A life of service

Prefatory Note

These letters to a friend who asked some directions about Church work, appeared some years ago in a religious paper, and are reprinted by request. S. M.

Dedicated

TO

MRS. TELFAIR HODGSON,

OF

Skwanee, Tenn.,

who gives to us a daily illustration

of \ life of consecrated

SERVICE.

S. M.

Care,

Gratitude,

PAGE

193 203

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23*

258 268 278 287 297

Woman's Woek in the Chuech.

Letter I Motives

"In a service which Thy will appoints

There are no bonds for me; For my inmost heart is taught the Truth

That makes Thy children free;

And a life of self-renouncing love

Is a life of liberty."

A. L. Waring.

Y Deae L : I have not been unmindful of my promise to give you some thoughts and directions about Church work, but I have been thus tardy in its fulfilment because there has been so much that is good and true written upon the subject, that I can only repeat the substance of what wiser people have said before.

There is nothing new under the sun. "'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done" to the end of time. I am particularly reminded of these words of Solomon just now, because on referring to some pages I had ready for you, I found that St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and Fenelon have given substantially the same directions. So we will go back further even than these old worthies, to the Sacred Book from which, studied under the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit, they had their wonderful wisdom.

First, then, as to the motive that should impel you to a more thorough consecration of yourself to the service of God: " Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus;" because "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us." Keep this continually in mind, and let the thought of the hymn we learned in childhood be the abiding spirit of your life:

"In ail his daily duties

He diligent must be, And say, whate'er I do, O Lord, I do it unto Thee."

Acting thus from the highest motives, you will have a calmness and elevation of thought and mind that will lift you above many of the little annoyances that will constantly beset you. Let no pressure, then, of occupation crowd from your mind the thought that God's glory is your ruling motive. Make the words of the invocation in the Office for the Holy Communion the constant expression of your heart: "And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice unto Thee.*'

To come up to the full stature of the perfect man in Christ Jesus, we must love as He loved — always, everywhere and everybody. Wherever a human heart beats there is sin, and, therefore,, suffering. To teach the guilty one the penalty and the remedy for his sin and to comfort the suffering, is the Christian's high duty, and the limit to it is simply the capacity God has given us.

Study your own nature and see if you do not put this limit too low. Let each of us ask ourselves the question: "What am I doing for the Master?*' Am I using every power in His service, and can it be said of me as of the penitent woman in the Gospel, who bathed His sacred feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head, "Her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much?"

If love, then, be the ruling principle of our lives, we will live in daily and hourly dependence upon God, the source of all love, asking every morning in childlike simplicity, "Lord what wouldst Thou have me do this day?" Accept every little incident, accident, interruption, vexation and duty as coming from a Father's hand and believe that even though we mourn over

"A thousand failures, what are these In the sight of the One All Perfect, Who, whether man fails in work or succeeds, Builds surely, solemn'y up from our broken days and deeds The infinite purpose of Time."

But, you may say, the necessity of my daily life leaves me little leisure for what is distinctively called "Church work." The most successful workers in a womanly sphere I have ever seen have been busy wives and mothers, who cared for their large families, managed small incomes to meet great demands, and yet always bad a heart to love and a hand to help God's poor.

Ours is a day of boundless activity: the whole Christian world is up and doing, and all over this fair land of ours there are centres of work whose influence is felt to its remotest borders. Wise men are perfecting plans and systematising efforts whose spasmodic character in the past has interfered with their success.

Perhaps a large town offers the best field to observe the faithful laborer at his post. In a great city the attractions of outside objects are so numerous that it is hard to see. amid the whirl of modern life, where time can be found and the quietness of spirit attained that is needed.

Yet. doubtless the very effort demanded to resist these attractions strengthens the character and makes the work more efficient, if in the parish to which you belong the clergy live in daily remembrance of their ordination vows and "search for the sick, poor and impotent people." and teach the flock committed to their care with all diligence to do the same.

Under the guidance of a faithful rector you will soon have such a field of duty assigned to you as will fill the portion of time you decide you can devote to outside work. If you have grown up under the eye of your rector, he will probably know even better than you do yourself, for what department of service you are most fitted. Some have unusual gifts for teaching — a gentleness, patience, enthusiasm and tact that are brought out most fully in the Sunday and parish schools.

