In his Sunday school relations, he was especially happy and beloved. It is safe to say that no school ever had a superintendent who held larger place in the children's hearts than he; and it is easy to see why. He was an enthusiastic lover of children. It never cost him any effort to meet children on their level, for he lived there. He knew a child's nature by instinct, or rather he possessed such a nature, and could no more help gathering about him the little four and five-year-olds of the infant class, and talking to them in a way that every one of them understood wherever he was, than a florist could help gathering roses and japonicas and fuchsias about him, and talking to them day by day. And the same of older children. The consequence was, that whenever he appeared before the school, every face brightened instantly. Every eye was intent, every ear eager. He never had to ring for order while he was talking; never had any rough, turbulent boys whom he could not interest and control. The look of his eye, the sound of his voice was all-potent. The members of his school, young and old, felt him to be a personal friend, and so he was. He knew very many of them by name. He entered keenly into all their childish experiences; was always ready to listen to the unbosomings which they were eager to pour into his ears; to answer their questions and give the counsel they sought. It was marvelous to see how completely and without effort he possessed their confidence, and how supremely he swayed them by his opinion. Whatever he said was law and gospel in the fullest sense; and wherever he went, as it was his delight to go, among the children's homes, especially those of the humbler sort, in times of sickness, his sunny presence and cheery words and stirring songs were better than all medicines. Patience, courage, hopefulness always followed his visits; and parents were as glad to see him as the children, and often as much helped by his coming.

Mr. Bliss' ability to teach children to sing was amazing, and it was compensation for a long pilgrimage to see him handle a school when training it musically. From the moment he named a piece, he seemed to inspire all with his enthusiasm. Not an eye would wander, not a face be dull. He would say a few pithy words, explaining the sentiment of the song, a few more, possibly, about the music and how to render it; sing a strain or two alone, and then, after two or three repetitions, the school would march through and ring it out as if they had been familiar with it for months. It was as if he had the gift of infusing music into everybody. No matter how little musical culture or skill teachers and scholars had, no matter how out of key or out of time, they were naturally inclined to sing. Somehow when Mr. Bliss led, the difficulties and irregularities and discords seemed to disappear, and there was one grand thrill of feeling, one royal burst of harmony.

The best thing about this singing was that, like that of the choir gallery, it was never for show. Mr. Bliss would have abominated any attempt at musical display, or anything simply entertaining as truly on the part of children as adults. With him the Sunday school and all the departments and appliances of it meant salvation. He believed with his whole heart in the early conversion of children. He was wont to say that he could never remember the time when he did not trust in Christ as his Savior and desire to serve Him. He

AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

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felt profoundly that when Jesus said "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," He meant to have parents and all understand that He was the children's Savior, and that in their tenderest years the little ones might know renewing grace and become the children of the Kingdom. He greatly coveted such early trust in Christ, and with increasing devotion brought to bear all the agencies at his command to secure it. Next to the word of God, he felt the instrumentality of song to be most potent and used it mightily. Praying before he sang, praying while he sang, and exhorting all others to sing prayerfully and in the spirit, he led the school. Many times he would stop in the middle of a song to lift up the cross, emphasize the love of Jesus, and urge every heart to immediate decision on the Lord's side. He often did it with tears-tears in his eyes and tears in his voice; and time and again, as, with that wonderful pathos and sweetness of which he was such a master, he poured forth his soul in the affectionate entreaties of " Calling Now," or "Almost Persuaded," all hearts would melt as if touched of God, and the solemn hush that followed seemed like a moment of universal prayer and consecration.

God richly blessed this dear brother's songs and labors in the school. During his connection with it there was rarely a communion season without some of its members coming forward to unite with the church; and if the names of all whom he helped by word and song to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, while he was Superintendent, could be called, there would rise up a great cloud of wit nesses. Doubtless much of the seed sowed proved like that in the parable, seed by the wayside, in stony ground, among thorns, and came to naught. But there was left, nevertheless, a generous portion that brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred fold; and the harvest among the children from his sowing is only begun.

We saw but little of Mr. Bliss after he entered upon his work as an evangelist, but what we did see made us all feel that more and more the spirit of anointing was upon him. Whenever he could, he came back for a visit to the old place of toil and prayer, and never without stirring all our hearts by some word of cheer, or of incitement to larger devotion in the Master's service. Often he would set the blood bounding by a new song rendered as only he could do it; and very likely he would follow this with a prayer, whose childlike simplicity and earnestness and pathos revealed how intimate his communion was with God, and how he longed to be more and more used in winning souls. It is not too much to say that during these last years Christ was in all his thoughts; as one of his later songs expresses it:

My only song and story,
Is Jesus died for me;
My only hope of glory

The cross of Calvary.

