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i Aa^t^i T THE LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

PREACHER, EVANGELIST, AUTHOR.

BY R. W. RUSSELL.

HOLBORN PUBLISHING HOUSE, HOLBORN HALL, CLERKENWELL ROAD, E.C.I.

TABLE OF PRINCIPAL DATES

1851. Born in Mansfield, December 18th. 1872. Converted in Bath Street Chapel, Mansfield. 1874. Became a Local Preacher. 1883. First Mission at Long Clawson. 1884. Appointed Evangelist at Melton Mowbray. 1885. Appointed City Missioner at Nottingham.

1887. Appointed Superintendent of Albert Hall Mission, Nottingham.

1 89 1. Entered the Ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church.

Appointed to Trinity Street Chapel, Southwark, London.

1900. Opening of St. George's Hall, January 4th. 1902. Engaged to raise Funds for purchase of Freehold. 1905. Advocate of Home Missions. 1906. First Visit to New Zealand and Australia. 1909. Appointed Pastor of Canaan Church, Nottingham.

191 1. Death of Mrs. Flanagan, January 24th.

19 1 3. Second Visit to New Zealand.

19 14. Visit to South Africa. Superannuated

19 1 8. Died at Nottingham, March 30th. Buried April 4th.

1919. Unveiling of Memorial Tablet at St. George's Hall, November 12th.

preface

This brief biography of the Rev. James Flanagan has been written in response to the request of the representatives of his family and in the hope that its publication may promote the work of evangelism in the Churches. I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Denis Crane, for placing at my disposal numberless letters, newspaper cuttings, diaries, journals and manuscripts, which have been of invaluable service in my work. My acquaintance with Flanagan, which cemented into truest friendship, covered a period of at least twenty years. I was privileged during the last five years of his life to meet him frequently, almost daily, and I have endeavoured to record in this biography many of the things he told me. It has been my aim in writing to reproduce the atmosphere in which much of his work was done and tenderly to lift the curtain which concealed the incessant yearning of his big heart for the salvation and eternal welfare of his fellow-creatures. R. W. RUSSELL. June 19th, 1920. f I His life was gentle ; and the elements So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up, And say to all the world—This was a man." Shakespeare. CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. Page

Early Days i

CHAPTER II.

Out of the Pit . ii

CHAPTER III. A New Song 21

CHAPTER IV Taking Shape CHAPTER V Days of Testing 39

CHAPTER VI. Melton Mowbray 45

CHAPTER VII.

A Wider Sphere 5<5

CHAPTER VIII. Nottingham 68

CHAPTER IX.

Removal to London . 8i

CHAPTER X. Southwark 89 viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER XL Page Prospecting 108

CHAPTER XII. The Open Way 118

CHAPTER XIII. A Monument 130 CHAPTER XIV Back from the Hill 140 CHAPTER XV

London in the Provinces . . . .150 CHAPTER XVI.

20, Patrick Road . . . , .165

CHAPTER XVII. Advocate 175

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Dominions Overseas . . 184

CHAPTER XIX.

J. F 201 CHAPTER XX.

Shadows , .212 CHAPTER XXI. South Africa 221 CHAPTER XXII. Farewell ...,,.. 237 The Life of James Flanagan

Chapter I. EARLY DAYS

" A Sensitive Plant in a garden grew, And the young winds fed it with silver dew, And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light, And closed them beneath the kisses of Night. * * * * * * * " Between the time of the wind and the snow All loathliest weeds began to grow, Whose coarse leaves were splashed with many a speck, Like the water-snake's belly and the toad's back.******* " For Winter came : the wind was his whip :

One choppy finger was on his lip : He had torn the cataracts from the hills And they clanked at his girdle like manacles." Shelley.

James Flanagan was born December 18th, 1851, at Mansfield, in the county of Nottingham. His father was an Irishman, fine looking and strong, with curly hair. He was a splendid B 2 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

workman, well read in the history of Ireland and familiar with its industrial and social troubles, generally animated in conversation and passionately hot-tempered in dispute. Escaping from the tyranny of the uncle for whom he worked, he sought shelter in Mans- field and commenced business as a clay pipe manufacturer. At this trade, to which he served an apprenticeship, he might have made a fortune, for many times did the tide in his affairs rise high, but he failed to lift the sails and the boat lay stranded on the shore. An inordinate craving for drink shackled his genius and ultimately overpowered him. Noble qualities of mind and heart, as parental love, enthusiasm for native land and devotion to the Roman Catholic Church, were ruthlessly destroyed by wild intemperance, and he, who once had looked with feverish eyes across the restless waters of the Irish Sea in quest of freedom from his uncle's tyranny, became the slave of drink. After a profitless life, he was seized with an illness from which recovery was impossible, but by the Grace of God and the ministry of many friends, he repented and accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord. James's mother was born at Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire, and resided with her EARLY DAYS 3

parents on the Earl of Manvers's estate. At their death the home was broken up, and she, a girl of eighteen, was thrown upon the world. She was placed with some friends at Mansfield, where she met Patrick William Flanagan and soon became his wife. The new life into which she drifted contrasted with earlier experiences. Her maiden life had been spent amidst the sweetest influences. The home of her childhood was fragrant with piety, and her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, were devoted adherents of the Parish Church. She had been reared in the lap of human kindness and cradled in a home of love. She had accompanied her father to the harvest fields and explored the distant woods. She had sat beneath the shadow of trees, making necklets of berries and weaving flowers into crowns. She had caught the song of the birds in the morning and listened for their call at night. She had known a mother's care when sick and a father's protecting arm in the lonely countryside. But at Mansfield she bade the past good-bye for ever and faced a future which was always shadowed. As the family grew from one to four, and then from four to five, the shadow deepened. Once Death entered the home, and one dear child was taken. B 2 4 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Then James was born, and yet the shadow lingered. Drink sees no angel in a child and hears no music in an infant's cry- Within a year the mother and children, including the sickly babe, were thrust upon the dismal streets, with no resting-place but a doorstep and no roof but the starlit sky. Frequent and alarming were Patrick Flanagan's drunken sprees. At the sound of his footfall on the threshold every voice was silenced and the lips of his wife were blanched. Sometimes the scanty furniture was smashed in the fury of his passion, and then at daybreak the family would wander homeless to another town. They sought assistance on the road, for the children needed bread. Some doors were closed against them, but others were opened wide, and Compassion, touched with Pity, stretched out a helping hand. It was the frequent repetition of these " tramp " experiences which influenced Mrs. Flanagan to arrange for James's stay in the house of her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Vickers. They were kindly disposed towards the child and learned to love him. They nursed him back to health when, through lack of nourishment, his life was threatened. Beneath their roof James Flanagan remained for several years. It —

EARLY DAYS 5 was a port in distress and a hiding-place from the numerous storms which swept furiously through his father's house. Mrs. Vickers was a typical Christian and attended the Primitive Methodist Church. Through her influence James was introduced to the Sunday School and acquired a knowledge of the elements of religion. His school- teacher not only furnished the children with information respecting the Bible but encouraged them to learn striking passages of Scripture, particularly those which revealed the patient love of God and the need for faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the soul. It was at this time that James Flanagan learnt the Bible's Golden Text—" God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life " a passage of Scripture which he never forgot, and which, in subsequent years, led him to the enjoyment of peace. As a scholar in the school he gained distinction in reciting and singing and was duly complimented by the teachers. Such recognition impressed him. It proclaimed the dawn of the morning and the glory of the coming day. In those distant days school-festivals were great events. The annual tea was invariably 6 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN associated with a procession of teachers and scholars who carried high their flags and banners and marched with song to the field of sports. Doors were flung wide open and window shades withdrawn for a sight of the " School " on march. Many eyes were wet

with tears ; old men and women spoke tenderly of days long past, and fathers and mothers waved their hands and flagged their handkerchiefs as the children marched along. It was in those festivals that James Flanagan discovered his boyhood. Returning from such love-scenes, he would describe the things he had seen to his devoted nurse and then to Floss, the shepherd dog. Floss was his faithful companion, and there was a bond of union between them. She seemed to know his needs and brought him broken toys and pretty things with which to play. Once she chased a ball on a local cricket-field and scampered home to lay it at his feet. He thought it came from Heaven, and preferred it to the empty matchboxes with which he built quaint houses on his auntie's cottage hearth, and soon the little yard in which he played was transformed into a delightful bowling ground. But this retreat was not a permanent abode. His parents had gone to reside at Burnley, EARLY DAYS 7 and it was considered necessary for James to follow. This change of residence implied more than juvenile imagination could possibly anticipate. It was an introduction to a life in which dreams perish amidst stern realities. Toys were quickly laid aside for tools, and pipe-making in the factory adjoining the " Bull and Butcher " Inn was substituted for matchbox house-building. It was a great change and no improvement for the boy. The wind sprang up from the North-east, and foul weather was ahead. His father was the kiln-man at the factory and was clever in the art of giving fixity to moulds of clay by a process of burning. James stood at the table modelling clay into tobacco- pipes. It was an unremunerative task, and Patrick Flanagan, considering the weekly wage of half-a-crown insufficient for his boy, soon found him employment in the mine. Such toil must have been exhausting to the slender lad of nine, for he doubled his wages at once. This additional income was sorely needed in the home, situated dangerously " " near the Bull and Butcher Inn ; but it was needed for the mother's sake, and for James's too, for the boy's clothes were threadbare. The Vicar's wife, in whose class he sat on Sunday, was deeply touched by his appear- 8 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN ance, and brought him a coat, far too big, which gave him a patriarchal appearance and made his mother weep. What he would have given to return to his aunt's home at Mansfield it is not difficult to imagine, although Floss, the old dog-friend, might have marvelled at his outward change. James grew in favour at the pit and soon made friends. The men with whom he worked teased or cursed him according to their mood. Their tempers were uncertain. Sometimes they flamed with passion and

their speech was vile ; sometimes they sang and joked. It was impossible to foresee what the day had in store when they marched with swinging Davy-lamps from the base of the deep, dark shaft to the scene of toil. The mid-day meal, however, was a happy respite. The sound of picks was hushed, and ponies' feet no longer broke the silence of the mine as groups of men sat down to eat their " bait." James munched his crust of bread and cheese and listened to tales told in public-houses on the previous night. It was a miner's mid-day story which first introduced him to the superstitious, for once amidst a deadly silence a workmate related his experience with a ghost. So vivid was the tale that James thought he saw the tree EARLY DAYS 9 in which the ghost appeared, discerned the outlines of big, flaming eyes, long arms and limbs, and heard the solemn voice. The story appealed to his sense of fear and disturbed his sleep with nightmare dreams. One night courage failed him, and he decided to loiter near the pit until his father returned from the village far beyond. The stars had uncovered their faces and the sky was luminous When Patrick Flanagan joined his son upon the road. They passed the fate- ful tree in safety, and James let go his father's " " hand. Look, Jimmie ! the father said, as he swept his arm from East to West as though describing the segment of a circle, " no man could build an arch like that." It was a lesson in Divine architecture which served him well. He passed from fear to faith. Ghosts perished in the apprehension

of reality ; and from that night onward he was as thoroughly convinced of the existence of God as the most devoted student of Paley's "Natural Religion." But as the years sped and Flanagan passed from youth to manhood, the evidences of design and the apprehension of the existence of a 'Divine Architect were inadequate for the needs of his soul. Rapidly he travelled downward, forgetful of the vision of the star- io LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN lit sky and the canopy God had made. He began to play with fire and was badly scarred. He galloped into sin and never knew the depth of the pit into which he plunged until the Grace of God made him a new creature in Christ Jesus. Chapter II.

OUT OF THE PIT

" So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more." John Bunyan,

The years of James Flanagan's journey into the wilderness of sin were few and full. He put his soul into the pursuit of worldly pleasures and lived in its enjoyment without considering consequences. The restraints of home and the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church were far too slender to arrest him in his downward plunge, and his mother's piety was a cable too weak to curb his passion. English and Celtic blood flowed through his veins, and in responsive moods volcanic fires burst forth. Retiring from the pit and taking up his father's trade for a livelihood, he found numberless opportunities of pursuing an evil course. The sale of pipes brought him into contact with public-houses where his enter- 12 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN taining gifts were freely used. Publicans welcomed him to their establishments and gladly purchased pipes for drunken lips. Often he would lay aside his wares and entertain the company at an inn. Men, overdue at home, drank and drank again under the influence of his presence, for his Irish accent was arresting and his temperament magnetic. To the publicans in town and the owners of country inns he was worth much, for their houses filled when Flanagan was there. They flattered him without a blush, expressed their high appreciation of his gifts of speech and song, and introduced him to companies of theatricals to whom he gave a helping hand. The influence of theatres upon him was strong, and he frequently travelled far from home to see a play. Great actors, like Lorraine, Charles Dillon and Charles Kean, became his heroes, and he eagerly embraced opportunities to see and hear them. So retentive was his memory and strong his power of imitation that he could reproduce the whole of Shylock and faultlessly interpret Jean Valjean. In the taprooms of public- houses he would sing the ballads of the stage and reproduce sections of the most popular plays, gesticulating like Lorraine. He might have been an actor, but his nerves were OUT OF THE PIT 13 unequal to the strain. Wild intemperance led to his exhaustion, and he became the victim of foreboding fears. The company he sought to entertain in village inns was feared on the open road at night. He was haunted with the thought that social outcasts might be social outlaws with no respect for human life. He was afraid of shadows and thought dark objects on the way were men in hiding who sought his life. Qne night his father asked a friend to " hurry Jimmie on," if he should meet him on the road. Soon afterwards the sound of horses' feet was heard, and James was discerned hurriedly driving home. Standing astride in the road, the friend attempted to communicate his message, but James was confused by fear, and, mistaking him for a highwayman, struck him heavily with the whip. It might have been a good thing for Flanagan if fear had changed his view of life and led him into better ways. But it did not, for there were unquenchable fires within his soul. He sought to cure his daylight fears and midnight dreams by hastening to a larger town whose streets were lighted and whose roads were safe. At Nottingham he found a rendezvous quite suited to his taste and purpose. The city abounded with 14 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN saloons, and footlights were to him an irresistible fascination. He loved the theatre and anything related to histrionics, with great intensity. He never saw a play successfully performed without longing for a place in it. He sought admission into companies of. " quality," but the lack of education often debarred him. He could not undertake to learn the language of plays. The suggestion chilled him, wounded his pride, and drove him wild. His passion demanded immediate satisfaction even at the price of his birth- right. Following the path of least resistance, he joined an entertaining company connected with a small hotel. The men with whom he mixed suited his style and taste, and the barrier of education no longer stood across his path. He soon became a favourite with the company and popular with the crowd. His songs were applauded to the echo. Men left their cups to hear him sing, and the master of the house with his wife and children frequently neglected their business to see him play his part upon the stage. It was at Nottingham that he met Miss Richardson, the gentle daughter of a rope and twine manufacturer. She and her parents were residing temporarily at the hotel where OUT OF THE PIT 15

Flanagan and his friends displayed their gifts each night. She was pious, a regular church-goer, and lived in an atmosphere of devotion and prayer. She often prayed for Flanagan's conversion, though she had not spoken to him. When plays were in progress and the sound of applause rilled the house, she knelt in earnest intercession for his redemption. One night, returning from devotions, she saw him coming from the music-hall. Their eyes met, the tale of love was told, and ever onward, through long, straining years, that bond of union remained unbroken. Immediately after their marriage they made their home at Ilkeston and occupied a house in Crichley Street. It was a small dwelling, meagrely furnished, but Mrs. Flanagan contrived to make it an inspiring and comfortable abode. She rilled it with the fragrance of Christian life, and Flanagan loved her

tenderly ; but the voices of the past called him, and his former passion for company and drink overpowered him. They were but sandy foundations upon which he had built the " hope of reformation. He needed the " Rock for unfailing support and required the melody of new songs to displace the enchantment of the old ones. Mrs. Flanagan knew his need, and, though she had experienced much of 16 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the sustaining Grace of God, she was afraid of the allurements of the public-house. When the glamour of marriage and new surroundings had passed away and James Flanagan was overcome by an inherent love of company, Mrs. Flanagan strenuously sought to introduce him to her Lord in whose presence she had experienced " fulness of joy." Her hope of his redemption was based upon a knowledge of his responsiveness to pleasure. The propensity which had ruined him might lead to his salvation. She knew the ease with which he turned aside to see great sights and the willingness with which he responded to the call of earthly enjoyments. " What is to prevent him/' she reasoned, " from finding the unfailing fountain and becoming a candi- " date for sainthood in the service of God ? It was with diffidence that she revealed these dreams to Mr. Joseph Parker, a Sunday School teacher, a temperance enthusiast and a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. She solicited his assistance and unfolded the burden of her soul. She related stories of Flanagan's life which revealed his religious susceptibility and proved his belief in the existence of God. She dilated upon his early life and the piety of his mother, telling of his emotion when his Sunda}? School teacher OUT OF THE PIT 17 wept in agony of soul for the salvation of the lads. She believed that there was fine gold in Flanagan's nature, and that he might become a distinguished follower of Jesus Christ, and her heart overflowed with gladness when Parker compared him to Bunyan and expressed the opinion that great sinners may become great saints. Parker was an energetic Good Templar and knew the value of solemn obligations. Knocking at Flanagan's door and being invited to enter the house, he at once unfolded the principles of Good Templary and induced James Flanagan to sign the pledge. Within a few weeks he witnessed his solemn vow to abstain for ever from the use of alcoholic drinks. Soon afterwards Parker discussed religion with Flanagan and subsequently per- suaded him to attend a service in Bath Street Primitive Methodist Church. Everything was strange to him and he felt no uplifting influence. But when the service was over and James Richards shook his hand, saying, " Good bless you, my brother," Flanagan was moved to tears and felt the influence of an unknown world—the world of brotherhood. The memory of this reception lived with him and led him to church again. Men of God gathered round him and assured him of c 18 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN their love. The spoken word became more intelligible to him and the sinful past assumed an ugly form. He saw himself as a sinner, ragged and torn, and in the wilderness of reeds and scorpions his soul was lost. The past mocked him, and the future revealed no tender, hopeful ray of light. The fear of hell took hold of him—and the fear of God. He knew nothing of justification by faith or of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. For many weeks he carried the burden of guilt and yearned for forgiveness of sin. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, revealing the soiled robe and the sin-stained life, that he might more fully experience the efficacy of the cleansing blood of Christ. Memory reproduced the past, and Flanagan thought of the Bible given to him by the teacher of Mansfield Sunday School. He opened it in the silence of his room one night and found the text he learnt in boyhood days, " God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In utter despair he flung his soul upon the unfailing truth and believed that he was saved through the boundless love of God. The contentment of the moment was disturbed by doubt, and Flanagan became an OUT OF THE PIT 19 exile in the wilderness of uncertainty. True, he leaned his full weight upon the promise, " that whosoever believeth in Him should " not perish ; but where was the assurance to be found ? How did he know that in the

" whosoever " circle there was room for him ? What right had he to expect a place among " saved men ? " And what of thy sins ? whispered the evil spirit. Bravely did Flanagan cling to the simple promise, and, though no assurance of his acceptance with God was given during those dreary weeks of conflict with doubt, the deliverance was sufficiently complete to keep him from drink and worldly pleasures and bend his soul in prayer to God. The exile ended one Sabbath morning as he sat in Bath Street Church. The Rev. William Marwood conducted the service and delivered an inspiring address based upon " the ancient passage, Arise ! go up to Bethel,

and dwell there : and make thee an altar unto " " God." Beautiful text ! the preacher exclaimed. " It just suits my need and appeals to my present mood. I wish to be directed in the way of life, and God instructs me to arise and go to Bethel. He urges me to dwell there and build for Him an altar. My Father wishes me to be always where He c 2 ao LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN is, that He may be where I am. He is afraid lest I should have no aim in life, and is anxious about the nature of my undertakings. He knows my tendencies, my fraudulent disposition, my propensity to evil. Once I carried a burden into a foreign land and was afraid to return because of my sins. He met me at the Brook in the night of my anguish and lamed me with a touch ; but when he saw I was in earnest He blessed me. He has found me many times since wondering if deliverances from sin were realities. He knows I like to play with fire and that He cannot fill my life unless I serve. He for- gives our sins, my friends, immediately we return to Him ; but when He slips a ring on the finger, He likes us to be very near Him in the house." James Flanagan bowed his head that morning and, as the Heavenly light filled his soul, gave himself to God. Chapter III. A NEW SONG

" Then with a ripple and a radiance thro' me Rise and be manifest, Morning Star Flow on my soul, thou Spirit, and renew me, Fill with Thyself, and let the rest be .far." F W H. Myers.

Flanagan's conversion was thorough and convincing. It changed the centre of his thought and created new conceptions of life. " Old things passed away and all things became new." In Christ he discovered a new friend and in His service he found a new song. The seat of the scornful was abandoned and the Courts of the Lord became his habitation. His views of life were adjusted to new standards and he cultivated friendship with the Infinite. The tiny stream in which he sought to live now found its home in the ocean, and he' felt the breezes coming from the Great Beyond. Being at peace with God he desired to be adapted to the new environments of life. 22 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

He needed the soul of a courtier to live in the palace of the King, and incense was indis- pensable to the life of sacrifice. He required a trained eye to see afar and an educated ear to comprehend the melodies of religion. He needed to learn the vocabulary of the skies to understand the language of the Heavens, and it was necessary for every sense and faculty to be adjusted to new surroundings. With new light there came new visions, and Flanagan quickly discerned the need of personal effort. It was essential to go back to the beginning and make a fresh start in life. He could not write his name nor distinguish the letters of the alphabet. He was a little child in the school of Knowledge and his vocabulary consisted of the vul- garities of the public-house. He decided, therefore, to gain lost ground and redeem the wasted years. He learned afresh the alphabet and enriched his vocabulary with the language of religion. Thirsting for knowledge, he burnt the midnight oil and conquered the elements of grammar. Early in the morning he rose to read and pray, and embraced every opportunity of self-improvement. The progress Flanagan made was remarkable. He quickly acquired the elements of education and soon became familiar with the A NEW SONG 33

higher ranges of knowledge. The Bible became his companion and the works of human genius his friends. Nothing was allowed to stand in the way of his upward march. Rather than risk the danger arising from the pipe-industry he abandoned the business and again found employment in the pit. This change of occupation enraged his father and created wonderment in the minds

of others ; but he remembered the pit from which he had escaped and preferred the Rock of Ages to the desert-sands. The " long-wall system " of getting coal was adopted in the pit and the coal seam was headed from end to end. From the main level roads were driven in different directions and the coal removed as the colliers advanced. The sections were called " stalls," and in each were employed six men. At the entrance was a resting-place called the " button." Flanagan knew the value of this resting-place and made it sacred with Christian testimony. The first morning he sat among the men they spoke in blasphemous terms and applauded each obscene remark with roars of laughter. Flanagan was silent and vexed. The next day the same vile language was repeated, and his soul was stirred. Solemnly and vigorously he protested, and said, " See, 24 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN lads, your language is unclean and you are cursing God. I want to tell you I'm a Christian and cannot bear to hear you curse the God I love. I cannot remain any longer with you here. I shall go and sit yonder by myself." This was Flanagan's first testimony in the pit, and, though anathematized by ungodly men, he knew his Lord was with him. He soon became capable at his work and drove through seams of coal with surprising swiftness. He conquered petty annoyances with a buoyant spirit and sang as he toiled. Learning each day a section of the one hundred and third Psalm, he obtained food for meditation and was lifted into an atmosphere of praise. When men cursed him he remembered passages from the Psalm, and strength was given according to his need. They wondered at his serenity of mind and knew he had been in fellowship with God. And so the tone of his surroundings slowly changed and he moved among the pit-men like a saint. He was invited to sit again with them at the " button," and they ceased to swear in his presence, for the lips of evil were closed. The case of Flanagan's conversion was discussed throughout the town, and four hundred workmen of the pit knew something of his integrity and Christian zeal. He was A NEW SONG 25 proclaimed in public-houses as the best of workmen, and miners freely discussed the tests of fortitude they had applied. They compared the present with the past and declared he was an altered man. In power of thought they believed he had no equal, and even " Diamond," the brilliant authority of the mine, acknowledged his greatness. They reasoned that certain gifts of mind were peculiar to the Irish race and prophesied that Flanagan would become a preacher. But though he had won their esteem, they were unaware of the terrible strain through which he passed. Neither did they apprehend how near he had been to falling in his conflict with evil. They saw him plead in earnest intercession, but never dreamt their sneers and curses had driven him to his knees. They marked his silence when they mocked, but were ignorant of the struggle in his soul to refrain from acts of violence. It was whilst he prayed in the dim light of the mine that he discerned the path which led to personal safety. Once when the blood surged quickly through his veins and his native pride was touched by the insolence of pit-men, there was revealed to him the need of Christian love in his relationship to " others. If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; 26 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN if he thirst, give him drink," was the message given him in an hour of peril. Musing upon it he saw the path of safety. It was better to practise religion than nurse it. He learnt that God wished him to be a flower with fragrance free and sweet and not a frowning rock, cold and grey. And so he resolved to seek freedom through slavery and rest from evil passions through the channel of Christian toil. When men were thirsty in the pit he asked them to drink from his flagon, and when they were cut and bruised he extended a helping hand. This new aspect of the Christian life moved him much and soon became a consuming passion. He abandoned self-interest for the sake of others. He ceased to roll himself up in the Christian robe and sought to clothe the naked. He escaped from the prison of cold negations and found freedom and happiness in practical Christianity. His heart went out towards fallen men and he yearned to save them. He continued to read, but sought opportunities to teach. He was enraptured with the high ranges of Christian truth, but sought to shed the fragrance of the mountain heather around the lives of men. He ceased to be anxious about himself and became absorbed in the work of saving others. —

A NEW SONG 27

To realize his dreams he joined the " Holy Club " connected with the Church, and he became greatly interested in the Mission Band which consisted of a leader, a number of religious enthusiasts, and a brass bell. The leader exercised great authority and reserved the right of using his own judgment in matters pertaining to the Band. The members looked up to him and thought his gifts of discernment omniscient. In fact he knew them thoroughly and had correctly taken each man's measure. When missioning the town he exercised his wisdom and judiciously engaged a speaker suitable to the needs of the district. Sometimes they made a " raid " upon remote villages and, having selected a " pitch," vigorously rang the brazen bell. Doors were opened wide and people cautiously approached the enthusiastic •Mission Band. Hymns were sung, fervent prayers were offered, and the plan of salvation disclosed. It was at such meetings that Flanagan used his gifts of song. Trembling with emotion as the people pressed around,

he sang :

" My God I am thine, What a comfort divine, What a blessing to know that my Jesus is " mine ! 28 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

And the Mission Band joined in Chorus, " Alleluia, send the Glory !

Alleluia, Amen ! " Alleluia, send the Glory, revive us again !

They made periodic visits to public-houses, and, standing within easy distance of the door, Flanagan's voice would again be uplifted :

" My Jesus to know, And feel His blood flow, 'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below."

And many drunkards left their cups to hear him, and the romance and glory entered into his soul and aroused a passion which blazed through subsequent years. —

Chapter IV TAKING SHAPE

" There is in man a desire to be all that he can to live his very highest, and to have the joy of ripest, strongest being." T T Lynch.

