Abide with me fast falls the eventide

In my quiet meditation my mind went to the old hymn, "Abide with me" It brought much blessing to my own heart.

Shortly before we left England, on the weekend 3/4th May 1997, my wife and I visited a small Corps (church) at Brixham, a coastal town in Devon to conduct services. It was in this small town that the hymn ‘Abide with me’ was written.

The author Henry F Lyte (1793-1847) pastored a poor parish church among the fisher folk in Brixham. He battled with asthma and tuberculosis throughout his life. Despite physical frailty, he laboured diligently and was much loved by the people. When admonished to spare himself, he coined the well known phrase, ‘It is better to wear out than to rust out.’

His health worsened and he was forced to seek for warmer climate in Italy. It was recorded that he almost had to crawl to the pulpit to preach his last sermon in 1847. Shortly before his move, weakened by lung disease and sorrowing to leave his parish, he walked by the sea with a very heavy heart. He watched the setting sun and the thought came to him, his own life was ebbing at the close of ‘life’s little day.’ During those sad moments he pondered the prayer. He returned to his study and wrote the poem “Abide with me.’

Francis Lyte never made it to Italy. He was overtaken by death en route.
The poem was based on Christ’s appearance to His two disciples on the Emmaus Road and their request ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ (Luke 24: 29) The tune was composed in just ten minutes by William Monk (1823-1889) who wrote it while experiencing deep personal sorrow.

Every believer travels on the road of disappointment and sorrow at times. We get discouraged and ask questions. The risen Lord comes alongside us, sometimes unrecognised. He walks with us, talks with us and opens to us the glowing meaning of His word and His mighty work on our behalf.

The words of the hymn are essentially about death, hence it is often used at funerals, but we need not confine to such occasions. It can be our daily prayer as we ponder over the ebbing tide of life, the deepening darkness as we read the newspapers and watch the television screen, the fading glories as we think of global warming and consequences for us. The song climaxes with the shadows fleeing before the breaking of heaven’s morning.

As we journey through life, we all need the abiding presence of God’s Holy Spirit. Make this your prayer today.

‘I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.’

The Mercy Seat

Walk into any Salvation Army Corps (Church) and you will notice in front of the platform is the Mercy Seat – our Altar.

The Year Book describes... it: “A bench provided as a place where people can kneel to pray, seeking salvation or sanctification, or making a special consecration to God’s will and service. The Mercy Seat is usually situated between the platform and the main area of Army halls as a focal point to remind all of God’s reconciling and redeeming presence.”

We use different names to describe the Mercy Seat – the Penitent Form or the Altar. Whatever name we use is precious to the Salvationists.
The war was on. Japanese fighting planes were dropping bombs on targeted areas. Houses burning, people fleeing for refuge! The fall of Singapore was imminent. I was then nine years old experiencing the baptism of fire!

In the shadows of the evening, a group of young people in their teens made their way to the Army hall. Their eyes were focused on the Mercy Seat. All of them had at some time or another knelt at this same Mercy Seat to seek forgiveness for their sins, to seek healing, or to rededicate their lives to God. It meant much to them.

With their own pocket money they hired a small lorry. It waited outside the hall. Out came this group of youthful Salvationists carrying the wooden bench – their altar, the Mercy Seat. They placed it, plus Song Books and Bibles on to the lorry and it sped off.

When they got to their destination, other Salvationists were waiting with paint and brushes. They quickly painted over the words “TO THE UTTERMOST HE SAVES” There hidden away in someone’s home was the Mercy Seat. It remained unused for three and a half years.

Fast forward to August 1945. The British returned to Singapore. Prison doors opened and our officers returned to the hall. The first thing they did was to have a thanksgiving meeting. Never mind there was no Army flag and no Mercy Seat. For to Salvationists they were mere symbols. They sang praises unto God and thanked Him for their deliverance from prison. They read the word of God and prayed.

Suddenly a lorry arrived and stopped outside the Army hall. Out rushed the youthful Salvationists their faces radiant with joy as they carried the Mercy Seat and placed it at its rightful place!

Missionary officers and locals hugged each other and danced for joy. There wasn’t a dry eye that day as they celebrated their freedom. At the conclusion of the meeting all knelt at the Mercy Seat to rededicate their lives to God. The Mercy Seat was wet with tears – tears of joy!

I know the story is true for it was told to me by those who were present in that meeting – Commissioners Frederick Harvey and W Stan Cottrill and Major Will A Price.

Later when the Training College was opened in January 1954, this same Mercy Seat was placed at the College chapel at 207 Clemenceau Avenue. A new text is written on it, “FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU.” It is a reminder that God who called us into the ministry will always remain faithful to us.

