MAN OF FAITH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1940, Page 3

MAN OF FAITH

PHILANTHROPY IN ENGLAND. His faith was sublime. All his life was founded on complete and implicit trust in God. George Muller was his name. Though a German by birth, he was identified for over 60 years with philanthropy in England. In 1830 he was pastor at Teignmouth for £55 a year, and towards the close of the year he began the work which made him the wonder of all who knew him. He declared that trust in God was sufficient for all the plan of life. He began by abolishing pew-rents in his church, refusing even the £55 which was his regular stipend, and declared he would never ask for a penny as long as he lived. All he would do was to place a box near the church door, and believe that God would fill it. His faith was justified in an amazing way. He handled vast sums of money though he was never worth a penny. Moving on to Bristol, he began his great scheme for orphanages. He built five big houses for a family of 2,000 unfortunate little folk. He needed £30.000 a year to feed and clothe them, but he never lost a night's sleep.wondering how he was going to raise it. The money always came. He travelled up and down England and America and Australia and China, always poor, yet always rich. He is said Ho have raised over £1.500.000. to have educated 120,000 children, and supported 300 missionaries.

He never once made a direct appeal for funds. When he was 70 he began a 17 years' tour at home and abroad. He circulated 255,000 Bibles, and nearly as many smaller portions of Scripture. Ho preached the gospel in every continent. He lived by faith, and died at 93 in 1898.