Preaching Tours, 1875–1892 (part 2 of 3)
On May 3rd we left Athens for Brindisi, and went from thence to Rome. In the latter city we arrived on May 8th, and stayed till the 19th. In Rome I preached twelve times. With reference to the work of God in Rome, it seems to have increased considerably, and the liberty which Missionaries have is almost as great in every way as can be desired.
On our way back to England we also visited Florence for a short time, where I had laboured twice before, three years ago. There I had five very happy, precious meetings. This closed my eighth preaching tour.
In looking back on my service during this eighth long preaching tour, I have abundant reason to be grateful to the Lord for the honour He, has bestowed upon me, in allowing me thus to labour for Him, and I have also reason to believe that my labours have been owned by Him.
NINTH TOUR—GERMANY, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, BOHEMIA, RUSSIA, AND POLAND
August 8th, 1882, to June 1st, 1883
Last year was full of a variety of difficulties and trials in connection with this Institution; and, in particular, with respect to funds. Clinging to the Lord and His Word was the only thing to sustain us. This, by His grace, and only by His grace, we were able to do; and thus it was, that we were not overpowered by the trial of faith. We considered that, not in displeasure—far less in anger and for the purpose of confounding us—but only for the trial of our faith and patience, and that we might learn the lesson which our Heavenly Father meant to teach us, we were thus dealt with. Further help from Him was confidently expected, and brighter days, even regarding means; and during the past year it has been seen that we did not trust in the Lord in vain.
A few Christian friends, who wished well to the Institution, desired me to discontinue my long missionary tours, as it appeared to them that that was the especial reason why the income had fallen off. I did not think so, however, because year after year, for several months at a time, the Scriptural Knowledge Institution had been left during my absence, under the godly and able direction of Mr. Wright, assisted by a staff of very efficient helpers; and whenever I returned to Bristol, I found that each branch of the Institution was in as good working order as if I had been on the spot during the whole year myself, which, for the first forty-one years after the founding of it, was the case. This fact, therefore, was looked upon by me as God's approval of my continuing to go on, spending the evening of my life in preaching Christ in other cities and countries also, and of my seeking to help on individual Christians or assemblies of them, with the experience and knowledge He had been pleased to give me, during more than half a century that I have known Him.
I considered, further, that Mr. Wright had the opportunity of availing himself of my judgment in difficult cases, should he need it, as I generally hear once every week from him, if not more frequently; and I knew that God—on whom I wait continually in these matters—would have me go on with my missionary tours, because I could help by prayer and counsel when at a distance as well as if in Bristol. And, lastly, I never considered it necessary that I should be at home in order that we might be supplied with means; for the third year, after I had commenced my missionary tours, we had a larger income for the various departments than we had ever had during the previous forty-four years. I had, therefore, for these reasons, to leave unnoticed, apparently, the loving advice of a few donors, to remain in Bristol, on account of the falling off of the funds; and had practically to show, what I had repeatedly stated before in the Reports, that real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances.
On August 8th, after much prayer, I set out again, accompanied by my dear wife, on my ninth great missionary tour; and the result has proved—in a way that only in the day of Christ will be fully made manifest—that I was especially helped by God and used, particularly in Russia and in Russian Poland.
The first place at which I preached was Weymouth, where I spoke in public four times. From Weymouth we went, by way of Calais and Brussels, to Düsseldorf on the Rhine.
From Düsseldorf we went to Neu Kirchen, and then to Mülheim an der Ruhr, where I addressed assemblies of from 1,600 to 1,800 three times, very many of whom are truly godly persons.
From Mülheim we went to Wiesbaden, where I preached eight, times. One of these meetings was especially for Christian workers. After we had left Wiesbaden we went to Mannheim, where I preached four times. Heidelberg was our next place. I preached there five times in the church in which I preached repeatedly six years before.
Our next place for service was Munich, the capital of the kingdom of Bavaria. After I had preached several times at Munich, we went to Vienna, where, notwithstanding difficulties on account of the want of religious liberty in Austria, I had the joy of being able to preach thirteen times, both in halls and at churches, and a few times also in English, at the Presbyterian Church; for up to this time all my preaching on the Continent had been in German. As it had been at Munich, so it was also at Vienna. Through the highest ecclesiastical functionaries of the evangelical churches in the empire, who knew about my life and labours, I obtained openings for service. If an extra service is to be held at Vienna, in any church or hall, notice of this must be given three days beforehand to the police; otherwise the meeting is not allowed. Are Christians in England and elsewhere truly grateful for the religious liberty they enjoy; and are they praying that it may be continued to them?
