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Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word (Psalm 119:9).

 

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THE STORY OF FIFTY YEARS’ WORK IN CHINA

THE GYPSIES OF WENHASTON

THE REMARKABLE NARRATIVE OF ANDREW DUNN'S CONVERSION

CHIEF SUNDU

GRIFFITH JOHN:

W. Grinton Berry

GRIFFITH JOHN, still, after fifty-three years, labouring with all the passion of his loving heart for the people of China, was born at Swansea on December 14, 1831. When only eight months old he lost his mother by death, and he was brought up by his Aunt Mary, his father’s sister, to whom he says he owes more than tongue can tell. Griffith John—whose father was a truly godly man, both righteous and tender—was reared in a religious atmosphere, early in life became the subject of deep religious impressions, and at the tender age of eight was admitted a member of Ebenezer Chapel, Swansea. To those who would object that his knowledge and experience must have been very limited at this time, Griffith John would reply that even then he knew that he was a sinner and that Jesus was his Saviour.

Not long after he was admitted to Church membership he essayed to offer up prayer at a mothers’ meeting attended by his aunt. Only one sentence, however, had passed his lips when he sunk into utter blankness. The good ladies gathered round the little boy of eight to comfort him with the assurance that he would do better next time. Surely this was a remarkable scene! The prophecy of the ladies was fulfilled. He grew in knowledge and experience, took an acceptable part at the meetings, and found his spiritual life carefully fostered by the ladies.

A certain Mr. William Rees, of Nantyglo, came to reside at Swansea about this time. Mr. Rees, whose knowledge of the Scriptures and gift of teaching were remarkable, took a class in the Sunday school and had young John among his scholars. The illustrious missionary relates that Mr. Rees taught him to think, and encouraged him to commit large portions of the Scriptures to memory. The Rev. Thomas Davies, one of the famous preachers of Wales, was the minister of Ebenezer at the time. Instead of reading the Scriptures himself at the public services he frequently asked young John to recite a chapter from his seat in the gallery directly opposite to the pulpit.

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THE GYPSIES OF WENHASTON

By F. C. Green

WENHASTON is an old-world Suffolk village pleasantly situated three miles east of the sleepy little town of Halesworth. Its scattered houses and cottages are built on the fringe of a large heather covered knoll, called Blackheath, adjoining the maritime marshes leading to the sea some five miles eastward.

The Church at Wenhaston obtained considerable prominence several years ago when a very large picture of the Last Judgment was discovered on its walls after the removal of a coating of thickly encrusted lime during renovation operations. This picture is one of only five such pictures known to exist in the country.

Until recently a narrow guage railway ran from Halesworth to Southwold, its first stopping place being Wenhaston. Its quaint little carriages had the appearance of an old-fashioned tram, and the seating accommodation consisted of a seat on either side, running the whole length of carriage, whilst its tiny engine made heroic efforts to draw three such carriages up the easy gradient into Halesworth Station. It was called the "Crab and Winkle," indicative of its speed and size.

In this quiet little village on the Blackheath a family of Gypsies named Pickett have lived for the past fifty years. Their home consists of a tent formed of large interlaced hoops driven into the ground, the whole being covered on the outside with tarred sailcloth and lined with blanketting, to keep it cosy during the winter, and cool during summer. They have also an old railway carriage divided into two comfortable rooms for sleeping purposes, both enclosed in a small garden, with its orchard, flower bed, cabbage patch, and large heap of firewood, neatly enclosed by a hedge and lattice gate. One other object in the enclosure must receive honourable mention, it is the rusted relic of an old grinding barrow, with its large flywheel and smaller grindstones, used by father and son for over fifty years. Were it able to speak, it would tell of wonderful adventures of faith. As its owner sought work for it to do, he at the same time sought for weary hearts, burdened by sin, and told them of the love of Jesus, and on more than one occasion has been the means in God’s hand of leading them to the Saviour. Everything in the little homestead is, like its tenants, spotlessly clean.

The story of God’s dealings with this Christian family is indeed wonderful. Humble and uneducated as they are, for they can neither read nor write, yet the Lord has been pleased to use them for His glory in the salvation of several of their acquaintance, whilst in the village they are constantly in requisition to visit the sick and dying, when no opportunity is lost to speak of the saving love of Christ, and to point to Calvary as God’s great remedy for sin-burdened souls.

Their history commences with their grandfather, who had been a staunch and sincere Christian, respected by all who knew him, and as he traversed the countryside with his grinding barrow, never failed to testify to the saving grace of God to all upon whom he called for scissors to grind.

Their father, however, led a life of much sin and wickedness, a victim to drink, causing great sorrow to the family, who were often in dire distress and need owing to their father’s drunken habits. However, God had mercy on him, for while laying on a sick bed, which proved to be his death bed, the Holy Spirit of God laid hold on him, and he was soundly converted, and died rejoicing in the Saviour’s love, more than fifty years ago.

It was in 1901 that a Wesleyan Evangelist, Fayvell by name, held a Mission in the small Stone Chapel on Blackheath, quite near the Gypsies’ home, when an old Christian lady called upon them and persuaded two of the sisters to attend the Mission. They were deeply impressed by the gospel message, the arrow of conviction sinking deep into their hearts. The evangelist spoke earnestly to them, seeking to lead them to the Saviour, and asking them if they would give their hearts to Him, they replied, "We would like to, but don’t fare to know how it’s to be done," and they greatly feared that if they became Christians their business would suffer, moreover, they would have to give up singing, fortune telling, card playing and drink. The evangelist persisted in his gracious work, telling them that "the Lord had a better business for them to be engaged in."

