1888-1889
Gibraltar, Algeria, Malta, Egypt, India, Burma, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Russia
November 4th, 1888
Lahore, India, Lord's Day
My Beloved Angee,
I returned here from Peshawar and Rawalpindi soon after 8 this morning and was cheered and comforted to find your welcome letter also one from dear Arundel and an enclosure in yours from dear Harry. Here had a hard but very successful week's work in both the frontier places visited both among the European and native merchants – I know what God can do, or rather what He has done, but I assure you I am amazed at the way our goods have taken and the wonderful kindness received on every hand. The Lord has given me a great cheer to in calling upon a few of the saints in isolation who have been refreshed by a visit. I left Peshawar on Friday morning in a second class carriage in company with a smart young fellow a soldier, called Conductor Beresford – he had gone up there from Pindi to join the mission to Cabul – this however had fallen through for the present as the Ameer has gone on a visit elsewhere – after a little while I got into conversation with him and put the truth of God's salvation before him. Well it ended in his conversion to God and I trust a real one – he was filled with praise and thanksgiving that God had now made clear what had been a mystery to him for years and he often said "I know it all now as well as you do." He had been exercised for 15 years and this was commenced by the conversion of a brother – God spoke to his conscience from that time and he has had no rest ever since. There was a poor native brother called Keelan at Peshwar and I called upon him the same evening I arrived there and handed a little help dear Major Jacob has sent to Lahore for him – the person he was lodging with was able to interpret for us, so we had a nice time together – the poor fellow is paralysed on one side, but he managed to walk 2 miles in the broiling sun to the station the next day to see me off and this Conductor Beresford kindly acted as interpreter for us and Keelan gave him some tracts. It was very beautiful to see how Beresford desired to see this dear fellow after God has opened his eyes – while at the Peshawar station he was recalling interpreting for me the language of Canaan which he himself could not understand, but when the Lord had opened his eyes he said now I can understand what you were talking about to that dear fellows and greatly desired to see him that he might talk this new language to him too. It was very interesting too that after this previous conversation we stopped at a station near Rawalpindi where we both got out for a few minutes and while standing drinking a cup of tea dear young Waite, that I met at Fataila last year came up and spoke and glad enough we were to see each other and I introduced the new convert to him. This situation is the base of the Black Mountain Expedition where the British troops are now engaged in fighting with some rebel hill tribes only 3 days march from Rawalpindi. Mr Waite there superintends the Post Office work connected with the camp – he knew I was in India but did not know what part. Last night he came down to Pindi and rode for about an hour in my carriage to have a little fellowship and took the mail train back to the camp again. You can hardly imagine at home what interest the few brethren here manifest in each other's movements – it is the answer to that word "Beloved if God loved us, we might also love one another."
This morning at day break my fellow passengers seemed to have had enough sleep and we commenced talking – there were 3 natives and one young Englishman – two of the natives were evidently superior sort of people and I subsequently found were father and son – the latter speaking English. The father seemed very curious to know who I was and what I was doing so I gave him a card and our conversation very soon turned upon the person of Jesus Christ and Mohammed – for a couple of hours we had a very interesting time and one of the natives said he was glad to have heard what he had this morning and should give it his serious consideration. The father referred to is the President of the Municipal Council in the place he lives and the son, the proprietor and editor of a vernacular newspaper there. They all gave a very hearty shake of the hand and the son said, if I came to his place his father would be very glad to receive me. How I wish I could speak their language and I often think I could very soon learn it because I feel such an interest in the people. They listen to the gospel with an interest such as I have never seen in England. We have had a nice time here this morning, another resident brother having returned since last Lord's day, so that we have 3 this morning to praise and worship and to shew forth His death once more ‘till He come, even our Lord Jesus Christ.
The scenery is very fine and I have enjoyed the travel and the work during the past week and through mercy preserved in good health. Very thankful for the little change and cheer you have had in Arundel and the saints at Barnstaple – trust dear Martha will soon recover. The Lord comfort you my dear Angee – He is very good to us is He not? And He is the unchanging one – may He keep us close to Himself and we shall not only be happy ourselves but be a blessing to others, and that is worth living for – much love to all our dear ones and much more for you my beloved wife and believe me.
Being very affectionate Husband.
Love to dear Mr Robertshaw, Eliza and Eunice – and to all the dear brethren.