Author: George Müller
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work, moreover, was not a mere momentary excitement; but, after more than eleven months have elapsed, there are 31 concerning whom there is full confidence as to their conversion, and 32 concerning whom there is likewise a goodly measure of confidence, though not to the same amount as regarding the 31. There are therefore 63 out of the 120 orphans in that one school who are considered to have been converted in July, 1859. This blessed and mighty work of the Holy Spirit cannot be traced to any particular cause. It was, however, a most precious answer to prayer. As such we look upon it, and are encouraged by it to further waiting upon God. The second season of the mighty working of the Holy Spirit among the orphans, during the past year, was at the end of January and the beginning of February, 1860. The particulars of it are of the deepest interest. A very profitable pamphlet might be written on the subject. I have prayed again and again for guidance how to act, and have at last come to the decision not to relate the details, lest the dear children, who would recognize themselves in the description, should be injured; for my experience of laboring twenty-six years among children, and of having had to deal with so many very young believers, has led me to the full conviction that it is injurious to make them prominent. If God makes them prominent by using them as evidently he is using children in these days, we have only to admire and to praise; but this is very different from ourselves making them prominent. I must therefore content myself by stating that this great work of the Spirit of God in January and February, 1860, began among the younger class of the children under our care, little girls of about six, seven, eight, and nine years old; then extended to the older girls, and then to the boys; so that within about ten days above 200 of the orphans were stirred up to be anxious about their souls, and in many instances found peace immediately, through faith in our Lord Jesus. They at once requested to be allowed to hold prayer meetings among themselves, and have had these meetings ever since. Many of them also manifested a concern about the salvation of their companions and relations, and spoke or wrote to them about the way to be saved. Should the believing reader desire to know how it has been with these children since the end of January and the beginning of February, our reply is, we have, in most cases, cause for thankfulness. The present state of the 700 orphans, spiritually, is, that there are 118 under our care, regarding whose conversion we have full confidence; 89 regarding whom we have also confidence, though not to that full degree as concerning the 118; and 53 whom we consider in a hopeful state. To these 260 are to be added the 14 who were sent out as believers, and the three who died in the faith during the past year. It is to be remembered that very many of the children in the Orphan Houses are quite young, as we have received them from four months old and upward. During no year have we had greater cause for thanksgiving on account of the spiritual blessing among the children than during the last; and yet we look for further and greater blessing still.

APPENDIX.

Mr. Müller is constantly receiving not only contributions in money, but a great variety of useful articles, which are regularly sent to a shop provided for their sale. The following list of such articles, given anonymously during the first six months of the year 1859-60, will not be without interest to the reader, as showing by what an endless diversity of means resources are furnished for the work in which Mr. M. is engaged:—

June. A bead bag, a bouquet-holder, 6 gilt brooches, a gilt bracelet, a waist-buckle, and an agate heart.—5 pairs of knitted travelling shoes, a compass and thermometer, a court-plaster case, a guinea piece, 2 half franc pieces, a copper coin, 4 rings, a brooch, a gold pencil-case, a pair of earrings, top of a seal, and a gold waist-buckle.—A silver watch guard; a small brooch, a breastpin, and a ring.—12 pairs of garters.—A sofa tidy.—A small stereoscopic box. 6 frocks, 6 shirts, 4 pocket handkerchiefs, 2 pairs of socks, 2 nightcaps, 12 kettle-holders, 2 pairs of wristlets, 4 thimbles, 2 brooches, steel slides, a bracelet, and waist-buckle. A bead mat, 2 bags, a penwiper, 3 book-marks, and a scent-bag.—A pencil, 2 pairs of spectacles, a smelling-bottle, a pocketbook, some gloves, stockings, combs, and various articles of clothing, etc., together with a half-sovereign.

July. An old silver watch, an old metal watch, and an old shilling.—2 coats, 1 jacket, one waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers, and 1 pair of garters. 5 dresses, a body, and 2 shillings.—9 penwipers, 4 babies’ shirts, 9 mats, 1 pair of baby’s boots, 2 nightcaps, 6 pinafores, 2 pairs of watch pockets, 1 ribbon mat, 1 pincushion, 2 needlebooks, and 3 book-markers.—2 dolls, 2 dolls’ hats, a pair of bracelets, a pincushion, a needlebook, a shaving cloth, a sampler, 2 pairs of cuffs, a kettle-holder, a penwiper, a pair of baby’s shoes, a book-mark, a bag, a watch-guard, a pinafore, and a pamphlet.—2 buckles, a smelling-bottle, some mock pearls, 3 hair bracelets, a hair ring, and a wig.

August. Some fancy envelopes.—A ring, 2 shirt studs, and a watch-hook.—A pattern for a collar.—A ring from Stroud.—12 new bonnets.—A brooch, a bracelet, a book-marker, some cuffs, a pattern for work, and some trimming.—A frame for ladies’ work.—“From the friend at Devizes,” 2 skirts of dresses, a jacket, and a shawl.—Some pencil lead for polishing.—Some knitting and sewing cotton.—2 old wedding rings.—3 balls.—8 book-marks, 4 postage-stamp cases, and 6 pincushions.

