THE BACKGROUND TO A HYMN
The following is the substance of a circular letter written in 1936 by Mr. J. H. Lewis.
Many enquiries have reached me regarding our dear brethren in Russia. It is with a sorrowing heart that I have to say that the last of the brothers known to me in Leningrad, our aged brother D.O. (Daniel Otsing), has been banished to some far-distant place in the south-east of Russia, bordering on the Chinese frontier. The source of this information, a brother who accompanied our aged brother, now 81 years old, said it was a week and a half’s journey.
There is yet another brother left. The loss to the few sisters remaining is very great. Our dear brother has been a father to them all for many years, and the Lord has greatly used him.
Before light reached the gathered saints in Leningrad, our brother had seen the path of separation. He was soon ready to accept the outside place, and link himself with the few gathered to the Lord. During the 1914–1918 war much service for the Lord was carried on, and their numbers increased, and the work of the Lord prospered. From the time of the revolution (1917) until the famine in 1921 there seems to have been a fair amount of liberty to carry on the work of the Lord. When things became very bad in Leningrad through the famine our brother moved to Slobodokaja, in Wjatka province, some hundreds of miles east of Leningrad. Here the Lord used our brother very much, so that before he returned to Leningrad there were meetings in four places. Later, some brethren from Wjatka moved into the province of Tumen in Siberia and commenced to break bread in two villages. Links with these dear brethren were kept up until three of four years ago, but now they are lost to us. Most of them were farmers and presumably they have either fallen victims to collectivism, or been deported.
There were breakings of bread in nine places in Russia, but as far as we can ascertain they are unable to do this in any place now. The brethren have been scattered in so many directions.
Our aged brother must feel keenly the apparent break-up of his toil and labour for the Lord. But what is of God will abide. It is refreshing to think of the peace and joy that have marked our brother, coupled with much intelligence in the truth, and a personal knowledge of God.
The Lord’s return has been much before him for many years, coupled with the response of the Spirit and the bride, “Come”. I venture to give a translation from the German of a hymn written by our brother in 1917. He will need our prayers in his isolation and loneliness, separated as he is from the brethren he loved and served, and even his own sons and daughters. How our aged brother will live I know not, as he is too feeble to work. But the Lord, as in Elijah’s days, has His widows in reserve, and even the ravens, to feed His servants.
The letter then quoted postcards, dated November 1935, from Mr. Otsing. Perusal of the scriptures he cites gives an affecting insight into his links with God, his fixed purpose and firm hope, the extremities through which he passed, and his love to the saints.
‘Through God’s grace and love, a new dwelling-place has been found for us. We are in good health, Read 1 Peter 1: 1–9; Acts 27: 1–3; Revelation 1: 9; 22: 20, 21. Hearty greetings to the brethren. Your aged brother. D.O.’
‘I am well and happy, reading alone in my room the word of God, and praying for all men, Philippians 2: 20, 21; Daniel 9: 17–19; 2 Corinthians 7: 1; 1 Thessalonians 5: 25, 26. Hearty greetings to all the saints. Your loving brother, D.O.’
‘I am in good health, thanks be to God. Read Philippians 1: 21; 2 Corinthians 1: 8, 9. Hearty greetings to all the saints. Your loving brother, D.O.’
Mr. Lewis then gave his translation of Daniel Otsing’s hymn (Hymn 131) including the following final verse—
How sweet is Thy word, “I come quickly”;
“Amen!” answer Spirit and bride,
Responsive to love, faithful, holy,
That never has once turned aside.
Thy promise is sure, blest Protector,
‘Not one shall be lost’ is Thy word
Of the men given Thee by Thy Father;
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, O Lord.