For three weary months they suffered great distress of soul, their anguish at times amounting to agony, seeking peace and finding no rest for their sin-burdened hearts. Most eagerly they attended the services of Church and Chapel, and sought the help of Christian people, trying to find out what they must do to be saved.

One day the younger sister was out with her basket of trifles—buttons, cottons, shoe laces, etc., and as she walked she was trying to pray, the Spirit helping her with groanings which cannot be uttered, when suddenly the words, "I am so glad that Jesus loves me," came into her mind,— simple words, almost childish in their simplicity, but words of mighty power in the hands of the Holy Spirit, for immediately her darkened soul was filled with the radiance of heavenly light. She had found that for which her soul longed. Through her tear-dimmed eyes she beheld the vision of Calvary, and the language of her soul was:

Just as I am, without one plea,

At once she repaired to her home in the tent, and told her mother and sisters what the Lord had done for her soul, and before many weeks had elapsed she had the joy of witnessing the conversion of her mother and sisters. The people attending the Stone Chapel supplied them with tracts, which they freely distributed in the district, adding their testimony to the saving mercy of their God.

Then began earnest prayer on behalf of their much loved brother, Lomas, but seven long years elapsed before their prayers were answered. His life had been after the pattern of his father’s : drink, betting, and their attendant evils characterising his life. Strange to say, he always attended the Chapel services with his sisters, it was, however, but to criticise others, he preferred, he said, to "stay in the world." It was in 1907 that he attended a Christian Temperance Mission, held at Wenhaston, when he was brought under intense conviction of sin, the memory of his life of wickedness adding an insupportable burden to his stricken conscience. Leaving the Mission one evening and going alone over the hill towards his home, he felt an impelling influence urging him to go back to the Mission Chapel and surrender himself to the Lord. The thought came to him, You have a father and two sisters in heaven, and a mother and four sisters going to heaven, and you are on your way to hell! He did not go back, but instead repaired to the public house, and sought to drown his fears and sorrows in drink. But drink could not overcome the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. He hurried from the public house to his home in the tent with tear-dimmed eyes, and heart broken with repentance and godly sorrow for his sins, and told his sisters he wanted to be saved. They drew him into the tent and there prayed earnestly to God for his salvation. What a scene in that humble tent as alone with God those two sisters pleaded the precious sacrifice of Calvary on behalf of their repentant brother. May we not say that all heaven looked on with wondering rapture and delight as it witnessed this triumph of the Saviour’s dying love. "There is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth." Lomas found rest of soul and the joy of salvation filled his heart, and that joy never left him, but increased day by day, until it found its consummation a few years later in that scene,

Next morning he went out to go on his rounds, when he met a mate of his who asked how he was.

"I’m fine to-day," he said. "Yesterday I came over the hill a lost sinner, and to-day I came over it a saved man."

"Lomas," said his mate, "can’t a man give his heart to God without going to a penitent form?"

"Yes," said Lomas, "you come back to my tent and do it now."

The two returned to the tent, and Lomas had the joy of leading his first convert to the Lord. He was asked whether they had had many conversions in the tent. "Bless you, yes, on one occasion five were converted at once. Sometimes they seems so hard at heart and ignorant I feels like lifting ’em up in my arms to get them to have a good look at my dear Lord Jesus."

On the walls of the tent are many photographs, one of a young coloured soldier, who found Christ in that humble home.

It was in February, 1936, at the age of 74 that Lomas passed to his eternal reward. He was laid to rest in the Churchyard at Wenhaston, where his mother and two sisters were buried. The funeral service was largely attended, the officiating minister paying a tribute to his Godly life and testimony.

"They could," he said, "treasure the memory of their brother and the inspiration of his life to that circle who came in contact with him, and had been blessed and encouraged by his fellowship. Lomas was a Gypsy—Gypsy bred and Gypsy born. To many of us he has been for many years a shining example of Christian consistency and of the Christian spirit."

Of his immediate relations only two sisters now remain, Ellen (Nellie) and Sally Pickett, bright shining examples of consistent Christian character in the village. It is said that if anyone is in trouble there, they send for the Gypsies, so greatly indeed are they loved and respected by all. They are old and infirm and suffer much physically, but they suffer uncomplainingly. The younger sister, Sally, is still able to support the older one by selling tapes and buttons in the surrounding district, besides doing all the nursing and attending to her older sister, who is practically helpless, crippled by rheumatoid arthritis.

Sally said she had had a horrid time on Derby day. People kept asking her about the horses likely to win. She said, "I wasn’t a bit interested in the horses. I wanted to tell them about my Saviour. Everyone wants their fortune told, and I can tell their fortune too, and it is their true fortune, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ I know it because I’ve proved it."

The consistent life of this Godly family of Gypsies has left its mark on the village and district around, and many a heart has received inspiration and enrichment through the testimony of the Gypsies of Wenhaston.

May we be permitted a personal word. "The Lord is rich unto all that call upon Him," and all need His saving mercy, for all have sinned and come short of His glory. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise."

Will you not come to the Saviour and lay at His footstool the tribute of a broken and contrite heart? He will pardon your sins, and make you His dear child for ever, and the language of your rejoicing heart will be, "O Jesus Christ, dwell Thou deep in my inner being until my soul is engulfed in the great ocean of Thy deathless love."

Oh love, that will not let me go,

THE REMARKABLE NARRATIVE OF ANDREW DUNN'S CONVERSION

BY THOMAS KELLY

FOREWORD

CHIEF SUNDU