Many Thousands Sent for the Orphans in Answer to Prayer, 1874–1885 (part 2 of 3)

November 27th. Legacy of the late Miss M. R. £300, less legacy duty. The testatrix I did not know personally, and, as far as I remember, not even by name.

December 5th. Received £2 1s. 6d., with the following letter:

My dear Sir,

"Taking an interest in your work, but being at present unable to assist by sending any regular remittances, it has occurred to me, to forward you each month the fees I receive in my professional capacity as 'a commissioner to administer oaths,' so that I may help forward in some small degree what, I am satisfied, is God's work. You should know (to appreciate the cause of any fluctuation in the amounts) that the fees for affidavits and declarations taken by commissioners are unsought by them and come, as people say, 'by accident;' and therefore, what you may receive from time to time, you may justly consider as sent to you direct from our Heavenly Father, I being merely the 'conduit pipe.' In order to draw the attention of my professional brethren to this method of 'doing God's service,' please enter my donation as 'A solicitor's fees for affidavits taken in November, £2 1s. 6d.' Etc."

December 10th. For the support of nine Orphans for one year £117 9s., with £10 10s. for myself.—December 17th. Legacy of the late Mr. E. M. L. £500, less duty.—December 19th. From the neighbourhood of London £290.

January 1st. Already on the first day of this New Year we received many donations for the support of our large Orphan Family.—January 9th. From a Christian former Orphan, an inmate in 1850, £10, with the following letter to Mr. Wright:—

Honoured sir,

"When in New York in October last, I had the pleasure of crossing the ferry from Brooklyn to New York in company with Mr. Müller. At that time it was intended to fix the ship I commanded to Bristol, and I promised myself the pleasure of going to see the New Orphan Houses; but a day or two afterwards I received orders to fix for Liverpool, and, on account of the death of my late employer, whom I have served for more than nine years, the ship I commanded was sold by the executors, so that I am thrown out of employment, and cannot avail myself of the pleasure of seeing the New Orphan Houses; but please` accept the enclosed £10, to be used at your discretion, as a thankoffering unto the Lord for His numerous mercies during another voyage, and bringing me safely back to my native land from the East Indies.

With Christian love, yours respectfully, ——"

January 24th. From Nottingham a lady's gold watch set with diamonds, and a gold chain, as "Treasures in Heaven" (Matthew 6:20).—January 30th. From Scotland £8 5s. This donation comes from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who has no property and no fixed salary or income whatever, and who for years has sent me for the benefit of the Orphans the fifth part of all that God is pleased to give to him in answer to prayer.

March 1st. The total income for the support of the Orphans to-day was £8 14s. 4½d., but the average expense, for each day, for this Object alone, is £73. What is to be done under such circumstances? We do not ask friends to help us. We do not send out circulars to make known our need. We do not in the least, for the time being, refer to it, outside the Institution. We pray and seek to encourage ourselves in God. And similar days come often. Yea, the money in hand may sink more and more, so that the appearance is, that very shortly we shall have nothing at all. And what do we then? We still wait upon God and trust in Him, and in Him alone. He has helped, and helped above forty years, and we trust He will yet help us; and thus we encourage ourselves in God.—March 9th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester, £200.—March 26th. From the neighbourhood of London £2, with this letter:—

"It is with much pleasure I enclose a Post Office Order for the sum of £2 for the Orphan Houses. When I sent last year, I thought it would be the last I should ever be able to send, as I was getting old and had left service, to live upon the hard earnings of nearly fifty years. It is now twelve months since I left. To my great surprise my late master sent for me last week and presented me with a handsome sum, which has enabled me to double the amount which I have sent before. 'Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men!' I have had to plead with Him during the past year, and tell Him that the silver and the gold were His and all hearts were in His hands; and now He has done much more than I could ask or think. 'What shall I render to Him for all His benefits!' "

May 7th. Total income this day £11 15s. 2d., whilst our average expenses for one day are about £124. Thus it has been of late again and again. Under these circumstances we lay hold on the promises of our Heavenly Father, and thus seek to encourage ourselves.—May 16th. From Cornwall £3 9s. 6d.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1877, to May 26th, 1878, was £24,991 12s. 6½d.]

