JOSHUA AND MARY POOLE
For the last eight weeks these two true friends of the masses have been labouring in the Old Welsh Chapel, in Beaufort-street, night after night drawing large numbers of the very lowest of the low to hear the gospel preached, and especially on the night when Joshaa put on the old coat, the place was rammed from top to bottom, the very aisles being crowded with people straining to catch every word spoken. Truly it may be said that " the gospel has been preached to the poor."
Their past experience is a power and a gospel that low, sunken, fallen humanity understands.
A gentleman said to Joshua, "How do you manage to reach this class of people, and get them to listen as they do?" He replied, "I use extraordinary means to reach an extraordinary class of people; and when they do not know the Word of God, I give them a homely address and enter into their daily lives. Then I lay hold of them."
One man, a convert, said at the experience-meeting, that he left his home with murder in his heart, and in his wanderings found himself in the chapel listening to "Fiddler Joss and his wife." He gave himself to Jesus, and now he was a happy man.
Another man was going to drown himself, not having anyone to care for him; but he saw light in the chapel and walked in, heard the simple gospel, found peace in Jesus, and went away rejoicing, with a determination once more, by God's help, to be a man.
A poor Irishwoman came into one of the meetings. She had only an old skirt on, and someone had lent her an old shawl to cover herself with. She signed the pledge and then walked into the vestry. Joshua went, and, putting his hand upon her shoulder, he said, "Mother, don't you know you are a woman?" She burst into a flood of tears, and said, "I once was, and have been the mother of thirteen children." To see that poor creature weeping, and leaning against Mrs Poole, thanking her for speaking a kind word to her, was a sight not soon to be forgotten.
But we might multiply similar cases to these without end.
A most remarkable feature in this work is, that men and their wives have been converted together; and even whole families, one after another, have given their hearts to God.
Nearly 250 persons have given in their name as converted through Mr and Mrs Poole's instrumentality, whilst more than 700 persons have signed what Joshna calls "the 'do thyself no harm' pledge." But the full extent of the work done can only be known at the last day.
Their work in this town finished on Monday, December 1. We much regret to have to wind up this notice with a very poor account of these dear workers' health. They look much knocked up with their hard labours, having preached almost every night in the week; but next Sunday, they commence work again at the Orphan Home Mission Hall, Graeme-street, Glasgow.
The prayers of all Christians are earnestly desired, that God will give them health and strength to go on with their labours, and that His richest blessings may be showered down upon them.
"The Christian", December 11th, 1873.
I don't know where the chapel was. An old map shows a Methodist Chapel where marked.