL-PIT 
 
 TO 
 
 JOYFUL NEWS MISSION. 
 
 FRAGMENTS OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 
 
 BY 
 
 "OWD MO." 
 
 WITH INTRODUCTION BY MRS. CHAMPNESS. 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 Rochdale : Joyful News Book Depot. 
 
STOCKPORT : 
 
 Printed by W. J. Tyne & Co. Ltd. 
 
 Edgeley Printing Works. 
 
TO 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND 
 
 MRS. CHAMPNESS, 
 
 REMEMBERING HER KINDNESS, 
 I DEDICATE THIS BOOK. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 MY friend Moses wishes me to introduce him 
 to the readers of this book. Assured that 
 he is well able to speak for himself, I do not find 
 this a difficult task. Yet, as the story here told 
 does not include the earlier portion of his eventful 
 career, it may be well that some words respecting 
 it should be said. Moses Welsby was born and 
 brought up in a public-house, his early surround- 
 ings and habits were rough and wicked, and he 
 literally ran an evil course. He was a noted dog- 
 runner and pigeon-flyer, the racecourse knew him 
 well, and in gambling and drink he spent most of 
 his hardly-earned wages as a coal-miner. Till his 
 thirty-sixth year he lived without God, in a land 
 of Bibles and Christian influences. Some few 
 years after his conversion, he was led in the provi- 
 dence of God to join our Joyful News Mission, and 
 to devote his life to telling forth the news of a 
 Saviour's love. How, and where, he shall tell you 
 himself. 
 
 I have only to add that, as editor, my pleasant 
 duty has been to prepare my friend's manuscript 
 for the press; and I have tried, while amending 
 
8 Introduction. 
 
 certain matters of orthography and construction, 
 to keep the '''Mo.'" in it. I trust I have succeeded, 
 and that those who read his story will hear, as I 
 do, in the earnest though homely language the 
 true and tender tones of the good man whose 
 life, in its humble devotion to God and love for 
 perishing humanity, is such as to make the angels 
 sing for joy. 
 
 Two photographs illustrate this little book, and 
 sufficiently mark the contrast between the servant 
 of sin and the ransomed and renewed soul engaged 
 in work for God. 
 
 '^Behold, I make all things new." ''If any man 
 is in Christ he is a new creature." 
 
 Such is "Owd Mo." 
 
 Eliza M. Champness. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 I. — THE NEW CONVERT - - - - - - II 
 
 II. — HIS FIRST ATTEMPTS TO PREACH - - - 14. 
 
 III.— WAR WITH THE DRINK 18 
 
 IV. — HOW HE JOINED THE JOYFUL NEWS MISSION - 22 
 
 V. — HOW HE WENT TO COLLEGE - - - - 26 
 
 VI.— MOSES AND " PILGRIM " 28 
 
 VIL — "drummer" AND MOSES ON THEIR TRAVELS- 33 
 
 VIII. — HOW THE PREACHER FARED " " - - 39 
 
 IX. — HOW HE GOT HIS NEW HORSE AND "aRK" - 42 
 
 X. — HIS COMPASSION FOR THE POOR - - - 47 
 
 XL — IN THE MARKET-PLACES 52 
 
 XII. — LITTLE CHARLIE'S BOOTS, AND THE PRODIGAL 
 
 SON 56 
 
 XIII. — THE ORGAN THAT WENT TO CHINA - - - 61 
 
 XIV. — HOW " MO." USES PICTURES - - - - 67 
 
 XV. — SOME OF HIS "CASES," BAD AND GOOD - - 7 1 
 
 XVI.— WHAT THE DEVIL LOST AND CHRIST GAINED - 76 
 
 XVII. — CHANGED "CHARLIE" - - - - - 79 
 
lo Contents. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 XVIII. — "mo's." parish, and some of his 
 
 PARISHIONERS 82 
 
 XIX.— THE GAMBLER TURNED CHAPEL-KEEPER - - 87 
 
 XX. — SHADOWS AND SORROWS OF THE DRINK - - 90 
 
 XXL — " BOB," OR, " MY FRIEND ROBERT " - - - 96 
 
 XXII.— MOSES ON PRACTICAL RELIGION - - - 99 
 
 XXIIL — SOUTH WALES, AND A RETROSPECT- - - I02 
 
 XXIV. — WHY HE LEFT THE CARAVAN - - - - 165 
 
 XXV. — THE SECRET OF IT ALL IIO 
 
FROM COAL-PIT 
 
 TO 
 
 JOYFUL NEWS MISSION. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE NEW CONVERT. 
 
 In the year 1881 I was brought from darkness to 
 light — from the chains that bound me to the feet of 
 Jesus. From the first day I found Christ, I am 
 thankful to say, I have 
 
 never been ashamed 
 
 to tell of His great love, though often in weakness. 
 
 I well remember the first Saturday after I got 
 converted on the Monday before. A Lancashire 
 wrestling match was coming off that I should have 
 been taking part in ; and as I came from the colliery 
 that day, I had to go, on my way home, into a field 
 and plead with God that I might be kept from 
 going with my ungodly mates to this gambling-hell. 
 
 But the great struggle with Satan was when I 
 got hold of my pay. " Now," says he, " there will 
 be no harm to go and look on. Tha's no call to 
 bet ony money " (you know, he could talk 
 "Lanky"). But I went upstairs into my room, 
 and as I saw the thousands streaming by the win- 
 dow my feet was well-nigh slipped ; but, praise 
 
12 The New Convert. 
 
 God ! the Lord and ** Owd Mo.''"' was a match for 
 Satan! Glory to His name ! 
 
 After the wrestling, my mates saw me just going 
 to the first Band meeting. Some of them, coming up 
 to me, shouted, ''Now, ' M o., ' hast tabacktt' winner?" 
 "Aye!" I said, "just a trifle." "How much?" "Oh! 
 not much ; a good conscience ; and a' backt Jesus 
 last Monday, and I've never lost sin' ! Tha can have 
 a bit on too, and go with me to this meeting, and 
 we'll pray for thee and tell God tha wants converting 
 from Bull's Yead to Methodist Chapel." Of course 
 all you dear friends will know that I have learnt 
 a bit of grammar since then, and instead of "yead " 
 then I should say "head" now. I. was once in 
 Didsbury College a few hours ; but if you want to 
 
 learn something new 
 
 every day, you must sit at the feet of Jesus. If the 
 schoolmaster has failed, Christ will give you light. 
 
 The Band meeting was now singing hymns and 
 telling what God had done for them, and praying 
 that " Owd Mo." might be kept from sin, drink, 
 and his owd mates. First one prayed, then another 
 got up and said how thankful they was to be there. 
 Of course I knew none was more thankful than me, 
 and I tried to get up, but could not for awhile, and 
 then what I wanted to say was gone. My heart 
 was too full, and we all praised God in tears^ and I 
 went home thanking God for one week's grace that 
 had kept me from the public-house. 
 
 Sunday morning came; the dogs was looking at 
 their master as good as to say, "Is it a race or 
 
The New Convert. 13 
 
 kennel ? " and I shall not forget, as I went out to 
 the Sunday School, how the neighbours was look- 
 ing on, and saying one to another, '"Owd Mo.'s' 
 off to Methodist schoo'." ''Aye, he's going for 
 what he can catch ! " Well, praise God ! 
 
 I catcht it, 
 
 and by the grace of God has kept it ! So the dogs 
 had to kennel, and Christ got the victory. 
 
 Now for the first open-air service at five o'clock. 
 Satan says, "Thou will be laughed at." "All 
 right, devil, send them a letter ; I shall be there. 
 Tha can well afford, tha pays nowt for the stamps : 
 and if tha will rob God, tha'rt not particular about 
 robbing Postmaster-General." And I went. It 
 was cold and wet, but it made me sweat ; and, 
 praise God ! although I got laughed at, I got one 
 of my old mates that Sunday to leave his com- 
 panions and go down to chapel. He gave his heart 
 to God ; and Satan paying bad wages, he has never 
 wanted to go back to his old master. 
 
 You know, the devil is an old sweater. You 
 work for him long hours, and he pays you with 
 sore bones, a starving family, a ruined character, a 
 blighted life, an empty cupboard, and hell ! after 
 doing all you can for him. Man, turn to God, and 
 live. " Why will ye die?" "Once I was blind, 
 but now I see." You cah't find better theology 
 than that. Come to the same Jesus ! Never mind 
 how dark you are, Christ can give you light ! and 
 where there is light there is liberty. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 HIS FIRST ATTEMPTS TO PREACH. 
 
 Well, I shall always thank God for open-air 
 preaching, and for men, as I used to say, that had 
 gone mad. If there had been no mad Methodists 
 at Farnworth like Crompton, and a young local 
 preacher whose name was Young, and Hargreaves, 
 I am sure of this — there would have been no "Owd 
 Mo." to have written this. 
 
 Now for the class meeting. I went to one 
 
 nearly every night 
 
 the first week, to see, of course, what they was like. 
 Some was very tame and cold ; one or two looked 
 that from the first all steam was turned on, and 
 class, I was sure, would help me. So I settled for 
 Thursday night, and Sunday afternoon as well, 
 when over one hundred of us used to meet under 
 the leadership of that good man Thomas Crompton. 
 We had to meet in the Wesleyan Chapel ; the 
 vestry was not large enough for us. Oh ! what 
 times we had then at Farnworth. 
 
 No long prayers and long talks, 
 
 near one hundred speaking in an hour and a half 
 (ah ! the devil got it hot), nearly all converted col- 
 liers and their wives. Of course we was smiled at 
 when praying or giving our experience ; our words, 
 you know, came out all at once, and the members 
 had to sort them out for themselves. 
 
His first attempts to Preach. 1 5 
 
 I must not forget the help we had from our 
 Superintendent, the Rev. Thomas Wilkes ; who 
 every Friday night used to come and meet thirty 
 or forty of us colliers, and give us Bible lessons — 
 so kind and nice. The patience he had with us 
 was wonderful ! So the first Friday night I went 
 home, down on my knees before God. "Now, 
 Lord," said I, " I don't want to shame yon schoo'- 
 mester ; help me to learn ! " 
 
 And then, some of you readers don't know what 
 it means giving drink up, and smoking — cutting it 
 off at one stroke. Well, praise God ! I do ; because 
 I did it, and I started a-being very poorly. The 
 devil said, *' Yes, another fortnight, and then he 
 will be in his grave ! " 
 
 So I said, " If it is so, I'll praise God with a sweet 
 breath when I get to heaven ; it sha'n't stink of 
 neither beer nor bacca." 
 
 Then, you know, we had some grand ministers ; 
 they came to our homes and talked to us. The 
 Revs. Benjamin Dodd and Arthur Westcombe — 
 you know, these two dear men was always laughing! 
 
 If the devil had been at you when down the pit, 
 and near on throwing you down, he seemed to have 
 lost his grip on you when these godly men come to 
 your house and give you a visit, and had a chat 
 with you, and got hold of your hand, whether it had 
 
 coal = dust on or clean. 
 
 These men never lacked a congregation ; they 
 would preach in a cottage or open-air. If we 
 preachers of to-day have had these gifts and lost 
 
1 6 His first attempts to Preach. 
 
 them and our appetites for prayer-meetings — if we 
 have more relish for lawn-tennis than we have for 
 prayer or visiting the people, the sick, and the 
 fatherless — sooner we are back at our trade the 
 better it will be both for God and the people. 
 
 Some of you will be saying : ''Now, it is all right 
 about band meetings, and class, and prayer-meet- 
 ings ; but tell us how you got to be a preacher." 
 
 Well, the third Sunday, at the back of my own 
 door and the public-house where I used to spend 
 my money, I got 
 
 a chair with a good sound wood bottom, 
 
 and I made it into a pulpit ; and, with Bible in my 
 hand, and tears in my eyes, and with heart burning 
 for my mates' conversion, as well as I could I 
 preached Jesus ; and in a few weeks seventy or 
 more of us used to meet every Sunday morning at 
 9-15, and I don't remember ever being once late. 
 
 But, first time I went out to preach ! I remember 
 one Saturday evening, when gotten nice and snug 
 in bed, a rap at our door made me jump out and 
 inquire what they wanted. '*Oh!" shouted a young 
 man, "you have to go and preach for my father, as 
 he can't go ; his throat is very sore. " I said, ' * Tha's 
 come to t' wrong house ; have never bin i'th' pulpit, 
 mon." ''It's *Mo.,' is it not?" "Yes." "Well, you 
 must go at half-past ten to-morrow morning." So 
 Mr. Greenhalgh being a good friend, I got up and 
 prayed about it ; got Bible, opened out 
 
 four big sheets 
 
His first attempts to Preach. 17 
 
 of paper, and got references put down from one end 
 of the old Book to the other. After being up all 
 night making the sermon, I set off a four-mile 
 journey to the little village chapel. In the fields, 
 with' Bible in one hand, and looking at my notes 
 going along, I was going in for having a good 
 time ; but seeing some men on my way, drinking, 
 in a field, I had some words with them, and when 
 I reached the chapel I got rather a warm — or some of 
 you would call it a cold — reception. Mr. Greenhalgh 
 being a favourite at the old place, it made it hard for 
 a new beginner. The chapel-keeper give me a good 
 talking to; then another said ''he would go home;" 
 and it made me wish they would all go home, as I 
 could return too, for my notes had got in a muddle 
 as well as myself ; and when I had done (and it was 
 not long before I had) three out of the four sheets 
 was under my feet, and the one on the pulpit was 
 some of the first, so the other three never was used ; 
 and I said then, if God would forgive me, 
 
 no more notes 
 
 or reading sermons for *' Owd Mo." 
 
 Soon after that event I went to one of our larger 
 chapels, to preach for the same friend. Oh, what 
 a change ! When I got to the chapel vestry, I met 
 a dear old Christian chapel steward. After inquir- 
 ing how it was I had come, having told him, 
 "Well," said he, "if the Master is with thee, it 
 will be right ; we will pray for thee ! " Now, you 
 chapel stewards, kind words are cheap, and they 
 stimulate a brother on his trial trip. 
 
 B 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 WAR WITH THE DRINK. 
 
 You will remember me telling you about my first 
 preaching tour. It was a great trial ; but God was 
 with me. From the first day of my conversion 
 God has never failed in one promise, ''Open thy 
 mouth, and I will fill it." The words God has 
 given me has not pleased every one. In one of our 
 villages where was some four outdoor licensed shops, 
 we started open-air and cottage-meetings ; and a 
 great many of us that had been badly bitten by 
 drink started temperance meetings, for we was sure 
 the hand of God was in it all. These meetings had 
 not been on long before Satan was roused. Two 
 of the gentlemen belonging to these shops tried 
 hard at the next sessions for two public-houses with 
 licences to sell inside. However, us water-drinkers 
 had seen a great many conversions as the outcome 
 of our cottage-meetings ; so, nothing daunted, 
 when the court opened we was there, to fight 
 against the new licence. We knew the battle was 
 the Lord's ; and, praise God ! we did not fight in 
 vain. I got the Rev. Thomas Champness to come 
 and preach for us in a large tent ; on the same 
 ground another Sunday my old friend Rev. Josiah 
 Mee. It is a few years since then. They have 
 tried for the licence several times ; but the devil 
 
War with the Drink. 19 
 
 has been thoroughly beaten, and instead of the 
 " Blue Boar" and '* Pig and Whistle," we have a 
 Methodist school-chapel, and a bit below there is a 
 Church Mission, and, thank God ! 
 
 no public=house. 
 
 Not far away there is a big house with a great 
 many people in that would have been healthy and 
 strong to-day but for the cursed drink, and that is 
 the parish poorhouse. If I liked to give names I 
 could nearly fill a chapter about men that have 
 spent large fortunes in drink, and I am sorry to say 
 some of them have filled paupers' graves. 
 
 I must not forget to tell you about the small 
 Mission-room that was opened on the spot where 
 God touched my heart. A very dear friend of 
 mine, Mr. S. M. Okell, worked hard at this place, 
 so that we opened it; but it was soon too small. A 
 larger took its place ; and, thank God ! every time 
 that I take service here both old and young come 
 and crowd the place out. At this Mission God has 
 wrought some wonderful miracles — men that have 
 gone right home, killed their pigeons, drowned 
 their dogs, and now their blasphemy is turned to 
 praise. If any of you people read this that are 
 singing the drunkard's song, get down on your 
 knees, and the God that snatched " Owd Mo." 
 from the jaws of hell will save you. 
 
 My friends, Satan has a nice way of trying to 
 get back to a shop after he has been expelled by the 
 holy Christ. Why, he came to me as an angel of 
 light, and told me that there would be no harm in 
 
20 War Tsoith the Drink. 
 
 training a man for a race, or keeping a few pigeons 
 for just a hobby — a few nice ones to look at; or "if 
 tha intends going to Band meeting on Saturday 
 night, you can have a couple of hours at theatre on 
 Friday night." I told him something that he knew 
 well enough — that ''old things had passed away, 
 and all things become new." So he had to be told 
 straight out that I had no desire for the so-called 
 pleasures that had ruined me and was doing the 
 same for thousands. Lord, we want to be a type 
 of Thee, that any one may take a copy from us ! 
 
 After conversion I was much called for a few 
 miles round my home for open-air and temperance 
 meetings, and God wonderfully answered my 
 prayers. I spent all night many times with my 
 Bible, as I knew none of it before, always carried a 
 small Testament in my pit-coat pocket, and, praise 
 God ! the seed sown then down that coal-pit is 
 growing to-day. 
 