James Flanagan's passion for service was well maintained, and he was recognized as one of the most enthusiastic workers in Bath Street Church. He applied himself diligently to Sunday school work and became an attrac- tive and devoted teacher. Beginning with the infants, he slowly climbed to the highest class, and was finally appointed superintendent of the school. He exercised the gift of intercession in church prayer-meetings and learnt the sacred art of wrestling with God. He was admitted into business circles and loyally supported the burden-bearers of the Church. Stewards and superintendents welcomed him to their councils, and he shared their confidence and responsibility. Ministers called at his home and walked with him to the House of Prayer. He was surrounded by influences conducive to Christian develop- 30 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN ment, and he grew in the knowledge and love of God. His piety was deepened and his thought directed by the influence of the " Holy Club." Its members were men of simple faith. They held that the hour of need provided an opportunity for God to demonstrate the vastness of His love. One Good Friday morning they joined the Mission Band in Christian service. Filling their pockets with tracts, they sauntered from the town to the villages round about. They witnessed for Christ before every passer-by, and God was with them. They sang, delivered earnest exhortations, and prayed at every stopping place. But as the afternoon advanced hunger asserted itself, reminding them that zeal did not meet the claims of the body. They were far from home, but one of them happily remembered a tea-party which was being held in the next village. Instantly " pooling " their money, they found that their aggregate riches needed the addition of a shilling in order that every man should be fed. " Let us pray for a shilling," one suggested, and with one accord they asked Heaven to help them. Marching to the village, they sang near a public-house and someone, mistaking them for the " unem- TAKING SHAPE 31 ployed," gave a shilling. The sight of the coin brought them to their knees, and, after thanking God for His goodness, they joined the happy tea-party in the chapel. Flanagan was greatly impressed with the testimonies of the leaders of the " Holy Club." As they disclosed the secrets of their battles or related the stories of their conflicts, he prayed for the soldier's equipment. When they enumerated their triumphs or acknowledged their defeats, the lamp of Hope shone again within his soul. Their confidence in the power of the Cross to save tended to establish his faith in the redeeming love of God, and, as they dilated with glowing faces upon crowns of Glory and robes made white in the blood of the Lamb, his soul found anchorage amongst the things which abide within the veil. Such uplifting experiences fixed his mind on God and bowed his soul in reverence. There was given to him the vision of a larger life, and he longed for the wing of the bird that he might rise to thrones of eminence. But simultaneously with the singing heavens and chorus of heavenly voices he felt the tug of earth and heard the mocking voice of misspent years. He had caught a glimpse of mountain peaks but lacked the training 32 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN of the mountaineer. He had seen the channel meet the sea but lacked the navigator's skill. He had gazed upon the mansions but was chained to a cabin. He had listened to the interpretation of truth in heavenly forms of speech but lacked the tongue of the learned. His speech required chastening, his lips cleansing, and accent and pronunciation correcting. How could he interpret the Lord's songs in a strange language ? How could he proclaim the love of God in the uncomely terms of the street ? And so, in sight of the rivers and the hills, he sat down and wept. Such passing moods, involving a sense of depression, were not uncommon to Flanagan, and he boldly attempted to conquer them. He was highly strung and emotional and could not escape reactions. The higher the tide the more naked it left the shore on its return to the sea, and the height of the mountain on which he stood determined the depth of the valley into which he was plunged. Contrasts thrilled or sickened him according to his point of view- Whenever he was intro- spective in thought, the billows did not fail to roll over him, but he found salvation from depressing moods through the ministry of literature. The ministers of the Church, the Rev- W Clayton and the Rev W Durance, TAKING SHAPE 33 added precious works of genius to his scanty store of books, and the widow of the Rev. W Carthy placed the writings of the Rev. James Caughey, the evangelist, in his hands. Flanagan explored these treasures and appropriated their teaching. In them he found new truths and made new friends. He associated himself with the genius of great men like Charles Finney and caught their spirit. He adopted their methods of thought, familiarised his mind with their modes of expression, and discovered that greatness is the product of work and wealth of knowledge the reward of industry. Often he would flog his tired body to respond to the call of the mind and, after working through the quiet hours of the night, would march to the mine at the break of day. And so his mind slowly took shape, the creases of intellect were removed, and his lips were opened. In the " Holy Club " he became a ready speaker, and men knew that he had been in company with giant minds. But the passion for reading was balanced by enthusiasm for service. It was the sight of the sin-stained multitude that drove Flanagan into the solitude of his room and urged him to burn the midnight oil in company with master-minds. At this tim« retirement D 34 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN was alien to his nature, but knowing that preparation was essential to service, he devoted himself to study. He learnt that men are not lifted except by agents above their level, and that good citizenship depends upon the illumination of a throne. He under- stood that inertia resides within equality and downward forces are essential to upward

movement ; that high ground determines the swiftness of the stream and stagnation

is unknown in the region of the hills ; and

that light from the distant sun fills the fields with corn and creates a garden in a wilderness. The vision of the multitude clung to him and chained him to his books. He heard their cry of hunger in the midnight hour, he saw their uplifted faces when great appeals were made, and prayed for grace to lead them to the feet of God. He remembered the nine miles' walk to hear the famous Charles Haddon Spurgeon preach and his prayer for the salvation of sinful men. He recalled his impression of the great soul-winner un- folding the story of Saul's conversion and teaching that the ministry of blindness is an aid to vision. He pictured afresh the street called " Straight " and the reluctance with which Ananias visited the place of Saul's abode. He read again the message, —

TAKING SHAPE 35

" Jesus hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost," and recalled the ecstatic moment when the great preacher quoted the thrilling sentence, " And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith." And he remembered the long pause, the golden silence, which followed the question, " Whom did Saul see when the scales were removed ? " and the preacher's answer, " Brother Ananias." That sentence clung to Flanagan and opened his mind to the world's great need. " Brother Ananias " the words were aflame and yet unconsumed. He saw in them the world's redemption and prayed that he might be given the joy of leading men into the light of God. Nor were his prayers unanswered. Acting upon impulse, he frequently opened the treasures of his soul to workmen on the road and published glad tidings in the pit. He knocked at doors in the street and besought whole families to forsake their sins and find in Christ their friend. He sought out cases of sickness and tenderly prayed beside the couch of suffering. He undertook to visit systematically every home in the neighbourhood, and he saw men saved in their dwellings. He waited not for an abundance of knowledge D 2 36 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN but used what he possessed. Sometimes the reading of a single chapter in the Bible would be sufficient to gird his loins for a raid on the tents of wickedness. At other times a lecture of Charles Finney would send him in haste to a neighbour's house in quest of souls for Jesus, while the reading of Spurgeon's sermon would hasten his steps to the home of James Richards with " Alleluia " upon his lips. Every seed of truth acquired from books he planted and every illuminating thought he communicated to others. Such enthusiasm was highly commended by the officials of the Church. They had witnessed his development and rejoiced in his devotion. Guided by the Rev William Suttle, Flanagan was called to lay preaching, and the pulpits of the circuit were open to his ministrations. He devoted himself to the work with a keen sense of responsibility and passed examinations in doctrine and discipline to the satisfaction of all. His sermons were direct calls to the unconverted and his discourses revealed the boundless love of God. He sought the sin stricken, men with ruined characters and lost souls, and proclaimed to them the Father's tender love. Miners came to hear him and wondered at his eloquence. Workmates attended the TAKING SHAPE 37

services and trembled under the power of the Word. He uplifted the Cross as man's only hope and described the terrors of the Judgment Seat of God. Preaching widened the circle of his influence and deepened his passion for the salvation of men. He was amazed at the waywardness of the multitude and profoundly moved by the reckless sinful- ness of the crowd. In his visits to homes of intemperance he witnessed the desolation of sin, and his soul was filled with anguish. One night a little girl knocked at his door and said, " Will Mr. Flanagan come to see my mother ? She is dying." Laying aside his books, he hastened to the house and, kneeling beside the bed, committed her soul to the tender keeping of God. Her husband was drinking at the time and, when summoned from the public-house, refused to come. Again he was summoned, but disobeyed. Responding to the third request, he entered the room. " Don't come near me," the woman exclaimed, " your presence makes me miserable and makes it hard to die." Flanagan was tremendously moved. A year afterwards the brutal man called the attention of his mates and said, " Lads, it's just a year to-day my missus died." At that moment the roof yielded and, falling, killed him where he 38 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN stood. His crushed body was taken home. Neighbours said it was a Divine judgment, but Flanagan was heart broken and wept. Such experiences touched Flanagan's soul, kindling great fires within his breast, and he sought to help the people. As the passion for service consumed him, keeping him awake at night, he longed to be free from secular work that he might devote himself body, soul and spirit to the work of rescue. He would stand in the market-place and sing and plead and pray. How could he shake himself free from the secular yoke and stride into the sphere of work for which his soul hungered ? Fourteen hours a day in the pit sapped his strength and limited his useful- ness in the service of God. " Will God open my way ? " he cried, and, falling upon his knees, he prayed that God would make it possible for him to devote himself to the work of saving men, or otherwise destroy his anguish of soul. That day his prayers were answered, and a few days later Flanagan kissed wife and bairns good-bye and set out for a fortnight's mission at Long Clawson, a village with a scattered population, in the Melton Mowbray circuit. Chapter V*

DAYS OF TESTING

" Feeble hands and helpless, Groping blindly in the darkness, Touch God's right hand in that darkness, And are lifted up and strengthened." Longfellow.

The Rev. Samuel Barker met Flanagan at Melton and accompanied him part of the way to Long Clawson. They conversed upon the state of the Church, and Mr. Barker revealed the circumstances under which Flanagan was engaged as its special missioner. It became evident that while Flanagan was praying fervently at Ilkeston for a door of service to be opened, Mr. J. B. Miller and the Rev. Samuel Barker were discussing the needs of Melton Mowbray circuit, and, prompted by a sense of gratitude to God for a prosperous business career, Mr. Miller was offering to pay the expenses of a mission at Long Clawson, and Mr. Barker suggesting Flanagan as missioner. This information was a great joy 40 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN to Flanagan and put fresh elasticity into his step as he strided forward to his destination when Mr. Barker left him on the road. It was Saturday afternoon when he arrived in the village, and the shadows were creeping across the fields as the sun sank behind the hills. After a short rest in the hospitable home of his host, Mr. J B. Miller, Flanagan plunged into the heart of his work, and, visiting the homes of the members of the Church, invited them to attend the early prayer-meeting on the following morning. It was a case of three or four meeting together, but they sang, gave thanks to God and earnestly prayed that the Spirit's gracious influence might fill the Church and village. The services were held, and the evening prayer- meeting began, but only a few prayed. There was an absence of liberty, and a strange, cold atmosphere pervaded the meetings. Flanagan called the prayer-leaders aside at the close and urged them to keep up the spirit of prayer. They were advised to pray twice, even twenty times, rather than silence should fill God's house ; and this they did. But still there was no answering signal from the skies, and the heavens seemed closed. The fourth night of the mission came, and no result. The people moved out of the church into the dark road DAYS OF TESTING 4*

and anxious members threaded their way in silence through knots of people to their homes, but Flanagan retired to his room and cast himself in anguish of soul before God. He compared the present experience with the past and thought of the warmth of Ilkeston compared with the frigidity of Long Clawson. He remembered his wife and children, and burst into tears. He felt himself to be a broken man with all his dreams of success destroyed. He wrestled with God, and re- lived the incidents of preceding days. He thought of the prayers offered in the homes of the people and of his exhortations to men and women to seek the Lord. He asked God for a sign, but no sign was given. Was the failure a rebuke from heaven ? Had he mis- taken his calling ? Why had he left his home and occupation for the uncertainties of mission-

? work Perhaps he had not the qualifications ; for how otherwise could he account for the absence of blessing when he had toiled to the

full limit of his strength ? And as the morning dawned he was seized with an impulse to steal away and, on his arrival at home, to send a letter of explanation to the Church " and an apology to his host. No ! that is mean," he cried, " and to do it would be unmanly." Rising from his knees, a —

42 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN conqueror, he said, " God has sent me here.

I did not seek this cause ; it sought me ; and if it should cost my life I will stay and see the end." Flanagan devoted himself unsparingly to his work the following day, and made no reference to the midnight conflict. He had undertaken the task of visiting every home in the neighbourhood, and resolved to speak to every person he met about the claims of religion. He moved about from house to house with the fragrance of Heaven upon him. Occasionally he halted in the roads to greet a passer-by and to make known to him the patient love of God. At the evening service Flanagan spoke with great tenderness and freedom. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and the Glory of God filled the house. The people sang in the prayer-meeting with great fervour and men prayed with unction. Tongues were unloosed as the Spirit became manifest, and upturned faces glowed. Eyes streamed with tears when Mr. Miller's daughter gave herself to God, and Flanagan sang with deep emotion : u Jesus, the name high over all,

In hell, or earth or sky ; Angels and men before it fall And devils fear and fly" DAYS OF TESTING 43

It was a moment of ecstasy and the hour of emancipation. It was the time when Flanagan recognized the value of the wilderness in the work of life and realized that spiritual success is dependent upon faithfulness in days of failure. The revival spread throughout the village. The rich and poor were brought to God. People flung open their doors and Flanagan prayed in their dwellings. He visited public-houses and read the Bible in taprooms. Men were impressed with his simple expositions of Scripture and resolved to hear him preach. They came from all parts of the parish and filled the church. Children returning from school said they had seen " the prophet of God," and parents recognized the appropriateness of the phrase. The squire and his wife were led into the Fold of God through his ministrations, and their maid- servants were allowed to join the village chapel. Intolerance broke down amongst the people of the Established Church and men ceased to oppose Dissent. " Poor old Bob," the social derelict of the village, was moved to tears as Flanagan prayed and sang upon his doorstep and, as the Spirit of the Lord took hold upon him, cried for mercy and was transformed by the power of the Cross. And when the Mission closed and Flanagan passed 44 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN through the village on his homeward journey, people stood on the roadside to wave him adieu, and a hearty " God bless you " fell from their lips. In the quiet little home at Ilkeston Flanagan related to his wife the incidents of his first great adventure, and was quite satisfied that God had called him to be an Apostle of the Cross. —

Chapter VL MELTON MOWBRAY

" In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand ; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Ecclesiastes xi. 6.

The echoes of Long Clawson mission were still reverberant when the Circuit Quarterly Meeting unanimously decided to engage the services of Flanagan as Evangelist, and arrangements were made for each Society to participate in the benefits of his work. The good work at Clawson was widely reported and the optimism of the Churches was greatly stimulated. The slumbering faith of the officials became active, for a vision of prosperous days had changed their mood. They discussed with much caution questions of finance in relation to the proposed undertaking, and were prepared, after careful consideration, to make some sacrifice for the Kingdom of Heaven. " What is money," they enquired, 46 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

" compared with souls renewed and sins for- given ? Is not every harvest dependent upon the exhaustion of the granary ? " Aged men dreamt dreams and youthful officials discerned visions ; and when the proposal was submitted the " full board " of the Quarterly Meeting beheld the dawn of a golden morn and heard the splash of waters rising high around them. The invitation was accordingly forwarded and took the form of a resolution : " That the Rev- Samuel Barker correspond with Mr. James Flanagan with a view to securing his services for six months at the rate of one pound, seven shillings, per week, with the understanding that, in the event of a second engagement, a further sum shall be given if money matters warrant it." To Flanagan it was the call of God and he promptly accepted. The news of his departure was quickly circulated and, as the work of packing proceeded, many people made enquiries at his door and wished him and his wife and children " God speed." But when Mr. Miller's waggon and horses entered the street and the goods were taken away, the neighbours were deeply interested. Workmates, mothers and fathers and children came out of their dwellings to say good-bye, and Flanagan, shouldering a ; ;

MELTON MOWBRAY 47 chair and walking up the middle of the street, sang :

" Hark ! the Gospel news is sounding

Christ hath suffered on the tree ; Streams of mercy .are abounding, Grace for all is rich and free. Now, poor sinner, Look to Him Who died for thee."

Halting at the top of the street, he mounted the chair, singing :

" Grace is flowing like a river Millions there have been supplied. Still it flows as fresh as ever,

From the Saviour's wounded side ; None need perish, All may live, for Christ hath died."

Flanagan prayed. A crowd gathered round, " and with great tenderness he said : My dear comrades and fellow neighbours, I thank you for coming in such large numbers to hear the last words I may ever speak to you. All of you know me. For ten years I have lived in this street. For. five years you knew me as a prodigal and my life was godless. Many of you were my companions in sin, and you know how well I served the Evil One. But five years ago there was a change which has 48 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN surprised myself and you. I was apprehended by Jesus Christ. The Grace of God has made me a new man. New hopes, new ambitions, and new joys are mine. God has given me a new heart. My life has become different. The old ways are cast off. I have seen many of my townsmen in the same darkness as blinded me, and you know how earnestly and faithfully I have sought your salvation. I have now been called to devote my life to God's service. I am going away to preach the Gospel of redemption. We may never meet again till we stand before the Judgment Seat of God. I desire in that day to be found faithful, and I ask you to turn to Jesus Christ. If I have not tried to live before you as I ought, charge me now that I may " deliver my soul and seek forgiveness ! Silence prevailed. The people wept. Flanagan exhorted them to turn to God, and then silently went away. He began his work as a recognized Evange- list at Melton Mowbray in the county of Leicester. It is situated in the centre of a great hunting district and had a population of about six thousand. It was an ideal spot to try the temper and patience of a religious enthusiast whose methods of work differed from orthodox customs. The town was highly MELTON MOWBRAY 49 conservative. Many generations of people had lived under the spell and shadow of its fine, Early English, cruciform church. The sleepy conservative temper of the town had penetrated the Nonconformist Churches and made them impotent and ineffective. The announcement of a fortnight's mission failed to arouse their interest and did not touch the imagination of the people. Flanagan measured the situation immediately and resolved upon a course of action. His Celtic imagination played around the market-place and reared for him a pulpit for speech and a pedestal for song. He dreamt of crowds listening to messages in the open-air and of hundreds being saved. But when Church members laughed at the suggestion, he knew the work must be attempted alone. It was bitterly cold and snow lay upon the ground when Flanagan took his stand in the market-place and broke the silence of the night with song. His uplifted voice attracted a man who stared in wild astonishment, and then marched towards him. Mischief was in

his heart, and Flanagan detected it. But he kept on bravely and sang louder as his assailant approached. Suddenly the man stopped astounded and, listening to the end, " shouted, Encore ! Encore ! Go on, old E 50 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

fellow ! I don't know who you are, but I'll be blowed if you can't sing." And others thought so too, for passers-by were arrested, and little knots of people gazed in wonderment at the tall, slender figure singing in the snow and speaking, with unmistakable Irish accent, of the boundless love of God. But the lonely Evangelist did not sing and speak in vain, nor stand in the snow-clad market-place alone—God was with him. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him and wings were given to his speech and song. Young men stood upon the causeway and heard the Word with gladness. One found his God as the Word was spoken and afterwards became a leader of thought in civic life. In subsequent years he graced the Mayoral Chair in the City of Leicester. Another was so stricken by the power of the Spirit that he hastened home and, in the silence of his room, gave himself to God. Providence afterwards guided him to an eastern county, where he rose to a position of eminence and became widely known through his generous benefactions. A lady, shopping in the street, heard sounds of melody and, turning to the market-place, listened to his impassioned speech. She related the incidents of the evening to her husband and children, who decided to attend the services MELTON MOWBRAY 51

in the chapel, and all the family were saved. Before the mission closed the whole town was impressed. People came in crowds to hear Flanagan preach. The Wesleyan Church seized the moment as the hour of its redemption. It felt the throb of the rising tide and with lifted sails pushed out its boat to sea. So great was the revival that the church was too small to accommodate the people. The Temperance Hall was requisitioned, yet crowds failed to gain admission. The Corn Exchange was taken and the people filled

it. Here, week after week, the Glory of God was manifest, and there was a great ingathering. The revival leaped the boundaries of the town and spread to the villages. Wayside Churches were quickened and feeble Societies strengthened. Flanagan drank deeply at the fountains of Nature and translated the teaching of the hills and fields into appealing sermons. He found the star-lit sky a helpful ministry and, amidst the silence of rural surroundings, felt the strain of the Melton mission pass away. Churches were eager to receive him and heartily welcomed his arrival. In many cases he found the people expectant. They had prayed to the Lord of the Harvest and were expecting the showers. The atmos- e 2 52 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN phere was prepared by prayer and faith, and souls were added daily to the Church. In some villages spiritual life was extinct and men were content with failure. Yet they hugged " the cause" and opened and closed the chapel doors with pardonable pride. Nothing would induce them to desecrate their father's grave. They were loyal and true but vision- less. They possessed more faith in the theory of the world's destruction by fire than in the prophecy of a revival of religion. But Flanagan had a genius for hopeless Churches and exerted an uplifting influence upon discouraged men. In his presence despair vanished and creases were removed from wrinkled faces. When he stepped amongst scenes of desolation and took charge of a mission, men were amazed at his victorious faith, and reproved themselves because of their utter hopelessness. Where they saw nothing but the rising waters of desolation, he discovered green leaves of promise and heard the call of Spring. By a strange artistry he constructed new temples out of ruins and, pointing to empty seats, declared that God's house would be filled. The impact of his personality gave new fibre to the few. They rose from their devotions like giants and were girded for service. They followed their^ leader into the streets, sang MELTON MOWBRAY 53

with him in small processions, and then prayed on the village green. The old methods, abandoned through lack! of strength, were re-established, and the people lost their sense of shame in the joy of service. It was open-air evangelism which tried the courage of the village Churches, but Flanagan gave prominence to it. He maintained that the Church should be vocal and insisted that its voice should be heard in the streets. He associated success with adventure and expected much from God when exhausting service had been rendered for men. He emphasized the value of prayer in the work of evangelism and argued that the call to prayer had not silenced the call of the streets. At Somerby Flanagan's open-air enthusiasm was greatly tested and he came into conflict with the publican. The vices of the village were drink and gambling, and Flanagan prepared an attack. It was bitterly cold and dark and the tavern was full when James Dale and Flanagan met at the top of the village street. Dale played his violin and Flanagan sang. Then, marching through the street, they arrested the attention of the publican who, to please the company, hurried towards Flanagan with a tankard of beer in his hand. Quick to discern his intention, 54 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Flanagan said, " Fiddle up, brother Dale," and, singing vigorously and throwing his arms carelessly about, moved towards his assailant, who was soon glad to retreat into the shelter of the inn. The company laughed aloud and heckled their host. Suffering from chagrin, the publican subsequently offered ten shillings to a man if he would throw Flanagan into the horse-pond ; but Flanagan met his abuse by preaching in the streets, and many a drunkard gave himself to God. During an open-air mission at Scalford, the Vicar of the Parish Church interfered and urged the village constable to take Flanagan into custody. The little mission band was singing in front of the chapel when the Vicar stepped into the ring and wished to speak to the leader. Flanagan, mistaking him for a man under conviction of sin, said, " Kneel down here and I will pray for you." Flames of anger burnt in the Vicar's soul as he said, " Now, Constable, take him," and then attempted to incite the people to acts of violence. No one responded to his appeal, and Flanagan proceeded to sing and speak. The incident excited public interest, and a most gracious revival began. Representatives from the Churches came to the services and expressed their sympathy with the missioner's MELTON MOWBRAY 55 work. Rough men, resenting the Vicar's inter- ference, came to the chapel and, hearing the Word, gave themselves to God. Throughout the whole of Melton Mowbray circuit there were elevating experiences, and Flanagan's work was remarkably successful. Instead of finishing his labours among the Churches at the close of six months' ministry, he remained as the Circuit Evangelist for a year and a half. It was a period of high tides when stranded boats again discharged their functions. Hundreds of souls were converted and became established in the fellowships of the Church. The wilderness was transformed into a garden of roses, and streams of water flowed. Penitence lost its bitterness at the feet of Jesus. Tear-stained faces became radiant with smiles. Prodigals found shelter in their Father's house, and sinners were amazed at the forgiving love of God. The town and countryside found new centres of attraction and preferred the Courts of the Lord to the tents of wickedness. And as the work of God proceeded and consolidation took place, Flanagan heard the call of Heaven to a wider sphere. ;

Chapter VII.

A WIDER SPHERE

(« When the motive is right and the will is strong There are no limits to human power For that great force back of us moves along And takes us with it, in trial's hour." E. W Wilcox.

It was with much reluctance that Flanagan left Melton Mowbray. He had won the affections of the people and his work was widely admired. Mr. Thomas Gill offered to raise in subscriptions from the towns- people sufficient money to cover the expenses of another year's service, and the officials of the circuit urged him to remain. Flanagan acknowledged their kindness and was grate-

ful for their confidence ; but he refused to stay. The desire for a wider sphere of service consumed him and he steadily pursued it. He had read illuminating books and great A WIDER SPHERE 57

changes had taken place in his mind. He was conscious of silent forces moving within his soul and life to him assumed new forms. Measuring himself by new criteria, he was amazed at his unrealized aspirations. He longed to be a standard-bearer in larger places and felt the need of wide, swelling acres in which to move. It was a precarious undertaking, for he had no matured programme and no elaborate list of engagements. Responsible for the maintenance of wife and children, he rejected an immediate security for what appeared to be a mere adventure, and justified his action by a declaration of faith in the bountiful Providence of God. Men reasoned with him respecting the uncertainty of his plans and hinted that he might be building castles in the air ; but he argued that the just should live by faith and that the proof of faith was adventure. They spoke of straitened circumstances and suggested a return to the mine in case of embarrassment ; but he brushed aside their pessimism, for he had turned his face towards the morning and knew the sun would rise above the cloud of mist. And so, with eyes fixed upon the prize, he followed the gleam which revealed his duty, and found contentment in the promise that they 58 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN who go forth weeping shall come again rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Returning to Ilkeston, which became his headquarters, he waited patiently for calls to conduct evangelistic missions. Within a few weeks invitations came to him which were slowly multiplied. The success of the Melton Mowbray work was widely reported, and friends spoke in unqualified terms of his Christian character and zeal. His name was freely used in market-places, and Christian men carried back to their Churches information respecting his work. Poor Societies met in council and agreed to invite him for missions of varying periods. Requests were forwarded from many counties and letters of enquiry received from places far and near. Such recognition greatly impressed him, and in his diary he wrote, " My soul, stand still and wonder that God should call thee to minister in Holy things ! Surely I can say, ' Unto me who am less than the least of

' Saints, is this Grace given ! Oh, Lord, use me as a feeble instrument to save souls, for they press upon my heart and weigh me down ! My tears have been my meat and drink, but, if I am to labour on, give me " souls ! In the lofty spirit of that record James Flanagan did the work of an evangelist A WIDER SPHERE 59 for four years, and was instrumental in leading thousands of people into the Kingdom of God. The intervals between missions were wisely used, and Flanagan's growing passion for literature and self-improvement was grati- fied. He became acquainted with the masters of literature and committed to memory classic passages of poetry. Difficult books like Sartor Resartus he read with studious carefulness, making notes and criticisms as concisely as if preparing for an examination. Biography greatly interested him, and he illumined his earlier sermons with incidents culled from the lives of great men. He had an eye for the commonplace. He revelled in the side paths of literature. Macduff opened his eyes to the value of the pictorial in preaching and led him to cultivate the gift of description in pulpit appeals. John Angel James's Guide to Immortality was a fountain at which he freely drank, and it led him to the study of psychology as related to the work of his life. He collected the works of expert evangelists like Finney, and built for himself a philosophy of missions. From the first, he held that revivalism should be cultured and that knowledge which harmonized with truth was necessary for its success. He 60 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN maintained that good workmanship implied a good workman, and he laboured to be worthy. £JEt was^acquaintance with the deep wells of knowledge, combined with practical common sense and profound^ faith in God, which distinguished Flanagan in the realm of evangelism and led to his success. He met strong- mindedness with strength and forged his way through opposition and indifference by gifts of intellect and heart. His work was difficult and far removed from sunlit heights. It required much faith and determination to conquer the ignorance and superstition of the neighbourhoods in which he worked. He frequently found the Churches unprepared for a mission and the people without faith. He had, therefore, to shoulder the task of organizing the feeble Churches, and, through skilful treatment of men, he triumphantly succeeded. Often the Churches were too helpless to render the slightest assistance, and the entire burden of the mission rested upon him. In one village he was accompanied by a few aged people and, after praying and singing in the market-place, he moved at a slow pace towards the chapel, a distance of half a mile, vigorously preaching every step of the way. He seemed to have at times A WIDER SPHERE 61

