^\ ^m r7;^R ^ i^&fej^ ■ HI ■fi- ^^^^^ % - - . - -■-- ^ci fe m M', #^ 2r:T#> ^^^xlr to many. (It may be added, that for a like reason, a portfolio, containing specimens of all the General, and of nearly all the Parochial Papers circulated during the Mission, has been placed for reference in the Church Institute Library.) All who have had any practical acquaintance with the sub- ject agree that a Special Mission is not a thing to be taken up lightly, or without previous and long preparation. ''In all labour there is profit," and certainly spiritual labour is no excep- tion. God owns and abundantly blesses the diligent use of means placed within man's reach. The Leeds Mission was not undertaken or commenced hastily, as will be seen from the fact, that at a Meeting of the Ruri-Decanal Chapter, held April 13, 1874, it was resolved that a Special Meeting of the Clergy should be held on April 17th, to which the Rev. G. H. Wilkinson, Vicar of St. Peter's, Eaton Square, well known throughout the land as a Missioner whose labours were remarkably successful, should be invited. He ■attended, and gave counsel as to the best way of conducting a Mission. Many valuable suggestions, which proved most useful after- wards, were given respecting the various ways in which Church workers could help forward a Mission, respecting the mode of ■conducting services, after meetings, &c. C THE LEEDS MISSION. At a subsequent Meeting of the Chapter, held April 28, the- Rev. W. H. M. H. Aitken, of Christ Church, Everton, Liverpool, also widely known 'for his special gifts as a Mission Preacher, and for his great .experience in Mission work, addressed the clergy. He gave many hints, subsequently acted upon, as to organisation, handbills that should be circulated, plans by which the Gospel might be taken to the various districts of the town, &c. It was then unanimously resolved to hold a Mission. The note of preparation w^as thus struck nine or ten months before the event itself took place. It will appear in the narrative how that comparatively long period was employed. A Committee of the Clergy was appointed fairly representa- tive of the different localities, &c., to make arrangements for the Mission. It consisted of the following : — The Rev. Dr. Gott, Vicar of Leeds, Rural Dean, Chairman. Rev. S. Adams, Vicar of St. George's. Rev. R. Douglas, Rector of Farnley. Rev, Dr. Flood, Vicar of St. Matthew's. Rev. J. H. GooDiER, Yicar of St. Jude's, Plunslet. Rev. J. Hepher, Vicar of St. John's, Newtown. Rev. E. Jackson, Incumbent of St. James's. Rev. A. H. Kelk, Vicar of Burmantofts. Rev. R. R, KiRBY, Vicar of Chapeltown, Rev. J. H, McCheane, Incumbent of Holy Trinity. Rev. H. Temple, Vicar of St. John's, Rev. J, Maughan, Vicar of Armley Hall. Rev, F, J. Wood, Clerk-in-Orders, Parish Church, Rev, F. G. Hume Smith, Incumbent of Armley, "J Hon. Rev. Thos, Whitby, Vicar of St, Simon's, j' Secretaries. Thos. Harrison, Esq., Wyther, Treasurer. The Bishop of Ripon from the beginning shewed the deepest interest in the Mission. He promised to write a Pastoral Letter, addressed to the people of Leeds, on the subject ; and,, as will be seen hereafter, took a most active part in conducting the work itself. A circular was sent to all the Clergy of the Rural Deanery, asking them to tell the people of their parishes of the forth- coming Mission, and to ask their prayers in private and in THE LEEDS MISSION. 7 their families for its success. It was arranged that simulta- neous sermons on the subject should be preached throughout Leeds on Sunday, June 28th. Monday, Sept. 28th, was set apart as one of Special Prepara- tion on the part of the Clergy. At ID a.m. on that day the Clergy assembled at the Parish Church for Morning Prayer. At II a.m. there was the Administration of the Holy Com- munion and a Sermon by the Bishop of Ripon, from 2 Chron. xxix. 36 : '' And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that •God had prepared the people." His Lordship, after expressing his gladness that a Mission was to take place, and his pleasure at being invited to address his reverend brethren on a subject of such importance and interest, said: "I will speak to you with regard to — *' 1st, The Objects of the Mission; 2ndly, The Means to be employed to secure its Success ; and 3rdly, The Results which we may reasonably anticipate from the Mission. '^ I. The minister's work is partly pastoral, partly missionary; pastoral as regards his congregation, missionary to those out- side who seldom or never come to the house of God, and who