Translation of a French Letter

My Dear Brother:-The Lord's service, here as elsewhere, requires the exercise of patience and faith, but it also gives frequent and great cause for thanksgiving. Through strength supplied I have made several good journeys for evangelization. A number of open doors have been given me. For many of my hearers, it was an entirely new thing to hear of God's salvation free, while they have been taught to acquire it by good works and money paid to the church (the priests). One needs to be very simple with them, for the mass are so ignorant of spiritual truth that it is to them like a foreign tongue.

But I thank God that souls are by the Holy Spirit's power brought to the feet of our Jesus in many localities. I have re-visited several places where I previously labored to take note of what fruits the precious seed sown was bearing, and I thank the Lord that they have generally kept the truth-though a few did return to their old ways. At Villers-la-ville, the old town of monks, I called on those who had been impressed by the gospel when I labored there six years ago. Some are not yet well-established, but I was rejoiced in seeing the others abiding in the gospel. The last time I visited this place, a farmer's wife was made very happy in finding the Saviour, but her husband, a strong Romanist, would not listen to the gospel. By the Lord's will, he was at home when I called. He put many questions-not in controversy, but for inquiry. At last, having understood what the errors of Rome are, he broke into tears in finding Jesus as his Saviour. Turning to his wife he said, "Wife, there is only one thing to do-to turn away from the priest to the word of God." He was a chorister in the church. May grace from God be given him to bear well the assaults the enemy will surely make against him.

At a place called "Le Congo" there is a class of workmen, very poor, and rude in habits, and my tracts were scornfully refused. Yet the Lord gave me joy there too. An old coal-miner and his wife heard that a Protestant evangelist was in town. They found me out, and said, "Monsieur, you have not called on us." (They live in a very small place behind other houses.) I went with them. The aged wife related to me their many trials. "I had the priest to come and bless our house," she said, "but it has done no good." Seeing they were under superstitious power, I spoke to them very simply of the love of God and of His grace in providing for our salvation; and they understood that it is not in man, but in the Lord we are to put our trust for peace and salvation. Then the old man said in their Walloon tongue, "Sir, you will come again to tell us more of this; will you not?"

In two other villages I was encouraged in some visits. On the street, meeting two gentlemen, I offered a tract to each one, which they received graciously. "I am a free-thinker," said one, "and I am always seeking for truth."-"Sir, have you a Bible in your library?"-"No, T have not."-"Well, that is the Word of God, and the greatest of treasures." The other gentleman asked my address, saying, "Your talk on the Gospels interests me much, and I would like to speak more at length with you." I trust he has received Jesus as his Saviour through our subsequent interview.

Precious moments too I spent with an old school-friend, now R. R. inspector-an upright and humble man, who recognizes himself a sinner, and was made to rejoice in Jesus giving His own life for our salvation. What does not God's grace do! This man's father was an active atheist, and lo, his son is made a child of God! Glory be to God! Truly, God works in wonderful ways, as with a brutal man who recently came in one of our meetings, where he heard the message of God's grace to sinners. Meeting him again another day, he stopped and said, "Mons. Dandoy, has not God converted other men as bad as I have been?" and as he said this joy beamed in his face. "Surely," I answered, "our Lord Jesus died for all those who confess to Him that they are sinners." A few days later he was killed in the mine.

But I close. Remember us before the Lord, and His work, dear brother. Octave Dandoy

Feb. 29, 1924.

Gospel work is enlarging in France and Belgium, and new laborers are entering the field. Ministry to help on the work will be gladly forwarded and duly acknowledged. -[Ed.