Would that the spirit of such a discipleship might pervade all our singers, our Sunday School superintendents, our teachers, our church members. Then

there would be singing in the spirit, praying in the spirit, working in the spirit, and heaven would be kept jubilant over souls rescued from sin. May God help all who read the record of this consecrated life to enter into the secret of its joy and its power-to be determined not to know anything save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

E. P. GOODWIN.

CHAPTER V.

IN EVANGELISTIC WORK-MR. MOODY'S APPEAL TO MR. BLISS-THE TURNING POINT-AN EXPERIMENTAL MEETING AT WAUKEGAN-BLISS' CONSECRATION OF HIMSELF TO GOD'S SERVICE-HIS FAITH AND SELF-DENIALWORKING FOR THE YOUNG-AN INCIDENT-HIS METHODS OF TEACHING.

D

URING the winter of 1873-4, Mr. Bliss received many letters from Mr. Moody, then in Scotland, urging him to give up his business, drop everything and sing the Gospel. Similar letters came to the writer, urging that we should go out together and hold meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss were ready for this, if they could see it as the Lord's will. Mrs. Bliss' characteristic remark was: "I am willing that Mr. Bliss should do anything that we can be sure is the Lord's will, and I can trust the Lord to provide for us, but I don't want him to take such a step simply on Mr. Moody's will." There was much prayer and much hesitation on Mr. Bliss' part in approaching a decision upon the matter. He doubted his ability to be useful in the work; doubted whether the drawing he felt toward it was of the Lord or his own inclinations. Mr. Moody continued to write. One of his sentences I remember was: "You have not faith. If you haven't faith of your own on this matter, start out on my faith. Launch out into the deep." A solemn providence of God that occurred at this time, and very deeply impressed both Mr. Bliss and myself, is linked in the chain that drew us into the work. In November, 1874, my Christian brother and dear personal friend and nearest neighbor, Mr. H. G. Spafford, received a telegram from England announcing the drowning of his four dear children in the loss of the "Ville de Havre." His wife, who accompanied the children, had been rescued and sent the despatch. These friends were dear to Mr. Bliss and myself, and their affliction was a deep personal sorrow.

Mr. Spafford left at once for Europe, to bring home his wife, and while there had a conference with Mr. Moody relating to Mr.

Bliss going with me into Gospel work. Upon his return, he urged the matter upon us, and his words and representations were used of God in bringing us both to regard it as probable that we should respond to the call. Shortly after this return of Mr. Spafford, and while we were waiting for some opening to indicate the Lord's will, an interview on the cars with Rev. C. M. Saunders, of Waukegan, Illinois, led to our arranging to go there for three or four evenings, as an experiment. If the Lord blessed us and souls were converted, we would take it as indication of His will, that He called us into the work. Through Mr. Saunders I am furnished with copies of the following letters concerning these meetings:

ELGIN WATCH CO., CHICAGO, March 16th, 1874. Bliss, Cole and myself, God willing, will be with you Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, next week, March 24, 25 and 26.

D. W. WHITTLE.

CHICAGO, March, 14, 1874.

Dear Brother Saunders: Bro. Whittle will write you that he and I are coming to Waukegan, Tuesday, 24th inst. I know that you and all God's people will pray for the Spirit's power to accompany the effort. Solicit the singers to come and assist me in the singing. Would like a good organ and all the "Sunshine" in town. * Organ in front of congregation, if possible, and good light all over the room, I venture to suggest. Every time you think of our coming, offer a prayer that it may be purely for God's glory. Amen. Wife and brother unite in love to thee and thine.

*

The Tuesday evening meeting was not an encouraging one, as to attendance, and had no marked result, except in the very powerful impression upon the minds of Bliss, dear brother Cole and myself, that the Lord was with us. The next day it rained and we looked for a still smaller audience, but it was twice as large. Before the meeting closed, there were blessed indications of the work of the Holy Spirit upon the people. The place became very solemn, and as dear Bliss sang "Almost Persuaded," every word seemed filled with power. In different parts of the house, sinners arose as he sang, presenting themselves for prayer, and souls that night rejoiced in Christ. Our hearts were very full, and a great responsibility was upon us. The next afternoon, we all three met in the study of the Congregational Church, where our meetings were held, and spent some hours in prayer. Bliss made a formal surrender of