May 26th, 1878, to May 26th, 1879

When this year commenced we had for the support of the Orphans £4,708 4s. 10½d. in hand.

June 22nd. The total income for all the five different Objects of the Institution was to-day £6, whilst the average expenses for one day are £124.—June 25th. Received £9 10s., "instead of insuring 380 acres against hailstorms."—June 27th. Although, during the month, from May 27th to June 27th, 363 donations had been received, yet, as the total of them amounted only to £752 14s., whilst our average expenses for one month for the support of the Orphans alone amounted to more than £2,000, our balance was still further reduced, to what it had been at the beginning of the year; but our confidence in the living God was as strong as before, and, by His grace, without wavering.

July 25th. At the beginning of this day we were still poorer than on June 27th, because the income during the past four weeks had been again only £740 11s. 8½d., instead of £2,200. But we looked out for help, and continued patiently, with prayer, to exercise faith in the power of God, and in the willingness of God to help us. In the meantime, also, we had still something in hand to last a little while longer. Now, however, the time was come when the Lord graciously would give again more abundantly, after having tried our faith considerably for several months with regard to means. I received this day £5,000, free of duty, as payment of the legacy of the late W. C. H., Esq. This gentleman I had never seen, and the legacy was paid considerably before the legal time, both of which circumstances are to be noticed. I also received £1,293 14s. 11d. to-day as payment of the legacy of the late C. G. E., Esq., this amount being a third of the residue. My heart rejoiced, when I thus again saw the hand of God so manifestly stretched out on our behalf, bidding us, so to speak, afresh to be of good cheer, and afresh assuring us by His dealings that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

August 27th. Received 3s., with the following letter:—

Honoured Sir,

"I wish to thank you for the Report sent, which my wife and self have read with pleasure and profit, and, in some instances, with much joy; but it is with some concern we look at the figures at the end of the book. Of course we mean not so much as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact. The difference between £10,936 (the balance in hand May 26th, 1877) and £4,708 (the balance in hand May 26th, 1878) is pretty palpable at first sight; and we judge that this decline has given not a little exercise of mind and trial to yourself, Mr. Wright, and others, and we send you as much as we can (3s. worth of stamps) to cheer you on your way in this new year of faith and hope.—We see, looking back, that you began May 26th, 1874, with £4,057, and ended with £8,406, and let us hope that 1878 and '79 may prove as good, under God's blessing. Please excuse and accept it in the good will with which it is sent, and believe us to be,

"Yours faithfully, ——."

I wrote, in acknowledging this 3s., "Thanks for the kind sympathy. I trust in God, He has helped, and He will further help."

Such fluctuations do not take us by surprise; they were expected from the beginning of the work; periods even when all might be expended, when God, in answer to prayer, would make bare His arm, and send help for the Orphans, were looked for; and the very reason for founding the Orphan work was, to show to the world and the Church at large, how much even in the 19th century can be accomplished by prayer and faith. This Institution has been from the beginning like the burning bush, and yet it is not consumed.

Receives £18,400 in three months

September 3rd. Received on account of the legacy of the late Mrs. S. S. £4,100. This Mrs. S. had never sent anything in her lifetime; I had never seen her, never heard her name; but hearing about the Orphan work on Ashley Down, she was induced, I understand, to leave this legacy. Thus God helps us. We make our prayer to Him, we look to Him, we do trust in Him; and He speaks and works for us, without our doing anything in the matter besides. Unspeakably blessed it is, thus to confide in God!—September 4th. To-day, when I had prepared the balance-sheet, it was found, that we had in hand for the support, of the Orphans £11,575 4s. 11½d. and £988 3s. 8¼d. for the first four Objects. Within three months and eight days the Lord had been pleased to send us £18,400 17s. 8d., by far the largest sum we have ever had, within the same space of time, during the 45 years of the existence of the Institution. Will not the beloved Christian readers see, if they have not done so before, how blessed it is to trust in God? Verily, those who do so will not be confounded, though their faith may again and again be sharply tried.—September 9th. "Given up for conscience sake," 4 gold rings.