 "Owd Mo." getting promoted in the mine. 
 
 When the manager knew that I had signed the 
 pledge, " Now," says he, "I have a place that is 
 wanted on, and seeing the change that's come 
 about thou must have first chance." He said 
 again, " ' Mo.,' is it true that you have eaten your 
 birds and drowned the dogs?" "All true, sir, 
 praise God." " Then there is no more gambling?" 
 " No ; I want now to beg a favour of you." 
 "What is that?" "Well, at Bolton there is a 
 minister, and he goes to different places to preach 
 the blessed Gospel ; and God has done so much for 
 
War with the Drink. 21 
 
 me that he asked me to go with him from Saturday 
 to Monday: can I have my place when I come 
 back?" "Aye," said he, '*if tha art going to 
 preach, come and go as tha likes ! " 
 
 Always go to God before you go to sinners. 
 This man sent for me to pray with him before he 
 died. Friends, don't put praying off until it is too 
 late. I believe in prayer because God has answered 
 so many of my own since I began to pray. *' If ye 
 ask anything in My name, I will do it." 
 
 The first year or two of my conversion my faith 
 was much tested — often in the fire ; sometimes all 
 seemed dark : a great deal of old debts to pay off, 
 break-downs at the colliery, affliction and death of 
 a dear little lad. But, praise God ! with a heart 
 nearly broken, I cried to the Lord, ''I will trust 
 Thee ! " " Light is sown for the righteous." 
 
 I well remember one day parting with my last 
 penny to a poor woman, and before dinner-time 
 that day a drayman put a load of flour down in the 
 house. I have never known the sender of it, only 
 God had put it in the heart of some good Samaritan. 
 Yes, God's angels are still going about; and there 
 has been many a baking-day since the angel made 
 Elijah that cake. Often in the fire, but never 
 burned! often in perils and dangers, but '*the 
 angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 
 that fear Him. and delivereth them ! " 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOW HE JOINED THE JOYFUL NEWS MISSION. 
 
 Yes, my friends, I know you want to be reading 
 how I came across my dearest friend, the Rev. 
 Thomas Champness. A bit more patience, and 
 you will get to know. Some few of us colliers, 
 with our leader, went all over the towns or villages, 
 either open-air preaching or in chapel or mission- 
 room. Everywhere we took God with us ; and 
 where we went the Lord blessed us, and souls 
 got soundly converted to God. I shall never 
 forget the first Good Friday I spent in God's 
 service ; it was helping Mr. Samuel Chadwick, 
 now the Rev. Samuel Chadwick," He was then 
 lay evangelist at Stacksteads. Oh, what a time 
 we had, with those quarrymen kneeling at the 
 communion-rail with their hob-nailed boots and 
 white smocks on ! 
 
 ''Well, come now, what about Joyful News?" 
 "Oh, it will take me all through eternity to tell 
 you ! " " Yes, but how did you come to join the 
 Mission?" Well, the first number of "Joyful 
 News," some of them, came to my home at 
 Farnworth. We got them every week, and sold 
 them very soon. After that Mr. Champness 
 came to conduct special services. I had never 
 seen him before ; but night after night I was 
 
How he joined the Joyful News Mission. 23 
 
 with him in the open-air meetings in my own 
 town, and I got then blessings and lessons I have 
 never lost. For months he was within a few 
 miles, and, 
 
 wet or dry, I was by his side, 
 
 after doing a hard day's work at the colliery. And, 
 praise God ! many a time it has been after twelve 
 o'clock when I have landed home; but being sober, 
 I got up at four o'clock again with the old Book, 
 then off to the pit. And oh ! how the word of God 
 helps a man to fight against the flesh and the devil! 
 The love Mr. Champness and I had for each other 
 at that time has never been severed, and I feel if I 
 don't go to heaven before him I should want to go 
 right after him. **Oh, 'Mo.' that sounds like 
 flattery ! " It ain't ! I mean what I say. 
 
 There is another dear friend that has been like a 
 brother, the Rev. Josiah Mee. We have walked 
 out many a good time on a Sunday amongst the 
 coming snow, eighteen miles in and out, preaching 
 Jesus in the open air as well as in chapel, and, best 
 of all, souls saved. You will have heard about the 
 holy saint at Edgworth, James Barlow. Well, you 
 know, he was in for all good work. He belonged 
 to the ** Forward Movement Team;" and I believe 
 he. said to Mr. Champness one day (this was when 
 I worked down the pit), "Could you get Moses 
 to come and conduct a fortnight's mission at 
 Edgworth ? " So it was arranged ; I worked at 
 my trade in the day, like St. Paul, and went to 
 Edgworth at night, travelling by rail and foot 
 
24 Ham he joined the Joyful News Mission. 
 
 twenty miles, and preached in the open air and 
 chapel ; and some of those converts are standing 
 to-day, praise God ! and are good men, working 
 for the God who saved them. Now, then, about 
 our glorious Mission. 
 
 Well, I don't know what our dear mother and 
 friend of the Joyful News Mission — I mean Mrs. 
 Champness, one of the hardest-working women in 
 Methodism — could see in " Owd Mo.," because at 
 that time / could not see much. I knew no gram- 
 mar, and very little theology. But one day I 
 believe the master and her had a committee meet- 
 ing, and she told him she had been thinking, and 
 she was afraid if Moses got lamed or killed down 
 the pit someone would be to blame. So I was sent 
 for, and the offer was made. But I had a good 
 place down the pit, so I said I would pray about it, 
 and consult my friends, some of my very best, and 
 they said, " Stop at home; there is a great work 
 for you here." But the more I prayed, the more 
 God said, "Go !" and I left all, and that was not 
 much, and followed Him. 
 
 I wonder sometimes whether Peter or " Owd 
 Mo." left most. I left a few picks and spades and 
 shot tools, and Peter left a fishing-boat and a bit of 
 old netting. I saw Mr. Champness, so I said, 
 *' Here am I ; send me." But when he told me 
 what he wanted me to do — to go round with a bag 
 and sell books, and take a hammer and nails and 
 put a text-card in every house if I could, and go 
 first to the police-station for a licence, I was glad 
 when he said, after, "I can only take thee on for 
 
How he joined the Joyful News Mission. 25 
 
 six months." Then, if all did not go on right, I 
 could go back and get coal ; and I wished many 
 times that day that 
 
 that six months were up now ! 
 
 "But," says he, "always be Moses; there is a 
 great future before thee. He evidently thought 
 so ; but I did not think much about it at the time. 
 But I did then what I have always done — took it to 
 the Lord in prayer. So I said, "Now, devil, if 
 anyone else can do, I shall not fail." So off I set 
 to the Blackburn Circuit. Of course some of my 
 mates, when they saw the bag on my back, it was 
 their turn to laugh. But, you know, I did a smile 
 as well, when my bag got lighter and pockets 
 heavier, and souls were saved through the word 
 preached. This was in March, 1886. When I had 
 done some months about my own home, and got a 
 bit more " refined," then I was sent, in November, 
 to the old city of York to a mission. I took my bag 
 of books, knowing that, after I left, they would 
 preach. We had a good time in the city ; God 
 blessed us, and souls were saved. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 HOW HE WENT TO COLLEGE. 
 
 One of my first missions was at Great Harwood. 
 I went for a week, but stayed two weeks, as God 
 blessed the work. Came with my old friend S. M. 
 
 Okell to C for another week, but stayed two. 
 
 Sent from here by Mr. Champness to Stockport 
 Circuit, had a very good time, getting a letter from 
 my master to say the Rev. P. Thompson had sent 
 for me to go to East London. *' But," said he, *' I 
 am sorry that I cannot send you 
 
 until you can talk English." 
 
 Of course, being so near Didsbury College, I got 
 inside, intending to look round, which I did. Then 
 one of the young men asked me to stay to tea with 
 them. After tea, Mr. Jackson, the governor, asked 
 me if I would say a few words to the students. So 
 of course I did ; it would have been a shame to 
 refuse after they had all been so kind. So when I 
 got home I told my master, the Editor of the 
 " Joyful News," that he might send me to London 
 any time, as I had a few days before given an 
 address at Didsbury College. So, without passing 
 any more examinations, I was sent to London, and 
 the sights I saw nearly broke my heart. The poor 
 children, the poor, bruised, drunken women — black 
 flesh, pinched faces ; they are on my memory and 
 before my eyes. 
 
How he went to College. 27 
 
 Now, God forbid that any of us shall keep back 
 part of the price any longer. Brother, sister, give 
 God the best part of your life. Thousands are 
 dying every day without God. After being in 
 London a month, I had orders to come to Roch- 
 dale, as all the Joyful News Evangelists was coming 
 for a Conference ; there was about four of us left 
 London together. The rule in Joyful News Mission 
 was that every man had to wear a black tie ; but 
 two of these brethren had got to wearing white ties 
 — whether it was fashion or not in London, I don't 
 know. But coming to Rochdale the black tie took 
 the place of the white one. You could tell who 
 was guilty when Mr. Champness talked about 
 apeing the ministers. Of course I was guilty of 
 not filling some grammar papers up, and other 
 papers — two of us got the big " D " for that ; the 
 other man was sent to the "day school" for some 
 months, and I was asked to go to the caravan. Of 
 course it was a new experience to me. But when 
 the Lord saved me, my cry was, **Lord, what wilt 
 Thou have me to do?" and I said from my heart, 
 "Anywhere or anything for Jesus." 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MOSES AND "pilgrim." 
 
 On August 5th, 1887, I made my first visit to the 
 Joyful News " Ark,"* meeting David Pilgrim and 
 John Longden in the town of Banbury. David 
 soon let me know he was *'boss;" so of course he 
 told me what I had to do. 
 
 First place, look after Drummer, give him plenty 
 of food, and keep him clean. Poor old Drummer 
 — very willing, but slow! However, I did my best 
 for him ; but he shamed his keeper. 
 
 We had good times at Banbury. Open-air meet- 
 ings on the Cow Fair and selling a few books. 
 We came across a Freethinker on the fair. If he 
 had thought more and talked less, he would have 
 made a less fool of himself ; I think he found that 
 out, and went home. 
 
 Sundaynight Igave mylife-story in theGrimsbury 
 chapel. I shall never forget the open-air meeting 
 we had in the village of Cropredy. To see the old 
 thick Wesley Hymn-book and the old people in 
 
 *The Joyful News " Ark," as Moses calls it, was a second- 
 hand gipsy caravan, which we had bought the previous year for 
 twenty pounds. Our good brother David Pilgrim, assisted by 
 others, had done a year's good work in Kent and Essex and 
 Berkshire, and now " Owd Mo." was to take up the honourable 
 toil. How he prospered and made the work to prosper under 
 God's blessing, the following chapters will tell. — Ed. 
 
Moses and '■^Pilgrim." 29 
 
 their smock-frocks; I believe some of the angels 
 would have been glad to have been at that 
 meeting. 
 
 We went from there on to Quinton; held a meet- 
 ing on the green, not much bookselling — David 
 was "boss," and he was a better singer than 
 bookseller. The day after we came on to Long 
 Marston ; we held our meeting in the orchard, when 
 the beautiful fruit was hanging over us, and a good 
 time we had ; best of all, God was with us. 
 
 August II we came to Evesham, and there we 
 got a rough reception. If hell had been opened and 
 all the legions let out, it could not have been worse ; 
 for nearly two hours hooting and hissing was the 
 order. I could stand all that till they came to put 
 their hands on Drummer; but of course I 
 
 stood up for the horse. 
 
 David and I went on the day after to Pershore, 
 **No man's land," where we got the loan of a lurry 
 (the late Rev. J. Broadbent and myself). The 
 people still rough ; but, praise God ! five of them 
 went down with us to the chapel to pray. We 
 spent three days in "No man's land." I held a 
 few meetings in the halls and lodging-houses. 
 
 August 15 came on to Himbleton; had another 
 village meeting among the people with the 
 "smocks." Praise God, I loved the dear people. 
 From there to Stourport, had service in the chapel ; 
 and on to Forest, where I gave the story of my life. 
 At Kidderminster we spent three days. Here we 
 had some good times, not much bookselling. I 
 
30 Moses and ^'■Ptlgrim.^^ 
 
 have often said that some of these places we visited 
 wanted more Holy Ghost power. 
 
 As we came along, and getting near the town of 
 Tipton, some lads shouted out, '*'Owd Mo.' with 
 a boxing-show, has come ! " But there was soon 
 another cry when they saw the Mission-room packed 
 to the door to hear the Gospel of the blessed God, 
 and men and women giving their hearts to God, 
 and signing the pledge. 
 
 Now I had to lose my friend David, as he had to 
 leave the "Ark" for South Africa. I never enjoyed 
 a better, and a pleasanter, and a happier month 
 than we spent together; but we lacked bookselling, 
 and I said, "David, when thou leaves I shall start 
 afresh ; I shall stand markets, and go round from 
 door to door, and I shall take double the money we 
 have yet taken ; what we have taken in the month 
 I have been with thee, I shall take in a week!" So 
 Bilston Market was my first attempt, and we did 
 well. Of course the " quacks " overdid me in 
 selling; I think they could see they had a new man 
 on the job. I think I hit one rather hard when he 
 was talking about his pills, saying they would cure 
 all diseases if they had not gone too far. He 
 wanted sixpence a box for pills ; so I told them if 
 they would take a New Testament they could have 
 it for a penny, and if they would rule their lives by 
 it, if it did not cure all diseases, as how far they 
 had got, I would make them a present of the book. 
 Well, we took a few pounds, closed our van at 
 eleven, went to a good home that was found us, got 
 up Sunday morning looking for a good day, which 
 
Moses and *■'• Pilgrim.'''' 31 
 
 we had with the people at Stowheath. We had 
 some good services in Bilston at Stonefield Mission, 
 where there is plenty of room for Mission work. 
 We stood nearly in every corner of the town with 
 the Joyful News "Ark," preaching Christ and 
 selling books. 
 
 My next market was Walsall. I had not been 
 there long before the devil sent one that he had 
 made both a slave and a fool of. Poor fellow ! I 
 pitied him, but he soon 
 
 got me a crowd. 
 
 Because he would not be quiet below, I said, "Now 
 get up here." He was not going to obey, but I 
 helped him on the van by getting hold of his coat 
 collar; but, poor chap, when I told the crowd that 
 if he had spent his money wisely, and not paid the 
 publican for painting his face and nose, he might 
 have had a chance of getting married, he could not 
 stand any more, so he left me to offer my books for 
 sale, I hope a wiser man. 
 
 I left Walsall for a tour round the villages, and 
 got some rich blessings as I went from door to door 
 with books, preaching at the street corners, praying 
 with the sick and with the old people. Let me just 
 tell you of one in this country — a dear old saint 
 that lived in a very humble one-roomed cottage. 
 As I went to the door I knocked, and I heard a 
 shout, "Come in!" so I did; and there the old 
 lady was poring over an old Testament, the leaves 
 yellow with wear, marked all over. A chair, small 
 table, and about as many goods as Elisha had, 
 
32 Moses and ''^Pilgrim.''' 
 
 except, instead of the candlestick, the old lady had 
 a little wee lamp. Well, I had been out all day, 
 and the snow lay deep, and " Owd Mo." and 
 Drummer were tired ; so I said to the dear old lady, 
 "You seem to love Jesus; why don't you get out 
 of this old hut?" <'Not till I go to heaven," she 
 said. "Well," I said, "supposing we had a cup 
 of tea together; I feel rather cold." It made her 
 look, did that, for she had only parish pay; but 
 she asked me if I had got a pot, so I said, " Why?" 
 "Oh!" she said, "I don't get many visitors, and 
 have not much room, so I only keep this one." 
 " All right, we can join." When she was mashing 
 tea, you would have thought, as I did, she looked 
 that she was counting every leaf of the tea, so I 
 said, "Put some in, mother; you have told me 
 God has always, so far, stuck to His promise. He 
 has never seen you short all these fourscore years." 
 " Nay, lad. He never has ; but if He sees me 
 wasting. He will not be responsible!" "Go on, 
 mother, put some in. A gentleman gave me a 
 packet of tea as I came along; I am going to give 
 it you." It looked as if the old lady 
 
 had got new legs 
 
 for a few minutes, she was so nimble after that. 
 Praise God ! with her parish pay, she could spare 
 a cup of water. I believe she will be nearer to 
 Jesus Christ than those people who are hoarding up 
 great fortunes, while hundreds of people are starving 
 and the Gospel of Christ is being crippled for lack 
 of funds. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DRUMMER AND MOSES ON THEIR TRAVELS. 
 
 When my friend David left me at Bilston, it 
 seemed dark for many a day. Being a sweet singer, 
 he was missed from the "Ark." Well, I was left 
 with a new man and the old horse to do the best I 
 could. 
 
 We came on our way aH through the black 
 country, working from door to door offering our 
 books for sale. Some places I came to touched my 
 heart. Drink and gambling had cursed the home; 
 children and wife covered with rags — clean, but 
 pale; the bit of colour that was once in her cheek 
 when at the altar rail with the man that promised 
 to love her, had all gone. I could not say "good 
 morning" here and "God bless you," well know- 
 ing the children was going to school without a 
 crust; so a threepenny loaf of bread and the word 
 of prayer we left with them cheered me, and blessed 
 them, for one day at least. "As ye did it unto 
 these, ye have done it unto Me." 
 
