PROTESTANT COTTAGE HOSPITAL. PROTESTANT COTTAGE HOSPITAL, BY ANNA VON MIELECKA, 77 HEN in the revolution of 1868 liberty of religion was granted to the Spaniards in so far that the Protestants were tolerated, the good seed that had been sown, often at peril of life of those who distributed the Word of God, sprang up rapidly, and all over the country were found those who gladly received the Gospel, having often no other teacher but the Word of God. But whereas in the sixteenth century the sons of the noblest families in Spain were among those who sealed their faith in Christ by death at the stake or in the dreadful dungeons of the Inquisition,* the adherents to the Gospel under the present religious revival are mostly found among the poorest families in the land. Although the Inquisition has no longer any power in Spain, the persecutions these poor people have to suffer from the priests, from their employers (who often dismiss them from work when they confess their faith in Christ, and refu se to work on Sundays), and worst of all, from their own families, is often very fierce. As soon as they cast in their lot with Christ and his people they are excluded from all help and relief they would otherwise receive from public and private charitable institutions. All such institutions being upon religious basis, relief is only given to such as conform to the rites and usages of Rome. In time of sickness their only refuge is, therefore, the public hospital, which is to a very considerable extent controlled by priests and nuns, and to allow them to enter such an asylum would, as we know by sad experience, be to the danger of their souls, if not also to the hurt of their bodies; for some of our brethren who have lain there have been most shamefully neglected on account of their refusing to conform to the rites of Rome. And this has happened not only to Spanish Protestants, but also to English, German, and other foreign Protestants. Barcelona, the second town in Spain, has besides many foreign Protestants, four Spanish Protestant congregations with six offshoots in the neighbouring villages. In the province of Catalonia and the Balearic *In the reign of Ferdinand (the husband of Isabella) above 13,000 persons were burnt to death by the Inquisition, and nearly 200,000 punished in other ways. PROTESTANT COTTAGE hospital. Isles there are no less than thirty congregations with a like number of preaching places, forty-five day schools and fifty Sunday schools. For a long time back there has been most urgent need for a small Protestant Cottage Hospital not only for our Spanish brethren, but also for foreign Protestants. Great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a suitable cottage, as but few proprietors care to let their premises to Protestants or for hospital purposes, but at last, by God's goodness, a house that is sufficiently large to meet present wants has been found. It has accordingly been furnished as a hospital, it is capable of receiving seven or eight patients, though at present only five beds stand prepared. The expenses are met, first by the family of the patient in so far as they are able, next the church of which the sick one may be a member does what it can, and lastly the fund lends its aid, which, owing to the poverty of the majority of our Spanish brethren, must in most cases do the largest part. An experienced and devoted English nurse is now directing this little establishment, the value and importance of which it would be difficult to overestimate. Not only has a considerable sum been spent on furnishing the hospital, but the current expenses have been considerably increased, so that faith is now called to greater exercise; still, the Lord who has graciously helped so far will continue to help and bless this His work to the end. As it is not only a "labour of love," but " a work of faith," and quite unsectarian (it is under the direction of the pastors of the three different congregations), all who sympathise with the sick poor of the brethren of the Lord Jesus are cordially invited to cooperate in this privileged and important ministry. To those who are interested in this work, of which I speak from personal observation (having lived in Barcelona for some time), I will' gladly give further particulars, and will also be happy to receive and forward donations and subscriptions, as well as procure collecting cards for those who might not be able to give much themselves. Mrs. McAulay, Buckingham House, Finsbury Park, London, N., and Miss Grant, 17, Edgware Road, London, W., who, with myself (St. Lawrence Dene, Ventnor, Isle of Wight), take a deep interest in this most important work, will also be glad to give like information, and also to receive and forward any offerings the Lord's stewards may make. OME years ago, when passing through some rooms in an old country vicarage in the North of England, my eye lighted on an illumination on the wall, "Many prayers, few cares," and it has been fastened on my mind ever since. We all know what cares mean, even if we do not know the sweetness of having cares lifted off by prayer. Care is pressure from many causes. Care frets the spirit of every woman who knows not where to cast it. Let us go through a mother's life for one day. Many very tired mothers retire late to rest, and do not rise early enough to have a quiet time with God before the day's duties begin. So the day begins. Perhaps breakfast is late, and the father has his business to go to, and because of the lateness no family prayer is had that morning; so mother, servants, and all feel full of cares, having had no prayers. Then the children are fretful, and all goes wrong till the day ends. A day of many prayers—not continually retiring to your room to pray—this cannot be if living a busy life-but a day of passing on every pressure to the burden-bearer, Jesus, every little worry, each cross look or word, this will be a happy day. It may be your little ones are difficult to manage. At the time of trial look up as Nehemiah did. Help will come. How often we think little worries are not worth taking to God. Is He only to have your outpourings of heart in great times of need? We tell our dear earthly friends everything. Shall we treat Him with less confidence? Good George Herbert tells in one of his quaint poems how he had on his wall a frame with the word Jesu, and one day, when the wind was very high, this little frame fell to the ground, and the whole was broken. As he began to pick up the pieces, what a beautiful lesson he was taught. The first letter was I to be picked up, and then came ES, and lastly U, I ease you, and the whole Jesu (Isa. xxxviii. 14, margin). What a word of power for each and all of us." He careth for you." "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee." Take to-day's cares to Him in prayer, and the anxious look on your face will vanish. "Take no thought ('anxious,' R. V.) for the morrow" (Matt. vi. 34). ! OW, children, you must be very good, and listen very attentively, while I teach you your A, B, C. Mother says I was a good little girl this morning, and that it is a pleasure to teach me, so I hope you will be anxious to learn also. Rose! sit up properly!!" She has We can almost hear our little friend in the picture saying that to her doll-children, can we not? How busy and earnest she looks over the work she has set herself. evidently borrowed grandmamma's spectacles and father's walkingstick, that she may look very wise and strict. I wonder who lent her the cap! I have great sympathy with my little friend: for I loved my dolls very much. At one time my family numbered thirteen; and one who says "Papa" and "Mamma" in very pathetic tones still survives, and is the delight of small friends who come, and say, "Do lend us your doll to play with." I know a little boy who was given, at his earnest request, a boy doll, whom he called his "Polly-boy." Poor polly-boy was found in great disgrace one day. My little friend was asked what he had done. He could hardly be induced to tell, it was something so naughty. At last he whispered very confidentially: "He called me a coal-scuttle!!" Dolls are very ancient playthings. Greek and Roman children used to play with dolls made either of wax or wool, or of plaster or ivory, which were buried with them when they died. I remember seeing, in the Museum at York, some of these, which had been dug up. They had been buried for nearly two thousand years, Nearly every one can say the word "doll," but every one cannot say the grand Greek name with which a walking doll is dignified: AUTOPERIPATETIKOS! 1 Dolls are very useful. They keep the children simple and childlike and draw out many nice feelings. And how often it happens that the little fingers who are taught to work, and to like it, by the pleasure and interest of making clothes for their dolls, never lose the taste for needlework, which is so useful to them afterwards in working away to clothe live dolls. They soon find out the pleasure of making a little garment for some "poor little real baby," or maybe of dressing a doll, which will keep a little child who has few pleasures quiet and happy for hours, while Mother is busy over all her household duties. |