Heavy Trials in the Orphan Work During the Last Thirteen Years of Mr. Müller's Life (part 2 of 5)
(3) But how do we act when no such large donations come in; when week after week the income is small, when it does not exceed £300 a week, instead of £700, our weekly average expenditure? While I am writing this, for many weeks past our income has been only about one half of our expenditure. Under such circumstances we do not send out special appeals to the public; we do not make known our wants even to Christian friends; for it is now fifty-three years since I requested all my helpers and fellow-labourers never to speak to any one but God about our need; we do nothing but pray under such circumstances. And what is the result? We may be brought low, very low; it may come even to the last sovereign; but we are always helped in the end.
(4) But it may be said, Suppose you were not helped? My reply is, Whilst we are trusting in God, and do not live in sin, such a thing cannot be, as our work is the work of God, and we are asking in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(5) Still, it is said, Your work is a very easy one, for you publish every year a Report, and thus you obtain these vast sums. My reply is: (a) I publish these Reports, to give an account of my stewardship. (b) All Societies, or public Institutions, publish Reports; but the complaint on their part is, that they are not read. (c) These Reports which I have written might be read, yet no donations be sent. Only yesterday I had passing through my hands a small donation, accompanied by a letter from the donor, in which he states that he has for many years read the Reports with great interest, as he is a Christian; but that only now he sends his first donation. God must influence the minds of the readers of the Reports, to send us help; and, if He does not do so, thousands of Reports, read even with interest, might not bring one donation. In every way I depend upon God, and so it comes to pass, and only thus, that we are helped; for were I to depend upon Reports, while stating that I trust in God He would soon confound me, and would make it manifest that my profession was not sincere.
(6) Now, seeing the blessedness of this way of acting, in that those persons who trust in God shall never be confounded, and that they are above war, famine, mercantile depression, etc., will not my beloved fellow-believers more and more depend upon God in their family difficulties, in their business, in their earthly profession, in their labour for the Lord, and in all other matters when in need of any kind; for what God is doing for us, He is willing to do for all His children? The writer has found Him invariably faithful to His promises for very many years; and is fully assured that he will find Him thus to the end of his earthly pilgrimage.
November 15th. From Cambridgeshire £94 10s. 6d.—November 23rd. "As restitution for petty frauds, committed by the sender when a child," £2 10s.—November 29th. A third payment of £2,000, on account of a legacy of above £8,000 left by the late J. W. D., Esq.
December 18th. From a Missionary in China £2 5s., with the following letter:—
My dear Mr. Müller,
"It being now twenty-one years since my beloved wife and I were married and left home for China, we desire to send a small thankoffering to God for the Orphans on Ashley Down, in gratitude for all our Father's lovingkindness to us these years. Our health is better than in years past; we are happy in His love and grace, and thankful for souls whom He is saving around us."
January 1st. With the New Year our Heavenly Father sent us again many donations.—January 8th. From Sussex £51 10s., from a kind friend who has many times helped us.—January 9th. From one of the Midland Counties £70.—January 27th. Our balance during the past month is increased still further, having this day £11,027 9s. 0¼d. in hand for the Orphans. January 29th. From Downend £1 from a laundress, who puts aside for the Orphans a halfpenny per week, out of each family's washing. Notice this donation, and observe the great variety of ways in which our Heavenly Father is pleased to help us, in answer to our prayers.—January 30th. From a clergyman and his wife £50.
February 2nd. From Scotland, a gold ring set with diamonds, a gold ring set with two pearls and a sapphire, two silver bracelets, a gold ditto, and a gold necklet with pendant. "The donor's heart is now filled with riches, which shall never fade away, and which are inexhaustible."—February 4th. From Christian friends in North Adelaide £12 5s. 6d.—February 22nd. From Weston-super-Mare £60, from a gentleman who has thus kindly helped us for many years.—February 27th. A month ago our balance in hand was £11,027 9s. 0¼d. To-day it is only £9,136 0s. 10½d. Thus we have £1,891 8s. 1¾d. less than we had a month ago.
March 27th. From Manchester, from a friend to the Orphans, £50. From the Isle of Wight £54 for the support of four Orphans for one year.—March 28th. From Canton Zürich, Switzerland, £14 14s.
April 1st. Received £2 from Oamaru, New Zealand, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"Do you remember, when passing through New Zealand this month a year ago, spending a Sunday in Oamaru? Perhaps you may also call to mind a lady calling upon you at the Hotel where you were staying. I was at that time passing through a severe trial of faith, on account of long-continued pecuniary difficulties. It was a time of severe temptation, and the words of kind Christian counsel and sympathy, which you gave me, were indeed a blessing to me. I seemed to take a fresh lease of faith in God, and began, like Jehoshaphat, to praise for deliverance, before it came. I now desire to record God's faithfulness, in answering our prayers above what we asked or thought. Psalm 126. exactly expresses my feelings. I enclose a share, of what we are spending for God, for your Orphans; and delight in thus testifying to God's goodness in sending deliverance to His tried ones. God is as good as His Word.
"Yours in Christian love, ——."
I have inserted this letter for the encouragement of any who may be in similar circumstances, while they are reading this. May they seek afresh to confide in God!
April 2nd. Legacy of the late Miss E. H., £225. Legacy of the late Miss M. H., £160 12s. 11d.—April 6th. From one of the Midland Counties £100. This was the last donation from a Christian gentleman, who for a very long time had been a friend of the Institution, and who had very many times contributed to its funds. During the past fifty-five years many thousands of the donors, some of whom had sent hundreds or even thousands of pounds, have either fallen asleep, or they have lost the ability to contribute as before, though they are still alive, or their donations have been directed into other channels; and thus we have not received, from one cause or the other, considerable sums which once we received. But God has not altered. To His honour and glory I founded the Institution; to Him alone I looked for help and support regarding everything; Him I declared to be the Patron of the Institution: and He has never failed me. On Him and on Him alone I have relied these fifty-five years, and I have never been confounded. From Alloa, Scotland, £100.
