I WAS born on the 4th of April, 1852, at Manchester, and up to the age of nine, being blessed with a loving mother’s care, never knew the want of anything. On the 16th of April, 1861, all our family were gathered around the deathbed of my mother, and my two brothers and I were brought to her side to receive her last caress and blessing. While there, our mother sang “Jesus, lover of my soul” right through, and then, with her last breath, “Rock of Ages.” When she came to the lines—
“Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling,”
She fell asleep in Jesus, whom she had long loved in life.
At the age of fifteen years, I came into the navy, and was sent to the “Impregnable,” at Plymouth, thence on to the “Ganges,” at Falmouth, for twelve months’ training. When sixteen years old, I was sent to the “Royal Adelaide,” at Plymouth, the receiving ship, and was drafted in August, 1868, to H.M.S. “Galatea,” Captain H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh, in which ship we circumnavigated the world, and were paid off in June, 1871, at Plymouth.
After returning to Sheerness, I was drafted to H.M.S. “Kestrel,” bound for China. But on reaching Aden, I was invalided home with rheumatic fever. After various other voyages to different parts I came into the Coastguards.
My first station was the watch vessel at Hurnford Waters, near Harwich. After being there seven months, I went to Ramsgate, where the great event of my life took place, for there God met and pardoned me for Christ’s sake. There I could see how that my beloved mother’s dying prayers followed me all through life. How often have they come between me and vice, being mercifully answered in saving me from those whose feet led to death. And on how many a time when exposed to danger have her form and prayers, and the Sunday school influences of boyhood’s days, risen up and saved me from many a snare.
But this is how I came to be brought to God. I had got entangled with companions who were daily card playing and drinking, and often cursing, swearing, and blaspheming. Many times we have sat and played Sunday through when off duty. This sort of conduct soon led to my being careless, and eventually I was found fault with by my officer for neglecting duty. He ordered me to do a portion over again, and I refused. For this I was reported for insubordination, and made a prisoner. I was then tried, found guilty, and degraded. My three good conduct badges were lost to me, and the end of it was I was fined fourteen days’ pay, and had thirty days’ confinement.
The punishment only made me worse. The evil one had laid hold on me, and to my shame—for I am keeping nothing back—I swore a fearful oath I would shoot the officer. I kept my revolver loaded, ready if he came to me out on the cliffs at night. But God had not forgotten the mother’s prayers; His Spirit was watching over her erring son, and God in His mercy kept the officer from coming near me.
One day I was sent to the railway station for some papers, and the clerk at Smith and Son’s, Mr. M., a believer in the Lord, heard me swearing to some porters who were sympathizing with me in my trouble. He came over to me, touched me, and, calling me aside, spoke to me about my soul. I was dumb.
Reminding me of my oath, he asked me, “If God had taken you at your word, where would you spend eternity?”
I broke away from him, but the arrow had gone home.
No cards that day. My seat was vacant that night at the Free and Easy. Instead of my old sinful pleasures, I saw myself on the verge of hell.
Unable to bear the misery, I went the next day again to the book stall and saw Mr. M.
He took me to his house, and there conviction of sin began. I became miserable and wretched, feeling myself a lost sinner.
Oh! how I suffered the tortures of the lost! No rest for the conscience. Self-reproach! Misery! Night after night would I fling myself down on the sands and cry for mercy, but the door seemed closed. This distress continued until I went to hear an evangelist who was speaking at the Wesleyan Chapel. His text was: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Ex. 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)). Bless God I saw myself under the blood, and when the preacher asked those who wanted salvation to stand up, I arose and went into the vestry, where they prayed for me.
I thought I was saved that night, but did not obtain settled peace with God until three nights after. Coming out of the chapel, I had a beautiful vision of Heaven and the glorified ones there, and, when I retired to my rest, I heard, as it were, a voice saying, “Only believe, only believe.”
“Yes, Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief,” I said, and sprang out of bed. At that moment I took hold of God by faith, and have had that peace that passeth all understanding ever since. This was in 1882.
The next autumn I was sent to another station, but was only there seven weeks. Having received the knowledge of the forgiveness of my sins, I could not help telling others of what God had done for my soul, the result being that I was reported for preaching the Gospel without permission, and was shifted to Alford Haven and confined to my quarters for three months as punishment.
God’s hand, however, was in this, He had a purpose in view, though unseen by man; for by His grace I have been the humble instrument in His hands of leading many precious souls to the Saviour, who loved them and died to redeem them. My only hope and plea is, that since He has done so much for me, that He will take this life of mine and consecrate it to His service. Time, talents, body, soul, spirit, all would I lay at His feet—only to be nothing that He may be glorified by my life.
I remained at Alford some few years, and then was promoted and sent to another station. My time for pension will expire within a few months, and then I hope by God’s grace to go forth into the harvest field as He may direct.
Per M. V.