October 10th. Legacy of the late Mrs. K. £465 12s. 6d. This lady, as far as I know, I have never seen, but God, in answer to our daily prayers for means to carry on this work, put it into her heart to leave us this legacy.—October 23rd. From a Christian gentleman and lady £134 for the support of ten Orphans for one year.—October 28th. Received 5s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I send you the enclosed 5s. as a thankoffering for the restoration of a very bad finger. Having read in your last Report about the horse getting better in answer to prayer, and the owner sending you £2, I told the Lord if my finger got better without a doctor I would send you the enclosed. At that time I could do nothing, but had to nurse it. That very night, however, it became so much better that I could work the next day. Now, thank the Lord for His lovingkindness, I am able to act according to my promise."

November 15th. Received 10s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I enclose a Post Office Order for 10s., which kindly accept for the use of the Orphans. A few months ago I suddenly became very deaf, and feared the use of one ear was gone. Knowing the ear to be such a delicate organ, I always dreaded consulting a doctor about it; so I made it a subject of earnest prayer, and determined that if my hearing was restored, without medical advice, I would send 10s. for the Lord's work in your hands. I now hear again as well as ever, so you can receive this trifle as another of the many interesting ways in which God answers your prayers.

"I remain, yours in the love of Christ Jesus, ——."

December 10th. From Yorkshire £100; this kind donor has again and again sent us help, within the last four years, though not personally Known to me. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £400; this kind donor also has within the last few years sent to us considerable help, which again and again arrived, when greatly needed. She also is not, known to me personally.—How precious it is, to have a Friend in Heaven to go to, in our need, and then to obtain help through His stewards, though we know them not personally.

From an anonymous donor £500

December 18th. Received from London the first half of a £500 Bank of England Note, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I had intended leaving a sum of money for your Orphanages in my Will; but as the funds of all Institutions are at present suffering from the commercial depression, I have thought it better to send the amount, £500, now, thus saving the legacy duty, and ministering to your present need; so please to enter it in your books as 'Instead of a Legacy.' When I see by advertisement in the Daily Telegraph that you have received the first half of note enclosed, I will then post you the other. I trust that God will continue to guide and bless you in your work. Please to accept my kind regards and best wishes."

We have not (of course) the least idea who this kind anonymous donor is; but God knows him, and we pray that He will abundantly recompense him.

January 1st. On the first day of the year we obtained 83 donations for the Orphans, amounting altogether to £268 10s. 0¾d. January 14th. Received £200 from the same kind donor in Yorkshire, who, within the last four years, has repeatedly sent to us similar donations.—January 15th. From Devonshire £68 7s. 8d. from a donor who has kindly helped in the Orphan work for more than thirty years, and who sends this sum now in consideration of the difficulties there may be on account of the failure of banks, etc.—February 10th. As "A thankoffering" from Cork £50. Through W. H. A., Esq., £63.—February 17th. Received £10 10s., "Being half the amount of prizes the donor has won with his sheep during the past year."

March 3rd. Received £8, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Enclosed is £8, which we send to you to be used for the benefit of the Orphans. We send this as a thankoffering to God for blessing and prospering us since commencing business. As ours is principally a rearing farm, we promised to give to the Orphans 3d. for each lamb, fid. each pig, 1s. each calf, and 2s. 6d. each foal."

May 5th. Eighty new suits of boys' clothes, value £66.—May 8th. From Yorkshire £200.—May 9th. Received £93 16s. for the support of seven Orphans for one year.—May 10th. The legacy of the late Miss M. A. P. £451 10s.—May 26th. On this last day of the year of the Institution, we received, besides a number of other donations, £161 3s. 3d., and a large quantity of silver articles, as the legacy of the late Mrs. G.

ORPHAN GIRLS: SWEDISH EXERCISES.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1878, to May 26th, 1879, was £25,750 17s. 8d.]

May 26th, 1879, to May 26th, 1880

May 30th. Legacy of the late Mr. M. £103 7s. 10d.—June 24th. Five sacks of oatmeal. The same donor has sent 121 sacks in all, in the course of the year. A very valuable donation to us, as we consume about 7,000 stones of oatmeal per year.

August 12th. From Yorkshire £200.—August 22nd. A general's fulldress tunic, undress surtout, trousers, with gold lace, pair of boots, three pairs of spurs, gold lace sash, belt, Russia leather belt, cocked hat and feather, and forage rap.

