When I was going to Europe in 1867, my Friend, Mr. Stuart, of Philadelphia, said, “Be sure to beat the General Assembly at Edinburg in June. I was there last year,” he said, “and it did me a world of good.” He said that a returned missionary was invited to speak to the General Assembly on the wants of India.
This old missionary, after a brief address, told the pastors who were present to go home and stir up the churches to send young men to India to preach the Gospel. He spoke with such earnestness that after a while he fainted, and they carried him from the hall. When he recovered, he asked where he was, and they told him the circumstances under which he had been brought there.
“Yes,” he said, “I was making a plea for India, and I didn’t quite finish my speech, did I?” After being told that he did not, he said, “Well, take me back and let me finish it.” But they said, “No, you will die in the attempt.” “Well,” said he, “I will die if I don’t,” and the old man asked again that they would allow him to finish his plea.
When he was taken back the whole congregation stood as one man, and as they brought him on the platform, with a trembling voice he said, “Fathers and mothers of Scotland, is it true that you will not let your sons go to India? I spent twenty-five years of my life there. I have come back with sickness, and shattered health.
If it is true that we have no strong grandsons to go to India, I will pack up what I have and be off to-morrow, and I will let those heathen know that if I can not live for them, I can die for them.” The world said that the old man was enthusiastic. in earnest, and that’s what we want.—MOODY.