Herculean strength and, amidst uninspiring conditions, his genius burst forth. In some of Flanagan's missions there were remarkable manifestations of spiritual power. When writing to his friend, Mr. Brandreth, he described that at Bury as the most notable. It was a united mission, and all the Churches were expectant. The power of God increased each night and conversions multiplied. On Sunday afternoon fifteen hundred people assembled, and, as Flanagan preached, the Holy Spirit filled the place. " Every pew was smitten." Without invitation, people crowded to the front and cried for mercy. There were about twelve ministers present, and Flanagan marshalled them forth to deal with penitents. The Communion was crowded and the large school-room and vestries were filled. It was an hour never to be forgotten. When conducting a mission at Ilkeston, the town of his conversion, Flanagan distinguished himself as a sick visitor and had the joy of leading plague-stricken people to the feet of our Lord. There was a street in the town so sorely smitten that people refused

to enter it except through urgent necessity ; but Flanagan fearlessly visited every house in the street, looked upon the faces of the 62 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

dead, and prayed with the sick and the dying. Some of them were old workmates, and, in one stricken house, he found an old friend, Herbert Henshaw, who, ten years before, when the Flanagan family were in straitened circumstances, brought them food and money. Flanagan found him moneyless, and the home a scene of distress. One son lay dead in the house, another was not expected to live, and the mother and father were bewildered with grief. Flanagan prayed upon their hearthstone, comforted them with tender sympathy, and gave them all the money he possessed in the world. When conducting missions, his experiences varied according to the needs of the district and the character of the people. For example, at Newark, cabbage stalks, stones and fishes' heads were thrown at him, and at Northampton a similar reception was given him. At Cotgrave, near Nottingham, a publican's son and a veterinary surgeon led the opposition against him and attempted violence. During the disturbance Flanagan knelt on the ground and prayed for protection. The surgeon, dashing forward, attempted to kick him as he prayed, but suddenly lost the use of his limb ; then he raised his fist to smite him, but his arm dropped powerless at his side. Still ;

A WIDER SPHERE 63

Flanagan prayed, and the ruffians, overcome by fear, moved silently away. The mission which most impressed Flanagan was conducted at Edwinstowe, the birthplace

of his mother ; and the first thing he did when entering the village was to visit the grave of his grandparents. With the assistance of the sexton of the church he found the green mound, and knelt beside it. The sexton uncovered his head as Flanagan expressed his gratitude to God for the piety of his for- bears and the culture of their religious life. He prayed that his pilgrimage to their grave might increase his faith in their God, and that there might be given to him the power to preach the truth for which they had lived and in the faith of which they died. He pleaded for the success of the mission and the prosperity of all the Churches in the neighbourhood, for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose name he had been called to labour. The sexton's eyes filled with tears when the graveside devotions ended, and, as Flanagan marched away to commence work in the quiet, picturesque village, the lonely gravedigger sought companionship with the Lord of Life. He entered a new world the sky seemed higher and God was near. 64 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

His soul became the home of Charity, and narrowness was slain. He became an adver- tiser of the evangelist, and told the story of the graveside prayer to every passer-by. Men remembered the Robinsons and their pious daughter, the mother of the preacher who had come to their village. The silent past found its voice again and precious memories were revived. The chapel was soon filled and wonderful sights were witnessed. So numerous were the converts that the building could not hold them. To meet their needs the Wesleyan Church was requisitioned. Soon public-houses were empty, for men were afraid to enter them. On the last night of the mission Flanagan came from the pulpit and, standing in the Communion, " said : I am impressed by the Spirit of God to say that there are some in this service who will never be converted unless they are saved to-night." The words reached the heart of Sir John Savile's nurseryman, who rose, saying, " My God, it might be me.'* Then, stumbling to the front, he fell upon his knees and was saved. Another man was convinced of sin, but disregarded the call of God, and, on the following Wednesday, was found dead on the roadside, his horse grazing beside him. At —

A WIDER SPHERE 65 the inquest the jury returned the verdict " Death by the visitation of God." At Eakring, near Mansfield, there was a marvellous manifestation of the Spirit's power. Flanagan preached from the text, " " How long halt ye between two opinions ? and, at the close of the sermon, made an impassioned appeal for immediate decision. So powerful was the impression that a school- master of the Wesleyan School cried for mercy, and in a moment the whole of the congregation fell upon their knees in search of God. It was a scene which for many years haunted the memory of Flanagan, and, when Churches were hopeless, he cited the experience to stimulate the confidence of the people in the saving power of God. Once he conducted a mission for the Rev- E. Harman, Vicar of Pickwell, and was entertained at the vicarage, having for his fellow guest Sir Richard Musgrave, Bart. He found the household fragrant with the Spirit of our Lord, and the venerable Vicar and Sir Richard eager for the salvation of men. The Rev.. Thompson Phillips, M.A., afterwards Canon of Carlisle Cathedral, was his co-worker in the mission. The meetings were held in a large, well-lighted, furnished barn with a platform at the end. Flanagan 66 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN was given freedom to use his gifts of evangelism. Enthusiastic congregations filled the barn night after night and great blessings were given. At the conclusion of the mission, the Vicar presented Flanagan with a beautiful copy of Matthew Henry's Commentary and, in the inscription, generously testified to the value of his ministrations. And so in all missions the same high-class work was done and the efforts of the evangelist were graciously successful. At Whitting- ton Moor, and again at Somerby and Edwin- stowe, the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the Churches. At Bulwell, in the Nottingham area, crowds filled the spacious building, and men under conviction pleaded for admission when the aisles and galleries were filled. Hundreds of churches were visited and spiritual resurrections witnessed. On lonely moors and in quiet village churches he proclaimed salvation through faith in Christ, and in towns and cities he exalted the Cross as man's only hope. Members were quickened, stranded Churches re- suscitated, and, within the narrow limits of three years, more than two thousand souls were saved. Some have joined other Churches and become outstanding officials. Others have become preachers of the Word, and on«, at A WIDER SPHERE 67 least, has qualified for foreign fields of missionary service ; whilst, within the Church in which the missions were generally conducted, many hundreds have been established in the faith and become exemplary witnesses of Jesus Christ.

F 2 Chapter VIII. NOTTINGHAM

"That same night about midnight, there came a voice among them, that said thus, 'Mine own sons, and not my chief sons, my friends, and not my warriors, go ye hence where ye hope best to do, and as I bade you.' * Ah, thanked be thou, Lord,' said they, 'that thou wilt vouchsafe to call us so." Sir Thomas Malory.

With Flanagan's rise to fame there grew upon him a sense of dissatisfaction with the circumstances of his life and a deepening anxiety for the welfare of his family. The children were rapidly growing and needed immediate attention with regard to their education. The slender income of thirty shillings per week for evangelistic work often taxed Mrs. Flanagan's ingenuity to meet the claims of housekeeping with a family of five

children ; while the absence of the father for periods of weeks or months could not be always regarded as a simple incident. There was romance in missions, and the mission field was full of adventure, but it did not directly NOTTINGHAM 69 extend to Mrs. Flanagan, and successful services in villages far removed from Ilkeston did not sufficiently contribute to the comfort of their home. Flanagan would return and sing the mission-hymn on the hearth-stone or ejaculate " Alleluia " as he recited successes in the Lord's work, but Mrs. Flanagan remembered that the children had been sick " in his absence and numberless small " extras had exhausted the family purse. There was invariably a small sheaf of letters requiring attention when Flanagan returned, and his wife would always contrive to sit near to observe the play of light upon his face as he opened the precious packets. There were letters from many counties and calls to many Churches, letters from Ministers expressing their gratitude for missions conducted in their churches, communications from men whose souls had been quickened by the fire of the Pentecost which had spread throughout their village, and assurances that the Churches were still praying for the servant of God who had led them into newness of

life. At Ilkeston on one occasion the post con- tained a letter which interested Mrs. Flanagan as much as her husband, and, when he had ceased shouting " Alleluia," they both knelt, 70 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN and Mrs. Flanagan was the first to pray. It was a moment of ecstasy, and their hearts were overwhelmed with gratitude, for the letter was from the Secretary of the Notting- ham Gospel Temperance Committee, stating that out of forty applicants Mr. Flanagan had been unanimously elected as their missionary, and that his parish would be the whole of the city, with the understanding that special attention should be given to Narrow Marsh. And accordingly the family removed from Ilkeston to Nottingham where Flanagan for a year and a half discharged the duties of city missionary with great success. The area of service was wide, embracing populous districts like Radford and Lenton, Bulwell and Hyson Green, Mapperley and Sneinton, the Meadows and Bridgford; but

Flanagan strenuously applied himself to it, and, with the aid of Mr. Joshua Pollard and Mr. James Pollard, created an organization which became the basis of effective temperance work. Gospel missions were held in all parts of the city and, whilst prominence was given to temperance propaganda, the Cross was exalted as supreme. Soul-stirring missions were held at Radford and Old Lenton and, as publicans closed their doors, Flanagan's NOTTINGHAM 71 voice was uplifted in speech and song on the Boulevards, proclaiming salvation to men cursed by drink and sin. Surrounded by strong temperance enthusiasts and loyal Christian workers whose interest was wider than creeds or Churches, he became arresting in gesture and speech, and men under the influence of liquor, tramps in search of a home, and women with damaged characters, followed the street singers and speakers to the Mission Hall where, in the midnight hour, they signed the pledge and, in many cases, surrendered themselves to Christ. Strips of blue ribbon were worn as badges and became common in the district. Total abstinence pledges were freely signed by men of temperate habits and, for the sake of example, teetotalers were badged with blue ribbon. Flanagan rejoiced in the revival of temperance enthusiasm and shouted " Glory " when he heard that taprooms were empty and snug bars deserted, but he wept like a child and prayed with tears surging down his face when a drunkard sought his Lord. He maintained that the soul could not be at rest without a Guest. It needed a Presence and must needs be filled with God. He taught that an empty house might become the habitation of scorpions and that 72 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN teetotalism was not a substitute for religion. Men needed God, and the drunkard a Saviour. Thrift might take the place of drunkenness, but sacrifice, service and love were the products of conversion. Flanagan found ample scope for revealing the need of a personal Saviour among the moral wrecks that frequented the lodging- houses in Narrow Marsh and its environs. The locality was historic and lent itself to the study of contrasts. Once the sun shone full-orbed upon it, and the elite of the city resided within its narrow streets ; but shadows had fallen, and it had become the home of the destitute and the refuge of criminals from the glare of the city. Because of its proximity to the offices and warehouses of the Lace Market, policemen watched it in the daytime and stood amidst its shadows at night. Flanagan undertook the task of leading the degraded inhabitants of this district to God. He made friends of the children and bought them sweets and buns from shops within sight of which they played. He stroked their unkempt hair and took them in his arms and kissed them. He brought them dolls and toys, and related in simple terms the story of the love of Jesus. He sang softly to them the hymns of the Sunday school, NOTTINGHAM 73 and they looked up into his face and wondered why he wept when singing :

" I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,

That His arms had been thrown around me : And that I might have seen His kind look when He said, 1 " Let the little ones come unto Me.'

He soon gained access to the homes of the people and became acquainted with their mode of life. He was able to distinguish between a regular inhabitant of the slum and a casual visitor. He became friendly with men of different nationalities, and the Irish element often mistook him for a reverend father of the Roman Catholic Church. Men learnt to confide in him, and their stories of tragic experience, waywardness and sin deepened his love for them. His name had a peculiar charm for them, for the fragrance of the shamrock was in it. When drink had lit big fires of passion within them and they quarrelled in the street, Flanagan could step amongst them and calm them with a word. They knew his goodness, tenderness, compassion, and obeyed because they loved him. It was in Narrow Marsh that Flanagan learnt the value of food-stuffs in the work 74 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN of saving the lost, and became the inimitable expositor of the Scripture passage, " This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.'* Patsie Dyer and his father, Pat, taught him the value of contact with the human in the interpretation of the spiritual. It was necessary to go down in the breaking of bread to understand fully a sacrament with God. Patsie Dyer was ragged, shoeless and cold when Flanagan found him crouching against the wall. His mother was dead and his father was " on the drink." Flanagan took him to a coffee tavern, watched him eat fat buns and drink hot coffee, and rubbed his cold feet and body until the blood surged freely through his veins again. Patsie adver- tised the miracle of buns and coffee, and his father learnt to pray and ceased to curse and drink. There were many Sabbaths during Flanagan's work in the slum when his feet never crossed the threshold of a church but when he held services in lodging-houses instead. The foot of the stairs was his pulpit and the back of a chair his reading desk. Men who had seen better days sometimes lingered whilst he prayed and preached. Artists whose gift of form and colour was destroyed by drink, spendthrifts who had .

NOTTINGHAM 75 wasted their substance and disgraced their father's name, young women who, to hide their blushes, had left their homes and broken- hearted mothers, listened attentively to his words. There were often more tears shed in those lodging-houses on a Sabbath morning than in all the stately churches of the city- Some of the inmates were once men of the morning, but the night had come before the sun had reached its meridian. Flanagan would pass from house to house and sometimes preach, and pray, and read from the Word of God at least ten times on a Sabbath day. During one of these services a poor, pale, shirtless youth crept into the house without a copper to purchase bread. Flanagan took him aside and spoke tenderly of the love of God. He broke down and wept. Re- luctantly he told the story of running away from home because he had robbed his mother, of joining a gang of thieves, being convicted of theft, and sent to a reformatory. He related the details of his escape and of a life spent upon the sea, and told how he had been

overtaken by ill health through hardship and cruelty and become a tramp, begging for food and shelter. Flanagan wrote to his mother, and received by return of post a letter urging her boy to return and containing 76 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN seven shillings and sixpence to pay his fare. He was washed, clothed, fed, and then sent home, where he climbed back to respectability and confidence. There was frequently discovered fine gold in broken caskets at the open-air meetings, and Flanagan enjoyed the fresh air services immensely. The mission party would sing at street corners and pass on to lodging- house doors en route to the " stand " where Flanagan would hold forth with great vehemence. Sometimes the peaceful meetings were disturbed by drunken men and a crowd would gather, but Flanagan rose above such objectionable occurrences and proclaimed a full and free salvation to the people. As the mission party sang one night, Lizzie, an outcast from Oldham, asked them to sing .

" God loved the world of sinners lost."

At the Mission Hall she wept her way into the Kingdom of God, and after two years in a " home," she re-entered society with a new name and lived a Christian life. Denis Crane, in his book, "James Flanagan: The Story of a Remarkable Career," gives a beautiful description of Flanagan's treatment " of a party of Irishmen passing the " stand on their way to the public-house. "He at NOTTINGHAM 77

once saw his opportunity and struck up in the

' brogue : A moment, me bhoys ! Glad to see ye. It's not lang since ye left the ould land. Ye remember the farewell, when the ould mother wid tears tould ye to be good and be shure

and come back safe ; and ye remember Biddy and the childer kissing your lips and wishing ye ' God speed ' at the cabin door, and askin' ye to keep clear of the whisky and bring the rint money that the roof might be over their heads another winter.' Whilst he was speaking one of them gave his neighbour a nudge and said, ' Begorra, Mike, he seems to know all about it,' and at the close several followed him to the Mission Hall and seven signed the pledge." But such versatility of mind did not pass unnoticed in the City, and his work among the poor and degraded won the esteem of Christian men who were eager for the social and religious betterment of the people. The poor and the working classes flocked to hear him preach, and in the market-place and Mission Hall deep impressions were made and sinners were converted. Occasionally he visited the Albert Hall and preached with marvellous power. The old Committee of Management was scattered and a new one was created, with Mr. Robert 78 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Mellors as President and Mr. Riley as Vice- President, and, the post of superintendent being vacant, Mr. Flanagan was urged to fill it. He shrank for a time from such a great undertaking, but at last he accepted the offer and for four years carried on an effective ministry. The success of the mission exceeded the most sanguine expectations. At the evening service the hall, which was capable of accommodating over two thousand people, was filled, and on festival occasions policemen were necessary to regulate the crowd that sought admission. The cases of conversion were so numerous that it became necessary to provide facilities for their spiritual culture, and for this purpose the Circus Street Hall was purchased at a cost of over £2000. A P.S.A. was organized, with a membership of two thousand five hundred men, and in the smaller hall Miss Mellors conducted a meeting for women, with a roll of eight hundred members. On Sunday morning at seven o'clock a body of working men, connected with the " Lung Tissue Class," assembled at the gates of the Arboretum and, accompanied by a professor from University College, marched into the countryside where they listened attentively to brief lectures on natura NOTTINGHAM 79 history. The mission was alive and the whole of the @ity was influenced by its ministries. When Flanagan resigned his charge to become a minister of the Primitive Methodist Church, the Committee of Management and the people of Nottingham were profoundly sorry. He shared their grief, for he was supremely happy in the work and he had learnt to love their city. But he was assured that the " call " was a part of the unfoldment of the Divine purposes and convinced that his duty lay along the path of obedience to the voice of God. He was the recipient of many parting gifts, and, as the people wished him " God speed," the authorities of the Albert Hall Mission presented him with a purse of gold and an illuminated address. It was signed by seventeen officials, and the text,

which speaks for itself, was as follows ;

To the Rev- James Flanagan. " The Committee of the United Gospel Mission and of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Classes meeting in the Albert Hall and Circus Street Hall, Nottingham, desire to record their regret at your departure for London, and their high appreciation of your services as Mission-Preacher. During the time you have laboured here your whole heart, mind 80 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN and energies have been directed to promote the well-being of the people. You have been unwearied in your visits to the sick, and in earnest and eloquent preaching have set before your hearers Life and Death, and have presented a living Christ as God's remedy for man's sin and misery. We earnestly pray that in your new sphere God's blessing may abundantly rest upon you." —

Chapter IX. REMOVAL TO LONDON

" Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain

and hill shall be made low : and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed." Isaiah xl. 4, 5.

Flanagan's popularity extended beyond the boundaries of the Albert Hall and he was brought into contact with the leaders of other Churches. He was known in Manchester as an effective preacher and a diligent worker, and merchants of the city offered him the superintendency of a mission at a salary of £300 per year, with a house and promise of a pension. The Congregationalists in Notting- ham also admired his work, and the Rev. Baldwin Brindley, of Castle Gate, asked him to take charge of the Church of Old Radford. But Flanagan's love was entwined around the Church which had witnessed his conversion, and, although he had conducted missions in many places and occupied positions of responsibility under the auspices of unsectarian authorities, his membership with the Primitive 82 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Methodists had not lapsed, nor had his name been deleted from the local preachers' list. As opportunities presented themselves, he cultivated friendship with its ministers and enjoyed comradeship with men like the Rev. G. P Clarke and the Rev. Benjamin Fell. He invariably contrived to be present at District Synods, and descriptive accounts of famous preachers like the Rev. Parkinson Milson and the Rev. J R. Taylor, who swayed the crowds with their eloquence, are recorded in his journals. He was occasionally invited by his friends to special meetings and given important work to do. He preached in Traffic Street, Derby, and made such a profound impression that he was invited to conduct a mission at Holderness Road, where more than two hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Shortly afterwards the Rev. Benjamin Fell came to reside in Nottingham and cultivated an intimate acquaintance with Flanagan. This friendship blossomed and soon bore fruit. There was much in common between them, and Flanagan opened his heart and revealed the desire of his soul. Fell discovered that Flanagan cherished the hope of finding a place in the brotherhood of ministers, and that he had actually prayed for many years that his REMOVAL TO LONDON 83 heart's desire might be realized. It was a dream which persistently haunted him and, although on two occasions his hopes had been dispelled, the vision was not destroyed. Fell earnestly desired to help in the realization of Flanagan's dreams and, being convinced of the suitability of his gifts and sincerity of his purpose, he decided to set machinery in motion to facilitate his entrance into the ministry. Nor had he long to wait. The Rev. James Travis visited his home in Nottingham and, as they talked about the problems of the London Churches and the need for a man to lead a forward movement, Fell introduced the question of Flanagan's recognition, and freely spoke of his outstanding gifts and his unstinted devotion to the work of saving men. Travis was impressed and, after an interview, was convinced that Flanagan was the man for the work which needed immediate attention in London. Accordingly he introduced his name at the Northampton Conference, of which the Rev. Dr. Joseph Ferguson was President. It was with characteristic caution that Flanagan's name was placed before the Con- ference as that of a suitable person to become a minister of the Church, and great opposition might have been aroused if the leaders of the G 2 84 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Church had not been impressed by the evangelist's power. For old regulations stand against anomalies and guard the gates from new proceedings. An old parliamentarian may, with a word, call out of ancient sepulchres a myriad ghosts and put into confusion an army of modern workers. The grave is often more potent than the cradle and the dead hand of the past more vigorous than the fingers of to-day. Dr. Parker never grew weary of declaring that it was often necessary to spoil a sermon to save a soul. The science of homiletics was never intended to bind a preacher in chains, nor the science of grammar to hamper the power of speech. They should be aids and not hindrances. " Loose him and let him go " are the orders which fell from the lips of Life, and they are Heaven's message to men who live too much among the tombs. When the Rev James Travis had presented the names of men who sought admission into the ministry and they had been accepted, he said, " I have one more name to propose to Flanagan but there the Conference—James ; is a difference between this brother and the others. All the other brethren are asking to be admitted. We are inviting this brother." Such a tactful presentation of the case reveals the wisdom of the man, now in the Homeland, REMOVAL TO LONDON 85

to whom the fortunes of a Church might have been safely left. When Dr. Antliff said, as he proposed the resolution to accept Flanagan, " We have all had to apply for admission, but if God goes out of His way to make an extra- ordinary man, ought not the Conference to " go out of its way to find a place for him ? the delegates lost sight of the restrictions pertaining to age and training and unanimously voted for his admission. And when he was congratulated as a brother among ministers there were many who realized that a new tributary, long pent up in a narrow channel, had been allowed to find its home in the ever broadening river of the Church. To use a Conference term, Flanagan was " stationed " at Trinity Street Church, Borough, London, and he arrived on Wednes- day, August 7th, 189 1. He had seen the city once before and had experienced the delight of " trippers," but he had not watched the glow of light upon the midnight sky nor heard the roar of traffic slowly subside into silence when London slept. He discovered the " Elephant '* and was surprised it was a public-house. He looked up the vistas of converging streets, and the endless movement of trams and omnibuses caused his brain to reel. Everything was strange. He wondered 86 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN why the famous centre was not termed " Menagerie " instead of " Elephant," for he had never witnessed such processions of quadrupeds and people. An Italian pitched his organ by the causeway, and hatless women, girls and boys, swarmed round and danced an Irish jig. Flanagan was surprised and wondered if the shamrock grew in Old Kent Road. Two youths had quarrelled and Flanagan saw them with their mates in the shadows of a yard settling their dispute in a kicking fight. He hastened to a policeman, and said, with a hint of Old Ireland in his speech, " " Somebody will be killed in yon yard, sir !

" Is there any obstruction ? " the officer asked. " No obstruction, but they are kicking each other to death." " Well, let them go on. Maybe they will kick a bit of sense into each other soon." The incident ended and Flanagan turned away, limp as water. He realized that stronger arms than his were needed in the district he had come to bless and that the people needed God. Flanagan had nearly forgotten the dis- comforts of the house in Avondale Square when he left on Sunday morning to begin his ministry in Trinity Street Chapel. He knew that diligent fingers would quickly work miracles of transformation in the dwelling, REMOVAL TO LONDON 87 for Mrs. Flanagan was an adept at housework, and those around her, capable of rendering assistance, were immersed in industry. They had already torn from the window the notice, " House to Let," and smoke had learnt to climb the chimneys. White linen adorned the tables and things were taking shape. He knew the home was in capable hands and that wife and children would soon be comfortable and happy. His great concern was Trinity Street Chapel, and he prayed that miracles of Grace might be witnessed amongst the people and Southwark cleansed from sin. The chapel was situated in a side street and for a considerable time had ceased to be an ornament to the neighbourhood. It had a history, for the members of the Catholic Apostolic Church once worshipped beneath its roof. They finally abandoned the premises, and the Missionary Committee acquired the lease. It was then that the members of Cole Street Mission Hall were transferred to Trinity Street and became the nucleus of a Church in this more commodious building. From the beginning the undertaking was unsuccessful and the Church frequently became a matter of grave anxiety to the Missionary Committee. More than ordinary men had championed the cause, such as Dr. Samuel Antliff, the Revs. 8S LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

William Wardle, James Pickett, George Bell, George Doe and Benjamin Senior. They were statesmen, preachers, and workers, of first- grade quality. The initial stages of their ministry were signalised by splashes and great expectations prevailed, but, with the passing of the years, the rising tides receded and flags fell limply back upon their standard-bearers. And the reason for such fluctuations and comparative failure was unsuitability of locality and premises. There was no crowd of people in that side street church to extend a greeting to the preacher from the provinces. The crowd was outside the building, moving along the busy streets, and making sundry Sabbath morning purchases of food which gives no sanctity to the soul. At the morning service six-and-thirty people lined the seats, and Flanagan recorded an attendance of thirty- seven at evening worship. The theme of discourse was the Dying Thief, and in the prayer-meeting one poor soul honestly sought the Saviour and found Him. The effect was electrical. The silence of the church was broken by shouts of triumph, and the prayer- leaders discerned in one converted man the hope of a restored Church and the prophecy of a redeemed humanity. "

Chapter X» SOUTHWARK

"To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears." Wordsworth.

Flanagan spoke hopefully to his Church in Trinity Street and the people shared his optimism. Ke unfolded his plans for the future, took the members into his confidence with respect to a " forward movement " in the neighbourhood, and urged them to cherish and foster the dream of spiritual success. " Southwark must be saved," he vehemently exclaimed, and hinted that there were in his mind certain means and methods by which the people of the locality could be brought into contact with the organizations and fellowships of the Church. He taught them that the pre-requisite to success is " life and that a living Church is unquenchable o LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN and irresistible. He reminded them of the " poor neighbourhood within a " stone's throw from their church door. He declared that their agencies must be a ministry to the poor and sin-stricken people, that their influence, at all times, must be directed towards the lost masses of Southwark, and even extend to the children of the streets. He drew a vivid picture of the desolation sin had made in the neighbourhood, of the unbridled reck- lessness of the people of the streets, and the degrading influence of drink. But he promulgated the authority and Kingship of Jesus and proclaimed Him as the Saviour of men. As an aid to success, Flanagan determined to know the district in which he worked, and to become acquainted with the life and needs of the people. He obtained a map of the Borough, and familiarised his mind with the names of roads and streets. Taking the church as a starting point, he gained an intimate acquaintance with Borough High Street, Great Dover Street, Marshalsea Road, Tabard Street and Long Lane. He explored the courts and alleys which lay hidden behind main thoroughfares, and became as familiar with men and things as any policeman in the area. There were places of supreme SOUTHWARD 91 interest to the student of life, where tragedy and comedy embraced each other. There were scenes to fill the eyes with tears and sights to dimple the cheeks with laughter. A man might laugh and weep within a minute, for some go down in slumdom with faces stained with tears and others submerge in mirthful mood. In the " Mint," a nest of lodging-houses, there were many lost coins, some for whom the police were searching and others always shadowed. They were watched at night like dogs returning home, and the eye of the Law was upon them as they strayed out in the morning. It was a haunt of criminals, thieves, and magdalens of the streets, for like attached itself to like. They had secrets too precious to reveal outside their class, and thief could speak to thief by signs, without the utterance of a word. Within easy distance stood the old " Hen and Chickens," the public-house to which Wainwright brought the mutilated body of Harriet Lane and, not far away, the Red Cross Court in which hundreds of people lived amidst .frightful conditions. In this court dwelt a professional burglar, who was afterwards hanged at the Old Bailey for taking the life of his confederate, and within its shadows there existed a common lodging- 93 LIFE Of JAMES FLANAGAN house in which thirteen murders had been committed. Such haunts of wickedness had a fascination for Flanagan and, having gained admission to their wretched dwellings, he embraced every opportunity of leading the people to God. He might have acted otherwise and his work might have been a ministry to a better class. Trinity Street, in which his church was situated, was socially a paradise compared with Borough High Street, Tabard Street, or the corner of " The Blue-eyed Maid," and the contrast between the district overlooked by the tall spire of St. George's Church and the quieter roads and streets upon which the stately tower of Trinity Church looks down, was as great as that between a cultivated garden and a wilderness. Flanagan does not seem to have been moved to action by the sight of tall respectable houses in the immediate neighbourhood of Trinity Street Chapel, but his zeal flamed and his heart dilated with tender pity when he looked upon the battered dwellings of the degraded poor. The expenditure of a few hundred pounds might have furnished Trinity Chapel and built a modern heating apparatus within its walls. It might have been made cosy for a class of people to whom Flanagan's SOUTHWARK 93 pulpit gifts appealed, and five hundred souls might have been brought into communion with a worshipful Church. But Flanagan's sense of evangelism did not move along such lines. It sought contact with crowds and shed its tears in courts and alleys where the songs and messages of the Evangel were but rarely heard. Even to conceive the idea of a " forward movement " on behalf of outcasts in the Borough slums reveals the faith and passion of Flanagan's soul, and to attempt the ex-

pression of such an idea is an indication of the existence of strength. The sight of such a district might have withered the enthusiasm

of twenty ordinary men ; but Flanagan spent two years at least in moving to and fro among the slums, and clung tenaciously to the district for nine years afterwards. He had however measured his task and sought to realize his dreams. He was convinced that the neighbourhood should be aroused and that the Gospel should be proclaimed in streets, slums and alleys. He recognized the value of the senses—sight, hearing, taste—as avenues through which beneficent ministries might freely move, and spoke to his devoted band of workers about Bunyan's allegories respecting " Ear-Gate " and " Eye-Gate " 94 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN as doors through which " Mansonl " is reached. It was along these lines that Flanagan made an irresistible appeal to the people of Southwark. A mission-band was organized and rendered successful service. Popular sacred hymns were sweetly sung in courts and dingy alleys, and the language of religion was freely spoken in places where forms of speech were vile. When the confidence of the people was gained Flanagan obtained permission to hold brief services in lodging-houses, and, under the influence of speech and song, many a prodigal found comfort in the revelation of a Father's love. But it was necessary to exercise great discretion in the selection of a theme on which to speak. Once a speaker spoke of Hell as a place prepared for sinners, and, as he described its ever burning fires, a man, flinging open the door, passionately drove the missioners into the street, asserting that Hell was here and they feared no other. It was a long time before Flanagan could correct the mischief of that indiscreet address and gain access to that house again. It was not the appeal to their homelessness and desolation that broke their hearts but the realization that they were missed when the Shepherdhood of God counted ninety and SOUTHWARK 95 nine in the fold, and one away. Sometimes the missing one came home in response to the call of Love, but there was no sign of repen- tance if a bayonet was revealed. Once, in the gloaming of the evening, a whole district was aroused and th greatest interest prevailed. Trinity Street B s Band had made its first adventure into e open and played music in the court. Doors were opened, window casements were lifted, and the people breathlessly listened to " Rock of Ages " and " Tell me the old, old Story." Church members sang alternate verses and, as the silence deepened, Flanagan stepped forward and spoke tenderly of Heaven. "It is not far from us," he said. " No, not far away, and Jesus is in the midst of it. It is the home of little children, and many of them who once lived in this city and played in these streets are there. When the angels took them away their mothers wept and many hearts were sad. They are quite safe now and have everything they need. They are clothed in white robes and have palms in their hands. They listen to beautiful music and they wear crowns of gold.