Legacy prayed out of Chancery

September 3rd. A case containing a gold pendant, set with an emerald, pearls, and diamonds, and a pair of ear-rings set with diamonds, half for Missions and half for the Orphans.—September 8th. Legacy of the late A. B., Esq., £9,091 14s. 6d. This legacy was a considerable time in Chancery; but, as I have often found, by prayer it was at last brought out of the Court. This is the largest donation we have received at one time; but, as I stated, when receiving £8,100 at one time, that I expected yet greater donations, so I now say again, that it may be yet further seen how much even now can be accomplished by prayer and faith.—September 11th. Received 1s. 10d., with the following letter:—

"Please accept these few stamps (1s. 10d.) as a thankoffering for mercies in having employment, when many have none. From a poor widow and her family, for the Orphans."

September 12th. Received £1 12s. 6d., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I have much pleasure in sending you the enclosed £1 12s. 6d., being 7½d. per week for 52 weeks, formerly spent on tobacco. I tried all human effort to give it up; but all was a failure, till I was led to ask the Lord for help, and promised to send what it cost to the Orphans at Bristol. I thank God He has kept me through the past year without any desire for it."

September 10th. From one of the former Orphans, now filling a very honourable and useful position, £10, with the following letter:—

Beloved Mr. Müller and Mr. Wright,

"The kindness I have experienced at your hands I can never fully repay, but whilst able, may I prove my willingness to show practically my sincere appreciation of the same. I beg you, therefore, to accept the enclosed donation of £10 towards the Orphan Fund, from which fund, through the goodness of the Lord, and the bounteous liberality of His people, I have myself benefited so largely. Truly the hand of the Lord has led me, and His blessing has been my portion. May my heart continually well up with gratitude to Him and to you; and with the voices of His people may mine unite in singing praise to the Lord! My earnest and constant prayer is, that the Lord will continue to uphold the work, of which you are the honoured Directors, that it may stand for ages to come as a monument to faith, which infidelity could not destroy; a challenge thrown down by the former, which the latter durst not accept for fear of certain and utter defeat; also that many an Orphan, similarly circumstanced as I was, may partake of that goodness of which, in a very large degree, I have been the happy recipient.

"With sincere love and respect to you, my esteemed benefactors,

"I am, of your large family, a truly grateful member, ——."

October 7th. Legacy of the late E. B., Esq., £450, less legacy duty.—November 5th. Received the following letter, with £180:—

Dear Sir,

"I have much pleasure in sending you a draft for £180 towards your good work. It has been given to me by a patient of mine to forward to you anonymously. You may enter it in the Report under the initials A. B."

Donor provides for eleven Orphans for a year

November 18th. Received £158 9s., with the following letter:—

My dear Sir,

"The time of year has again come round when I have usually made my remittance for the benefit of your Orphan Houses, and, through the gracious mercy of our God and Saviour, I am now-enabled to send it, and, as you will see, also permitted to add to it, for it has pleased the Lord to commit to our care and into our charge another child (we humbly believe) to train up for Himself. We earnestly pray and believe, that, with the charge, He will supply all our need, to enable us to fulfil it, patiently, diligently, and faithfully. Remember us in your prayers, and add your thanksgiving to our own. The cheque I enclose is for 1879, for eleven children at £13 9s. = £147 19s., and for your own personal use, which we present with our Christian good wishes, £10 10s.

"With our kind regards and best wishes, from

"Your sincere friend, ——."

About twelve years ago the Christian gentleman, who is the writer of this letter, sent me the average expenses for three Orphans per year, considering that, as he had three children of his own, for whom he was able comfortably to provide according to their position in life, it would be well pleasing to God to give, as a thankoffering for this mercy, the means for three poor Orphans, deprived of their earthly parents. The next year he sent me the average expenses for four Orphans, the Lord having given to him another child; and thus, as the number of his children increased, he sent year after year the cost of as many Orphans as he had children of his own; and as he has now eleven children, he sends the average expenses for eleven Orphans, acting thus on the very opposite principles of men of the world, who would say, that, because their families increase, therefore they can afford less and less, instead of more and more for the Lord's work.

