GBBAT WORK AT CHELTENHAM.
Towards the latter end of the 3rd ·month, a great and effectual door for the·Word was opened at Cheltenham, and has been a most joyous circumstance. A series of five lectures were delivered by request in the British School Room. Four different ministers presided. The lectures were well attended, and the Lord's blessing rested on them. They were followed by two discourses in the Town Hall, and one in Cheltenham Chapel, the late Rowland Hill's'. Large crowds attended, as they did one lecture on Mormonism, one on Popery, and one on what Christian Churches ought to be. After the last, about 1200 people were told that they could think over the lecture, which had occupied about two hours and a half in its delivery, until the following night, and then come to the Town Hall and deliver their sentiments, testing the lecture by the Scriptures. Many came, and a few of different denominations spoke. The Town Hall was now taken for Lord's days; and the gospel was preached out of doors in various parts of the town, and in the surrounding villages during the week. I was occupied from morning to night in conversing with the anxious. The first young man, pierced by the word, came into the vestry with a broken heart, accompanied by his brother. He lived with his mother, a widow, whose heart was made glad beyond all expression by his ccnversion. After a few had believed and been baptized, it was a question what was to be done? There was a meeting of Christians in Albion Street: they were met twice, for some hours each time, to ascertain if they would receive all the children of God? It was found that they would not receive from Bethesda (Bristol), or Liverpool, Manchester; Birmingham or anywhere else, if they received the children of God from Bethesda; and it was granted that there were many children of God there; consequently, as the newly converted could not go to Albion Street unless all the Lord's people were admissable, a table was spread at the Town Hall, to which several Christians belonging to different denominations and a few from Albion Street came.Thirty six professed to obtain peace with God through faith in Jesus. But many more were anxious and enquiring. For several days one or more professed faith in the Lord Jesus daily. Employment was furnished from morning to night to converse with those saved, or seeking salvation. The congregations continue large. Many Christians profess to have received much blessing during this revival of the Lord's work. One said, "I have no joy apart from the Lord Jesus;" and at another time, "I seek to be more and more dead to the world." Several hundreds have been reformed; and some who never used to attend any place of worship, now attend regularly. Miserable families have been made unspeakably happy, and great joy has been diffused through the assembly of the Lord's children. Several Mormons have left them at Cheltenham, and a few Infidels have abandoned their infidelity, and embraced the faith of the gospel.
BBLOVED WIFE,
SUFFOLK VILLA, CHELTENHAM,
4 mo. 6th, 1852.
You will be glad to hear that there is as great a movement here as in Dundee when I first went. God has directed me to serve him here, and I cannot move hence for sometime. Hundreds are moved by the truth. The place will hold above 1,000. and many cannot get in. We have ministers asking me to their chapels - the rich and the poor crowding to hear and the former offering to pay all the expenses of the Town Hall. God is indeed blessing poor souls. I should be glad if you were here to enjoy it. The place contains about 40,000 inhabitants, -i nland- full of fashion - as fine as Bath; yet God is using me among rich. and poor; you might have seen them weeping together. One day last week I dined with a magistrate - his wife a dear Christian. I have taken baths there twice. My present purpose is to stay two more Lord's days here, and see what the Lord may do for his own glory. I expect much and am not worthy to be thus honoured.Your loving husband.
From, "The Autobiography or History of John Bowes." pages 507-8.
Probably the Town Hall was the Assembly Rooms, which are now Lloyds Bank.