are careless as to their eternal interests. One great object of the Mission is to bring the Gospel message to every home and every heart, so that none in the several parishes may be able to say in the Great Day of account, ' No man cared for my soul." Another object of the Mission is to leave the beaten track, and by a special effort to endeavour to arouse the mem- bers of our congregations who are but Christians in name, to rebuke their lethargy, to raise them to a higher spiritual level. *' II. There can be no success to the Mission unless God the Holy Ghost gives spiritual life. In dependence on His promised aid we must — (i) *' Recognise the magnitude of the work to be done. A combined attack is to be made on the empire of Satan. S THE LEEDS MISSION. (2) *' Examine well the state of our own hearts. We who are Christian ministers need greater zeal, humility^ love ; more of the mind of Christ. (3) " Not only amongst the clergy, but amongst the people at large there must be preparation for the Mission.. Sunday school teachers, district visitors, tract dis- tributors, Church workers, should pray for its success^ speak of it to others ; and, when January comes, take part in it. (4) " In the Mission, and in preparation for it, Christ and Christ alone must be exalted. Let there be na divisions, no party feeling, no aim lower than this — to exalt the Redeemer and to bring souls to Christ. *' III. If God gives success, as I trust He will, w^e may anticipate — (i) " A higher standard of spirituality amongst ourselves. (2) " Greater union. (3) '' The conversion of souls. (4) " Larger congregations and growth in zeal and holiness. (5) '' An increase in the number of persons who openly pro- fess Christian discipleship by presenting themselves, for Confirmation. (6) " An increase in the number of Communicants. " These are great results. They have accompanied and Jollowed Special Missions in other towns, and I trust they will do so in Leeds." In the course of the afternoon, addresses were given by the Kev. F. Pigou, Vicar of Doncaster, and the Re\'. Canon Furse^ Principal of Cuddesdon College. Mr. Pigou said that, " In the IVIission the Cross of Christ must be lifted up, and men will assuredly be drawn to it. Opposition must be expected, and even welcomed, as a sign of real work being done for God. All undue excitement must be THE LEEDS MISSION. 9 avoided. It is found that the results of a Mission are most enduring where there has been the least excitement. Much may be hoped for, nothing need be feared, from a Mission." Canon Furse said that, "We could not tell to what class the Mission would prove most useful. Sometimes the greatest ' effects of a Mission are seen not so much in those who are unconverted, as in advancing and deepening the religious life of those already converted. A Mission is not meant as an occasion for pressing our own views on others, or even for strengthening the Established Church, but simply to act on individual souls, and win them to Christ.'' Early in October about 60,000 copies of the Pastoral Address of the Bishop of Ripon to the People of Leeds were circulated throughout the town and read in nearly all the Churches. The Bishop spoke in the Pastoral of the need of a Mission. '' Tens of thousands are living without God in the world. Multitudes around us, with souls to be everlastingly saved or lost, are passing through life in the busy pursuit ol gain or pleasure, but in the utter neglect of God ; of Eternity of Heaven ; of Hell. Many have been ensnared by the artifices of the infidel and the scoffer. A large proportion attend no place of public worship. The Sabbath and Sabbath Ordinances they altogether disregard. Some of our Churches are only half filled. Drunkenness, profane swearing, vice, irreligion, and crime are found in our midst. Many, it is to be feared, who make a profession of religious belief, live far below the standard which their profession demands. These are acknowledged crying evils Special Missions have been tried elsewhere with a marked result for good. Why should not a blessing follow from such a Mission in Leeds .