May 2nd. The final payment in respect of the legacy of the late J. W. D., Esq., £2,780 16s. 1d.; making, together with the sums previously received, a total of £8,780 16s. 1d.—May 7th. From Birmingham, from a kind donor who has again and again thus helped us, £200.—May 25th. From Norfolk £50.
[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1888, to May 26th, 1889, was £23,622 11s. 4¾d.]
May 26th, 1889, to May 26th, 1890
When the financial year of the Institution commenced, we had a balance of £9,551 8s. 10¾d. in hand for the support of the Orphans, a balance so great, that we had had only a few times as much in hand, since the Orphan work first commenced.
May 31st. From-Manchester £200, from a Christian gentleman who for many years has again and again very kindly helped us and who especially had done so during the previous year.
July 1st. Received £1, "Being one halfpenny saved out of each family's washing for some time." Will the reader observe how even the very poor are moved in heart by God to do something for His work, in which we are engaged?—July 11th. From Lombard Street, London, £200.—July 12th. From the Beaver Falls, United States, £2 9s. 1d. From Now North Road, London, £5 "for my insurance."—July 16th. From "G.," Preston, £98 14s. 4d.—July 20th. From Reading £40. From Clifton £100.—July 24th. From a Bristol donor £150. From Mombasa, East Africa, £5 10s.—July 27th. During the past month our large balance, with which we began our financial year on May 27th, has yet further been decreased £631 4s. 8½d., notwithstanding the income of £1,297 9s. 6d. during the month. Many of the readers of the Reports, in seeing a large balance in hand, consider it unintentionally even greater than it is, and think that there is no need of helping; and, I have actually been told, "You have so good a balance, that you do not require to be helped by me;" thus, were we depending upon donors, and not upon God Himself, we should soon have nothing in hand at all; but, as we do not trust in donors, but in God, we are helped, whether we begin with a large or an exceedingly small balance.
August 13th. From Birmingham £200 from a donor who has kindly helped us again and again with a similar sum.—August 29th. Received £5 5s. 6d., with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"Four or five years ago, I was led to befriend one who had been an Orphan under your care. This led to his offering to lend me the first volume of Mr. Müller's Narrative. Through reading this book, I was stirred up to pray that I might be able to carry on my business free of all debt, by paying at once for all I bought, and resolving in my heart that, when the answer came, I would give a tenth, of all I obtained, to the Lord. For many years the thought of what I was owing pressed heavily upon me, though I was always able to meet my bills. Now, I am thankful to say, I am able to pay ready money for all I need, and therefore joyfully carry out what I resolved before the Lord. The enclosed cheque for £5 5s. 6d. is part of the tenth. It is intended for the Orphans."
September 12th. "On the donor's eighty-first birthday £5."—September 14th. From Clifton £100.—October 18th. From Dehra Doon, India, £1 13s. 4d., £2, and 13s. 4d.—October 23rd. Received 3s., with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I hope you will receive this small token of help to your noble work. Having heard many times of it, I longed to do a little. Through reading your Report, lent to me, I read how many had given up things, to be able to give something towards it; I resolved, therefore, to give up a monthly paper, at threepence per month, for one year. I hope the Lord will bless you still in your good works and labour of love. I am only a poor girl myself, without father or mother, or brother or sister; but I have many friends. God has cared for me."
October 24th. Legacy of the late Miss E. A. W. £100.—October 25th. From a Bristol donor, who has long aided the work, £50.—November 6th. From Watford £10, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I had thought of sending you for the Orphans five pounds, but feel disposed to send you a cheque for ten pounds. Please to use it for the Orphans May the Lord bless your work abundantly!"
How did it come that this donor, who purposed to send five pounds for the Orphans, is made to double the amount? It was the result of prayer. My dear wife and myself in India, and my dear fellowlabourers in Bristol, were waiting on God for help being continued to us for the support of the Orphans, as each month about £2,000 is needed for them, irrespective of the other branches of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad; and thus it came that this kind donor at Watford was moved to alter his mind, and to send us £10, instead of £5, as he had intended to do.
November 20th. From friends in Coonoor Church, India, £5 7s. 3d. From St. Petersburg £104 14s. 3d., with the same amount for Mrs. Müller and myself. From Manchester £50.—November 21st. From Cambridgeshire £90 0s. 2d., a percentage for the Orphans on a certain article, sold by the donor in his business.—December 2nd. Legacy of the late Miss H. W. £200. From Dundee £5, as "Portion of the first profit made of a new patent."—December 3rd. Legacy of the late Mrs. E. C. £300.—December 14th. From the neighbourhood of Fort William, Scotland, £50. "In memory of a dear Father and Mother" £100.—December 17th. From Manchester £50.—December 18th. Legacy of the late Mr. W. B. £100.—December 20th. From a father, mother, and children, £16 5s. 4d.
Christmas Presents
December 21st. From a Bristol house of business 5 cases of oranges. —December 23rd. From another house 20 boxes of oranges, 16 half boxes of Valencias, and 6 cases of currants. From Cornwall 150 pheasants. This donation gives an idea to the reader of the magnitude of the Orphan Institution. Even a VERY large family could not consume such presents, before the greater part would be spoiled; we, however, can, without the least difficulty, consume such an amount, and could, even were it twice as much.—December 31st. From the pupils at a school in Clifton, being the result of a sale of work, £13.
January 1st. From the neighbourhood of Ware £52 10s. From Penarth £30, with the following letter:—
My dear Mr. Müller,
"At the close of another year, I send you, as usual, a cheque for £30 for your Orphans. I think for the last fifteen years I have had this pleasure, with a heart full of gratitude to God for all His mercies and blessings."
