Many hearts are rejoicing because of the God-given blessing in connection with the Mission held at St Matthew’s Church, Rugby, by the well-known missioner, Rev W Haslam, from October 10th to October 20th. Earnest prayer and a longing desire for blessing preceded the Mission. Curiosity and antipathy filled some minds, but God’s hidden ones longingly looked upward, and once more they have proved that “He satisfieth the longing soul,” and that "all things whatsoever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive.*
Mr Haslam met the clergy of the parish and a band of workers on Saturday evening, October 10, and from that hour we felt that God had come in his power among us. The attendance and the interest steadily increased, until on the last Sunday, and the Monday following, the church (seating 1000) the staircases, aisles, passages and communion steps were all crowded, and many were unwillingly turned away, unable to find a seat, or even hearing room.
The greater portion of the large congregations stayed to the after-meetings, and these were felt to be blessed opportunities for dealing with God. The solemn truths, the eternal realities, set before us by the preacher, his earnest pleading not to let Jesus of Nazareth pass without raising the cry, "Jesus, Master, have mercy upon me!" arrested and moved many hearts. Believers knelt in humble confession and self-surrender, and as the question was gently asked, “Who will take salvation tonight?” “Who will give their heart to God tonight?" many voices (and we believe more hearts) responded ", I will," "I will."
At the afternoon Bible-readings, we were instructed in the Christian life. Three praise and Prayer meetings have been held since the MIssion ended, and very earnestly do we look to God to continue his great work, binding us all, cheered and strengthened Christians and happy new-born souls, in close, living union with our loving, living, Saviour, and in holy fellowship with one another, filling us with Christlike love for those yet unsaved among and around us.
From, “The Christian,” November 5th, 1891.