sired a season of personal conference, that cemented more closely the bonds of brotherhood between them. The hundreds of those who have compared and criticised these two men, and, judging of what is in us all by nature, have thought of them as in any manner envious or jealous of one another, would have a clearer apprehension of what the grace of God in the heart can do, if they could have known the loving relationship that existed between them. It was a scene long to be remembered, to be with them alone for an hour in the room at the Pacific Hotel, as they compared and tested and criticised the songs to be used in their meetings. First, one would be at the organ rendering a song, then the other, and both laughing, crying and praying together over their work. They rejoiced in each other's gifts, and praised God for the honor conferred upon them in being used in His service. Mr. Bliss would never listen, if he could avoid it, to depreciation of others, and in all the writer's fellowship with him, he cannot recall an unkind or envious expression or act toward those whom he may have esteemed better singers or of greater reputation than himself. God answered to him in a remarkable degree his prayer, Only an Instrument, ready His praises to sound at His will, He could sit and listen to the singing of others, and pray for them, and rejoice in God's using them, without a thought to mar his communion with God. During this sojourn in Chicago, many precious gatherings of brethren consecrated to evangelistic work were enjoyed by Mr. Bliss. Needham and Stebbins, Moorhouse, Charles Inglis, Rockwell, Morton, Jacobs, Farwell, Spafford, Dean and others were frequently together in those days, dining with Moody, and discussing Gospel truth or plans of work, or in Bliss' room listening to some new song. These brethren and others engaged in the work were all dear to Mr. Bliss, and were many times mentioned by name in his prayers. He delighted to hear of the blessing of God upon their labors, and to see of their own growth in grace. October 21st, the brethren separated for their different posts near Chicago. Mr. Bliss went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mrs. Bliss accompanying him. The evening of their arrival, they were entertained at Rev. Mr. Spencer's, where, with thoughtful hospitality, all the pastors of the city were gathered to give them welcome. It BLISS AT KALAMAZOO. 77 was a very pleasant and profitable meeting, and both Mr. and Mrs. Bliss often recurred to it as having given them much pleasure. The meetings held here were participated in by all the ministers, and from the first were much blessed. Mr. Bliss conducted a young people's meeting here as in other places, and with happy results. Many there look upon him as the instrument in God's hands of leading them to Christ. He sang in the young ladies' seminary, and at the Baptist College, and in many private residences to the sick and invalid ones. The dear friend there, who for seven years or more has been confined to his room, will well remember the sunshiny day, when Mr. Bliss came and sang to him the "Ninety and Nine," "Hallelujah, what a Savior," and how, in the seasons of prayer and reading the word that followed this visit, he gave his heart to the Lord. In a little while, he will cross the tide, and will know in its fullness the truth, "Hallelujah, what a Savior.” The dear young man who met Mr. and Mrs. Bliss in the singing room, grown reckless from repeated failures in his experiments at becoming a Christian, will never forget the pressure of the hands that were so kindly placed upon his shoulders, or the earnest, loving look from the eyes that met his, or the words so earnestly spoken, telling him that his failure had come from his experiments, and urging him now, without experimenting, to trust Christ fully for all things, and make a full commitment to Him. Very earnestly did both these dear friends pray for this young man. Very faithful was dear Mrs. Bliss in her encouragement and counsel to him, and very happy were both of them when, the day of their departure, they took their leave of him, an intelligent, decided, happy Christian. Never will dear H. forget the interest taken in his conversion by Mr. Bliss, nor the sympathy and faith of Mrs. Bliss with his dear parents, when they were praying to God for his salvation. H. has sent me a copy of a letter received from Mr. Bliss, which speaks his heart, and tells of his personal interest in his Lord's work: JACKSON, MICH., 20th November, 1876. God bless you, my dear friend H., or Brother " Fred," as I prefer to call you. It is just as I expected. Your letter didn't surprise me a bit. Welcome to the ranks. Now "forward, march," in the service of our Captain. You are not the man to sit still and prosper. And I'm so glad, Fred, that you've begun in time to put in a full day's work. So here's my heart's "Good Cheer," and I expect to see you take both hands and pull with a will. The kind of a "Christian" you are to be will be largely determined in the next few months, I might have said weeks. Lend a hand to that score or more of your associates and the college boys. Pull them in shore before they drift down to the rapids. Help some weak friend by a lift on his burden. Oh, how the world needs happy, singing, joyful young Christians! I congratulate you upon the good times you are going to have in the service of the Lord. If the Devil knocks you down occasionally, you'll fall on your knees; and then he'll soon leave you. Good is the Lord. Amen. Should have replied sooner, but hoped to see you. We all go to Chicago to-morrow night. Love to father, mother and sisters. Yours in Galatians ii, 20, Just beginning to get hold here. Pray for us. P. P. BLISS. One evening, at Kalamazoo, while on the way to the service, this verse was repeated and became a favorite with us from that on, and was almost daily quoted: In peace I go; no fear I know Among the papers found in his trunk was a slip with that verse written upon it. "Whatever comes, let us just