From Dublin £100, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I again have pleasure in enclosing you £100 for the Orphans under your care. I give to other Institutions; but yours holds the first place in my heart. I think I told you last year, I have been led of the Lord 'to cease to lay up treasure on the earth, in order to lay up treasure in heaven.' I now give all I make in the year, over and above what I require for household expenses and the education of my children, to the Lord's work. I am only an ordinary, very ordinary, business man, and in my everyday life fall very far short of witnessing for the Master. This service I do, not letting my left hand know what my right hand doeth. But I can truly say, it is a blessed service; for before, I used to fret and worry; but now, recognizing I am only a steward, I say I have no cause to fret, that my Master is rich, and He can, as He sees fit, make this or that to prosper; and so I cast all care on Him. But I do ask your prayers, that I may be more out and out for Him. Wishing you still some years to go on, witnessing to God's faithfulness,
"I am, Dear Sir, yours very truly, ——."
Will the readers read this letter a second and third time and ponder its contents?
January 2nd. From a London physician £25.—January 3rd. From Manchester £50.—On January 8th the following letter was received from Scotland:—
Dear Sir,
"Having a larger balance in my bank book than I care to have just now, and expecting to have, for a year at least, fewer expenses, on account of having broken up the establishment after the decease of my beloved mother; being now myself left quite alone, and having, for my only certain hope, the sustaining power and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; it occurs to me to think of God's Orphans, who are under your charge; and I am encouraged to do so the more, by the knowledge of the fact that you do not publish names or addresses. Will you, therefore, be so good as to write to me to the above address, where I am staying for a time, and to inform me where to direct a cheque?"
The result was, this lady sent £500 for the benefit of the Orphans. How came this? What made this lady, an entire stranger to me, send this amount? God hears our prayers. In India the prayer of my dear wife and myself, day by day, was brought before the Lord, and generally repeatedly; my beloved helpers on Ashley Down and elsewhere waited on God, and He, in answer to our believing supplications, inclined the heart of this lady to send £500. Did all my beloved brethren in Christ, who do not act on these principles, know the blessedness of trusting in God for everything, their peace and joy in the Lord would increase more and more.
January 21st. From a Bristol donor £5, "A gift in loving remembrance of dear Mrs. Wright, now happy with the Lord." [See page 557.]—January 22nd. From a gentleman in London £100, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I beg to enclose cheque for £100 towards the funds of your Orphanage, which I send in gratitude for the safe recovery of one of my children from a severe attack of typhoid fever."
January 25th. From Christian friends at Brimscombe £24. From Ireland £100, with the following letter:—
My dear Friend,
"I have much pleasure in enclosing draft, value £100, for the funds of the Orphans. Having had very heavy demands to meet this time last year, I could not well send my contribution to you as usual; but now I send this year's and last year's donations together; for our Heavenly Father has been very gracious to me and mine. He has helped me over my anxieties and difficulties. Let us, my dear Friend, thank God for this, and trust Him more for the future."
Because we look to the Lord alone for the needed means, and not to our friends, nor to those who have helped us before, at times, when donations have formerly been sent, we never remind our former donors of this, nor have we ever done so in one single instance for fifty-six years and eleven weeks, viz., ever since the Institution has been in existence.
January 29th. Received a gold ring, set with diamonds, and a gold locket.—February 8th. From Manchester £50 from the same kind donor, who many times has helped us considerably. To-day we also received a cheque for £200, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"Please find enclosed a cheque for £200, made payable by my endorsement to your order. This amount comes as a spontaneous gift from the same lady from whom on the 30th May last I sent, with her consent, a like amount, which she then wished to pay me for services rendered, but which, at my request, she consented should be sent to you for the Orphans. The amount now sent, is a gift entirely spontaneous on her part, and quite unexpected on mine."
February 28th. From Weston-super-Mare £60, from a gentleman who, year after year, for a long period, kindly has contributed this sum towards the support of the Orphans.—March 12th. Legacy of the late Mrs. R. W., Bristol, £300.—March 17th. From London, S.W., £50.—March 29th. From Moseley, Birmingham, £150, from a donor who kindly has often helped us.
April 7th. "As a thankoffering from two former Orphans on the marriage of their eldest son" £5.—April 11th. From Norfolk £50.—April 12th. From Taunton £45. While I am writing this, and go through the list of the contributions sent during the past year, I find one donor after the other missing; because the Lord took them to Himself, since I wrote the last Report; but He ever lives to help us, and has never failed us, and has been again, during another year, in a special manner, our Helper.—April 23rd. From Leicester £5. The donor states in his letter, that ever since he has been in the habit of giving the tenth of what the Lord had given to him, he appeared to himself like the Israelites in the wilderness, whose clothes did not wax old, and that his provisions lasted like the oil in the cruse of the widow.—April 27th. We have now entered on the last month of the financial year of the Institution. Much, very much will yet be needed during this last month. For all the various Objects of the Institution, there will be required at least £4,500 during the last month before us.—April 30th. From Manchester £50.
May 3rd. From Stoke Bishop £53, with £2 for myself.—May 15th. Legacy of the late Miss C. U. £142 7s. 7d.—May 17th. Legacy of the late W. L., Esq., £2,207 3s. 3d. This legacy had been about five years in Chancery; but day by day, whether in the six Australian Colonies, or in Ceylon, or in India, or on the sea going to Australia, or on the sea returning from India, to England, I asked God to hasten the money to us, and to get it out of the High Court. Our faith was, however, long tried, as it often had been in similar cases. But I expected the answer, as I had had an answer to prayer under similar circumstances more than twenty times regarding legacies in Chancery. I never despair of getting an answer, being assured that the answer will come at last. I notice further, in connection with this sum, that for about four months our income had been very small, except on three or four occasions; but now the Lord has begun again more abundantly to help us. If we do the work of God, in God's way, trust in Him, and bring our case in believing prayer before Him, we need never to be cast down; for in God's own time the help will surely come; but we must do God's work in God's way, bring our case in believing prayer before Him, and not indulge in things contrary to His mind.—May 20th. From General —— and Mrs. —— £2, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"Would you kindly accept £2 from Mrs. —— and myself towards the Orphan Homes on Ashley Down, with our best wishes for the temporal and eternal good of the inmates. It is now more than thirty years since I read the first Report of Mr. Midler's work, and from it I learn to pray for all the little things of daily life, and to expect answers from our Heavenly Father; and I learnt, too, what systematic giving means, and what a pleasure there is in giving back to the Lord His own; and now I am learning more about the fulness of the Spirit and the life of faith. Many thanks for all the lessons you have taught me.
