PETER SPENCE 285 



firm adhesion to the Christian religion; the 

 Deity was to him no mere "tendency that 

 made for righteousness," but "Our Father," 

 Who profoundly interests Himself in the little 

 lives of His children, and helps and delivers 

 them in their needs and troubles. Peter 

 Spence threw his activities into the church in 

 Oxford Road, under the pastoral care of Dr. 

 McLaren, and was elected one of its deacons, 

 in which capacity his intelligence, enterprise, 

 and generosity were most valuable. 



It is a pleasure to us to record here an 

 incident that occurred at a very critical period 

 of Peter Spence's business. After the great 

 losses which he incurred by the too hasty 

 alteration of his plant, to work the Redonda 

 Phosphate process, which proved to be a 

 failure, he was so crippled, financially, that 

 there appeared to be no alternative but to 

 liquidate the business, and get it converted 

 into a limited company. 



This was a crushing sorrow and disappoint- 

 ment, after so many years of persevering 

 industry and successful invention. The wife 

 of his friend and pastor becoming, privately 

 and totally without Spence's cognisance, 

 acquainted with the circumstances, mentioned 

 the matter to one of the worthy deacons of 