Smoking

November 19th. Received 10s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Will you please to accept of this trifle, as a thankoffering to the Lord, for His blessings, both temporally and spiritually. Through reading your Reports I have been greatly blessed. When I was converted I was very poor; for sometimes I did not seem to have a penny to spare for the Lord's work. About ten years ago I met with Mr. P. He, knowing my case, gave me one of your Reports. I cannot express the joy I had whilst reading it; and ever since I have longed for the time for them to come out. My desire is, that Christians would read them more, and follow the example that is set before us in them. At that time I was a smoker of tobacco. I then took up that passage of Scripture in Matthew 16:24, also 1 Cor. 16:2, and devoted a part of my money regularly to the Lord's cause. I was soon enabled to increase it, and now, although only a farmer's man, it seems a wonder to myself at times, that I am able to do as I do. Although this past summer has been a trying one with hundreds, God has prospered me, and I am enabled to do more this year than ever, since I started in my Heavenly Father's way. The desire of my heart and prayer is, that God may abundantly bless your testimony, both to the Church and world.

"Yours affectionately in the Lord Jesus, ——."

Here is a Christian farm labourer from whom one or the other of my readers may learn a profitable lesson. He gives up the use of tobacco. Have those of my readers who have, been in the habit of smoking, laid aside the pipe and cigars entirely? This habit, an evil habit, is very injurious to health, as all disinterested physicians, who do not themselves indulge in it, will fully allow. A robust constitution may for a good while resist its pernicious effects; but, sooner or later, these effects will be manifested. I beseech the Christian reader prayerfully to consider this, in order that he may no longer indulge in that which is most injurious to the body, besides being a means of wasting his money also. From the moment I was converted, the beginning of November, 1825, I have never touched a pipe or a cigar.

December 15th. From two ladies at Windsor Castle £5 12s.

January 14th. From Yorkshire £200. Legacy of the late Mr. J. T. E. £100.—February 16th. As "A thankoffering for the gift of another child," £10. As the legacy of the late Mrs. R. £90. From Staffordshire £4, with £1 for myself. The donor writes: "This last year, although so disastrous to most traders, has been the best I have ever had; and under God's providence I have to thank you for teaching me how to give."

April 6th. From a little boy 10s. 7d. At his death he expressed a wish for his money to be given to the Orphans.—April 8th. The total income of to-day, for all the five Objects of the Institution, was £6 13s. 5d., instead of £124, our daily average expenses. Similar days we have again and again, and therefore need to look to the Lord with unwavering confidence. May 11th. Legacy of the late Mrs. W. £200.—May 21st. Legacy of the late Rev. A. P. £135.—May 24th. From Malta £100.—May 25th. "Thankoffering for receiving tidings, in answer to prayer, of relatives, of whom the donor had not heard for many years," 10s.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1879, to May 26th, 1880, was £25,030 0s. 6½d.]

May 26th, 1880, to May 26th, 1881

We began the new financial year with £10,009 16s. 4½d. in hand.

June 3rd. From Yorkshire £200, with these words: "Desiring to be a faithful steward of the bounties the Lord has conferred upon one who is unworthy of the many Blessings He has bestowed, I send the enclosed cheque for £200 for the use of the Orphans at Ashley Down."—June 17th. As a legacy from the late Miss J. S. £1,000. The lady who kindly left us this amount was an entire stranger to me. I did not even know her by name.

July 2nd. Received £500 as the legacy of the late Mr. R. B. The legacy of the late Mrs. E. W. £100. In the South of Devon a musical entertainment was held for the benefit of the Orphans, but when the proceeds of it, amounting to £4 5s., were sent to me on July 7th, I returned them, not wishing to use money for the work of God obtained in this manner; for it is not money only which I desire, but money provided in God's way. The kind intention, however, of those who set this entertainment on foot to help the Orphans, I do not question for a moment.—July 14th. From Islington £13 9s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"God, in His infinite mercy, having blessed me with a living son, I enclose cheque for £13 9s. as a thankoffering, this being the cost of providing for one Orphan for one year.

"Yours truly, ——."

August 7th. To-day £264 11s. 10d. was received as the legacy of J. B., a common labourer, who left his all to the Orphans. Notice this remarkable gift, and see how God cares for them. August 16th. Today the expenses connected with the support of the Orphans were £1,035 11s. 10d. The income for them amounted only to £24 3s.