September. A parcel containing some worsted, some brass thimbles, bodkins, and needles.—4 black ostrich feathers, 1 white ditto, 4 colored drawings.—3 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of stockings, and 2 waistcoats.—A pair of patent renovators (or flesh gloves).—A small work-bag of silk and straw.—A guinea piece, a lace habit shirt, a pair of lace sleeves, and a French cambric handkerchief.—3 collars, 1 pocket handkerchief, and 1 pair of sleeves.—2 flannel petticoats, a table cover, a silver wine-strainer, a silver marrow spoon, 1 sugar spoon, a punch ladle, 6 chemises, and 6 pinafores.—A small hamper of books.—1 alpaca coat, 1 check waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers, 3 pairs of shoes, 1 travelling cap, 1 pair of spectacles in case, 2 pairs of boots, 2 muffetees, 1 pair of gaiters, 1 pair of boots, 8 copper pens, 1 pair of slippers, 1 black leather bag, 1 pair of new boots, 1 coat, 1 waistcoat, 5 pairs of gloves, 1 pair of braces, a necktie, a dressing box, 2 brushes, 3 razors, a stiletto, a pair of spectacles, and 2 pieces of teeth set in gold.—12 book covers, 7 small ditto, 1 small box, 4 ditto in one.—A large box of toys.—A collar.—A large tea chest, containing 160 articles of ladies’ dress, etc.—A dress, 3 bodies, 3 berthas, a waistband, a pair of cuffs, a feather, an ornament for the hair, some artificial flowers, some whalebone, and some pieces of ribbon.—A cloth mantle, a velvet jacket, and a muslin ditto.

October. 3 pairs of crotchet ladies’ slippers, and 1 pair of child’s ditto.—A pair of gilt bracelets, a collar, a pair of cuffs, and a pair of worked sleeves.—2 paper mats, a bead ditto, a plaister case, 3 needlebooks, 5 small cushions, 4 pincushions, 2 penwipers, a book-mark, 2 little baskets, a little bag, a doll, a pair of candlestick ornaments, and 6 napkin rings. The parcel also contained 5s. from “Hephzibah.”—An urn-stand, a bag, and a mat.—A collar.—6 pence purses.—3 dolls’ bonnets.—“A Canadian lady’s purse.”—9 pairs of boots, 3 pairs of shoes, and a single boot, all new.

November. A box containing 5 bonnets, 2 muslin jackets, 1 silk ditto, 1 silk body, 3 muslin dresses, 1 silk ditto, 1 barege skirt, 18 pairs of fine stockings, 17 pairs of coarse ditto, 3 pairs of boots, 3 stockings, 10 chemises, 3 pairs of drawers, 5 nightdresses, some pieces of ribbon, and a few artificial flowers.—6 pairs of night socks.—A riding habit, a box, a silk body, some velvet trimming, some satin ditto, 2 waistbands, some fringe, some satin ribbon, a feather, a scarf, a veil, and a pair of woollen sleeves.—3 silver coins.—A silver tablespoon, some satin trimming, and a frill.—4 dresses, a skirt, a jacket, 3 children’s skirts, and 2 frocks.—A small gold pencil-case, a gold breastpin, and a pair of small gold earrings.—A collar.—3 antimacassars, and a baby’s cap.—2 silver coins, and a pair of silver shirt studs.—7 boys’ shirts.—A jacket and a feather.—A jacket, a pair of drawers, 2 chemises, 2 nightcaps, 5 skirts, and 1 body.—4 pairs of new boots, and 2 pairs of new shoes.—A crumb scraper.

Mr. Müller, as a faithful steward, renders an annual account of all the sums intrusted to him. Appended (p. 476) is the “Auditor’s Report” for 1859-60, showing the total amount in hand for the year, including the building fund, to have been £72,188, 16s. 5¾d.—almost three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. M. says:—

The audited accounts, together with the books containing the income and expenses, may be inspected by the donors. I particularly state this, because I do not publish a list of the donors, nor do I mention their names otherwise, in order that there may not be held out the least temptation of giving for the sake of worldly applause; but, at the same time, as I do this work in the light, it can bear the light, and therefore any donor can satisfy himself, if he please, that his donation is accounted for.

To avoid mistakes, delays, and other difficulties, I would request that all letters for me should be directed to my house, No. 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol.

GEORGE MÜLLER.

Bristol, July 2, 1860.

THE INCOME AND EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTION FOR 1859-60.

The Income of the first four objects
from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. The Expenses of the first four objects
from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. £ s. d. £ s. d. By balance in hand on May 26, 1859 2,009 11 2½ For all the schools 515 4 4 " Donations 7,029 14 10 " Bibles 398 3 7 " Sale of articles given for the purpose 35 17 7 " missionary purposes 5,019 6 1 " Sale of tracts 636 2 9¾ " tracts 1,650 11 4¼ " Sale of Bibles 152 8 9 " stationery 2 14 8 " Payments of the children in the day schools 97 4 6 " postage 32 17 5 Balance in hand on May 26, 1860 2,392 2 2½ £10,010 19 8¼ £10,010 19 8¼

The Income for the orphans,
from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. The Expenses for the orphans,
from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. £ s. d. £ s. d. By balance in hand on May 26, 1859, 7,461 19 1 Current expen's in connection with the Orphan Houses. 7,255 17 6 " donations in money 8,714 6 2½ For the Apprentices 200 5 4½ " sale of articles given for the purpose 570 13 6½ " 18,000 copies of the Twentieth Report 179 3 0 " sale of Reports 173 18 3 " postage and carriage of boxes and parcels 57 1 6½ " cash paid on behalf

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