PRAYING HYDE

Glimpses of the amazing prayer-

life of a missionary in India
whose intercession "changed
things" for the Sialkot Revival

FRANCIS A. McGAW
r
 PRAYING HYDE

Christ in the Home

JESUS said, "To-day must abide at thy house"
I

[Luke 19 ;5). What a blessed day that was in

the home of Zacchaeus — Chrijit in the home I

J
ohn Hyde,'^The Appstie of Prayer," as he was often
called^ was reared in a home where Jesus was an
abiding guest, and where the dwellers in that hotne
breathed an atmosphere of prayer. I was well ac-

quainted with John's father, Smith Harris Hyde,

D.D., during the seventeen years lie was pastor of
tiie Presbyterian Church at Carthage, Tlhnois. Dr.
Herrick Johnson, of Chicago, shortly before he died
wrote these words "Hyde's father was of rare
:

proportion and balance, a healthful soul, genial and

virile, firm of convlctitjn, of good scholarly attain-
ment, of ahu!idaiit cheer and bent on doing for God
to the best oi his ability."
Personally i knew him in his home to lie a courte-
ous, lo\'ing husband, knew him to Iw a firm yet
1
sympathetic father, "commanding his household after
him." f knew the sweet-spirited, gentle, music-lov-
ing, Christ-like Mrs, Hyde, I knew each one of the
three boys and three girls who grew up in that home.
Often I have eaten at their table. Twice T have been
with the family when the crepe w^s on the door;

A
once when Mrs. Hyde was taken away, and again countries In the same Christless ignorance. Is Why
it so? Because prayer closets are deserted, family
when dear Jolin's body was brought liome and lov-
Often altars are broken down, and pulpit prayers are for-
ingly laid to rest in Moss Ridge Cemetery.
I have kneeled with them and have, as a young min-
mal and dead
Bible schools and seminaries can never supplj- the
ister, been strangely moved when dear Dr. Hyde
poured out his heart to God as he prayed at the workers needed. My own sainted mother prayed as
a young girl tliat the doors of the heathen countries
family altar. 1 knew him in his church and in the
Fresbyterial meetings. He was man
of God.
a noble might be opened. Afterwards as the mother of ten
children (eii:;ht oi \'.hr>m grew to manhood and
Under God. his congregation was built up, and he
was a leader among his ministerial brethren. I have womanhood ), slu- pr.Lved for laborers to enter these

frequently heard Dr. Hyde pray the Lord of the Imr- open doors, and Gotl aent one of her sons to India
vest to thrust out laborer-^ into his harvest. He and two of her daugiiters to China.
would pray this prayer both at the family altar and Grandmother Lois and mother Eunice prayed, and
from his pulpit. Tt is therefore no strange thing that when the Great Apostle to the Gentiles was about to
God called two of his sons into tlie Gospel ministry, take his departure he could lay his hands on son
and one of his daughter.^ for a time Into active Timothy and commission him to ^'Preach the
Christian Avork. Word!"
A minister once said in my hearing, "My son will John Hyde was an answer to prayer, and when
never follow me into the ministry. He knows too in other years he prayed in Indian, God raised up
well the treatment a rainiiter receives at the hands of scores of native workers in answer to his prayers.
The Great Head of the Church has provided one
the people/' Dr. Hyde magnified his office and re-
joiced to give his sonft up to a life of hardship and method for securuig laborers. He said :

trial. Why are there thousands of cliurches in our ^'Look on the fields they are white
. . . .
. the .

country without pastors to-day? A

prominent pas- laborers are feu* . . , PRAY!"
tor recently said to me "Our denomination is facing
:

a tremendous shortage of pastors." Why

are the Holy Ground
millions in the foreign field yet waiting for the hu-
man voice to proclaim to them the e^^erlasting Gospel In the Tabernacle of Moses there was one room so
of the Son of God? sacred that only one man of all the thousands of Is-
To-day I read in "Far North hi India" the state- rael was ever permitted to enter it and he on one day
;

ment by a former missionary in India, Dr. W. B. only of all the three hundred and sixty-five days of
Anderson, that a hundred million people in India the year. That room was the Holy of Holies. The
to-day have not heard of Jesus Christ, and as things place where John Hyde met God w'as holy ground.
are now have not the remotest chance to hear about The scenes of his life are too sacred for common
There are other millions in Africa and other eyes, I shrink from placing them before the public.
him.
S
 the foreign field. His elassnii^te told liim that it was
remember Jacoli at the Brook, Elijah on
[

not argument he needed what he should do was to

Carmel, Paul in his agony for Israel, and especially
;

go to his room, get on knees before God, and stay

the Dear Man in the Garden, then I am impressed
lii.-^

there till the question was settled. The next morn-

by the Spirit o( God that the experiences of this Man
ing at Chapel he said to his classmate, *'ft is settled,"
of God should be published for the learning and
and his shining face was enough to show which way
admonition (God grant) of thousands. So we take
the decision had been made.
our stand near the prayer closet of John Hyde, and
are permitted to hear the sighing and the groaning,
and to see the tears coursil^g down liis dear face, to Sailing Day and the Voyage
see his frame weakened by foo<llcss days and sleep-
deep, the great rolling waves, the days
The mighty
less nights, shaken with sobs as he pleads, "0 God,
give me souls or I die
!''
on days of water, water, only water, the feet lifted
up from of? the dear homeland and not yet planted
—
on the new homeland all these furnish suggestion
Settled and opportunity for tliougiuful meditation. To our
His deeision to go tn the foreign field came about John this voyage in the autumn of 1S92 was a time
in thisway; his oldest brother, Edmund, was in semi- of heart-searching and prayer. He received a letter
narj' preparing to preach, and was also a Student to which he afterwards makes reference in an Indian
publication. He says, '^My father had a friend who
Volunteer for the foreign field. During Tacation
one summer Edmund was engaged in Sunday-school greatly desired to be a foreign missionary, but was
mission work in Montana. He contracted the moun- not permitted to go. This man w-rote me a letter
directed in care of the ship. I received it a few
tain [ever. The
doctor advised his speedy return to
his home so with his railroad ticket and
in Illinois ;
hours out of Kew York harbor. He urged me to
instructions to the different conductors pinned to the seek for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the great
lapel of his coat, he started. He became delirious qualification for mission work. '\Vhen I had read
before reaching home, btit arrived safely. After a the letter I crumpled it up in anger and threw it on
few days he passed away. John, who was already the deck.
expecting to preach, was deeply impressed by his Did this friend think that I had not received the
brother's death. There would be a break in the ranks baptism of the Spirit, or that I would think of going
on the foreign field, and he wondered if it were not to India without this equipment ? I was angry. But
God's win for him to step into the gap. by and by Iwtter judgment prevailed and I picked up
The decision was not finally reached till the next the letter and read it again. Possibly I did need
year, his last in seminary. I..ate one Saturday night something wiiich J had not yet received. The result
he went to a classmate's room and asked him for all was that during the rest of that voyage I gave myself
the arguments he could furnish on the question of mucJi to prayer that 1 might indeed be filled with the
Spirit and know by an actual exjierience what Jesus
meant when he said, '*Ye shall receive power, when audiences of hundreds of Indians spellbound while
the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be he opened to them the truths of Ggd's Word."
my \vitnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and unto the uttemin^t part of tlie
earth" (Acts i 8 R. V.). These prayers on ship-
:
The Punjab Prayer-Union
board were finally answered in a marvelous way. In every revival there
is a divine side and a human
side. In the Welsh revival the divine element comes
First Years in India out proniinendy. Evan Roberts, the leader under
God, seems in a sense to have l>een a passive agent,
At the firstJohn Hyde was not a remarkable mightily moved upon in the night sea.son.s by the
missionary. He was slow of speech. When a ques- Holy Spirit. There was no organization and very
tion or a remark was directed to him he seemed not
to hear, or it he heard he seemed a long time in fram-
little preaching —comparatively little of the human
clement. The Sialkot revival, while just as certainly
ing a reply. His hearing was slightly defective and sent down from heaven, seems not so spontaneous.
this it was feared would hinder him in acquiring the There was. under God, organization; there was a
language. His disposition was gentle and quiet^ he amount of definite planning, and there were
certain
seemed to be lacking in the enthusiasm and zeal staaons of long continued prayer.
which a young niissinnary should have. He had Just here as showing where human agency avails
3 wonderful pair of blue eyes. They seemed to I wish to mention the Punjab Prayer- Union. This
searcli Into the very depth of ^-^our inmost lieing, was started about the time (1904), of the first Sial-
and they seemed also to shine out of the soul of kot Convention, The principles of this union are
a prophet. stated in the form, of questions which were signed
On arriving in India, he was assigned the usual by those iKComing members.
language study. At first he went to work on this, I,"Are you praying for quickening in your own
but later neglected it for Bible study. He was rep- life, of your fellow- workers, and in the
in the life
rimanded by the committee, but he replied *'First
:
Church ?
things first." He argued that he had come to India
^' ^'°" Jang^inS ^or greater power of the
to teach the Bible, and he needed to know it before V^r^.
Holy Spirit tu your own life and work, and are you
he could teach it. And God by his Spirit wonder-
convinced that yon cannot go on without this power?
fully opened up the Scriptures to hitn. Kor did he
neglect language Htu<ly. "He became a correct and .^ "Will you pray that you may not be ashamed
easy speaker in Urdu, Punjabi, and English; but of Jesus?
away and above that, he learned the language of 4. "Do you believe that prayer is the great means
heaven, and he so learned to speak that he held for securing this spiritual awakening?