 When we was in the country, and not many 
 houses for miles, we had time to look round ; for 
 Drummer, the old horse, had travelled a long way, 
 and he was one that did not belong to the " For- 
 ward Movement." He was like a great many of 
 our so-called religious people of to-day — he did not 
 
 c 
 
34 Drummer and Moses on their Travels. 
 
 believe in excitement. Some church officers, they 
 don't believe in revivals, and they say, "What is 
 the use of getting our chapels dirty and the seats 
 filthy? for the people that profess to get converted 
 don't stand!" Thank God "Owd Mo." was con- 
 verted in the fire ! But the first time that I went 
 into a Methodist chapel, one young lady that was 
 by the side of her father in the next pew looked 
 over at my poor clothes, as if to say, " What are 
 they going to bring next I wonder?" Would to 
 God that every church and chapel was thrown open, 
 and every seat free for all comers, and the caste 
 from our places of worship removed, and that every 
 one might be filled with the Holy Ghost ! 
 
 We had service at Brownhills, making our way 
 by Wolverhampton to Rochdale for the valedictory 
 service. Had some good services by the way ; 
 some warm receptions, and some 
 
 very cold ones. 
 
 I remember one morning at Stoke sleeping in the 
 van ; it was so cold that I had to get up in the wet 
 and damp weather at three o'clock in the morning 
 to run about to get the blood to work. But, you 
 know, the Master has gone through it all, so we 
 had His loving sympathy. Praise God ! 
 
 I knew the master of the workhouse near Sand- 
 bach, so as it was getting late I put up Drummer, 
 had a short service in the town, came back to the 
 poorhouse, and billeted there. Day after, just 
 when I was leaving, my heart was well-nigh broken. 
 Coming along the country road, I saw a man and 
 
Drummer and Moses on their Travels. 35 
 
 a woman, four children — nice children ; and the 
 woman, you could see the lady in her style and 
 manners ; and you could see how drink had done 
 its work in the man — a schoolmaster of no mean 
 order; and she had been a schoolmistress, and 
 through no fault of her own she had to be separated 
 from her children in the poorhouse ! I wept when 
 I saw that dear woman at the supper-table, looking 
 over to get a glance at her lad, while I was giving 
 a short address. Oh, what broken hearts the 
 cursed drink and gambling has made in this Bible 
 England ! Man, give it up ! Think of those you 
 have taken from a good home, and have promised 
 to love and cherish ; and for the sake of the dear 
 children that God has given you to care for, be a 
 man ! 
 
 Coming along, the rain came down in torrents ; 
 we got benighted between Stafford and Ashton — 
 too late to put the horse in a stable, as no one could 
 find us any. So I did my best to keep the horse 
 warm outside; and he managed to keep warm 
 inside, for he got to a large sack of oats that ought 
 to have lasted to Rochdale, and he finished the lot! 
 I was afraid to give him water after that, as we 
 could hardly get him inside the shafts as it was. 
 But we did our best, and came gently along, until 
 we got to Ashton ; and one of the ministers, seeing 
 us going by his door weary and tired out, shouted, 
 "Is that 'Owd Mo.'?" "Yes, sir." "Will you 
 have a wash and a cup of tea?" "Oh! thank 
 you," said I; "we are nearly worn out." His 
 kindness will never be forgotten. I warrant the 
 
36 Drummer and Moses on their Travels. 
 
 Master has it down in His book in heaven. We 
 prayed that God would reward him, our friend 
 Rev. R. Martin. 
 
 Well, we came along to a market being held 
 near Oldham. A poor fellow that had called with 
 his wages at the beerhouse, instead of taking it to 
 his wife for the grocer, came to upset us, and asked 
 some silly questions. Of course, when a man 
 spends his wages in the wrong place — spending 
 money for drink that ought to buy bread for his 
 children — he must be silly. And he pushed through 
 the crowd crying, " Eh, mister, who was Cain's 
 wife?" So he was told that I did not know, as I 
 was not there when they were married ; but I told 
 him I knew more about his wife. Both man and 
 wife cried out, "What do you know about her?" 
 So to pacify the wife I told her that I knew she 
 had made a bad bargain by marrying the man 
 she had got; and they both said, *'Yes, that 
 was right!" 
 
 Well, my friends, we left the market with glad 
 hearts, knowing we had left some solid, good read- 
 ing behind ; not the trashy reading that is doing 
 so much harm to-day among our people, both old 
 and young. Landing at Rochdale for the first 
 time with the "Ark," Mrs. Champness gave us all 
 a welcome ; and the poor horse was glad of two 
 days' rest, as well as the men. 
 
 I had come to Rochdale on purpose for the vale- 
 dictory, to see our first dear brethren off to Africa 
 — dear David and our friend Chisnall. You will 
 know that dear Pilgrim has finished his course — 
 
Drummer and Moses on their Travels. 37 
 
 has gone out of the race. Now he is singing the 
 song of Moses and the Lamb. 
 
 After this we went about the town and circuit, 
 selling a good many books and praying with the 
 people. From Rochdale we visited Heywood 
 Market, and we had a poor time. Mr. Kaye was 
 with me with his cornet; but we could not get a 
 tune out of it, as he said it had got some 
 
 dirt in the pipe. 
 
 That put me in mind of some Christians that 
 wanted the world with one hand and the Saviour 
 with the other. Some good brother on the market 
 (my co-worker at this time was Brother Heal) said, 
 "*Mo.' I thought you was going to have a 
 service?" "Well," said I, **have we not had one, 
 for I have been talking from six o'clock till now ? 
 What time is't brother?" "About ten o'clock." 
 So I had to say if I had had no service he had 
 better start one, " because we are going to Roch- 
 dale, as we have not taken for books the price of 
 our market fees and paraffin for our lamps ! " We 
 also went to Bury, Union Street. We had the 
 caravan at the chapel door, while I gave a short 
 address at the Local Preachers' Convention. We 
 had a good time. I shall not forget landing at my 
 own home, Farnworth, on the market ground, with 
 the 
 
 old gipsy van 
 
 and poor old Drummer. Some said one thing 
 about the horse, then someone else made remarks. 
 
38 Drummer and Moses on their Travels. 
 
 " Take notice, if * Owd Mo.' some day does not get 
 drunk, and sell the lot." A good number of my 
 old mates bought books ; some of them for the first 
 time for many years — good books. Before leaving 
 we opened Crompton Street Mission-room, which 
 soon was too small for the people. So after that 
 we opened the Mission at Longcauseway, which 
 has proved to be a great blessing to many a home. 
 We don't count how many souls have been saved, 
 as we would rather count them by quality and not 
 quantity. But all through our travels we have 
 heard the cry, "What must I do to be saved?" 
 To God we give the glory. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HOW THE PREACHER FARED. 
 
 When I got to Farnworth with the "Ark," I 
 caused a great surprise, going to the market in- 
 spector for a stand for a Bible-van. He looked at 
 me, and said, '' Yes, I will give thee room to stand, 
 and charge thee nothing for it." Friends, this was 
 on the spot where I had many a time been stripped 
 to fight, and where I used to sing the drunkard's 
 song. Never shall I forget that Saturday night, 
 when I gave out that verse — 
 
 " But, O the power of grace divine ! 
 « In hymns we now our voices raise, 
 
 Loudly in strange hosannas join, 
 And blasphemies are turned to praise ! " 
 
 Then, with heart full of love for my old mates, 
 with tears I prayed to God for help, and did not 
 pray in vain. That evening the men that I had 
 gambled with and been at the ale-bench with, and 
 others of my neighbours, spent over nine pounds 
 for Bibles and good books ; and, praise God ! some 
 of the seed sown that evening on the market-ground 
 within a few yards where I was born, both first and 
 second time, is growing to-day. We modern 
 Methodists want to pray more for the spirit of the 
 Master and of the old Methodist preachers. I thank 
 God that I have been counted worthy to go through 
 
4© How the Preacher fared. 
 
 a little of John Wesley's and brave John Nelson's 
 experience ; for we have seen places, both village 
 and town, where the Christian people thought we 
 had no appetite, and myself and dear Brother Bond 
 knew what it was to take our mugs and dip in .the 
 running stream and get as much sand as water to 
 drink to our bread and butter. But we praised God 
 for all that was past, and trusted for what was to 
 come. I remember being in one town ; freezing 
 and snowing very keen it was. No one asked me 
 to a bed that day. I sent my Brother home for a 
 few days' holiday. Three services inside and out. 
 No one asked me to have a meal ; so the last ser- 
 vice I preached from Elisha and the Shunamite, 
 "And she constrained him to eat bread." Of 
 course my points were these : 
 
 *'The dear Shunamites are not all dead ; but 
 not many are living in this part. 
 
 "If some great preacher had been coming, two 
 or three homes would have been found for him. 
 
 " Of course your prayer is very good that *Owd 
 Mo.' may be long spared to preach the Gospel in 
 the market-places and in the church is all very 
 well. But seeing to-day that it is Sunday, and we 
 belonging to the Joyful News Mission neither buy 
 nor sell on the Sunday, having had no breakfast or 
 dinner, a cup of warm tea and bit of bread would 
 have done more good than all your prayers. 
 
 " Elisha will never come here ; he has gone to 
 heaven. But some poor local preacher might come. 
 Don't treat him like you have treated me. If you 
 do, he will have to starve or bring his own food," 
 
Homo the Preacher fared. 41 
 
 These people, you see, they only forgot ; for the 
 morning after, in the midst of deep snow, one lad 
 was at the "Ark" door six in the morning, shout- 
 ing "My uncle has sent you some roast meat and 
 cakes." I was just down on my knees thanking 
 God, shivering with a cold chill, as I could not buy 
 a bed in the place. I thanked God for the mercies 
 of another night. Just then a big fellow came to 
 the van. "Hollo!" he shouted, "here am I." 
 "What is it?" "Have brought thee a pint of 
 warm tea." So we shouted, "Glory!" He was 
 one that had been brought to God out of great 
 depths of sin through the Salvation Army. He is 
 like my friend Bailey, a converted china and pot 
 seller. I have met him at many fairs and markets 
 since. We often talk about the pot of tea. 
 
 But, oh ! the next place — what a difference ! My 
 horse was taken to the warm stable; after visiting 
 for three hours from door to door, selling that cold 
 day two pounds' worth of books, going along at 
 two o'clock, I did enjoy the tea, toast, and ^^^ 
 (manufactured by their own fowl — none of your 
 crate eggs !). Well, we had the village chapel 
 full, and men, women, and children born for glory. 
 Praise God for the trials ! Endure to the end, my 
 brother, and some day thou shall wear a crown I 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HOW HE GOT HIS NEW HORSE AND "ARK. 
 
 But I was getting tired of Drummer; he was like 
 a lot of us — he wanted too much of his own way. 
 Sometimes, if you wanted him to turn, he would 
 go straight on. Coming one night from a meeting 
 rather late, through the city of Manchester, I was 
 keeping at the back of a waggon (of course we had 
 to keep at back ; we could not pass anyone). 
 Drummer wanted to turn ; we wanted him straight. 
 But, no; he got the bit between his teeth, and run 
 the "Ark" against the lamp pillar. The police- 
 man, hearing me shout, wanted the name ; but I 
 told him I would 
 
 rather he took the horse ! 
 
 He thought the name was less trouble, so he took 
 it ; but we heard no more of it, for which I praised 
 God. This led me to pray for a new horse. 
 
 I was staying with dear (Grandpa) Charles 
 Champness, and I spent a night's prayer under his 
 roof, asking the Lord to send me money for a 
 younger and sharper horse, as I believe in prayer. 
 I knew it would come. So for a few hours in the 
 early morning, long before day, I sat down to write 
 and tell my friends in the places where God had 
 blessed us about my needs, and money came back 
 
HoTo he got his New Horse and '^ Ark.'' 43 
 
 in every letter save one, so that in less than a week 
 I had seven pounds. The first money towards my 
 new horse, Charley, was from 
 
 a little lad- 
 sixpence, with the father's pound — Mr. R. H., of 
 Bilston ! Praise God for good lads that are willing 
 to give to make the world brighter! So the money 
 came, till enough was sent to buy a successor to 
 poor old Drummer. 
 
 I did not name this praying for a new horse to 
 my co-worker, Brother Thompson, at this time, nor 
 to my master or mistress, until I had got a few 
 pounds together. Then I wrote Mr. C. Heap, 
 asking him his advice about Drummer. As he 
 gave it us, it was only fair that he should know 
 that Drummer had done good service for the Mis- 
 sion, but that the time had come for us to get a 
 younger one. So Drummer was sold to a good 
 man at Widnes for the large sum of 
 
 five pound ten shillings. 
 
 He served his master well for eighteen months, and 
 then poor old Drummer died, not very full of years. 
 I wrote to my friend, Mr. G. Okell, of Farnworth, 
 telling him I wanted a good young horse cheap. 
 In all this I was directed through prayer, and God's 
 hand was in it all ; for a dear man at Walkden, 
 Mr. N. Berry, let us have Joyful News "Charley" 
 cheap. New horse and new harness did not seem 
 to fit in with the old *'Ark;" and I had by perse- 
 vering and practice got into what I should call a 
 
44 Hovo he got his New Horse and ^^ Ark." 
 
 fair salesman, and on market-days I was soon 
 without stock. So I went to God again about a 
 new ''Ark;" told master and Mrs. Champness. 
 It was put in the ''Joyful News," and in a short 
 time all our kind friends responded, the new "Ark" 
 was launched, and we brought it down from West 
 Hartlepool, and our dear Editor opened it on the 
 Town Hall Square, Leeds. 
 
 Some of "Owd Mo.'s" Caravan mates. 
 
 I can't think of the names of all the men that has 
 travelled with me. I must thank God for some of 
 the best and noblest of young men. Others of 
 them that I could name used to sing, "My all is on 
 the altar;" but when it came to rising early in the 
 morning, cleaning the horse, going from door to 
 door with books, they turned coward, and said, 
 "God had not called them to Van work." Some 
 returned to Rochdale, others to their homes (best 
 place for a man that wants a place with all the work 
 taken out of it). But, thank God! I have had 
 some good men. I have found, while looking back 
 the years that have passed, some of my best helpers 
 are still making their mark in the Church of their 
 choice ; and although I have not been the governor 
 of any college, thank God ! some of my pupils that 
 have been trained in the Joyful News caravan — I 
 mean those who have been willing to learn — are in 
 the ministry. We have Brother Stoney right away 
 in Newfoundland, Archer in Canada, Robertson 
 in City Mission, Liverpool. And then we have 
 had the pleasure of helping to make Evangelists 
 
How he got his New Horse and ** Ark.^^ 45 
 
 for the villages, who have done and are doing 
 noble work for the Home Missionary Society — I 
 mean my dear friends, E. Philipson and J. Gledhill. 
 We must not forget our dear Brother Fryer, who 
 did good work with the "Ark;" and I believe the 
 van work gave him a good start for China, where 
 he laboured for some years. Then we had 
 Brother Smith, who had a little training, and 
 is still doing work for the Master. There is 
 no better training school than the Joyful News 
 "Ark," if the scholars will do their duty and 
 are willing to learn ; but there is some people 
 that knows more than the schoolmaster. It gives 
 a man courage, the fresh air he gets braces him ; 
 but it gives him new experiences which he will 
 never find in books, and if he is a bit proud it will 
 soon bring it to light. We had a great many 
 others — Brother Wiles, who did well, and Brother 
 Rennison, and others besides — too many for me 
 to mention, though I am very thankful for them 
 all. 
 
 Charley proved rather too light for the new 
 "Ark;" and I have always found that if you will 
 not guide yourself, and if you will acknowledge 
 God, He will direct your paths. Of course horse- 
 dealing was not in my line; but we had only one 
 horse for two vans. But getting to York we got 
 one on trial for a month. But this was another 
 Drummer — strong, very slow, but sure. He could 
 travel a long way if you give him plenty of time to 
 do it in. I think the owner said he was fourteen 
 years old. Coming on to Wakefield, the people 
 
46 Hcrm he got his New Horse and " Ark.'''' 
 
 kept shouting out, "Stop and give the elephant a 
 feed!" or, "Get inside out of the wet!" But, 
 however, the Lord found us a good horse at Wake- 
 field ; and, going on for six years now, it has been 
 a credit to the Mission — I mean "Janet." I believe 
 my friend Bond, who has done good work in 
 Western Africa, got 
 
 his first missionary experience 
 
 with Janet and the Joyful News "Ark," and made 
 hundreds of friends in England that he never would 
 have made. For I must say this, that in the 
 thousands of miles I have travelled, nine places out 
 of ten we have been well cared for, and we have 
 found all over the country people like the Shuna- 
 mite that constrained Elisha to eat bread. You 
 know, friends, I could tell you of some cold places, 
 but will not hurt your feelings by putting them in 
 print ; for God knows the people that give a cup of 
 cold water. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HIS COMPASSION FOR THE POOR. 
 
 " O that I could in every place, 
 ^ By faith behold Jehovah's face, 
 
 My strict observer see ; 
 Present my heart and reins to try, 
 And feel the influence of His eyes 
 For ever fixed on me ! " 
 
 It would be almost impossible to tell you all I 
 should like in this volume about the markets and 
 towns and different people we have come across. 
 I don't want to mention names of either ministers 
 and laymen ; but I have been entertained these last 
 few years in the poorest cottage and the large 
 mansion, and, thank God ! the humblest has been 
 enjoyed as well as the richest. The farthing candle 
 has not given as big light as the rich man's gas 
 from the chandeliers. But in the house of the old 
 widow that has nothing coming in but parish pay, 
 before retiring we kneeled down, and the old woman 
 in the stone cottage with bare walls, minus pictures, 
 has thanked God for the mansion in her Father's 
 house, and for the crown she was going to wear 
 instead of the widow's cap. Won't the bells of 
 heaven ring when some of these dear old saints 
 have fought their way to heaven through much 
 poverty and trouble, and tribulation ! 
 