? " Wouldn't you like to see them he inquired ; "they are expecting us to join them, my friends, and by the Grace of God we will." 96 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Then the Brass Band led the people to the chapel, and many hatless women followed, while others returned to their rooms to think and weep in silence. It is unwise, however, to take too much for granted in the evangelisation of the slum, and caution is as necessary as enthusiasm when appealing to the degraded poor. Success might be long deferred or rendered impossible by one imprudent act. There is an etiquette of the slum which Christian workers must not fail to recognize, and the right of approach in courts and alleys is as binding as in the higher circles of social life. There are frontiers it is perilous to cross without permission, and to enter slumland without consent involves great risks. Flanagan knew this and acted accordingly. When a number of ladies of Paisley Church, with Mrs. Gardener of Saltcoats, presented the mission with a lantern and complete accessories, Flanagan's difficulty was to get it into the slum. It was an innovation and might be resented. He therefore visited the locality and, by revealing his purpose and dilating upon the excellence of the pictures, obtained the interest and co-operation of the people. They assisted him in driving nails into the walls of a disused building and in fixing the screen in the open SOUTHWARK 97 yard, and took a lively interest in the proceedings. Hundreds of people gathered round as Flanagan eloquently described the pictures, and, though mischievous boys had been a source of trouble during the evening and little quarrels had taken place in the crowd, the mission-band with its entertaining and refining lantern was unanimously requested to come again. It was to meet the needs of boys who climbed the street lamps or crouched in the unhealthy shadows of the slum that Flanagan instituted a gymnasium in the church. Healthy forms of recreation were provided and weekly " drills " established. Qualified teachers volunteered their services, the simple rules of health were clearly taught, and lessons in the art of breathing, walking, leaping and jumping were freely given. The teachers were vigorous disciplinarians and insisted upon cleanliness and obedience. Within a few months the change in the personal appearance of the boys was phenomenal and their smart- ness was remarkable. Under the benignant influences of physical training and Christian teaching the boys grew in respectability and became respectful in their manners. They developed into advertisers of their institution, and it became common for a lad who had H 98 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN experienced the warmth of Christian love to secure the entrance of another into the friendly Guild. Some of them became teachers of physical drill themselves, sharing the work of their instructors, and many of them became identified with the religious movements of the Church. Many little girls and boys found access to the vestibule of Trinity Street Chapel and peeped through the side doors at their big brothers " at drill." Flanagan often saw them, and frequently they greeted him with upturned faces in the narrow streets and alleys in which their little flower-life unfolded. He had witnessed their love of the beautiful and discerned the tenacity with which they clung to pretty things like bits of imitation jewellery obtained from penny lucky packets. Sometimes he would carry into their homes a bunch of primroses and give each child a few- They kissed and smelled and fondled them and called them beautiful flowers. Flanagan remembered the " rock from which he had been hewn " and, as the memory of toyless, playless days returned, he wiped a tear away. It was then he conceived the idea idea took of a Festival of Dolls, and soon the shape. Appeals for help were rapidly dis- patched and responses were not withheld SOUTHWARK 99

Money was forwarded to the mission from many places, friends gladly sent contributions of dolls, and manufacturing firms sent sample parcels for distribution among the children of the poor. The church was suitably decorated, the vestries were packed with food, and many children's games arranged. There was never such mirth, such tea drinking and such cake. It seemed as though a part of Heaven had been flung into Trinity Chapel and filled it. But the event of the day was when boys received their toys and girls their dolls. Everybody clapped and clapped again, and young and old were happy ; and in the dull, unattractive homes of those children, there were mothers who were reminded of unforgettable incidents in their own lives and who longed for the innocence and contentment of earlier days. It was to the lost sheep of Southwark that Flanagan turned for inspiration in his work. Their needs excited his compassion and he would have gathered those wretched slaves of vice beneath the wings of tender pity. Several of the roughest people had responded to his sympathetic touch and their feet had been directed into royal roads. Christian love had dug for him a way into the frowning wilderness of unshed tears, and not a man in the district H 2 too LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

had shown him disrespect in the discharge of Christian duty. His Irish name served the best of purposes, and degraded men lost suspicion in his presence. He frequently rejoiced in his work and was deeply moved when a sinner sought his God. He often pleaded with new recruits and urged them to be watchful and cautious lest they should go astray. He never limited for a moment the sustaining Grace of God, but he knew that

saved men might lose their way and fall. The holiday seasons gave Flanagan much concern. He could trust new converts in the workshops, but an idle day might lead to ruin. He was invariably glad when festive seasons were passed and fervently gave thanks if there was no case of failure to record. He was nervous of Hampstead Heath, Clapham Common and Reigate, and trips on the river filled him with alarm. The people with whom he dealt might fall into a thousand traps which the holiday mood created, and in Southwark it seemed as though the " Devil was let loose." It was on behalf of the people that Flanagan organized the August Bank Holiday Festival and sought to provide for them better things than dancing saloons and public-houses. It was intended to be a counter-attraction to SOUTHWARK iol the side-shows of the Trade, and the purpose was accomplished, for many a man who might have been drawn into the vortex of worldly pleasure found his way home with a clear mind and a happy heart. On the first occasion of the festival Dr. Joseph Ferguson from the provinces spoke fervently in the streets, zealously applied himself to all the services of the Church, and delivered vital messages to the people. As early as seven in the morning the faithful members of Trinity Street Chapel rallied to their work. They marched through the streets, sang and prayed in courts and alleys, and invited the people to join them. The chapel was soon rilled and, as the day advanced, became a hive of industry. People from sister Churches came to the meetings and rendered unstinted service. The Spirit of God came upon them and the services were electrical with power. Men of the world were initiated into the Kingdom of Grace and found in Christ an unfailing friend. Three hundred pounds was cast into the treasury that day, and office-bearers beamed with gratitude ; but as they saw the splash of starlight in the sky on their homeward journey they rejoiced most because, for the first time in the history of Southwark, the Church of God had attempted the work 102 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN of rescue amidst the appalling fascinations of a South-East London holiday. The success of the Festival was promoted by the influence of The Helping Hand, a monthly periodical gratuitously circulated in the neighbourhood. Two thousand copies per month were taken to the homes of the people by a dozen active and willing distributors. It widened Flanagan's influence and brought the mission into prominence. It was a plain, unpretentious periodical, with a print of the chapel on the front page and sundry advertisements on the back cover. It had for its aim the religious improvement of the people, and it sought to carry into their homes echoes of the teaching and ministries of the Church. In addition to " Thoughts on Current Events," " Notices of Meetings " and " Monthly Notes," The Helping Hand included a sermon preached in the pulpit of Trinity Street Chapel, a column of information called " The Children's Corner," and a devotional article entitled " The Church in the Home." A few extracts from the August number of 1892 reveal the quality of the information, the alertness of the Church officials and the skill of the contributors. " A popular Service of Song, The Pioneers of Primitive Methodism, will be rendered by SOUTHWARK *n3

the Choir on Sunday, the 31st of July. The service is effective and deserves well patroni- sing. In the readings there is a graphic description of a Primitive Methodist Camp Meeting. The scenes are from life and are depicted with marvellous power. The Church

service is composed of the old hymns and tunes sung by our fathers in the days of the Connexion's infancy- The Service will be a treat. We hope the chapel will be full. The reader will be our friend, Sergeant Evison."

" We would desire our members to be more zealous in their attendance at the class- meetings and prayer-meetings. Everybody to pray for a revival. Every stranger to be received with brotherly kindness. All our members to attend the open-air Dissolving- View Service. Each member to bring a friend to the public services. Men and women } to be ' headlong for Christ and to promise to do something every day for the Saviour."

" Sister Birch is doing her best to obtain from lady and gentleman friends enough trays for the tea on Bank Holiday Monday. We hope she will be successful. She is anxious, as we all are, that the total proceeds of the tea should go to swell the amount raised on 104 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN that day. If any lady or gentleman, who may read this, desires to assist us in our endeavours to raise £500 by August for the Cause of God, and would like to give a tray for the public tea, Sister Birch will be very glad to wait upon them or to hear from them."

By extending the range of pulpit messages The Helping Hand made a wide appeal. To the aged it said, "" You, whose hairs are white with years and whose feeble limbs betoken a speedy dissolution, with a misspent life behind you and an eternity of helplessness before you, with no shelter from the storm and no hiding-place for your guilty head, " what will you do in the swellings of Jordan ? And to the man with the misspent life these words were directed, " Bankrupt of good, you have sown to the wind and you are reaping the whirlwind. Your boasted freedom has become a dance in chains. The devil has befooled you. You have made a bad bargain.

Throw up the sponge ! Lift both hands to Jesus, but be quick, for the day is ending." In the " Children's Corner " the story of " A Little Bootblack " appeared. " A hundred years ago there was a little boy in Oxford who cleaned the boots of the students in the —

SOUTHWARK 105 famous University. He was poor, but bright and smart. By his prompt and hearty way of doing things he won the admiration of the students. They saw in him the promise of a man, and proposed to teach him a little every day. He was eager to learn, and soon surpassed his teachers. He went on step by step, conquered many difficulties, and grew up to be a man The little bootblack was afterwards known to the world as George Whitefield, the famous preacher and orator." The column, " Church in the Home," was intended to make the house a sanctuary, and the following tender prayer appeared in the

August number : " Our Father in Heaven, Thou who art the source of all light, and life, and love, and purity, we humbly bow before Thee. We feel most unworthy as we come into Thy presence, but we venture to come with confidence, since Thou hast said, ' Seek ye My face.' We come feeling our need of pardon and forgiveness of sin. We need cleansing from all impurities of heart and lip. Our

garments are soiled and travel-stained ; our feet are weary with wandering so far from Thee. We come, blessed Jesus, to find rest and refreshment in Thee, and we beseech io6 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Thee to exchange our deep-dyed robes of earth for those of purity and sweetness. Clothe us even now, we pray, in the robe of righteousness ! Just now we earnestly desire to be washed and made perfectly whole. Lord, give us faith to believe Thou hast granted what we plead for. For Christ's " Sake, Amen ! The influence of The Helping Hand upon the Church and neighbourhood was great, and many people found comfort in its pages. To test its value after a year of trial, Flanagan asked the distributors of the periodical to become collectors in their respective districts. The work was gladly undertaken and coppers were solicited from the people in their homes. No one refused to give, and " Thanks for calling " fell from the people's lips. " Just what we wanted," one mother said, " and our little Liz has learnt that little hymn." " And here's a penny for the box," said another. " We love that paper with the chapel on the front. I've been saving pennies for it and have been expecting you to call." " It's been a bit of comfort to me in this sick room. Fetch my waistcoat, mother," said a poor cripple, and, pouring his savings into the collector's box, requested the visitor to come again. SOUTHWARK 107

When the boxes were opened, it was found that six pounds had been contributed, and, as the stewards recorded the amount, Flanagan was convinced that The Helping Hand had a snug place in the affections of the people. ;

Chapter XI.

PROSPECTING

" It seemed as if the breezes brought him, It seemed as if the sparrows taught him As if by secret sight he knew Where in far fields the orchis grew." Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The work of Trinity Street Mission continued to succeed. New interests were created and additional members joined the Church each week. From London Bridge, along Borough High Street to the South-East London Tube Station, and onwards to the chapel, the people of the district were more or less influenced by its agencies. The Sunday morning services were well attended, and in the evening the chapel was invariably filled. Organizations came into existence to meet the needs of the young people whose interests were bound up with the mission, and the Board school was rented to accommodate the children of the neighbourhood. The brass band continued its practices, gave selections PROSPECTING 109 of music at great meetings, and accompanied mission parties into the streets and courts of the district. Temperance enthusiasts distributed circulars amongst the people, and in the Bands of Hope, which were established in the Church, the children of the School were taught the evils of intemperance. The Girls' Parlour, another institution, thrived under the supervision of devoted women, and many girls from uncongenial dwellings found comfort in its ministries. Their teachers sought to throw around them a refining atmosphere, and their success was marvellous. The girls, like flowers, appropriated the sunshine of the Parlour. Harsh, rasping voices learnt to speak in whispers, and untidiness disappeared amidst the evidences of taste. The records of service during this period are astounding and full of interest. The Church, in widening its boundaries, extended its ministries of Grace along Old Kent Road. Mission-bands multiplied and a string-band leaped into existence. Additional lodging- house keepers were consulted, arrangements were made for services to be conducted on their premises, and relays of enthusiastic speakers were commissioned to hold services for the inmates. Open-air meetings were organized on Saturday night to counteract no LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the pernicious influences of the street, and, after the Sunday night service, the whole Church assembled under the starlit sky to proclaim the infinite love of God. It was an exhausting task to keep pace with such a multitude of agencies. They demanded careful superintendence, a sympathetic touch and cautious treatment. Generally the machinery moved smoothly and harmony prevailed, but there were times when misunderstandings occurred and peace was threatened. The finer qualities of soul, like forgiving love, which has no memory, are often late arrivals. The soul must have its winter before such tender leaves appear upon the tree of life. The real age of the soul may be estimated and its frosty winters counted when men review their organizations in a committee. Flanagan was always glad when committees were called from labour to refreshment, and he loved the prayer- meeting more than the Annual Assembly, But he managed men well, for he carried a lighted torch within his breast, and those with limited discernment saw their sphere of toil enlarge and glow" when Flanagan threw light upon it. He was aided by competent men who sympathised with his intentions and cheered PROSPECTING in him in his work. They shared his enthusiasm and climbed to higher levels that they might discern things in true perspective. They were ideal leaders in whose souls the arrogance of mastership had perished. Unconsciously they led each other, and their mutual agreements were as binding as the provisions of the Sacred Law. Such men as James Gledhill and J T. Smith, James Hoskins and William Dack, Frederick Haines and Harry Hoskins, J Dyer and H. G. Matthews, were his helpers. They stood on high ground and responded to the call of Duty with the glow of the morning sun upon their faces. They were men of enlightenment, and their gifts were under the control of love. They made sacrifices for their Church and held its interest in sacred trust. They exerted an influence for good and were held in great esteem. Flanagan was proud of them and he appreciated their work. He knew their value and made records in his diary in esteem of their worth. He knew the ship was safe with such a crew and that mutiny was impossible. He welcomed them to the councils of the Church, and the committee room- was frequently the vestibule of Heaven. But there were times when Flanagan was fagged and his genius seemed to be imprisoned. There were moments when H2 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN his thought refused to flow and his words were inexpressive. There were occasions when he longed to be alone, and, at the close of meetings, disappeared before a friendly hand could be extended. It was then he needed an interpreter, and his leaders never failed to meet that urgent need. They remembered his mountain-rapture of a previous day, his unqualified denunciation of evil, his brilliant exaltation of right, his fervent appeal for an immediate acceptance of Christ, and they measured him by the standard of the heights and disregarded the dejection of the valley. It was in their business councils that they saw the need of additional agents in the district. The boundaries of the Church had widened and its organizations had increased. They reasoned that additional agents would lead to increased success and relax the strain of work experienced by their chief. They accordingly agreed to engage the services of a Sister of the People, and Sister Alice was employed. She was an excellent woman and did splendid work. She carried sunshine into dark homes and nursed sick mothers back to health. She enlisted the services of the womenfolk, and, through their industry, bazaars sprang into existence. She stayed PROSPECTING 113 with the people for several years, moving amongst them like an angel, and her name is fragrant to-day. They requisitioned also the services of Mr. Maurice Williams, a lay missioner. His engagement was described as an experiment, but it proved successful. He was a Welshman and was endowed with the fervour of his native land. He worked full-heartedly and exerted a wonderful influence in the lodging-houses of the locality. It was soon after the retirement of Mr. Maurice Williams that Dr. Joseph Ferguson recommended Mr. John Moseley of Darlaston, Staffordshire, as a suitable successor. There was a Providence in his appointment which Flanagan never failed to recognize. He was large-hearted and high-minded and had a genius for work. So versatile were his gifts that he made an excellent substitute for Flanagan in the pulpit, and the lodging-house services were safe in his hands. He could conduct a business meeting and lead the mind of a committee to right conclusions. But he excelled amongst the poor, for he had a tender touch, and. out of the abundance of his sympathy he soothed their sorrows and made provision for their needs. The people loved him, and drunkards, gamblers and sensualists revered and respected him. In his presence ii4 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the swearer's lips were closed. He became a kind of crystal glass through which sinful men discerned the purity of God. When George R. Sims was collecting information on which to build " The Children's Charter," he accompanied John Moseley into the slums. They visited homes of vice and poverty in courts and alleys, and Mr. Sims afterwards said to the Rev. Joseph Johnson, " I have travelled much, I have acquainted myself with every phase of life and have met all classes of people, but I cannot leave you without saying that your man, John Moseley, is the nearest approach to the Good Samaritan I have ever seen." He loved the people and they loved him. His shadow falling across their lives was a tender benediction. Although he has been called to the Homeland and has joined the " shining host," yet in this day there are many who attribute all they have and know to his patient love. What Flanagan owed to John Moseley it is impossible to calculate. He was his aide-de- camp and assisted him to realize his dreams, for already Flanagan had hinted his ultimate plans to many friends by speaking of great undertakings. He had begun the work of prospecting for another site. He was convinced that Trinity Street Chapel was unsuit- PROSPECTING 115 able for the work which God had called hirn to accomplish, and, although the building might be materially altered and adjusted to the work of preaching, it could never become the centre of social agencies and the heart of a forward movement worthy of the Church to which it belonged. But it was necessary to move cautiously, for there were many minds to satisfy and many difficulties to overcome. It is easier to build a block of flats than to erect a House of Prayer. The enterprise of an individual carries the former through, but the wisdom and authority of committees are necessary for the latter. Prospecting for a site was an enjoyable occupation to Flanagan. It suited the mind and temper of such a " free lance," and many times he stood beside a plot of land calculating its dimensions before he was startled by the semblance of a committee taking shape within his mind. He had read of illustrious men doing great things in far-off distant days, but he forgot that times had changed and that governments had come into existence. His early training had not helped him to submit with smiling face to an authority higher than himself. He sometimes wondered if the Decalogue would have been exactly what it is if Moses had submitted it to a

I 2 n6 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN committee. It was hard for Flanagan "to kick against the pricks," and, though at times his heel was raised and the fires of revolt flamed within him, he was shrewd enough to proceed cautiously with regard to building schemes. The need for making arrangements for the material safety of the Church became urgent, and a scheme was propounded to modernise and enlarge Trinity Street premises. The cost of such alterations involved an outlay of £10,000, and if Trinity House had shewn some interest in the undertaking the scheme might have matured. But when the trustees applied to the Elder Brethren for the purchase of a few yards of land, their application was rejected, and when they requested a renewal of the lease, their desire was met by a demand for an additional ground rent. Subsequently, after repeated attempts to acquire a renewal of the lease at a reasonable rent, negotiations were closed and an immovable barrier was flung across the path of progress with respect to the development of religious work in Trinity Street Chapel. The committee's failure to arrive at terms with Trinity House was a tonic to Flanagan's zeal, for he could see how work for Eternity might end with the time-limits of a lease, PROSPECTING 117 but he felt the constraint of the obligation to provide a home for a Church that might be homeless. He, therefore, continued the work of prospecting for a site. In the course of his explorations he discovered two available plots, but these were promptly vetoed by the committee. Afterwards it was thought advisable to approach the Corporation of London, who owned several sites in the district. To Flanagan's great surprise the site in Old Kent Road was offered at an annual ground rent of £122 10s., and, with the option of purchase within a period of seven years, at a cost of £3,500. The offer was heartily accepted by the Missionary Committee, and forces were set in motion which made it possible for the work which had begun in Trinity Street Chapel to be perpetuated by the erection of St. George's Hall in one of the dark districts of London, Chapter XII. THE OPEN WAY

" What's become of Waring Since he gave us all the slip, Chose land-travel or seafaring, Boots and chest or staff and scrip, Rather than pace up and down " Any longer London-town ? Browning.

The Missionary Committee lost no time in securing the lease of the valuable site in Old Kent Road, and proceeded forthwith to ascertain the approximate cost of a building to meet the needs and aim of a forward movement in the district. Messrs. Banister Fletcher and Sons, a firm of high-class architects, were consulted, and plans and designs were submitted. After certain amendments and modifications of the plans, it was roughly estimated that the cost of the building would be £6,500. It was considered to be a gigantic undertaking and gave birth to considerable debate. But the discussion THE OPEN WAY 119 was quite justifiable, and, as time has proved, the decision was satisfactory. Flanagan was greatly concerned with respect to the proposal to build a hall in Old Kent Road, and attended the committee with forebodement. He was afraid lest the morning of dreams would not blend with the evening of fact. He knew that different men would view the proposal differently, and he could not gauge the violence of the thunder-storm which might lie hidden behind the eyebrows of his brethren. There were men in that representative committee whose mathematical skill was unquestionable, but they might arrive at conclusions with the bankruptcy court in sight. There were also men whose powers of calculation had become active when the treasury was exhausted, and who had not forgotten the vision of " white elephants " moving like ghosts among ruined castles. But Flanagan lived to learn that a few unlifted hands when " votes " were taken might be regarded as a sign of sanity ; and though a trip to Snowdon with a vision of the rocky summit might put a dash of poetry into many resolutions, yet the sight of numerous " derelicts " might justly balance poetry with prose. 120 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

It could not therefore be expected that a forward movement in South-East London, involving an outlay of many thousand pounds, could pass unchallenged and uncriticised. Heaven and earth do not always meet at the command of whims and fancies, and a ladder of communication is essential for such mutual and enriching experiences. But the link which united the sphere of dreams with the world of fact was supplied when Flanagan, true to his vision and with unfailing faith in God and man, offered to raise £4,500 if the committee would grant the balance of £2,000, since all he needed at the moment was an open way into the Societies of the Connexion. The challenge was accepted, the grant was made, authority to appeal to the Churches was given, and Flanagan passed into the open with a burden upon his shoulders to begin the greatest task of his life. He approached it as an idealist, but with tremendous faith in the potencies of work. Flanagan was sane and shrewd. He combined with idealism a well-rounded realism. He never forgot the things of earth when his Celtic imagination soared beyond the rim of the visible, and he knew that many prayers must needs be answered among the looms of industry. As the gigantic task shaped itself THE OPEN WAY 121 in his mind he found it clinging to his soul, but it was impossible to say " This one thing I do," for the charge of Trinity Street Chapel urged its claims. Nor had he much to show, except a site in Old Kent Road on which there stood a public-house called the " Old Kent Tap." Was it possible to raise £4,500 by dilating upon the probable demolition of such an establishment ? Were there a thousand people outside of London who were sufficiently anxious about Bermondsey and Southwark to keep them wakeful a single moment beyond their normal sleeping hour ? And as he pondered, the semblance of his task crept closer and a speechless nightmare gripped his soul. He wandered aimlessly into court and alley and scanned the district called his " parish." He heard the cry of Distress and listened to the sobbing voice of Want. He saw the havoc drink had made. He beheld the slaves of tyrants bound in chains. He raised his nervous fingers to his face and wiped away a tear. He leaned against the shadowed wall and wondered why the fires of Hell burnt so fiercely in a slum. Was Heaven asleep and only Hell awake ? He hastened to the Borough Road and, standing within sight of whisky shops and drinking 122 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN taverns, cried aloud to God. He longed for the open spaces, and, travelling to Clapham Common, looked into the starlit vault. He watched the crescent moon hanging like a silver cradle in the sky. Then, kneeling on the earth, he prayed for strength to do his work, and a voice, distinct and clear, said, " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel "—and he resolved to do it. It was, therefore, along religious lines that Flanagan made his appeal for funds to build St. George's Hall. His resolve to preach preserved him from the tragedy of mendicity. He linked his purpose to the Cross, and preached for souls. It was work which suited him, and, as engagements multiplied, he found his throne therein. He devoted every gift of mind and heart to the work of saving men, and his influence among the Churches widened. Believing in the reality of sin, he proclaimed the doctrine of repen- tance. Having lived amongst lost sheep, he could describe the works of the Devil. He therefore drew lightning portraits of thieves and drunkards, of gamblers and magdalens, of tyrants and slaves ; and so vivid were the word-pictures that men trembled and cried for mercy THE OPEN WAY 123

One night when preaching in a Midland town from the text, " Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke, then a ransom cannot deliver thee," the con- sciences of many were aroused as the terror of God's impending judgment was faithfully declared. Men were smitten by the force of truth and the church was electric with the power of the Spirit. Flanagan urged the people to seek the shelter of the Cross. Many gladly did so, but hundreds rushed from the building as though impelled by a spirit of obstinate rebellion. A woman rose to go. Passing into the porch, she leaned against the wall.