"With kindest regards, I remain,
"Yours very faithfully, ——."
May 26th. From Carmarthenshire £9 18s. Thus we are brought to the close of another year, during which for the Orphans alone we had to expend £23,605 14s. 5¼d., and yet, after having been enabled to accomplish this, had left a balance of £5,183 11s. 8½d. in hand.
May 26th, 1890, to May 26th, 1891
May 27th. On the first day of the financial year we received from the Cape of Good Hope £1. Also, from New Zealand £3 10s. These donations, from so great a distance, were like an earnest from God, that during this year also He would provide everything for the Orphans that would be needed by them.—May 28th. From J. S., Edinburgh, £15. From Thetford £50.
June 4th. Legacy of the late Miss A. M. F. £3,640 7s. 7d.; a remarkable legacy, indeed, for, although this donor lived in Bristol, I never received even the smallest gift from her in her lifetime, nor did I ever see her that I know of, nor had I ever even heard her name. Yet the Lord constrained her to leave to me almost the whole of her property for the Orphans.
July 1st. The legacy of the late Mrs. Col. S. £180.—July 3rd. I received £1, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"My mother is 90 years of age to-day, and wishes to celebrate her birthday as usual, by sending £1 for your Orphans.
"Yours sincerely, ——."
July 18th. From "G.," Preston, £98 14s. 4d. Our income having been small of late, and our expenses great, in praying for means yesterday, I mentioned this donor by name, asking God to lead him to send us help; and this morning the answer to prayer came.—July 22nd. From Clifton £100.—August 9th. From Finsbury Park £200.—August 13th. From Mosely £150 from a Christian donor, who has assisted us many times. From a poor widow, 73 years of age, 3s., cheerfully given by her, though her income for her own support is only 3s. per week.—August 20th. From the Nilgiri Hills, India, "£25, as a thankoffering for many mercies."—August 22nd. From the Vicar at A., £5, with the following letter:—
My dear Sir,
"I enclose a cheque for £5 on behalf of your Orphanage, in great thankfulness for the witness borne by you to the power of believing prayer.
"Yours very truly, ——"
August 27th. It is now three months since our new financial year for the Institution commenced, and during these three months we have expended, for the Orphans alone, £6,193 0s. 10½d. Received £5, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"The other day, at a friend's house, I took up your Report, began to read some of it, and I read a letter there [see page 630] from a person in Dublin, who, in sending you a donation, said, that using his money for the Lord is a blessed service; for, before doing so, he used to fret and worry about things, but now, recognizing himself to be only a steward, he has no cause to fret. In your Report, you ask your readers to ponder over the contents of that letter; I have done so, and now am induced to send you a small donation of £5. In doing so, I would just say, that I often fret and worry about things which make me very miserable, and in order to be free from such worries, I ask your prayers on my behalf.
"I am, Dear Mr. Müller,
"Yours faithfully, ——."
October 17th. From Harrogate £100.—November 14th. For the Orphans, the legacy of the late Miss C. L., £500. This lady was an entire stranger to me, but the Lord led her to leave this legacy, as the result of constant waiting upon Him.
November 19th. Received 5s., with the following letter from one of the Orphan girls now in service:—
Dear and honoured Sir,
"I send you this trifle with much pleasure. Again I thank you very much indeed for the kind care that was bestowed upon me for twelve years. My dear brother and sister were under your kind care nearly as long, and I know that they would like me to thank you for them. We are getting on nicely in our places, and all three of us belong to Jesus, thanks to your careful teaching day by day. Kindly give my love to the dear Teachers at No. 5, and believe me, dear Sir,
"Your obedient Orphan, ——."
Will the reader observe, that here are three Orphans from one, family, who were received at the Orphan Houses on Ashley Down. These three Orphans were about twelve years in the Orphan Houses, though the average time for keeping them there is, generally, only ten years; but sometimes I have had them for fifteen, sixteen, and in a few instances even for seventeen years under my care, because the children frequently are received whilst very young. Lastly, all three were brought to a true knowledge of the Lord whilst on Ashley Down, showing that our labour on behalf of the Orphans is not in vain.—November 20th. From Cambridgeshire £80 0s. 10d., from a Christian friend in business, who, for very many years, has helped this Institution with means, as the Lord has prospered him in his business. Thus in the midst of many difficulties through which I have had to pass during the past fifty-seven years, in connection with this institution, the Lord has given me many kind helpers and friends, through whom He has cheered and refreshed my heart. Month after month large sums are expended; we ask no human being for anything, but look to the living God, and to Him alone for help. On June 27th we had £9,307 6s. 6¼d. in hand; but since then, notwithstanding the large income we have had month after month, our balance has decreased, so that on November 27th we had only £3,195 14s. 11½d. in hand. Nothing but real trust in God can keep the heart in peace.—December 29th. From Halifax 10s., with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I have again much pleasure in sending you a Postal Order for 10s. for the Orphans. I think it my duty to tell you that I received great good from reading your little book on 'The privilege and blessedness of giving,' about three or four years ago. I then set apart 5 per cent of my income, and during the past few months have increased it to 10 per cent, for the Lord, though my wages as a timekeeper are only 30s. per week.
"I am, Yours respectfully, ——."