48 His Compassion for the Poor. 
 
 " Thank God !" said a dear old creature one day, 
 when a friend of mine put her into a tram-car and 
 paid her fare. When the tram got to the end, she 
 had to be helped out. " Where are you for, 
 mother?" said he; ''how far have you to walk?" 
 And with tears she said, " Only to the workhouse. 
 It will not be for long ; I have nearly finished my 
 course." This was through no fault of her own. 
 I hope, if this book comes into the hands of any 
 son or daughter whose mother is spending her last 
 days in the poorhouse, you will not rest until you 
 have got her by your own fireside, else God may 
 pay you back with your own coin. 
 
 Going along the road with my "Ark," I kept my 
 eyes open ; but sometimes they filled with tears. 
 One day, in a country road, I drew on one side 
 while a pony and trap passed by. In the trap was 
 an old lady. It looked to me she was weeping. A 
 man was driving — he hardly deserves the name 
 that is given him. Getting near the village I saw 
 another woman weeping. "What is the matter, 
 missis?" She said, "Did you meet a trap going 
 along?" "Yes." "Was that old lady crying?" 
 "Yes, she was." "Well we, my husband and 
 me, has kept her as long as we can, but cannot do 
 it any longer. She is not much related. Our little 
 farm has gone down. Yonder man that is in the 
 trap with her is her son, and he is well able to keep 
 her. But he has told her that he will give her a 
 ride into the country; but he will put her down in 
 the poorhouse, and she is ninety-five years of age." 
 She died six weeks or so after, in the same work- 
 
His Compassion for the Poor. 49 
 
 house, with a broken heart. One of my friends has got 
 her photograph. I wept when I saw it, for to think of 
 the son's cruelty. Readers, share your last crust with 
 your parents, and let them have the best chair in your 
 house and the warmest corner, and God will bless 
 you. " Them that honour Me, I will honour." 
 
 " Where are you for now, Moses?" said a friend 
 one day. ''Off towards Liverpool," said I, "to 
 help our dear friend. Rev. C. Garrett." "Oh, you 
 will not sell many books at that place." But you 
 know that false prophets still exist. Praise God ! I 
 not only sold books, but I helped to save the fallen, 
 feed the hungry, rescue the perishing, lift up the 
 devil's castaway (as Whitefield said); and, praise 
 God ! the seed did not all fall among the thorns, as 
 some of it that was sown is bearing and bringing 
 forth fruit to the glory of God. 
 
 " But how did you get on with the roughs at 
 Liverpool?" Well, my friends, in these places I 
 try to get the children. I said to the Mission-hall 
 keeper in Mansfield Street, "Do you think you can 
 fill the hall with children if I can find them a cake 
 each?" We had no call to send bills out; in ten 
 minutes we had the place crowded, and poor little 
 things, about two hundred of them, and 
 
 not a whole shirt or boot 
 
 among them all ! Of course a Joyful News Evan- 
 gelist could ill afford to buy two hundred cakes ; 
 but I knew the same God that told the widow to 
 look after Elijah could speak night after to some 
 man I was preaching to, and so He did. 
 
 D 
 
50 His Compassion for the Poor, 
 
 As I left the pulpit in Great Homer Street Chapel, 
 a good Christian man came and put ten shillings 
 in my hand, and said, "That will do for more 
 cakes," and they got them. Praise God for answer 
 to prayer ! My friend A. Lee, one of the mis- 
 sionaries, got them some hot coffee. It touched 
 the hearts of the parents ; and I believe, as the out- 
 come of that visit, one of the lowest, and one that 
 had been bound with the fetters and chains of the 
 devil — a poor woman many times in prison through 
 the accursed drink, with broken bones — is now en- 
 joying that peace which passeth all understanding.* 
 I find that these dear, drink-cursed people take the 
 plain Gospel in more than some of our young people 
 that come Sunday after Sunday, and laugh at you 
 if you speak to them about giving their hearts to 
 God. Yes, the old Book is true, "the last shall be 
 first." Reader, if unsaved, pray that God will 
 make you clean now, and ask for the old paths, 
 " where is the good way, and walk therein." 
 
 Leaving the great city, we came along, praising 
 God that we had been of some help in God's hands 
 in trying to save a lost world. " The harvest is great, 
 but the labourers are few." A great many Christians 
 are saying, "There is yet four months," and 
 
 Satan is reaping what Qod's people 
 ought to reap. 
 
 Committees are planning how we are to retain our 
 young people. The best way, as far as I have 
 
 * The last time I heard of this poor woman she was dying in 
 ^ Liverpool hospital, through the sins of her youth. 
 
His Compassion for the Poor. 5 1 
 
 found out, is to get them saved from sin in their 
 youth, and find them some work in the vineyard. 
 
 Very often it is the case that, when young people 
 start to work for God, some of the dear old people 
 will say, " Aye, we shall have to be careful, or 
 young So-and-so will get too fast." God help us 
 to 'Moose them and let them go." It was the colt 
 the Master rode on. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 IN THE MARKET-PLACES. 
 
 Landing at a small town not far from Liverpool, 
 two policemen came to examine me, the horse and 
 '*Ark," as some men had turned out with one from 
 some place, had sold the lot, and had run away. 
 They thought they had found the "missing link." 
 However, after close inspection, they let me go, 
 saying they were sorry, as they thought they were 
 on the wrong track. My friends, the grace of God 
 always keeps us in the right track ; I shouted 
 ** glory," and went on my way rejoicing and prais- 
 ing God. 
 
 You friends would like to know how I have gone 
 on in some of the market-places. In one town we 
 was promised a stand close by the public-house 
 door, the ground belonging to the publican ; but if 
 we took it, we had to pay a big rent and say nothing 
 against his trade or drink. Any one that has suf- 
 fered as I had done could not be shut out from 
 speaking against one of the greatest evils of our 
 day, that is robbing and slaying thousands of our 
 friends and neighbours and little children ; so I did 
 not get the stand. But the Chief Constable gave 
 me leave to stand by the Town Hall steps without 
 fee or charge. I had rather a hard time of it that 
 evening. On the publican's ground, four yards 
 from where I stood, was the quack doctor, drawing 
 
In the Market-places. 53 
 
 teeth, curing rheumatics, and all other diseases ; 
 and to lull the pain, he had a black man on the 
 front of his car playing some beautiful music — a 
 big pair of clap-cans. But, praise God ! that 
 evening before eleven o'clock we took for Bibles 
 and other good books over ten pounds. I have 
 never believed in letting the devil have all his own 
 way since God saved me from his clutches. So 
 when the black man stopped while the quack talked, 
 I got my turn — not clap-cans, but 
 
 the shovel and frying=pan. 
 
 The Saturday after the doctor left for other quarters, 
 leaving me alone for a season. I have met him 
 since on other markets; but he always got as far 
 from me as he could. 
 
 On one of the days I was there a collier shouted 
 tome. " Mo ! " says he, "don't speak so strong 
 against the publicans." " Why?" said I ; "what 
 benefit are they to a town?" " Oh, a great deal, 
 when a fellow is bringing a large family up. It's 
 not long since that the publican across yonder gave 
 me an old coat to go to the coal-pit in." " Why ; 
 — did he so?" I said. " If tha would rather wear 
 old ones than new ones, come to me and tha can 
 have an old one every day for a new one." "Oh!" 
 said he, "I never thought about that. It's me 
 that's buying new ones for the publican, and I am 
 wearing t' owd ones out. But I'll stop that, and 
 get mine first-hand !" I hope he has stood to his 
 promise. If he has, the wife and children has 
 found a great change. 
 
54 ^w ihs Market-Places. 
 
 Travelling about from town to town, and through 
 most of the villages of England and Wales, I 
 have seen some cruel sights, as for many years, 
 when health permitted, with books in hand, I 
 have gone from door to door. I have seen the 
 starving wife and children, and bare walls without 
 a picture ; homes not fit to be called homes — 
 no chairs, no furniture of any kind. In one home 
 a poor idiot woman, sitting on an old box almost 
 naked ; could see through her old clothes the bare 
 skin on her body — filthy from head to foot ; on 
 the table a piece of dry bread, an old black tin 
 with a piece of bacon in. The neighbours said 
 they had not seen her outside her door for six 
 months ; they had often heard screams in the 
 house, but none had the courage to go inside to 
 see what was the matter. Husband, a collier, 
 and a son about nineteen, had gone to the pit 
 the same day ; getting good money at that time. 
 But they could never find enough for drink and 
 gambling. I reported the case to some of the 
 guardians and police ; but they said they could 
 do nothing. Had a man treated his donkey or 
 horse like that, they would have given him three 
 months in jail. Would to God that all men and 
 women who profess to love God and their fellows 
 would give up the accursed drink, for Christ's sake 
 and their weaker brethren and sisters, and give up 
 sending the bloated brewers to Parliament, and 
 putting them in our county and district councils I 
 There has been a great many people old and young 
 lost at sea and colliery explosions, and through 
 
tn the Market- Places. 55 
 
 other accidents ; but the 
 
 drink has slain more than all put together. 
 
 O Lord, will Thou help us to slay this great lion 
 before it slays England? Reader, if you have not 
 given it up, do so now for your dear children's 
 sake, and help to put away that which is filling our 
 prisons and workhouses with our best-talented men 
 and women ! 
 
CHAPTER Xll. 
 
 LITTLE CHARLIE S BOOTS, AND THE 
 PRODIGAL SON. 
 
 One day a little lad was being taken to jail for 
 stealing — first sent to prison, then to the reformatory 
 school. His father, that spent three-parts of his 
 time at the ale-bench, told him not to cry. The 
 lad, turning on the father, said, " If you had shown 
 me a better example, I should not be going to jail 
 now." I was hard, and cursed by drink at the 
 time that this conversation was going on. But that 
 lad made me both to weep and to think. Praise 
 God ! those words never left me ; and they helped 
 to convert me from the errors of my evil ways. 
 
 Coming along the road one day, a lad stopped 
 my horse. "Now, what have you done that for? 
 Do you want to buy a book?" "No, sir; I want 
 to tell you about that big house. I saw you looking 
 at it." "All right, my boy ; go on. I am always 
 willing to learn anything good." "Well," said he, 
 "my father helped to build it." "Aye, did he? 
 What is he— a bricksetter?" "No." " A joiner?" 
 "No." "Well, what does he do? Did he get 
 foundation out?" "No. It's been built by a 
 brewer ; and some people call it ' Fool's Palace,' 
 
 and father was one of them I " 
 
Little Charlie's boots ^ and the Prodigal Son. 57 
 
 I was telling this story one day in front of the 
 public-house, as I believe in John Wesley's doc- 
 trine, "Go where the people need you most." 
 That day a man was leaving his home with the last 
 two shillings he had taken from his wife — money 
 that was put up towards the rent. From that story 
 I went on to another, about a man and his friend 
 looking at me one evening while speaking. They 
 both had seen me many times before ; but being 
 better dressed than formerly they came to me. One 
 said, " 'Mo.' is that thee?" So I said, "It looks 
 like me, does it not?" " Aye," said he, " it does. 
 But tha's moulted!'''' So I told them what had 
 made the difference was getting converted and 
 getting better companions, going to the house of 
 God instead of going to the "Royal Oak" and 
 "Rose and Crown." I was looking after my own 
 "roses" at home, and, if faithful, some day shall 
 have a "crown" of my own. One of these be- 
 lieved, took my advice, got converted, took home 
 his wages, bought his own children boots and 
 clothes, and went to the house of God with them. 
 
 Well, the man with the two shillings, hearing 
 this story while at the public-house door, came 
 away without going inside ; came to the crowd of 
 people I was selling books to ; and without me 
 knowing anything about it, or what had led him 
 to think, asked for the two books which was then 
 having a large sale. One of them was "Owd Mo." 
 and the other was the fourpenny volume of "Three 
 People." The following morning, when we was 
 leaving the place — we was putting Janet, our horse, 
 
5^ Little Charlie's hoots ^ and the Prodigal Soft. 
 
 in the shafts — this man came up, with tears on his 
 cheeks, and with him a little lad, about three years 
 of age. He told me how the night before, he left 
 my van, and went home. **The little fellow I 
 now have in my arms was wet-footed yesterday ; 
 but that story you told kept me out of the ale- 
 house. With a little to the one shilling and seven- 
 pence after buying the books, little 
 
 Charlie has got a pair of boots." 
 
 This was a Welshman. Praise God for what 
 God enabled me to do in South Wales ! We had 
 lots of opposition in this part ; but all came from 
 the same dirty spring — the publican. Their gains 
 was going, so they cried out, " What has thou got 
 to do with us? Leave our coast." Of course we 
 did, after going through all the towns and villages 
 we could find, and helping to bless scores of men, 
 women, and children, and trying to plant light 
 instead of darkness. 
 
 In one of these towns I had got permission to 
 stand from the Mayor. The gentleman across the 
 way, seeing what we was up to, came and inquired 
 what I was going to do. '* Sell books, and preach 
 the Gospel," I replied, — "the Gospel of Christ to 
 dying men." He cursed me for awhile, and said I 
 was going to injure his trade, standing so near his 
 door, and we must not open out ; if we did, he 
 would smash me and the waggon too. Of course 
 I heard all he said ; but it did not frighten me 
 much. All he did was to employ about six roughs, 
 that he had primed with some of the dregs that he 
 
Little Charlie's boots, and the Prodigal Son. 59 
 
 could not sell in his bar, to knock with big sticks 
 on a stone that was by us. They got tired out, and 
 left us in the field to take that evening seven pounds 
 for good books. Had we left when told by this 
 servant of the Prince of Darkness I should have 
 missed a chance of a bit of work that angels would 
 be proud to do ; that is, helping to save a man. 
 
 This, as you will see, was on the Saturday. The 
 Tuesday following, thinking of catching the early 
 market, we was at the '' Ark "in good time. Com- 
 ing down the road leading to the "Ark," I saw a 
 young man. It was pouring wet, and he was 
 drenched wet through ; all the clothing he had on 
 was not worth sixpence. Calling him into the 
 "Ark" out of the rain, I said: "Young fellow, 
 you have been better off than you are now. Now, 
 it is not fit to keep you here in those wet clothes. 
 Here, take this money ; get some food, get your 
 clothes dry, and come again." But he would not 
 leave until he had told me this touching story. 
 Says he : "I have been to the river to drown my- 
 self, as I am tired of living as I have done in the 
 past." "What age are you?" "Twenty-three 
 years, sir." " What's your trouble? " " Well, sir, 
 
 I robbed my master at vS . I gave myself up 
 
 to the police ; they wired to my master. He would 
 not prosecute ; it was only four pounds. And it is 
 the Empire Music-hall and Theatre that has cursed 
 me. That is not all, sir. I have broke my dear 
 mother's heart, and almost ruined father's business 
 in Scotland. Will you wire father, and tell him 
 where I am ? " It was done, and two days after a 
 
6o Little Charlie's boots, and the Prodigal Son. 
 
 very touching letter came from the old man, saying 
 what a bad son he had been ; but "if he has got 
 converted, as you say, will you try to get him work 
 down in that part? if you cannot, let me know." 
 Me and other friends did our best ; but because the 
 poor lad had lost his character, no one would 
 give him another chance — only a working-man with 
 a large family, that wanted some cloth making up : 
 he was a tailor and cutter-out. So to the dear old 
 father I sent word that no work could be got. 
 Postal order came to me, I bought the ticket, sent 
 him home to his father, he was well received, and 
 is now doing well. The opportunity for that bit of 
 Christian charity would have helped me to 
 
 have stood all the smashing. 
 
 "And they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
 ness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to 
 righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." The 
 greatest blessing comes after opposition. Go on, 
 brethren, in the strength which God supplies 
 through His eternal Son. The crowning day is 
 coming. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE ORGAN THAT WENT TO CHINA. 
 
 But we have a great deal of work to do before the 
 people of the world are won for Christ. There is 
 so much discord in our Churches, too many striving 
 after honour instead of purity of heart. The greatest 
 sceptics to-day are not in market-places ; wherever I 
 have travelled — and that has been thousands of 
 miles, I have found the people hungering and 
 thirsting after righteousness, and waiting for some- 
 one to give them a kind word. When I saw the 
 first old Methodist chapel in the world, at Bristol, I 
 got down on my knees in the room where Wesley 
 and the other old Methodist preachers used to sleep, 
 and I thanked God for such men, that had suffered 
 hardship and the sneers and scoffs of the world for 
 Christ's sake and their fellows'. 
 
 I have often said that every young local preacher 
 ought to have twelve months' training with a 
 Mission Van, especially those that are candidates 
 for the ministry. It's wonderful what a man can 
 learn if he is willing and keeps his ears open. 
 Coming along the road one day, I saw a lad with 
 hands and mouth fully employed. Of coilrse I 
 watched him for a short time ; then I said at last, 
 "My boy, what are you making?" And without 
 any shame, *'Oh, sir," said he, '* don't you know?" 
 