For a visitor among the poor, after a deep love and reverence for humanity, under all the forms that sorrow and suffering may stamp upon it, the qualities most requisite are sound common sense, cheerfulness, courage and perseverance. Good judgment, in many cases, is a natural gift, but it may be cultivated and acquired by constant observation and attention to the lessons taught by experience.

You will daily feel the need of this, and remember that its Source is ever open to you. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights." "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given unto him." Incorporate in your daily prayer a special one like the Collect for Whitsun Day: "Grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgment in all things."

Be always and everywhere a learner; think carefully in each case of failure where you might have done better, and, finding the cause avoid it in future. Observe the daily conduct of the most successful people you meet, and see why they succeed where so many fail. In the business world certain qualities are essential to prosperity, and success is the reward of the judicious, earnest, untiring and faithful seeker, — not the chance prize of the fortunate. Many cannot prosper because from ignorance, indolence, carelessness in details, want of judgment, or honesty; they do not deserve to do so.

If you are naturally of an excitable temperament, study by habitual discipline to control it. One of the most effectual methods of doing this is to exercise rigid supervision over your speech. Be very careful of your facts in making any statement, and, above all, never impute wrong motives to others.

To obey the Scriptural injunction and "pray without ceasing," we must live always in a spirit of prayer, so that everything will direct our hearts to Him who heareth prayer. When you are tempted to evil speaking, or to rash or angry words, ask God to help you, and the heart-felt petition will restore your self-control.

If your motive is pure, you will avoid many occasions in which the seeker after human praise or earthly reward will meet only disappointment and chagrin.

LETTEE II.

SYSTEM.

"Our many deeds, the thoughts that we have thought.

They go out from us thronging every hour, And in them all is folded up a power

That on the earth will move them to and fro; And mighty are the marvels they have wrought

In hearts they know not, and may never know."

F. W. Faber.

^EXT to the motives that impel us to the -£jL Master's service, and the spirit in which we work, the most important thing is the order and regularity that should characterize our efforts. Undoubtedly there is much good done in a scrambling, uncertain fashion, because impulsive people have a dash about them that carries them over many obstacles.

When these impulses are purified by the grace of God they are very effectual, for genuine feeling is always influential, and earnestness is a mighty power. But when it submits meekly to rules, and humbly lays aside wilfulness at the foot of the cross, this influence and power is increased tenfold.

"Order is Heaven's first law" was the motto in an old fashioned school room some of us well remember; and looking back to the presiding spirit of those bright days, we have a happy instance of chastened impetuosity and restrained vehemence of character, that aroused our enthusiastic affection; and even now the recollection animates us to imitation. It is well to recall such friends; and when they have passed up higher into other chambers of our Father's "many mansions," and find rest where labour never wearies, let us recount their virtues, and find comfort and patience from their blessed example.

You kindly tell me, dear L , to be as

"discursive" as I please; and as I only hope to suggest to you, from perhaps a larger experience rules that have seemed to me essential to success in any branch of Church work, I think it is well to recall memories of this faithful labourer in the vineyard of the Lord, who has just laid her earthly armor by. Circumstances prevented me from placing a funeral wreath upon her grave, but I thought of the saying of Jean Paul: "The fairest funeral wreath we can offer upon the cold tomb of the departed is to imitate their good deeds.** The battle of life is such a fierce struggle to some ardent natures, and their eagerness to rush into the conflict often seems to send them there

"With their forces all unmarshaled. With their weapons all undrawn,"

aud cooler, quieter natures find victory where they seem to meet only ignominious defeat.

Such was our dear old friend and teacher when, in the first flush of youthful courage, she heeded not the many and heavy burdens that Providence early laid upon her, but began her life-long war against the world, the flesh and the devil. In many and sore trials, in seemingly crushing defeats, her constant reliance upon the tender mercy that watched over the battle never failed, for she had that highest triumph of faith—

'The instinct that can tell That God is on the field when He Is most invisible."