September 1st. As "Part of the legacy of the late T. H., Esq.," £1,600. This legacy has been long in Chancery, but now at last, in answer to many prayers, we have received a portion of it.—September 2nd. Received £300, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"At the request of Mr. ——, I forward you cheque for £300, which he intended to leave as a legacy to your Institution; but inasmuch as his property consists principally of real estate, he could not legally make such a bequest. He has thought it best, therefore, to make the gift in his lifetime. Please acknowledge receipt to him personally.

"Yours truly, ——."

This kind donor I have never seen, yet God leads him thus to help us. —September 3rd. Received £2 10s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"As Mr. D.'s young man had an accident with his horse, about five weeks ago, which was almost rendered unfit for work, he was reading how the Lord had blessed Mr. Müller in his work, and he resolved to give £5 if the horse was restored, as a token of his gratitude to God, for answering prayer for the speedy recovery of the horse, in order to show all the believing family of God that there is no matter too small to take to Him, especially if done in faith. We have a female Orphanage here, so my husband has divided the sum. I enclose a cheque for £2 10s. to you, and have sent the same amount to the Orphanage here.

"I am, yours in the Lord, ——."

September 16th. From Dudley £1, with the following letter:—

"At Christmas last we wrote off as hopelessly bad a debt, which had been due since 1878. Since then we have had some faint hopes of getting the money, and said, if ever we do get it we will send £1 for the Orphanage. A few days ago we received a cheque for the amount, and now enclose Post Office Order for £1."

October 21st. From a former Orphan and his wife, who have now three Orphan boys as apprentices in their house, £4, with the following letter:—

Dear and honoured Sir,

"I desire to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the second half of premium on account of C. B. You will be pleased to hear he is getting on very nicely with his trade, and his behaviour is all we could desire. The same can be said of J. D. He confesses his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom also J. D. is rejoicing. As regards ourselves, we daily continue to pray, as we have done for many years, for blessing on the dear Orphan work, and those engaged in it. We greatly rejoice in its continued prosperity, as well becomes us, who have received such inestimable spiritual and temporal blessings through its instrumentality. Will you please use £3 10s. of the enclosed for the support of one Orphan for three months, and the remaining 10s. for Foreign Missions? and accept with it the grateful love of two former Orphans."

October 25th. As the legacy of the late J. J. O., Esq., £500.

November 1st. Received £200 as the legacy of the late Miss E. W.—November 5th. Received £200 as the legacy of the late Miss M. W. A. —November 15th. From Essex £1 as "A thankoffering for freedom for two years from severe suffering."

December 22nd. Received £5, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Last Christmas, when I sent you 10s. for the Orphans, I had a yearling calf that was very ill and not worth more than 5s. I made up my mind that, if it recovered (though I did not think that possible), I would send you half its value next Christmas; I therefore have the pleasure of sending you a cheque for £5 for the Orphans."

December 23rd. From near London £290, with £10 for myself.

January 1st. Received 10s., "Being ¼d. per pair for 480 pairs of boots mended during the past year."

February 18th. From the Isle of Wight £53 18s. for the support of four Orphans for one year.—March 3rd. As the fifth and final instalment of a legacy of the late G. W., Esq., £200.—March 29th. Legacy of the late G. B., Esq., £450.

May 7th. Received the following letter, with £13:—

My dear Sir,

"I have much pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £13 for the support of one Orphan for one year. In reading your Reports from year to year, I am particularly struck by observing how the Lord provides for you in such a wonderful manner, and during such depressing times as we have been, and are now, passing through. That He may still provide and give you faith to trust Him at all times and under every circumstance, is the desire of

"Yours sincerely, ——."

How does it come, that "during these depressing times" we are provided for? Because we do not look at them, nor trust in friends, but depend wholly upon God. This is the secret whereby, year after year, for forty-seven years, we have been helped. Continually we ourselves feel the effects of the depressing times. This morning, for instance, while I am writing this, the income for to-day and yesterday amounts only to £28, but the average expense for two days is £248. Often the income for one day is only £10 or £15, sometimes even less than £10; and yet our average expenditure for a single day is £124. If, under these circumstances, we were not looking to God alone, we should soon be overwhelmed with difficulty; but, as by God's grace, we are steadfastly keeping our eyes upon Him, and are expecting help from Him only, our hearts, year after year, are kept in peace under the most trying and difficult circumstances; and He has never suffered us to be confounded.