62 The Organ that went to China. 
 
 ''If I had known, I should not have made the 
 trouble to ask." " Well/' said he, '* I am making 
 a smoke." "Why, do you make your own about 
 here?" "Yes; you see I am making mine." 
 "Why, does tha smoke!" I said. "Yes, sir." 
 " Why, what age does tha call thyself?" " Oh, I 
 am nine!" "And what does tha smoke for?" 
 "Well, you are very inquisitive ; why, my teacher 
 smokes." "Shame on him!" "And I saw a 
 waggonette-load of preachers going out last Sunday, 
 and they were all smoking but one." "Well," 
 said I, " thank God for one wise man among them !" 
 "And," said he, "my father smokes." "Well, 
 now, look here ; thou art not as old as thy teacher, 
 and thou art not as old as those preachers tha saw, 
 and I am sure thou art not as old as thy father." 
 "No, I am not," said he, "But if I live long 
 enough I shall be, and I shall want some practice." 
 This was a Yorkshire lad ; but we have them in 
 Lancashire. I shall not say that either smoking or 
 drinking a glass of beer will keep a man from being 
 a Christian ; but, brother, you will be a better 
 Christian without it, and will have far more in- 
 fluence over the young in the Sunday School. The 
 young people read you and me, if they don't read 
 their Bibles. Jeroboam not only sinned himself, 
 but he taught Israel to sin. God's grace is not 
 much if it cannot cleanse us, and give us victory 
 over tvery idol. Thank God it can ! We have 
 proved it. And I say, brother, down on your 
 knees, and never leave until God has cleansed His 
 temple, and made it fit for His own use. 
 
The Organ that went to China. 63 
 
 We can't catch men with a dirty bait. 
 
 We must walk in the light as He is in the light, 
 before we have fellowship with God or men. 
 
 I have had some blessed times in visiting the 
 homes of the people, and times too of distress, as 
 some of the homes that I have been into have not 
 been half as nice as the brewer's stable or dog- 
 kennel. One I went in one Sunday I cannot forget. 
 Father a drunkard, pigeon-flyer, gambler, and a 
 great many more things that made life not worth 
 living. However, I heard three men cursing ; so 
 going up to them, I had a word with them, and 
 rebuked them for the sin they was committing. 
 One of these men walked away. So following him 
 up, he went into what we must call a home, for 
 there was a wife and four children. Two wooden- 
 bottom chairs, an old table that had seen better 
 days, was all the stock ; only two boxes in the 
 corner that the favourite pigeon was kept in. I got 
 him to the men's meeting ; he came in his old 
 ragged coat. After service, he went home, kept 
 from the drink, came to the night's service, got 
 converted. He sang in the open air every night, 
 his old mates shouting out after he had done sing- 
 ing some beautiful solos, "Aye, he is singing for 
 ' ' Owd Mo." this week. Next week he'll be drunk ! " 
 But being near Christmas, his motto was, when he 
 wrote me a letter some weeks after, '* My son, if 
 sinners entice thee, consent thou not." God grant 
 that he has kept up to the teaching of these Bible 
 truths I 
 
64 The Organ that went to China. 
 
 Drawing my horse up one day in a north country 
 village, the colliers was leaving the coal-pit. I 
 knew that we should not sell many books ; but 
 I began to preach the word. The men stood 
 round until I had done speaking. One man 
 among them, tears run down his black face as 
 he went off to his home ; his past life had almost 
 ruined him. His wife, knowing that I was 
 going to preach in the Wesleyan Chapel, had 
 spent hours that day in prayer, that her hus- 
 band, who had just been six months in jail for 
 poaching, and only worked a few days since 
 his release, might be inclined to go to the chapel. 
 She could see that something was not right with 
 him when he got home ; he had no relish for 
 food. His next-door neighbour, being a good 
 man, and a local preacher belonging to the Primi- 
 tives, went into the man's house. *'Joe, what's 
 
 think to; should us go to this service at B ? 
 
 There is '' Owd Mo." there to-night. Come along, 
 let's off ; it's about time." The wife and friend was 
 a long while before they prevailed, but prayer was 
 answered — they brought their man. While I was 
 speaking that evening, the man came rushing on 
 the rostrum ; being a powerful, big fellow, he pulled 
 me down on my knees, and we both prayed and 
 wept together. 
 
 "Jesus ! the prisoner's fetters breaks, 
 And bruises Satan's head ; 
 
 Power into strengthless souls He speaks, 
 And life into the dead." 
 
 Brother reader, it does not matter how low you 
 
 have sunk in sin. The precious blood of Christ 
 
The Organ that •went to China, 65 
 
 can cleanse you now from all sin, if you are willing. 
 If you have been as long at the ale-bench or at the 
 gambling-table as the man was at the pool which 
 had an infirmity thirty and eight years, the same 
 Christ says, " Wilt thou be made whole?" 
 
 A remarkable answer to prayer. 
 
 One Monday afternoon in W market-place, 
 
 when I had done speaking, a friend shouted for me 
 to come down from the van when all the people was 
 supplied with books. I came down ; not knowing 
 the man, I said, "What is it you want?" "Don't 
 you know me?" said he. " No, I can't say I do." 
 "But you did once. We was on the racecourse 
 together many times ; but, praise God ! Jones as 
 well as yourself has got converted — now five years 
 ago, and instead of fighting and drinking and being 
 a disgrace to many, I have preached in many of 
 our chapels, and am just coming on the plan. Will 
 you come and have a cup of tea with me to-morrow, 
 and look at my home, and see what the Lord has 
 done for my dear wife and myself?" " Where do 
 you live?" " Oh, it is five miles from here ; but it 
 is a good road. I want to give you a little organ 
 for your van. We have got a large one, so you 
 can have the other." Knowing that our dear 
 brother William Argent had been praying for one, 
 I got the organ, gave it to him, and the dear lad 
 
 took it with him to China. 
 
 This man was converted from the lowest depths 
 of sin and iniquity ; a fighter and dog-runner, and 
 
 E 
 
'66 The Organ that went to China. 
 
 living near the canal-side. Many times his wife 
 has been out late at night in search of him when 
 coming home drunk, to protect him from being 
 drowned. The devil and drink tried hard to put it 
 into his head, when going home, to drown his 
 guardian and dear wife. But the devil has been 
 defeated. Christ's grace has conquered. 
 
 This dear collier and his wife, now living near 
 Birmingham, took me to a large clothier's shop, 
 had me measured for a good suit of black, and sent 
 them on to Rochdale. The organ has got broken, 
 the clothes worn out ; but our prayer goes out on 
 this brother and sister's behalf that they may be 
 long spared to work in the Master's service. 
 
 My friends, if you want your home to be made 
 bright and cheerful, come over on to the Lord's 
 side ; shun the public-house and evil companions. 
 Instead of buying the publican new furniture and 
 new piano, buy your children the clothes and food 
 they need. Don't be so selfish and mean in spend- 
 ing your money on yourself, while the wife and 
 children you promised to love are starving at home. 
 In my mission tour I have a lot to do with poor 
 drunken men ; and with all my heart I pity them 
 and pray for them and weep, for it is only the 
 sovereign grace of God that has kept me from a 
 drunkard's grave, which many of my relations are 
 filling to-day. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 HOW "MO. USES PICTURES. 
 
 Some of the people I meet seem to think they are 
 witty, and know a great deal when drink is in, and 
 they always think if they can turn a laugh on you 
 from their mates they have done something won- 
 derful. So one of these poor, deluded, wise men 
 shouted one evening in the market-place : " Hollo, 
 ' Owd Mo.,' tha says a lot about that Bible thou art 
 offering for sale. Now, does tha believe all it 
 says ? " Of course I said, * ' Yes ! " " Well, look 
 here ; does tha mean to tell me that donkey we read 
 about spoke to Balaam ? " So, looking at my man, 
 I was bound to answer, for the clothes that he was 
 wearing was not worth twopennyworth of salt. So 
 I said, "Look here, brother; I have read a little 
 about animals, and I have kept a good few myself, 
 and I find out that donkeys has a great deal more 
 sense than men like thee has, because donkeys gets 
 a new coat every year." "Aye, they have," said 
 he; "for I have not had a new one for many a 
 year." So when the laugh turned, the poor fellow 
 went off, I hope a wiser man. 
 
 Drawing up into another village one afternoon, 
 I saw a great many colliers. I believe it was a ball- 
 match coming off for a large stake of money. 
 Looking out for a stand close by, I fixed upon one. 
 
68 How "tI/o." uses Pictures. 
 
 Of course I was told the ground belonged to the 
 publican, and I must move off at once. However, 
 not believing all the man said, I took Janet out of 
 the "Ark," put it in the stable, give it a wisp down 
 a good feed of corn, and asked God to help me to 
 say something to all these gambling colliers. Of 
 course, being close by the public-house, I got, 
 what I expected, a good deal of opposition. So 
 you see, folks, I was not deceived. We tried sing- 
 ing ; that did not seem to be the right bait for the 
 kind of fish we had to deal with. We tried preach- 
 ing and reciting ; that did not move the people that 
 was so excited — the match that was going on 
 seemed to lay hold of both old and young. So not 
 intending to be "licked," as we say in Lancashire, 
 I brought out a large picture on canvas — the "Joy- 
 ful News" picture called "Simple Division." The 
 publican, who thought his gains was at stake, by 
 this time had sent one of his "samples" to annoy 
 and upset us. However, I saw he was just the 
 kind of man that would do us service, so I said, 
 "Now, my friend, I want you to speak the truth, 
 and answer me these few questions." "All right," 
 said he; "goon. What's want to know?" So I 
 told him I wanted to know if he was anything like 
 the man in the picture. "In the first place, this 
 man says, 'The pawnbroker has got my clothes. 
 How does this case compare with thine, my friend?" 
 "Oh, the pawnbroker has got mine!" "Secondly, 
 ' The publican has got my money,' says the picture. 
 Now, brother, I'll warrant this is thy own case." 
 "Oh, it is that ! I have not a penny in the world, 
 
Horn '•'Mo.'" uses Pictures. 69 
 
 and money's gone that ought to pay the rent." 
 ** Thirdly, the picture says, 'And I am left with 
 the ticket.' " *'Oh," said the man, while moving 
 off, "that mon i' t' picture is better off than me, 
 because I have sold my ticket for drink ! But I'll 
 spend no more after this." 
 
 I got rather hot on drink, gambling, and 
 other vices that was cursing the homes all over 
 the place, and sold in a very short time hundreds 
 of my own life, and Bibles, and other good 
 books. Praise God, who has so often given us 
 the victory ! 
 
 The morning after I was at the stable early — five 
 o'clock when I was cleaning Janet; I wanted to get 
 off to get an early market. A collier came to the 
 stable door. *'Hollo, 'Mo.!'" "Yes?" "Tha 
 was giving some "Joyful News" tracts away yes- 
 terday afternoon." "Well, what about it? Did 
 tha not get one?" "Aye, a' got one. It has kept 
 me 'waken all night; and I was reading it at three 
 o'clock this morning, and looking at t' pictures on 
 the other side." "Well, is it worth reading again? 
 Because I will change with thee." "Oh, no," 
 said he; "this has learned me a lesson." "What 
 tract is it?" "Oh, it says, 'Fools' money buys 
 good cows.' Now, look here; in that grass field 
 there, are two cows there?" "Yes; are they 
 yours?" "Nay, not now; they belong to that 
 publican across road. I have helped to buy them ; 
 and if I want any o' th' milk they give, 
 
 I have to buy that an' all. 
 
70 Hoiio **-/I/(9." uses Pictures. 
 
 When he came to live here, he had to borrow 
 money. He has bought this and another pubHc- 
 house, and he has got a pony and trap; and I have 
 helped to buy the lot. But worst of it is, Brother 
 'Mo.,' I have been put off two plans as a local 
 preacher, all through the drink." 
 
 I pray that every minister and every local and 
 evangelist will sign the pledge for their brothers' 
 sake, and die rather than break the pledge. I have 
 often prayed that this friend has stood to his 
 promise that he would be a fool no longer in buying 
 the publican good cows, and I left him with the 
 words, "Thank God, brother, for the 'Common 
 Sense Tract,' that kept you 'waken when you ought 
 to have been asleep." With a shake of the hand I 
 left him, and with tears in his eyes he asked an 
 interest in our prayer, and the verse of the hymn 
 came in my mind : 
 
 " Long my imprisoned spirit lay 
 
 Fast bound in sin and nature's night ; 
 Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, 
 
 I woke, the dungeon flamed with light ; 
 My chains fell off, my heart was free, 
 I rose, went forth, and followed Thee." 
 
 Would to God that all Christ's followers would 
 walk in the light, as He is in the light ! 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SOME OF HIS "cases," BAD AND GOOD. 
 
 You, dear readers, beware of the religious hypocrite 
 — those that can spin a long yarn about God, and 
 good prayer-meeting, and how they have seen you 
 before, and how they have been blest under your 
 preaching, and how the sermon inspired them, and 
 all the time they are seeking how to fleece you. 
 After they have talked like that, if they start to beg, 
 bid them "Good morning," and have done with 
 them. Coming down to the "Ark" one morning, 
 I found one of these gentlemen waiting my arrival. 
 "Good morning, Moses." "Good morning, sir." 
 "We had a splendid time last night; I felt if I had 
 not been converted before, last night would have 
 brought me down on my knees. Do you know 
 what I have done this morning ? Never made such 
 a mistake as this before. You know it was wet last 
 night?" "Yes." "It was; — well, you saw me at 
 
 S , when you were up in that part. I have just 
 
 come down here for my health — came just with one 
 suit of clothes. Mine not being dry this morning, 
 I put my brother's on to come down to the station 
 for a parcel. When getting here I found that my 
 money had been left in the other pockets. Being 
 nearly two miles away, I thought you might lend 
 me one shilling and ninepence until I come down 
 
72 Some of his * ' Cases y ' ' bad and good. 
 
 to the service to-night." He may have forgotten, 
 or missed his way ; 
 
 I have not seen him since. 
 
 I pray that God will save him ; and if He does, and 
 the man follows the rule that Zacchaeus was led to 
 do, pay back fourfold, I shall have a bit to draw 
 some day. "Well," I said, ''that's last money 
 I'll give this week." 
 
 But leaving the same town next morning, as we 
 came along, a poor girl about seventeen was limp- 
 ing along. She had great difficulty to walk. 
 "Now," I said, "my lass, what's the matter with 
 you? What are you weeping for?" "Sir," she 
 said, "will you let me ride? I have come all the 
 way from Keighley, and have to go on to Oldham. 
 Father and mother are both dead. I work in the 
 mill ; but being short of work, I have been house- 
 keeping for an old lady, helping her downstairs. 
 A few days ago we both fell down, and that is why 
 I am lame." I believed the poor dear girl. As we 
 came along, I said, "How much money have you?" 
 "Only fivepence." "Well, how are you going to 
 get to the end of your journey? It is thirty miles 
 or more from here. It's now ten o'clock; you can- 
 not get there to-night. Poor thing! She could 
 not get two miles an hour, if she wasn't acting; 
 and being done out of the other bit of money, it 
 made me a little doubtful. But as we drew into 
 Denholme, a dear woman shouted out, " Eh I is 
 that Joyful News 'Ark?' Is it ' Owd Mo.?'" 
 "Yes," "Well, stop and have some dinner," 
 
Some of his ^^ Cases ^^"^ bad and good. 73 
 
 So I had the chance then to ask them to never mind 
 getting us any dinner. "But," I said, ''there is a 
 girl inside the van ; if they would make a good, 
 warm dinner for her, I would pay them." So they 
 did, and I found that what the lass had told me was 
 all correct. She was bruised from head to foot, 
 and, having a girl of my own, it made me think 
 and repent that I said, ''No more money-giving." 
 But, however, I give my man the money to go 
 down to the station and pay the girl's fare to Old- 
 ham. I sent a letter to my old friend Lindley, of 
 the Medical Mission, to go and find out the address 
 she had given me, and the girl was honest and 
 truthful ; so that paid for all the loss that the other 
 smooth-tongued fellow had done me out of. 
 
 But, friends, beware ! There is a great many of 
 them about that get their living that way, and they 
 live better than some of us do. If you want to 
 find it out, go and take a few meetings in the lodg- 
 ing-houses in some of the large cities and towns. 
 You will find plenty of steaks and onions, and none 
 of your crate Irish eggs — no, new laid ones. They 
 will tell you "such is life," and "they are not cut 
 out for work." But it pays for all the trouble if 
 you can get one of these brothers and sisters 
 
 on the Lord's side. 
 
