Small Churches In England

1899

There are many churches that attract attention by their size and grandeur. There are a few that are remarkable by reason of their smallness and simplicity. It is believed that the smallest church in England, says a writer in the Quiver, is the midget church at Lullington, in Sussex.

It is a primitive and quaint building of flint, with stone quoins; it has a roof of red tiles, and a tiny weather-boarded turret at its west end. This miniature church is only sixteen feet square. Its pulpit is a pew, with panelled sides and door, and the furniture is of the plainest. Five narrow, diamond-paned windows give light to the interior. When this tiny church is full, thirty people are gathered together, quite as many as the little village can supply.

Only a little larger is the quaint meeting-house at Crawshawbooth, a village near Burnley. It is known as the Friends' Meeting-House, and is covered with ivy and surrounded by a well-cared-for burial-ground. Inside may be seen half a dozen oak benches that could, if necessary, accommodate sixty people. The attendance is rarely more than six. John Bright once walked twelve miles, from Rochdale, to be present at a service in this meeting-house.

Somewhat smaller than this chapel, however, is one that has been called the shrine of Quakerism. It is in the hamlet of Jordans, in Buckinghamshire. Hither in June of every year come Quakers from all parts, for here lie the remains of the great Quaker, William Penn.

If this were not enough to make the place interesting, it has the further attraction of being the neighborhood in which Milton lived after writing "Paradise Lost," a cottage in the vicinity affording him a resting-place. — Youth's Companion.

A Second Sight

1899

A story is told of Dorothea Dix, who forty years ago did good work in the prisons and jails of this country. She became interested in one woman condemned to serve out a sentence of ten years. and tried in vain to reach and touch her heart. She remained stolid and immovable, unaffected by either kindness or reproof.

One day Miss Dix saw her eyes lighten when she entered her cell; they were fixed on a little spray of rose-geranium leaves which the good Quakeress had pinned on her breast. Miss Dix gave it to her. The woman broke into an eager laugh.

The next time the visitor came she brought a wooden tray full of earth, which she placed in the window of the cell, and a half dozen slips of flowers. Two years later she wrote to a friend:

"C. is a human being. I found the key. I think I can help her."

The old Scotch believed that certain persons were gifted with a second sight, which enabled them to read in each person's face their future. The sight which enabled this helper of mankind to see the possibilities of good in others was a keen spiritual perception that had been fostered and strengthened by her charity and patience in dealing with the degenerate souls for whom she gave her life. — Youth's Companion.

Friends Church: "You Need Baptism of The Holy Ghost"

Ohio, 1916

Increased Attendance at Friends Church Revival

Large crowds attended the revival services at the Friends Church, Sunday. Last night it was necessary to throw open the Sunday School room. Seven persons presented their names for membership.

In his sermon in the morning the pastor spoke on the need of "Divine Equipment for Service." In part he said: God not only wants to save men from sin, but prepare them for service. It is not enough to have your sin pardoned, but you need the baptism of the Holy Ghost to give you power to do. This is the crying need of the church to-day. In the days of Finney, Edwards and the Wesleys it is claimed less than fifteen per cent of the converts backslid. In our day less than this number stand and all because we do not preach a full gospel.

In the evening his subject was "God's Estimate of the Value of a Soul." He said that no soul has ever gone so low but what Jesus goes beneath that one to lift him up. It is an abomination in the sight of Heaven for church people to talk about trash. All men are human beings, and have a soul and the soul of a poor harlot or drunkard is as precious in the eyes of Jesus Christ as that of the President or a King. When you hear a person talk about trash you may rest assured that that person is dirtier than the "trash" they talk about. The mission of Jesus is to put all men on an equality. Blind Bartimaeus had to be lifted up, while the self-righteous Zacchaeus had to come down, and the two met on the same platform.

Meetings to night at 7:30. Special prayer and inquiry meeting at 6:30. Special music at every service.


Resignation

Rev. Hugh Willard Hanna tendered his resignation as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Kenton, "for the sake of peace and harmony." His resignation caused general surprise as he was called to the pastorate in June, 1914, from Freeport, Pa.

—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1916.

She Goes to Church Alone

1902

Quakeress at Woodstown, N. J., Worships in Solitude to Keep Possession of Building

The little orthodox Friends' meeting-house at Woodstown, N. J., has only one surviving worshiper, Miss Priscilla Lippincott, an old woman, who, twice a week, carefully arrayed in the garb of that sect, goes alone to the building and frequently sits an hour on "First day" in the cushioned pew which she has occupied for 50 years.

Sometimes she sits in silence; at others, when the spirit moves, she speaks, with the long since emptied benches as her only earthly audience. The orthodox Quakers, once so numerous, built the meeting-house, but all save Miss Lippincott have died, joined other meetings, or united with the Hicksites. If Miss Lippincott should fail to hold services in the little meeting-house it would revert to the heirs of the original owner of the land, but so long as services continue to be held there it cannot be disturbed, and, therefore, she never fails to be at the door, with the big brass key, at the hour for service on "First" and "Fifth" days.