December 30th. From the workmen and boys at the Messrs. J. S. F. and Sons, Bristol, £7 7s.
January 1st. From Leamington £50, with £1 for myself.—January 8th. Legacy of the late J. J., Esq., £100.—January 20th. From Howth, County Dublin, £100.—January 21st. From Stapleton Road £50.—January 30th. From Cork £50.—February 4th. Received £13, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Wright,
"I have now the privilege of sending £13 for the Orphans, being £1 added each year of my pilgrim life, since I gave my small income to my Lord and my God. I find the sweetness of doing this, now in my old age, as I am more than eighty years old. I am just waiting for the call, and almost hear it sometimes. I still pray for you all, generally twice a day. Believe me,
"Your fellow helper in prayer, ——."
We are very grateful for the assistance of persons who thus help the Institution by their prayers.
March 6th. Legacy of the late Mrs. E. T. £175 18s. 9d.—March 20th. Legacy of the late Mrs. A. F. £508 19s. 6d.—March 26th. Legacy of the late Mr. J. L. £100.—March 31st. From Weston-super-Mare £60. —April 20th. From Cardiff £25. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. K. £200.
May 27th. From Edgbaston £150 from a donor who kindly often and considerably has helped us. This donation arrived whilst we were in the greatest need.—May 9th. From Stoke Bishop £58, with £2 for Mrs. Müller and myself. Day after day we are now very poor, and have continually to look for fresh supplies to the Lord, who hitherto has mercifully helped us; but the trial of our faith is great.—May 25th. From Ireland £100.
[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1890, to May 26th, 1891, was £22,815 13s. 7¾d.]
May 26th, 1891, to May 26th, 1892
When this financial year commenced, we had a balance of £225 14s. 7¾d. in hand, for the Orphans; an amount so small, that it was not enough for the need of half a week. We were therefore particularly directed, even by the smallness of our balance to trust in the living God, as we had been doing, by His grace, all the previous fifty-seven years of the existence of the Institution. This was the way, and the only way, whereby the heart could be kept in peace.
May 28th. From Taranaki, New Zealand, £7.—May 29th. Legacy of the late Miss E. R. £50.—June 1st. Legacy of the late Miss A. F. T.
£50. From Clifton £50. From Maidstone £50, from a donor who kindly has helped us for many years, from time to time.—June 9th. From Birmingham 10s., with the following letter:—
Dear Brother in the Lord,
"Please to accept 10s. for the Orphans. I wrote to you some years ago, to ask prayer for a dear Christian mother, in great suffering; the restoration to communion with the Lord of my husband; and for the conversion of my four sons and four daughters. I now ask for praise. The dear mother is a eep in Jesus; my husband brought back to the Lord; and one son and three daughters have confessed the Lord Jesus and are seeking to follow Him. I still ask prayer, especially for two sons, one in America.
"Yours in Jesus, ——."
This letter should be an encouragement to the reader.
June 15th. From Dunedin, New Zealand, £5. From Stroud £100.—June 22nd. From Reading £50.—July 4th. On account of the legacy of the late Mr. E. F. £1,500.—July 9th. From Highbury £14 1s. 6d. for the support of one Orphan for one year, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"God having graciously spared my dear boy for another year in health and strength, I have much pleasure in sending you a cheque for £14 1s. 6d. for the support of one Orphan for one year."
July 21st. From Clifton £100.—August 1st. Received on account of the legacy of the late Mr. E. F. £793 14s. 2d.—August 18th. From Devon, from a donor who kindly has helped us from time to time for more than forty-five years, £60 19s. 10d.
August 20th. From Edgbaston £150, from a donor who has kindly helped us again and again; generally these donations have come to hand when we were in great need, and thus it was this time, for when the money arrived we had nothing at all in hand.—August 21st. From "St. Paul's" £100, when in the greatest need.—August 27th. We have been enabled to expend for the Orphans during the past three months £6,472 4s. 7½d., but have nothing left in hand. Received £5, with the following letter:—
My dear Sir,
"Two of your Reports came this week, addressed to our precious child, I. I. R., who for a few years past took much interest in the Orphan Homes under your guidance. The line of faith and entire dependence upon God, upon which the work is conducted, appealed very strikingly to her heart and conscience; and the record of God's faithfulness, of which the Orphanage is a monument, was to her real spiritual help. The Lord took her home last April, and in remembrance of her interest, as well as in expression of our own, we hope to continue a little yearly help to the Orphan Houses."
September 18th. As the residue of the legacy of the late Mr. E. F. £250. From Selby £100.—September 19th. From the neighbourhood of Torquay £50. From Redland £50. Both donations came to hand when we were in great need.—September 21st. From Dublin £50.—September 24th. From believers meeting at Manver's Hall, Bath, £13. —September 27th. During the past four months, from May 27th to September 27th, we have expended for the Orphans £8,046 13s. 0¼d., and have now again nothing in hand.—September 28th. From Mount Gambier, South Australia, £2.
October 1st. In addition to many small donations, received since September 27th, we obtained to-day, on account of the legacy of the late Mr. R. W. J., £550. Thus the Lord has again graciously helped us.—October 8th. Received £5 from a working man.—October 23rd. From Clevedon 1,469 apples and 1,814 pears.—October 24th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—October 27th.
During the past five months we have expended for the Orphans £9,814 8s. 11¼d., but much as our income has been, comparatively, yet all is expended, and with nothing in hand we begin another month. Received £5, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I send you a cheque for £5, some money that was left in the Savings Bank, when a little boy of ours was taken from us. I am induced to send it to you, as we have in our service a much valued nurse who received her early training and instruction at the Orphanage in Bristol. She was in extremely bad health when I first met her, ten years ago. I took her for a month; she has been with us ever since, and is now a faithful, trustworthy, and much respected nurse. I am pleased to tell you this, as I think it will interest all those who are labouring in the Orphanage. With all Christian good wishes, believe me,
"Yours very sincerely, ——."