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him," was the language of her heart and lips. Habitual self -discipline and the sweetness of Christ's love diffused over her heart and life, at last brought outward calmness and a deep inward peace, which was that "which passeth all understanding." This enabled her to be "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed. 1 '

It is well to learn the happy secret of such a life, the source of such a marvellous strength made perfect in weakness. It was simply a life "Hid with Christ in God" and the never failing spring of love, joy and guidance which flows from the Rock of Ages when touched by the rod of prayer. "And we also bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear; beseeching Thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we maybe partakers of Thy heavenly Kingdom. "

"Pray without ceasing," because in this way alone w r e can supply our weakness from Christ's strength, our ignorance from His wisdom, and our blindness from His light. Not to be always on our knees to the neglect of pressing duties, not to have books of devotion always in our hands, but to have the spirit of prayer always in our hearts, and "casting down imaginations in every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

When this is done, all our lives will be moulded and guided by the power of prayer and the Apostolic iDrecept obeyed. Next to prayer, system seems to be most essential to success in any undertaking. Order your whole conduct by strict rules; anticipate emergencies and provide beforehand for every duty. A towering intellect, a mighty genius may perhaps dispense with such discipline, though history proves that when they do. mental, physical or spiritual wreck is often the consequence. But persons of ordinary minds and usual education find untold help from a systematic preparation for the chances and changes of this mortal life.

Study the works of the best of men and see the rules that guided them, and form from them directions for self-government. Particularly

ZZ A LIFE OF SERVICE.

would I recommend those wonderful books of A\Kempis, "The Imitation of Christ" and "The SouPs Soliloquy/ 1 Read them constantly, but do not be discouraged because their standard seems to you impossibly high. Follow the direction of St. Francis de Sales where he says: "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them; every day begin the task anew. The best method for attaining to Christian perfection is to be aware that you have not reached it, and never be weary of recommencing. For, in the first place, how can you patiently bear your brother's burden if you will not bear your own?"

Fill your mind with such thoughts, and they will come to you in times of trial like an. angel's voice and throw light on many a darkened way. Sensitive people with strong feelings know how difficult it is to restrain expressions when unusually moved to indignation, and how much harm is done by vehemence even when the emotion is a right one. Think, in such a case, of this rule of de Sales: "Be always as mild as you # can: a spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrel of vinegar." If you must fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists vigor and yields to softness. A mild word quenches anger as water quenches the rage of the fire, and by benignity any soil may be rendered fruitful. "Truth, uttered with courtesy, is heaping coals of fire on the head, or rather, throwing roses in the face."

Examine yourself daily as to whether you have failed in obedience to your self-chosen rules, as well as in the directions given by those in authority over you. Failure in the latter will often bring disorder into many well arranged plans, but the former may be known only to yourself and your God. Yet the result of disobedience will be none the less positive upon your own spiritual growth, as well as your general efficiency. "Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all. but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." To do this, every direction of St. Paul to the Christian athlete must be strictly observed. To be "temperate in all things." "to keep under my body and bring it into subjection/' "f orgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before,'" Redeeming the time,*' and "putting on the whole armour of God.*"

Remember always, the spirit in which we work is far more important than the work itself, and good actions are often of little service to the doer or the recipient because marred by self-seeking egotism and boastfulness. "Except ye be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.** The simplicity, the purity of childhood, must come back to world-worn hearts before they can be faithful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord.

I recollect being greatly startled at the declaration of an aged clergyman, in conversing of a church that had recently been consecrated in a rural neighbourhood. It was the gift of one person, and of fair proportions, and costly material. It stood on the hill top, beautiful for situation, and at evening its sweet chime of bells rang out pleasantly on the still air. Beneath the Chancel window w r as the inscription, "To the

Glory of God and in pious memory of E. B.*' My old friend objected to this, saying, "Angels work to the glory of God. but men never." I asked what then he supposed the ruling motive in the builder of this church.

He answered that "men's motives were always so mixed that it was difficult to say which predominated: the love of human praise, to increase the value of neighbouring property, to elevate the condition of the people about, and give the blessing of the Church's ministrations to a community where they were unknown.*" This was in days when I thought years only should speak and age meant always wisdom, but I know now that there are thousands of humble Christians every where, who have heeded the injunction.

"O learn to scorn the praise of men! learn to lose with God,"

and who are quietly, prayerfully, and in ways almost unknown of men. living to the glory of God.