5. "Will you set apart one-half hour each day as

13
soon after noon as possible to pray for this awaken- Hyde, R. McCheyne Paterson, and George Turner
ing, and are you willing to pray liU the awakpning for this wonderful convention. There was need for
comes?" a yearly meeting for Bible study and prayer, where

John Kyde was associated with tiiis prayer union

the spiritual life of the workers —
pastors, teachers,
—
and evangelists, both foreign and native, could be
from ils hc^^iniiiiip^ and also had a definite part in the
deepened. The cburch-hfc in (he Punjab (as indeed
Siall^ot t^oin'ention. The niemljers of the prayer
in all India) was far below the Bible standard; tlie
union lifted up their eyes according to Christ's com-
Holy Spirit was so little honored in these ministries
mand and saw tht fields, while to the' lian^est. In
that few were being saved from among the Christ-
the Book they read the immutable promises of God.
less millions. Sialkot was the place selected for this
They saw the one method o[ obtaining this spiritual
meeting and 1904 became memorable as the date of
awakening, even by prayer. They set themselves
the First Sialkot Convention.
delil>erately. definitely, and desjjerately to use the
Before one of the first conventions Hyde and
means till they secured the result. The Sialkot re-
Paterson waited and tarried one whole month before
vival was not an accident nor an unsought breeJ:e
the opening day. For thirty days and thirty nights
from heaven. Charles G. Finney says "A revival is :

God Do
these godly men waited before in prayer.
no more a miracle than a crop of wheat." In any
^

we wonder that there was power in the convention?

community revival can be secured from heaven when
Turner joined them after nine days, so that for
heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or
die— or if neetl be to win and die '*The kingdom
!
— twenty-one days and twenty-one nights these three
men prayed and praised (Jod for a mighty outpouring
of heaven snffereth violence, and the violent take
of his power ! Three human hearts that beat as one
it by force" (Matt, ii 12). :

and that One the heart of Christ yearning, pleading,

crying, and agonizing over the church of India and
Three Men the myriads of lost souls. Three renewed human
wills that by faith linked themselves as with hooks
David's mighty men are catalogued in the Scrip-
of steel to the omnipotent will of God. Three pairs
tures there were the first three, tlien the second
of fire-touched lips that out of believing hearts
;

three, and afterwards the thirty; Jesus had many

shouted, "It shall be done!"
unnamed disciples. He had the Twelve, hut in the
Do you who read these words look at those long-
inner circle nearest to himself were the special three
continued vigils, those days of fasting and prayer,
Peter,James and John. Hundreds came to Sialkot tliDse nights of wakeful watching and intercessions,
and helped mightily by prayer and praise. But God
and do you say; "What a price to pay!" Then I
honored a few men as leaders. This sketch is not
point you to scores and hundreds of workers quick-
given to flattery or fulsome praise, hut God's Word
ened and fitted for the service of Christ I point you
;

says, "Honor to whom honor is due," God laid a kingdom and

to literally thousands prayed into the
great burden of prayer upon the heart of John N.
15
 seemed to reach out through him and grip the hearts
I say unto you, "Behold, the purchase of such a
of men and women and draw them closer to God.
price!"
This brother writes
Surely Calvary represents a iearful price. But
"One night he came into my .study about half-past
your soul and mine and the miUions thus far re-
nine and began to talk to me about the value of public
deemed and otiier niillbiis yet to be redeemed, a
testimony. Wc had an earnest discussion until long-
wrecked earth restored back to Eden perfection, the
after midnight and 1 Cliink until after one o'clock,
kingdoms of this world wrested from the grasp of
and as I remember it, quite an interesting argument.
the usurper and delivered over to the reign of their
rightful King !
—when wc shall see ail this shall we "We had asked him on the next evening to lead
!" a meeting for men which was being held in the taber-
not gladly say, "Behold the purchase
nacle out on the compound, while the women of the
convention were holding a meeting of their own in
—The
1904 First Sialkot Convention the missionary bungalow.
"When the time for the meeting arrived the men
One of his dearest friends in India writes alx)ut
of us were seated there on the mats in the tent, but
the great chanije that came to John Hyde's spiritual
Mr. Hyde the leader had not arrived. We tegan to
life at this cmlveiuion in 1904. He writes that
-sing, and sang several numbers Ijiefore he did come
though John was a missionary and a child of God,
in, quite late.
for he had been born of God, he was yet a babe in
remember how he sat dotvn on the mat in front
'T
Christ. He
had never teen compelled to tarry at his
of us, and sat silently for a considerable time after
Jerusalem till he was endued with power from on
the singing stopped. Then he arose and said to us
high. But God in Iiis love S]ioke to him and showed
very quietly, "Brothers, I did not sleep any last night
him his great need. At this convention, while lie was
and I have not eaten anything to-day. I have been
speaking to his brother missionaries on the work of
having a great controversy with God. I feel that he
the Holy Spirit, God spoke to his own soul and
has wanted me to come here and testify to you con-
opened up to him the divine plan of sanctification by
cerning some things that he has done for me, and I
faith. Such a touch of God, such a light from
have been arguing with him that I should not do
heaven came to him, that he said at the close of the
this. Only this evening a little while ago have I got
convention: "I must not lose this vision." And he
peace concerning the matter and have I agreed to
never did lose it, but rather obtained grace for grace,
obey him, and now I have come to tell you just some
and the vision briglrtened as he went oljediently
things tltat he has done for me."
forward.
"After making this brief statement, he told us
Another missionary tells how John came to this
very quietly and simply .some of the desperate con-
convention to lead the Bible studies. During those
flicts that he had had Avith sin and how God had
days he spoke im the length and breadth and height
given hun victory. I think he did not talk more than
and depth of the love of God. That mighty love
16 17
 fifteen or twenty minutes and then sat down and
ixjwed liis head for a few minutes, and then said, 'Let "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O
Jerusalem,
U5 have a season of prayer.' I rememlici liow tile whicli shall never hold their peace day nor night
little company prostrated themselves upon the mats ye that are the Lord's remembrancers take ye no rest
on their faces in the Oriental manner, and then how and give him no rest till he establish, and till he make
for a long time, how long I do not know, man after Jeru.saleui a praise in the earth" (Isa. 62 :6, 7).
man rose to his feet to pray, liow there was such Tliere can be 110 doubt that he was sustauied by
confession of sin as most of ns had never heard he- divine .strength, for are we not told to "endure hard-
fore and such crying out to God for mercy and help, ness according to the power of God," —
not in our
"It was very late that niglil ivhen the httle gather- own weakness but in his strength? It was not tlie
ing broke up and some of us know {iefinitely of sev- quantity but the quality of sweet childlike sleep that
eral lives that were wholly transformed through the our Father gave his servant which enabled him to
influence of that meeting." continue so long watching unto prayer. One could
Evidently that one message opened the doors of see from his face that it was the presence of Christ
men's hearts for the incoming of the great revival himself that strengthened hi.^ weak body. John Hyde
in the Indian Church. was the principal s]ieaker, but it was from com-
munion with God that he derived his power.
His prayer-life was one of absolute obedience to
1905 Convention
God. I remember once the hmch-l5ell sounded when
*^ Brokenheartedness for Sin"
we were in the prayer looni. I heard him whisper:
In the spring of each year the Punjab Prayer- "Father, is it thy will that I go?" . . . There was
Union holds its annual meeting. But as preparation a pause, the answer came, he said : "Thank you.
for this meeting the leaders spend much time in Father," and rose with a smile and went to lunch.
prayers and fastings and all night watching. Then Needless to say, he recognized his Lord as seated at
wiien the Union comes together we look to God for the table with them, and oh, how many hungry souls
guidance during tlie coming year. "Early in
1905,
were refreshed by his talk.'i.
at that annual meeting, God laid on our hearts'" He was leader of the morning Bible readings, his
vvrites a brother, "the burden of a world plunged
in subject being John 15 26, 27, "He shall bear wit-
:

sin. We were permitted to share to some extent in ness of me, and ye also shall Iiear wntness of tne."
the suiTerings of Christ. It was a glorious pre-
.
"Is the Holy Spirit firsr in vour pulpits, pastors?"
paration for the convention in the fall of 1905." Do you consciously put him in front and keep your-
At this convention John Hyde was constantly m selves behind him, when preaching? Teachers, when
the prayer room day and night he Hved there as on
;
you arc asked hard questions do you ask his aid as
the Mount of Transfiguration. The words were a witness of all Christ's life? He alone was a wit-
burned into his brain as a command from God: ness of the incarnation, the miracles, the death and
the resurrection of Christ. So he is the only wit-
19

^
 that divine presence as the trees of the wood before
ness was a heart-searching message, and many
1" It a mighty tempest. It was the ocean of God's love
were bowed down imder the convicting power. Tlie ijeing outpoured tlirough one man's obedience.
next morning Mr. Hyde was not allowed to give Hearts were broken tefore it. There were con-
any further teaching. The chairman came down fessions of sins with tears that were soon changed
from his seat and declared the meeting to be in the to joy and then to shouts of rejoicing. Truly,
liands of God's Spirit. How wonderfully
power to cleanse all who
He wit- —
we were filled with new wine the new wine of
nessed of Christ and his Heaven!
repent. The next morning once again his servant Here is the experience of one missionary; "Hours
said that he had no fresh message from God. It was alone with God, with no one to see or Ivcar but God
pointed out that God would not he mocked ^tiU we — were customary; but the fellowship of others in
had all learned this lesson as to putting the Holy prayer or praise, for hours, could it be downright
Spirit first at all times God would not give any fresh real ? On entering that room the problem was solved.
message. Who can forget that day ? How w-onder-
At once you knew you were in the holy presence of
fully those prayers were answered ! The watchmen God, where there could Ije only awful reality. Others
that night in the prayer room were filled with joy in theroom Avere forgotten except when the comhined
unspeakable and they ushered in the dawn with prayers and praises made you realize the strength
shouts of triumph. And why not, for we are "more and power and sympathy of such fellowship. The
than conquerors through him who loves us." hours of waiting on God in communion with others
At one time John Hyde was told to do something were precious times, when together we waited on
and he ivcnt and olxycd, but returned to the prayer God to search us and to speak to us, together inter-
room weeping, confessing that he had obeyed God ceded for others, together praised him for himself
unwillingly. '*Pray for me, brethren, that I may do
and for his wonderworking power. There was a
this joyfully." We soon learned after he went out breadth and freedom during tho.se ten days that I
that he had been led to obey triumphantly. Then he
never imagined existed on earth. Surely it was for
received the promise that he would Ik the (spiritual) freedom such as this that Christ has set us free.
—
father of many children an Abraham indeed. He Each one did exactly as he or she felt led to do.
entered the hall with great joy, and as he came before
Some went to bed early, some prayed for hours, some
the people, after having obeyed God, he spoke three
prayed all night long, some went to the meetiiigs and
wordii in Urdu and three in English, repeating them
some to the prayer room and some to their own
three times, "Ai Asmaiii Bak," "O Heavenly rooms some prayed, some praised, some sat to pray,
;

