The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-14
BISHOP LAMBUTH
TELLS OF AFRICA
AS MISSION FIELD
Continued From page Five)

CONTINUED From Page Ftve)
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tured Soochow, where at present we have
a great mission, leading his troops wav-
ing rattan cane. When there was a
handkerchief spread on the sand before
Gordon's tent no orderly or officer dared
intrude, however important the message,
for they knew Gordon was with his God.
Gordon was the man who was sent of all
men to break the power of the Mahdl
and it is a significant fact that the de-
cline of MoEammedanism dates from the
fall OF Gordon In the Sudan.
"You might say that Gordon fell. That
all his praying did not save his life He
did not pray for his own life. Life is
but a mere incident when we come to
Gods plans.
Scene at Port Arthur
II was at Port Arthur not long after
it had fallen and was talking to Jap
anese colonel. As we looked down on
the places where the serried ranks of
the Japanese soldiers had been mown
down one after another. | exclaimed: 1T
was magnificent courage there Yes
replied the Japanese, but Nogi did not
capture Port Arthur. 1t was done in the
school rooms of Japan years before
There was man in Japan who declared
that Russia must be met in the school
TOOlnS OI JdpdH tllQ LnG Cl1lQT0n were
taught implicit obedience and loyalty to
the king. 1t would be we'll to have these
In mind in another field.
There are two kinds Of prayer-sub-
jeotlve and objective. Some people will
say it Is well enough to pray ascetically
and morally. That 1t makes the Bible
better but decry objective prayer. say
unto you God answers prayer effectively
There was prayer meeting in Shang-
hal and man got up and told an in
cident that happened to him. He was a
missionary with wife and two children.
1t was near the holidays. There was lit
tie food in the house and no money. The
shops would all be closed on account of
the holidays and he was unable to pro-
cure food. He and his wife got down on
their knees and prayed to the Lord to
send them food. They threw themselves
and their children on Him and this was
how it was answered: A half hour after
prayer there was knock on the door
and a Chinaman appeared and handed him
some money, saying that he had been
kind to him. Shortly there was another
knock and second Chinaman appeared
and gave him a fish and more money.
Soon a third knock was heard and a 40
pound roast of bees was presented to the
missionary and at the close more money
was given him by patients whom he had
treated. The missionary declared that
never again would be doubt God no mat
ter how dire his straits. That Is OBJ
jective prayer and its answer.
'In Africa ono day when Gilbert and
7 were lost and there seemed no out
come we went down on our knees and re-
dedicated ourselves to Him. He led us
on to where we are to establish field.
Initiated by Prayer
Every great epoch in spiritual life and
the history of the church was initiated
by prayer. Desire is the soul of prayer.
Why does prayer often fail? The desire
Is feeble. A half-heatred petition does
not reach. 1t must be whole-hearted, IL
must be importunate. Prayer is desire
finding expression 1t may be an en-
counter with God or it may be sur
rendering Of the will as with Saul on the
road to Damascus.