" Are you ill ? " someone enquired. " I am lost beyond recovery," she replied. " Surely not ! there is mercy for all," said the Christian worker. " For all but me," she moaned. " " Why not for you ? " I am past it. I have sinned against the light and God's stroke has come upon me." The woman spent the night in great distress of mind, but on the following day she con- fessed her sins before God, and, in the presence of Flanagan and other Christian people, her smitten soul found healing in the forgiving love of God. I24 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

His message to the Churches was luminous and definite. He believed in the absolute surrender of every gift and power to God. He pleaded for purity of life and singleness of aim. He taught that an unsanctified life was a hindrance to prosperity and that men should be clean in thought and upright in life. He held that the practice of unfair dealings and bad ethics unfitted men to lead off in the prayer-meetings of the Church and that power was destroyed when character was lost. He taught that unworldliness was the secret of Pentecost and that God could not be seen except through the lens of a clean life. The influence of his teaching was wider than even the evangelist himself anticipated, for the vow of consecration was made in hundreds of instances without his knowledge. Business men resolved to put more conscience into transactions of trade. Ministers prayed for preparation of heart for the supreme work of the Churches, and, when preparing their sermons, carefully and prayerfully considered the appeal for immediate acceptance of Christ. Men felt ashamed of their attainments. They sought new enrichments of Grace. They carried from the services new visions of God and new conceptions of life. Prayer- meetings were revived in their respective THE OPEN WAY 125 churches and new religious interests were created. There were times when Flanagan gleaned an immediate harvest, and, amidst the songs of the harvest-field, his soul was strengthened. At an afternoon " Bible Reading " service such an occasion was provided, and " deep called to deep " as heart-searching words were spoken. Ministers, preachers, leaders and Christian workers were present, and, as the Spirit's gentle light fell upon the Sacred page, he pleaded for a full surrender to God. He dilated upon the truth that God desired to fill men's lives and to make them the partners of His Throne ; that as He transfigured Jesus so He could transfigure all who relied upon Him for Salvation. He widened the circle of representative Christian men, and claimed that every minister, preacher, leader and Christian worker could be the representative of God. He maintained that men, consciously or unconsciously, restricted the action of the Grace of God, and regretted that self-interest was a barrier over which the Holy Spirit could not pass, for it savoured of the earth and kept the powers of Heaven away. Then as the Spirit's gracious influence fell upon the people, men in varied walks of life, feeling their need of God, reverently laid —

126 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

themselves at His feet : and it was an unforgettable experience when they sang :

" And if our fellowship below In Jesus be so sweet, What heights of rapture shall we know, " When round His Throne we meet !

Flanagan's original resolution " to preach the Gospel " was so faithfully kept that the majority of the people who thronged the chapels in the city, town and village, did not apprehend that he was an enthusiastic representative of a building scheme, and that fervent preaching and devotional services were sources from which streams of generosity would burst forth. But Flanagan knew it, for he had felt the weight of the burden on the Sabbath day and in the mission-services of the week, and was expecting much from God and the people. He knew that a glad heart implies a generous hand and that a God-filled soul responds to the call of human need. His lectures were pictures of South- East London life and studies in light and shade. Sometimes he would speak for an hour, and then at the request of the enraptured audience, continue for a longer period, on some occasions speaking three hours at length. What such deliverances implied it is not THE OPEN WAY 127 difficult to conceive, for exhaustion and reaction necessarily ensued. There were times, however, when it was necessary to urge the claims of the South- East London Mission. For example, when telling "The Story of my Parish" in a crowded church in the North, he made use of some local information which had impressed him. After speaking for nearly two hours, he suddenly paused in the midst of an impassioned appeal for funds, and leaning— over the pulpit, said in solemn tones : " I understand that

some of you believe in fairies ; that some of you on several occasions have actually seen them." Then standing erect, his eyes twinkling with mirth, he continued, " But in the name of the Lord unless you give me another collection for this laudable object you will see goblins before reaching home to- night."

There was much laughter ; and the stewards, good naturedly, took up the second collection, which amounted to more than seven pounds. Flanagan as a preacher differed from Flanagan as a lecturer, as Elijah of the Cave differed from Elijah of the Mount. The sermon disclosed a saint, the lecture revealed a hero. The one implied asceticism, the other denoted chivalry. He reached great 128 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN heights of eloquence in his lectures and touched great depths of pathos. Wit and humour flashed amidst unclashing sentences, and his gift of mimicry found ample scope for action. No one privileged to hear those lectures could forget them, and the memory of that tall, lithe figure, with arm outstretched and nervous hand extended, pleading like a prophet for funds to aid the poor and needy in London, is undying. The success of these gigantic efforts was remarkable. Chapels were filled, and in some instances overflow meetings were held in schools or other available buildings, and Flanagan passed from one crowd to another with a vital message upon his lips. The people seemed to be oblivious of time, and, leaving a crowded building at a late hour, would face without a murmur the long walk to their distant homes. Then frequently Flanagan would catch a midnight train en route for home, and in the early hours of the morning would report the success of the meetings to those who patiently awaited his return. It was tiring, taxing work. There was saddled to it the superintendency of Trinity Street Mission, the editorship of a monthly magazine, the writing of periodic appeals and THE OPEN WAY 129 the oversight of their circulation, and a pile of correspondence. But it was work which led to success, for, in less than two years, and before the estimates had been received from the builders, Flanagan had raised in cash and promises the sum of four thousand five hundred pounds.

K ;

Chapter XIII A MONUMENT

" A Cathedral Pure and Perfect, Built by that only Law, that Use be suggester

of Beauty ; Nothing concealed that is done, but all things done to adornment Meanest utilities seized as occasions to grace and embellish." A. H. Clough.

Flanagan attended the meeting of the committee when the estimates for building St. George's Hall were received, and, in common with his brethren, he was anxious to learn the cost of the undertaking. He had been heartily congratulated by numberless friends, and, although it was seen that his great effort to raise £4,500 had fagged and strained him, the people were lavish in their words of cheer and praise. His strained nerves were somewhat relieved when the chairman took up the precious documents, for Flanagan had become impatient with A MONUMENT 131

preliminaries and formalities ; but his high- strung nature experienced a great shock when it was declared that the highest estimate for building the hall was £14,000, and the lowest £10,500. The declaration was a " bomb- shell " revelation, and Flanagan characteristically covered his eyes with his hands. The silence which followed, however, was broken by small talk and expressions of surprise, but the committee could see that, whilst retrenchments were impracticable, the aban- donment of the scheme was impossible, and, true to their imperishable passion for aggression yet with due regard to their financial resources, an additional thousand pounds was granted to the scheme. It was also calculated that a considerable sum would be needed for " extras," and that the scheme could not be completed without an aggregate outlay of £12,000. The debate on the undertaking was high- toned and brotherly and, although the atmosphere was tainted with pessimism, optimism prevailed. It was agreed that the only point for discussion was " ways and means " of raising an additional £5,000 within a period of eighteen months. It was then Flanagan rose, and, true to his vision and with unbroken ideals, took the responsibility of raising the

k 2 132 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

amount. The committee was surprised and cheered. Everybody recognized the vastness of the task, but Flanagan knew it could be done, for he had correctly measured the strength of the Church and gauged the extent of his resources. He, therefore, went home to arrange for the future, and the committee placed the work of erecting the hall in the capable hands of Mr. H. H. Hollingsworth, the builder. Soon the site was cleared, shops were taken down, the " Old Kent Tap " was demolished, and workmen were busily engaged in excava- ting the ground. At the outset great interest was kindled. Passers-by stood to watch the progress of the work, and the faithful members of Trinity Street Mission proudly visited the site of their future home, whilst Flanagan travelled to the North, East and West of the country to obtain money for the undertaking with the sound of mallet and trowel sweetly ringing in his ears. He never preached with greater heartiness nor lectured with greater vigour, for the zeal of the Lord's House had consumed him. The stone-laying ceremony took place on Whit-Monday and was characterized by great enthusiasm. People from all parts of London and the provinces shared the work and A MONUMENT 133

rejoicings of the day. As early as seven in the morning they assembled. A public love- feast was conducted in Trinity Chapel. At ten o'clock the Rev. James Travis preached a characteristically earnest sermon to a most responsive congregation. At noon a luncheon was held at which Mr. (afterwards Sir) George Doughty, M.P., presided, supported by representative men of the city and country. Afterwards a procession was formed and, led by the mission Band, marched to the site in Old Kent Road. Appropriate hymns set to well-known tunes were sung, tind the volume of the Sacred Law was opened. The people were led in prayer to God. The Rev. John Smith spoke in words of eulogy of the undertaking, regarding it as the material expression of the mind and will of God. Then Flanagan, after extending a welcome to friends from far and near, led the brilliant company to witness the laying of the Stones. The foundation stone was well and truly laid " in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost " by Mr. (now Sir) William P Hartley, J. P., of Aintree, and James Flanagan himself laid the first memorial stone in behalf of many contributors from all parts of the world. Then the people moved onward, halting with keen and tender interest 134 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN as Mrs. Dugdale, Miss Jackson and Miss Hill fixed memorial stones into the solid masonry, representing in the act the consecrated woman- hood of the North. The moving galaxy halted six times more to witness Thomas Robinson and Joseph Peters, the Rev. John Heath and Thomas Hardcastle, W H. Tucker and James Gledhill link up the consecrated manhood of London and the provinces by laying stones. It was a pleasant sight to see Professor Banister Fletcher, the Rev James Travis, and earlier ministers of the mission, presenting trowels to the representatives of sanctified wealth. It was a great day which had a triumphant ending in Haddon Hall where an enthusiastic audience listened with

rapt attention to vigorous speakers ; and, when the shekels of gold were counted and the steward announced that thirteen hundred pounds had been contributed to the Fund, much gladness prevailed. The success of the stone-laying put new elasticity into Flanagan's step and he applied himself diligently to his task. He was inun- dated with requests to preach and lecture in all parts of the kingdom, and Churches and councils enlisted his services for evangelistic missions. His name rapidly became familiar in the homes of the people, and invariably A MONUMENT 135

the simple, well-known portrait-poster, to which was added, " Flanagan is coming," was a sufficient advertisement to secure a crowded chapel or a well-filled hall. The intensity of his appeals for financial aid increased as the months quickly passed, and the responses of the people were marvellous. Poor children brought their coppers to buy a brick in the building and their parents gave their last sixpence when a second collection was taken at a lecture. One man who was penniless flung a watch-chain into the collection box and declared that if the steward returned for a third collection he would surrender his watch. Another man brought to the meeting a farm-yard bird which had been taken from the hen-roost and requested that it should be sold on behalf of the funds. So impassioned were Flanagan's appeals that there were occasions when chairmen doubled their dona- tions and requested the people to do likewise. There were times when Flanagan humorously described the virtues of his hat and dilated on the distances it had travelled, the number of times it had hung upon hat-pegs in the halls of mansions and upon nails behind cottage doors. He would explain how thousands of people had made pilgrimages to Rome and parted with estates to kiss the Pope's ;

136 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN toe, and then ask his audience to contribute to the funds of St. George's Hall by putting their coins into the hat of an Irishman who had been delivered from Popish superstition. Sometimes a man in whom the gift of humour had perished resented this method of obtaining money, but ninety-and-nine other persons silenced his voice by giving, and Flanagan went on with his work wondering why such instances were not multiplied. A new interest was attached to Flanagan's second money-raising campaign and it acted magically upon him. In the first campaign it was the site which helped to quicken his step ; in the second it was the building. The site implied the spirit of the speculator, and all his dreams were necessarily prophetic but the building was dreams taking shape, and he caught the spirit of the builders. Sometimes he would measure the height of the walls and then pass into the provinces to tell the story. " They have got beyond the windows," he would proudly say. Later in the year, he would exclaim, " The roof is on," and proceed to describe technically the quality of the covering. His eagerness of soul became infectious, and others caught the flame. To show their interest the members of Burnley First Circuit presented the spacious A MONUMENT 137 rostrum and other friends provided the upholstery. The pulpit-bible and hymnal were the gifts of a Sunday school in Hull. The communion service, the pulpit and communion chairs, and the furnishings of the vestries were given by friends who had caught the infection of Flanagan's enthusiasm ; but nowhere did the flame burn more vigorously than amongst the members of Trinity Street Mission who diligently applied themselves to the work of rescue and toiled without weariness for the erection of St. George's Hall. Nor was their work in vain, for towards the end of December the scaffolding was removed, the sound of mallets was hushed, and the hall stood, protected by strong iron gates, a monument of sacrificial work. There was an immense crowd to witness the formal opening of the hall on January 4th, 1900. Many of the people had attended the farewell service in Trinity Street Chapel. Observing the unfurling of the mission-flag, they afterwards joined the procession which, headed by the Brass Band, marched to Old Kent Road. It was with some difficulty that the police controlled the traffic and kept the causeway clear, for the people pressed around to witness the opening of the gates ; but when Mrs. Henry Hodge of Hull declared the 138 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

building open, the people swept within, and rejoiced greatly when they " beheld the beauty of the Lord and enquired in His temple." It surpassed in splendour their rosiest dreams. They declared " that half had never been told." With rapid glances they had beheld the exterior and discovered that it was a simple treatment of the Eighteenth Century Classic style. They had observed that the front of the building was harmoniously adjusted to the strictest sense of proportion, which produced a most pleasing effect. They had noticed that the entrance was flanked with dome-capped towers, and that, the building line being six feet in front of the edifice, a space was provided from which they could enter the chapel direct. With regard to its accommodation they calculated that, with the spacious gallery which was approached by steps leading from the main entrance, the building would seat about eight hundred people. They expressed their delight with the choir and organ chamber behind the rostrum which was accessible by stairs leading from the ground floor. Behind the chapel they were introduced to five class-rooms, a large kitchen, the stewards' and minister's vestries and a large schoolroom capable of accommodating five hundred children. They A MONUMENT 139 were informed that the building was constructed of red brick and Portland stone, whilst the roof was covered with green West- morland slates. They observed that the weight of the galleries was carried by steel cantilever brackets, that the semi-circular vault-ceiling was artistically panelled, that the flooring was made of block type wood and that an effective hot-water apparatus circulated through all the rooms. And, as they looked up and saw light streaming through side clere-story windows, they agreed that St. George's Hall was an unique monument which gracefully adorned the old Roman road on which it stood. —

Chapter XIV.

BACK FROM THE HILL

" All service is the same with God With God, whose puppets, best and worst,

Are we ; there is no last nor first." Browning.

The opening services of St. George's Hall continued for four weeks, and every service was successful. The message of the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, M.A., who preached the opening sermon, was unforgotten through all those days, and the prophetic text, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth in

Me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to My Father," on which was based a plea for spiritual equipment in the work of saving men, haunted Flanagan's soul. He had done a great work. Everybody had acknowledged it, and his basket was full of congratulatory letters. But " greater works than these " were words which thrilled him. They implied a comparative degree in which BACK FROM THE HILL 141

the positive lost its glamour and from which the superlative was far removed. They unfolded the truth that work is unending, that the accomplishment of great tasks reveals a greater undertaking, and that sunlit peaks climb far above the heights already attained. It was an encouraging message, but it had a humbling effect. It turned Flanagan's eyes from the measurable channels to the immeasurable sea, and he learnt to describe a circle which did not exclude the stars. He heard the call of greater tasks than those accomplished, and saw the outline of a Temple eternal in the Heavens and eclipsing the glory of that which flung its beacon-light across the dark causeway of Old Kent Road. The message accompanied him to the pulpit on that memorable fourth Sunday of the opening services and broke him down, for the orator of the provinces and Trinity Street spoke haltingly and with tears that day. The evidences of a great work were around him, for he stood within a building worth £12,000, the only debt remaining was the cost of the organ and a part of the furnishing of the church—about £900 in all. But as he looked around and listened to the uplifted voice of praise, he discerned the contrast between the finished and the unfinished work of life, and, 142 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN before the night had gone, he braced himself to the greater task of making St. George's Hall into a place of moral healing for the people who knew not God. It was work for which Flanagan was well- fitted, for he was pre-eminently an evangelist. His preaching was based upon the great redemptive work of Jesus, and the doctrine of the Atonement tinged the sentences of all his sermons. But he recognized that his work differed from the undertakings of earlier days, inasmuch as it involved additional responsibility. It was necessary to combine with his passion for evangelism the exhausting duties of a pastor. He had witnessed a Pentecost in the provinces and had been instrumental in leading thousands of souls to God, but their development depended upon the vigilance and careful treatment of local shepherds. He had proclaimed a full salvation to the inhabitants of Red Cross Court and the Mint in Southwark through faith in Jesus Christ, but he realized that Trinity Chapel could not become an ideal home for the development of those who responded to the call of God. Those days were past, and he could no longer speak of restricted opportunity and unsuitable accommodation, for a flag had caught the breezes on St. George's Hall. He BACK FROM THE HILL 143 had travelled far and become accustomed to great journeys. He had seen the mountain peaks of all the counties, and he had been the centre of tremendous meetings in many cities and towns ; but now a halt was called, and he knew that the passion for movement and change must perish. His diary must become less geographical and railway guides must be sparingly consulted, for he was actually back from the hill, and the " greater work " of which Hugh Price Hughes had spoken must be accomplished in the parish of Bermondsey, with St. George's Hall as the central home of the people.

It was like beginning life afresh ; for three years of journeying in a railway train might spoil a man, and pastoral gifts might perish in the deep recesses of a traveller's portmanteau. But Flanagan settled down to parochial work with zest and found that it teemed with interest. He met men of all counties in those interminable streets of Bermondsey,—men with geographical knowledge equal to his own, and whilst he tried to save them they indulged in the art of " fleecing." He- met with " jail-birds," who had just returned to their rookeries of squalor and preached to them the widest form of freedom. He reminded them of John Garvin, 144 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

the saved convict, who, after spending more than twenty years in prison, surrendered himself to God, became a diligent workman, an enthusiastic toiler in the mission, and finally passed into the Eternal City with a shout of triumph on his lips. The recital of such striking instances of regeneration did not fail to make a deep impression on the minds

of men ; and Flanagan's mind never acted more quickly than when he reasoned from the particular to the general. He could see in John Garvin's case the redemption of every criminal ; and men learnt through his speech what New Testament teachers meant when they said "He is able to save them to the uttermost." It stands to the credit of Flanagan that in his work among the degraded poor he leaped from particulars to universals. It was a method of reasoning which kept the fire burning in his own soul and it sent him forth in quest of the lost. He saw a flaming sky in the twinkling of a star, a golden harvest in a sheaf of corn, and he anticipated the full- orbed splendour of the day in the first blush of the morning. Such was his Celtic imagination that he saw a garden of roses in one flower-adorned window-sill in sight of St. George's Hall and hesitated not in saying BACK FROM THE HILL 145 that all the Bermondsey and Southwark people were great admirers of flowers. The whole system of logic stands against such conclusions and the expert logician is quick to detect the fallacy, but the logic of the intellect is a useless guide in rescue work compared with the overflow of a heart which sees a redeemed race in one saved man and hears the music of the Kingdom of Heaven in the cry of a penitent thief. It was in the same spirit that Flanagan organized St. George's Hall and provided for the equipment of its varied institutions. Everything was shaped with democracy in view and was made to throb with interest for the people. He taught his officials that the safety of the Church depended upon its hold upon the masses and that its supreme functions were to bless and save the people. He encouraged them to make stupendous efforts for others and proclaimed that a restricted horizon might lead to isolation and death. He maintained that large Churches needed a wide sky, a broad outlook, an unrestricted vision, for the continuance of their existence. He taught that contraction was the adjunct of failure and that catholicity of mind and largeness of heart were accompanied by the power of sight. He held that it was necessary 146 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN to weave a rainbow in every cloud and that slums could only be redeemed by Churches that saw within their desolation a Garden of Eden in which the Rose of Sharon bloomed. He believed that the Supreme Head of the Church still said to His people, " I send you out as sheep amongst wolves," and, if men in obedience to those orders found their way into the wilderness, they would find the Shepherd- Christ revealing the chaste outlines of the Fold. It was the influence of such high teaching that made it possible for old methods of work to be repeated in the new church to which the members of Trinity Street Chapel had been transferred. In the new ship there was occupation for the old, well-seasoned

crew ; and they applied themselves diligently to the old tasks amidst new conditions. Nothing was thrown overboard and not a man was lost. Class-leaders listened with keenest interest to Christian testimony. They opened their treasures of wisdom in the presence of their friends. The representatives of song and music clung to their posts and conductors vigorously wielded their batons. School teachers taught the lambs of the Kingdom that Jesus was their Shepherd. Superintendents patrolled the school with love- BACK FROM THE HILL 147 light on their faces. The guardians of finance opened wide their books and gathered into bags the people's freewill offerings as proudly as if they had been trained amidst the responsibilities of the Bank of England. And all of it was love-work for the people whose wilderness had begun to blossom like the rose. It was during this period that new agencies sprang into existence, for a system of communication was established between St. George's Hall and the people of the locality. Flanagan conceived the idea of a Woman's Settlement, and the Church engaged the services of Nurse Blackburn and Sister Louie. Their duties were to visit the sick, minister to the needy, influence children of the streets to attend the Sunday school, hold prayer-meetings in the homes of the people, and protect the young women of the neighbourhood from the insidious temptations to which they were exposed. Both Sisters reasonably devoted themselves to their work and were cordially received in the homes of the suffering poor. They found the ground had been prepared by other faithful toilers and they rejoiced in the work accomplished by John Moseley and his devoted wife. Their work in East Street and its environs had not been in vain, for the L 2 148 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN people gratefully acknowledged their interest and emulated their worth. There were instances of averted disaster and examples of transformed lives which were attributable to wise counsel and gentle treatment. Such reports of planted gardens and of rushing streams in the Bermondsey area greatly cheered Flanagan and heightened his enthusiasm for the permanent establishment of the Settlement. In the pages of Light and Truth, which had taken the place of the periodical The Helping Hand, he appealed for help, and generous friends made it possible for a house to be rented in Old Kent Road, which became the Sisters' headquarters. It was a humble dwelling and contrasted with the Sisters' Settlement, subsequently purchased, furnished, and adapted, at a cost of £900, through the indefatigable labours of the Rev. Joseph and Mrs. Johnson, but it served as a mission house for the Sisters who, laden with packed cases of clean linen for sick people and baskets of food for poor families, wended their way through grey streets to dull basements and stifling garrets. There was nothing in which Flanagan took greater interest than in the work of the Sisters. Every Monday he would meet them with their helpers and encourage them to BACK FROM THE HILL 149 recount the experiences of their work. Invariably John Moseley had a new case of interest to report, for he had uncommon gifts of discernment and a weakness for cripples. The Rev. W T. Hosier and others reported the enthusiasm of services they had conducted and were convinced that a revival was at hand. The Sisters told stories of poverty and suffering, but there were times when their silence was more eloquent than words. Those weekly meetings were great occasions to Flanagan. Sometimes he would wax eloquent in the recital of his own experiences, revealing the great power of his mind and the tender compassion of his heart. The meetings, however, always provided " grist for the mill," for the quality of Light and Truth depended upon the inspiration of that hour. He wished it to go on its world-wide pilgrimage and arouse general interest in all lands ; and he intended the account of the Sisters' work to be like a new window flung into its inspiring columns. Chapter XV LONDON IN THE PROVINCES

" The gauger walked with willing foot, And aye the gauger played the flute ; And what should Master Gauger play " But Over the Hills and Far Away ? R. L. Stevenson.

The work at St. George's Hall was rapidly progressing, and the institutions of the Church were widely extending their ministries of beneficence, when the Missionary Committee considered it necessary to deal promptly with business pertaining to the purchase of the freehold. The London Corporation had agreed to sell the land for £3,500, providing that the purchase was made within a period of seven years. Four years had elapsed and only three years remained in which the purchase could be made, and, although the Corporation had expresesd their interest in the forward movement by a gift of one hundred guineas, it was deemed unwise to ask for an extension of time to arrange the purchase of the land. It became, therefore, a matter of supreme importance to leap forward with the business, LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 151

lest the offer to sell at such a reasonable price should be withdrawn at the expiration of the time fixed by the Corporation. Subsequently the matter was presented to the Conference and the urgency of the business was emphasized. It was argued that the perpetual payment of ground rent would retard progress, chill the enthusiasm of workers, and bind in fetters generations yet unborn. Soon the debate crystallized into a resolution, and the Conference requested Flanagan to undertake the task of obtaining immunity from the payment of ground rent by raising £3,500 for the purchase of the land. The proposal created some misgiving in the mind of Flanagan with regard to the efficient working of the Hall, but, when the Con- ference proposed that the Rev. Joseph Johnson should take charge as superintendent, all distrust was removed and Flanagan concurred. The appointment of the Rev- Joseph Johnson as Chief of St. George's Hall was a wise arrangement. He had done magnificent work at Stoke Newington and was laden with laurels of success. He possessed great organizing gifts and was pre-eminently practical. He had unlimited faith in God and quietly proclaimed His existence, but he believed that the Great Architect of the 152 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Universe would not build unaided the temples of the earth. He believed in the gospel of labour, and his belief was amply illustrated in the erection of Stoke Newington Church. By men who saw beyond exteriors he was recognized as a poet whose song was pitched to the music of the trowel, and as a seer who never allowed the work of to-day to be disturbed by dreams of to-morrow. He had a smart, unprocrastinating mind, and was as shrewd in his dealing with men as an advocate accustomed to briefs. Flanagan knew him as a just man to whom weights and scales might be entrusted, and as a man brim- ful of sympathy, for he had met him in the home, where " love had traced her lily-work of beauty on the submissive soul." " I have just written," he recorded in his diary, " a part of my sermon, and sent it to saintly Mrs.

Johnson who is still very ill. May much blessing be given her ! " Finally a grave was dug, and a pyramid of flowers expressed the people's love. A great service was held in Stoke Newington Church, where Flanagan memorialized her sweet and beautiful life " within the Veil." It was, therefore, by more than a resolution of Conference that the Rev. Joseph Johnson and Flanagan were bound together. They were in possession "

LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 153

of agreements and common purposes over which the personnel of Conference exercised no authority, and they were conscious of broad Atlantics of sympathy and mountain- ranges of comradeship which lay outside the limits of a resolution. Kinship swayed diver- gences of temperament, making collision impossible by the modulation of contact in service. It was with much contentment of mind that Flanagan packed again his bag and hastened to the provinces to raise funds for the purchase of the freehold of St. George's Hall. There was a sprightliness in his manner which contrasted with the modus operandi of former days. An old burden had fallen from his shoulders and, although he was saddled with a new one, his heart was songful. He found that railway-guides were cheerful companions, and he could trace " expresses with ease in the pages of Bradshaw. He read poetry, fiction, philosophy and newspapers in the corners of railway carriages, and retailed the latest London news on his arrival in the North. The need for midnight homeward

journeys was passed : he could afford to linger among his friends an extra day, for he knew that the work of the hall was in capable hands, and that under the guidance of his 154 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN friend, the Rev Joseph Johnson, the Brass Band would be marshalled to the slum, the Sisters continue their ministry of healing, the prayer-meeting be well attended, the League of Helpers receive due attention, poor men in distress be conducted to the gratuitous lawyer, and the congregations conserved. His mind was unclouded, for his soul was drenched with the elixir of success. He had a story to tell and time to unfold it. The redolent past took shape within his mind, reproducing the semblance of builders rearing walls. He read afresh the crystal passage of the Hebrew poet, " The sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King, and my God," and linked the immortal literature to St. George's Hall. And as past successes, like giant headlands on the coast, rose within his mind, he determined to fling a light upon them in the bold attempt to redeem the freehold of the hall. The lectures with which Flanagan accomplished his purpose were representations of South-East London life and consisted mainly of facts and descriptive caricatures. They were prepared for people who needed enlightenment with respect to London life. Flanagan was aware of the meagreness of the LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 155 provincial's knowledge of the great city. He admitted that the " tripper " had seen great sights and might have collected street guides and maps, but he taught that it was necessary to penetrate into the interior and have access to the poverty-stricken homes of the people to know the real life of London. He explained that great cancer-spots were hidden amidst a forest of buildings and unsightly houses, and that the approach of a stranger was perilous. He described in beautiful and thrilling word-pictures his nocturnal visits to garrets where death extinguished the flickering lamp of life. He accounted for the heavy death-roll of Southwark by the basements of dwelling- houses being lower than the high-water mark of the tidal Thames. He collected statistics to prove his position and used them dexterously. He spoke vigorously against over- crowding, stating that there were more than thirty-nine thousand tenements in Southwark of less than five rooms. He sketched a one- roomed tenement in which nineteen persons lived, and conveyed the information that there were nearly two thousand such dwelling- places, each occupied by not less than three persons. He traced the wretched indigence of the people to intemperance, proclaiming 156 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN that there were two thousand licensed houses in his district, which were powerful centres of mischief and a hindrance to the uplifting work of the Churches. He quoted a report that 16,470 persons had entered fifteen licensed houses during the business hours of the Sabbath day, and then requested his audience to imagine the company of two thousand such houses. "It is the Devil's business," he exclaimed, " and Southwark and Bermondsey would be better without it." Passing from general to particular cases, he related the story of Belle Cray, the child of a drunkard, and subsequently the slave of a drunken husband. He sketched the stages of her degradation and the life of the streets. He portrayed the attic-room in which she died, and described the wilderness into which disease had flung her. The people were breathless as he related the story of his last visit to the garret-room and his conversation with the dying woman. " Belle," he said, " I expected this to happen, for you have been a great sinner." He described how her glittering eyes pierced him through, how her heart was broken and tears trickled down her cheek when the sense

of sin possessed her ; and how, frankly and earnestly, she said, LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 157

" Yes, I have been very, very wicked, but tell me, oh, tell me, does it not say in the

Bible that ' if we come to Him, He will in " nowise cast out ' ? Then Flanagan described how he stooped and kissed the pale, anxious brow, saying, " God bless you, Belle ! They are the words of Jesus who died for the lost," and how a faint smile settled on the poor battered face as her spirit passed to the Other Side. Flanagan's lectures were also disclosures of his historic sense and revealed his passion for the great landmarks and personalities of the past. He held that his parish was one of the poorest and most sin-stricken in London, but it had an enchanting history, for men of genius had lived within it. He had searched the records of an earlier period and had examined old volumes in the British Museum ; he had explored St. Saviour's Cathedral and had lingered, like a pilgrim at a shrine, around the tombs of men in whom the flame of genius was unquenchable. He richly adorned his lectures with portrait-galleries, and brought out of the silent past remembrances of those who, amidst straitened circumstances, built imperishable monuments in the realm of

literature. " Southwark is the home of the Immortals," he exclaimed, " and the shadows ;

158 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN of her churches fall upon the graves of the illustrious dead." He spoke of Philip Massinger, the gifted playwright who died in a lonely garret, and was buried in the cold yard of St. Saviour's, and cited Charles Lamb's " opinion : He wrote with that equability of all the passions that made his English style the purest and most free from violent metaphors and harsh constructions of any of the dramatists who were his contemporaries." He related John Gower, an early English poet and the friend of Chaucer, to his parish, and quoted from Confessio Amantis ;—

" And tho sche yaf him drink a drauhte, Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte, His hed, his herte, and his visage

Lich unto twenty wynter age ; Hise hore heres were away And lich unto the freisshe May, When passed ben the colde schoures Riht so recovereth he his floures."

