GREENWICH, FEBRUARY 29TH, 1892
GREENWICH, FEBRUARY 29TH, 1892
Mr. Stewart.
My Dear Brother, — I had yours of January 18th in due course and, curiously enough, the same mail brought me one from Glenny from Sydney. He seems to be feeling his way there. He speaks of there being plenty of interest in the word there, though there is no particular gift in the meeting. The arrival of Edwards and Klein in New Zealand will have its effect. Edwards is a man who has been used a good deal in England. I never heard him, but others say that he can preach beautifully. I do not think the difficulty that some feel has reference so much to the preaching as to the mode of carrying on the work — the sort of fever heat, the hymns, the after meetings and so on. I trust they may be kept in sobriety and conscious that God’s work must be done in divine power.
I am very thankful to learn that things have quietened down in the Colony — as in England. Those who have left make no secret now that the attack was really meant for J.B.S., and unwillingly admit that, as far as
†See letter, November 23rd, 1898, on page 147. — ED.
[p. 62] the United Kingdom is concerned, it has grievously failed. I am convinced that it has been a conflict with the sort of materialism which had crept into Evangelical christianity through the effort to bring divine ideas within the comprehension of the natural mind. I can understand man’s mind being able to grasp the idea of sins and forgiveness but the moment we come to the positive character of our blessings in Christ, the human mind has no ability. This would be admitted in terms — but the way in which it has been insisted that Christ manifested eternal life to the world shows that in the thought of those who spoke thus, it was possible for man to understand the things of the Spirit. There is little outward change in the position of things in England. One hears occasionally of one and another coming back and sometimes of one and another leaving, but this is sure to be the case when people are acted on by so many influences. Captain Barton rejoices I hear that they have no large gatherings together. I should rejoice that they are more common with us than they used to be for I think the coming together of brothers for readings in different parts of the country is a wholesome check on individual peculiarities, and I think any labouring brother worth anything would be glad of them. We are, D.V., to have a meeting at Park Street the end of this month. It will be over before you receive this. A good many have been invited and I trust we may have a good time. Abroad there does not seem to be much movement save that I believe there is still some recovery both in France and Italy. They are having a sort of conference at Novi, and Oliphant has gone down to it. Germany and Switzerland still seem to be shut up. Some time since I was told by Gibbons of Newport that the result produced on his mind by a conversation with Dr. Rossier was that Lowe’s course in England was determined by the fear of having to break with the foreign brothers, for they had pretty well made up [p. 63] their minds to break altogether with England. It is certain that there has long been an unhappy feeling abroad in regard to England. Dr. R. said that they had not translated anything of J.B.S.’s for twelve years.
I am sorry to hear that you have been troubled with your throat. It is trying to get it out of order for it is liable to produce a weak point afterwards. I hope that after the rest you will be able to use your voice again. The winter has been a very trying one in England, though we have through God’s mercy escaped sickness. J.B.S. wears wonderfully and seems able to carry on his work.
I trust your wife and children are fairly well, and remain with love in the Lord.
Your affectionate brother,
F. E. Raven.