4 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



of Ufa, and who had, I knew, sought to have these forests 

 managed in accordance with modern forest science, at 

 my request gave instructions to the agents on his estates 

 to procure for me, and communicate to me, whatever 

 information in regard to these I might desire to obtain ; 

 and though I was unable to accompany my friends I 

 could, with what I knew of the country and its ways, 

 picture to myself their progress. 



. . . " After Christ, work turns to privilege. 

 And henceforth, one with our humanity, 

 The six-day Worker working still in us 

 Has called us freely to work on with Him 

 In high companionship." . . . 



And against this work declining years form no barrier, 

 " For age is opportunity no less 

 Than youth itself, though in another dress, 

 And as the evening twilight fades away 

 The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day." 



' A beautiful thought of Longfellow's this, and one which brings with it a long chain 

 of complex feeling, gratitude, hope, and confidence. May the joy which passeth all 

 understanding be yours now, henceforth, and for ever ! Again and again thanking 

 you in name of the Church for all your kindness and help. I remain, dear Dr Brown, 

 Yours very respectfully, 



JAS. A. BEZANT, 

 Hon. Secretary British American Chapel, St. Petersburg, Russia. 



'To the Rev. Dr Brown, Haddington.' 



While I record the pleasing and the creditable, I can also tell of the discreditable and 

 the ludicrous. My grandfather, extensively known as John Brown of Haddington, 

 the author of the ' Self-interpreting Bible,' who, with the exception of having been 

 three months at school, was entirely self-educated, was accused before an ecclesiastical 

 court of having acquired his learning through compact with the devil. While the 

 lectures on chemistry, to which reference has been made, were being delivered, two 

 ladies of good social position seriously assured a dinner-party at which they were 

 present, that there was a queer minister at the chapel now, who put a great number 

 of bottles in a circle on a table, and knelt down and prayed to them, while all the 

 people kneeled around him. Happily, after the laugh had been enjoyed, a member of 

 the congregation who happened to be at the party was able to tell out of what this 

 strange story had arisen. 



Amongst the Germans of a devout spirit in St. Petersburg, it was said about the same 

 time, that at these lectures I poured 'water into one glass and it was red ; that I poured 

 this into another glass, and it was green ; that I poured this into another glass, and it 

 was blue ; and so on, for a long time ever producing new changes. This, it was alleged, 

 could only be done by the ' black art ;' and Pastor Neilsen, of the Moravian Church, 

 afterwards bishop of the community, was asked to deal with me. I was aware of this ; 

 and, after meeting him repeatedly without his broaching the subject, I said to him one 

 day, ' Pastor Neilsen, have not you got a message for me?' He evidently disliked the 

 commission, but after a little he said : ' My dear brother, I do not believe what some of 

 our friends do ; but seeing that your lectures are occasioning a scandal ' - I stopped 

 him, saying, 'Come to one of our meetings, and after that we will discuss the matter.' 

 He declined, but I insisted, refusing to discuss the matter till he knew what it was. 

 He at last consented, and came to one of our meetings. They were held in my dining- 

 room. At the close of the lecture he came, and taking both my hands in his, said : 

 * My dear brother, I only wish we could have such meetings among us.' 