[From Vienna Mr. Müller sent a letter to the children in the Orphan Houses to thank them for the birthday presents they had given him. The original letter, in his own handwriting, has been kept. It is as follows]:—
Vienna, October 13th, 1882.
Beloved Children,
"I have received your letters, and now write to thank you for the good wishes and congratulations for my birthday, which they contain. I am also much obliged for your kind presents in money, and gladly accept them as contributions towards our travelling expenses for these long missionary journeys, which we take.
"Mrs. Müller joins me also in thanking the dear girls of No. 2 for the knitted counterpane they made for us, which, though we have not yet seen it, we shall, no doubt, admire, and find very useful.
"We have heard that you greatly enjoyed the holidays, which you had for a week at the end of September, including the 27th of that month; and I take this opportunity of telling you all, that you are indebted solely to Mrs. Müller for them, as it was at her particular request, that I consented to allow you to have those few days, in addition to your holidays at other times in the year.
"Vienna, where we are now, as many of you know, is the capital of the Empire of Austria. Almost all the people in this Empire, with the exception of a very small number comparatively, are Roman Catholics. In this large city, containing more than twelve hundred thousand inhabitants, there is only one single Sunday School. Sunday Schools are not allowed in this country; and this only one, which exists, is held in an English chapel. How thankful, beloved children, should you be, that you are entirely in a different position. You can continually hear of the way of salvation, which is not the case in this country. No one is allowed to circulate Tracts; if anyone does so, he has either to pay a heavy fine, or is put in prison.
"From here we purpose to go into Hungary, God willing, where things are not better.
"Now I give to those of you who love our Lord Jesus, a subject for prayer. It is more than sixty-four years, since I was at Kroppenstaedt, where I was born; and more than forty-one years since I was at Heimersleben, where I was brought up. In neither of these two small towns had I ever an opportunity to preach; and it is especially laid on my heart to do so. Next month, if the Lord permit, I purpose to carry out my intention, and I desire that you would entreat God to bless this my service in particular, as in both places there are not ten Christians altogether.
"Mrs. Müller and I write in love to you all, dear boys and girls.
Your fatherly friend,
"GEORGE MÜLLER."
My labours in the Word, in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia, had hitherto been in seventeen different countries; but now, having entered Austria, we were in the eighteenth country, and entered afterwards into the nineteenth by going to Pesth, the capital of Hungary. Though Pesth, as well as Vienna and Munich, is full of Popery, and the Protestants are a very small proportion only; yet in Hungary there was somewhat more liberty than at Vienna. While at Pesth, I preached nine times.
After we had left Pesth, we went to Prague, Bohemia. Here, too, there is very little religious liberty; yet the Lord allowed me even there the joy of labouring for Him in Word and doctrine. I preached six times at Prague, four times to English-speaking congregations, and twice with Bohemian translation.
Our next place of service was Dresden, the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, where I preached three times; and then wept to Leipsic, where I preached four times, and addressed about 200 students of the University, with some of their professors.
After this I had the great joy and precious privilege of preaching the gospel twice at Kroppenstaedt, the little town where I was born, which I had not seen for about sixty-four years. Here I held meetings in the largest Hall to be had (as the Parish Church was under repair, and could not be used), and was greatly aided in this service by an excellent Christian minister of the place. The result of these two meetings was precious. They will bear fruit to the praise of God; and I rejoice at having been permitted in my seventy-eighth year to bear witness there also for the Lord.
After having left Berlin, we went to Dantzic, where I obtained permission from the commandant of this large fortified town, to preach in the Garrison Church, and did so several times; I preached also three times at the Church of the Moravian brethren, and once at the Baptist Chapel. All the meetings were well attended. In this city I found two aged Christian brethren, who fifty-six years ago were my Christian University friends at Halle. Both of them had been more than fifty years ministers at Dantzic, and had celebrated their jubilee as pastors of churches. I had very happy intercourse with them.
Our next visit was to Königsberg, on our way to St. Petersburg. Here I preached twice at a large hall, three times at the Church of the Moravian brethren, and three times at Tragheimer Church, an exceedingly large building, where I had 3,000 hearers. Every seat was occupied and a number of persons had to stand. The gospel is faithfully preached in this church by two excellent Christian ministers, who treated me with great affection. Here, as everywhere, blessing, I doubt not, was the result of my labours.