^ I heartily commend this Special Mission to the sympathy and the prayers of all faithful disciples of Christ, who desire that the kingdom of Satan may be weakened and the kingdom of Christ may be strengthened." Devotional meetings of the clergy were held fortnightly in the Antechapel of the Parish Church, and, as the Mission 10 THE LEEDS MISSION. approached, weekly. These meetings lasted an hour, and were conducted by three clergymen, each of whom read a portion of Scripture (with or without short exposition), and prayed, (either extempore or otherwise). Besides these more general gatherings, smaller companies of the clergy, members of various clerical societies, assembled to ask God's blessing on the Mission. Parochial councils, cottage lectures, school meetings for prayer, for practising hymns and tunes, for arranging Christian work, were all set in motion with direct reference to the special effort about to be made. A paper similar to one issued at the London Mission, con- taining hints and suggestions as to the mode of conducting a Mission, was sent to every clergyman in the town. The Committee recommended that the Form of Service and Mission Hymn Book, published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and sanctioned by the Bishop of Ripon, should be adopted, and most of the churches used those books. That great Society kindly made grants, varying in value from £2 to ;^io, of Tracts, Mission Hymn Books, and Services, to the poorer parishes of Leeds. Having decided to hold during the Mission Week a Special Mission to Fallen Women, the Committee invited three London Clergymen, who had had large experience in such work, to confer with them, and much useful information was thus gained. The Bishop of Ripon having expressed his intention to spend the Week in Leeds and to take part in the work of the Mission, it was decided to ask his Lordship to give addresses in the larger mills and w^orkshops of the town, should the opportunities of doing so be afforded. The Bishop most cordially fell in with this request. For weeks before the Mission large placards were posted throughout the borough, one of them simply, '' Leeds Mission, will commence, God Willing, Sunday, Jan. 24, 1875." Another contained the names of all the Churches taking part in the Mission. A third, that appeared on notice boards, on THE LEEDS MISSION. 11 the walls, on and in the tram cars, at Church doors, every- where, read thus : — ! LEEDS MISSION SUNDAY, JAN. 24TH, AND THE FOLLOWING DAYS. What is a Mission ? A Message from God to the Careless and to all anxious about Eternity. '' I have an Errand to Thee." '' The Master is come and calleth for Thee." Think why He wants you. Think why you want Him. I An important feature that marked the Mission from its very commencement, seen, indeed even in the preparation for it, was the interest it excited amongst all classes; the desire that it should be successful was felt by Churchmen •and Nonconformists, the employers and employed, men of work and men of leisure. Leading articles and notices ap- peared in the local newspapers. Party going was largely suspended, arrangements that had been made for social and private gatherings to be held during the Mission time were set aside, tradesmen were requested by means of newspaper advertisem.ents and bills on the walls to close their places of 12 THK LEEDS MISSION. business at 7 p.m. during the week, and bills for the shops taken by the parochial clergy, appeared in the windows for some days before January 24th, '' During the Mission Week this shop will be closed at 7 o'clock every evening except Saturday." Many publicans having expressed the wish that all public liouses might be closed on the two Sundays of the Mission^ letters were sent to the Committees of the Licensed Victuallers' and of the Wine and Beersellers' Associations to ask for their co-operation with the Mission Committee to effect this object. The former replied, wishing the Mission every success, but adding that however willing they might be to promote the objects of the Mission, they had no legal power to act in the matter. The Secretary of the Wine and Beersellers' Association in his answer said, "I beg to state that the Committee will use their utmost endeavours to further your wishes on the two days named, January 24th and 31st, and will give every opportunity to their families and employes to attend the services of the Mission." Large employers of labour were applied to to allow the Bishop to address their workpeople in the mills, and the response was truly wonderful ; indeed the Committee were repeatedly obliged to decline applications made by masters of mills, &c., for the Bishop to address the men. It ought to be recorded, that wherever his Lordship addressed the workpeople, the masters most willingly sacrificed their own convenience and money too, inasmuch as the addresses were given one and all in the masters' time. To stop machinery and pay the wages for the half hour or three-quarters of an hour that the services lasted in workshops, where, as was often the case, between 1000 and 2000 men were employed, some- times at a cost of j^ioo or ;^200, shewed no slight interest in the Mission, and in the spiritual welfare of the workpeople. In one instance the head of an important firm wrote to say that if the Bishop would come, all the machinery throughout THE LEEDS MISSION. 