 It is a few years since now one of these brethren 
 was converted in a common lodging-house. His 
 wife and four children was in the poorhouse. He 
 had lost the work that he ought to have been 
 engaged in, all through the drink. I believe he 
 
74 Some of his ^^ Cases ^''' bad and good. 
 
 could get, when working, three pound per week at 
 his trade. He had not a friend. He told me, a pub- 
 lican that he had spent a lot of his money with had 
 got him in prison for ten days, for some paltry bit of 
 timber that had been stolen ; but having no friends 
 when he came out, he went on in the evil course with 
 both hands earnestly. The image of God had been 
 defaced in this brother; but, having a bit of con- 
 science left in him, he began to think at an open-air 
 service one evening that there was hope for him yet, 
 although he knew, as he said, "I don't deserve any 
 of God's mercy; but Jesus died for me." He came to 
 the Wesleyan Chapel, came out to the rail, poured 
 out his soul to God. ' ' This poor man cried, and the 
 Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his 
 troubles;" and he went to the lodging-house to tell 
 his old companions he had gotten converted, and 
 that he was going to leave them for better quarters. 
 A dear friend of mine, the schoolmaster in this town, 
 being a man of God, set to work to get our new-con- 
 verted brother back to the work he had lost through 
 the drink. He saw the foreman and master, and they 
 said, ' ' Although he is one of the best men we have in 
 the shop when off the drink, we cannot turn another 
 man away to put him in. But we will find him some- 
 thing to do." They did. He was not long before he 
 had his old place back, got his mates to sign the 
 pledge, got a little home together, fetched home his 
 wife and children from the workhouse, soon had all 
 the children clothed with good clothes and boots. 
 But his wife, though she had gone through all this 
 poverty and trouble, was anything but a help to her 
 
Some of his ' ' Cases ^ " bad and good. 75 
 
 husband, as he told me, both by mouth and letter, 
 and with tears and almost a broken heart, that she 
 would send the children to school in their old 
 ragged clothes and take the others to pawnshops, 
 after giving her plenty of wages every week. 
 Wives, help your husbands ! This brother is still 
 in the good way, earning as a foreman a great 
 salary. Not long since he sent our friend the 
 schoolmaster five pounds towards cleaning the old 
 chapel up he was converted in. This schoolmaster 
 is secretary belonging to the building club at this 
 place, and he told me a short time ago that our 
 friend converted out of the lodging-house brings his 
 money there now, instead of the public-house every 
 week, and is a credit to all that know him, and to the 
 Methodist Church. This dear brother has walked 
 with me fourteen miles on the Sunday to help me in 
 my open-air meeting, and I have seen his old mates 
 weeping many times when he was singing solos, both 
 in market-place and back street. This kind of work 
 
 helps to lessen poor rates, 
 
 and would in time do away with workhouse, prisons, 
 and policemen, and give us the local veto without 
 Act of Parliament. "When Jesus has found you, 
 tell others the story." You dear brothers and 
 sisters that has gotten discouraged, and given up 
 your services in the cottage, in the lodging-houses, 
 and in the open-air, pray that God will help you to 
 make another start, if you think men like these and 
 the writer is worth saving. God grant we may get 
 back to the old Methodist fashion. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 WHAT THE DEVIL LOST AND CEIRIST GAINED. 
 
 Satan is not going to lose these trophies of his 
 without a fight. Paul and Silas were beaten in the 
 market-place and put in prison for this kind of 
 work. I myself have been called mad, and some 
 of the people called Methodists said that " Owd 
 Mo." had ''got a slate off." Well, praise God! 
 the slate coming off, the light and fire went right 
 down in the heart, and I would rather my bones 
 rotted in prison than the souls of my fellows should 
 be "turned into hell with all the nations that forget 
 God." Ministers, locals, evangelists, and all other 
 workers for God, let it not be said of us, we have 
 never warned them of the wrath to come. The 
 greatest of teachers and preachers said, " I must 
 work the works of Him that sent Me while it is 
 day: the night cometh when no man can work." 
 "Go work in my vineyard to-day." Not to make 
 plans, not to organise, or to committee meetings, 
 but to work. This command belongs to all Chris- 
 tian workers. Sammy Hick said he had only one 
 talent, but he was not going to let the man with 
 ten have it. So, friends, let us be up and doing. 
 Some of us is not able to give much money, but we 
 can give ourselves. 
 
 "Does religion pay?" 
 
What the Devil lost and Christ gained, 77 
 
 said a man one day to an old friend and companion 
 of mine who had spent a fortune he had left him. 
 It only took him twelve months to spend hundreds 
 of pounds. Then he had to sing, like many more* 
 have had to do, "Where is your friend when your 
 money is gone?" One night, while I was selling 
 the book ''Jasper and his Chums," this friend took 
 one. As I thought I knew the features, I gave 
 him the book on this condition, saying, "Jack, sin 
 has already made an old man on thee. Take that 
 book; if it does not make thee weep, it is thine for 
 nothing and sixpence with it." I didn't know he 
 had been to my meeting the night before, until he 
 said with tears on his cheeks, "Moses, I have wept 
 
 a great deal since last night's service at R . I 
 
 have come for advice." "All right, my brother; 
 and if I can give it thee, thou shall have it for 
 nothing. I have had to pay two guineas many 
 times, but thine shall be gratis." "Now," said he, 
 " tha knows that gambling ruined me when I had 
 a large business. Instead of having one of the 
 largest butchers' shops in this town (which I knew 
 he might have had), I am going round to public- 
 houses selling a few twopenny pies ; wife and 
 children are naked. I have a pigeon-fly on ; ten 
 shilling is now down ; two pound is the stake. I 
 have told my mates that the match would not have 
 to go on, that I had signed the pledge against drink 
 and gambling. Now," said he, "what would you 
 do?" " Go home, my brother, kill the bird, and, 
 
 being used to making pies, 
 
78 What the Devil lost and Christ gained, 
 
 put it inside; and if thou cannot eat it, bring it 
 down to the market here, and I will buy it from 
 you." Poor fellow! he went home, and after a 
 great struggle, got the victory, killed the bird ; and 
 his old mates, when they came to give him two 
 pounds for it, found only the skin and feathers. I 
 had this brother last August on the platform with 
 me in his own town. I said, " Now, Jack, a lot of 
 these people know thee about here ; give them a 
 few words." His weight is almost thirteen stone. 
 Looks ten years younger than he did three years 
 since. He could only say a few words ; but the 
 large crowd of people was melted to tears, and 
 especially those who knew how his wife and chil- 
 dren had had to suffer through his wickedness. 
 
 Readers, if the devil has got any of you in the 
 same chains that our dear brother was in, we have 
 the same Christ to offer you, the same precious 
 blood can cleanse you from all sin, and, praise 
 God ! the same grace can keep you from idols that 
 is cursing your home and children. Our friend 
 Jack had no friends before. But now "John," with 
 nice watch and chain, debts nearly paid off, clothed 
 and in his right mind, has hundreds! The psalmist 
 was right: "The fool hath said in his heart. There 
 is no God." But we know different. Satan don't 
 make these changes in men and homes. "What 
 shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits 
 toward me ? I will take the cup of salvation, and 
 call upon the name of the Lord." 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 CHANGED "CHARLIE. 
 
 Giving tracts to some men one Sunday afternoon 
 on my way to the chapel, one among the crowd, 
 just come out of the public-house, spotted my Bible 
 under the arm, and with a loud laugh and sneer 
 said, "Why, chaps, * Owd Mo.' is carrying his 
 Bible with him!" "Oh, yes, I am; but when 
 attending same school thou hast come out of to-day, 
 it was another book, something like thou has at 
 home." "Aye, what sort was it?" So, to pacify 
 him, I said, "Shop-book, not settled up." This 
 wise man said no more till next morning, and then 
 he said, "Good day, Moses; can the ex-convict be 
 saved?" "Yes, thank God! the Lord can save 
 to the uttermost." And we have heard the cry after 
 serving five years in jail, in answer to a brother's 
 prayer. 
 
 This friend being a clever gambler with cards 
 and dominoes, his old mates was waiting for him to 
 match him, which they did, and put one pound 
 down. He came to the chapel on the Sunday the 
 match should have come off on the Monday. The 
 backers came to seek their man ; but he told them 
 right out, saying, " Last night, at the Methodist 
 Chapel, I got converted. I come straight home 
 and burned all the tackle I had in the house 
 
8o Changed ^^ Char lie ^ 
 
 belonging to the devil's service ; and although only 
 just out of jail, I am a new man, and, praise God ! 
 I can sing with all my heart — 
 
 " My Jesus to know, and to feel His blood flow, 
 'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below.' " 
 
 '* Hullo, friend ! Can the Lord save me?" This 
 question was asked by an ex-non-commissioned 
 officer that had been, I belieVe, tried before court- 
 martial for crimes committed by him when in drink. 
 '*Yes, brother, God can save any man out of hell- 
 Let us see what John has to say: ' And if any man 
 sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus 
 Christ the righteous ; and He is the propitiation for 
 our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins 
 of the whole world.' " So he came along to the 
 mission and put God to the test, got converted, 
 signed the pledge, and then asked to say a few words. 
 "Now," he says, "a great many of you know me. 
 For ten weeks I have taken no wages home ; my 
 poor old mother has had nothing from me besides 
 oaths and curses. The last dirty trick that I did 
 was to throw a burning paraffin lamp at the old 
 woman." He wept, and we all wept together, and 
 praised God for a Gospel that can lift a man up, no 
 matter how low he is down. Some six months 
 after, I was preaching four miles from the place of 
 his conversion. Just coming out of the chapel after 
 morning service, he came and got hold of my hand. 
 So I said, " You have the advantage of me." 
 "Why, don't you know me?" "No, I don't." 
 "You ought to; it's Charlie." "Praise God, 
 brother ! " 
 
Changed *^ Charlie.'''' 8i 
 
 What a change ! White silk tie, good suit of 
 cloth, black kid gloves, parson's hat, silver albert, 
 splendid pair of boots ! Would trade not flourish 
 if men and women spent their money in- food and 
 clothing instead of the drink ? The next time I saw 
 him he told me that the manager at the works had 
 put him up, and risen his wages three and sixpence 
 per week. "And," said he, "now you must come 
 to tea, for I have married one of the teachers at the 
 Mission, left the old street, gone into a new house." 
 So I went, had tea, read a chapter, had prayer for 
 God's blessing upon their new home, and that this 
 city may soon see a mighty revival of God's work. 
 This brother has been on the platform and pulpit 
 many a time with my friend John, who is doing a 
 bit of the best Mission work I know. He gets a 
 big crowd both in the open-air meeting and in the 
 large chapel, which is in one of the lowest parts, 
 and was almost deserted; and his co-worker, Mr. 
 
 C , they are both courageous and bold and 
 
 valiant for the truth. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 ''mo.'s" parish and some of his parishioners. 
 
 Going along the road one morning, after leaving 
 an old-fashioned town, a fine-looking old clergy- 
 man of the Established Church asked me to stop 
 the horse. So I did, thinking that an order for 
 Bibles or Testaments was coming. But very 
 politely he asked where I was from, how far had I 
 come, and then, said he, '* Do you know that you 
 are in my parish?" So of course I said, "Beg 
 your pardon ; how many miles does it run?" *'Oh, 
 miles," said he, "both ways." "But, sir, you 
 know what John Wesley said, ' The world is my 
 parish.' I am one of his followers, so you must 
 have made a mistake ; you are in my parish. But 
 you can stay, as there is work for both of us and 
 all your curates." So the conversation ended with 
 " Good morning," and I 
 
 went on my way rejoicing. 
 
 A little before this I had trouble with seven Irish- 
 men. One poor fellow not going home when told, 
 the police had to find him lodging. 
 
 Hell seemed to be let loose for a few weeks after 
 this. I was discoursing from Luke's Gospel, and 
 speaking of the contrast between the publicans of 
 those days and of the publicans of to-day. I said, 
 
' ' Mo. ' j- ' ' Parish and some of his Parishioners. 83 
 
 "The old publicans was Roman tax-gatherers, and 
 the modern publicans was English tax-makers, and 
 we that don't drink their rubbish has to pay them." 
 Before I knew where I was, the publican living 
 close by came in a terrible rage, knocked me off 
 the van, spoiled my face. I pitied the poor fellow 
 for being such a coward. However, I prayed that 
 God would give me grace and victory over self, 
 which He did. Some colliers that had known me 
 before conversion shouted out to the man, " Be 
 thankful, friend, 'Owd Mo.' is converted, or 
 
 there would have been a publican less !" 
 
 Thank God! "He giveth more grace." "If thine 
 enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him 
 drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire 
 on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but over- 
 come evil with good." " Rejoice, and be exceed- 
 ing glad, for great is your reward in heaven ; for 
 so persecuted they the prophets which were before 
 you." 
 
 "Eh, police! come and lock this chap up!" 
 This was about three o'clock on the market-day, 
 and the words came from what the people call in 
 that part of the country a "jetty" wine-seller. I 
 expect his trade was slack while we stood by him, 
 so he went in for revenge in rather a queer way. 
 I having a large crowd of people, he came with a 
 pony and cart, run against my steps to break them, 
 and scattered the people right and left. I said 
 nothing for that, thinking it was rather a joke more 
 than anything else. But under an hour I saw him 
 
84 ' ''Mo. 'j " Parish and some of his Parishioners. 
 
 coming again, and faster than he was before, and 
 the people had hard task to get out of the way. 
 Getting to my steps, he stood in the cart and threw 
 two handfuls of his bills in my face, advertising 
 his filthy stuff. So I ran down the steps, and put 
 my head to the side of the cart, getting hold of the 
 wheels and tipping the lot. The police came 
 running, and said to the "jetty" wine-seller, "If 
 you are not quit from this market in five minutes, 
 I will find thee a place in the town hall ! " The 
 policeman was a member of Christ, a staunch tee- 
 totaler. The wine-seller shouted at the wrong man, 
 as the police had watched him for an hour. So I 
 shouted "Glory!" and went on with my preaching 
 and selling the books. 
 
 " Dare to be a Daniel ; 
 
 Dare to stand alone ; 
 Dare to have a purpose firm, 
 
 And dare to make it known." 
 
 Oh, praise God ! how easy to be a Christian now 
 to what it used to be. God help us to endure 
 hardness. David said to Solomon: "Be thou 
 strong, therefore, and show thyself a man." To 
 be a man nowadays we want something linked on 
 with the grace of God ; we want backbone, to give 
 up all, if needs be, for Christ. 
 
 We have a man before us now, the greatest 
 gambler in the village, a drunkard, and a terror to 
 both good and bad people. Before I came across 
 him he had been fighting with a man at a pigeon- 
 shooting match; the gun went off, the other fellow 
 was shot ; our friend was tried and got off. After 
 
* ^Mo. *s ' * Parish and some of his Parishioners. 85 
 
 this his poor horse had to stand for long hours at 
 the door of the publican while its master was at the 
 card table, his poor mother and wife doing their 
 best at the business. They both told me they was 
 afraid of him coming home, as he was so mad when 
 in drink. 
 
 However, one evening he came to the chapel not 
 quite sober. The power of God laid hold of him ; 
 he shouted for mercy right in the middle of the 
 chapel. The Lord heard his cry, and saved him. 
 Next morning he went down to his butcher's shop, 
 which was taken from the publican next door. My 
 friend was invited to have twopennyworth of liquor. 
 "No," said he, "no more! I have got converted ; 
 I have done with drink!" So the publican went 
 in and wrote out 
 
 six months notice for him 
 
 to leave the shop. There was nothing for it now 
 only to show himself a man, which he did by keep- 
 ing sober, going to the house of God. At the six 
 months' end he had put up a shop of his own, and 
 two good houses, one at each side, to support it. 
 
 Last time I was at this place, three years after, 
 his wife came to seek me to the "Ark," and she 
 told me, the day before the publicans had been to a 
 flower show, and had got her husband to have 
 some brandy, and he had got drunk and been 
 fighting. I went down. He had been bitten by 
 the man on the finger. Poor fellow! he had a 
 weary hand. The shop was full of customers ; he 
 could hardly cut his meat up. I said, " Brother, I 
 
86 ^^Mo.'s " Parish and some of his Parishioners. 
 
 am not going to leave this shop until you sign the 
 pledge and ask God to forgive you." I spent all 
 day with him, as the publicans had told him they 
 would have the houses and the shop before very 
 long. I shall not forget leaving at eleven o'clock 
 at night with his and his wife's photographs and 
 the dear old woman's blessing, and how she 
 thanked God that just at that crisis 
 
 the Lord had led me to be there. 
 
 Brethren, we must watch and pray, or Satan will 
 have us in the net he so wilily lays to trip us up. 
 We can soon lose what it has taken a long time to 
 gain — that is, our character and purity and manli- 
 ness. I pray that the accursed drink may soon be 
 swept from our shores. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE GAMBLER TURNED CHAPEL-KEEPER. 
 
 " In evil long I took delight, 
 Unawed by shame or fear, 
 Till a new object met my sight 
 And stopped my wild career." 
 
 There are none so wild but God can tame, none 
 so filthy but God can clean. In the case of the 
 friend I now write about, I don't know that he was 
 a great drunkard ; but I do know he was a great 
 gambler, and a man that could do a bit of anything 
 in that line. One Sunday, soon after I started with 
 the Joyful News Mission, I stood on a wagon in the 
 open-air with Rev. H. T. Smart. After I had done 
 speaking, a big fellow came up to me and said, 
 '* Don't you know me, friend?" "Well, I seem to 
 have forgotten," said I. "But I was on the Royal 
 Oak Raceground with you often enough. But 
 never mind those days; will you come to my house 
 and pray with my wife and me ? I must be saved, 
 and now." And, praise God! they are still saved, 
 and many of their children walking in the paths of 
 righteousness, and his home is furnished like a 
 palace; for many years he has been the chapel- 
 keeper of one of the finest chapels in Methodism, 
 and greatly respected by all that know him. I 
 often go to see him, or he comes to see me, when 
 
88 The Gambler turned Chapel-keeper. 
 
 in the town of Bolton. Thank God, we can pro- 
 duce to-day 
 
 some grand living miracles 
 
 from what was once the outcast of the cities. This 
 brother, like a great many more, the reason he has 
 been kept by the power of God lies in his earnest- 
 ness for his fellows — buying tracts with his spare 
 money, going to a poor home where he knew the 
 father was spending his money in drink, leaving a 
 loaf of bread where there was none, a garment for 
 the naked, and a word of cheer for the bruised 
 mother. ''Go, and do thou likewise." 
 