Father." What followed who can describe ? It was

some kneeled, some lay prostrate on their faces be-
a great ocean came sweeping into that assembly,
fore God, just as the Spirit of God bade them. There
a;? if

and "suddenly there came a .sound from heaven as

ivas no criticism, no judging of what was being done
of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
or said. Each one realized tliat all superficialities
where they were sitting." Hearts w^re bowed before
were put away, that each one was Jn the awful pre-
sence of the Holy Cod."
coming increasingly true of John Hyde. often How
The same missionary referred to John Hyde wlien m the prayer rooni he would break o^it into tcar^
over the shis of the world, and especially of God's
she wrote, "There were some who knew that God
cliildren. Even then his tears would lie changed
had chosen and ordained them to be 'watchmen,'
into shouts of praise according to the divine promise
There ^vere some who had hved for long so near
repeated by our Lord on that last nig^ht when he
Jehovah that tliey heard his voice and received orders
talked freely with his own. "Ye shall be sorrowful,
direct from him about everything, even as to when
but your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (John
they were to watch and pray and when they were to
r6 -.20-22).
sleep. Some watched all night long for nights be-
cause God told them to do so, and he kept sleep from
Abrother writes about the Convention of tqo5,
"Thank God, he has heard our prayers and poured
them that they might have the priviJeg'e and hmior
out the Spirit of Grace and intercession upon so many
of watching with him over the affairs of his king-
of his children. For example I saw a Punjabi bro-
dom."
ther convulsed and sobbing as if liis heart would
igo6— The Lamb on His Throne break. ] went up to him and put my arms about him
and said, 'The blood oi Jesus Christ clcanseth us
Again convention in answer to prayer God
at this
from all sin.' A smile lit up his face. 'Thank God,
poured out on us by his Sjjirit a burden for lost soiils.
Sahib.' he cried, 'but oh, what an awful vision T have
We saw the same "brokenlieartedness" for the sm?
liad! Thousands of souls in this land of India being
of others. None felt this more than John Hyde.
carried away by the dark river of sin! They are in
God was deepening^ his prayer-h it. He was permitted
hell now. Oh, fo snatch them from the fire before
of God. to have the privilege of drinking of the "
it is too late!'
Master's cup and of being l>aptized with his bap-
See another example of how this agony of soul
—
tism the second baptism of fire, suffering with him
in John Hyde was one who was a daugh-
reflected in
that we may reign witli him here and now, the life
ter in Christ to him. An
Indian Christian girl was at
of true Kings for the sake of others.
this convention. Her father had compelled her to
About this time John Hyde began to have visions
neglect Clirist's claims upon her. In the prayer room
of the glorified Christ as a Lamb on his throne-
she waA convicted of her shi and told how her heart
suffering such infmili' pain for and with his suffering
wa.s being torn away from her father to Christ. One
Body on earth, as it is i^o often revealed hi God's
could almost see the springing tendrils of her heart
Word, As the Divine Head, he is the nerve center
as the power of the love of Christ came upon her.
of all the body. He is indeed living to-day a life of
It was a terrilile time. Then she asked us to pray
intercession for us. Prayer for others is as it were
the very breath of oiir Lord's life in heaven. *'He
for her father. We
l^egan to pray and suddenly the
great burden for that soul was cast upon us. and the
ever Uveth to make inter cession for us." It was be-
room was filled with sobs and cries for one whom
33
most of us had never seen or heard of he tore. Strong
1907 — Holy Laughter
men lay on the ground groaning in agony for that In the summer of 1907 John went to a friend's
soul. There was not a dry eye in that place until house for a holiday. It was in the M— Hills. The
at last God gave us the assurance tliat prayer had friend whites about it thus: "The crowning act of
been heard and out of Gethsemane we came into the God's love to tis personally was the wonderful way
Pentecostal joy of being able to praise him that lie in which he hrouglit Mr. Hyde up to stay with us.
heard our cry, I also had to come up to do duty among some Engli-sh
"That meeting was one," writes this brother, ''that troops here. So Hyde and I have been having
will never leave ray memory. It went on ah night.
glorious times together. There were seasons of great
It was a time when God's power was felt as I
never
conflict and at times I thought Hyde would break
had felt it before." down completely. But after all nights of prayer and
This brother continues, "God wants those who praise he would appear fresh and smiling in the
are willing to bear the burden of the souls of these morning. God has lieeu teaching us wonderful les-
millions witliont God to go with Jesus uito Gethse- sons when he calls us to seasons of such wrestling.
mane, He wants us to do thi.5. It is a blessed ex- It is that command in 2 Timothy i 8, "Suffer hard-
:

perience to feel that in some measure we can enter ship with the gospel according to the power of God."
into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. It brings So that we have the power of God to draw upon for
ns into a precious nearness to the Son of God. And all our need. Ever since Mr. Hyde realized this he
not only this, hut it is God's appointed way of bring- says he has scarcely ever felt tired, though he has
ing the lost sheep back to the fold. He is saying,
had at times little sleep for weclcs. No man need
'Who will go for us, and whom shall I send?' Are ever break down through overstrain in this ministry
you who read these words willing to Ik intercessors
,'

of intercession."
If we are wiUing to put ourselves into God's hands,
"Another element of power 'The joy of the Lord
then God is willing to use us. But there are two
:

conditions: obedience and purity. Obedience in

is your strength.' Ah G — a poor Punjabi brother
,

of low caste origin, has been used of God to teach

everything, even in the least, surrendering up our
us all how to make such times of prayer a very
wills and taking the will of God. And the next step
heaven upon earth, how to prevent the pleasure of
is purity. God wonts pure vessels for his service, praying and even of wrestling ever descending into
clean channels tlirough which to pour forth his grace.
He wants purity in the very center of the soul, and
a toil. How often has G' — after most awful crying
seemed to lareak through the hosts of evil and soar
unless God can have a pure vessel, purified by the
up into the pre,sence of the Father !You could see
fire of the Holy Spirit, he cannot use that vessel.
the smile of God reflected in his face. Then he would
He is asking you now if you will let him cleanse laugh aloud in the midst of his prayer. It was the
away part of your very life. God must have a
joy of a son revelling in the delight of his Father's
vessel he can use
25
24
r
smile. God has Ixen teaching John and me that his the hill and to one side of our house. Here he came,
mme is the God of Isaac —
laughter. Have you ob- but came for a very real intercession with his Master.
served that picture of heaven in Proverbs S 30? ;
This intercession vvas fraught with mighty issues
'1 was daily in his delight.' This is the Father's love for the kingdom of God amongst us. It was evident
being showered upon his own Son. No wonder that to all that he was bowed down with sore travail of
in such a home the Son should say that he was 'al- soul. Fie missedmany meals, and when I went to
ways rejoicing before him." 'Rejoicing.' laughing, his room would find him lying as in great agoity,
1
the same word as Isaac. This holy laughter seemed to or walking up and down as if an inward fire were
relieve the tension and give heaven's own refresh- burning in his hones. And so there was that lire
ment to wrestling spirits. of which our Lord spoke when he said 'I came to
:

"I must
tell you of dear Hyde's last me.^sage l^e-
cast fire upon the earth, and how would I that it were
fore he returned to Ludhiana. It was a special re- already kindled! But I have a baptism to Ik bap-
velation to Paui. and one which the Spirit forced tized with, and how I am straitened till it be accom-
him to give out to the Romans, that he had unceasing plished.' John did not fast in the ordinary sense of
pain, for he could wish that he himself were una-
the word, yet often at that time when I begged him
theina from Christ for his kinsmen according to the
to come for a meal he would look at me and smile
tiesh (Rom. 9 1-3), Snrcly this was more than
:
and s,ay. T am not hungry.' No! there was a far
Paul's love for Christ. When he could wish that he greater hunger eating up his very soul, and prayer
—
should be what Christ had become for ns a curse 1
alone could satisfy that. Before the spiritual hunger
Fancy having to give np all hope in Christ Fancy go-
!
the. physical disappeared. He had heard our Lord's
ing back to the old sins and their domination over us 1 voice saying to him 'Abide ye here and watch with
;

The thought is Yet such was the divine

unljearable !
ME." So he abode there with his Lord, who gave
pity in Paul's heart that he was willing to ht ana- him the privilege of entering Gethsemane with him-
thema from Christ, if it were possible in this way self.
to .save his kinsmen the Jews. Such in a few words One thought was constantly uppermost in his
was God's message by his messenger, John Hyde. mind, that our Lord still agonizes for souls. Many
How we all broke down ,^1, GnSs love was indeed
!
times he used to quote from the Okl and New Tes-
shed abroad in the hearts of those present. All tliis taments, especially as to the privilege of 'filling up
was leading to the great crisis in John Hyde's prayer-
that which was lacking of the afflictions of Christ.'
life, which I had the privilege of seeing."
He would speak of the vow made by our Lord de-
voting a long drawn out travail of soul till all his
Summer— 1908 own were safely folded. 'For I say tmto you that I
shall not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine
"This summer we persuaded him to come np to
the HiJls with us. His room was a separate one upon
till that day when I drink it new with you inmy
Father's kingdom.' 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest
26
27
thott Me?' These were some of the verses itsed of alwayslit up with hope. Hope in the love of —
God
God to op^n his eyes to the fellowship of Christ's
Hope in the God of Love."
sufferings. Tiiesc were days when the clouds were
With all that depth of love \vhich he seemed to
be sounding with his Lord, there were glimpses of
often pierced and the glorified Hie that our Lord now
leads shone tlirough, revealing many mysteries of
its heights— moments of Iieaven upon earth, when
his .soul wai> flooded with songs of praise, and he
travail and pain. It was trul\- a following of him
would enter into the joy of his Lord. Then lie would
who is the Lamb, suffering still n'l'th us as he oiicc
break into song but they were always "Songs in the
did for us on earth, though now himself on the
night." In those days he never seemed to lose sight
throne. John liyde found that he still carries our
crosses —
the h£2.vy end of our crosses, 'tor he ever
of those thousands in his own district without God
and without hope m the "workL How he pleaded
liveth to make intercession for us.'
and watching and for them with sobs— dry choking sobs, that showed
"It was Into the hfe of prayer
agonizing for others that he was being led step by
how the depths of his sonl were being stirred,
"l''ather, give mc these souls or I die!" was the
step. All tills time, though he ate little and slept less,
burden of his prayers. His own prayer tliat he
he was hright and cheerful. Our children had ever
nii^ht rather burn out than rust out was already
been a great joy to him. Uncle Jolm, who had so
being answered.
often played with them, wa.s always wtlconied with
smiles of love. Yet now, even the little ones ap- Let me introduce here a gem from the pen of
Paterson: "What wiui the secret of that prayer-life
peared to realize that this was no tune for play I