13^ the works should be stopped at any hour of the day or night. That no noise might disturb the service, a large room should be prepared ; if in the evening, gas should be put in where - needed, and bills, hymns, or any other papers provided | at the expense of the firm ; the letter ended by expressing j the hope that the Bishop would remain at the works as long | as he could. Saturday, January 23rd, was set apart for solemn preparation and united prayer on the part of the clergy. This, the day before the commencement of the Mission, was selected to give an opportunity to the Mission preachers ta- take part in the services. A large number of the clergy were present at the Parish Church, where, at 8 a.m., there was the administration of the Holy Communion. At lo. Morning Prayer, and an address by the Rev. G. H. Wilkinson, in the course of which he com- pared the work of the coming week with that set before the little band that issued from the upper room in Jerusalem. If those who were to take part in the Leeds Mission would hope for such mighty results as were accomplished in early days, if they wished to see the whole of the borough laid low before the power of God, they must first believe that God the Father had reconciled the world unto Himself, that He had sent them with a message, and that they were not merely going to pass through certain religious ordinances, but were emphatically commissioned by God to take the message of the Father ta the world. They went to the work of this Mission not as individuals but as one band, strengthened by the prayers oF the whole fellowship of the faithful. In the strength of God the Mission could never end in failure, for God had said that all power was His, and that if they asked in the name of His. Son their prayers would be answered, and the blessed Spirit's presence was covenanted unto them. Therefore, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, would they go forth to this enterprise. 14 THE LEEDS MISSION. At the close of the address, the Rev. Dr. Gott, Vicar of Leeds, read the following letter from the Bishop of Edinburgh. I, Athole Place, Edinburgh, January 20tli, 1875. My Dear Sir, — We have been holding during the past week in our ■churches in this city a mission, which we trust and believe that it has pleased < "24 THK LEEDS MISSION'. bourhood where so many were Roman Catholics, and so many utterly Godless, to attempt to give an address. Later in the week, however, the same gentleman wrote again, requesting that a service might be held in his mill, as he had learned that there w^as great dissatisfaction felt and expressed by his employes that they had had no opportunity like those working in the factories around of hearing an address. Roman Catholics and Protestants were alike anxious for a service. It need scarcely be added, that the service was held, and those present forming a vast crowd, joined heartily in it. Numerous instances might be given in which the workpeople requested the Mission Preacher or Incumbent of a parish to come and address them, the meeting being held in their owit and not in the master's time. As it was found that the large class of men employed by the Railway Companies, porters, guards, &c., chiefly lived in New Wortley and Armley Hall parishes, a service was held speci- ally for these men at the former church in the afternoon of Sunday, January 24th, when the Rev. S. Pennefather preached, and on January 31st, at the latter church, sermon by the Bishop of Ripon ; the churches were crowded, and hundreds of j)ersons were unable to obtain admittance. The hotel serv^ants at the Great Northern and Queen Hotels. ha\'ing expressed the wish to have a service, the Rev. J. H. Moore spent an evening at each of those places, and conducted the services. Post office and telegraph employes were addressed in the Instrument Room at the Post Office, on the second Sunday of the Mission, by the Rev. H. Stewart. About 300 postmen^ sorters of letters, males and females employed in sending and receiving telegraph messages, and boys employed in carrying them out, attended and filled the room. During the meeting the familiar click of the needle was heard at one or other of the instruments, and a clerk quietly left his place to record the tidings. Not unfrequently it was found that the message was. sent from Birmingham and other towns, expressing interest THE LEEDS MISSION. 