FROM BELGIUM

My dear brother:-

Amid both encouragments and trials the Lord is carrying on His work:both causing one to feel the need of His sustenance, to overcome the difficulties which the enemy throws in our way, to hinder poor sinners from turning to the Lord our Saviour. But I thank God that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, His work is carried on, so that a number, since my last writing, have been turned to the Lord.

I have been laboring at Hardimont, Lestroy … (13 other names are mentioned). My first day in Furchies was very trying. It is reputed as a Socialistic center, and, alas, largely skeptics. The next day, I began at the other end of the village.* *Belgium, like northern France, has successions of long villages along the highways, with a central square, usually, and very few cross streets.-[Ed.* A gentleman to whom I was presenting God's way of salvation, after taking a tract said, "I must read this first, then come to my house later." That whole day was most encouraging -coming in contact with many interesting persons of whom several professed to receive Jesus as their Saviour.

At Rausart I was confronted by many skeptics and mockers, and was made to realize what our Lord says in Matt. 7:6-"Give not what is holy to dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine," etc. A senseless and wicked man kept speaking injuriously of God ("If there is a God," said he) in language I would not repeat. Before leaving I addressed him, saying that the blessed God he was reviling was ready still to show him mercy, even now; but if he persisted in his way, he would have to meet Him as his omnipotent Judge. He only became more furious, shaking his fists at me.

At Tamines, in the Namur province, where I began to labor a few years ago, I was strongly opposed, in the beginning of the day, by a group of skeptics who had refused any tract. I went aside then for a while, to seek sustaining grace from the Lord to go on, and started afresh to sow the precious seed, asking that it might fall into good ground and bear fruit. Resuming my work, I was greatly cheered by two gentlemen to whom I presented Christ as the only Saviour, whom they professed to receive. Later, as a group had collected in the street, I announced to them the glad tidings of salvation. They became very attentive, and I found afterwards several who professed to accept salvation as pure grace from God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I went on, a gentlemen, far up the street, an agent of the Government, had observed the gathering which I had addressed, and had inquired of some what it was all about. He came to me then, and invited me to his house, calling in some of the neighbors also. Oh, how happy I was in presenting our Saviour to this little group!-for I saw that their hearts were moved. They understood and deeply felt the truth of our lost condition, and also the greatness of God's love in sending His own Son here for our salvation. Four of them professed to be saved.

Then, their great joy, and mine, was broken in upon by a Roman Catholic "sister" of the "Beggar Order." She came in a fury to take away by force an interested and aged woman of 82 years. She turned upon me angrily as "a Protestant coming to distribute tracts and Gospels to turn away the people from the church." "Madam," I answered, "I came here not to speak against your religion, but to present to the people the Lord Jesus as the only means of salvation." But she was furious, and would listen to nothing, but urged the people not to read the tracts and Gospels given them. The gentleman of the house then arose and quietly said to the R. C. "sister," "Madam, we shall read the new Testament, for this gentleman has shown us the truth from it-he has said nothing of his own, but has shown us what God has caused to be written for our instruction;" and he invited her to leave, which she did, forcibly taking the aged woman with her. After this I pointed out to the audience that it was Satan who urged this person to come in to trouble them. As I felt this to be an attack from Satan, I was calling upon the Lord in my spirit, dear brother, for Him to come to our help.

The rest of the day was spent in conversation with sincere souls who professed to receive salvation through faith in Christ our Lord.

Dear brother, I desire and need the prayers of saints, that I may have grace from the Lord to proclaim to all the message of His grace.-Please send me a larger supply of tracts of which I have need. My love to all the brethren with you. OCTAVE DANDOY.

This brother, known to ns for years as a faithful, reliable man, gives himself wholly to seeking souls for Christ since the World War by which his business was brought to an end. To help such is to be " fellow-helpers to the truth" (3 John 7, 81-[Ed.