On December 29th, after leaving this city, we began our journey into Russia; and in thirty hours, on the evening of December 30th, arrived at St. Petersburg, where we were met at the station by Colonel Paschkoff, one of the most active Christians in the whole vast empire, and Princess Lieven, who both welcomed us affectionately. The latter invited us most kindly to her house; but as we rarely accept invitations to stay with friends, because I require as much rest and time to myself as possible, we declined the proposal, and went to an hotel, where we remained two nights. Finding, however, that the Princess greatly desired we should be her guests, and that she would have been much disappointed if we had continued to refuse her kind offer of hospitality, on January 1st, 1883, we went to her mansion, and were most kindly entertained there, for upwards of eleven weeks.
On Sunday, December 31st, I preached twice at the British and American Chapel, in English, and, during our stay with the Princess, was able not only to labour for the Lord in the way I am accustomed to do at all the places that we visit, but had frequent intercourse also with persons of high rank, whom I sought to benefit spiritually. This was unsought for on my part; but the Lord opened deeply important service for me in this manner, which, I doubt not, will be found in the day of Christ to have been helpful not only to those dear Christians amongst whom I more particularly laboured, publicly and privately; but also, through them, to many others in the vast empire. During our stay at St. Petersburg I preached many times in German at the Reformed Church, and at the Moravian Church; and at the British- American Chapel in English; held many large drawing-room meetings, had meetings for Christian workers; preached to the Swedes, etc. In all I was occupied at 112 services or meetings, either in preaching or more particularly in teaching, and gave addresses also at the breaking of bread on the morning of the Lord's day. So precious was all this work, and so manifestly owned of God, that I could only admire Him for allowing me to labour as I was allowed to do. Again and again our Christian friends at St. Petersburg told me, that God knew their need, and that just at the right time He sent me to them. The pastors of the Reformed Church, of the Moravian Church, and of the English Chapel, showed me great kindness: and I had open doors for service given to me by them.
Summoned before the Director of Police
Christians who seek to labour for the Lord in Russia do so under particular difficulties, as there is very little real religious liberty in that country. I mention this, in order that the children of God may give themselves to prayer, and ask the Lord graciously to open that vast empire for the spread of the truth more fully. When we arrived at St. Petersburg, I could only preach in English, because the British- American Chapel has no connection with the State. After about twelve days, however, through application by friends to the Minister of the Interior, I obtained permission to preach at the German Churches in St. Petersburg, and also to the Swedes—with translation —in the British Chapel. The written document from the Minister of the Interior was in Russ, which neither I nor the friends who handed it to me understood, so they only told me that the desired permission had been granted. Very soon, however, after I had begun to hold meetings in a large drawing-room at Col. Paschkoff's house (one of them with translation into Russ), I was ordered to appear before the Director of the Police in St. Petersburg, and told that I had gone beyond my permission.
After this, the meetings at Col. Paschkoff's house had to be given up. This dear brother in the Lord is followed everywhere. From his own country house near Moscow he was banished, because he expounded the Scriptures to the poor. He held meetings in his own house at St. Petersburg, which were attended habitually by from 1,000 to 1,300 persons. These were stopped, and at present he is not allowed to have more than twenty persons at his meetings. He was banished from St. Petersburg also, as well as from Moscow; and during our visit, when reading the Scriptures one day in Russ, with seven poor Russians, a policeman entered the room, broke up the meeting, and ordered the poor people to leave the house. This was done to a Christian lady also, who was in the habit of reading the Scriptures to a few Russian peasants. Pray, pray, dear Christian readers, for Russia, that God, in the riches of His grace, may give real religious liberty in that country.
