The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-05
Child Conversion and Church
Fellowship.


younger sisters had been led to Christ at
Mr.. Hammond's meetings. 1 went to see
her mother about it, ooh, believe Jane
is Christian" said she. "There is a won
derful change in her; but would rather
she waited awhile longer" Waited"
said 1, "what do you want her to wait for?"
"Why, you see she is very young and wait
ing bit won't hurt her." Z" think she
has waited long enough, and now she feels
it to be Christ's will that she should be
joined to his people; i am sure it will do
harm to hinder her. Then, too" 1 ventured
to say, "there are Jessie and Nancy-re-
spectively eight and nine years old-don't
you believe they are Christians?" eyes,
do; but oh, the idea of their joining the
church," 1 found it of no use to argue the
matter, so l had to leave It,
went down to Mildmay Hall to give an
address; aud after the meeting, at the tea
table, l asked Mr.. Mathieson, the noble
hearted superintendent OF the manifold in
situations at Mildmay Hall DO the chill
dren who professed conversion during Mr..
Hammond's meetings here stand well2" 81
am happy to say they do. I learn from Mr..
Hankin-the vicar of St. Judes, Midway
that the children belonging to his church
and schools are holding on their way stead
fastly.'
The same evening l called at the house of
member of my congregation. "Mr. Nal
ms, said the lady, my girls, Louise, Mar
ion and Mildred, want to join the church.
Have you any objections on the ground of
age?'' Oh, dear, no, - / replied, the sole
requisite in my opinion is faith in Jesus"
" am satisfied about that, and I want to
join the church with them" And you,
also?' I asked, turning to her husband.
SO Well, I'm trusting in the Savior said he.
Every well, then, well have you all to-
gether."
left with heart full of gladness, and fell
to reflection with freshened interest upon
the wonderful work of God among the chill
dren, carried on in this and other neighbor-
hoods, by Mr.. Hammond in London; and
that carried me away to previous times and
scenes Here is the history of the fields
over which my thoughts roamed happily,
like bees gathering sweets from fair flowers.
Glasgow Yes! Twenty-Five years ago
Mr.. Hammond worked in Glasgow with no
thought about child-conversion on any large
scale. Yet children in large numbers were
converted to God. He could not credit what
he saw with reality at the first; but facts
grew to be too many for his unbeief. Chill
dren of all ages and in large numbers were
undoubtedly rejoicing in Christ Jesus. His
child-like heart opened to them, and his af-
ter-ministry was shaped with special regard
to them
Then thought of Dublin. He came there
eighteen years ago. but had no idea OF the
conversion of children as a thing to be es-
pecially aimed at and expected. Like most
other people, had looked upon child-con-
version as quite exceptional. But many
children were led to Christ, from my school
the families of my people, as also from
many other schools and families. gave
way to faith, as did several other ministers.
reflected further that the prejudice of
revered and gifted men, such as Dr. Alexan-
der, Rev. Andrew Bonar and Hon. Baptist
Noel had been overcome at that time by
the divinely sweet facts of chid-regenera-
ton that came under their notice in Mr..
Hammonds meetings. And | said to my
self, we have facts in plenty. They will
win faith in time, if they are made known.
The next day was walking up from my
church and met gentleman whom had
seen in Mr.. Hammond's meetings. 81 was
Just thinking" said l, about the unbelief
there is in child-conversion." Well" he
replied, " l don't wonder at the unbelief.
for, until after Mr.. Hammonds meetings
commenced, fully shared it. But one night
l took my boy to Midway, and he was led
TO Christ 1 believe in it beyond doubt
now" " Praise the Lord" ] said, "that
helps me, though have believed in child
conversion for many a year."
left him. Scenes of twelve years before
came yividly and powerfully before me,
They were these. In my Sunday-sehool at
Newcastle-on-Tyne there were sad COM
plants that no blessing appeared to rest
upon the teaching. said one day, Do you
expect any, Have you tried to find out if
there is any or not? The complainers did
not reply; but they told me afterwards they
must have answered "no" to my question
/ guessed as much, and set to work to find
out how matters stood. To my Joy found
four or five scholars had given themselves
TO Christ, though their teachers knew it
not. After had told the teachers and su.
perintendent, I asked them if they would
suspend the regular teaching for two or
three Sunday afternoons, and hold special
services instead, They agreed, and left their
details to me. We did not 90 outside our
school for help got two of the converted
scholars to tell why they believed they were
saved, and two to pray that many others
might receive Christ at those meetings. We
haI t,,,, !. 4 oh.
and plenty of singing. AS the result, re-
ceived not less than sixty young people into
the church. That revival still further en-
couraged me.
A few evenings after, called again upon
the friends whose children wished to join
the church, Said the mother, 81 believe
all my children, excepting baby, to be the
Lords That little girl, Alice "-she was
standing beside me with her hand nesting
in mine-"is Christian" what" said