25 in the meeting for postal and telegraphic officials, which the sender knew was taking place in Leeds at that moment. A special Mission was organised to the unhappy class of fallen women. A house was taken as a temporary home for any who desired to leave their evil courses, and a lady appointed to manage it. Several ladies undertook to go out, two and two, and visit daily the houses in which the women lived, in order to try and turn them from the error of their ways. This truly Christian effort has not been without success. Several have been (in some cases after remaining a few days in the tempo- rary home) sent to permanent refuges. The Mission took the Borough Gaol within the field of its operations. The Rev. A. C. Smith, Middlesborough, con- ducted the work there. It need scarcely be said that a Mission in a prison is a very rare if not an altogether unique event. Daily Special Services were held in the Guardian Asylum, and were conducted by the Rev. J. W. K. Disney, Missioner at St. George's (in which parish the Asylum is situated). Ad- dresses were given in the Working Men's Hall by the Rev. Prebendary Macdonald, also St. George's Missioner. As the Mission Committee were advised by gentlemen (chiefly members of the Society of Friends), who had for years taken a practical interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of cabmen and tram conductors, th^t it would be best to postpone any special work amongst that class until Lent, when fewer cabs would be employed, and the men more free to attend meetings, on February 15th and February i6th, about four hundred cabmen, tram conductors and drivers, and their wives, were entertained at supper in the Friends' Meeting House, Woodhouse Lane. The expense was borne in part by the gentlemen before referred to, and in part by the Mission fund. Addresses were given on the first night by the Rev. S. Adams, Mr. Thomas Harvey, Mr. S. Southall, and the Rev. T. W. Swift, of Everton ; and, on the second, by the Rev. Dr. Gott and the Rev. J. W. Diggle, of Walton. Each day during the Mission week a public meeting for prayer, with addresses by two Missioners, was held from 2.15 26 THE LEEDS MISSION. to 3.0 p.m., in the Hall of the Church Institute, and was largely attended. When not prevented by other engagements the Bishop presided. The following took part in conducting the meetings : — Monday, Jan. 25th Rev. G. Everard, Wolverhampton. Rev. W. T. Storrs, Heckmondwike. Tuesday, Jan. 26th Rev. C. Green, Bishop 'Weai-moutli. Rev. Canon Wilde, Louth. Wednesday, Jan, 27th Rev. J. H. Moore, Whatley. Rev. W. A. Scott, New Seaham. Thursday, Jan. 28th Rev. E. T. Leeke, Cambridge. Rev. T. W. Swift, Everton. Friday, Jan. 29th Rev, F. E. Allen, Chilcombe. Rev. W. Milton, Sheffield, Saturday, Jan. 30th Rev. F. PiGOU, Doncaster. Rev. E. Snowden, Huddersfield. Though not directly connected with, or arranged by, the Mission Committee, any description of the Leeds Mission which omitted reference to the daily meetings conducted by the Rev. W. H. M. H. Aitken, of Everton, Liverpool, Missioner at St. James's, I>eeds, would be most incomplete, both on account of the numbers Avho attended them, and tlie signal blessing that rested upon them. Mr. Aitken gave his heart-stirring appeals, January 25th to 28th, from 12 to I, in the Young Men's Christian Association Hall, and on the 29th, 30th, and Feb. ist, in the Albert Hall ; but hundreds not being able to enter, the Victoria (Town) Hall was taken, and even that building, though it accommo- dated 4,000 persons, proved far too small for the requirements. The Town Hall Services were brought to a conclusion by a Prayer Meeting, held on Saturday night, Feb. 6th. But now, having given some, though necessarily an incom- plete, account of the Origin and History of the Leeds MissicMi, it remains to ask — What has been the Result ? There were long and anxious {^reparations for it ; thought and care and toil were expended ; prayers were offered in family circles, in churches, in school-rooms, iu sick chambers, in private and in public — not only in Leeds, but in distant places. THE LEEDS MISSION. It was known here, that during the Mission Week petitions were publicly offered to God in at least sixty churches in different parts of the world ; in Cornwall and