The first four cadets of the Shepherds’ Session knelt at this Mercy Seat to sign their covenants. My wife and I formed half number of cadets. Subsequent sessions did the same. Praise God, He Who called us is always faithful. We were commissioned on 25th October 1954 and today still continuing our vocation as spiritual shepherds working under the Chief Shepherd Jesus our Lord. There is no retirement from ministry.

Today that same Mercy Seat is at THQ chapel at Bishan. Our brothers and sisters in Christ still use it.

In days long past the mercy seat
Was made of purest gold;
‘Twas placed upon the sacred ark,
Love’s meaning to unfold.
Within the holiest place God planned
Redemption’s grace to show;
More sacred now is Calvary’s hill
Where healing waters flow.

Thy blood, O Jesus, spotless Lamb
Once lifted up to die,
Was shed to cleanse our fallen race
And lead them to realms on high.
No one too sinful, or too low,
Too desolate, too blind,
But here before the mercy seat
Can full deliverance find.

O hallow now our mercy seat,
Thou Son of God most high!
Here may the lame man leap for joy,
The dumb sound joyful cry,
The sin-sick soul, though wearied sore,
By evil power possessed,
The halt, the blind, the great, the small,
Find peace from sins confessed.

We seek the healing of the Thy cross,
The mercy of Thy grace;
Here at this sacred mercy seat
May we behold Thy face;
Here may we glimpse Thy holiness,
Here on our souls descend,
Here may we meet, and talk with Thee,
Our Master and our friend. (Doris N Rendell)

Commissioner Herbert Lord

Commissioner Herbert Lord - A Man of Faith and Courage

The ship docked at Singapore Harbour. Among the passengers disembarking was Brigadier Herbert Lord. There was no welcoming party to meet him.
 
This man of faith and courage made his way to the YMCA Stamford Road with one mission in mind: to pioneer the work of The Salvation Army in Singapore.

His previous twenty years spent in Korea proved invaluable to him in adjusting to a new culture here. Immediate contact was made with the local people, government officials and prominent citizens.

“The journey of a thousand leagues begins from beneath your feet,” said Lao-tze. Not one to allow grass to grow beneath his feet, Lord moved forward to start the Army. He had to acquire buildings, raise finances, find people, but he faced these challenges with faith and courage.

On the last Sunday in May 1935, the first Army meeting was held in a rented building at 47 Killiney Road. Reinforcements arrived and social homes were established. With faith and courage, they reached out to the poor, the needy, the prostitutes, the prisoners and the marginalized. From Singapore he sent officers to pioneer work in Malaya.

When war started in Europe, Herbert Lord began making preparations for emergencies. The officers were sent for training to be ARP Wardens and St. John’s Nurses. Headquarters became the focal point of an ARP Post and a reception for the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. A large Red Shield Canteen was set up in Queen Street. With faith and courage he hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.

As the fall of Singapore became imminent, the Governor of Singapore Sir Shenton Thomas requested Lord to return to Singapore from New Zealand where he was having his furlough. When he landed at the airport it was the target of the worst raids by the enemy. He was welcomed literally by a baptism by fire! Chaos and fear reigned in the country. Electricity and water were cut off. His own faith and courage inspired his officers and soldiers.
When Singapore fell, Herbert Lord with a number of his officers, were taken prisoner, spending three and a half years in Changi Prison. Even there, his faith and courage continued to encourage and inspire his fellow prisoners.

In 1946, Herbert Lord was appointed to Korea again, this time as the Territorial Commander. The peninsula was divided into North and South Korea. With faith and courage, working against great odds, he soldiered on.
When hostilities broke out he once again found he was taken prisoner, this time by the communists. Forced to take part in the infamous Death March, he saw his fellow prisoners, men, women and children collapse and die on the way. Man’s inhumanity to man was seen at its worst.

One gloomy, cold night, 4 November 1950 on the road to Cha Song, faith and courage almost failed him. He was physically exhausted and near to breaking point. He was assailed by doubts and the devil almost triumphed. Had he been wrong all those years serving God? In that valley of death, he recalled Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies….” Then there came to him the old chorus. “In my heart today, there’s a melody in my heart today.”

God had spoken! He became conscious of the divine presence and provsion. His mind cleared, his spirit revived, faith and courage returned. He was now able to minister to others again.

Thank God for men and women of faith and courage like Herbert Lord who gave of themselves, made sacrifices, endured much suffering for the sake of the people they served. Their lives inspire and challenge us to keep the Army flag flying. Let us by the grace of God, move into the future with faith and courage to continue serving God and our fellow beings.