After our departure from St. Petersburg, we left for Warsaw, the capital of Russian Poland, where I held six meetings only, and then we went to the neighbourhood of Pruszkow. Here I preached once, at the hall of an Orphan Institution, and from there we proceeded to Lodz, the second largest city in Russian Poland, which is full of manufactories. My service began on a Wednesday evening at halfpast eight o'clock; but though this hour seemed unfavourable, I found the chapel at which I preached crowded to the utmost, and about 150 persons had to stand during the whole of the service. Altogether there were about 1,200 persons present. On Thursday and Friday evenings it was the same. On Saturday it was necessary to give opportunity for the chapel to be cleaned, and there was no meeting. On Sunday twice the place was again crowded as before, and so it was on Monday evening. By this time I had heard from the pastor, from a Christian colporteur, and from others, that almost the whole town seemed moved by my preaching, and that it was the topic of conversation at many of the manufactories of the city, at the public houses, and in families generally. I was told also, that on the previous evening, a number of "freethinkers," as they are called, viz., sceptics or infidels, had been at the meeting, and left, melted to tears. The next morning I received a note in German, of which the following is a translation: "I, and almost the whole population of this town, in the name of the Lord Jesus, entreat that you will have the kindness to remain with us until after next Sunday. In the name of many thousands, I thank you for your ministry." The crowds who came at first continued to attend all the meetings, and at the twelfth service the number of persons present was as large as it was at the beginning; that it to say there were about 1,200, as many as could possibly be accommodated. There is good reason to believe that the Spirit of God worked mightily amongst them. We should gladly have stayed longer, but other work obliged me to leave Lodz. On our way to England I preached once more at Dresden; and in London and the neighbourhood eleven times, before going to Bristol, where we arrived on June 1st.
TENTH TOUR—INDIA
From September 26th, 1883, to June 5th, 1884
Soon after my conversion in November, 1825, it was my desire to go to the East Indies as a Missionary; but us my father would not give his consent to this, no Missionary Society in Germany could receive me. After this, within the first eight years after my conversion, I offered myself four times most solemnly and prayerfully to the Lord for the same service; but the more I prayed the more manifest it was, that I should remain in England, and not go to India, because He had other work for me to do. But now, in the seventy-ninth year of my life, after fifty years had passed away since I last offered myself to the Lord for missionary work in India, He allowed me to carry out my desire, and to add to all my other missionary tours in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia, during the last nine years, the joy of going to India also. My especial object in going to that distant land was to encourage the beloved missionary brethren and sisters who labour under a burning sun, and to strengthen their hands in God.
Before setting out for India, I accepted an invitation to attend the Perth and Dundee Conferences in September, 1883, where I spoke in public many times.
On September 26th, 1883, my dear wife and myself left Gravesend in the steamship Siam. In our feeble measure we sought to witness for the Lord on board. I preached three times, taking turns with a Presbyterian minister. On reaching Colombo, a Christian gentleman came to meet and take us on shore, where we found his carriage waiting to convey us to the house of Mr. Ferguson, because the steamer was going to anchor for about twenty eight hours at Colombo. In the afternoon we visited a Mission School, where I addressed thirty native girls; and in the evening there was a meeting at Mr. Ferguson's house, to which between forty and fifty Christian gentlemen and ladies had been invited. Among these there were about thirty missionary brethren and sisters, whom I addressed for an hour, particularly with reference to their service. These Missionaries were of various denominations. It was a very happy, profitable meeting, and our friends greatly regretted that we could not remain longer. On October 30th, 1883, we landed at Madras, where Mr. Frederick Bowden met and conducted us to the house of the Messrs. Franck, who, with their sisters, received and entertained us during the whole of our stay, and showed us the utmost kindness. While in Madras, I preached twenty-six times, held two meetings for educated natives, two for Christian workers, and had one meeting especially for Missionaries, at which I spoke to about forty missionary brethren and sisters. One of the meetings for educated natives was attended by 400 young men, many of whom were lawyers; they listened with marked attention.
After having been three weeks in Madras, we left for Bangalore, and when there stayed at the house of Colonel Wraughton. At Bangalore I preached eight times during our nine days' visit, held one meeting for educated natives, and spoke to many missionary brethren and sisters, gathered at the house of one of their number. On November 30th we left Bangalore for Colar (a native town of 10,000 inhabitants), to visit Miss Anstey's Orphan Institution, where, during our stay of thirty hours, I spoke three times to 350 native boys, girls, young men, and young women, with their many helpers and teachers. We were greatly interested in this work, which commenced during the dreadful famine of 1877, when hundreds of poor, starving children were taken up and cared for.
From Colar we proceeded to Coimbatore, and after I had preached twice there to Europeans and Eurasians, and once to educated natives, we went on to Coonoor, on the Nilgiri Hills, where, during a stay of thirteen days, we were most kindly entertained by our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stanes. Whilst there, I held fifteen meetings.