other English counties, in Scotland, in Ireland, in France, in India. Missioners came from busy towns and quiet country parishes ; Church Workers of every rank toiled and prayed ; crowded meetings and crowded churches were seen on every hand ; men who for years had never been within the doors of a House of God, and who at first seemed utterl}^ at a loss what to do when there or how to follow the service, were found night after night listening to the Gospel Message. It has been computed that during the Mission about 40,000 persons were at one and the same time listening to the Word of God. But what is the outcome of the whole ? Has the Mission been like a flash in the pan ; a temporary excitement ; a nine days' wonder ? What is the produce of the vast machinery set in motion 7 With so much sowing of the good seed, is there any fruit .'' To begin with, so manifestly had the Divine presence and blessing been felt during the Mission Week, that the clergy, unknown to each other, announced that in their various churches, a Special Service of Thanksgiving would be held. And there was a universal feeling amongst the Missioners, Parochial Clergy, and Church Workers, that there should be, for themselves specially, a United Service of Praise to God for His goodness to them, and for prospering their work. This last took place on Monday morning, Feb. 1st, in the Parish Church. It consisted of the Administration of the Holy Communion, and Sermon by the Bishop of Ripon, from Rev. i. 5, 6 : *' Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father ; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The Bishop said : " We meet together in this sacred place to offer up our united praises and thanksgiving to God for the blessing which He has been pleased to pour down upon the Mission. I believe very few of us fully anticipated so copious a shower of blessing as that which has been received. God has abundantly answered our 28 THK LEKDS MISSION'. prayers : He has been better to us than our fears. Far be it from me to use the language of exaggeration, but I think on reviewing what has taken place during the last week, I am not mistaken in saying that this large and important community has been deeply stirred. There has been a remarkable unanimity amongst the clergy with respect to this great work. ^Vith very few exceptions the whole body of the clergy of Leeds have thrown themselves into it ; and I learn with the deepest satisfaction, that through all the preparatory work that has been going on for months with respect to it, there has not been one jarring note of discord: all has been harmony;: all have been of one mind. "The Mission has been remarkably characterised by the absence of every kind of excess and of undue excitement. There has been a very kind and generous feeling expressed on behalf of the Mission by all classes of the community. Even those who do not belong to our own Church have, neverthe- less, wished God-speed to the effort ; and, if I am rightly informed, in the chapels of some of our Nonconforming brethren, prayers have been offered that God would pour down His abundant grace upon this great effort to win souls to Christ. Most of the principal firms in Leeds have kindly thrown open their places of work to allow the preaching of the everlasting Gospel to the hands whom they employ. Those opportunities were freely accepted by the men for whose benefit they were intended. Our churches have been crowded with eager and attentive listeners. Many have come inquiring about their souFs salvation. Many have been anxious who were never anxious before about their spiritual state, and can we for a moment doubt that many, through God's grace, have been brought to Jesus, and have found joy and peace in believ- ing, and that a fresh anthem of praise has resounded through the courts of heaven over many a returning sinner brought to God, instrumentally through this Mission ? On the review of the Mission, the first feeling which ought to be uppermost in our minds is oue of profound humility. All the access of a Mission like this is of God, and not of man. It is THE LEEDS MISSION. 