And to the credit of the age be it said, that there are men in high position and of great wealth, who say with Gregory Nazianzen: "If I have any possessions, health, credit, learning, this is all the contentment I have of them, that I have somewhat I may despise for Christ, who is totas desiderabilis, et totum desiderabile" (the all desirable one, the everything desirable ). But the vehemence of my old friend made a strong impression and taught me the great watchfulness required to keep our hearts simple and our motives pure. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven/' Jeremy Taylor says that we who pray thus "must remember that the angels do whatsoever is commanded them, and go wherever they are sent, and refuse no circumstances, and if their employment be crossed by a higher decree, they sit down in peace and rejoice in the event.'*

Letter III. Prayer

Prayer blots out sins, repels temptations, quenches persecutions, comforts the desponding, blesses the high minded, guides the wan lerers, calms the billows, feeds the poor, directs the rich, raises the fallen, holds up the falling, preserves them that stand.

Tertullian.

0XE of the first rules for a religious life must be the observance of set times for private devotion, and to obtain the leisure for this it will be necessary for you to become an early riser. If your health is even tolerably good, you will find no difficulty in forming a habit of this kind, and you will be astonished to discover how much order and regularity it will enable you to introduce into your life. One hour before breakfast. in the quiet and cool of the early morning given to prayer and devotional reading, will leave its impress upon the rest of the day. and give you strength for the duties and temptations it will bring you.

If you have access to many books, you will find in the early Fathers of the Church, and in some of the old English divines, an unfailingtreasury of devotion. Make from them a manuscript book of prayers, and copy into it any petition that seems to express your soul's particular needs.

Bishop Andrewes' and Jeremy Taylor's works are full of devout thoughts, and Fenelon, Pascal and Massillon will give you many themes for devotional musing. Human hearts are the same in all ages and have the same hopes and fears, the same desires and temptations, and you will find in the quaint expressions and forcible language of these old writers a perpetual freshness that rivets the attention and touches the heart.

If your actions and duties are mainly controlled by others, you will generally be able to secure leisure for your devotions by this early rising, when you cannot in any other way, for most people have to take up the thread of life immediately after the morning meal is over, and

PBAYEB. 29

need the calmness and strength they have found in prayer, at once.

If it is your happy lot to live in a parish where Daily Morning and Evening Prayer is said, try and arrange your business to attend as often as possible. If your family is large, at least send one representative to each service. One of the pleasantest signs of the times is the largely increased attendance in parishes where this has been a rule for many years, and steady growth in the spiritual life is noticeable among those who avail themselves of this means of grace.

But it requires much carefulness in the management of duties to give the leisure for this, and you must make no one the sufferer by your absence from home. In Advent and Lent, you will find large families in constant attendance upon Daily Prayer, without interfering with those systematic arrangements which conduce so much to the peace and happiness of daily life.

If you are so unfortunate as to live in an irreligious atmosphere, you will find every step in your path of duty requires the utmost circumspection. Obey the injunction of one of the early Fathers, and "strive to live so that our

Master may be remembered when you are seen," but avoid all unnecessary speech about your personal Christian duty. Above all, make no parade of elaborate plans of what you intend to do and sacrifice.

"Ever on earth men block out Babels to build Babylons," but it is none the less unpleasant to have unkindly eyes watching to see how soon these much-talked of purposes will be forgotten, or altogether fail. Form your plans with deliberation, but say very little about them, save to those whose consent and advice is essential to their fulfilment. Beware of open asceticism and withdrawing yourself wholly from the pleasures and amusements of others. You will find many little ways of denying yourself and exercising strict self-discipline without attracting attention. If you are obliged to live among people who are openly opposed to religion, you must be constantly watchful lest you imbibe something of their spirit, or allow their opinions to influence you unduly.

You have doubtless been shocked to hear expressions that seemed to you profane from the lips of ladies whom you know to be refined and

PRAYER. 3]

religious. I have heard them quote the opinions of members of their families about Christian peoj3le and speak of the lives of the Saints of old. the Bible and the Church, in a manner that is truly painful to devout minds. Exclamations that verge on impiety, too. are heard in such families. "Goodness. Gracious!" ; 'Good Father!'* and other forms of mentioning the Deity carelessly, come within the scope of the Third Commandment, and are not only unrefined, but profane.