After leaving Coonoor we spent four days at Ootacamund, where I conducted five services. Whilst on the Nilgiri Hills (7,700 feet above the level of the sea), for two days and a half we were constantly in the clouds.
From "The Hills" we returned to Madras, in order to go by steamer to Calcutta; and when on board the Teheran I preached twice during our voyage.
On our arrival at Calcutta we were met by Mr. Souttar, who very kindly took us to his house, and, with Mrs. Souttar, did all that Christian kindness could do to make us comfortable. While staying in Calcutta, the capital of the vast empire of India, which in appearance resembles some of the largest and finest capitals of Europe, I preached nineteen times; once out of doors in Wellington Square I addressed a company of natives; spoke to a religious native devotee in one of the streets, who was surrounded by many Hindus; addressed educated natives twice in two of the large colleges, preached once to natives with translation into Hindustani, addressed a meeting of sixty Missionaries, held a second meeting for seventy Pastors and Missionaries, spoke to seventy-eight ladies connected with Zenana Missions, and attended the breaking of bread at the Gospel Hall. Many Episcopalian clergymen, as well as ministers of the various denominations, were present at the meetings, and took part in them. This was also the case at Madras, Coonoor, and Ootacamund.
From Calcutta we went to Darjeeling, on the Himalayas, about 8,000 feet above the level of the sea, where I preached five times during our stay of six days, and conversed a good deal with various Christians. The cold was severe, and was felt by us all the more after experiencing the heat of the Red Sea, and of Madras. On the fifth day of our stay at Darjeeling the sky was clear enough for us to see the highest mountain range in the world, which is perpetually covered with snow. The amazing grandeur and magnificence of this mountain range will never be erased from the mind of any God-fearing person who his seen it.
From Darjeeling we went back to Calcutta, and then started for Bankipore (Patna), where we stayed at a Mission House; but here I only expounded the Scriptures twice, and conversed about the things of God, without preaching publicly, as no arrangements had been made for public meetings. From Bankipore we went to Dinapore, where I had four very happy services, which were attended by many soldiers as well as others, because Dinapore is a military station.
His Spirit stirred by Idolatry at Benares
From Dinapore we went to Benares, having accepted a most affectionate invitation from Dr. and Mrs. Hewlett, of the London Missionary Society, to stay at their house, accompanied by an earnest request that I would preach at Benares. Of all the places we had seen up to this time, none showed to us the awful character of idolatry, and especially of Hindu idolatry, as Benares did. Benares is to the two hundred millions of Hindus of India, what Rome is to the Papists. It is the chief sacred city of the Hindus. In this one city, containing about 200,000 inhabitants, there are 1,550 idol temples and 250 mosques; the latter being Mohammedan places of worship. Its sacred wells and tanks, the bathing-places on the left bank of the Ganges, and especially the many hundreds of schools of Hindu literature and philosophy, in which 25,000 pundits teach, give to Benares great renown; and millions of deluded pilgrims, in order to insure salvation, go to this city, at least once in their lives. We visited one of these seats of Sanskrit philosophy, and found 450 young men, besides older persons, chiefly Brahmins, eagerly engaged in studying under their famous pundits. There are also about five hundred Mohammedan Schools in Benares, which is eminently the city of learning for the natives of India.
Whilst there we saw thousands of poor deluded Hindus bathing in the Ganges, before they entered their idol temples. Three dead human bodies too were floating down the Ganges; they had been thrown in by persons not sufficiently well off to incur the expense of burning their dead. On these bodies crows were perched feeding upon their flesh. A second time we saw two other dead bodies in the Ganges, in a different part of the river; likewise two corpses carried to the river's side to be burnt. At other times large piles of burning wood were visible in the distance, consuming the bodies of the dead. The impression produced on our minds by all we witnessed of the utter blindness and delusion of these poor idolaters, was one of lively gratitude to God for what He has done for us in the gift of His only begotten Son, and filled us with compassion for these poor deluded souls, such as we had never felt before. Christians, cry mightily to God for India!
At Benares I preached three times, addressed 150 educated natives also, and spoke to fifty-one missionary brethren and sisters.
From Benares we went to Allahabad, and stayed there six days, during which time I held seven meetings, and expounded the Scriptures eight times to twelve ladies connected with Zenana Missions.