20 not man's eloquence, nor man's imagination, nor any gifts. which God may have granted to any to possess, but if there is- any success, as we doubt not there has been, * Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise.' The- next feehng we ought to cherish is one of greater personal devotedness to our blessed Lord and Master. Every one who takes any part in Missions ought to look for an increase of spiritual grace in his own soul. We should also, on reviewing the Mission, cherish a feeling of greater earnestness than ever in seeking the salvation of souls around us. Let us bind our- selves on this, the day of our thanksgiving, that we will with redoubled energy devote ourselves to the work of trying to^ bring poor wandering sinners to the feet of Christ." The service closed most appropriately with singing the Te Deum. It is perhaps premature at this early period to speak much of the results of the Mission. Our judgment is often at fault when we try to estimate the spiritual effect produced by either the ordinary or extraordinary means employed to advance Christ's kingdom. Only at the Great Day shall we know truly and fully what have been the real and abiding results of the Mission, it will then doubtless be seen that some of the good seed scattered so widely during the Mission, and which we in our ignorance hoped and believed fell on the good ground and was destined to bring forth fruit to God's glory, only after all fell on stony places and among thorns ; and it will also be seen that blessings were brought to many of whom in this world the Missioner will ne\'er hear, that the seed which to human appearance had only fallen by the way-side, was yet to bring- forth much fruit. Amongst the results of the Mission may be mentioned the following : — I. Large additions to the congregations in the churches throughout the town. Many persons who have long neglected public worship now esteem it a duty and a privilege to "come into His presence with thanksgiving." The increase in the attendance at church on Good Friday (March 26th), and the 30 THK LEEDS MISSION. more general observance of tliat solemn day were very <.'vident. 2. Many who lived in sin, regardless of the offers of mercy ■or of God's claims upon them, have, so far as man can judge, been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Christianity, which to numbers was nothing more than a name, has become to them a reality. The marks of spiritual life are seen where before there was only a form of godliness. Bible Classes, and Communicants' Classes, have been commenced, or, where they before existed, have received additional members. Memorial cards were printed at the close of the Mission for those who desired to possess them, with these words : — fg ^ e ni axxul rcrti&ijti fr^m €ah 5j«;riit0 tijc Pissinn: in '^tt^B, Mm. 24-ai, 1876. 'B/csx the Lovd^ () my auu!^ and for^rt not a/l His benefits.'" — Ps. 103, z-. 2. THE LEEDS MISSION. 31 Some thousands of persons applied to the clergy for them, and received them. 3. At the Confirmation, held in Leeds a few weeks after the Mission, 2,030 persons, an unusual proportion of whom were adults, in that solemn ordinance declared themselves to be Christ's servants. The increase in the number of candidates will be seen when compared with the average of past years — 1,200 to 1,400 — the number last year was 1,314. 4. A greater desire for and striving after holiness in the people of God, a longing to run the way of God's command- ments. Many who have long professed to love Christ, but have hitherto done little to advance His Kingdom, are now asking the question, " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do .^ " And they are entering various fields of usefulness. District visitors, tract distributors, Sunday School teachers, and other Church workers have vastly increased in numbers as a direct result of the Mission. 5. Greater confidence in God and trust in His promises, and a deeper sense of the power of prayer are felt by Christians generally. Whilst external testimonies to the truth of the written Word are being multiplied by the researches in Moab, in Palestine, in Assyria, the events of the Mission sho\v that the Word of God, mighty in the early days of the Church, has lost none of its power, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, to subdue the rebellious will, to soften the hard heart, that the Gospel is as ever " the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." 