And of other distinguished men Flanagan was lavish with praise. They seemed to rise from their graves in all parts of the parish, shining like lamps in dark streets and breaking the silence of obscure places with authori- tative messages. He saw processions of Canterbury Pilgrims in Tabard Street and —

LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 159 heard the merry laughter of the immortal Tailors in Tooley Street. The old " White Heart " blazed with interest, because two eccentrics, Pickwick and Weller, met within

its rooms ; and Lent Street, where Dickens wrote " Sketches by Boz," possessed an unfailing attraction. The genius of Oliver Goldsmith flashed on the banks of the river which flanked his parish, and the teaching of " The Deserted Village," that " a nation cannot be great unless the individual who helps to create its prosperity share in its blessings," was a message of warning to every age which seeks enrichment through slavery and oppression, for

" 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decav-"

The lectures were also a plea for the poor, and disclosed the urgent need for social and spiritual redemption. The poor were en- shrined in Flanagan's heart. He did not criticise nor condemn them, but emulated their worth. He argued that there were saints among sinners, and proved that charity thrived in slums. He had seen poverty leap to the aid of poverty, and he had witnessed the sharing of the " last crust." In their social i6o LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN detachments they had made inviolable attach- ments among themselves, and a sense of honour pervaded their colony. He had lived in touch with them for fourteen years and knew their mode of existence. They shared each other's sorrows and participated in each other's joys. They drank from the same cup, laughed together in the same public- house, and quarrelled clamorously before sunset ; but they would mutually assist in the ejection of a stranger who endeavoured to settle their differences. There was much isolation in London and many people com- plained because they did not know their neighbours, but there was fraternity in the slum. He admitted that there were degrees of development among them and that their standards of morality differed. He could speak, however, in unqualified terms of many cases of transparency -and, although he had dealt with tricksters and had been deceived by them, he had also been in the presence of honest poverty. Flanagan paid a tribute of esteem to small mission halls where unrecognized Christian workers—men of whom the world was not worthy—sowed precious seed with the harvest- field more clearly defined than the seed-basket. He believed that such halls and obscure LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 161

chapels were the safety valves of the city, and that their failure to exist would promote social disorder. He taught that the frequent visits of Sisters and deaconesses to the homes of the poor had a political significance and an economic value. It was the vision of Christ which kept the pulse of the community normal and closed the lips of Oppression in the presence of Tyranny The bridge between wealth and poverty was the Church, and that between tyranny and the people was the Legislature. He held that both means of communication should be freely used for the purpose of putting wrong things right and hastening the hour of social redemption. He maintained that the people's quarrel was not with Christianity but against its dis- torted expression amongst men who failed to live according to its high precepts. Often he had stood on the fringe of crowds in great parks and had heard the murmur of dis-

content as deep toned as the moan of the sea ; but he had heard, too, the expression of lofty regard for the Christ. Once he heard a Labour leader speak in Victoria Park. He revealed to the' vast audience something concerning Jesus of Nazareth. He told them what He did when upon the earth and what he believed He would do if He were here in M 162 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN human form. He grew increasingly warm and eloquent as he spoke of the righteousness, sympathy, unselfishness, kindness and love of Jesus, and one of the crowd cried out, " Let us give three cheers for the Man of Nazareth, for He is the best of whom we have ever heard." And immediately thousands of hats and caps were uplifted and thousands of voices joined in ringing cheers for the " Man of Nazareth." " The poor are not against the Man of Nazareth," Flanagan afterwards exclaimed, " but they are patiently waiting for His teaching to be illustrated in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount." Then Flanagan enumerated cases in which the teaching of Jesus had taken practical form. He cited instances of homelessness and of shelter secured, of sickness and of medicine given, of hunger and of the need supplied, of nakedness and of raiment provided, and proved that deeds of kindness were more effectual than words. He taught the sacred doctrine of the Church, that the Son of God was manifest in the breaking of bread which was the sign of His presence. He held that revolutions were born in empty granaries and that social unrest was related to food- stuffs. He was convinced that hunger acceler- ated crime and that empty cupboards some- — !

LONDON IN THE PROVINCES 163

times led to madness. He was aware that workhouses existed, for he had sat with the Guardians of the poor. He remembered that once a woman was advised that she could not do better than enter "the House "—and the memory of her reply, " I cannot accept that humiliation," was fadeless. He described how she took the children by the hand, saying, " Come, darlings, you never had the taint of pauperism and while I live you never shall,"

and returned to her tireless, breadless room : and how, in a moment, the neighbours heard an awful scream and caught the sound of strange laughter, for the blow had fallen and the woman was mad. He cited his own

poetry :

" O sad indeed ! That the men who stand where sorrows reign, Stand at the centre of human pain ; Must ask for a dole from those who gain ; Must plead, and often plead in vain, For the price of a piece of bread.

" Father of Christ In homes of plenty where joys abound, And festal cup is passed around ; May wine be sour and light burn dim, Till love of man, for love of Him, Grants the hungry their daily bread." m 2 164 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

And as Flanagan spoke of the sights and needs of London in the cities and towns and villages of the provinces, thousands of people, caught in the torrent of his eloquence and wishful to plant a flower in a wilderness of tears, responded to the cry of Need and made it possible for him to return with a bulging wallet to purchase the freehold of St. George's Hall. —

Chapter XVI

20, PATRICK ROAD

" God's in His heaven " All's right with the world ! Browning.

Flanagan made a deep impression in the provinces during his itinerancy for the funds of St. George's Hall, and became established in the esteem of the people. The successful termination of financial schemes was, however, a mere incident compared with the far- reaching spiritual triumphs of his ministry. Great fountains had burst forth in many desert places and rainbows had appeared in many storm-swept skies. His messages were gracious ministries of healing, leading many prodigals to seek again the shelter of their Father's House. He extolled the value of the prayer-meeting in the Church, depreciating the merit of committees in the work of saving men ; and thousands of Christians blushed with shame. Revivals of 166 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN religion broke out in the Churches and spread through the Circuits. Reports of great ingatherings were circulated in local news-

papers ; and journals, more widely distributed, disseminated the good tidings. He had proved himself an ardent and successful advocate of the claims of St. George's Hall, and, in his appeals for financial aid, the distinctively spiritual aspect of the work was brought vividly into prominence. He linked the altar to a Throne and proclaimed the existence of a boundless sky above the temple- roof. It was through the channel of the spiritual that the hearts of the people were touched and the floodgates of generosity opened. The messages were recognized as disclosures of the redeeming love of God, and men were amazed at the revelations of His forgiving mercy. So great was Flanagan's success in the provinces that the Missionary Committee considered it advisable for his itinerancy to be continued in order that the whole community might be blessed by his evangelistic gifts. The committee had no misgivings with regard to St. George's Hall, for its safety was assured and its success had been well maintained. And, although the Rev Joseph Johnson asked to be released from respon- 20, PATRICK ROAD 167 sibility that Flanagan might resume the superintendence of the hall, the committee urged that there were other tasks which required the exercise of his exceptional gifts. It was, therefore, with matured judgment and firm conviction that the Rev. James Pickett proposed at the Conference that "Mr. Flanagan be set apart as Home Missionary Advocate and Connexional Evangelist," to which proposal the delegates unanimously agreed and Flanagan acquiesced. It was an arrangement which made it possible for Flanagan to visit again the Churches which had been quickened, to render substantial aid in consolidating the good work which he had begun, and to promote the growth of enthusiasm for the religious betterment of great centres of population by furnishing concrete examples of regeneration which had come within the range of his own experience. It was early in the month of September when Flanagan and his wife left London en route for Nottingham, their future home, and, although emotion restricted their speech and blurred their vision when saying adieu to friends, the journey was interesting and enjoyable. The countryside was an absorbing study, and fleeting pictures seen from carriage- windows portrayed in symbols the significance 168 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

of life. Hedgerows, small plantations and extensive woods were ablaze with russet and golden colours, and harvest-fields lay bare- breasted in the sunshine. Heath-clad country rolled upward towards the hills and rose- coloured flowers grew in wild luxuriance on tracts of virgin-land. Meandering streams flowed sluggishly through sleepy meadows, and patient anglers sought glittering treasures from their gloomy depths. Flanagan indulged in reverie and his book-laden portmanteau lay unopened beside him. Nature became his teacher and the sunlit hills a healing ministry. At last his lips were opened, speech returned, and the silence of the journey was broken. He thought he caught a passing glimpse of the Roman fosse-way at the foot of the hills, and was reminded of Belvoir Castle and the distant village of Owthorpe where Colonel Hutchinson was interred. " We will go to Belvoir and spend an afternoon at Owthorpe," he remarked, and expressed his delight that Providence had arranged that their home should be in Nottingham. " It is the cleanest and most romantic city in the kingdom," he exclaimed, and, as Mrs Flanagan smiled appreciatively, she asked, " Why are the cities and towns so crowded and the countryside so bare ? " Flanagan —

ao, PATRICK ROAD 169

flung open the folds of his portmanteau in search of his latest meditation but, becoming aware that the train was approaching the " Queen of Cities," desisted, and quoted the

famous lines of Dryden :

" Round the wide world in banishment we roam, Forced from our pleasing fields and native

home : Did we for these barbarians plant and sow, On these, on these our happy fields bestow ?

Good heavens ! what dire effects from civil " discord flow !

A few friends greeted their arrival and welcomed them to the city. They crossed the bridge which spanned the river, and soon were domiciled in 20, Patrick Road, a small semi-detached dwelling-house, pleasantly situated on the southern bank of the Trent. Plane-trees threw their shadows athwart the entrance and evergreens nodded beneath the window-frames. An ample lawn stretched its limbs a hundred feet behind the house and rose-trees bloomed beneath the sheltering walls. And as they passed from room to room, Flanagan described the dwelling as " a double-flat," and then apologised because hi had forgotten the sanctum sanctorum, —

170 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN a comparatively large upper room closely packed with books. The night had gleaned the twilight when their friends departed and a myriad stars adorned the sky- Standing beside the gate they fancied they heard, like a sob in the night, the swish of the stream. Silently they entered their home again and were greeted by a deeper silence—they were alone.

Flanagan read aloud an ancient passage : " Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord ; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt

eat the labour of thine hands ; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house : thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of

Zion : and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." Then Flanagan prayed. He committed absent friends to the ever tender keeping of God, and prayed that the fountains of friendship might know no drought. He pleaded for the Church they had left, for its ministers and people, and asked that St. George's Hall might be for ever filled with to, PATRICK ROAD 171

the Glory of God. He prayed that this new home might never lack an altar, and that health might be given for purposes of toil and life continued for joyous service. He interceded for the children who had responded to the call of love and taken their nuptial flight, and for those whose business claims had called them to distant lands and cities. He prayed for missions everywhere, and asked that God might guide in all tasks and provide the food that hungry souls might eat and

live ; and everything for Jesus' sake ! Mrs. Flanagan burst into tears. Thoughts of the absent children broke her down, but Flanagan tenderly soothed and kissed the tear-stained face, and life's sweet cup of love was filled again. Flanagan was delighted with his home and the beautiful surroundings inspired him. He strolled through the Grove, tracked the Wilford footpath by the church, and read Kirk White's " Fair Maid of Clifton " beside the stream. He visited Clifton village, walked through an avenue of elm-trees, interested Mrs. Flanagan with stories about Countess Gode, William Peverel and Sir Gervase Clifton. They explored the village, stood beside the old thatched houses with quaint gables and small dormer-windows smothered 172 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN with honeysuckle and wild briar, and sipped fragrant tea from the lips of ancient tea-ware in a cottage by the church. They gathered from rambling hedgerows handfuls of autumn leaves which the sunshine had kissed int® miraculous combinations of colour, and Mrs. Flanagan twisted them into an artistic adornment for an unused hearth. Thus 20, Patrick Road, became the centre of the new life into which Flanagan and his wife had mutually entered, and everything seemed to gravitate towards it. They purchased tools for the garden and a mower for the lawn. Friends sent them flowers for the greenhouse and they planted cuttings for the Spring. " " How delightful is home ! Flanagan remarked one day on his return from the distant town, " I have seen nothing like it during my absence." " " And what have you got here, James ? Mrs. Flanagan enquired. " Be very careful with that parcel, Mary," he answered, "it is a cage," and, taking a small case from the folds of his great coat, he said, " and this is a canary, my dear." They suspended from the ceiling the new arrival, just a little removed from the sun- bathed window, and, as Flanagan flung open the little iron gate, he said, " We will call the ao, PATRICK ROAD 173 bird Patsie, and give it the freedom of the house." Soon Patsie filled the room with song, fled from cage to picture-frame, fluttered amongst the window-shades, or rested on the shoulder of its master, and only on perilous occasions was the little iron barrier thrown across its path of flight. But soon the songful house became the haunt of sorrow. A telegram, " My husband is dead," signed " Annie Brack," conveyed the news which filled the house with grief. A few days later, the widow with her fatherless children entered Flanagan's abode. The sorrow was poignant and the household was affected. Weeds of widowhood trailing through the home cast their shadows everywhere, and poetry was changed to prose. Flanagan felt a spirit of rebellion clutch his soul, and the sound of little feet pattering through the rooms or tripping on the stairs unnerved him. But the sight of sorrow moved him deeply and his tattered nerves found some relief in tears. He made an " entry in his diary : May their experience of sorrow make my love more tender, and may my life become a ministry of healing to broken-hearted men ! " Then he took the fatherless children in his arms and kissed them. He stooped to their valley, and their 174 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN ministry of baby-prattle lifted him to incon- ceivable heights. He no longer needed children's books, the living treasures gambolled at his feet. He told them fairy-tales, taught them nursery-rhymes, and discerned heaven- like pictures in their upturned eyes. He made them imitation rabbits out of pocket handkerchiefs, constructed little boats from slips of paper, and revealed the art of making shadows on the wall. He participated in their playfulness, shared their frolic moods, and wondered if they shared his age. He bought them coloured picture-books, and, when on homeward journeys, packed the empty spaces of his bag with little trains and tops and dolls. He could not rest at night till he had seen the bairns and touched their sleeping faces with his lips. And sp the nursery became his college, the children his instructors, and the house in Patrick Road the home of dreams. Chapter XVII. ADVOCATE

" It takes a soul To move a body—it takes a high-souled man move the masses, even to cleaner stye To a ; It takes the ideal to blow a handsbreadth off

The dust of the actual : and your Fouriers failed Because not poets enough to understand That life develops from within." E. B. Browning.

Flanagan applied himself diligently to the work of disseminating the principles of home- mission propaganda, and the teaching of the sorrowful way through which he had passed was echoed in his themes. Sorrow had chastened him and his point of view was changed. New interests engaged his attention, and additional obligations were revealed. He was flung into a hew world of thought by the undertakings of foster-parenthood, and prayed that supplies might be adjusted to his need in the discharge of onerous duties. He recog- ;

176 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN nized that chastening was the resultant of love, and was shocked at the remembrance of his own selfishness. He reviewed past experiences, tried to gauge afresh his sympathy for sorrow-stricken men, and acknowledged it had been too shallow to be forceful. He distinguished between sorrow which might be brushed aside and that in which the fever of anxiety thrived. He read again the immortal words, " A man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," and its inner meaning was revealed to him. " The world needs the spirit of brotherhood," he exclaimed, " and men require the fostering wings of love." As a propagandist of home-missionary principles Flanagan assumed that the Church should sustain the relation of foster-parent to missions, and believed that the discharge of obligations arising out of such relationships would promote national and social righteousness. He held that every Church should be missionary in its tendencies and that its duties did not end within its own circumference. He offered no apology for the creation of missionary meetings in churches, indeed, they might be multiplied, for their ADVOCATE 177 value was incalculable. He regarded the missionary platform as a lens by which the vision of the Church was extended, and the missionary meeting as a needful sacrament in which the kinship of humanity was apprehended and a universal brotherhood proclaimed. He spoke of the sorrows of the poor, the bereavements they sustained, the conditions of poverty and wretchedness in which they lived, and explained that the missionary was the pastor of the slum. He produced sheaves of evidence from his wide experience in which the ever-active ministries of mission-halls had transformed entire house- holds and influenced wide areas. And so cogent were his arguments and powerful his appeals that men were moved to gracious acts of generosity- Flanagan compared the work of foreign and home missions in his addresses, and taught that the work of the one was as difficult as the other. He was not unmindful of the difficulties of language, climate, superstition and racial differences in relation to foreign fields of service, but he regarded the indifference of the submerged masses in the homeland as a barrier almost impenetrable. He reasoned that the heathen feared the Unseen and built altars to the Unknown, but maintained that N 178 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the average man of the slum was regardless of God and the claims of worship. He traced the indifference of the masses to the existence of class distinctions and the consequent aloofness of religious sects. He regretted that the acceptance of the Fatherhood of God did not universally contribute to the practice of the theory of human brotherhood. He taught that the unregenerate masses were quick to detect inconsistencies and refused to be attracted by Christian teaching which did not crystallize in practice. He deprecated the use of phrases like " blood money " and terms like " sweating," and maintained that they would cease to disgrace our language when brotherhood was recognized and the Sermon on the Mount became the universal working theory of men. He admitted the tendency of the masses to reason fallaciously. He regretted that universal conclusions were

frequently drawn from particular cases ; but, whilst illogical reasoning might produce indifference and prejudice in the slum, unfounded opinions amongst Christians might produce unjustifiable contentment in the Church. " The slum needs teaching and the Church quickening," he exclaimed. He produced cases of oppression and profiteering amongst men who were attached to Christian ADVOCATE 179 communions, and set against them cases of fair dealing, sacrifice and philanthropy, and asserted that general conclusions could not be drawn from such cases. He maintained that whilst many men were doing their duty in relation to the lapsed masses there were thousands of people untouched by the heart- cry of the multitudinous poor. During the years of his itinerancy as an advocate of home-missions he became increasingly convinced of the supremacy of the Church as an uplifting organization, and believed that there were conditions of life which could be improved only by the action of religion upon the souls of men. He esteemed the great movements which had for their aim the social betterment of the community, and urged the Churches to extend to them sympathy and help. He considered it possible for the Church to have external aids and yet be ignorant of their existence. There were great organizations which aimed at social betterment by the removal of existing evils, and their success was assured. Men were engaged in the invaluable work of town- planning, and many slums had yielded to their industry. The advocates of temperance reform had in many localities restricted the evils of intemperance and their work should be N 2 i8o LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN encouraged. Education had kindled the lamp of knowledge in many dark places, and the children of the streets and alleys were pupils in the schools. The opportunities of the Church for aggressive work were never greater, and social and educational movements were preparing the way for triumphant achieve- ments. But it was necessary for the Churches to proclaim the Evangel for the best conditions to be obtained. Flanagan illustrated the principles of his teaching from facts which came within the circle of his own experience, and proved that the value of work from the circumference was unequal to that which proceeded from the centre. As an evidence of the boundless uplifting Grace of God he stood before the people to whom he spoke, and he attributed all he had and was to his conscious contact with Jesus Christ as a great and mighty Saviour. He claimed to be a living evidence of the value of mission-work, and declared that communion with Christ and fellowship with His people had saved him from the degrading power of sin. His case, however, was not solitary and unique, for others could relate a similar story, and he could produce an army of witnesses. He had observed the aetion ©f religion in slum and alley, and could ADVOCATE 181

prove that the man set free from sin by the Grace of God never failed to construct an environment which harmonized with the purity and sweetness of the new life planted within his soul. He had met educated drunkards in

garrets and found them chained to their cups ; he had seen degraded artists amid conditions of squalor and observed that Art mocked

them in their helplessness ; but he was acquainted, too, with numberless cases of spiritual regeneration where cleanliness was substituted for dirt, and flowers bloomed in places where thorns and weeds had existed. And as Flanagan, with impassioned eloquence, cited instances of moral and social transformation, there was revealed to great audiences " the priceless value of the " pierced hands and the tragedy of Calvary in the moral and social reconstruction of a sinful world. With regard to the " collection," Flanagan spoke courageously and with the accent of conviction. He drew a graphic picture of an ideal world, eliminating suffering, poverty

and sin ; he erected fountains in all cities and listened to rippling streams in towns and

hamlets ; he looked beyond the coast-line and

caught a sight of ships laden with merchandise ; he saw the honest hand of labour demolish fever-stricken slums and new homes erected 182 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

for the sons of toil ; he saw new industries rise and breweries and distilleries perish ; he heard the stillness of the Sabbath broken by the sound of bells, and listened to the song of praise burst forth from thrice ten-thousand " lips ; and then he sternly said, Finance, like a mountain-barrier, lies across the path which leads to such an ideal world." Flanagan regretted the meagreness of consecrated wealth, and urged that selfishness and greed of gold retarded the progress of the Kingdom of God. He distinguished between poverty and mean- ness, and bluntly said that both existed. " Men are weary of the collection," he play-

fully remarked ; and afterwards indicated that failure was born and fostered in the arms of weariness. He manifested no antagonism to legitimate pleasures and expressed no objection to national sports, but he questioned the eternal safety of men whose gifts to the Church were widely disproportionate to the cost of pleasures. He eulogised the home missionary who worked amidst grey conditions, and whose supreme desire was to help people placed in circumstances worse than his own ; and he spoke in laudable terms of devoted Sisters of the people who, like angels of light, passed into shadowed, sin-stricken homes with words of comfort on their lips. " What is ADVOCATE 183 their outlook ? " he asked, " and dare they think of twilight days ? It is up to you, my friends, to help them in their sacrificial work." And, as the collection-box went round, men recognized fully the significance of missions, and responded generously to Flanagan's great appeal. Chapter XVIII.

THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS

" And Nature, the old Nurse, took The child upon her knee, Saying, * Here is a story book Thy father hath written for thee.

" ' Come wander with me,' she said, ' Into regions yet untrod, And read what is still unread In the Manuscripts of God.' And he wandered away and away With Nature, the dear old Nurse, Who sang to him night and day The rhymes of the universe." Longfellow.

During the period of Flanagan's advocacy of home missions the New Zealand Conference urged him to visit the Colonies for the purpose of conducting evangelistic missions in the Churches. The invitation was gladly accepted, and Flanagan, accompanied by his son, Harold, who desired to join his uncle in Nelson, sailed from Tilbury on the S.S. THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS iS|

" Ophir." The voyage was full of interest, and Flanagan filled the pages of a log-book with amusing and instructive incidents. Class distinctions aboard the ship impressed him, and he was amazed at the impassable barrier which wealth created. Gold kept the passengers apart and the spirit of the world prevailed at sea. A clergyman preached on the first- class deck and read stately intercessions from the prayer-book of the English Church. Flanagan preached on the third-class deck and frequently pleaded with the God of earth and sea. During the voyage two persons died, and a child was born. A funeral was conducted at sea, and a christening took place, when the child was called Ophir Cyril, after the names of the ship and the doctor. A swallow, exhausted by its long flight, alighted on the ship, fluttered its wings for a moment, and then expired. It was regarded as an ominous incident, and some of the passengers made remarkable prophecies. It was reported one day that hungry sharks had been observed pursuing the ship, and early one morning Flanagan, discerning spray rising thirty feet above the water about a mile from the ship, enquired respecting the cause, and was told by a seaman it was a sperm-whale that had risen from the depths to 186 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

breathe. There were many quaint stories told aboard that ship, and there was abundant proof that some " old chestnuts " travelled round the world. At Fremantle the ship's company was greatly augmented, and the decks and cabins became stiflingly oppressive, but every dis- comfort was forgotten when the coast of New Zealand was sighted and the ship entered Cook's Strait. Anchors were cast in full view of Wellington. Flanagan knew it was the capital of New Zealand and the seat of Victoria College, and that its public buildings included the Government House, the Houses of Parliament and a Freemason's Hall ; but he was surprised to find that the city nestled at the foot of a series of hills and mountain ranges, rising tier above tier, and stretching far away into the great interior. Leaving the ship by the doctor's tender, he was greeted by his host and hostess, the Hon. and Mrs. C. Luke. The President of the Conference and the Revs. J Ward, J Dawson and J Cocker welcomed him in behalf of the Churches of New Zealand. Later in the day a public reception was held by the Mayor and Mayoress of the city in honour of his visit, and an address of welcome was presented to him in the Council Chamber. The Y.M.C.A. THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 187

graciously received him at a garden party, the Churches extended their greetings at a united meeting, and representatives of associa- tions and institutions expressed their gratitude for his arrival and their affection for the people of England. Flanagan reciprocated all good wishes, and extended the greetings of the Churches of England. He explained that the purpose of his visit was to help the Churches of the Dominion in the work of saving men. His mission was not political nor commercial, but purely religious. He wished to make known the boundless love of God as revealed in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and to prove that Calvary, like the stars, had no parallax, and that the love-light streaming from Gol- gotha might be appropriated by the people of all lands. He contrasted England with New Zealand, London with Wellington, and expressed his gladness that social wretchedness was less acute in the colonies than in the homeland. He gave a resume of his work in London. He described a court, a lodging- house and an alley, and spoke invectively of public-houses, tie hoped the Government of the Dominion would continue to hold the liquor traffic by the throat, that it would

always consider it an evil ; and he trusted the i88 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN legislature would never countenance wrong. He believed that national righteousness was basic, an imperishable foundation, and of greater value than ships or wealth. He was convinced that good men were the priceless treasures of a country, and should be regarded as the prophets of their age. He was proud to learn that in New Zealand men of social eminence went to church and that they encouraged revivals of religion by associating themselves with movements which aimed at the spiritual unfoldment of the people. Brilliant civic and ecclesiastic receptions greatly stimulated Flanagan as he braced himself to the task of conducting missions in the chief towns of the North and South Islands. The area of his work extended from Wellington to Whangarei in the North Colony and from Nelson to Invercargill in the South. His methods of attack corresponded with those adopted at home, and the messages he delivered were, apart from new illustrations drawn from local surroundings, reproductions of those delivered in the towns and cities of England. The spiritual influence which attended the services was remarkable. The human was swayed by the Divine, and God was in the midst of His people. As the Holy Spirit revealed the scars of guilt, sinners THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 189

feared and trembled. Strong men from mountain-homes cried for mercy, and carried back to their wooden dwellings, upon which the glaciers of the Southern Alps looked down, the songs of freedom. The number of people that attended the mission-services was unprecedented, and surprised Flanagan's most optimistic friends. Arrangements had been made for great meetings, but the accommodation in many cases was totally inadequate. At Wellington the church could not hold one quarter of the people who sought admission, and the large Circus Hall, subsequently requisitioned, was crowded to excess. At Feilding the spacious Victoria Hall was used, but hundreds failed to gain admission. The meetings were held in a theatre at Invercargill, and the building was filled from floor to ceiling. The famous Burns Hall at Dunedin was abandoned and a theatre capable of seating two thousand people was excessively crowded. Flanagan's influence upon the multitudes was great, and the aim of his preaching was clearly defined. Gifts of oratory were subordinated to the high purposes of evangelism, and he preached and pleaded for the conversion of the people. As he proclaimed the Evangel the spell of a great power came upon his hearers, and —

igo LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN silent prayers were offered that God might cleanse and pardon the convicted soul. " Who will seek the higher life, and who will ask for perfect cleansing ? " he enquired, as the awe of the Divine Presence deepened. And, as men flung themselves in full surrender at a penitent form or were upstanding in the midst of a crowded building to signify their acceptance of Jesus as their Saviour, Flanagan was profoundly moved, and, becoming his own precentor, led the people in singing :

" Saviour, to Thee my soul looks up, My present Saviour Thou, In all the confidence of hope I claim the blessing now.