From Allahabad we went on to Lucknow, where I preached five times, expounded the Scriptures five times also to a number of Zenana teachers, and addressed 100 native girls.
From Lucknow we went to Cawnpore, where I preached four times, gave addresses at two educational establishments, and had a meeting with eighty Christian workers, many missionary brethren and sisters being among them, whom I addressed on their service for the Lord.
On March 15th we left Cawnpore for Agra, and stayed there five days. At Agra I preached eight times, and held one meeting for Missionaries and Christian workers.
From Agra we went on March 20th to Lahore, in the Punjab, and stayed for ten days at Government House, having been kindly invited by Sir Charles Aitchison (Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab) to visit him. Whilst at Lahore, I preached seven times, held a meeting for seventy Christian workers and Missionaries, and had a meeting also for 500 educated natives.
Our stay at Lahore was both pleasant and profitable. I found that Sir Charles Aitchison (like myself) had studied at the University of Halle in Prussia, and that he knew well some of my oldest and dearest German Christian friends, which in a peculiar manner endeared this Christian gentleman to my heart.
After leaving Lahore, our next resting-place was Delhi, where we arrived at 3 p.m. on April 1st. Whilst ordering a carriage to drive us to an hotel, a letter was handed to my dear wife, inviting us to take up our abode at Ludlow Castle, the residence of the Commissioner, where Mr. and Mrs. Tremlet did all they possibly could to make our stay agreeable. At Delhi I preached once to a company of soldiers at the fort, and had a private meeting with four Cambridge Missionaries during the three days that we remained.
Having left Delhi at 3.20 p.m. on April 4th, we arrived at Ajmere on the 5th at noon, and went by invitation to the house of Dr. Husband, a Scotch Medical Missionary, residing there. During the three days we were at Ajmere, I preached twice.
On April 8th we left for Mhow (Central India), having been invited by General Sir Robert Phayre (a well-known Christian gentleman) to rest at his house, and break our long journey to Bombay. At Mhow I held six meetings, and we had most pleasant intercourse with the General and his son, Captain Phayre, both very decided Christians. On April 14th, at 11.45 p.m., we left for Poona, arrived there on the 16th at 3 p.m., and went to the Mission House, where Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, Missionaries of the Free Church of Scotland, reside, who had kindly invited us to be their guests. During the five days we stayed at Poona, I preached rive times. At 11 p.m. on April 21st we left Poona, and arrived at Bombay, our last station in India, on the 22nd, at 7 a.m. Hero again Christian love had provided for us a pleasant resting-place at the house of Captain and Mrs. Hutchinson, with whom we stayed till May 2nd, the day of our embarkation in the Indus for England. Whilst at Bombay I preached six times, held two meetings besides for Missionaries and other Christian workers, and addressed 150 educated natives also. On board the Indus I preached once, and spoke also at a reading meeting. During the whole of this long Indian missionary tour, though about two months were taken up by the voyage and journey to and fro, and though the excessive heat obliged me to consider my health occasionally, yet I was enabled to preach altogether 206 times.
In looking back on this long missionary tour of twenty-one thousand miles, I praise God for having given me the great honour, in my seventy-ninth year, of not only in a little measure labouring myself in the vast country of India amongst the heathen, but also of strengthening in God the hands of my dear missionary brethren and sisters, as well as those of other Christian workers. This latter service I always keep particularly before me in all my missionary tours. For all that God has allowed me to accomplish on this my tenth great missionary tour, I praise and adore and magnify Him.
ELEVENTH TOUR—ENGLAND AND WALES
From August 18th to October 2nd, 1884
On August 18th, 1884, we went from Bristol to Leominster, and afterwards visited Hereford, Tenby, Manorbier, Begelly, Saundersfoot, Coldinn, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Nayland or New Milford, Pembroke Dock, and Pembroke; and, after I had held meetings at these places, on October 2nd, 1884, we returned to Bristol.
TWELFTH TOUR—ENGLAND
From May 16th to July 1st, 1885
On May 16th, 1885, we left Bristol and went to Wellington in Shropshire, where I held nine meetings altogether. We fully intended to go on to Dublin, and afterwards to visit Belfast and Londonderry in the North of Ireland, in order that I might conduct services in those cities also; but, having become very unwell through a violent cold I caught whilst preaching at Wellington, I was strongly advised to visit the Isle of Wight, in order to rest there, instead of labouring for the Lord in Ireland. On June the 10th, therefore, we went to Ryde, stayed there until the 17th, and then went to Sandown, where we remained until July the 1st, when, through the Lord's kindness, and the careful nursing of my beloved wife, having become quite well again, we returned to Bristol.