Thus we were brought to the close of another year, during which we were enabled to meet all the expenses for the Orphans, though they amounted to £26,340 8s. 5½d.

May 26th, 1881, to May 26th, 1882

On May 27th, 1880, we began the new financial year with £10,009 16s. 4½d. in hand; but on May 27th, 1881, we had only £2,922 12s. 9¼d. to begin with.

On the very first day of the new period, May 27th, 1881, we received from a donor in one of the Midland Counties £50.—May 30th. Received £100, with the following letter:—

My dear Sir,

"It has been a matter of much regret with me, that I have not been able of late years to send you any contributions to your good work; but circumstances have not allowed me to do so. Some years ago my wife and myself resolved that, if some shares we held advanced to a certain price and were sold, we would then send you £100. Last week they were disposed of at the exact price, and we are truly thankful to God that we are enabled to send you the enclosed £100. Please enrol it in your list of givers 'For Christ's sake from Shrewsbury for the Orphan Fund.'

"Believe me, very truly yours, ——."

June 11th. Balance of legacy of the late T. H., Esq., £142 0s. 4d.—June 15th. Received £50, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I enclose a Bank Note for £50. It is in memory of the late M. W., and by her dying request, that her surviving sisters send this sum towards your great work.

"I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, ——."

July 23rd. Received £3, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I enclose you £3, sent to you by my former Church Clerk, of Queensland, Australia. He is only a labouring shepherd, yet so great is his appreciation of your benevolent work for Orphans, that he hopes to send you £3 a year for them. I do not think you receive any more devoted offering to your work; for he has only just what he earns for the maintenance of himself and family."

August 22nd. Part of the legacy of the late G. J., Esq., £1,000. This is the result of much prayer.

September 6th. Received from Westmoreland £100, when our funds were very low.—September 9th. God helped us in our time of need. Above £300 came in from September 6th to September 9th inclusive. —September 22nd. From Yorkshire £200.—September 27th. From the neighbourhood of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, £100, with £5 for myself.

October 19th. Although we have this day nothing at all in hand for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, yet we are still provided with some means for the Orphans, though more than two months since there was only enough in hand to meet the average expenses of 4½ days. God has graciously, as the result of our daily believing supplications, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, helped us; and He will do so further, though we know not how the help will come.—November 3rd. Legacy of the late W. R. L., Esq., £200.—November 16th. From the National Provincial Bank of England, Bath, £100, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Enclosed we hand you, under direction of a client of ours (being unable to disclose name) draft for £100. Kindly forward receipt in due course."

This donation of £100 came to hand, when the balance for the Orphans was reduced to £108 15s. 9¼d., that is, the amount in hand was not quite enough to meet the average expenses of one day and a half for the Orphans. The total of the expenses for the Orphans alone in the previous year from May 26th, 1880, to May 26th, 1881, had been £26,783 10s. 10½d., therefore the average expenses of one day are £73 7s. 7d. Will you kindly place yourself in our position, dear reader? What do we do under such circumstances? We only speak to our Heavenly Father, in order that, by the answers, which we receive from Him, we may encourage the hearts of His children, increasingly to go to Him in all their need, and that thus their faith may be strengthened; and in order that those, who know not God, may see what a blessed thing it is to have a Father in Heaven. We do not send out advertisements, to say we are so poor; we do not call on our rich Christian friends for help; we do not speak at all to persons outside of the work about our need; but we betake ourselves only to our universal remedy for all difficulties, trials and necessities viz., prayer and faith.

November 24th. From a Christian gentleman and lady £162 16s., for the support of twelve Orphans for one year, with £10 10s. for my own personal expenses.—December 6th. "A thanksgiving on the occasion of a silver wedding" £90, with £10 for myself.—December 10th. From Paternoster Row £100.—December 20th. From near London £290, with £10 for myself. From a person in an almshouse, who lives upon 3s. 6d. per week, and who sends one penny out of every 3s. 6d. which she receives, 5s. 6d. See how even the poor seek to help in this work, as well as the rich; but we desire to receive every donation as coming from God, in answer to prayer.

