Aldouran Hall, Leswalt, in the southwest corner of Scotland, though obscure geographically, became well known to many servicemen during the years of World War 2. It was in this quiet village atmosphere that a doughty servant of Christ set out to cater, in some measure at least, for the men who had been so suddenly separated from home life. Their physical comfort was not forgotten; a lounge, or "Rest Room," allowed for relaxation in a homely atmosphere. There was stationery in abundance to encourage the "letter home" habit. Food was found by a multitude of means, but chiefly through the untiring efforts of the man behind the whole scheme. It was not only that he trekked to the surrounding towns and villages to stand in queues with the housewives, but also that he burned the midnight oil after normal canteen hours, to turn out hundreds of pancakes per night; and, during the whole period covered by this goodly work, he made upwards of 600 pounds of jam for the lads.
Had this been the full purpose of his efforts, it would have been a noble work; but there was. something deeper, the effects of which would be more abiding than material things could produce. He was a minister of the gospel, and his great desire was that these men, many of whom have since died in battle, should have the way of life made clear to them, that when danger came, however their bodies fared, they might know assuredly that all was well with their souls. During three years over a hundred thousand men came to this little haven, and heard, before leaving, the message of God's salvation.
One evening, after the little service was over, and when the preacher had finished his kitchen duties, he was preparing to leave, and went into the hall to extinguish the lights. He was surprised to find a young R. A. F. lad still sitting at one of the tables. "Hello!" he said, naming him; "I thought the last of the lads had gone half an hour ago."
"I don't know just how to express myself," was the reply, "but I have reached the stage where I must get things settled; and I have made up my mind not to leave this hall till it is done."
The two sat down together over an open Bible, one seeking the way of life, the other seeking wisdom from God, that the young man might be delivered from his difficulty. His story was gradually unfolded. He had been brought up in a godly home, his father and mother being sincere Christians of the Wesleyan persuasion. He had a brother and they both chafed under the restraint and restrictions of home life, and longed like the prodigal for the supposed freedom of the "far country." The war presented them with their opportunity. When his brother was called up, this lad, against the wishes of his parents, volunteered.
Before they left home their father called them into his room, and presented the gospel to them afresh, and pleaded with them to trust in the Savior. They stubbornly refused and their father, on his knees, commended them to God, beseeching Him for their salvation. Then the day after they left home, their father took to bed and in a fortnight was dead. The doctor said that he had died of grief. This tragedy left them unmoved, and they continued to seek their satisfaction in the pleasures of the world.
After two or three years of service life, this young man was posted to the southwest of Scotland, and made his acquaintance with the "Rest Room," becoming in time a regular attendee. He made it known that night that he had scarcely slept for weeks. He would retire to bed and drowse, only to awaken with a start, the cold sweat breaking out over him. On such occasions he felt that he was "just dropping into hell." Now he was going to have the matter settled once and for all.
Various passages of Scripture were read, as the preacher reasoned with the young man, but to no apparent effect. The enemy of souls does not readily relax his hold. But as the 24th verse of the fifth chapter of John's Gospel was read, and the gripping words repeated—"shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life"—the lad was arrested. "Stop!" he cried. "That's what I need. Read that again."
Again and again the blessed words of Christ were reiterated, and about the midnight hour, the seeking soul "passed from death unto life," never to come into condemnation, through simply believing. "Before I sleep tonight," he said, "I will write to my brother, who is overseas, and tell him what I have done. I will entreat him to follow my example." His farewell words, ere leaving Aldouran Hall for another sphere of service, were these: "I will never forget John 5 and 24."
Let us read again what Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
To you, too, is the word of this salvation sent!