THIRTEENTH TOUR—ENGLAND
From September 1st to October 3rd, 1885
On September 1st, 1885, we left Bristol, went to Windermore, and afterwards visited Ambleside, Dundee, and Liverpool, returning at the close of my service for the Lord to Bristol, where we arrived on October the 3rd, after a short tour only.
FOURTEENTH TOUR
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE STRAITS OF MALACCA
From November 4th, 1885, to June 13th, 1887
On November 4th, 1885, Mrs. Müller and I left Bristol, embarking on board the steamship Germanic we crossed the Atlantic, and landed at New York on the 28th of November, after rather a rough voyage. When my service for the Lord at New York had terminated, we started on December 19th for San Francisco in California, and, travelling across the whole continent of North America for six days and nights in succession, on the morning of Christmas Day we reached San Francisco.
On December 31st we sailed for Sydney, New South Wales, landed early on the morning of January 7th, 1886, at Honolulu, in Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, took a drive to Pali, and setting off again on our voyage across the Pacific in the evening, we disembarked at Sydney on January the 23rd. At Sydney I laboured in the ministry of the Word until March the 3rd. Before our departure we visited Botany, five miles from Sydney, and on the 3rd went by railway in full view of the "Blue Mountains" to Bathurst, where I held five meetings. After leaving Bathurst we returned to Sydney; on March the 11th we started by railway in the afternoon, and travelling all night, arrived the next day at Melbourne, where, in the course of our stay, I held twenty-six meetings at the various churches, chapels, halls, etc., in the city. These meetings included three services in the Theatre Royal, where each time I addressed 3,000 persons, and a meeting at the great Town Hall, where I preached to a congregation of 5,000. After leaving Melbourne, on April the 28th, we visited five towns in the Colony of Victoria, at each of which places I held several meetings, and then returned to Melbourne, where I conducted three more services. From Melbourne we sailed to Sydney, where I laboured for the Lord, during this second visit, until July the 14th. On that day we left Sydney, and, landing at Brisbane in Queensland, on the 16th, we remained there until August the 10th. At Brisbane I held seventeen meetings altogether, at the various places of worship in the city.
On August the 10th we sailed from Brisbane; and after calling at Rockhampton, and five other towns on the east coast of Australia, landed at Java, and went by railway to Batavia, the capital of that island. There, in consequence of the mixed character of the population, which consisted chiefly of Dutch, Malays, Hindus, and Chinese, and because a good interpreter could not be found, I was unable to hold any meetings. On the morning of September the 1st, rising soon after three o'clock, we sailed for Singapore, where we arrived on September 3rd. The next day we continued our voyage, stopping at Saigon in Cochin China on our way; and on September the 12th landed at Hongkong, where we remained until the 30th of that month.
When my service for the Lord at Hongkong had come to an end, we went by steamer to Shanghai, where I preached many times, and afterwards sailed on board a Chinese river steamer for 650 miles up the Yang-tsi to Hankow, where, after calling at Wu-Hu and Kiu- Kiang (two towns on the banks of the river), we landed at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 29th. At Hankow, at Nankin, the ancient capital of China, and at Chinkiang, I held fifteen meetings altogether, some of which were in English, and others in English with interpretation into the Chinese language. On November the 8th we returned by steamer to Shanghai, where I conducted two more services.
On the 13th we sailed for Japan, landing at Nagasaki on the 15th. In the course of our stay in Japan, after leaving Nagasaki, we visited Yokohama, Tokyo (the capital of the Empire), Kobe, Osaka, and Kioto, at each of which places I held numbers of meetings, most of them being in English with translation into the Japanese language by Messrs. Ishimoto Sanjiuro and Kajinosuke Ibuka, who acted as my interpreters. At Tokyo, a large hall called the Koseikwan, the Shinsakae Church, and other places of worship, were generally crowded, when I preached, with most attentive hearers.
