A REMARKABLE VISITOR TO NEW ZEALAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1743, 18 January 1888, Page 3

A REMARKABLE VISITOR TO NEW ZEALAND

The following letter from Mr Gordon Forlong appears m the "Wanganui •• Chronicle " of the 14th Inst, :— -Young Colonials may require to be told about George Mu'ler, of Bristol, bnt all who have known England of old and who hare visited the Old Oonntry of late fttaxn hive probably been to his Urge snd extraordinary establishments. Abont forty or fifty years ago he opened a home for poor orphans, and hundreds, indeed thousands, of orphans sinoe that hive been received, edaoated, and provided for In • really miraculous way. It is contrary to Mr MiiUer's principle to ask help or assistance from anyone except God, and he has maintained this principle firmly. He carries oat practically what Protestants do as a rule only preach, viz , that faith m prayer is a reality. He has et the present moment above 2000 children m his orphanages, and he refuses to hold bazaars, old fairs, or any otber paraphernalia whatever m order to colleot money. He has no collectors except bis own two knees, . as he exprea&es tc, acd he asks no man to write for bim, or sttr tip, or colleot from the public. lam not even personally aware wbere be is, and have not seen or heard from him for years, bat the EagUth p»p.._ report th.t he is coming to New Zealand, aod I know many of my fellow-colonises will afterwards regret not seeing nad heading him He is an old man now, over eighty, and yet he travels about preaohing the Word of God, and urging faith m God, but his hearers will find no eft.rta made to get money from them. Nay be will tell any inquirer tbat his supplies this year, even m these years of scarcity, will be quite sufficient, although his Mtabllsbments reqalre about £40,000 a £ear. The " London Times " newspaper M oonfessed m a leading article that the "Clifton orphanages are a marvel," cot only to the orphans m them but to the pabllo. Imagine the order and regularity required ;' imagine the number of attendants ; the accurate Information .ought as to etoh child being actually an orpnt. n — that li indlspentable — the correspondence arising oat of acoarste inquiries as to employers, their characters, etc, before Mr MaUer would allow a single orphan leafing the establishment to be entrusted to othete as an apprentice or assistant. Imagine tbe tremendous responsibility as regards money, time, service, etc., and then look at George Muiler and his quiet sweet plaoid faoe, and yon feel that there is a secret that the maj r_ty of men have n.t found oovat — a secret of faith and confidence Ho issues no appeals to the pablic and applauds aad uplifts no supporter's name — a dry legal looking circular appears m the year to acknowledge under initials (only) the gifts or sums sent to the orphans ; and two legal accountants sign the report. He is very firm ln his tules— the publio on only certain days of the week are allowed .o go to Clifton and see the eetabllsbm.nt.. Some of tbe Royal family onoe arrived on a wrong day, and although every polite apology was made, and although they had oome a great distance, yet George Mullor said he could not break tbe publio rule. I trust he may preach and teaoh m some very large place, as hundreds of Christians will be anxious to see and hear him ; and he ought to be asked to speak to Christians especially, as his experience at ths age of 801s far beyond that of most men. His Bible m h s treasure — my God, he says, !■ note d.ad but a "living God," and like an old patriaroh he trnely lives upon God's love. To preach soundly for 80 years wonld be 1a high commendation, but to lire npon promises and faith for that time and to have thousands of ohildren •very year apparently dependant upon his prayers and faith m God is a standing mlraole m 1888.