They were wonderfully subdued and qnitt in hh of John Hyde'.-.?" he a,iks. This, that it was a Ufe
presence in those days, for there wns a li.Sflit r:"n hi^
of prayer. Who is the source of all life? The
face that told of coniinuihtjn with another woHd.
glorified Jesus. How do I get this Hfe from him?
Yet there was nothing of the licrmit about him^ Just as I receive his rigiiteousness to begin with.
I own that I have no righteousness of my own
in fact people were more tlian ever attracted to him,
and freely asked for his prayers. He alw-ays had only filthy rags and I in faith claim his righteousness.
leisure to speak to them of spiritual things, and en- Now, a tW'Ofold residt follows : —As to our h'ather
tered even more patienth' than ever into their trials in heaven, He sees Christ's righteousness —not my
and disappointments. We -will not speak in detail unrighteousness. A second result as to ourselves
of tliose days of watching^ and praying and fasting Christ's righteousness not merely clothes us out-

when he appeared to enter into our Lord's great wardly, but enters into our very l>eing, by his Spirit,
yearning for hh sheep. We feared his poor weak received in faith as with the disciples (see John
body would sink under the strain; but how marveh 20 22) and works out sane tificat ion in us.
:

ousiy he was sustained all the time At times that

!
^V'hy not the same with our prayer life? Let us
agony was dunib. at times it ^vas a crying out for rcmenil>er the word ''for,'' "Christ died for us,"
the millions perishing before our eyes yet it was and "He ever liveth to make intercession 'for' us/'
;

2S 29
tliat is, our room and stead. So I confess my ever
ill though the dews chilled him by night and the drought
failing prayers (.it dare not be called a life), and exhausted him by day ? His sheep were being gath-
plead his never failing intercession. Then it affects ered into the fold and the Good Slieplierd was seeing
our rather, for lie looks upon Christ's prayer-Ufe in of the travail of his soul and being satisfied. By
more tlian four liundred were
us, and answers accordingly. So that the answer is the end of that year
far "above all we can ask or think." Another
great gathered in.
result [ollows: it affects us. Christ's prayer life Was he satisfied? Far from it. How could he
enters into ns and he prays hi tis. This is prayer
in possibly he so long as his Lord was not ? How could
tlie Holy Spirit. Only thus can we pray without our Lord he satisfied, so long as one single sheep was
yet outside his fold? Tint John Hyde w-as
the life more aliundant which our
learning
ceasing. This is

Lord gives. Oh, what peace, M'liat comfort! No the secret of Divine Strength: "The joy of
the

more working up a life of prayer and failing con- Lord.'" For, after all, the greater our capacity
our capacity also for sor-
stantly. Jesus enters the lioat and the toiling ceases, for joy the greater
and we are at the laud whither we would be. Now, row. Thuswas with the Man of Sorrows, he
it

we need to Ik still before him, so as to hear his voice who could say: "These words have 1 spoken unto
and allow him to pray in ns nay, —
allow him to pour yon that my joy may be in you and that your joy
into our souls his overfiowinE life of intercession, may Ije full."

means literally: face to face meeUng with John Hyde seemed always to be hearing the Good
wdiich
God — real usiox and communion." Shepherd's voice saying, "Other sheep I have other —
sheep T have." No matter if he won the one a day
or two a day or four a day, he had an unsatisfied
1908 Convention— One Soul a Day
longuig, an undying passion for lost souls. Here is
this time that Jolm Hyde laid hold a picture given by one of his friends in India "As
It was about :

of God This was for

in a very definite covenant. a personal worker he would engage a man in a talk
—
one soul a day not less, not enquirers simply but aliout his salvation. By and by he would have his

—
a soul saved ready to confess Clirisl in public and hands on the man's shoulders looking him very ear-
nestly in the eye. Soon he would get the man on
bis
lie baptized in his name. Then the stress and strain
was relieved. His heart Avas filled with the peace of knees confessing his sins and seeking salvation. Such
All who spoke to him perceived a a one he would baptize in" the village, by the road-
full assurance.
new life and a new life-work which this life can side, or anywhere."
never end. I once attended one of his conventions for Chris-
He returned to his district with this confidence tians. He would meet his converts as they came in
nor was he disappointed. It meant long jouriiej's, and embrace them in Oriental style, laying his hand
first on one shoulder and then on the other.
Indeed,
nights of watching unto prayer and fasting, pain and
What his embraces were so loving that he got nearly
all
conflict, yet victory always crowning this.

30 3«
 you.*' Observe the progress in intensified desire,
to give like eraliraces to CIiTistiaiis and fliose too
great, greater, greatest, and the corresponding re-
of the lowest caste.
This was his strong point. Love won him vie- ward to crown it all, the Father's heart is thrown
till,

tories,
open to us. Yes, to all and sundry we tell our joys
it is the privileged few very near our he.irts to whom

we tell our sf.jrrows! So it is with the love of God,

igog Convention —Two Souls a Day
It was to John the icioved as lie lay clo^c to the heait
1

Again John Hyde laid hold of God with a definite of the Master, and then drew closer still, that Jesus
and importunate request. This time it was for two revealed the awful anguish that was breaking his
souls a day. At this convention God used him even heart, that one of them shoirtd Ijetray him. The
more mightily than eA'er before. God spoke through closer we draw to his heart, the more we shall share
his servant Jolin Hyde. his sorrows. All this we obtain only by faith. It is
We speak with bated breath of the most sarred not our broken heart, it is God's we need, It is not
lesson o( all —
g-hmpses that he gave us into Ihi ili- our sufferings, it is Christ's we are partakers of. It
is not our tears with which we should admonish
vine heart of Christ broken for our sins. 11 e li.l nut
i

overwhelm us with this sight all at once, He re- night and day —
it is all Christ's. The fellowship of
vealed these glimpses gently and lovingly according his sufferings is his free gift —
free for the taking

to our ability to endvire it. Ah, who can forget liow in simple faith, never minding onr feelings.
he showed us his great heart of love pierced by that "Lord, give me Thy heart of love for sinners, Thy
awful sorrow at the wickedness of the whole world, broken heart for their sins. Thy tears wdth which
"which grieved him at his heart." to admoniiih night and daj, cried a dear child of
"

Deeper and deeper we were allowed to enter into God at the end of this convention. Then he went or
the agony of God's soul, till like the prophet of sor- "But, O Lord, I feel so cold, ily heart is so hard
row, Jeremiah, we heard his anguish, desiring that and dead. I am so lukewarm!" A friend had to

his eye.'; might become a fountain of tears, that he interrupt him. "Why are you looking down at your
might weep day and night for the slain of the daugh- poor self, brother ? Of course your heart is cold and
ter of his people. There the divine longing was rea- dead. But you have asked for the broken heart of
lized in Gethscniane and Calvary !We were led to Jesus, his love, his burden for sin, his tears. Is he
see the awful suffering of the Son of God, and the a liar
? Has he not given what you asked for ? Then
still more awful suffering of the Father and of the why look away from his heart to your own?"
Eternal Spirit, through whom He offered up himself John used to ?ay, "When we keep near to Jesus
without spot unto God. it is he who draws souls to himself through us, but

How can we enter into the fellowship of such he ronst be lifted up in our lives that is, we must be
;

sufferings? "Ask, and it shall lie given you, seek crucified with him. It is 'self in some shape that
and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto comes between us and him, so self must be dealt with
32 33
 as he was dealt with. Self must be crucified, dead wide mission. Yet he "was never more misjudged
and buried xvith Christ, If not 'buried' liie slench and misunderstood. But tliat too was part cf the
of the old man will frighten souls away, jf (Iksc fellowship of Christ's pain. '*He came unto his own,
three sUps doumwanh are taken as to the yld man, and his own received him not.''
then tlie new ram will be revived, raised^ and seated We who were &o privileged saw in John Hyile's
—the corrcspondiny steps upzvard which God permits lif^ the deepening horror of sin during that year of
us to take, Then indeed Christ is lifted up in our 19TO, though it was all but a pale reflection of the
live-s and he cannot fail to attract souls to himself. awful anguish over sin tliat at length broVe our
All this i.s the result of a close unioti and communion, Saviour's heart. Before this year's convention he
that is 'fellowship' with him in his .sufferings!" spent long nights in prayer to God. This burden
—
had lain now for five years on liis heart each year
igio Convention — Four Souls a Day pressing heavier and heavier. How it had eaten into
his very soul! One saw the long sleepless nights
The eight hundred souls gatherecl in since ^ast and weary days of watching with prayer written
year's convention did not satisfy John Hyde. God on every feature of his face. Vet his figure was
was enlarging his heart wilh his love. Once again almost transformed as he gave forth God's own
he laid hold on God with holy desperation, How words to his people with such fire and such force
many weeks it was T do not remember, but he went that many hardly recognized the changed man with
dee]icr still with Christ into the sliadows of Ihc the glory ofGod lighting up every feature. It was
Garden 1 Praying took the form n.ow of cnnfLssinj^ Jehovah's messenger speaking Jehovah's message,
the sins of others and taking' the place of those sin- and we who had shared some of its burden in prayer
ners, as so many of the pro[)hets did in old time. knew that it was God's own burden spoken to his
He was bearing the sins of others alone with his Lord —
Church in India yeSt to his Church throttghout the
and Master, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so whole -world.
fulfill the law of Christ."' According to that law we We were transported to Mount Sinai and to the

r ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, This,

John Hyde was doing. I^e was "dying daily."
What was that burden referred to in Galatians 6
2 ? The previous verse reveals it. It was bearing the
sins of others. He at length got the assurance of
;
sin of Israel inworshiping flic golden calf. Up till
that time Moses had not interceded for tiod's people.
Why? Because he had not yet entered into the sul-
ferhigs of God's heart over sin. So he is sent down
among the sinners. Sin cost him tJie presence of
four ,wids (I day. God. Was he not being made a partaker of tlie suf-
Yet this was the year that God used him all over ferings of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
India. He was called to help in revivals and con- the world? Then he fasts a second forty days and
ferences in Calcutta, Bombay, and many of the larger forty nights (Dent, 9 : 19), "For I was afraid
cities. Surely he was being prepared for an; eternity- of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Jehovah
34 35
was wroth against you to destroy you. But Jehovah this verse are limited to what are both lovely and
hearkened unto me that time also." Moses reports true, Uiat the sin of God's children is fleeting, it is

this in 9 25, douUly emphasized by the

:
Holy Spirit.
Surely the Great White Throne in its awtul purity
not tl:e true nature of God's children.
see them as tliey are in Christ Jesus
—"complete,"
For wc should

shone amorri; us from that time right on through what tliey shall be when he has finished the good
the eonvention— no wonder we were filled
with work he has begun in them. "And it is right for
shame and con Fusion of face as were so many of rae to be thus minded concerning you all, because
—
God's Intercessors of old Moses. Jol), Ezra, Nehe- / have you in my heart." Then John asked tlie
miah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. When Father to show him all that was to be praised ("if
God said to Moses, "Ul me alone," he revealed the there be any A'irtue and if there be any praise take
power of intercession. No! Moses "stood in tht account of these things") in that pastor's hfe. He
was reminded of much for which he could heartdy
breach," and the wrath of God was stayed He gave
thank God, and s[)ent his lime in praise This was
up the honor and glory of his own name and family !