On January 7th, 1887, we returned to Kobe, and embarking on the 10th, sailed via Nagasaki for Hongkong, where we landed on the 16th; but during this, our second visit to Hongkong, having a cold, and desiring to obtain rest, I did not hold any meetings. On February the 1st we sailed from Hongkong, and landed at Singapore, Straits of Malacca, on the 6th, where, in the course of our stay, I had the privilege of holding eleven meetings. On February the 21st, we left Singapore, and, after calling at Penang on the 23rd, disembarked at Colombo, in Ceylon, on the 28th, whence we proceeded by railway to Kandy, seventy-three miles from Colombo, but in consequence of our short stay there, I had no opportunity of holding meetings. On March the 1st we rose at four o'clock, returned to Colombo, and embarking, sailed for Marseilles, where we landed on March the 26th, after an exceedingly rough voyage along the Mediterranean. On April 4th we proceeded to Nice, and remaining there until June the 4th, I preached many times in English at the Scotch Church, and conducted two services in German also in the same building. On the 4th of June we left Nice, and reached the Orphan Houses on June 13th, after a tour of 37,280 miles.
FIFTEENTH TOUR
AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, NEW ZEALAND, CEYLON, AND INDIA
August 10th, 1887, to March 11th, 1890
On August 12th, 1887, we sailed for Australia, and arrived at Albany, King George's Sound, on the west coast of Australia, on September 18th. At Albany we remained until the middle of the day, and then sailed for Glenelg, where we arrived on September 21st. On the 22nd, we went on shore in a steam launch, after a voyage of eleven thousand one hundred and eighty-three miles from London, in the course of which I had opportunities of preaching Lord's day after Lord's day in the saloon to the passengers and officers on board, and had the services well attended.
After landing at Glenelg, on September 22nd, we went on immediately by railway to Adelaide. On Sunday, September 25th, I commenced my labours in Adelaide, by preaching at Zion Chapel in the morning, and at the Presbyterian Church in the evening, to large congregations. Besides conducting services at Adelaide, I preached also in fifteen other towns, preaching generally six and sometimes seven times every week to crowded audiences.
On December 1st, we left Adelaide by railway, went to Mount Gambier, 305 miles from Adelaide; and rising at four o'clock on the morning of December 7th, went by an early train to Narracoorte, and visited Border Town afterwards, at each of which three towns I preached repeatedly. I preached altogether in South Australia above seventy times.
On the evening of December 9th we left Border Town, and travelling all night by an express train, arrived at Melbourne on the morning of the 10th. On the 13th we sailed from Melbourne, and landed at Hobart, in Tasmania, on the evening of the 15th.
At Hobart, New Town, Perth, and Launceston, I preached twentyfive times, generally to large congregations.
On the afternoon of January 12th, 1888, we sailed for New Zealand, and arrived at Invercargill Bluff on the 15th. At Invercargill and neighbouring places I held a great number of meetings, and at Dunedin I preached twice at the Garrison Hall to about 2,800 persons each time. On the afternoon of February 23rd we sailed for Wellington. There I preached on two Sunday evenings at the Opera House to immense audiences, besides conducting a large number of other services in that city. After preaching in several places in that district we went by sea to Auckland. We were there more than ten weeks, and at Sydney, in New South Wales, above eighteen weeks.
Then we went to Ceylon, staying more than three weeks; and in Calcutta above fifteen weeks. Thence we went to Darjeeling, on the Himalayan Mountains, as I laboured on at Calcutta until the thermometer was about 110 degrees in the shade, and the heat was so excessive, that we could not endure it any longer. [On the journey to Darjeeling Mr. Müller was so overcome by the heat that Mrs. Müller quite thought he would have died in the train.]
During some of our tours, we have for many weeks together been exposed to cold from 50 to 56 degrees below freezing point; and at other times to heat from 90 to 110 degrees and upwards, discomforts which must have been experienced in order to know the full force of them. Then, on the sea, again and again, very heavy gales, and even a typhoon, have overtaken us, when the trials thus occasioned were severe. On the land we have had to travel, on a stretch, not merely for twenty or thirty hours uninterruptedly, but more than once we have been on the railway six days and six nights in succession. Though, on the whole, we have had excellent accommodation during our long journeys, yet sometimes we have been obliged to put up with the most trying and inferior kind. Twice, though in the best cabins, on board large, first class steam-ships, we have been exceedingly tried by insects; in the United States, in New South Wales, in Ceylon, and in India, the mosquitos were most grievous; and in two first class steam-ships, rats so abounded that they ran over us by night. Yet hitherto God has helped us, and, we doubt not, will help us to the end.