 If the world is worth saving, and the people 
 which are now crowding our towns, we shall have 
 to fall back and get more together in prayer. 
 Elijah's God is our God. We want less entertain- 
 ment and more prayer, less laughter and more 
 tears ; when Christ beheld the city, He wept. It 
 was when Samuel prayed and the Jews gathered 
 together at Mizpah, and were willing to put away 
 their idols, that the Lord worked with them, and 
 the Philistines were discomfited. And if we win 
 to-day the people who never go to any place of 
 worship, our ministers that is set over us as 
 generals will have to do as the old prophets did — 
 they will have to lead their regiments, and stand at 
 the head of the battle. 
 
 We shall never win our crown in the study, 
 
 while we leave the market-places to the 
 
 infidel and socialist. 
 
The Gambler turned Chapel-keeper. 89 
 
 We are engaged in a great warfare, and the 
 battle is the Lord's, and, praise God ! our weapons 
 are not carnal. It is written, "Thou shalt worship 
 the Lord thy God." Friends, take up your cross ; 
 dare to be a Daniel, and stand alone if it need be; 
 and let us do more in the future in trying to make 
 the world at large more like heaven. We shall 
 have to do all we know. I believe at this present 
 time there are more lads in their teens gambling 
 than ever has been known. Yes, and mothers as 
 well, some of these women will sell or pawn their 
 last garment to gamble. Thank God for good 
 Sisters all over the world, that are being raised up 
 to win these mothers and daughters to Christ. Let 
 you and me, my friends, lay aside every weight, 
 and, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, live 
 soberly, righteously, and godly in this present 
 world, looking for that blessed hope, and the 
 glorious appearing of the great God and our 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. If we do these things, some- 
 one will soon copy from us; then we can say with 
 the apostle Paul : " I have fought a good fight, I 
 have finished my course, I have kept the faith ; 
 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
 righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 
 shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but 
 unto them also that love His appearing." "Be 
 thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a 
 crown of life." 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 SHADOWS AND SORROWS OF THE DRINK. 
 
 Rather a sad story this, of the time before my 
 conversion, but it was the outcome of drink, that 
 took place in a Yorkshire village. A companion of 
 mine, with me and others, set off, saying, as some of 
 you have said many a time that will read this book — 
 "We are out to-day for a spree." After spending 
 pounds in the house we stayed at for hours, our 
 friend "Tommy," as we called him, one of the 
 quietest and best among us, went out to the back 
 door of the public. Seeing a few tame pigeons on 
 the floor feeding by his feet, picked two up, put 
 them under his coat for a lark. The landlord seeing 
 him do this, got the horsewhip down, and started 
 to lay it about the back of our friend, and ordered 
 him out of the house. Of course he left without 
 any more ado, thinking the affair had ended. But 
 the cowardly publican, unknown to any of his 
 mates, sent the police after him, had him locked up 
 in Wakefield, and we waited a few days for his 
 trial to come off. I tried hard to bail him out; but 
 no, it was no use. The man said he would not go 
 against him. But, however, he did ; our friend 
 got a month. He had never been locked up before, 
 nor in the policeman's hands, so it nearly broke his 
 heart; he seemed never to get over it; and when 
 
Shadows and Sorrows of the Drink. 91 
 
 he ought to have been in his bloom, we had to 
 carry him to his grave, leaving a wife and child 
 behind him. Young men, "whatsoever a man 
 soweth, that shall he also reap." I was the man to 
 lead him away from his home. You older people, 
 be careful what you do, and what you say before 
 the young people around you ; and you, young 
 people, always choose better companions than 
 yourselves. " He that walketh with wise men 
 shall be wise ; but a companion of fools shall be 
 destroyed." That has been the case with our 
 young brother. I was converted before he died. 
 I was sent for by him to pray with him ; he had 
 never prayed much for himself. I hurried off to 
 his home as soon as I knew that he was not well ; 
 but when I got there the people said, "You are 
 too late ; he is dead ! " Poor Tommy ! What 
 killed thee has killed thousands ! 
 
 God help the readers of this story to be wise in 
 time. " Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, 
 that your sins may be blotted out." The friend 
 named in my penny book* that got his death-blow 
 on the rabbit-coursing field, was mate to Tommy ; 
 and it is only through the salvation and grace of 
 God that I am out of a drunkard's hell, and per- 
 mitted to write down this sad story to warn others 
 that is on the same path to ruin and deadly destruc- 
 tion. Brother, stop and think before you farther go. 
 
 " Too late, too late, will be the cry, 
 Jesus of Nazareth has passed by ! " 
 
 * " Owd Mo.," by Thomas Champness. Being the story of 
 his life before conversion. Price One Penny. Paper covers. 
 
92 Shadows and Sorrows of the Drink. 
 
 With these friends that has gone, I am sorry to say 
 that has been the case with some, as they had made 
 no preparation for another world ; and God only 
 knows where these poor brethren will spend eter- 
 nity ! But, praise God ! brother, while you are 
 reading this book, you can find favour with God, 
 for there is mercy with Him. 
 
 But let me get back to the story of my better life. 
 
 One evening, after walking four miles from a 
 temperance meeting, I was sent for to pray with a 
 backslider. His father had died a leader and 
 preacher. His death was hastened on, I believe, 
 through his son's wickedness. I went to pray with 
 him. They had brought him out of the public- 
 house with a kind of a stroke. I got down on my 
 knees by the bedside ; but alas, alas ! my prayers 
 was of no earthly use, for he had breathed his last! 
 Poor fellow, he had died without God, or without 
 hope of ever meeting his father in heaven ! 
 
 Another friend, a very dear friend of mine, who 
 through drink lost his place of work, got stealing 
 some paltry thing, got some months in jail. Came 
 out a broken-down man, was carried home out of 
 the street some time after, died, and left many 
 young children, I am sorry to say, to be dragged 
 up by one of the drunkenest mothers I know ; and 
 while she is drinking, the children in rags have to 
 go and beg their bread. I have often helped 
 them ; and when I saw them last I could not keep 
 from weeping. I pray that you dear mothers who 
 read this may be led, for your children's sake, to 
 give up the drink. No one else can have the 
 
Shadows and Sorrows of the Drink, 93 
 
 influence over them as you have. God grant you 
 will be wise in time ! As they grow up you will 
 have less power over them than you have now. 
 Enter Mrs. Champness's Silver Cord League, and 
 spend no more money with the people that has 
 what we call a drink licence. One of these gentle- 
 men came to me one day to stop me from selling 
 my books, saying that I was injuring his trade ; 
 brought a magistrate to remove me, but knowing 
 that I was not obstructing, I stood my ground. 
 
 I have been asked what I think of these Working 
 Men's Clubs, that a great many of our excellent 
 men support. I say wherever drink is sold, what- 
 ever kind of a club it is, or however nice name 
 they give it, that place ought to be 
 
 under the same law as the publican. 
 
 A few months ago one of my friends was picked up 
 drunk in the market-place ; he had to be taken 
 home, he had no more use in his legs than a child 
 a year old. As he was being led home he cursed 
 and pointed to the place that had been his ruin, 
 saying to my friend that had helped him, "That 
 club-room there has been the means of my back- 
 sliding. Billiards and drink did it." Our local 
 preachers, leaders, and stewards are too often to be 
 found in these places, that is the downfall of so 
 many of our Sunday School scholars. This brother 
 for years preached in the open-air ; he was converted 
 a few months before me out of the depths of iniquity, 
 and could always command a great crowd of people 
 to listen to him as long as he liked to speak. He 
 
94 Shadows and Sorrows of the Drink. 
 
 is now brought back to God, and meets in class ; 
 but falling so low from grace, has not the courage 
 yet to take his stand and preach as before in the 
 open-air. I am looking forward to have him with 
 me again as he has been many times before. 
 
 " Come, O my guilty brethren, come, 
 Groaning beneath your load of sin, 
 His bleeding heart shall make you room, 
 
 His open side shall take you in ; 
 He calls you now, invites you home ; 
 Come, O my guilty brethren, come ! " 
 
 Going visiting one day in a village where I was 
 conducting a few days' mission, I came across a 
 cottage with a brass plate on the door, and it 
 said on, " Working Man's Club." Outside the 
 door was three empty load barrels, thirty-six 
 gallons, waiting to be exchanged for full ones. 
 The same night my subject was mostly on barrels, 
 and I said, '*In the first place, the club had got its 
 right name ; for as long as they frequented a place 
 where beer and gambling was, 
 
 they would have to work 
 
 when they ought to be resting." A man of middle 
 age, and a good man at his trade when sober, was 
 in our congregation that evening, who had spent 
 more time at the club-house than he spent at home, 
 when not in bed. He came out and got converted. 
 He is now respected ; and before this he told me 
 that he had sold nearly all the furniture he had to 
 raise money to go to America, and leave his wife 
 to do the best she could with eight or nine children. 
 
Shadows and Sorrows of the Drink. 95 
 
 But the Lord opened his eyes and broke his heart, 
 and God sent His word and healed him. And, 
 praise God ! I have just sent him a five shilling 
 Bible Concordance, as he said to me, one year 
 after his conversion, "I want to know more about 
 the Scripture." '' By their fruits ye shall know 
 them." 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 ''BOB, OR, "my friend ROBERT. 
 
 "OwD Bob," the subject of this chapter, is a 
 collier, and was one of the worst type. Though he 
 told me his mother had spent hours a day in prayer 
 for his conversion, he seemed to get worse. He was 
 a ringleader in all that was bad, his mouth w^as full 
 of lies and oaths ; but when all is said and done 
 his heart was tender. He was a fearful ''wisher." 
 Wicked men used to tremble when He got down on 
 his knees and asked God to do His worst in blow- 
 ing up the mine and taking his life and the life of 
 others. I have been in the same wicked company 
 when Bob has shouted out for God to let the top 
 come in and kill the lot of us I If God had paid us 
 our just deserts, we should have been in hell. The 
 time came when the dear old mother saw the fruit 
 of her prayer. I knew the bait that would fetch Bob 
 over on the Lord's side, and that bait will fetch 
 more if used ; a kind word goes a long way when a 
 man starts to think. 
 
 So one day he came and told me all his trouble, 
 after the meeting the night before, how he was tired 
 of the way he was living in adultery, for he found 
 the ways of transgressors are hard. ''And, mon," 
 said he, "if I don't stop, I shall soon be in hell." 
 
' ' Boh, ''or, ''My Friend Robert. " 97 
 
 "But, my friend, the Lord never turned one 
 away. 'Knock, and it shall be opened; seek, and 
 ye shall find; ask, and ye shall receive.'" 
 
 "Aye, 'Mo.;' but tha knows how I have lived, 
 and how I am living now. But I dare not leave 
 this place ; I was afraid of going to sleep last night. 
 Oh, how the pains of hell gat hold upon me ! " 
 
 "Yes, they gat hold upon David. 'Then,' he 
 said, ' I called upon the name of the Lord : O Lord, 
 I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.' ' Whosoever 
 calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" 
 Then went up the publican's prayer, "God be 
 merciful to me a sinner !" and, praise God! "the 
 dungeon flamed with light," 
 
 and he was set free. 
 
 Everyone soon knew that our friend had got 
 converted. The furniture-cart was soon on the 
 spot ; he got married to the woman he had lived 
 with for years. Last time I had tea with him he was 
 living in a large house, well furnished and paid for, 
 had a nice lot of poultry, and a few pigs in the stye, 
 and was respected by those that once despised him. 
 
 And then some people say that this Gospel is 
 only imagination ! I say if it will make a thief 
 honest, and a drunkard sober, and a bad father and 
 mother into good ones, give us more imagination ! 
 Bob cannot read much; but says he, " I can read 
 my title clear. One thing I know, that whereas I 
 was blind, now I see; and, praise God! instead of 
 my name being in the publican's book, it is in the 
 Book of Life." 
 
 G 
 
98 • ' Bob, "or, ''My Friend Robert:' 
 
 One way to have a happy home, as I have heard 
 my friend Bob say (or "Robert," as the people now 
 call him), is to take your wages home instead of 
 taking them to the publican's. You don't hear of 
 many publicans being thankful of their customers 
 signing thepledge. But the landlord where Bobused 
 to spend his money said to him one day, ' ' I hope you 
 will keep firm, and drink no more." Bob was all right 
 when sober and standing treat for all round, 
 
 but when in drink very troublesome. 
 
 People generally are when the devil is in. My 
 friends, take my advice — one that has tried both 
 sides, but now, praise God! knows which is best 
 by far. 
 
 Robert has not grown into the life he is now 
 living without being helped and nursed by a dear 
 friend at this place, who has a kind word for every- 
 one, and works hard among these people — takes 
 them to his home, charms them with his talent for 
 music. We can't all play music, but we can all 
 speak a kind word, and cheer those that has been 
 brought to God through Christ out of great depths 
 of iniquity and sin. Our friend can say now with 
 the psalmist, '* I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, 
 with all my heart; and I will glorify Thy name for 
 evermore : for great is Thy mercy toward me, and 
 Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." 
 
 " Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, 
 Born to set Thy people free ; 
 From our fears and sins release us, 
 Let us find our rest in Thee." 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 MOSES ON PRACTICAL RELIGION. 
 
 After preaching one day for nearly three hours in 
 the open-air, a man came to me and said, **Well, 
 friend, I have been here since the beginning of the 
 meeting; but a' don't believe all thou has said, 
 because I don't believe the Bible." ''Thou don't 
 believe? Then what art thou, as thou don't believe 
 the Bible?" He said, "I am a man." " But," I 
 said, •• this old Book calls thee a fool!" ''Oh," 
 said he, "I am an infidel." "Get off, man; I 
 never saw one that wanted to die. I can buy them 
 all at fourpence a stone, and give some over-weight 
 in." "Hold on," said he. "What's call practical 
 religion?" So I had happened to do a little of it 
 the day before, and was able to tell him, as I came 
 out of one of the eating-houses in the market, I saw 
 seven little lads and girls almost naked, so they 
 asked me " if I had brought any bread out with 
 me?" "No, I have not. Are you hungry?" 
 " Yes, sir," came from them all. So I took them 
 inside. "Now, my girl, what will you take?" 
 "Currant cake, sir, if you please." So they all 
 followed suit, as, poor things, you could see they 
 got more kicks than currants at home, and 
 
 more cuffs than hot coffee. 
 
loo Moses on Practical Religion. 
 
 ''Oh," said he, "that's practical." So I said, 
 *' Now, look here, I am going to make thee to 
 believe in the Bible. And turning to the second 
 book of Kings, chapter four, I said, ''Here we have 
 a woman with two lads, husband and father was 
 dead, she could not pay her way ; afraid that the 
 creditors would take her lands from her, she cried 
 unto the man of God, and Elisha said, ' What shall 
 I do for thee?'" "Aye, that's very good and 
 practical; but all the Christians are not alike." 
 "No," I said; "and all sheep are not alike; neither 
 are men and women, and never will be in that part 
 on the top of their shoulders ; and that is thy weak 
 spot! But, brother, thee go home, read the old 
 Book, and take Christ for a pattern. Follow out 
 His teaching; and when I see thee again, if it is to 
 be, thou wilt be a better man." So he went home, 
 I pray a wiser man after our conversation. 
 
 There is a great many people reading you and 
 me, my friends. Let us walk perfect before God, 
 and let it be said of us, as the ungodly damsel said 
 of Paul and Silas, "These men are the servants of 
 the most high God, which show unto us the way of 
 salvation." God grant it ! 
 
 One evening I was closing my van at eleven 
 
 o'clock. This was in the town of G . I had 
 
 sent my mate home a few hours before with a bad 
 cough. A man came up, looking all round the 
 van. "Don't close," said he. "What do you 
 want?" "Oh, I want to know what Joyful news 
 is." So I said, "Joyful news was joyful news, glad 
 tidings, light for those that are in darkness." 
 
Moses on Practical Religion. loi 
 
 Oh, that definition would not do; so he said, 
 '* Ladies and gentlemen, this man is not fit for the 
 work he is doing." So I opened out again, and 
 said, " Now, then, if you can do it better than I 
 can do it, get on this van." So he did. 
 
 " Now, then, what have I to do up here?" So I 
 said, "Mend my work; sell those people books." 
 So he opened out sixth chapter of Matthew's 
 Gospel, started reading, stopped, then talked about 
 Christ being everything but good. So of course I 
 could not stand that, so 
 
 getting hold of his coat collar 
 
 I helped him down, and said, "Come, man, let me 
 have another turn." One gentleman gave five 
 shillings for the Mission, saying the man tried to 
 upset all that come into the town. Of course he 
 never give me any more trouble. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 SOUTH WALES, AND A RETROSPECT. 
 
 We must thank God for the way He has led us. 
 From the old "van" we have had two big 
 "chickens" and a small one.* But like everything 
 else, there is competition ; eight years since there 
 was not so many vans as there is now. But I say, 
 as long as they build a brewer's waggon, we ought 
 to have a Bible waggon. A small van can go 
 where the big ones can't get. And the one we had 
 came in answer to prayer, and its first journey was 
 on Home Mission Deputation Work, as I went 
 round with Rev. Josiah Mee. (This van is now in 
 different hands.) One of our good brethren, 
 Brother R. Hewitt, and friend Williams brought it 
 all the way to South Wales to meet us down there, 
 and we had good times together, Mr. Beagley 
 steering it about the valleys. And all these years 
 God has given us travelling mercy, and brought us 
 off without any great accident save a broken finger. 
 God blessed us ; but in Wales, like England, are 
 the two great curses, drink and gambling. One 
 home I went in I found little furniture, father in 
 jail, wife and children wanting bread. And what 
 
 Two large new vans and one small one.— Ed. 
 
