WE are glad to be able to print the following letter from Mr Brown, missionary to the blind in Edinburgh, as showing what may be done in rural districts where one person or family will devote time and trouble to God's work. Would that many a farmhouse might be made a sanctuary, as Fishwick Mains has been! We visited it last week and found the work Mr Brown began still going on:-
I have much pleasure in giving you a brief account of the work of the Lord at Fishwick Mains and neighbourhood, as I saw it during my short visit a few weeks ago. The Rev. J. H. Wilson asked me to go there to conduct a series of evangelistic meetings. None had been held similar to those held elsewhere. I went and was kindly welcomed by Mr Hood, who had been in Edinburgh and attended the meetings held in Barclay Church and got for himself a great quickening, I arrived on a Saturday afternoon, and visited a few of the people in their own cottages, and conducted the first meeting in Mr Hood's dining-room, which was fitted up for the occasion. The people listened most attentively, but no one would remain to be spoken with at a second meeting. On Sabbath, I accompanied the family to the United Presbyterian Church and took part of the service, intimating the meeting to be held in the evening. During the afternoon I again visited and conversed with the people at their own homes. When the hour of meeting came the room was literally filled from corner to corner, so much so that a number had to content themselves with standing in the passage and sitting on the stair.
The meeting was conducted in the usual way, psalms and hymns being sung, the Scriptures read, and the story of redeeming love declared to the people.
I tried to speak; not as if the people were somewhere else, but present in the very room -eye meeting eye. The word of the Lord was accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit and many remained to be spoken with, anxiously inquiring the way to be saved. After being shown the way through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, many believed and decided to be the Lord's from that hour. Not that they had not believed the Scriptures to be the word of the Lord before that time--they believed the Bible to be the word of the Lord in a general way; but now they believe for themselves, personally taking Christ and receiving power to become His children. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believed on His name."
The Sabbath-day's work was now come to a close, and we met around the family altar, to join our praises with the heavenly hosts that the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ had been advanced in the salvation of precious souls, as well as the spiritual refreshing of the Lord's own people.
After a quiet night's rest, we once more assembled for morning worship, and, asking direction for the day's work, were directed to visit a number of families, with whom we conversed, and showed them the way of life as set forth in the Scriptures. One man said as we spoke personally to him, "I was sincerely desiring you might call; and now. I have got my desire fulfilled, as you have come." It was à great pleasure to teach one who was willing to be taught. He was previously convinced that he needed to be saved by an address given by Mr Moody at Berwick. I read to him a few texts from the Gospel of John, his own eye resting on the word at the same time. The Spirit seemed to use His own word to the enlightening of his mind while reading the passage, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hearth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life." He said, "l see it. Do you really see the way to be saved?" "Yes, I see it now." "And do you now believe?" "I now believe on Jesus, and take Him as my own Saviour!" After prayer, we gave the encouragement needed to go on looking unto Jesus.
The hour for, the evening meeting came, and the dining room was filled again - not fewer than 100 present. The meeting
was opened by the Rev. Mr Stark who also spoke a few earnest, suitable words at the close of the address. After the close of the first meeting, many remained to be spoken with for the first time, as well as others whom we had conversed with on the Sabbath evening. It was a night to be remembered, especially by those who, through grace, took the first step out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. We returned to Edinburgh greatly strengthened and encouraged for future work from what we had seen and experienced of the Lord's goodness. After two weeks had elapsed, I received a note asking me to return to Fishwick Mains for a day or two, informing me the meetings had been kept up with much interest and profit to many. I paid a second visit and had the great joy of seeing many who had new-found joy. The minister was from home, and I conducted the usual service in his church during the Sabbath-day; and intimated the meeting in the erening, which was crowded to the door. Many remained to be spoken with, and I had good reason to believe that some were enabled
through grace to take Christ, before leaving, as their own Saviour. On the Monday forenoon, I paid several visits to persons who had been at the meetings and professed to get good and was made glad when I saw the grace of God. Verily, the work is the Lord's and it is the joy of, our hearts to see so many coming to the Saviour and finding righteousness and strength in Him.
"Times of Blessing," June 4th, 1874.
To J
The town does not seem to exist now.