" 'Tis done ! Thou dost this moment save, With full salvation bless ; Redemption through Thy Blood I have, And spotless love and peace."

And to many hungry souls the Heavenly bread was broken. Flanagan's evangelistic tours introduced him to the physical features of the country, and gave him an opportunity of visiting some of its most beautiful and renowned places. He found both islands mountainous and divided by a great mountain chain running THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 191 north-east and south-west. He travelled on the railway which connects the east and west of the North Island, passed through the Manawatu Gorge, and journeyed along the coach-road over the mountain-ranges west of Hawke's Bay. He visited the volcano on Mount Egmont, observed Ruapehu standing like a giant in the distance, and saw the active cone of Tongariro yield steam and smoke. He visited the hot lakes and pools, the boiling geysers and steaming fumaroles, and stood speechless in the midst of such a wonderland. He was enraptured with the long reaches of Waikato, watched it plunge into the beautiful lake Taupo, and then flow out on the west coast. He observed many extensive plains of low elevation and vast areas of fern-clad hills. He penetrated into the region of the Maori people, who, when informed that he came from England, heartily welcomed him. He admired their beautiful country, and they shewed him clubs and spears with which their fathers fought. He noticed that their features were not unpleasing

and some were handsome ; that their skin was olive brown, their lips thick, their head well shaped. He shook hands with them, caressed their children and gently stroked their long black hair. 19* LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Flanagan crossed Cook's Strait six times, explored the Southern Colony and found the picturesque and wild grandeur of the scenery unrivalled. The central Alps displayed magnificent glaciers amidst clusters of snow-laden mountain-peaks, and the stupendous valleys held in strong embraces a series of yellow- tinted lakes. Everywhere ferns and tree- ferns, some thirty feet in height, grew in wild luxuriance, and fruit trees thrived abundantly. He rested on grassy slopes amidst trefoil plants, and saw sweetbrier, gorse, and thistles growing everywhere. He passed along the coast and found it pierced by deep, calm sounds of exquisite beauty, and Milford Sound and the Sutherland Falls greatly impressed him. He was informed that there were no wild beasts and, therefore, went fearlessly to the woods. But, as he sat beside a wood one day, his mind in reverie, a dog plunged out. Taken by surprise, he cried aloud. The dog scampered quickly back, and Flanagan, trembling in every limb, strode quickly away Flanagan was impressed by the men he met, and their kindness was an unforgettable memory. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunkett, conferred with him and presented his portrait. A seat was provided for him beside the Speaker in the House of Parliament, the dominions overseas 193 and the Prime Minister, Sir J C. Ward, crossed the floor of the House to shake hands with him. He chatted with the Speaker and the Minister of Education, and he remembered the loftiness of their thought and the purify of their diction. He was royally entertained by mayors and mayoresses, whose homes were habitations of comfort and refinement. Captains of gold-mines and lead-mines explained their systems of industry to him, and, as he touched and handled precious metals, he remarked that, although England was the richest country in the world, the people had but vague conceptions of gold- fields. He was escorted by ministers of religion, lived in their manses, gratefully accepted their generous hospitality, and applauded their wives for sacrificial devotion to the claims of home and Church. The ministers were his best friends, and a sacred bond of brotherhood was forged between them. They were men with an outlook, who had escaped the ruts of tradition. They believed in the union of Churches, and their faith was transfused in service. Conservatism cried a halt, but the ministers bravely dashed forward and conquered. At the Conference, when union was effected, Flanagan saw flashes of genius in ministers' o —

194 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

eyes and heard in their " union speeches" the voice of greatness. Flanagan might have lingered longer in New Zealand but for the claims of home and a desire to fulfil a promise to visit the Australian Churches. At the farewell meeting in Wellington the huge theatre was packed an hour before the time of the meeting, and it was estimated that more than a thousand people failed to obtain admission. Statesmen and judges, barristers and members of Parliament, ministers and official laymen, expressed their regret at his departure, and spoke and wrote of the uplifting influence of his work in the country. The following is a letter from the Rev. C. E. Ward, the secretary of the United Committee of the Churches :

Wellington, June 26th, 1908. " Dear Mr. Flanagan, " I am requested by the United Committee of the Wellington Primitive Methodist Church to convey to you our very sincere and hearty thanks for the splendid service you have rendered our Church and city—and, indeed, the Dominion of New Zealand—by your earnest, eloquent, and truly Gospel utterances. Your sermons have been an inspiration to multitudes of our people. Your THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 195

lectures have given us a very real and vivid conception of the conditions of slum life in the Old Land, which are happily impossible in this new and pure country. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to help, in a small way, the noble Institution which our Church, through you, has founded at St. George's Hall, London. We rejoice that, though you have never spared yourself in the services you have conducted during your only too short visit to New Zealand, your voice and health have been so well preserved. We take it as a privilege and pleasure to have known you and, in a measure, to have appreciated your manly character, pure motives, and self-sacrificing life's work. We wish you a splendid time in Australia, a safe return to the Old Land, and many, many years of useful, successful, happy work for Christ and the Church."

Writing en route for Australia to the Primitive Methodist Leader, Flanagan expressed his esteem for the people of New Zealand and his affection for their country- With the ship loosened from its moorings and the shore retreating as she ploughed through deeper waters, he said, " Fading away in the darkness are the faces of some who will be dear to me for ever. The waving adieux help me to hide the tears which against their will force o 2 ig6 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

" their way to the eyes ; and, in remembrance of the sunny land which he had learnt to " love, he said : Dear land of wonder and beauty, in which a generous people of a noble race are endeavouring to make actual the reign of God, may peace, prosperity and joy in the Holy Ghost be thine ! May thy maidens be chaste ; thy sons strong in all the virtues of Christ ; and thy spires and roof- trees be the first to catch the morning glory of the Millennial dawn." Flanagan visited several cities in Australia, and preached in Newcastle, Sydney and Adelaide. Great crowds attended the services. In some cases doorways, yards, porches and entrances were packed, and there were occasions when thousands of people failed to find accommodation in the buildings. Friends and acquaintances sprang up everywhere, and evidences were multiplied in proof that the earth was small. There were Londoners at the meetings ; men from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham shook hands with him warmly ; and Flanagan filled a note-book with the names and addresses of people to whom friendly greetings were sent. Men wept in his presence when they spoke of the Home- land, and some were anxious that Flanagan should be the messenger to reveal the good THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 197 news of an altered life through the forgiving love of God. At Adelaide Flanagan was the guest of Lord Chief Justice and Lady Way, and in his journals he speaks highly of their kind and generous treatment. He found the Chief Justice a consistent Nonconformist and in sympathy with the work of all the Churches of the Dominion. He was an advocate of world- wide Methodist union, and gave impetus to the union-movement in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and New South Wales. Flanagan found that the tastes of his host were literary and artistic. At " Montefiore," the Adelaide residence of the Chief Justice, he was given free access to the library. There were rare bibliographical treasures, including books on Australasian and Polynesian explorations, for nearly every branch of knowledge was generously represented. In the grounds were aviaries, and wild fowl were at large on the lawn. Conservatories glistened in the sunshine and choice exotics bloomed within them. Across the paths ferneries threw their shadows which, deepened by the shade of stately palm trees, added to the charm of quiet resting-places. Flanagan motored with Chief Justice and Lady Way to " Kadlunga," a country residence, where he was charmed —

198 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN with the native fauna, the kangaroo and wallaby, which were well protected in the grounds. The Lord Chief Justice heard Flanagan preach, and expressed his pleasure by saying, " The sermon was too short " a compliment which only greatness can bestow. One day on the verandah Flanagan observed a spider close to Lady Way's dress and, being afraid it might startle her, put his foot upon it ; but Chief Justice Way quoted from Cowper's " Task " :—

" I would not enter on my list of friends (Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm."

Flanagan justified himself by disclosing his motive, and quoted Wayland's dictum that the quality of an action resides in the intention, with which the Lord Chief Justice quite agreed. Australian life made a great impression on Flanagan's mind, and he appreciated its catholicity of spirit. He wondered if geography broadened men's thought and extended the frontiers of their religious ideas. Everything appeared immense, and railway journeys seemed unending. He attached a THE DOMINIONS OVERSEAS 199 wider meaning to latitude and longitude, and he considered that the names of the cardinal points were unrestricted terms of measure- ment. He found that his terminology had changed amidst the vastness of the country, and realized that familiar words like rood and furlong were unsuitable to express ideas related to bewildering distances. He learnt to distinguish between the measurable hills and the unscalable mountains, the tiny pond and spacious lake, the mighty sea and bound-

less ocean ; and he experienced the elevating ministries of vastness. He frequently uttered aloud the words of the Hebrew Bard, " I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help," and his faith in God's infinitude was established. There were times, however, when he felt a sense of isolation and yearned for home. He was treated like a prince, but he longed for a sight of the home- stead, and his heart hungered for the call of love. Strange faces had become familiar to him and the circle of friendship widened daily, but the memory of wife and loved ones frequently filled his eyes with tears. Breadth of vision and cosmopolitan experiences had not disturbed his love for home, and he recognized the paramountcy of the parochial in the building of character. 200 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Flanagan arrived in England just as the autumn sun had wrought its miracle of colour in the woods. He unpacked numberless treasures collected in distant lands, and adorned the rooms with pictures painted in a land over which the bright constellation of the Southern Cross flung its light. He entertained his friends for several days with stories of travel, and then, stimulated by the ozone of an ocean-voyage and inspired by loved ones around him, he plunged again into the work of advocating the claims of missions in the pulpits of his native land. Chapter XIX.

J. F.

" He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again." Shakespeare.

It was a privilege of exceptional value to know James Flanagan and to be counted amongst his friends. Once seen he was always remembered, and once known he was recognized as the friend who stood at many crossways to indicate direction and speak words of cheer. He was a good man clothed in earthly robes, and, carrying the staff of a pilgrim, he sought the higher elevations. His presence was arresting, for he measured more than six feet. His head was proportionate to his body and was adorned with a pro- fusion of silk-like, iron-grey hair. His eyes were deeply set beneath a high and strongly marked forehead and gleamed or twinkled with tremulous light according to his mood. His mobile lips, slightly turned upwards at the corners, were well formed, and his pro- truding chin was indicative of strength 202 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

His hands were long, his fingers thin and pointed, and the third knuckle of the left hand was much depressed. He had marvellous grace of movement, and when he stood to speak his lithe figure was perfectly erect. He would often join his friends with a song upon his lips and lilt it to the melody of an Irish jig. The dullest company became hilarious when he appeared, and, though every person present would proffer his chair, he would not be seated until he had told his latest story or called attention to some thrilling incident which had recently impressed him. He was always a welcome visitor at the manse, and when he was once ensconced within its walls everybody sought his company. Children climbed his knee to listen to fairy stories, and the boys were never happier than when they played at waggon and horses with their big, tall friend. He seemed to have a weakness for manses. He liked to take them by storm, roam through all the rooms, and appropriate the freedom of the whole house. He would examine the books of the library, reach superannuated treasures from the shelves, and leave them littered upon tables and chairs : and, perchance, rinding the pages of a book uncut, he would dilate upon —

J, F. 203 its teaching at the tea-table and interest the company with stories respecting the author. He was invariably a happy guest, and his happiness diffused to the household. His needs were simple and he preferred the plainest food. He disliked attempts at entertain- ment, but he delighted to entertain. He rarely enjoyed a game of billiards if it was part of a programme, but a game spontaneously proposed, involving the fixing of a table and a battle for partners, was a tonic to his nerves. He liked to upset programmes, and sometimes surprised a household by the audacity of his proposals. His return to a manse was always an anticipated pleasure, and every member of the family would meet him at the door to extend a welcome. But it was necessary to understand him and to have some regard for his peculiar passion to entertain, or he might ask for a hot bath in the midst of social formalities and suggest that a fire in the bedroom might be conducive to sleep. There were times when James Flanagan would refuse to halt in the street, and those who knew him well could divine the reason it was the fear of missing a train. On such occasions it was impossible to speak to him, for he would stride quickly on, indicating 204 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

the way by swinging his bag in the direction of the station. At the sound of a whistle he would quicken his pace, concluding it was the express to the North, and, without counting his change at the booking office, would rush to the platform to find there were fifteen minutes to wait—but it was not a moment too long, for there were papers to get and books to purchase. To meet him in the street when there was no train to catch was quite a different matter, for invariably the greeting led to a walk and a talk and ended with tea in a cafe. He was familiar with back streets and side-roads, and was delighted to lead his friends through a net-work of paths and passages to bookshops in obscure parts of the city. He seemed to experience a sense of pain when observing the works of a favourite author on the shelf of a second- hand bookstall. " Here is Dreams by Olive Schreiner," he exclaimed one day, " and " " behold ! he cried, this is Michael Fairless, and here is The Roadmender. You must not go without them. I would not part with them for worlds." A few minutes later they stood in Boots' Book Lover's Library, and afterwards sauntered across the market-place to the parting of the ways with their hands laden with books. I F. 2o5

James Flanagan was known to his friends as a hero-worshipper, and his interest in places was deepened by a knowledge of distinguished men. He knew intimately the churches of Nottingham, and was especially interested in St. Mary's because George Fox had entered the building and, disturbing the people in their worship, was immediately arrested and thrust into prison. He had preached in all the chapels in the Nottingham area, but he gave Hockley the premier position, because John Wesley had preached the opening sermon and the saintly John Smith, of an early period, had ministered within its walls. He would not allow visitors to leave the city until they had seen the humble dwelling-house in which General Booth was born, and he could describe to them the coat and bonnet which baby William Booth first wore. He would invariably lead his friends through a long, narrow passage which led to a stone staircase, and, after ascending two flights of stairs, would point to a door on the top landing, saying, "That room was once the office of the editor of the Nottingham Journal. He required an office-boy, and a youth from Scotland sought the post. But, after climbing this staircase, courage failed him. He lingered amidst the shadows — —

206 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN until night-fall, when the editor, leaving the room, ran against him on the stairs. " Who are you ? " asked the editor. " My name is Barrie," replied the bashful stranger. Re- turning to the office the editor engaged his services, and in that room J M. (now Sir James M.) Barrie began his journalistic life and met with men whom he immortalized in his famous book, When a Man's Single. He would point to the little white tablet fixed on the wall of a house in Cheapside where Henry Kirke White once lived, and would speak in praise of him as a visitor of the sick, a kind counsellor, and a poet who, through sheer overwork, finished his life at the early age of twenty-one years. He knew the haunts of Philip James Bailey, and quoted

to his friends the well-known words :

" We live in deeds—not years ; in thoughts

not breaths ; In feelings—not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives Who thinks most—feels the noblest—acts the best."

At garden-parties James Flanagan was the centre of attraction and unfolded like a flower in the presence of his friends. Every shred —

J* F. 207

of reserve would disappear, and his merry laughter and boyish fun were strangely infectious. He would play bowls with the youngest and challenge the oldest person present. He would drive a game of hockey with the strong and share the excitement of a game of croquet with the weak. He would contrive to converse at intervals with everybody, and, if the poor and aged were present, became the centre of their circle. At tea- time, beneath the flower-covered verandah, he would beam benedictions upon all and keep the company merry with his friendly talk ; and when the sun's rays were flung upwards against the sky and the brief meeting began, it was like a moment in Heaven to listen to his prayer. He linked the garden to the hills and the hills to the sky. Distance seemed annihilated in the sweet and tender intercession, and only God and Heaven were near. Finally, speakers would resume their seats and gaily-clad soloists flutter back to the verandah ; then Flanagan would rise again to thank Sir Jesse and Lady Boot for the free use of the beautiful " Plaisaunce." And once, when the people moved away from the garden of roses and Flanagan's arm was firmly linked to the arm of his friend, they unitedly cited Longfellow's words : ;

2oB LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

" And the night shall be filled with music, And the cares that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away."

It was after the exuberant gladness of a garden-party that ministers slipped into churches to hear James Flanagan preach and many of them proclaimed him chief, for they were held spellbound by his eloquence. Men, who were little kings in their own circles, acknowledged that they were uncrowned in his presence. His style was arresting and his mannerisms were impressive. Slowly he would proceed as though the theme had not

taken shape in his mind ; and yet it was impossible to turn the eyes away from the tall, limp figure speaking in quiet, subdued tones. At length signs of animation would appear, his hand being lifted and his fingers resting for a moment on his brow. Deep thoughts forced their way through his speech, and he would move with graceful ease about the pulpit. The theme had taken shape, and his Celtic nature had fused. Every power of his mind, memory, reason, imagination, were requisitioned, and the gifts of humour and pathos were harnessed to the theme. Men were swayed by his oratory, and the impact of his personality was irresistible. — ——

J. p.. 209

We knew him as a great worker who never lacked an occupation, for in addition to the claims of preaching and lecturing there were demands made upon his pen. He wrote articles for newspapers and stories and sketches for magazines, whilst his published works include Man's Quest, a volume of sermons, The Romance of Evangelism, and Scenes from My Life Both Grave and Gay. His mind was ever active, and his creative gift restlessly sought expression. When " fraternals " were ended he would linger at the manse till late, sometimes taking a new poem from his wallet :

I know the message of the Cross ; The loss of gain The gain of loss ; The bliss of pain The pain of bliss I know it all.

I know the points that change the Stars ; The nights that gleam With brightest hours ; That Love's defeats Mean larger powers I know it all.

His greatness was self-evident, and dis- ^ tinguishing qualities of mind and heart p 210 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN separated him from mediocrity. He stood above the middle rate, like mountains above the hills. The aspect of life changed under the influence of his word, and his touch transfigured the commonplace like sunlight beating on a cloud. An hour in his company revealed the giant-mind, and men were convinced of his genius. Littleness ceased to be assertive in his presence, for its piping voice was hushed amidst deeper harmonies, like the music of the stream is silenced as it meets the sea. Indefinable qualities adorned his speech, flashed from his sky-blue eyes or leaped in his features, and men were unwittingly captured. He lifted ordinary subjects of conversation into regions of lofty elevation and, by correlative treatment, modified and widened the opinions of his friends. He required a large canvas, for he painted with a big brush, and the great distances embraced in his landscapes hinted at the immeasurable. But the high ranges of thought and knowledge with which he had cultivated an acquaintance did not separate him from the commonplace. An evening amongst the stars did not destroy his interest in street-lamps, and, amidst the glamour of city temples and town churches, his love for village-chapels was preserved. Rising to great heights of J, F* 211 eminence he did not lose contact with men of more humble spheres, and the flame of brotherhood within him never ceased to burn. The poor were never denied compassion, and his helping hand was ever extended towards them. Ministers counted him amongst their best friends, and he was the faithful exponent of evangelical religion to multitudes of people. An extract from the kind letter written by the Rev. (now Dr.) A. T. Guttery when fixing Flanagan's engagements for missionary services immediately after his return from the Antipodes,— indicates the esteem of the Churches : " I can assure you that the applications have been a wonderful testimony to your popularity, for I have only been able to grant a tithe of the requests that have come to me."

p 2 Chapter XX. SHADOWS

" Sacred heart of the Saviour ! inexhaustible

fountain ! Fill our hearts this day with strength and " submission and patience ! Longfellow.

At the Conference of 1909, Flanagan relin- quished the duties of missionary advocate and settled down to the work of a circuit minister. The undertaking was a trial of patience, for it involved the taking in of sail and the exploration of limited shores ; but Flanagan saw the need of rest, and he longed for a sphere in which he could render undis- tributed service. He was appointed to Nottingham First Station which, in addition to Canaan, its chief church, embraced four country Societies. Gotham and Cropwell Butler were far removed from the city, but Ratcliffe-on-Trent and Netherfield, being connected with Nottingham by a service of trains, were more easily approached. The appointment suited Flanagan's taste, and SHADOWS 213 he found much pleasure in visiting the Societies of the circuit. The snug little village " of Gotham he regarded as a Bethany," and his visits were keenly anticipated and greatly enjoyed by the friends and members of the quaint little church. He found the people kind, intelligent and hospitable. He took great interest in their plaster-pit industry and their well-equipped mills. He made friends of gardeners and farmers, and participated in the hospitality of their homes. The week-evening service assumed great pro- portions and, instead of " two or three gathered together," the church was rilled. Canaan, however, was the Church upon which Flanagan was expected to concentrate his energy, and the people shared his optimism with respect to its prosperity- It was a stately edifice and the interior was adjusted to aesthetic tastes. The ceiling consisted of a huge panel dexterously accommodated to a slightly curved roof, giving the effect of carving in relief. The spacious galleries were supported by many pillars, and the wide aisles directly communicated with the vestries in the rear. The rostrum was the gift of a benevolent friend and was considered to be

the most beautiful in the city. Behind it were the choir and a large, fine-toned organ, 214 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN which had been installed through the indefatigable enterprise of the Rev. J. T. Gooderidge, a former minister of the church. The building was spacious, providing sitting accommodation for about a thousand people, and in the rear of the structure there was a large Sunday school with a suite of useful rooms. The Church had entertained the Conference on one or two occasions and, although the situation of the fabric was not ideal, it had exercised a gracious ministry in the city for many years. Flanagan heartily braced himself to the work of the Church, and propounded schemes for the removal of the incubus of debt upon the premises. The people rallied to his aid, and he became the centre of many activities. Sir Jesse Boot, through the advocacy of Mr. Arthur Richardson, M.P., paid the salary of a Sister to assist the work of rescue, for Broad Marsh and Narrow Marsh, contiguous to the church, needed the sweetening influence of religion. Old friends from remote parts of the city made fraternal visits to the church, and their presence in the services revived the memory of former days when Flanagan swayed the crowds that attended his ministry in the Albert Hall. The Church was heartened and congregations increased. Great services SHADOWS 215 were followed by enthusiastic prayer- meetings, when the " life-line " was eagerly seized by men who had suffered greatly in the wild tempest of spiritual shipwreck. None rejoiced more than Mrs. Flanagan in the progress of the work of God in Canaan Church, and her joy was intensified by the presence of her husband in the home. She uncomplainingly remembered the long periods of absence, the hasty preparations for long journeys and the dreary hours of waiting for his return. But a new era had dawned, and, though the sun had passed its zenith and the western hills were assuming distinctness in its effulgent splendour, there was hope of an eventide without a hint of solitude. The dream possessed her and filled her soul with ardent desire to help forward the work of God in the churches of the circuit. Mrs. Flanagan was a good woman, kindly disposed, and unswerving in her devotion to great purposes. She was a typical help- mate and lived for others. She was slightly inclined towards the diminutive in stature, but was in possession of a strong, well-balanced mind. She was highly intuitive and she under- stood from afar. Though quiet and shy in demeanour, she had great power of discrimin- ation, and her conclusions were invariably 216 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN correct. She would enter a room like a sun- beam, flit out in a moment, and no one would be unconscious of her presence. She possessed wonderful power of discernment and could anticipate with remarkable accuracy. She did not attempt great tasks in public life but, knowing the claims of wifehood and recognizing the responsibilities of motherhood, she chose the home as her sphere of action. She shared the gladness of quickened Churches, rejoiced in religious activities, prayed silently that the Kingdom of Heaven might come to a sin-stained earth, but was inflexible in her devotion to the affairs of the home. It was by her aid that Flanagan accomplished much, for she stood at the door of his fame, and his mountain-experiences were linked to her valley-service. Flanagan became what he was by the Grace of God and the quiet, unobtrusive devotion of his wife. She knew the art of weaving and mending and could work miracles of wonder in the domestic sphere ; and, if Flanagan was not penniless in the twilight of his days, it was owing to her frugal disposition and dexterous fingers. But settlement in Nottingham, with Canaan Church as a religious home, greatly inspired Mrs. Flanagan. Everything seemed different SHADOWS 217

and the claims of home were less urgent, for her sons James, Thomas and Gordon were building their own firesides, and Harold was

with his uncle in New Zealand : and, then, Annie was at home with her fatherless children, and Ellen, Gertie and Ada were happily settled in homes of their own. The burdensome days were past, the home was furnished and adorned, the family altar was aflame, and there was much to stimulate gratitude. Mrs. Flanagan had never been strong, yet she had escaped great illnesses. The strain of the ministry and of family rearing, however, had not left her health unimpaired. When Flanagan returned from overseas he observed that a great change had taken place in her health. The occasional headache had increased in frequency and violence, and she was often prostrated. He observed, too, that, with the quickening of her passion for service, there was a perceptible weakening

of her frail body ; and the pathos of the case lay in the fact that, whilst Mrs. Flanagan contemplated the future from the aspect of a new sunrise, her husband discerned in it the grim approach of shadows. Nor were his fears unfounded, for her weakness was persistent, and disease refused to yield to 218 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN treatment. Kind hands made soft her pillow and soothed her fevered brow with gentle touch, and Flanagan stood near her couch in sore distress. But still the shadow deepened, and, though there were days when the hope of her recovery was cherished, succeeding days revealed diminishing strength and increased prostration. Still, through all those months of pain and weakness her brave spirit was unsubdued ; nor did she cherish once the thought that her illness was preludial to the Gleaner's task. She had seen the dawn of a new day, her spirit was braced to new undertakings, and she expected to share the triumphant service of the Church. She embraced her children who at varying intervals arrived, and she spoke of Harold in New Zealand with the love of motherhood in her voice. But the shadow deepened, and once again it deepened. Then her eyes seemed to penetrate beyond the sphere in which hope sings its sweetest song, and she faintly whispered, " Beautiful, " beautiful ; and, pausing for a moment as though continents and island-homes ceased to be far apart, she whispered, " Harold "—and a soul had departed. Flanagan was much affected by his wife's death, and he experienced a deep sense of —

SHADOWS 219 solitude. The " passing " was the dawn of her morning—it was the beginning of his night. It shook his nerves and reduced his strength. The hearthstone was swept of its best company and the fireside had lost its inspiration. He remembered her unselfish devotion, her courage in the stern struggle for existence in the earlier years, her fidelity to the sacred obligations of home and motherhood, and her gentle ministries of love. He missed her at the threshold in the morning, and at night, when the stars shone brightly, he realized the absence of her beaming welcome at the door. Everything seemed different, the road, the sky, the stream, the Church, and life's anthem had lost its sweetest, vibrant chord. But Providence was kind in all its master-strokes and rich with teaching. Trouble deepened and intensified his experience and became his teacher. He under- stood much better the sorrow of his daughter's widowhood. Interments became to him new things, and the sight of an open grave filled his eyes with tears. He had been taught the purpose of the Cross, and his preaching was full of messages for lonely, broken- hearted men. He brought from his wilderness the Flower of Immortality, and fervently desired to plant it on every grave. There 220 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN had been given to him a vision of the open gate, and he was eager to indicate direction to a sphere of endless existence. But many friends observed that Flanagan's health was shaken and that bereavement had left its marks upon him. There were signs that the tide of energy was ebbing, and there was a hint of weariness in his gait. They cheered him, comforted him, did all they could to help him, and suggested a period of rest. Still his heart yearned to serve the interests of his Church, and clamant messages, born in the silence of sleepless nights, refused to be suppressed. But the inevitable break- down came and a long rest was enforced. It was during this period that Flanagan resigned his charge of Canaan Church and, in the hope that a long sea-voyage might minister to the complete restoration of his health, requested the Conference to grant him leave of absence that he might visit his son in New Zealand. Consent being given, Flanagan, accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Brack, sailed again to the Dominions overseas. ——

Chapter XXI.