The only possible excuse for this is that many women have the unreflecting habit of repeating what they hear, scarcely conscious how gross and offensive the sentiments of their irreligious friends are. from being accustomed to their expression. One witty man, with no fear of God before his eyes to restrain him from aiming his arrows at sacred themes, will sometimes affect a whole community, and his influence will penetrate to circles, from which he himself would be excluded, by the repetitions and comments of admiring relatives.

The quaintness to modern ears of many old Saxon words used in the Bible, makes it perilously easy to point jests from them. Avoid this most scrupulously, for by repeating such things you deepen the impression they make on your mind, or perhaps fasten a ridiculous association with sacred words in a youthful memory, from which you can never erase it.

Few enemies more effectually disturb our peace than such unhallowed jests. They will, by the ready devices of the great enemy of souls, recur to our thoughts in our most holy moments, and our hours of prayer and devout meditations will often be marred by the efforts we are obliged to make for their banishment. If your sense of the humorous is strong, you must particularly beware of the society and works of those who indulge in such a pernicious habit.

If it is impossible for you to avoid their company, try and close your ears to their conversation, do not touch their books, and above all, never draw attention to their profane wit' or repeat it to others.

The early Christians were accustomed to observe, beside the morning and evening, three particular hours of the day for devotion, and many persons find comfort in still recalling them by prayer. The third hour, or nine o'clock in

PKAYEE. 33

the morning, at which time the Holy Ghost came down, the sixth, or noon, when our Blessed Lord was crucified, and the ninth, or three in the aftenoon, when —

"The strife Long and sharp was ended,

Gently to His Father's hands, He His soul commended."

David said: "In the evening and morning and at noonday I will pray and that instantly, and He shall hear my voice." and "Seven times a day do I praise Thee, because of Thy righteous judgments. " Such was his holy zeal and fervor that he wrote, "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word,'' and "at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee." Surely we will find help and consola tion in imitating his example. When the clock strikes, repeat some short petition, as — ; *Be with me now and at the hour of my death," and recall some promise or admonition from Holy Writ for your comfort and guidance. In this way your life will be guarded and your conversation moulded by prayer.

Accustom yourself to observing the holy seasons appointed by the Church in private as well as in public, and dwell much upon the central facts whose truths are taught particularly there. As I write, it is the Epiphany season, and the humanity of our Blessed Lord is set forth; each w T eek a new manifestation being brought from the holy gospel for our learning.

The leading of a star led the wise men from the East to w- orship the , new T -born King, and falling in their wisdom humbly at His feet, they offered gold for His royalty, frankincense for His priesthood, and myrrh for His humanity. See that you follow T their example, and give always of your best to the Lord; bring an offering whenever you go to worship at His feet, and remember His fellow feeling for those who w T ith Him drink of "the bitter myrrh of grief."

At this time, too, learn from the example of the holy Simeon and the devout Anna, who "departed not from the Temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day," "waiting for the consolation of Israel," how the faithful performance of daily duty is rewarded. The Lord whom they sought, came suddenly to His temple, and their aged eyes saw 7 His salvation — "a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of

PRAYER. 35

Thy people Israel." And now the Holy Church throughout all the world sings of Simeon's gladness in the Xioic Dim litis, and many share it when after years of faithful service and patient waiting- the Lord grants them the desire of their hearts, and they are ready to "depart in peace."

Each season and festival appointed by the Church will bring you its own lesson, and it is well to learn it humbly and endeavor to practice it at once. Teach your scholars in the Sunday and parish schools, and all young people who come under your influence, to mark the appointed days, and endeavor to make each of them recognize their beauty and importance.

But beware of thinking that because you observe them it gives you any claims to superior sanctity: rather consider it a blessed privilege God has given you in placing yon where you can do so. and pray that this same blessing may be given to others. Let the very fact of your possessing it make you humble. "He that regardeth the day. regardeth it unto the Lord.*' and this should make you very careful not to judge those who "regard it not." Faber says:

"The Church, the Sacraments, the Faith,

Their uphill journey take; Lose here, what there they gain, and if

We lean upon them break."

Many things are wonderful helps to a life of holiness, but in using them we must not forget the old Father who wrote seventeen hundred years ago — "Lean upon Christ; He will not withdraw to let you fall.**