January 4th. From Yorkshire £200.—February 18th. From Bath £100. The balance for the Orphans, when this donation was received, had been reduced to a little above £100, viz., only enough for the average expenses of one day and a half. On the same day came in £5, with the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Wright,

"I have been pressed in spirit for a day or two to send you the enclosed for the Orphans, which please take as from a steward who desires to be found faithful."

February 26th. The balance in hand to-day for the Orphans is £97 10s. 7½d., viz., £24 more than the average expenses of one single day.—March 2nd. Our position now regarding the Orphan work is, praying day by day, "Give us this day our daily bread." For a considerable time we have had day by day to look to the Lord for the supply of our daily wants; but God has helped thus far.—March 4th. Legacy of the late Mrs. C. £156 8s. 6d.—March 9th. From Maidenhead £60.—March 17th. Legacy of the late Mr. G. F. £200. Many of the legacies have come in just when we were in great need.

Thus it has been in particular regarding the last three legacies just mentioned.—March 25th. From a Scotch donor, then staying in London, £100. When this donation was received, the balance of the Orphan Fund was quite exhausted. Received also from Sunderland £5; and from Liverpool, from "An old New Yorker," £5.—March 26th. The balance in hand to-day is £32 15s. 3¾d., viz., not one half of the average expenses for one single day.—March 29th. Instead of insuring stock £5. From the Isle of Wight £53 18s. for the support of four Orphans for one year.

April 17th. From one of the Midland Counties £80, which came in at a time of great need.—April 20th. When in the greatest need we received from Edinburgh £100, with this statement: "The enclosed was intended as a legacy, but I have sent it in my lifetime."—April 26th. From H. B. £100. From the late A. B., one of the Christian Orphans, who for nearly thirty years had walked in the ways of God, £5.—May 24th. From Manchester £55.—May 26th. From Scotland £65 6s. 8d.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1881, to May 26th, 1882, was £22, 840 8s. 0½d.]

May 26th, 1882, to May 26th, 1883

Our position with regard to funds for the support of the Orphans was very trying during this year, and, looking at things naturally, it seemed impossible that we should be able to continue to carry on an Institution, like that of the five Orphan Houses on Ashley Downs—where day by day about 2,100 persons sit down to their meals, and where the expenses of many thousands of pounds, besides those for food, have year after year to be met—without applying to any human being for a single sovereign. [See page 481.] We grant that, according to appearances, all was dark, and that there was no natural prospect of help; but we knew God. We did not merely say that we knew Him, but verily we did know Him. We did not merely say that we trusted in Him, but we did so in reality; and thus it has come, that we have been helped, as it is written:—"They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee" (Psalm 9:10).

We stayed ourselves upon God, and at the beginning of the new financial year, encouraged ourselves in Him. We were assured that help would come, though we knew not how; and that God, who raised up this Orphan Establishment at the first, who supported it while it was small, and under many difficulties; who enlarged the work, and who supported it, simply through prayer and faith for so many years, would do this further.

On the very first day of the new period, May 27th, 1882, a dear Christian donor, in Ale County, United States, an entire stranger to us, sent £20. By this, God would say, "Only believe"; only trust in Me; I have the hearts of all at my disposal; the gold and the silver belong to Me.—May 29th. We received from Manchester £50.—May 31st. From Grahamstown £13 10s. 6d.

June 3rd. From Wotton-under-Edge £500. A glorious deliverance was this donation, and a precious earnest of what God would do further for us. This donation came from a Christian gentleman who, though for very many years a donor to the Institution, is not personally known to us, and who had never given so large a sum before. This made the hand of God all the more manifest.—June 6th. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. F. £500. June 23rd. Legacy of the late R. W., Esq., £1,000 3 per cent reduced Bank annuities, less duty and brokerage. By these and very many smaller sums, within the first month, from May 27th to June 26th inclusive, £2,874 10s. 5d. for the support of the Orphans was received. By this the reader will see, that we did not wait upon the Lord in vain, nor rely upon Him to no purpose. June 27th. From a Bristol donor £100.—June 30th. From Liverpool, from a former Orphan, who is the commander of a large merchant vessel, £13.