November 4th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—November 12th. In the greatest need of means, we received from Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. From Lanarkshire £50, and also £100 with the following letter from a Christian gentleman who could know nothing about our financial circumstances:—
My dear Mr. Wright,
"I was not thinking specially of you when I retired to rest last night, but awoke this morning with the following words ringing in my car, 'Send Mr. Wright £100 to-day, I will repay you.' I cannot run the risk of allowing this to be an unheeded voice from my heavenly Partner in business, and therefore have much pleasure in enclosing you a cheque for £100 (£20 for your own use, £20 for Mr. Müller, and £60 for the work).
"With Christian love, Yours most truly, ——."
See, esteemed reader, how God helps us. At a time of the greatest need, this money was received. Notice also, what led the donor to send the money. He was influenced by the Lord to send us this help. Notice also, particularly, what this gentleman says about his heavenly Partner. He is in business, but seeks to carry on his business in the fear of God and to the glory of His name. Under these circumstances he is in fellowship or partnership with the Lord Jesus in his business. May all Christians, who are in business, seek in fellowship or partnership with the Lord Jesus to carry on their business!—November 16th. Legacy of the late Miss M. H., £176 6s. 8d.—November 21st. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. R. £89 9s. 6d. Will the reader be pleased to observe how many legacies the Lord has caused to be paid during the past year. This has been one special means whereby we have been so many times helped.—November 26th. Again we have nothing in hand.—November 30th. The Lord has again helped us in our great need. There was paid to-day £507 6s. 3d. as the legacy of the late Mrs. F. K. How kind of the Lord, to cause just now this legacy to be paid!
December 5th. Received £10, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"The Lord is persuading me, to send you £10 for the Orphans. Please accept that amount.
"Yours faithfully, ——."
Notice this. See how God works for us. The donor resides in a far-off town. God knows the greatness of the work and the greatness of our need, and He is pleased to speak for us. See, dear reader, how blessed it is, to have God for our Friend and to trust in Him!—December 15th. For the Christmas puddings for the Orphans, from a Bristol house of business, 12 bags of flour, 16 half-boxes of raisins, and 3 cases of currants. December 31st. From Demerara £5. From the neighbourhood of Darjeeling, India, £2. We were now brought to the last day of the year 1891, during which our faith and patience have been greatly tried.
January 1st. With the New Year the Lord was pleased to send us means. We received from Paddington for the Orphans £50. From the neighbourhood of Melksham £30. From Penarth £30, from a donor whose first cheque in the year was for the Orphans, and who has long helped us. From a Bristol donor and his wife £20; and fifty-eight smaller donations besides. The appearance is, that with such an income, we could never be in difficulty; but our expenses are so vast, that £200 or even £500 goes but a little way.—January 2nd. From New Wimbledon, Surrey, £14 17s. 6d., for the support of one Orphan for one year, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I send you once again for the support of one Orphan for one year, £14 17s. 6d., and also 2s. 6d. from Mrs. G., of Hastings, making together £15. Being now very ill and my time of departure not far off, I wish to bear testimony to the faithfulness and love of my Heavenly Father, through all the way by which He has led me. Your annual Reports, etc., have been precious and profitable to me. I thank you for them, and pray that you may still be made a blessing. With Christian regards to Mr. Wright and yourself,
"I remain, yours gratefully, ——"
January 22nd. Letter to Mr. Wright, with £1 from a Missionary to the natives in New Zealand:—
Dear Sir,
"I send herewith a Post Office Order for £1 for the Orphanage, being part of 'a tenth to the Lord.' My stipend is now £20 a year, as a Missionary to the Maoris. Failing health compels me to reside at one settlement, instead of travelling, as I used to do, hence the smallness of my income; but it is like the barrel of meal, of which I send the dear Orphans a little. May the Lord bless them and those who have charge of them.
"I am yours, in our risen Lord, ——."
January 23rd. During the past eight months, our expenses for the Orphans alone have been £14,352 14s. 5¼d. We have again nothing in hand.—January 27th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250.
February 5th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250.—February 9th. From Sussex £20. From the children of the Barcelona Sunday School £2 7s. 6d.—February 13th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. February 18th. Legacy of the late Miss M. H. £236 5s. 10d. February 27th. The expenses for the Orphans, during the past nine months, have amounted to £16,437 7s. 1¼d.; but we have nothing in hand. There came in to-day £29 1s. 8d.
March 1st. Legacy of the late A. A., Esq., £76 12s. 3d.,—From a widow near Glasgow 2s. 1d. She writes: "I can give little, to help the Orphans, but I pray for them." We value greatly the prayers of such poor donors.—March 4th. Legacy of the late Miss E. G. £179 10s.—March 5th. From a donor in Cork, who with real delight seems to send us help, £50.—March 14th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—March 17th. Legacy of the late Mr. T. M. £135.—March 18th. From Ireland £3, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I have the pleasure of enclosing you my bank cheque for £3 for your Ashley Down Orphanage—a gratification which is enhanced by the recollection of your abstaining from the ordinary mode of application, because you rely on God's answer to your prayers. While constant appeals are made on behalf of various Christian work, I do not believe that your Institution suffers any pecuniary loss by your depending on Divine grace as the source of your needful supplies. May God grant you a continuance of such faith and practice. With best wishes,
"Believe me, very sincerely yours, ——."
March 23rd. From Tiverton a gold chain, a gold ring set with turquoises, a gold locket, 2 breast pins, 2 rings, and several pieces of gold, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"Please accept those articles of jewellery in aid of the support of the Orphans. I willingly devote them to the Master's work, and rejoice that He has delivered me from the bondage of wearing such articles of personal adornment. May multitudes of Christians be led into increased self-denial, for the sake of Christ! One smaller result of this would be, the increased funds of Christian Institutions; and the larger one, the happy freedom of many lives delivered from self, and owned, and individually blessed and used of the Master."
