38 



MINISTRY AT STAND. 



[Chap. III. 



" The previous week," he says, November 8, " was one of 

 the longest I ever remember, and was the beginning of my 

 strictly pastoral labours. I could not retrace it, if it were not 

 that I keep a regular journal. The case which occupied almost 

 all my thoughts was that of a young man of my congregation, 

 who has ruined his health by drinking. Everybody, including 

 the surgeon, says I shall do him no good. However, I must try, 

 though I almost believe them. I certainly never saw anything 

 so perfectly filthy and comfortless as his bedroom was; the 

 kitchen was a little, but not much, better. The first visit was 

 occupied in showing that I took an interest in him. . . . Next 

 time we got to teetotalism, and he asked me most minute 

 questions — how I managed when I went out and people laughed 

 at me, showing that he was thinking of it. . . . His case has 

 caused me a great deal of thought, partly from its importance, 

 and partly from its being quite new to me. It has made me 

 very unhappy ; and I confess that I am always glad to have 

 done my visit and washed my hands. I shall go on seeing 

 him every day, and don't let myself despond ; though I have 

 not much hope." This little hope was lessened when he 

 learnt the young man's history from his relatives at Manchester. 

 He found that he could not permanently reform him • but 

 " his prayer returned to his own bosom," and thenceforth he 

 entered on a cause to which he was " faithful unto death." 

 He had already become an abstainer, though he kept a little 

 wine for his friends; but in his pledge-book his own name 

 stands first, with the date — December i, 1841. He was now 

 bound " not to give or offer [intoxicants] to others ; " and he 

 wrote home to decline a present of wine which was intended 

 for him. In the temperate circle in which he had lived, he 

 had not realized the hold which drinking customs have on the 

 professors of religion ; and he was horrified to find " that the 

 choir at Stand were in the habit of having a regular bout after 

 service, in the school-room, at the expense of the collection 

 on charity Sundays ; and at the yearly congregational tea- 

 meeting, after tea, beer, wine, and spirits were brought in. ... I 

 have moved as an amendment, for the charity sermon, that there 



