CHAPTER IX

ANSWERED PRAYER

(f) IN GOSPEL AND RESCUE MISSIONS

Not only in the Bowery Mission but in every other institution connected with the aggressive wing of the Church of Christ prayer is a mighty force.

This arises no doubt largely from the fact that these missions operate among human beings who are found to be in the uttermost extremity of need, spiritual and material. They have no other resource but God. The universal instinct of prayer asserts itself, and, sometimes almost involuntarily, they cry aloud for help.

With all the profusion of charitable institutions that we in these days of advanced civilization possess, it is still true that there are many ills from which humanity is suffering that are altogether unprovided for. Inveterate habits that bind poor mortals in adamantine chains, hereditary evils, of mind as well as body, that pass from generation to generation with fell and unfailing purpose, grim social evils that all legislation, philanthropy, and science seem powerless to remove, so that shambling men and slovenly women and impish children congest the slums and alleys of our modern cities in terrible helplessness and despair.

When, however, the tender-hearted under-shepherd goes down into these dark places, and, finding the broken and bruised members of the human flock, tells them of the Love, Pity, and Helpfulness of the Good

Shepherd, who "giveth His life for the sheep," the response is immediate and eager.

Because of the consciousness of their extremity, the very poor seem to be able to comply more easily with conditions of successful prayer, as laid down by Jesus Christ, than their richer and more competent fellow

creatures.

The blind man is overwhelmed by the awful and appalling need of eyesight, so, in the darkness, when he hears of the passing Christ, he waves his hands and cries," Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" The prayer is definite, passionate, submissive, earnest, and full of faith, and it brings an immediate answer.

Praying in accordance with the will of God! Well, these poor rebels and prodigals of the lower order have tried their own wills, they have gone their own ways, and the result has been dire disaster. It is not a difficult thing for them to try the other and better plan.

Praying for definite blessings! Why, they are sinking in the waters like Peter. The danger is wofully imminent. They must have help at once. Surely they can be definite, and out rings the piteous plea, "Lord, save me, or I perish!"

Praying in the name of Christ! That means praying to the great unseen, inscrutable God of the universe, whose bewildering infinity would stagger and confound them utterly but for the fact that in Jesus they recognize God. Whatever God is, is represented in Jesus. In coming to Jesus they are coming to God. Whenever they think of God they think of what Jesus was, and is, and the name of Jesus is to them all sweetness, and gentleness, and pitifulness, and love, and it is

easy for poor helpless mortals to pray in the name of Jesus.

Probably prayer is more real and effective in the Gospel missions of our cities than anywhere else.

I am going, therefore, to quote from letters I have recently received from the superintendents of these missions, words of testimony as to answered prayer.

From the REV. OLIVER C. ELLIOTT,

Superintendent of the Boston Industrial Home, Boston, Mass.

Yes, indeed, evidences of answered prayer are constantly with us in our work here, and I will give you the most recent case.

At our roof-garden service, Sunday, July 24th, one of several men who came forward as an evidence of spiritual desire was a poor, miserable fellow, shaking with delirium, ragged and unkempt. Asked to pray for himself he frankly confessed his gross sin and implored divine mercy and forgiveness in tone and language that plainly indicated that he was not a stranger and knew how to pray.

His story was this: He was superintendent of a big Philadelphia Gospel work wherein he was very successful. He started on a two-weeks' vacation, came to Boston, was tempted, and fell. He drank all his money and good clothing and finally, in a moment of despair, prayed God to direct his steps to a place of safety. He came to us with the above result. I telegraphed his Board, he wrote his confession, next a special delivery letter telling him to come back, then the money-telegram, the trip home, and the open-arms reception. I have not divulged the name either of the man or his work, both of which, however, I would be glad to give you confidentially if you desire. We have a wonderful Saviour, and, after all, this is only very simple for Him to do for those who trust Him.

From the REV. E. J. GOODWIN,

Superintendent of the Gospel Mission, Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. L., an infidel, living by his wits, traveling all over the country seeking something he could not find, came to our Mission the latter part of November, 1915, with the purpose of doing the Mission a financial wrong. He came under the power of conviction and made a partial surrender to God. He fell back into the old ways and tried to get away but could not. He came back to the Lord, and to-day is living a clean, useful life. How did it happen? The power of prayer was too strong and he could not get away from it.

Mr. P., an attorney-at-law in a city in the State of Indiana, at one time counsel for several corporations in the city in which he lived and practised law. He had a doubt in his mind as to the divinity of our Saviour. He came to the Mission on three different occasions during a period of two years. For what? Looking for something that would take from his life the curse that was upon it-booze. He was pointed the way, and the third time he made the surrender and to-day is in the city of Chicago, his law practice coming back, and his wife with him. He has a home, business is growing, and best of all he is telling the story of Jesus and His love to those he comes in contact with. Prayer brought the thing he had traveled thousands of miles to find, when it was at his side all the time.

From the REV. WILLIAM MCQUERE,

Superintendent of the McAuley Cremorne Mission, New York, N. Y.

We have been praying for the husband of a woman who had been converted at the McAuley Cremorne Mission. This man, a habitual drunkard, had taken all the money (his wife's earnings), had beaten his wife, and driven his children into the streets. At the Sunday night meeting, we began prayer for this man's

conversion. At the close of the meeting a number of men responded to the invitation. As I walked down the hall, one of the workers remarked that my prayer had been answered. "In what way?" I asked. "Why!" he replied. "That's Mrs.'s husband kneeling at the front." He told us later that he had an uncontrollable desire to come to the meeting, and that as he sat there he became convinced that what he needed was this Jesus to whom we testified. If this was not an answer to prayer, I would not know how to account for it.

From the REV. J. A. FRITZ,

Superintendent of the Merrimac Mission, Boston, Mass.

I, Jacob A. Fritz, Superintendent of the Merrimac Mission, was for twenty years a drunkard, with a very godly Christian wife, who never ceased to pray all those years for her sinful husband, that Jesus would some day save him, and that their last days would be their best days on earth.

On January 28, 1905, I found an invitation in my letter box to attend a Brotherhood service held at three o'clock Sunday afternoon, at the Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston. So I attended and surrendered my life to Christ when the invitation was given. At the close of the service I immediately hurried home to tell my wife what I had done. She threw her arms around my neck, and replied, "Thank God! I knew He would answer my prayer, and save my husband." This is ten years and six months ago. Certainly our last days, in answer to my wife's prayers, are the best of our lives. They are days of heaven on earth.

I have been called of God as an apostle to the drunkard in this wicked West End of Boston, where I have been Superintendent of the Merrimac Mission for nearly five years.

For years my stomach was eaten out by alcohol, I