for the sake of God's' people. "The Church in the tlie to victory. The result? He shortly after-
way
wilderness" was saved hy one who shadowed forth wards heard that the pastor ha<l at that very time
our Great Divine Intercessor and partook of his received a great reviving and was preaching with
fire. It is this way of praise which is appointed of
Spirit.
The confession of the sins of others laid hold of God for preparing the I5ride and the patting on her
It was ahout that time he was beautiful garments. In Revelation 19:6-8 it is
John Hyde's heart.
tauglit a very solemn lesson
—^tlie sin of fault-finding praise that leads to the glorious results.
I remember John telling me that in those days if
even in prayer for others. He was once weighed
down with the burden of prayer for a certahi Indian on any day four souls were not brought into the
So he retired to his "inner chamber," and fold, at night there woukl Ik such a weight on his
pastor.
thinking of the pastor's coldness and the consequent heart that was positively painful, and he could not
it

deadness of his church, he liegan to pray: "O eat nor sleep. Then in prayer he would ask his Lord

Father, thou knowest how cold"

—
^lie was going to to sliow him wliat was the obstacle in him to this
blessing. He invariably found that it was the want
say; hut a finger seemed to Ik laid on his lips, ."io
that the word was not uttered and a voice said in his of praise in his life. This command, which has been
ear, "He that touchelh him toucheth the apple of
repeated in God's Word hundreds of times .surely —
mine eye." Mr. Hyde cried out in sorrow; "For- it is oil important! He would then confess his sin,
and accept the forgiveness by the Blood. Then he
give me, Father, in that I have been an accuser of
the brethren he fore thee
!"
He realized that in God's would ask for the spirit of praise as for any other
sight he must look at "Whatsoever things are love-
gift of God. So he would exchange his ashes for
Christ's garland, his mourning for Christ's oil of
ly." Yet he wanted also to look at "Whatsoever
joy, his spirit of heaviness for Christ's garaient of
things are tme." He was shown that the "true" of
3S 37
praise (the Song of the Lamlj praising God be-—
forehand for wlxat he was going to do), and as he
shame)
Sahib
It is all very well for tlie
lost his temper.
he broke his neck; he had no wife or family
if
praised God souls would come to him, and the num- to tliink of. But it was a very different story for
bers lacking would be made up. tlieni both. Jiut John stood there waiting for that
Here a picture of his work in those days Tvta
is :
—
one soyl, -tlie tenth was yet wanting. He kiiew the
evangelists went out with Mr. Hyde to a distant Good Shepherd was himself searching for tliat one,
village before leaA^ng they were assured of ten souis
; and would search "until he find it," The two evau
being won for Christ. They reached the village, gelists used almost force to get him to move. There
they preached, they sang, the day wore on, not a burst one cry from his lips "What about that
:

sign of any soul being interested. They became one?" By and by the father of the family came up.
hungry and thirsty. No man gave unto them. Why was the Padre Sahib waiting? John told him
The evangelists became impatient to get home for of the one not yet in the fold. ""Why, there he isl-'
rest and food. John Hyde Avould not move. He cried the man. 'Tie has jnst come bach. My
was waiting for those ten soub. At last, at a com- nephew, whom I liave adopted," He brought the
mon cottage they asked for a drink of water. The boy forward. Mr. Hyde went l?ack to the house
man offered them milk, too, They went into his and asked him of his faith in Christ He was clear
humble home and were refreshed. As they talked and intelh'gent. So the tenth was gathered into the
to him, he showed a most intelligent knowledge of fold. He gave a sigh of heart's ease and weary con-
Jesus Christ. Yes, he had entertained them in his tent as he climljed into the cart. Of course, they
name. Would the family not become his follow-
ers? Why not now? He agreed, and called his
—
were kept and reached home safely with a heart
full of rest -such as the Good Shepherd gives his
wife and children. They certainly realized what they faithful under-shepherds. Yes, and that is the rest
were doing, antl were determined as a family to of the sonl they give him^ for through such he shall
come out on the Lord's side. One can picture how yet see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied.
tenderly John Hyde ushered them into the family And now, farewell to Sialkot! As far as this
of Gnd. A'lne in all were baptized. sketch i.s concerned, we are leaving those hallowed
But it was now growing dark% and a dangerous scenes. Others there are who will assemble on
road lay ahead of them. The evangelists made those holy grounds others care for the great com-
;

haste. The father l)egan to urge it, too. Unwill- pany that annually assemliles in those audiences
ingly John Hyde left that house, The cart was sei^t others will keep watch in the prayer-Toom; but as
for by one, and the other tried to hasten John's for our dear brother Hyde, igTO was his last year at
steps. Then they wanted to lift him into the cart. Sialkot. We may wonder why it should be so.
—
But no -his eyes rested pleadingly on one of his Only forty-seven, surelv his taking away seemed
men "fVhuf about that one that Li zvanting?" The
: untimely. But God in heaven Imnw=; how wonder-
evangelist (he told me this with a hot fiush of fully rounded out were the years of dear John Hyde.

38 39
Seven Sialkot conventions, and seven wonderful
was killing himself. He promised that be would not
years of prayer. Surely God Kaw in John Hyde 3.
well rounded out experience and cimracter. Surely
work so hard.
God and the recording angel know tllat the fruitage On the voyage back to America, an awful storm
struck his ship, the Spree. She was partly sub-
will be bcuutilul at the ingathering; at the great har-
merged, and in great distress the people appealed to
vest home. ''He that soweth bountifully shall also
Mr. Moody. He exhorted and prayed. He told the
reap bountifully."
Lord at that time that if he would get them out of
But before we leave Sialkot I am led to record my
this trouble he would never let up in his labors lor
appreciation of our brother, McCheyne Paterson.
lost souls.
Paterson, I have fallen in love with you in the Lord.
That summer was the time of the World's Fair in
Because you loved Ilydc I love yon. Often, dear
Chicago. M.r. Moody gathered such a band of
brother, 1 have prayed for you, and shall yet pray.
preachers, evangelists, workers, and singers as prob-
And will not all who read this sketch join me in
ably never was assembled for such work before or
praying for the convention and for this
at Sialkot,
since. Halls, storerooms, theaters, churches, and
jirccionsman of God, still praying and preaching
even circus tents, were utihzed for Gospel meetings,
and praising there ?
Mr. Moody worked with all his old-time vigor.
They "put over" a magnificent campaign. A few
Calcutta and the Doctor months later, at Kansas City, while on the platform
preaching with all his tremendous energy, the great
John Hyde was only one of many men w'ho have evangelist's heart ga\'e way, his voice ceased, and
hazarded life for God's service. Nehetniah was A few days later,
his labors on earth were over.
warned of the plotting of Sanballat and Tobiah. among his friends at Northfield, he passed over to
I-Ie was advised to go into the house of God and
join that heroic band who counted not their lives
shut the doors. He answered, "Should such a dear unto themselves that they might wdn precious
man as I flee? and who is there that, liieing such souls to Jesus.
a& I, would go into the temple to save his hfe? A friend of John Hyde's, hving in Calcutta, who
/ -zinll not go h." now knows what it means to Ik despised and rejected
Of Jesus it is written, "And it came to pass, when of men, gives the following testimony as to John's
the days were well-nigh come that he should be re- prayer life. "I remember W. T. speaking of dear
ceived up, he .sted lastly set bis face to go to Jeru- Hyde's having spent thirty days and nights ui prayer
salem" (Luke g : 5 1
) for the great Sialkot Convention {that was in igo6)
When Mr. Moody was in England the last trnie, when the Convention was opened for the first time
he was having trouhle with his heart, He was ex- to all Christians.
amined by an eminent physician, who told him that "This news made a deep impression on me, as it
his excessive labors were costing him his life. He stood out in such contrast to my own prayerless life
41
'at that time. When
he and I were alone, I pressed communion with titxl, 1 prayed, 'Lord, wake me
Turner for more o f which he was
details, particulars when the hran- comes' (see Isa. 50 -.4). At first it
very reluctant to give (as he himself had stayed was at two A. M., and afterwards at four with strik-
twenty-one days vvith the little prayer kmd). '1 ing regularity. At five every nioming 1 heard a Mo-
cannot go into details/ he said, 'but it was a time in hammedan priest at the Mosque near by call out lor
the Mount with God.' " prayers in a ringing, melodious voice. 'The thought
Soon after igiD Sialkot Convention, John
the that I had been up an hour before him filled me with
Hyde held a meeting in Calcutta. His friend in that joy.
city writes about him "He stayed with us nearly a
:
"But Mr. Hyde grew worse, and the annual meet-
fortnight, and during the whole time he had fever. iup of his Mission was calhng him. Being an.i;ious,
Yet he took the meetings regularly, ami how God 1 induced him to come with me to a doctor. The
spoke to us, though he was bodily unilt to do any next morning the doctor said: 'The heart is in an
work! At
that time I was unwell for several days. awful condition. I have never come across such a
The pain inmy chest kept me awake for several bad case as this. It has been shifted out of its nalu-
nights. was then that 1 noticed what Mr. Hyde
It
• ral position on the left side to a place over on the
was doing in hi.s room opposite. The room where I right .side. Through stress and strain it is in such a
was being in darkness, I could sec the flash of the bad condition that it will require months and months
electric light when he pot out of bed and turned it of strictly quiet life to bring it back again to any-
on. I watched him do it at twelve and at two and at thing like its normal state. What have you lieen
four, and then at five. From that time the light doing with younself ?' Dear Hyde said nothing; he
stayed on till sunrise. By this I know that in spite only smiled. But we who knew liim knew the cause
of his night watches and illness, he tegan his day his lifeof incessant prayer day and night, praying
at five. exceedingly with many tears for his converts, for
"I shall never forget the lessons I learned at that his fellow-laborers, for his friends, and for the
!"
time. I had always clainjed exemption from night church in India
watches, as I feh too tired at bed time. Had I ever Then the friend writes how God
taught him to
prayed for the privilege of waiting upon God in the live a life of prayer through Mr, Hyde's example,
hours of night? No! This led mc to claim that and how afterwards he too, Uke John Hyde, was
privilege then and there. The pain which had kept led into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings down,
me awake night after night was turned into joy and down, down, farther and farther into the very
praise iKcause of this new ministry wdiich I had recesses of Gethsemane, till he too seemed to
suddenly discovered, of keephig watch in the night tread the winepress of the wrath of God against
Lord's 'Remembrancers,' At length the pain
w'ith the .sin all alone.
quite left my chest, sleep returned, but with it the "The .spirit jeaIou.sly desires us for his own"
fear came upon me lest I should miss my hours of (Jas. 4:5; Alford), It is his highest desire that