stick to that,” he would remark, and it truly expressed the atmosphere in which, in those days, he seemed to be walking. Each day the Master gave him some special work, some special blessing. Some years before, he had given a concert in Kalamazoo, and was entertained for the night by a gentleman who a little time after had died. Mr. Bliss sought out the family, and found a representative of them in a daughter who had married a well-known business man, but neither of them Christians. God used his visit to them, and both were led, before the meeting closed, to accept Christ, and were very happy in His love, and are now among the most active Christian workers of the place. Another letter, received from a young lady in Kalamazoo, and given below, will tell its own story as to the faithfulness of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss to individual souls—the simple secret of all success in evangelistic work, from the time that Jesus talked with Nicodemus by night and the woman at Samaria at noon, to the present hour. Faithfulness in private work with individuals must keep pace with service in public to the crowds, or that will be no power. INTERESTING LETTERS. 79 MR. WHITTLE: KALAMAZOO, MICH., February 10, 1877. DEAR SIR-I was baptized last Sunday, and while I realize that "with God all things are possible," still it does not seem to me that any one but Mr. Bliss could have induced me to take this step. I am a minister's daughter and have been a constant attendant on divine worship, and have attended many revivals where sinners flocked to Christ, but they always left me just outside the fold. When Mr. Bliss sang "Only Trust Him," it touched my heart. Then he was so sympathetic, and he said that he did not know the time when he was converted. He left feeling entirely out of the question; and while others made "great the mystery of godliness," with him it was "Only Trust Him." I promised Mrs. B. that I would write to them at Jackson, but was very busy with my studies, and, as I told Dr. Hodge, I waited too long; but he thought that in heaven they would rejoice with far greater joy than they could on earth. But heaven seems a great way off, and there are a great many passages in the Bible I cannot understand, and when I heard of their death it seemed to me that God did not care for His children; but with all such thoughts I see again the glorious singer, and hear in sweetest accent, "Only Trust Him." There was no one, excepting my dear papa, mamma and sister, whose death I would have regretted so much. I can scarcely realize that I knew them only three short weeks. I spent the afternoon with them at their rooms here. They were the happiest hours of my life. Mrs. Bliss gave me her photograph, but the only one I have of him hangs on memory's walls, and it shall never be obliterated. I have a beautiful letter that they wrote me while they were here. I am very glad that you came to Kalamazoo. I pray for you that God will make you very successful in winning souls to Him. I gave Mr. Bliss" Bunyan's Complete Works," and wrote on the fly leaf, "I go to prepare a place for you-that where I am there ye may be also;" but little did I think he would so soon be there. The last night they were here we were the last ones to leave the church. At the door, Mr. Bliss turned around and said, “Good bye, old Methodist Church, I shall not see you again ;” but to me he said, "I will just say good night to you; we shall meet again in the morning." He won the love of all. Heaven seems nearer and dearer now that they are there; but how we miss them here! Mr. Bliss said to me some time before he left, "I shall watch for you in heaven." I know they are waiting for me at the beautiful gate. Will you pray for me, Mr. Whittle, that I may be a happy, devoted Christian and meet them there? Yours in the blessed hope of John vi, 47, **** *** The afternoon Mr. Bliss left Kalamazoo, the young men, many of them new converts, surprised him by gathering at the depot and singing him a farewell from Gospel Songs. The last song, which closed as the train came up to the station, was To-morrow." 66 We're going Home CHAPTER IX. MR. BLISS AT JACKSON, MICHIGAN-AN AFFECTING SCENE AT THE STATE PRISON-RETURN TO CHICAGO-THE MINISTERS' MEETING AT FARWELL HALL THE LAST TIME MR. BLISS SANG IN CHICAGO-“ARE YOUR WINDOWS OPEN TOWARD JERUSALEM?” FR ROM the 11th to the 21st of November, 1876, Mr. Bliss was in Jackson, Michigan, in union meetings. He was much used here, and was in an unusual degree anxious to talk personally with the unsaved. The first Sunday evening he conducted a meeting of his own in the Rev. Mr. Maile's church, and with much blessing. A dear friend, employed by the railroad company, with his wife, was present that evening, and both remained for personal conversation with him. They were singers and were glad to have him talk with them, and before he left them, both accepted Christ. That friend is now leading the singing in the church where he was converted, and is spoken of by the pastor as one of his most active workers. The Michigan State Prison is located at Jackson, and on both Sunday mornings of Mr. Bliss' stay in the city, he conducted service for the eight hundred inmates there. The most tender, eloquent, and earnest appeal that could have possibly been made to sinners to accept the love of Christ was made by him at his last meeting with these dear men, Sunday morning, November 19th. He spoke of their homes, and of the little children, who missed their papas; told them of his own dear little Paul going around the room, and kneeling at the different chairs and praying for his papa and mamma; then turned all their awakened sympathies to Christ, by speaking of how impossible it would be for him to give up his dear little boy to die for others, and to die a death of great suffering, and those for whom he died to be his enemies. "Oh, friends," he said, with tears, "I could not do it, but this is what God did for you. He loved you and gave His Son to die for you." The Spirit of God |