Failing health-Service in waiting-Meets with Miss Haddon 1874. First visit to Sidmouth-Difficulties overcome- "Consecration Meetings" in British School, Olney-Visit to Second visit to Leicester for three weeks-Mr. Moody at Exeter Hall-Second visit to Sidmouth-Sidford-Ottery Evangelistic Services at Peckham Rye, Aberystwith, Shrews- bury, &c.-January, 1876, Mission at Northampton, and Third visit to Shrewsbury-Account of the work there- Services at Welshpool-Letter from a resident-Enforced 1879. East Grinstead-The preparation of prayer-Failing health-Need of rest-Fourth visit to Shrewsbury— Short rest-Great Dalby-Increasing weakness-Aberystwith Second attack of paralysis-Last illness-Joy in the Love of Permanent results of Mrs. Bass's teaching-Some causes of her success-Prayer-Dependence on the power of the PREFACE. IT is a great pleasure to me to be thus associated with these "Memorials of Mrs. Bass," whose friendship I enjoyed for some years, even before she came to Leicester and became identified with our Church and work. She was a most valuable fellow-worker, always willing to render help where she was able. One of her last acts was to charge her devoted friend, Miss Haddon, to send me a considerable sum of money (the proceeds of the first edition of "Silent Ministry") for the Building Fund of our new place of worship, "with her dying love." There was a great charm in her personal manners, which were those of a perfect Christian lady. And in her public services, or amid the pressure of a large mission, she would preserve the same quiet and unobtrusive demeanour, which was only broken through when her intense longings for the salvation of her hearers found utterance in persuasive entreaties and appeals. Her sweet voice and her happy aptitude in bringing out the meaning of Scripture types and narratives were of great use in enlisting the interest of her hearers. But the secret of her success was her prayerfulness. She was constantly waiting upon Her Master, looking to Him to indicate her way, to open doors, and to give her power. Sometimes a town would be laid upon her heart, and she would then literally pray "without ceasing," as if pressed down under an intolerable load from which she sought relief. This gave her prayers a reality, which hushed us all into breathless attention when she took part in our weekly or other prayer meetings. It is surely well that such a biography should be published. True, many may say that its subject was not extraordinarily gifted, but that is the very point of interest. In these pages we learn how much could be done by a simple Christian lady, who gave herself up to the call and will of the Lord. And if by her, why not by others? In every branch of the Church there must be many Christian women who might do a similar work. They are not forbidden by family ties (which are equally the Lord's work and must ever rank first); they have leisure, means, ability, and even the call to speak publicly for the King. Why should they not? If they shrink from mixed audiences, let them begin with meetings for women. If they avoid teaching the Church, they may surely address those outside the Church. If they hesitate to enter the pulpit, there are, besides, Cottages, Mission Rooms, and Public Halls, where men and women will gather gladly to hear. All Christian workers of any experience will bear witness to the fact, that the words of an earnest Christian lady will win for our Lord those who had seemed to be beyond the reach of any other voice. It is the cherished hope of many of us, who knew and loved Mrs. Bass, that the publication of these "Memorials" may stimulate not a few to take up the work which she loved so well, and from which, to our dim vision, she was withdrawn all too soon. |