SOUTH AFRICA

" The longer I live and the more I see Of the struggle of souls towards the heights above,

The stronger this truth comes home to me : That the Universe rests on the shoulders

of love ; A love so limitless, deep, and broad, That men have renamed it and called it God.

" And nothing that ever was born or evolved, Nothing created by light or force, But deep in its system there lies dissolved A shining drop from the Great Love

Source ; A shining drop that shall live for aye Though kingdoms may perish and stars decay." Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

The voyage to New Zealand was a great tonic to Flanagan, and his health so rapidly improved that he was able, in addition to visiting his son in Nelson, to undertake great 222 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN journeys for the purpose of lecturing or preaching in the towns and cities of the Dominion. For a period of about six months he stayed in the islands, and, being confident that his health was re-established, he arranged to visit South Africa on the homeward journey. It was, however, an undertaking which had an ill effect upon him. He described the crossing from New Zealand to Australia as " rough and discomforting," and he regarded the changing at Sydney from a well-equipped ship to a " mere tub of a steamer " as a great infliction. On the passage he was unable to sleep at night and, being averse to food or company in the daytime, he experienced inexpressible misery, which was sadly pro- longed by the loss of a screw propeller when the ship was more than five hundred miles from land. The belated vessel reached Durban at eight o'clock on Sunday morning, March ioth, 1914, and, although Flanagan was much weakened by the voyage, he braced himself to the work of the day, preaching to large congregations in the Rev- Pedr Williams's church in the morning and in the West Street Wesleyan Church at night. On the following Tuesday he held a conference with the ministers of the city, spoke freely — "

SOUTH AFRICA 223 of the work of God in the Churches, and urged the need for an evangelical revival of religion. The ministers were profoundly affected, and their zeal for the success of Flanagan's work under the auspices of the Free Church Council was greatly intensified. There are records in his journals of powerful services when crowds were influenced by his persuasive and beautiful speech, for his masterly and convincing messages, bathed in deep emotion, lifted the minds of men to higher planes, and they caught glimpses of a life which was unrestricted by the grave. His lectures were chiefly snapshots of London life, and were enriched by his own wide knowledge of the slums. Crowds filled the largest halls to hear him and, though he often spoke for a couple of hours and sometimes longer, their interest was sustained throughout. Local newspapers generously reported his lectures and sermons. He was often " snapped for purposes of the Press, and journalists frequently interviewed him. The editor of the Northern Post attended a service held at Aliwal North, and the following appeared

in the next issue of the paper : " The Rev. J Flanagan, the world-renowned preacher, has arrived in Aliwal North, and last night the Town Hall was crowded to *34 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the doors. He spoke for over an hour, and held the attention of his hearers from first to last. He possesses a quiet, dignified delivery which enhances the effect of the real eloquence with which his thoughts are clothed. His address was characterised by great beauty, and was both gripping and impressive." South Africa greatly appealed to Flanagan. Its unique scenery created within him a sense of wonderment, and he was amazed at its vastness. Within the brief period of four months he passed through several parts of Bechuanaland, the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and the Cape of Good Hope. The tour seemed to him like the discovery of a new world. He preached and lectured in Ladysmith, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Kimberley, and, through the kindness of friends, was able to visit many contiguous places of interest. The mountains close to the coast and the great table-land of the interior were to him scenes of bewildering beauty, and his journals abound with references to the rivers which sweep through the heart of the great country. On the third morning after his arrival at Durban he witnessed an African sunrise, which made a great impression upon him, and bent his soul —

SOUTH AFRICA 225 in homage before God. In his diary he made a record of the experience : "Through the night no sound was heard except the rain falling upon the cactus and the palm, and the low thunders of the Southern Pacific upon the beach. Nothing moved. Even the bats and flying beetles were hidden away in the dense bush, and the great mountains slumbered in the gloom. A ridge of snow-white foam, like a ribbon of silver, stretched across the rim of the night. Suddenly a shaft of light shot upwards from the lips of the horizon and pierced the thick darkness which, like a funeral pall, hung upon the firmament. It was the prophecy of the coming day. Then a dull purple light gradually suffused the bank of cloud, and, changing into fiery red, transfigured the ocean into liquid flame, as slowly the great orb of day appeared." This " deep red rose of dawn " became to Flanagan an inspiring memory and coloured all his teaching. He remembered it in the thronged hall, on the illimitable veld, in his visits to African villages, and when snugly seated in the motor-cars of his friends. He had seen the long, dark night expire in the arms of a glorious morn, and he had observed a slumbering world awakened by its touch. 226 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

" Let there be light," was the message of the sunrise, and instantly the kraal of the Kafir, the compound of the coolie, and the homes of civilization were filled with its glory. It climbed above the mountains, kissed into beauty the silent valley, extended beyond the coast-line, illumined the dark sea, and, regardless of natural frontiers, rilled the world with light. Flanagan discerned in it the prophecy of a golden age and linked its teaching to the " Sun of Righteousness." He had seen the heathen in their ancient habitations and observed their devotion to fetish worship. He had stood on the fringe of the bush, beheld the Hottentots in their haunts, and listened to their unintelligible chatter. He could distinguish them by their yellowish-brown complexion, oblique brown eyes, prominent cheek bones and black woolly hair. He had observed numberless coolies, aliens from a distant land, engaged in the menial service of the country to which they had been attracted by blazoned advertisements, and he had looked into the warlike faces of Kafirs everywhere. A colossal, white civilization over- shadowed these coloured tribes and races. Its representatives were quick to discover gold-mines within the wide acres of the country, SOUTH AFRICA 227 and eager to dig deeply for precious stones. The cities abounded with palatial buildings. Some of them were the residences of industrial magnates, and the districts and houses contrasted with the kraals and habitations of the coloured races. White people were in the minority, for four-fifths of the population belonged to coloured tribes. Peace existed everywhere and authority was universally recognized. Enactments to which penalities were attached were not frequently violated, and the fear of punishment was common amongst the tribes. Flanagan was proud of the South African Senate, the House of Assembly and the Provincial Councils, and esteemed the sense of justice upon which their laws were based. He held that the British were unrivalled colonists, and proclaimed that slavery always perished in sight of the Union flag. But when he saw that some of the representatives of wealth were arrogantly regardless of coloured tribes and that some landowners were forgetful of the refinements of civilization in the presence of coolies, he was filled with alarm and wondered if the existence of mutual good-will might always be taken for granted. It was when his attention was thus arrested that the teaching of the sunrise irresistibly Q 2 228 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN returned and deepened his faith in the elevating potencies of the Grace of God. He remembered the hostile attitude of Paul Kruger to the Uitlanders who, though heavily taxed, were disallowed the rights and privileges of citizenship, and at Spion Kop, Ladysmith, Pretoria and Majuba he had observed the evidences of conflict caused by such glaring intolerance. He was not distrustful of British law, for its aim was to maintain order by giving protection, but he was suspicious of arrogance and aloofness, and was afraid lest the temper of administration should falsely interpret the spirit of just enactments. Flanagan recognized the difference which Christianity made in the discharge of duty, and he preferred obedience prompted by love to submission enforced by authority. He recalled the political phrase of an earlier period, " Africa for the Afrikanders," and he remembered the creation and rapid growth of an opposition Imperialist party through whose influence the uncharitable policy of the Transvaal Volksraad was clearly defined and subsequently overthrown. He realized the need for Christian charity in the settlement and development of a great country where coloured tribes came into contact with white people of different nationalities. SOUTH AFRICA 229

He could not tolerate the Ishmaelite type of life which creates an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust, and he had no faith in the security and progress of nations which lived under a reign of terror. He believed that

fear forged swords, but love planted gardens ; that the one multiplied barriers, but the other coalesced nations. He held that South Africa could become the paradise of the world if the white population would translate ethical Christianity into its commercial and social relationships. Flanagan was greatly interested in the Zulus and described them as physically and intellectually a fine race. Their main industries were pastoral, but they were skilful in making ornaments of horn, ivory and wood. Their standard of morality was comparatively high, and they were responsive to the teaching of Christian missionaries. He visited the Rev Mr. Prozezky, who had been sent as a missionary to the Zulus from Berlin by the Lutheran Church in 1866, and who, within three years, had trained three Zulu evangelists for service amongst their own people. When Mr. Prozezky had sent them forth he had given to each of them a letter, asking the people to receive them kindly, and to give them food and clothing for Christ's 230 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN sake. They had been successful in their work, had founded several missions, and had brought hundreds into the fold of Christ. As the old man told the story of their success he wept for joy, and Flanagan related again the thrilling message of the sunrise. Through the kindness of Mr. Hewlett, the chairman of Pietermaritzburg Provincial Church, Flanagan visited a native school and was strongly impressed by the absence of tribal distinctions. Children of chiefs and the offspring of Zulus, Basutos and Kafirs sat side by side unconscious of the great animosities which, less than half a century before, had kept the respective tribes apart. He recorded in his note-book that the children were quick to learn the rudiments of education up to the fourth standard, that the majority, however, seemed incapable of grasping the higher ranges of knowledge, and that mechanics was a sphere into which few were able to enter. They were musical, and he was moved to tears when listening to them singing,

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me," for he caught the chorus of Africa's redemption-song in the sweet sound of their uplifted voices. SOUTH AFRICA 231

He visited Paul Kruger's house at Pretoria and asked a Dutch woman to show him the late President's library. She sternly replied that Kruger was a Christian, that he read the Bible every day, and possessed no other books. He ascertained that Kruger dressed shabbily, lounged on the verandah, drank coffee with burghers who visited him on business, and smoked tobacco freely. He obtained information respecting Kruger's unfriendliness to missionaries and his hatred of the English. His objection to missionaries was based upon the broadness of their teaching and their kind treatment of the natives, and his antipathy to the English grew out of their failure to emphasize distinctions between the white and black races. Kruger failed to rise above the narrow groove in which his life was cast, and he was ultimately carried down by the onrush of the rising tide of a wider age. Flanagan addressed the students of Grey College at Bloemfontein and afterwards lectured in a crowded building for two hours and forty minutes. The chairman of the meeting, Major Faure, spoke kindly of the influence of Gipsy Smith whom he had entertained, and made appreciative reference to a lecture on temperance he had delivered in 232 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN the city. The major's brother was a vine- grower, and, at the close of the meeting, he had warmly contested Gipsy Smith's teaching. Laying his hand kindly on the shoulder of his opponent, the Gipsy had said, " My brother, " you will make no more wine —a prophecy which was fulfilled, for the grapes of two hundred and fifty thousand vines were subsequently sold for other purposes. Flanagan was not very favourably impressed with Kimberley, and described it as the city of dust, dirt, and diamonds. It was with small regret that he turned from its dust- heaps to the wide veld en route to Aliwal North. The journey was full of interest, and in his journals he described the " illimitable veld " as a " mighty ocean of land crowded with huge breakers of rock." Mud-built Kafir kraals and flat-topped or cone-like kopjes dotted the sun-scorched, lightning- blasted plains which rolled away into the immense beyond. Everywhere the same interminable, dreary waste was visible. But as the sun dipped towards the horizon the train skirted the edge of a great mountain range. In the far distance the summits and shoulders of great hills were clearly defined, and, blazing in the light of the setting sun, they appeared to be gorgeous SOUTH AFRICA 233 giant-sentinels guarding the little town of Aliwal North. It was with a glad heart that Flanagan greeted the Rev. George Ayre, the minister in charge of the Aliwal Mission, of which the Primitive Methodists have spoken with pardonable pride. Great men had generously given their strength and service to it, and Flanagan recalled the history of their struggles and devotion. He remembered Henry Bucken- ham, John Smith, John Watson, George H. Butt, George E. Butt and Frederick Pickering " —" men of whom the world was not worthy —and their faithful wives and brave helpers. He was enamoured with the result of their work, and glorified God for the existence of a hundred and thirty native local preachers who owed their translation from heathenism to the joy of Christian service to the indefatigable labours of such men. The mission impressed him by its vastness, for it extended from Aliwal North to Johannesburg, a distance of five hundred miles. It pushed its roots into Cape Colony, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, and possessed ninety-three preaching places and twenty schools in which the principles of secular education were taught. He acquired information respecting the native minister, the Rev. W. N. Somngesi, 234 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN and rejoiced in the quality, wideness and permanence of his work. He ascertained that Rouxville had been transformed through his influence, and that the work at Zastron had marvellously succeeded. He was informed that during the Boer War Mr. Somngesi showed great tactfulness and valour ; that he clung to the people with great tenacity of purpose, and that, when the British Govern- ment removed them from the zone of military operations to a concentration camp north of Bloemfontein, he was not only entrusted with the entire charge of the native camp, but acted as postman for the Government, erected a large canvas church for the people to carry on the work of God and, when peace was proclaimed, went back with the people to the mission-centre and toiled for at least three years in restoring the damage which the war had made. The work at Aliwal greatly impressed Flanagan and, when writing to the Primitive Methodist Leader, he said, " I have seen no piece of missionary work in South Africa which has commanded my admiration more than the work of which Aliwal North is the centre. It must be seen to be fully appreciated. I have seen it, and my wonder is increased." He saw in its educational SOUTH AFRICA 235 and religious ministries the prophecy ©f a redeemed people. His optimism was never stronger nor his faith more established. The experience of the sunrise had sustained him throughout. Even disputable questions, like the Native Lands Act, lent themselves to the quickening of his faith in the triumphant victory of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The removal of natives from the lands of the European farmers and their compulsory location upon land apportioned to coloured tribes was to his far-seeing mind a moral gain which made possible a wider dissemination of Christian knowledge. When writing to the Leader, he said, " Each man and woman who is compelled to leave our Church for his own tribe because of the Land Act will carry with him the Evangel of Christ. Many of them are amongst the best of our native local preachers. In hundreds of African villages and kraals, where the blight of heathenism rests upon the people, the name of Christ will be reverently spoken. Thus, as of old, the Act which for the moment seems oppressive will send hundreds of redeemed men and women everywhere " ' preaching the Word.' And as Flanagan left Cape Town on July 9th, 1914, laden with the people's good wishes 236 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN and gifts of fruits and flowers, he believed that the great continent was destined to become the home of saints whose dark faces should be illumined by the transforming Grace of God. Chapter XXII.

FAREWELL

" Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie. Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will.

" This be the verse you grave for me :

Here he lies where he longed to be ; Home is the sailor, home jrom sea, And the hunter home from the hilly Robert Louis Stevenson.

Flanagan returned from his long tour in New Zealand and South Africa with an extended knowledge of the world and a more intimate acquaintance with the spirit of the age. Travel had been to him a great teacher, and he recognized its value as a factor in the culture of the mind. Through its informing influence many barriers were broken down, and conclusions of an earlier date were adjusted to the claims of newly-acquired information. 238 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

The parochial was absorbed in the universal, and he learnt to think and speak in cosmopolitan terms. The word brotherhood became to him a term of wider significance, for he had conversed with the Maoris of New Zealand and witnessed the restricted and degraded lives of the Kafir, the Zulu and the Hottentot of South Africa. Experience had deepened his sympathy, and his compassion was intensified by contact with benighted races untouched by the " Light of the World." The need for a multitude of consecrated lives to penetrate the dark forest of heathen- dom forcefully appealed to him, and he yearned again for the strength and enthusiasm of youthful days that he might take a place amongst the honoured missionaries of the Church. But he could not realize such high ambitions nor recall the buoyant days of spring. He was flung into life's autumn without having seriously apprehended its approach. There were signs of weariness in his gait, for his health was shaken. The strain of service had resulted in exhaustion, and the tide of life was ebbing. There were, however, stories of travel to relate and great messages to deliver. He had been privileged to journey through great lands and to witness the varied lives of many FAREWELL 339 tribes and races. He felt that such treasures of knowledge acquired by experience and observation should be given to the Church, and his soul longed to make them known. Regardless of pain and a growing sense of weakness, he plunged into the work of making known the message of the African sunrise. He prepared elaborate lectures on travel, fed the souls of people with fruits gathered from distant lands, described the vastness and richness of continents and islands through which he had passed, and proclaimed the sufficiency of the Cross to meet the deepest needs of men. Churches in all parts of the country were as eager to listen to the story of Africa as they had been keen to hear the story of the South-East London Mission, and "A Tramp round the World" was as popular and inspiring as " A Walk round my Parish." So numerous were the requests to preach and lecture and so persistent was the re- currence of pain, that Flanagan resolved to seek retirement from the responsibilities of the active ministry. He cherished the hope that freedom from the exacting duties of circuit work might lead to restoration of health. Accordingly his application for retirement was prepared and duly submitted —

240 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN to the Conference of 19 14. Subsequently his name appeared amongst the supernumeraries of the Church. The term " retirement " was, however, a misnomer with regard to Flanagan, for he bravely and unreservedly spent himself in service. His voice was uplifted in the pulpits of Nottingham, and he journeyed to many distant towns and cities under the shadow of the Great War to make known the truth that struggled for expression in his soul. It was in the autumn of 19 15 that Flanagan realized the gravity of the disease with which he was stricken and, facing the inevitable bravely, he committed himself to the tender keeping of God. He was attacked by an incurable species of carcinoma which poisoned the streams of life and produced terrible, lancinating pain. The paroxysms of pain increased in intensity and frequency with the development of the disease. There are entries in his diary which reveal the acuteness of his suffering and the consequent absence of rest. The entries are in the main devotional

and intercessory, such as the following :

" Dear Lord, how grateful I feel for a little

ease from pain ! I bless Thee for the measure of sleep I had last night. And now my pains FAREWELL 241 are lightened, let no murmuring rise to my lips, but only praise ! Thou hast led me through the years. How strange and wondrous is the way ! Surely Thou bringest the blind by a way that they know not and leadest them through paths of darkness. I feel that the suffering and weakness I am now undergoing are part of my spiritual education. I feel that both God and man are more precious. Thou hast done in my life what none other could do. May the Comforter ever testify in my soul of Thy Presence ! Give me grace to bear witness of Thee ! May I never be offended with Thee ! Teach me to be humble, patient, and kind to all ! Bless all my loved ones, and give me a great charity to all " mankind !

There were days of temporary intermission of suffering when he was attracted by the sunshine and longed for opportunities to preach. Disease had weakened his body, but had failed to slay his passion for evangelism. Its flame rose high within his soul, and he was anxious to lead sinful men to God. He remembered the inspiration of crowds in thronged halls, the ecstasy of mountain-experiences in the days of his strength, and, looking at his hands which were becoming increasingly transparent, he con- R —

242 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

joined with the remembrance of past experiences the doctor's unforgettable word "incurable." But he argued that the term was earthly, that it would cease to be on the other side of the Gate of Life, and he prayed that in the meantime there might be given to him strength and opportunity to lead sinners to the Saviour. It was during the early stages of his illness that Flanagan sought to extend the Kingdom of Heaven by wayside evangelism. When he was free from pain the wayside became to him a gracious sphere of service, and it was amazingly prolific in results. It afforded abundant opportunities for careful spiritual diagnosis and a close study of life. Many types of character resorted to the wayside, and Flanagan broke to them the bread of life. Old men, leaning upon their staves, renewed their youth under the influence of his word, and new hopes were kindled in their souls as he spoke of the " Land of Hope and Glory." There were days when they stood by the bridge or leaned beside a fence on the river-bank consulting their watches and wondering if an attack of pain was the cause of his delay ; but, seeing him slowly turn the corner of the tree-shadowed road, they moved forward joyously to greet FAREWELL 243 him, for he had led them into the realm of love. To promote the success of wayside evangelism and to minimize the strain of service, the Rev. Joseph Johnson kindly forwarded to Flanagan a cosy, self-propelling bath-chair. It was a gift for which he was devoutly grateful, for it extended his sphere of service and made it possible for him to speak to a wider constituency. He soon became proficient in its manipulation and skilfully moved from place to place on the extended wayside. He visited cab-stands and coal-yards and pleaded with men in varied spheres of occupation. He sat beneath the shadow of trees on cricket-fields and football grounds and declared to attentive young men that religion was the soul's supreme enjoyment. He arrested the attention of soldiers, proclaimed to them the Kingship of Jesus and presented them with copies of the New Testament which they promised to read and cherish. But such inspiring work was soon rendered impossible by the encroach- ments of disease, and a surgical operation became necessary for the purpose of giving respite from pain. It was during this period of suffering that Flanagan derived much consolation from the £ 3 244 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN pages of Dora Greenwell's Colloquia Cruets and the writings of Michael Fairless. He regarded them as sick-bed treasures and eminently suitable to the experience of a " broken wing." When perusing the precious volumes he was reminded of the place he had given to the Cross during the years of his public ministry. He had taken it to the heights and had urged men to accept it as the sign and token of their reconciliation with God. He had proved the Saviourhood of the Divine by dilating upon its tragedy. Amidst the ecstasies of great appeals he had woven a net-work of beautiful thoughts around it and placed it in the centre of all effulgence. It had been the soul of every theme, the bridge which spanned all chasms, the throne of all intercessions and the wing of all aspirations. But Michael Fairless and Dora Greenwell revealed its value in the Valley, and he learnt to appreciate the ministry of pain. Under their influence tears were transmuted into orbs of light, and the song of freedom was substituted for the dirge of exile. The output of work during those dreary months of suffering was remarkable, and it proves that Flanagan refused to become the slave of sickness. He was occupied through the long hours of many sleepless nights in —

FAREWELL 245 preparing articles for the Press or assimila- ting the teaching of some great book. Manu- scripts grew rapidly under his facile pen. Within a year he wrote the " Story of the South-East London Mission " for the Alders- gate and several " Wayside Meditations " for the Leader. Sometimes his literary genius expressed itself in song, and amongst his remains there are many beautiful, inspiring poems which should be collected and published. The " Swan Song " is unique inasmuch as it was his last creation, composed shortly after the doctor had said in kind, sober tones that there was no hope of his recovery. The poem was published by his friend the Rev. George Bennett, in the pages of the Leader. It was linked to Flanagan's " Marching Orders " and was sung by him when within sight of the City. It consists of four verses and a common refrain. The first verse and refrain are as follows :

a Come, oh my soul, lift up thy voice, In songs of highest praise. Bid thy farewell to weary nights And painful, cloudy days. The night is past, the morn has come, I see the land afar, And soon my weary feet will rest Within the gates ajar. —

246 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

Refrain. " I'm going home, I'm going home, Farewell to sin and sorrow. I'm going home, I'm going home, I'm going home to-morrow."

Nor was the morrow long delayed. His descent into the Valley was surprisingly swift. The Rev. M. P Davison, the secretary of the General Committee, forwarded him the following letter, dated February 25th,

1918 :

Mount View Road, London, N.4. "Dear Mr. Flanagan, " At the General Committee on Friday we were deeply grieved to hear that you were so unwell, and I was requested to write and assure you of the deep sympathy of all your brethren and of their earnest prayers that in all your affliction you may be graciously comforted and sustained. The Rev. Joseph Johnson told us that you had declared to him that you would never be able to preach again. That certainly is a great loss, for we all recognize that you have been one of the most eloquent and successful preachers of the Church. Your work in London will never be forgotten and all over the Denomination your name is beloved and revered. May FAREWELL 247 your declining years be bright with the hope " of a glorious future !

The letter was a sincere expression of affection and confidence, and Flanagan highly appreciated it. He was frequently moved to tears by the love of comrades in service, and there are records in his diary of pleasure experienced by the receipt of sympathetic letters and the unexpected visits of friends. And as the sorrowful way slowly contracted his mind became strangely reminiscent. He spoke tenderly of friends like Sir William P. Hartley, Sir Thomas Robinson, the Revs. Spaight Auty and Joseph Johnson, who had sought in many ways to cheer him. There were occasions when pain restricted conversation and embarrassed communion with friends, but there were also times when the sick-chamber was as the Gate of Heaven. In reflective moods he would speak of Trinity Street Chapel and St. George's Hall with a strange fire burning in his eyes and a wonderful love-light on his face. He eulogized the Gledhill family and dilated upon the occasion when at their dinner-table the first hundred pounds towards the erection of St. George's Hall was promised. Once he asked for pen and paper and scribbled a note heavily laden :

248 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN with "Alleluias" to Miss Doe, a faithful worker in the mission, for there were moments when his soul overflowed with benedictions and he sought to bestow them upon his friends. A short time before he died he was visited by a friend who had spent a few hours with him, and was preparing to go, when Flanagan said " Come close to me!" and he moved towards the couch. " Yet a little nearer," and his friend stood beside him. " " Bend over me ! he earnestly entreated. Then he placed his long, thin hands upon his friend's head and prayed in tender supplica- tion. He kissed the forehead he had blessed, and said : " There, that is Flanagan's benediction." Silence filled the room, and both giver and recipient wept. But they never met again, for on the 30th day of March, 19 18, when his mind was full of sweet thoughts respecting a white-robed Eastertide, in the presence of a loving, sorrowing family, Flanagan passed into the Home- land. The news of his passing was widely circulated, and friends in all parts of the world mourned his loss. A service was held FAREWELL 249 in Canaan Church, Nottingham, previous to his interment, and friends from far and near attended the funeral. Members of Parliament, mayors, aldermen and councillors of the city, ministers from London and the provinces and friends from many counties and districts joined the bereaved family in the church and placed flowers upon the grave. The address of appreciation emphasized the greatness of the soul, the saintliness of the character, the humaneness, tenderness and compassion of the life that Death had gleaned, and expressed the deep and tender sympathy of the Church with the bereaved family. His body was placed beside the remains of his beloved wife in the General Cemetery, and, after the com- mittal sentences were cited, the Rev Samuel Horton led the sorrowing concourse of people in prayer to God. It was a funeral long to be remembered. The sky was high and radiant. The spring had touched the trees, and there were signs of life amidst a wilderness of graves. Men lingered long beside the tomb and did not turn away with tearless eyes.

a Through gloom and shadow look we

On beyond the years ; The soul would have no rainbow Had the eyes no tears." — — ! !

250 LIFE OF JAMES FLANAGAN

The Rev. Alfred Parkin memorialized his passing and, preaching from the well-known " text, Enoch walked with God : and he was not ; for God took him," he recalled the salient features of Flanagan's sweet and beautiful life. The message was forceful and convincing, for it proved that progress depends upon fellowship with God. Men were reminded of the immortal lines of Oliver

Wendell Holmes :

" Build thee more stately mansions, my soul, As the swift seasons roll Leave thy low-vaulted past Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's un- " resting sea !

To perpetuate his memory the Rev. H. J Taylor, the superintendent of the South- East London Mission, has placed beside the pulpit in St. George's Hall a beautifully designed brass tablet which was unveiled November 12th, 1919, by Sir Thomas Robinson in the presence of a large congregation. The inscription is as follows ; FAREWELL 251

To the Glory of God

and the Memory

of JAMES FLANAGAN,

Preacher, Evangelist, Author.

For 11 years (1891—1902) Superintendent

Minister of this Mission.

FOUNDER OF ST. GEORGE'S HALL.

He loved the poor, he was beloved by the poor. He gave his life to bless and save the poor.

1851—1918.

FLETCHER ANC SON, LTD., PRINTERS* NORWICH.