March 25th. From London £20, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"A day or two ago the Master bid me send you a cheque, and told me what its value should be. It was never mine. I am deeply interested in the Report to hand, by this morning's post. Asking no thanks, but an interest in your prayers for myself and young people, four of whom are not yet converted (their precious father has been nearly four years with Jesus),
"I am, yours faithfully, ——."
See how the Lord speaks for us!—March 26th. From China £5 5s.—March 31st. From the neighbourhood of Weston-super-Mare £50. From the Isle of Wight £54 for the support of four Orphans for one year.
April 2nd. From Dalston £105, a donation which came to hand in great need.—April 5th. Received £100, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I enclose cheque for £100 for the support of your Orphans, wishing every blessing may attend your work. I ask an interest in your prayers, being a great sufferer and a confirmed invalid, through a spinal injury; but nothing is too hard for the Lord. He can heal when all else fails.
"I am, yours faithfully, ——.
"P.S.—Please enter my gift as a thankoffering for God's continued mercies and blessings, from C. H. Not my name."
The money came as a great help from God.—April 9th. From the late H. G. H., Esq., £40. This late donor was a kind friend of the Institution; but though one after the other of earthly friends has been removed, our never-failing Friend, the living God, remains to us. From Norfolk £50. This kind donor has helped us from time to time, for thirty years.—April 13th. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150, from a donor who has often helped us, and whose donations have frequently come to hand, when we have been in the greatest need, as is the case at the present time.—April 22nd. One third of the residue of the estate of the late Mr. T. M. £100 19s. 8d.—April 23rd. Legacy of the late Mr. E. L., £90. From Norwich £1, with the following letter:—" I enclose you a cheque for £1 for the Orphans. The Lord has commissioned me to send you the above, because for several days your work has been in my thoughts, and I can but feel that this is in answer to your prayers. May He bless and prosper your work."
God does indeed listen to our prayers, and speaks to the hearts of His stewards; for hear how God further helped. A small heavy packet, directed to Mr. George Müller, Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol, was sent to Mr. Wright. As we have often had such heavy little parcels sent from a donor, who puts aside all the farthings he receives in his business, for the benefit of the Orphans, this parcel was given to one of our assistants, to count the coppers which the packet was supposed to contain. He soon found that £200 in gold was enclosed therein. This anonymous donation, left at 78, Park Street, was taken for the Orphans in our time of great need, and thus a plain proof was afforded, that God has not forgotten us, though our faith and patience are greatly tried.—May 13th. By sale of dentist gold £13 17s. 6d.
Resident helpers share in the trial of faith
On the previous pages reference has been repeatedly made to the want of funds for the support of the Orphans. At the end of the account of the income for them, I have now to state that £1,951 7s. 1¼d. more was expended for them, than had been received; and there was likewise due to matrons, teachers, and other helpers, in the Orphan Work, in part, or altogether, the salaries for the last threequarters of a year, amounting to £1,712, in addition to the £1,951 7s. 1¼d. just mentioned. Those who were not needing money either to help relatives or for other purposes, had either no salaries at all paid to them last November, February, and May, or received only part of what was due to them. All these dear fellow-labourers, however, bore the trial patiently without the least complaint; and several of them contributed to the funds, according to their ability. All the servants of the Institutions were paid to the full, and also nearly all the assistants, who do not reside in the five Orphan Houses.
This is, within the past fifty-eight years, the second time only, that the income was not equal to the expenses. In the year 1881–2, the expenses for the Orphans exceeded the income £488 6s. 9½d., which amount was carried to the next year's account but at that time, in less than one month, after the commencement of the new financial year of the Institution, by the payment of legacies, an amount was received which was three times greater than the deficiency; and, adding the donations which came in, to the payment of the legacies received, we had about six times as much as the deficiency; and all this took place before an account was published in the Report, that the expenses had been greater than the income. We had drawn on the bank then, in consequence of many legacies, which had long been left, and of which some large ones were overdue, but had not been paid; and in like manner, on the 26th of May, 1892, sixteen legacies which had been left were due, and might any day be paid to us, amounting to £3,435 altogether. There have been besides also fortyfive other legacies left to the Institution, amounting altogether to £25,983; which legacies however depend, as to payment, on the death of relatives of the testators, and in most instances on the decease of widows. I simply refer to this to show, that we did not draw on the bank at the end of this last financial year of the Institution, whilst we had no prospect of being able to meet the account. Besides this, there are the five large Orphan Houses, erected and furnished at a cost of £115,000; and these Houses are entirely unencumbered. Further, we have about nineteen acres of Building Land, which might be sold for many thousands of pounds.
Though this is only the second time, since March 5th, 1834 (when I founded the Institution), that we have been in such a position; and though, as I have just shown, we have an abundance to meet in the end all the payments that are due, we do not feel happy in appearing even to be in debt. The Lord's dealings with us during the last year indicate that it is His will we should contract our operations, and we are waiting upon Him for directions as to how, and to what extent, this should be done; for we have but one single object in connection with this Institution, viz., the glory of God. When I founded it, one of the principles stated was, "That there would be no enlargement of the work, by going into debt;" and, in like manner, we cannot go on with that, which already exists, if we have not sufficient means coming in, to meet the current expenses. I have further to state that, by the grace of God, our trust in Him is, as before, unshaken; and we doubt not in the least, either His power or His willingness to help us in His own time; and we believe also that only for blessing He has been pleased thus greatly to try our faith and patience.
Now, though we are not tired of having our faith and patience thus tried, as we do not wish to give the appearance even, of carrying on the work of God, whilst going into debt, we must decrease our operations, unless the income of the Institution should in future be more abundant. Here I have to make one remark more. The reader must have noticed, how it has pleased the Lord to help us, during the past twelve months, very many times (and even of late repeatedly) in a most remarkable way, and He has sent us large sums of money very unexpectedly, either by the payment of legacies or by donations; a plain proof, that it is only for the trial of our faith and patience, that our funds have been comparatively low, and that God has not in the way of chastisement forsaken us.