42 43
there be in us ^ life of fellowship witli hims^elt. For ^^Or e'er a word or action
this supreme wisli of his heart he rises early, seeking, Hath stained its snowy scroll
knocking, unasked, uninvited (Isa. 50:4). How Bring the new day to J^siis,
And consecralc the whole.
much more asked and invited! Does not this fact
it'
Then fear not for the record;
make the Morning Wutch unspeakably precious and He surely will indite,
glorious? Wliatever may t^etide thee.
It shall be, must be, right.
He seeks communion Avith us because it is his right
and Dur benefit. He ^eeks this communion at the be- "Soon the b&t golden sunrise,
Shall deck the eastern sky;
ginning of the day. He would claim the Iiest, the Soon the last "Watch" be ended.
very best hour of tlie day, With so great a privilege Redemption drawtth tilgh.
Then may this bright inccjitlve,
pressed upon us, does it not mean a solemn obliga- Within our spirits hurn.
tion on OUT part to cultivate this life of fellowship? It may he that this morning [''

If we are willing, he will quicken and empower. The Bridegroom shall return
Remember Gethsemane Our Lord's appeal to
!

his disciples m his hour of supreme crisis was

"The Calcutta friend concludes "We have heard :

of martyry who were kept in prisoUj and in the end

"Could ye not %vatch with me one hour-'" The
were put to death. But have we ever heard of one
appeal, though thrice repeated, fell upon deaf ears,
because the enemy's power had overmastered the
who was so given up to the ministry of prayer that
tlie strain of a daily burden brought him to a prema-
disciples through sleep. Do we not hear the Lamb
ture grave ?"* "No, friend," aniwers another brother
upon his throne, "standing as though it had Ijeen
in India, "not a premature grave :t was the grave;

slain," make the same appeal again at this hour of

of Jesus Christ, John Hyde laid down his life calmly
world-crisis, at this hour of church-crisifi, "Could ye
and deliberately for tlie Chtifch of God in India."
not watch with nie one hour?' The renewal of the
church will depend on the renewal of our prayer life.
''Who follows in his train?"'

T!ie powers of the world to come are at our disposal

if we will make time for quiet hours for fellowship Transformed Lives
and communion, which is our Lord's supreme,
yearning desire." Behold how much was wrought hi the life and
work of one lady mi5siona^}^ She had worked hard
for many years in her district and none of the work
Oh, ye who sigh and langdsh,
Atid inourn your lack of powcr, there was bearing real frtiit. She read the account
1'Ci.I \c thi-- .gentle whisper:
of Mr. Clyde's prayer-life and resolved to devote the
Colli J ye not watch one hour?'
F;jr friiiEfiiliiLSS and blessing, best hours of her time to prayer and waiting on God
There is tto royal r<^d; in the study of hi^ word and will. She would make
The power tor holy service
intercourse wiih Gq4
prayer primary', and not secondary as she had been
Is.

doing. She would begin to live a prayer-hfe in God's

44
45

i
 stren^h, God had
said to her : "Call upon Me, and be. the strain have gone out of my
The stres.i and
I will show
thee great and mighty things. You life. The joy of my life is evenly
feeling that
have not called upon me and therefore you do not see balanced, the life of conimunion on the one hand
these things in your work." She %vrite,5 "I felt
:
and the life of work on the other, hrings constant
that at any cost I must know him and this prayer-life, rest and pcaccc. I could not go back to the old life,
and so at last the battle of my heart wa.s ended and and God grant that it may always be impossible."
I had the victory." One thing she prayed for was Another j'ear jiassed, and she wrote again "The
:

(hat God would keep her hidden. She hud to face spirit of earnest uiquiry is increasing in the villages
being misunderstood and Yieing tinmb and not open- anti there is every promise of a greater movement
ing her mouth in self-defense if she was to be a in the future tlian we have ever yet had. Our Chris-
follower of the Lamb. tians now number &ix hundred in contrast with one
In less than a year she wrote a letter,and oh, what sixth of that ntimber two years ago [before she be-
a change New life everywhere
! — the wilderness be- gan the prayer-life and gave herself to it]. 'I believe
ing- transformed into a garden. Fifteen were bap- we may expect soon to see great things in India.
tized at first and one hundred and twenty-five adults Praise for his hourly presence and fellowship!"
during the halt of the following year!
first The pastor of a congregation in Illinois writes,
"The most of
the year has been a battle to keep "We have lost a strong and noble brother, who has
to my resolution, I have always lived so active a life, not only done the Lord's work in the far-off land but
accustomed to steady work all day lonj», and my new has been an inspiration to us as well aiid the means
much of the best part of the day to be
life called for of awakening at least one from this congregation to
spent in prayer and Bible study. Can you not im- such an hitcrest in the foreig-n work that to-day she
agine what it was and what it is sometimes now? i.s in China." Who can measure John Hyde's in-
To hear others going around hard at work while fluence and power in India, in England, and in
I stayed quietly in my room, as it were inactive. America ?
Many a time I have longed to lie out again in active "J. N. Hyde was like his father. When duty
work among the people in the rush of life, but God called, the call was imperative. He answered it not
would not let me go. His liand held me with as with skyrocket exploitation and great ado, but with
real a grip as any human hand ami I knew that I unalterableness of purpose that meant this or death
could not go. Only the other day I felt thi.s again It seems God meant this and death. In the last class
and God seemed to say to me, 'What fruit had ye in letter he wrote to his seminary classmates he says
those things whereof ye are now ashamed?' Yes, 'For tliree full years now God has given us decisions
I knew I was ashamed of the years of almost prayer- and baptisms every day when we have been out in
less missionary life. our district over a thousand the past two years- . .

"Every department of the work now is in a more never a day if we were right with God without souls.''
prosperous condition than I have ever known it to 'They that turn many to righteousness shall shine
as the stafs forever and ever,* Is there anything
But in the spring ('rod sent a luessenger (Mr. Regi-
Ml tliis old world worth while except seeking and
saving that which was lost ?'' ( Hcrricli Johnsan.
nald Stutkl, a man from whom John Hyde learned
Read of these experiences, as recorded by a mis- uuicli) through whom God revealed what He desired
to be to each of his children, their all in all, llie
sionary in India who wrote "An American Girl's
Struggle and Surrender."
chiefest among ten thousand, their heart-friend.
Christ possessed this man's life. Christ was to
"On the wall in my room hi India hung a motto
card. It is the picture of a stony hill with a little
him ail that the dearest earthly friend could he, and
inllnitely more. Not only was his life centered in
green grass here and there. On tlie top of the hill
is a tree most of the branches on one side have been
;
Christ, —
Christ was his very life. He communed
with him as with a friend, spending hours with him,
entirely swept away by the wind and only a few
his inruost lieiug was made radiant with Christ's
scraggly limbs remain on the other side. On this abiding presence, and wherever he w^nt "Christ was
card is printed 'Endure when there is every exter-
:

revealed." Soon after meeting this messenger of

nal reason not to endure.' And this verse ; 'He en- Christ she relates further, "In a written consecration
dured . . . seeing Iiini who is invisible.'
I gave myself, my child [Ixtrn shortly after her hus-
"A dear young friend seeing this card said to me
band's death], all I had and all 1 ever would have, ttj
'Memsahih, that motto card is lo me your photo-
graph. God has been cutting from your life one
the Lord, to W his forever. It was an unconditional
surrender and the Holy Spirit entered in his fuhiess
branch after another and again and agahi has re-
and began to lead me into the love and joy and peace
moved earthly supports/ "
She and her husband were very happy in their
— a knowledge surpassing the love and Joy and peace
for which I had long been yearning. There came
going out to India and during the first year. But
there were shadows over the pathway.
to my
heart a deep quietness. The 'Word- of God
The next
opened up to me in marvelous richness, becoming
year God gave and ,5onn took to him.sel f a dear Uttle
food for the soul.
life. From the first her liusband would ask God to
'Tn the years that have followed I have again and
fill him with tlie Spirit at any cost to himself. At again Ix-en brought to places where two ways opened ;
first she couhl not pray this prayer. After the babe
one the way of the ordinary Christian life, the other
was taken she would join her husband in this prayer,
the way on which one secmetl to see the bloodstained
and as tliey would rise from their knees she would
marks of the Saviour's footsteps; and he called
say, "But, oh, I am afraid of the cost," Then next
her husband was taken with fever. How she pleaded
—
me to follow him the slain Lamb. It has meant
the way of the cross but it has also meant fellowship
;
and prayed and even commanded God. But he with Christ."
passed away. For months she was dazed and scejned
She writes further about "the Messenger" whom
oblivious to everything but her unutterable loss. It
God had sent to the Punjab who showed such a
was a year of great darkness.
Christ-possessed life. She writes "I do not remera-
;

49
 1
Ijcr that he ever talked prnyer; he prayed.
al.>out
ponil would Ik in motion. The waves would come
Six:akiiig somelimea four and five times a day, he
tu the shore at my very feet and every little channel
would then impend half the night in prayer, sometimes
and inlet would lie moved hy the ripples.
abne, sometimes with otliers. He prayed."
Sialktjt started circles and waves of blessing that
She gives lis modestly some glimpses of how won-
are even now heating in the secret recesses and inlets
derfully God worked through her. Sometimes it was
of many human hearts. And I am led to iKlieve that
among the Mohammedans, sometimes among the na-
every atom and molecule of water in that pond felt
tive Hindus, and sometimes among the foreign mis-
the impact of that stone. Only (iod and the record-
sionaries. She was associated with the Punjab
ing^ angel can determine how much the whok body
Prayer Union and the Sialkot Convention.
of Christ has l>een moved upon and benefitted by the
She says, "There have been many failures, times
tremendou.s prayer force generated by the Holy
when the self-Hfe hindered God. I am more and
Sijirit in that prayer room at Sialkot.
more amazed that God has l>een able, notwithstanding
Native pastnr.s, teachers and evang^elists have gone
my failures, to work in such wondrous waySj and home from these conventions with new zeal for Jefiu.s
has given me the joy of seeing him work,
Christ and have influencefl thousand.^ of lives in then"
"God offers," she continues, "to bring all who are many fields of lahor.
willing into the secret place^ within the vail, the place
Foreign mistiionaries. have had their lives deepened
of sweetest refuge, where 'all is peace and quiet
by visions of God. Letters and printed pages, like
stillness.'
the aprons and handkerchiefs from Paul's body have ^