6. A more kindly spirit has pervaded the various Christian denominations towards each other. The Leeds Mercury^ of January 25th, stated that on the previous day (the first Sunday of the Mission) ^' In most of the Nonconformist chapels of the town, reference was made to the Mission, and cordial wishes expressed for its success. In some •32 THK LEEDS MISSION. cases sermons bearing upon the movement were preached, and the members of various congregations were advised to attend ^is many as possible of the special ser\'ices during the week." And the counsel was widely followed. The Mercury of February 2nd mentioned the fact that the minister of one of the leading Congregational Chapels in the town preached on the second Sunday of the Mission to a large -congregation, on " The Results of the Mission." Having spoken of the aim of the Mission — to reach all classes — the -preparation in every parish by prayer meetings, tract distribu- tion, &c., the organization of the Mission, the unsectarian tone of the addresses, and, above all, of its spiritual results, he -added that the Mission illustrated his text ('' there shall be showers of blessing"). Like the showers, it was from above; it was copious, impartial, seasonable, refreshing, life-giving in its influences, and quiet in its processes. The following correspondence, which appeared in the Leeds newspapers, will show the good feeling that existed, and was expressed at the close of the Mission betvvxen the clerg}^ and Nonconformists. " THE RECENT MISSION IX LEEDS. " We have been requested to publish the following correspondence : — " The A'icarage, Leeds, Feby. iGth, 1875. " ]My dear ^Ir. Jowitt, " I very gladly send you a copy of a resolution of the Leeds Cha})ter, wliich we ]:)assed in our meeting yesterday. * " It exjiresses both my own feelings and those of the Leeds clergy gene- ralh-; and I shall be glad if you will convey it to those whom it concernks in any way that seems most proper to yourself. *' I am, my dear Mr. Jowitt, )-ours very sincerely, (Signed) '' JoHX GOTT, •' Jdhn Jowitt, Es(i."' "Kural Dean of Leeds. " Resolution passed in the Leeds ChaiJtcr of Clergy."' February, 15th, 1875. That the dccpfclt and hearty thanks of the clergy of the Rural Deanery- of I-ccds be given to tlie ministers, employers of labour, and others in tlic several Xoncorformist bodies of the l;oiough, for their prayers and the s\ni- THE LEEDS MISSION. 33 pathy which they have given to the Church of England during the mission week ; and they pray to God to render them an liundredfold for this their ■Christian feehng. (Signed) John Gott, Rural Dean of Leeds. " My dear Dr. Gott, " Leeds, Feb. 17, 1875. "I am much obliged by your kind note of the i6th inst., inclosing the resolution of the Leeds Chapter, held on the previous day. " Avaihng myself of the permission given, I am sending your letter and the resolution to the newspapers. " Most heartily congratulating you on the great blessing which has attended the Mission — a blessing happily felt by very many outside of the Established Church. " I am, dear Dr. Gott, '* Yours faithfully, "John Jowitt. "The Rev. John Gott, D.D., Rural Dean of Leeds." 7. The Clergy of the town have much to thank God for, as they see and experience the effects of the Mission. A greater spirit of brotherly union has been awakened amongst them. They have witnessed tokens of God's presence in their several Churches : they are encouraged to labour on with greater zeal and hopefulness, knowing that He who has sent, in such rich abundance, the supplies of grace during the past Mission, will not withhold them in their future work. Several of the Clergy, who at first consented to take part in the Mission, did so with some degree of misgiving, hesitation, and doubt as to the usefulness of the contemplated movement. Reports had reached them of extravagances and eccentricities that had marked the proceedings elsewhere, and they feared lest these which, after all, had been but the accidents of some, might be in the nature of all Missions. , Now, however, most assuredly, there is not a single Clergyman who took any part, even the humblest, in the Leeds Mission, but is right thankful to God that he did not stand aloof, but was enabled to take his share in the blessed work, and that he came to the help of the Lord against the mighty ; not one but will now go forth to labour for his Master with greater trust 34 THE LEIODS MISSION. and joy in God, and a deeper sense of his responsibility to, and of the nearness of Him, who is the Chief Shepherd, and who has given him his commission to call sinners to repentance, and to feed the flock of God. On every ground then, as we look back on the solemn time of refreshing from the presence of God, vouchsafed during and since the Mission, Christians generally, Ministers and people alike, w^hatever of difficulty or opposition may betide in the future, have abundant reason to thank God and take courage. LEEDS : Printed at the Office of The Yorkshire Post. ■3 wsgi?**-'.; i^m 'i^mmK^