With the Guards' Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and BackLowry, Edward P.
History
With the Guards' Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and Back
Lowry, Edward P.
South African War, 1899-1902 -- Personal narratives
On our application, the Boer Government consented to allow the
ministers of the various churches in Pretoria to visit us once a
month for the purpose of conducting divine service. Of course
such a privilege as this was greatly appreciated by the men, and
one cannot help wondering why such restrictions were placed upon
the ministers.
We had many cherished plans and bright hopes with regard to the
war, and when we were captured we found it hard to recognise the
ordering of the Lord in our new conditions and unaccustomed
circumstances; but we were taught some grand lessons, and we soon
found that even imprisonment has its compensations; and we have
to confess that His Presence makes the prison a palace. I have
heard many thank God for bringing them to Waterfall gaol.
During the months we spent together we realised that God was
blessing us in a most remarkable manner, and we may truly say
that our fellowship was with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ. Many backsliders were taught the folly of remaining away
from the Father, and many were turned from darkness unto light.
To Him be the glory.
On hearing of the near approach of our deliverers, and knowing
that soon we should all part, we had a farewell meeting and many
promised to write to me.
I received a number of letters ere we actually parted, but with
the injunction "not to be opened till separated," and from these
I intend making a few extracts which lead me like the Psalmist to
say "Because Thou hast been my help therefore in the shadow of
Thy wings will I rejoice."
Of the extracts to which the sergeant refers it is impossible to give
here more than a few brief samples; but even these may suffice to
prove that our soldiers are by no means all, or mostly, sons of
Belial, as their recent slanderers would have us believe.
_A Bombardier_ of the 10th Mountain Battery writes--"I was brought to
God on the 4th of February. I had often stood outside the tent and
listened to the services, and one evening I went into the
after-meeting and came away without Christ; but God was striving with
me, and a few nights afterwards I realised that I was a hell-deserving
sinner, and I cried unto God and He heard me; and that night I came
away with Christ."
_A Sergeant-major_ of Roberts' Horse says--"I am indeed grateful to
God for the loving-kindness He has bestowed on me since my coming
here as a prisoner of war. The meetings have been a great success and
of the most orderly character."
_A Sergeant_ of the Royal Irish Rifles adds--"Thanks be unto God, He
opened my eyes on the night of the 21st of January 1900; and He has
kept me ever since."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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