"Within the vail. Be this. be[oied, thy portion, been sent probably to every country on earth to bring
Within the secret of thy Lord to dwell,
Beholding him, until thy face his gior>,
healing; to the faint-hearted, and direction and en-
Thy life his love, ihy lips his praise shall tell. couragement to those desiring to enter the prayer

"Within the v&il — (or only

as thou gazest
life, I am
assured that tens of thousands have been
Upoxi the matchless beauty of liis face born into the kingdom Ijecause of the soul travail
Canst thou become a living revtiation at Sialkot. Myriads will one day rise up to thank
Of hia great heart of love, hia untold grace.
God that two or three men in North India in the
"Within the vail — his
frapTaiice poured upon thee; name of Jehovah .said, "Let us have a convention at
Without thu vail, that fragrance shed abroad; !"
Within die vail his Iiantl &hall tunc tJie music, Sialkot
Which sounds on eartK the praises of the Lord."
England Again
When I was was a pond near my
a boy there
The meeting and visit in Calcutta occurred in the
father's house. I would stand on the shore of that
or winter following the 1910 Sialkot Convention.
fall
pond and throw a stone out into the water and then
The next .sprhig, March, 1911, John Hyde started
watch the waves hi ever widening- circles move out
home as the physician^ would say a ''dying man.
from that center, till every part of the surface o£ the
He had arrived ill India hi the autumn of 1892, less
50
51
 received a note saying that an .'Vmerican missionary
than twenty years tie(or<i. I! ill siin'ly tlwy were
was coming to the town and was going to pray fkitJ's
nineteen liemitiful years
blessing down upon our work. He wa.s known as
When he arrived in England, he went to visit s<ime
'The fraying Hyde.' Almost instantly the tide
friends In Wales, intending later to attend the Kes-
wick Convention.
turned. The hallwas packed, and my first ilwitation
While in Wales he heard that Dr.
Wilbur Cllajiman and Mr. Charle.'i M. Alexan(fcr,
meant fifty men for Jesus Christ.As we were leav-
J.
ing I said: 'Mr. I-fyde, f want you to pray for me,'
on their world-wide evangelistic tour, were holding a
meeting at Shrewsbury. With two of his friends l)c
He came to my room, turned the key in the door,
dropiied on his knees, waited live minutes without a
went to the opening of this campaign. During the
first stay of three days a friend writes: "We greatly
single syllable coming from his lips, f could hear
enjoyed the .wrvices, but we realized that there was
my own heart thiunping aiul his Ijeating. f felt the
hot tears running down my face, f knew I was with
some great hindrance, and this was felt especially at
th^ meeting for ministers."
Goti. Then with upturned down which tlie tears
face,

"After that service we saw that the burden had

were sircaniing, he said : 'Oh God Then for five
!'

minutes at least, he was still again, and then wheii

come npon Mr. Pfyde, and as we were leaving the
he knew he was talking with God his arm w'ent
next day he asked whether we could engage his room
at the hotel for the following week. He was preach-
around my shoulder antl there came up from the
ing on tiK Smiday at another place but he uitended
depth of his heart such petitions for men as f had
;

returning early Monday morning to take up the bur- never heard before. I rose from my knees to know
den of prayer fur Shrewsbury. To those who knew what real prayer was. We believe that prayer is
mighty and we believe it as we never did before."
him, it was apparent that the load was weighing very
Mr. Charles M. Alc.'tander related to Mr. Hyde's
heavily upon him. The faraway gaze, the remaik-
sister Mary further particulars about this meeting.
aljiy sweet pathetic pained expression, the loss of ap-
petite, the sleepless nights, all went to prove
Not only did Dr. Chapman meet John Hyde, but Mr.
this."
Here is Dr. Ch.apman's letter Ale.xander w^as present also. And the three of them
"God has been graciously near spent almost the whole day in conference about the
to us iu all these
long journeys around the world, and wc have learned meeting. Then later the other workers were called
in, and a long time was spent in prayer. After that
some things which have increased our faith. First,
more than ever before we believe in the Bible as the the Spirit was present in the meetings in such power
authentic Word of God. that all barriers were broken down and sinners were
"Second: We believe in prayer as never before. crying for mercy and being saved all over the house.
I have learned some great lessons concerning prayer. Mr. Hyde had a helper in intercession furnished
I know that all grejit revivals are born of prayer. him hi the person of Mr. Davis of the Pocket Tes-
At one of our missions in England the audience was tament League, and the two, lieing kindred spirits,
—
extremely small results seemed inipossililc but I— became very friendly.

52 S3
 Mr. Hyde remained there tor a whole week and Home at Last
then went Ijack to his friends in Wales. The follow-
"And (he (oils of t:ic road will ^t-t-m nntliing.
ing day he was seriously ill and cotild scarcely speali, When we come to the end of the way."
hut lie smiled and whispered: "Tlie burden of
Shrewsbury was very heavy, but my Saviour's bur- John Hyde arrived in New York, August 8, igii.
den took him down to the grave," He went at once to Clifton Springs, N. Y. His pur-
Tlie manner in wllich John Hyde prayed as re- pose was to obtain relief from a severe headache
ferred to in tlie above quotation that is of pausing — from which he had suffered tnuch before leaving
between petition.s or expressions is also referred to
'
India. A
tumor soon develoix:d which when oper-
by another writer "Right on his face on the gro\md
: atcd on became midignant and was pronounced by
is 'Praying Hyde'— tliis was his favorite attitude the physician to be sarcoma, for which as yet medical
for prayer. Listen I he is praying-, he utters a peti- science has found no remedy. He rallied from this
tion,and then waits, in a little time he repeats it, operation, and on DecemlKr 19 went to his sister
and then waits, and tins many tinie.4 until we feel -^the wife of Prof, E. H. Mensel at Northampton,
tliat that [letition has penctr.ated every fibre of our Mass.
nature and we feel assured that God has hear<] and But soon after New Year's he began to have pains
without doubt He will answer. remeni- How well f in his back ami .side. He thought it was rheumatism,
!ier him praying that we might open our but tlie physician knew it was the dreaded sarcoma
mouth wide
that He miglit fill it (Psa. 8i lo). 1 think he re-
: again.
peated the word 'wide' scores of times with long He pas.sed away February 17, igi2. His body
pau.scs Ijetween. 'Wide, Lord, wide, open wnde, was taken by his brother \A'ill Hyde and his sister
wide.' How effectual it was to hear him address Mary lack to the old home
Carthage, Illinois, and
at
Cod, 'O Father, Father.' " the funeral was held church where his father
in the
A
lady who was for years a missionary in India was tor .seventeen years the pastor. At the time of
writes to The Remembrancer, "t remeniter, during Joint's funeral the Rev. J, F, Young, his classmate,
one of the Juhblepore Conventions at the noon-tide was pastor of the home church and preached at the
prayer meeting I wai; kneeling near to hint, and can funeral, it was my privilege to assist in the service
never forget how I was thrilled ivith a feeUng I and to stand on the platform and look down into the
cannot descrilie as he pleaded in prayer: 'Jesus — casket at that dear, dear face. He was greatly ema-
Jfjtij —
Jesus!' It seemed as if a baptism of !D\e ciated, butit was the same sweet, peaceful, gentle yet

and power came over me, and my soni was hum- strong, resolute face that I had known in 1901, ^the —
bled in the dust before the Lord, I had the privi- last time T saw him alive.
le|;e of meeting Mr. Hyde again in England, Tliat F''ebruary the 20tli w'as cloudy and chill
when on his way to America, How his influence and gloomy as ont in beanti ful Moss Ridge we ten-
still lives." derly laid him beside his fatliur and liis mother and

54 55
liis brother Ecinnind. But I know that by and by the
power world so irrepressible as the power o^
in the
clouds and the shadows will flee away, the chill and
gloom of the grave be dispelled, and that man ot
personal holiness. A
man's gifts may lack oppor^
]je mi sounder stood and resistedj but
tunity, his efforts
prayer and praise come forth in the likeness of the
the spiritual power c)f a consecrated will needs no
Risen Son of God !

opporttuiity and can enter where doors are shut. In

this strange anti tangled business of human life there
Holiness Unto the Lord is no energy that so steadily does its work as the
mysterious, unconscitjus, siilent, unobtrusive, impene-
AsI have carefully and prayerfully g^oiie over the
trable influence which comes from a man who has
facts and incidents and experience-s in the life of my
done with all self-seeking. And herein lay John
dear friend, I am hiipressed that the one great char-
Hyde's mystical power and great infliience. Multi-
acteristic of John Hyde was holiness. T do not rneti
tudes have Ijeen brought to their knees by prayer he
tian prayerfulness now, for prayer was his lifework. ''
uttered when filled with tlic Spirit.'
I do not especially call attention to soul-winning, for
This from a written to Mr. Hyde's sister,
letter
his power as a soul-wirmer was due to his Christ-
"If ever there was a godly man, forgetful of himself
likeness. God saySj "Without holiness no man shall
and devoted to the Master's service, your brother
see the Lord;" and we may scrJpturally say without
was that one."
holiness no man shall be a great soul-winner. Mr.
Hyde himself said in substance, "Self must not only
A native of India, "The marvelous spirituality of
Mr. Hyde had for some time lieen so great tliat all
be dead but buried out of sight, for the stench of the
who saw it were filled with wonder,'* These wortls
unburied self-life will frighten souls away from
are by a missionary in India "His loss will be sadly
:

Jesus."
felt in this country, especiallv liv the Indian Chris-
does not seem that John Hyde preached much
It
tians. He was one of the holiest men I have ever
about his own personal experience of sane tificat ion,
know]ij and his life exerted a great influence."
but he lived the sanctified life. His life preached.
One of his classmates writes, *'No saint of the
Just as he did not say very much about prayer. He
church was ever beyond him in holine^sS. tie verily
prayed. His life was a witness to the power of
gave his life for Christ and India."
Jesus* Blood to cleanse from all sin.
Another missionary in India wrote, "He revealed
Head these testimonip.s that have come to me from
a Christ-possessed prayer-life. He talked with Christ
a number of sources. Further search would no doubt
as with a friend, spending hours with him. His in-
reveal scores of other witncsiies to the saintliness of
most being was made radiant by Christ's abiding
thi.sbeloved servant of Jesus Christ, and man of
presence, and whcreever he went Christ was re-
prayer.
vealed."
From 3 publication in this country: "The Bishop
The Indian Witness says this "He has had a very
:

of Oxford says of personal holiness; There is no

remarkable influence in the Indian Church. A year
56
57
ago last autumn his addresses at the SialWot Conven- and conmient on this wonderful Messianic psalm.
tion produced a proioui]d impression. He was an I am adding the full text of the Psahn where he has

acceptable speaker in Urdu, Punjabi and in English given only the reference to verses. I have changed
and it was always the man of holiness and power a lillle the arrangeiuent, but the notes are from the
back of an address which made it indeed a message." hand ot dear John liimsclf,
Another India missionary writes, "He had become Psahn 22
a real prophet of God. He was truly one who spoke Verses 1-2: "My God, my God, why hast thou
for God. Thoiightftil men would sit for hours dur- forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping
ing a day hstenitig to his wonderful exposition of me, and from the words of my groaning? O my
truth, aslie slowly, quietly, and clearly set forth what God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not-; and
the Spirit of God had taught him from His Word." in the night season, and am not silent."
Kot oniy was his the word
of a prophet, but his David is here praying in some deep and terrible
life had been sanctified by tlieOne day a mis-
truth. trial, but the prayer is of agony —
experience so real
sionary was talking to a youjig Hintlu who had be- and awful as to reveal to David Christ's prayer.
come acquainted with Mr. Hyde, when the Hindu Jesus in the awful agony and desolation on the cross
said : "Do you know. Sir, that Mr. Hyde seems to me used the words of the fir.st verse. God seemed to
like God." He was
not far from the truth, for in a answer in these words: "For a small moment have
sense unknown to his Hindu understanding this man I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kind-

had become an incarnation. I quote from a postal ness will I gather thee." Here in these verses are
card written by John to his sister while he was at the sufJerings of the lost and tlie victory of the saved.
Clifton Springs, N. Y„ dated October 27th, 191
1,
The Spirit of Clirisf in David witnessed deafly the
"Am slill in \xd or wheel chair getting a fine rest sufferings of Chrisi ami glory that should follow.
(lie

and doing a lot of the ministry of intercession, anil This prayer in verse I is the cry, the voice of the
having not a few opportunities of personal Avork. .sufferings of hell, but by a person with tlie praise of
How the radiance of holiness shorn out in Jesus' heaven in his heart.
every H'oril and deed!" ^'cs, dear heart, and we Verses 3-5 "But thou art holy, O thou that in-
;

can truthfully and revercnily say. "How the radi- habitest the praises of Israel, Our fathers trusted
ance of holiness shone out in John Hyde's every in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
word and dcecL" They cried unto thee, and were delivered. Thev
A cry of anguish and a song of praise. trusted in thee, and were not put to shame." This
man was a Jew, and said "Onr fathers."
Verses 6-R: "But I am a worm, and no man,
The Twenty-second Psalm
A reproach of men, and despised of the people. All
I am God tliat in a letter to John's sister
grateful to they that see me laugh me to scorn. They shoot out
Mary has been pre5er%'ed the following exposition the lip, they slialie the head, saying. Commit thyself

58 59
nnto Jehovah, let liini deliver him. Let him rescue
him, seeing he deligiitetli in him."
bones." How this tells of three years —
yes, a hfe-
time, but especially of three years of sorrow over
Here he is taking the sinner's place and enduring our, my, sin, of prayer and fasting and watching,
what came to him on the Cross of Calvary, The sometimes whole nights; and then days and nights
sinner's place and reproach, yet himself without sin. of work^teaching, healing, preaching, and of grief
Verses 9-11 "But thou art he that took me out
: —
as tie saw sin and its hold and havoc as he saw the
o{ the womb; Thou didst make me to trust when weaknesses and sins of God's own disciples
I wa.^; upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon "Tliey look and stare upon me." How this tells
thee from the womb, Thou art my God since my of a human soul, sensitive and shrinking from the
mother bare me. Be not far froni me; for trouble gaxe of men. This tells of the indignities heaped
is near. Por there is none to help.'' Here is "trust." upon him which only the most refined and holy can
He says, Here i.s the right in himself
"JMy God." feel in all their power
to be helped —no —
cry for mercy just help which It tellstoo of astonishment "Many were aston-
;

is his by —
the sinless Christ. Yet in his great-
rigiit ished at thee —
his visage was so marred more than
est sufferings, "There is none to help." any man, and his form more than the sons of men"
Ver.ses 13-15: "Many bulls liaA'e compassed me; (Isa. 52 14).
: They were surprised, he was so
strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They emaciated and worn. How this all tells of his sorrow
gape upon me with their mouth, as a ravening and over sin. "Whose sorrow is like unto my sorrow ?"
a roaring lion. I am poured out lilce water, and all "Oh! thou Man of Sorrow!"
my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, it Verses 19-21: "But Ik not thou far ofl^, Je- O
is melted ivithin me. My strength is dried up like hovah ; Othou my succor, haste thee to help me.
a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws, and Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from
thou hast brought me iuto the dust of death.'' Sur- the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's
rounJed .by enemies and by fiercest adversaries mouth. Yea. from the liorns of the wild-oxen thou
—
brought into "the dust of deatlt" still unhelped, hast answered me."
God has become as it were his adversary "Yet it : Here again is a cry for help unheard, yet in faith
plea.sed the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to heard. Thou hast '"an.sw^ered me. "It is hnished,"
"

grief." (Isa. 53 10.) : "Into thy hands I commend my spirit.''

"Verses 16-1S: *'For dogs have compassed nie: Here end these wonderful notes except that he
A company of evil-doers inclosed me. They pierced points out that in the remaining verses, 23-31, are
my hand^ and my feet. I may count all my bones. revealed "The glory that shall follow."
They looli and stare upon me. They part my gar- These words have been wonderfully blessed of
ments among them, and upon my vesture do they cast God in giving me a new vision of the Lamb slain
lots." from the foundation of the world, who is worthy
What a picture of the cross ! "I may tell all my "to receive power, and riches, and wisdom and might,

60 61
and honor, and and blessing" (Rev. 5 : 12).
glory, much in thi.s warfare God seems to give a wonderful
And dieii it seenwtl to mc that in no other
lias vision of victory.
writings have I seen such a likeness of the dear "One day alxiut four years ago he wa.s talking of
brother himseli. 1 have said, "John Hyde has here an ex])eriencc he had on a day of prayer that was
unconsciously given us a portrait of John Hyde." lieing ohserved for India. He was speaking nitt-
mately to intimate friends. He said: 'On the day of
prayer God gave me a new experience. I seemed to
Victory
be away above our conflict here in the Punjab and
"The last enemy thai sliall he destroyed is Death" I saw God's great battle in ail India, and then away

(i Cor. 15:26), John Hyde had faced tile enemy out beyond in China, Japan, and Africa. I saw how
too many times in going over into "No Mall's Land'' we ha<i been thinking in narrow circles of our own
to rescue the dying to he frightened when the last countries and in our own denonii nations, ami how
awful encounter took place that February day in God wns now rapidly joining force to force and hue
Igi2. When John Hyde was in Eiijjland Mr. to line and was beginning to be one great struggle.
all
Charles M. AIe.xander took him to his own dcjctor Tlial. to me, means the great triumph of Christ. We
and then a consultation with two other physicians do not dare any longer to figlit without the conscious-
was held. The doctor then endeavored to impress ness of this great world battle In whicli we are en-
Mr, Hyde with the seriousness of his condition. Mr. gaged.
^
Alexander listened to the conversation. Surely Mr. " 'We must
exercise the greate.st care to lie utterly
Hyde understood that really he was then in a dying obedient to Him who .sees all the battle field all the
condition. Both Mr, Alexander and the doctor were time. It is only He who
can put each man in the
amazed at Mr, Hyde's perfect composure. He had place where count for the most.' Alxjve
his life can
long ago ceased to fear death, and for hiiu to depart all the strife of battle he could see the
great Coni-
and be with Christ wa.=^ far better. nianiler whom he i\'as following so implicitly.
I am per.^uaded that no words of mine could fit- "When the word came to tis in India that after
tingly bring this sketch to a close. But the descrip- severe suffering inAmerica, he had been called
tion I am usinf; is from the pen of Dr, W. B. Ander- Home, seemed to mc that I could hear something
it

son in Tlie Men's Record and Missionary Review of an echo of the shout of victory as he entered into
(United Presbyterian, ) Dr. Anderson was for some the King's presence. Then the next word that came
years himself a missionary in India and was chair- was that he had died with the words upon his lips
man of tlie committee that established the Sialkot /?o/, Yisu' Masth, Ki JnH' ('Shout, the victory of
Convention. He was well acquainted with dear John Jesus Christ !)
Hyde. He writes : "He went
a long way into the "When 7 heard that I thought of that awful time
suffering of India and he Iiad desperate encounters in the life of our Lord when his foes were closing
with her foe for her deliverance. To hint who dares in about hini. He knew that the tune of his sacrifice

63
was near. Just before him lay the desertion of his
disciples,and Gethsemane and Calvary. Yet in that
hour he said, 'Be of good cheer, 1 have overcome
the world.' Then I remembered the days and nights
when Mr. Hyde had struggled in India for those
bound by sin, and that after hours of agony he had
often risen with those about him to shout 'Bol, Yisu':

Masih ki jai,' until this has tecome the great war cry
of the Punjab Church. As he sent that shout back
to us the presence of the great Victor, let us see
from
to it it rings throughout
that the whole world:
"
'Shout, the victory of Jesus Christ.'
In Jehovah's Name, Amen

Additional material regarding the life and ministry of

John Hyde has been published in more extended book
form by missionary friends in India. The book is entitled,
"A Present-Day Challenge to Prayer: Memoirs of the
Life of Praying Hyde," and copies may he obtained from
The Sunday School Times Company, lOU Walnut St.,
Philadelphia, Pa., at sixty cents each, postpaid.

6i