The Glasgow Convention, just passed, was one of the many seasons of sweet and blessed refreshment with which we are now being favored by our present Lord. It was indeed good to be there. As for myself I could not but continually thank the loving Giver of every good and perfect gift for the love which was so clearly discernible in the brethren gathered there. I suppose that one's impression of the Convention is sure to incline to the writer's mind or feelings, so I perhaps speak more for myself when I say that I thought the brethren seemed to have a quieter and more assured bearing. There was the feeling of work to be done, and that the time for its doing is rapidly shortening. The joy of the Truth is widening out into a realization of the need of witnessing to the many who have not yet heard of the "loving kindness of our God," and that "the time is at hand" for the establishment of the Kingdom. Brother Edgar early reminded us that we are now entering into the last week of the "Gentile Times," and that the probability is there are very few General Conventions for any of us. May we all be [R4096 : page 359] ready for the Great Convention where our Lord and all his faithful will be.
The two thoughts which were chief amongst those introduced by the brethren who addressed the meetings were, as might be expected, "The hope set before us" and "Our privilege of being sharers in the 'ministration of righteousness.'" After a word of welcome from Brother Johnston, representing the Glasgow brethren, and from Brother Hemery, representing the W.T.B.& T. Society, Brother Guard gave us a helpful talk on "The great and precious promises." Later Bro. Hemery spoke about "The disciple's race" (Heb. 12:1), of the difficulties and testings of the way we run in laying hold of the hope. On Sunday Brother Crawford talked on "The hope set before us," and many helpful hints were given. One of the pleasant features of the Convention was an address by Brother Edgar on "A tree planted by the rivers of water." It was a very interesting comparison of the natural growth of a tree and the developments of the Christian in his growth from faith to love (2 Pet. 1:5-8), and the lessons driven [R4097 : page 359] home made it an effective help to growth.
On the Monday 62 brothers and sisters symbolized their consecration by immersion. We rejoice in their faith and hope, and trust that they and all will grow unto the likeness of the Lord. There were other addresses and other meetings intended to help us all to do with our might the work before us. Quite a good number promised to help as much as possible in the Colporteur service, and I believe both that department and the general work have got a stimulus. The farewell meeting was a happy time, even though it was tinged with the sadness of saying good-bye for a time, for there was the possibility of speaking with each one and thus of sharing in our pilgrim fellowship.
Our parting message was a word from Brother Hemery, who used the parable of the sower as the basis of a short exhortation to have the heart ready for this "word of the Kingdom" which is now so abundant, that we may be neither of the wayside class, nor of those who receive the Truth into stony hearts, nor of those who allow thorns to hinder development. We trust we all may be of those whose hearts are of good ground, and who shall give back to the Lord some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, some an hundred. And we parted, thanking the Lord for the privilege of the Convention.
Your letter came a day too late to enable me to make an announcement to the Convention of the proposed dates of your visit next year, but the news has got around pretty well by this time. Before I left Glasgow the brethren there had entered upon a scheme which included colporteuring the city again before your coming in the spring. The brethren in other parts are also preparing themselves—and the people, too—so we are looking forward to a good time. The Lord give you strength for all your many labors.