[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1891, to May 26th, 1892, was £21,162 19s. 1¾d.]
May 26th, 1892, to May 26th, 1893
At the beginning of the next financial year our trial of faith continued week after week and month after month; but Mr. Wright and I, and our many helpers, looked, with unshaken confidence to the Lord, fully assured that, in His own time, He would again more abundantly help, and deliver us out of our difficulties. I state now in the following pages how the Lord was pleased to deal with us.
On May 28th we received from Norfolk £50.—June 13th. From the neighbourhood of Bristol £80, with £10 for myself and £10 for Mr.
Wright.—June 14th. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. A. E., £270.—June 18th. Legacy of the late Mr. G. C. P., £160 0s. 11d.—June 22nd. Legacy of the late Mrs. E. B" £320. Another legacy left to me by an entire stranger, and thus another proof that the hearts of all are in the hand of the Lord, and that He is ready to influence them, in answer to our prayers.—June 26th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250. Thus, during the first month of our new financial year, we received in answer to our prayers, generally repeated many times day after day, £1,651 11s. 7¼d. for the support of the Orphans.
July 12th. From Kidderminster £50. About three years since, a donor wrote to me that he was greatly tried in his business; hearing from him recently, I asked how it was going on now, as I had very many times asked the Lord to prosper him again. The following is his reply: —
My dear Sir,
"One word in reply to your kind letter. I feel that your prayers for the improvement of my business have been answered; for I have been much helped and favoured. My business has been a prosperous one, and especially so since (now many years ago) I commenced to set apart a definite portion of my income as a gift fund. I have had constant proofs of the interposition of a kind providence in my affairs, and the value of prayer is very strongly impressed upon me by my experience. May God's choicest blessing continue to attend you.
"Very sincerely yours, ——."
The reader has in this letter another proof of the deep importance and the real blessing of attending to systematic giving to the poor and to the Lord's work, as God is pleased to prosper us.
July 16th. From "G.," Preston, £99 9s. Oh! that all who trust in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of their souls might practically enter more into the reality of the power of believing prayer.—July 19th. From County Dublin £100. Another instance of a friend to the Institution, in Ireland, who is an entire stranger to me. From Carmarthenshire 5s. This kind donor sends me every Tuesday a similar sum, and has done so for years. He is in business, and probably gives a penny, or twopence, or threepence, out of every pound he takes, so that I receive thus, week alter week, from 4s. to 8s. for the Orphans. These are small donations, but they amount in the course of the year to much, and I doubt not bring blessing to the soul and business of the giver, as well as benefit to the Orphans.—July 21st. From the neighbourhood of Bristol £150, again the result of believing prayer, from a gentleman whom I never saw.—July 23rd. By sale of waste-paper 5s. 3d. We feel it our duty to turn everything to account, and not to allow waste, as the many hundreds of Orphans under our care have to be trained to live carefully and economically.
August 3rd. From Devon £82 5s. from a Christian gentleman, who, for more than forty-five years, has from time to time helped us, though I have never seen him.—August 4th. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150. This donation also comes from a lady whom I have never seen, but whom the Lord has moved to send us repeatedly a similar gift.—August 11th. From Surrey £80 (towards the payment of unpaid salaries of teachers in the Orphan Houses), with £10 for myself, and £10 for Mr. Wright. Received from Bournemouth the following letter, with £10 1s. 6d.:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"With gratitude to our Father in Heaven, and very much pleasure, I enclose £10 1s. 6d.; £5 for the Orphans, £5 please accept for yourself, and 1s. 6d. for Reports. God's dealings with you in the past year, and the marvellous way He has sustained you through such deep trials of faith and patience, are a great encouragement to me, and doubtless will be to hundreds of God's children. May not this be one reason why He thus permits your faith to be so greatly tested? I entreat that Jehovah may be greatly magnified by His wondrous dealings with you and your dear fellow-labourers. I have been asked by a dear sister, who does not wish her name mentioned, to send you the accompanying gold locket, one silver locket and chain, and two gold rings. Praising the Lord for the help He has graciously given me through you, and praying that He may be pleased to spare your life yet for many years, and even yet more abundantly use your testimony to the Church and to the world at large, for the glory of His Holy Name,
"Yours gratefully in the Lord Jesus, ——."
I fully agree with the writer of this letter, that one of the reasons why it pleases the Lord to try our faith and patience so greatly is, that believers in the Lord Jesus, who read of this, may thus be spiritually benefited. This has been the case in numberless instances during the past fifty-eight years, and is, no doubt, being done now.—August 15th. Five casks of vinegar. A firm kindly supplies all the vinegar needed by the Institution. Received £5 from a former Orphan, with the following letter:—
Dear and honoured Sir,
"It is with great pleasure that I send you the sum of £5 for the Orphan Work. I had been reading your last Report, and the Lord greatly blessed it to my soul. I was also led by the Lord to look at the advice given by you at the end of the first volume [Chapter VIII.] of the Lord's dealings with you. I searched out all the passages of Scripture referred to there, and prayed earnestly that the Lord would give me simple faith to cast all my care upon Him, in sickness or in health, and that I might not be hoarding up money for sickness, but be laying up treasure in heaven. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33). The Lord was pleased to answer my prayer, and He has given me that simple trust in Him. I have for years been putting a little money in the bank, in case of sickness or want of employment; but the Lord has shown me how greatly I have dishonoured Him by this mode of action, and has given me grace to take it out, to be used as He shall direct me. I told the Lord I was willing to send you something for the work on Ashley Down, and the third day the answer came, 'Send five pounds.' 'My times are in Thy hand.' May this be your experience in the future as in the past; and may the Lord abundantly fulfil the godly desire of your heart, that your last days may be your best.