South Wales ^ and a Retrospect. 103 
 
 did you do in that case ? You would be sorry for 
 them ? I was. It was Sunday afternoon. I was 
 so sorry, that I went off and fetched them a large 
 loaf of bread and something with it till the next 
 day ; then I went to prison to see the father, poor, 
 broken-hearted fellow. 
 
 In Brecon prison I found the following in a 
 prisoner's diary: 
 
 A VOICE FROM BRECON JAIL. 
 
 '■'■Buy the truth, and sell it not." 
 " I once possessed the truth, which I should ne'er have sold ; 
 But in a dark and evil hour I bartered it for gold. 
 
 What bought I with the gold ? I need not pause to think ; 
 Though now it fills my mind with pain — I bought the cursed 
 drink. 
 
 What did the drink for me ? It marred my peaceful life ; 
 It parted me from children dear, and from my loving wife. 
 
 It caused the wife to droop, to fall into her grave ; 
 
 And I not near to hear her say that she poor me forgave. 
 
 It sent me from my home, in sinful ways to stray, 
 
 To want and starve and madly rove, by night as well as day. 
 
 It led me into crime, and what I shame to tell. 
 It placed me fast within a jail, to fill a felon's cell. 
 
 And now I sit to-day within the cell, and think 
 
 Of all the happy days I had before I knew the drink." 
 
 We had more than one good time in South 
 Wales. At Newport they bought good books, 
 helped us in our open-air meetings, found us food 
 and shelter, and did all they could. But I could 
 name a few places I found down there where they 
 had none of these qualities. But they may prove 
 more generous to those that follow in our footsteps. 
 
I04 South Wales, and a Retrospect, 
 
 I believe the Joyful News "Ark" was the means 
 of providing a Mission van for the South Wales 
 District. Before I left the kind-hearted chairman, 
 the late Rev. Neville Andrews, and Rev. Josiah 
 Mee, asked me at the quarterly meeting how it 
 would act; and I told them if they got a Welsh- 
 man and an Englishman, and plenty of Welsh 
 books, it would just be the right thing. 
 
 Passing through the Rhondda Valley, of course 
 we had to have opposition from the beer barrel, or 
 those that deal with them. But, no cross, no crown ; 
 
 God is above the devil. 
 
 One poor fellow had taken out a grocer's licence, 
 so I planted the "Ark" down about fifteen yards 
 from his door. However, he came and brought a 
 magistrate to "shift me," as he said, "I was a 
 great hindrance to his trade." Of course I told 
 him if his trade was a good one, whatever I did, do 
 what we would, we could not injure it. But I said, 
 if it is a bad trade it wants stopping, and I shall 
 not remove till Monday morning, and do all I can 
 to stop it. So they said I should have to take the 
 responsibility; it might be prison. So I took it in 
 good part, and also that Saturday evening took 
 nearly twelve pounds for good books. Then I 
 could say with St. Paul, "I am now ready to be 
 offered ; the time of my departure is at hand." 
 Glory be to God ! So I left Wales, after making 
 many friends and only a few enemies, and those 
 was only the poor publicans, who know not what 
 they do. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 WHY HE LEFT THE CARAVAN. 
 
 Well, my friends, you have already read how the 
 Lord has blessed me in my van work, and a great 
 many friends have said, "Moses, how was it you 
 left the van?" So, as well as I can put it before 
 you, you shall read for yourselves. In the first 
 place, it was a great trouble to me, as anyone who 
 knew me before my conversion knew that whatever 
 I did I put my whole soul into it, and so in God's 
 service I must either do the same or die in the 
 attempt. I would rather do as the people have said 
 about the country, "'Owd Mo.' will kill himself 
 before the time." But work will kill no one that is 
 well and strong ; it is the want of it that kills a 
 great many people. But I want to impress upon 
 the young people that will read this to give the first 
 and best part of their young lives to God. You 
 see, for a good many years I was sowing my wild 
 oats, and the old Book says: "Be not deceived ; 
 God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth, 
 that shall he also reap." Well, that is the reason I 
 had to leave the work I so dearly loved, after talk- 
 ing and selling books eight hours on the market- 
 places on the Saturdays, in all kinds of weather, 
 and about six services on the Sunday. Going on 
 
io6 Why he left the Caravan, 
 
 like this week after week for nearly eight years, and 
 nearly every day on some village green, it found 
 out the weak places in my body that had been so 
 much abused in the service of sin and the evil one. 
 Finding myself no longer able to do the work, I 
 wept in my thoughtful moments to think how little 
 I had done for God. Had the first part of my life 
 been spent for God, I should have been with the 
 van to-day. But however well I may look, I know 
 I do not feel so well, though religion has done a lot 
 for my improvement, as the old lady said while 
 speaking in my own town in the market-place; the 
 old woman cried out, "Some on yoa ses thar's 
 nought in religion. Look at ' Owd Mo. ; ' he's 
 twenty year younger to-day than ever he were ;" and 
 my readers will say "Amen" to that when they see 
 the two photographs, "Before and after conversion." 
 But after much prayer and sorrow of heart, I had 
 to say to Mr. Champness that I must give up the 
 van work, as I could no longer stand it, and that I 
 would give place to some of the younger brethren. 
 Well, some of my friends said, "Leave," and 
 Satan said, " Leave, and try something else." 
 Well, for hours I wrestled with God in tears that 
 He would show me what would be best for me to 
 do. As God had blessed me so much, I was afraid 
 to turn to any other kind of work. But when I 
 could not do the van work I was depressed, and 
 afraid I might be like a broken oar in the boat; and 
 for days all seemed dark, and I said to missis and 
 family, "We will clear out." But kind words from 
 Mr. and Mrs. Champness, and a letter from my 
 
Why he left the Caravan. 107 
 
 dear friend Rev. Josiah Mee, gave me fresh hope, 
 and I went out to Mission work. 
 
 But for months I could not reconcile myself with 
 having to leave poor old Janet and the *'Ark" I 
 loved so well. But I believe now I was truly called 
 to give up the van, that my life might be spared a 
 little longer to my family of dear children, which 
 
 I love with all my heart. 
 
 Reader, there has been a change ; it was the publi- 
 can's family that I used to love. Well, praise God ! 
 I started Mission services in the village chapels as 
 well as in some of our large towns and cities, and 
 God has blessed my labours. Not being a good or 
 quick writer, answering letters that have been sent 
 with invitations for services has taken a great 
 amount of my time (and some of the dear people 
 have forgot to put in a stamp for reply, and that 
 takes money as well). This blessed Gospel I have 
 preached to both rich and poor, and God has owned 
 and blessed the word. I have seen the magistrates' 
 son at the penitent-form kneeling next to the factory 
 lad, and next to the man that had spent his money 
 in riotous living. Yes, God has blessed me in my 
 work since I had to leave the van. I have been 
 cheered and helped by the kindness of the people, 
 and they have always welcomed me, both rich and 
 poor. 
 
 Friends have said to me, "I expect you find some 
 of the places cold and hard, and almost dead, and 
 some neither hot or cold." Well, I have had to 
 confess, and say, *' Yes." And some places the 
 
io8 Why he left the Caravan. 
 
 man in the next pew has never spoken to his next 
 neighbour for a year or two — that makes it hard as 
 well. But the worst part about it, you vex these 
 people and send them home in a rage if you say 
 they are not Christians. But let us see what John 
 in his epistle has to say about them: "He that 
 loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever 
 hateth his brother, is a murderer; and ye know 
 that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 
 By this we know that we love the children of God, 
 when we love God and keep His commandment." 
 Reader, let you and the writer never be found 
 among this class of people, that cannot give their 
 next-door neighbour a hearty grip of the hand, and 
 say out of a full heart, "Is it well with thy soul ? " 
 The old Methodist preachers used to pray for the 
 burden of souls. The Master wept as He came 
 and saw the sins of the old city. We want more 
 tears and less laughter; more family prayer; more 
 home religion ; more solid reading and less "penny 
 dreadfuls." I have just received a letter from an 
 old friend about a young man that was converted 
 at one of my meetings ten months since, only 
 twenty-three years of age, been in the policeman's 
 hands several times. Down the coal-pit where he 
 works they call him "Young Mo." Praise God ! 
 he is not afraid to tell them of Jesus, the mighty to 
 save ; he only regrets he did not give his heart to 
 God sooner. A young football player, while I was 
 conducting a mission not long ago came and got 
 hold of my hand. " Do you not know me sir?'* 
 "No, I don't remember you." "But you ought 
 
W/iy he left the Caravan. I09 
 
 to; the Lord saved me eighteen months ago, and 
 I have not kicked a ball since." " Thank God, 
 brother! Get a lot more in the same mind as 
 yourself. Preach Christ to your old mates. Live 
 to make this part you live in more like heaven. 
 Thousands are dying without God and hope." 
 
 A few weeks ago one young man came into the 
 house where I was staying, bringing with him a 
 request for prayer that God would give him grace 
 to keep from the football field. This young man 
 had got careless, and neglected his Bible, and the- 
 class had nearly gone out of his thoughts. When 
 his father and mother said anything to him about 
 going to these sports among those that was blas- 
 pheming God's name, he would point to a former 
 minister and local preachers and class-leaders in the 
 same circuit, and say, ** There must be no harm in 
 going, or these people would not go." But, thank 
 God! this young man has seen the error of his 
 ways, and is spending his time better. He found 
 out that spending his time in the counsel of the 
 ungodly did not stimulate him for God's service on 
 the Sunday. But his delight now is in the law of 
 the Lord, not in being mixed up with gamblers. 
 
 Jesus said, "To-day I must abide at thy house." 
 
 Let us be at home, friends, 
 
 when He comes, for He will bring a blessing with 
 Him. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE SECRET OF IT ALL. 
 
 A GENTLEMAN said to me one day, "Well, Moses, 
 I should like to know how it is you get hold of the 
 people ? You seem to get good congregations 
 wherever you go, and you talk straight." So in 
 the first place I told him that every word that came 
 out of my mouth came from God, and again that I 
 believed the success of my missions was not in the 
 crowds coming to the chapel, but it was in breaking 
 of bread from house to house. I like going from 
 door to door in my visiting, and that is where the 
 secret lies ; the man that will talk with the people 
 in their homes will have the chance to speak to 
 them from the pulpit. I have proved this by 
 experience. 
 
 In one of my missions I went one day into twenty 
 homes where there was little food, and children 
 naked ; a great many of the fathers had to leave 
 the village and go elsewhere to seek work, as the 
 collieries were flooded and ironworks stopped. I 
 could not get down on my knees and pray for these 
 dear children. But without bag or basket I went 
 off to the grocer with a few shillings of my own, 
 spent up, distributed it as well as was possible as 
 far as it would go, and then prayed in the homes — 
 
The Secret of it all. \ 1 1 
 
 pictures and furniture in many of them all gone. I 
 came to the home where I was staying. Tea I 
 wanted none; but the dear people with whom I 
 stayed urged it on me. Then I told them what I 
 had found. They was just cleaning down, and 
 having a large family of their own, I saw some old 
 clothes that had just left their wardrobes ; so I told 
 
 dear Mrs. H that I could find a place for them 
 
 as the dear lads and girls was near naked, and day 
 after day I set off on my mission with a parcel of 
 clothes under one arm and food under the other. 
 I am afraid before my Mission was over I took not 
 only old clothes, but some nearly new. Of course 
 the lads and girls thought no worse of them ! The 
 last night of my Mission in that place will not be 
 forgotten. In a field close by the Mission-room 
 
 Mr. H and family gave over two hundred of 
 
 these dear lambs a good tea, and all the parents 
 that came. As I was leaving that night both old 
 and young shouted out many times, 
 
 "Oh, Mister 'Owd Mo.,' when will you 
 come again ? " 
 
 If there had been no Joyful News Mission, these 
 dear young children would perhaps never have had 
 this treat. I wish the wealthy people could see how 
 they might help our Mission on by taking a few 
 ''Joyful News " every week, and by sending their 
 orders to the Book Depot. 
 
 Is it not true that some preachers are missing 
 great blessings by spending all their time in the 
 study or in the well-to-do houses? The Master 
 
112 The Secret of it all. 
 
 went about doing good amongst the sick and the 
 dying in the homes of the rich and the poor. That 
 was the mission of Jesus, and ought to be the 
 mission of you and me if we call ourselves Chris- 
 tians. 
 
 I love open-air work as well as ever I did in my 
 life, but cannot do as much of it now as I have 
 done. At a meeting one evening a man came to 
 me after I had done speaking. " Now," said he 
 " is Jim a-going to speak to-night in the Methody 
 chapel? Because, if he is, I am going to come." 
 So I inquired who "Jim" was, from the man, who 
 had a bull-dog in a chain. "Oh, Jim is one that 
 used to work on the same bench as me, and when 
 he got converted he give up gambling and signed 
 the pledge, and we tried by putting rum in his tea 
 at the works to make him break his pledge, but he 
 could smell it, and pitched the tea away." So of 
 course I told him that men that was led by their 
 dogs had not half their courage, or they never 
 would be such cowards as to persuade a man to 
 take again the stuff that had blighted and cursed 
 his home. "Well," said he "Jim's a grand chap 
 now, and he is genuine." Praise God for such 
 samples of Christianity! Reader, His grace that 
 found you out can keep you to the end. 
 
 A direct answer to prayer. 
 
 After visiting a great many houses one day, I had 
 to hurry on as it was getting near meeting time. 
 Going along a side street, I was impressed to call 
 in about the middle house in the row of houses. I 
 
The Secret of it all. 1 1 3 
 
 knocked at the door three times, then got admitted. 
 Not much fire, all nice and clean round the house ; 
 but on the couch, father had been lying there for 
 weeks, burned in the colliery. I was talking to a 
 clean little girl about fourteen, and to the poor man 
 that was suffering, when I heard someone coming 
 downstairs. Turning round, I saw the mother ; 
 neither of us could speak. Putting what money I 
 had on the table, I was going out. I could see the 
 woman had been talking to God about their trouble; 
 but she laid hold of me, and we wept together, and 
 she praised God for answered prayer. I told the 
 lady I was staying with, and she sent one of the 
 servants down and loaded them with provisions 
 and money, and she said, "The woman is one of 
 my members, and she paid her pence last week, 
 and never mentioned her poverty." What a friend 
 we have in Jesus I I told the story at a meeting 
 the day after, at a meeting where Mr. Champness 
 was, at the Kidderminster Chapel, when the Mayor 
 gave me ten shillings for the poor woman. What 
 has the sceptic to say to that? 
 
 When I cannot visit in my Mission work, I shall 
 say, ' ' Lord^ take me to heaven out of the way of all 
 the sorrowful and broken-liearted, and hide from me 
 the tears of the hungry children and the fatherless 
 bairns!'''' "Trust in the Lord, and do good, and 
 thou shalt dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt 
 be fed." 
 
 Yes, God is blessing our Mission work. Never 
 shall I forget the groans and tears and afterwards 
 the rejoicing a short time since of a father and 
 
1 14 The Secret of it all, 
 
 mother. How they had prayed for years for two- 
 prodigal sons ! I believe there are seven sons and 
 daughters, and five of them was on the Lord's side. 
 These two big sons came to my Mission. God laid 
 hold of them. The power of God was manifest 
 amongst us; they both came rushing out to the 
 front, dropped down on their knees, and for a whole 
 hour they poured out their hearts to God in agony 
 of soul and tears. The Lord sent them home new 
 men. Thank God, He makes 
 
 " all things new ! " 
 Moses Welsby (''Owd Mo.") 
 
 THE END. 
 
CDoudbts of 60(1 ana tDe $ouK 
 
 By Agnes Threlfall. 
 
 Beautifully bound in White and Gold, with Gilt top, 
 
 A lovely Book for a Present. With Portrait. 
 
 Post free, 2/6. 
 
 " The author has the power, not possessed by everyone, of 
 telling out to others the facts of personal spiritual history, and 
 the experiences of the inner life. It presents important truths 
 in pleasing form " — The King's Highway. 
 
 "The Reviewer can give such a work as this nothing but 
 praise. A beautiful book, full of fresh glowing thought and 
 suggestion. A book to do head and heart good." — Local 
 Preachers' Magazine. 
 
 Cl)c Storp of tl)c 3opful ReiDS 
 mission. 
 
 By Mrs. Champness. 
 
 21 Portraits. 
 owrr-^K^ oilers i»ENN^^ir. 
 
 Single copy, post free, i|d. ; 12 for i/- ; 25, i/io ; 50, 3/3 
 100, 6/-. 
 
 Rochdale : Joyful News Book Depot. 
 
Two New Books by Rev. Thomas Champness. 
 
 Broken Bread from 
 
 an €vandeli$r$ Wallet 
 
 Second Edition. 
 
 SIXTY CHAPTERS OF FRAGMENTS. 
 Post free, 1/6. 
 
 "They are precious fragments, containing', we should think, 
 some of the best thoughts from some of his best sermons. 
 Many of the chapters are sketches of sermons, full of sugges- 
 tion." — The King's Highway. 
 
 "There is not a dull page in the book. Those who preach 
 and teach will find much that is helpful in this volume." — The 
 Christian, 
 
 i>ou) tl)e ?lail became a Swora 
 
 iind otDer jid ventures from the Old Book* 
 
 A Book for Young and Old. 
 I/-, post free. 
 
 Joyful News Book Depot, Rochdale. 
 
UCSB LIBRARY 
 
A 000 574 318 2