Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
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eceived it), I was furious, but it was God speak<strong>in</strong>g through Marj.Of course, I was on with an Ishmael project. And because Iwouldn’t listen, God brought me down to where I was pennilessand lacked food.“Act normally.”In 1935 I was asked if I would be will<strong>in</strong>g to go to New Southgate<strong>in</strong> London to temporarily pastor a work which had collapsedwhen <strong>the</strong> pastor, who had been guilty of immorality, left <strong>in</strong> disgrace.The congregation really wanted a married man to cont<strong>in</strong>ue<strong>the</strong> work. Many people had left, and <strong>the</strong> few who rema<strong>in</strong>edcouldn’t afford a married man as <strong>the</strong>y had very little money.When <strong>the</strong>y approached me, <strong>the</strong>y expla<strong>in</strong>ed, “This is <strong>the</strong> situation.We cannot pay you more than 25 shill<strong>in</strong>gs a week from <strong>the</strong>church. Would you be prepared to go to New Southgate for ashort period and handle <strong>the</strong> work until <strong>the</strong>y can afford a marriedman?”I agreed to do it. On <strong>the</strong> night I arrived, <strong>the</strong>re was no bed for me,so I slept <strong>in</strong> a big chair <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> vestry of <strong>the</strong> church. I took that <strong>in</strong>my stride. The next day, <strong>the</strong> secretary of <strong>the</strong> church came andsaid he had found a lady who was will<strong>in</strong>g to give me board andlodg<strong>in</strong>gs for 25 shill<strong>in</strong>gs a week.So every Friday <strong>the</strong> treasurer gave me 25 shill<strong>in</strong>gs, and everySaturday, I handed all of it to my landlady. I learned that moneytalks. It said “Hello” on Friday and “Goodbye” on Saturday. Thatwas my usual contact with money while I was <strong>the</strong>re. I didn’thave <strong>the</strong> money for a razor blade, or toothpaste, or two pencefor a bus ride. I had noth<strong>in</strong>g and scraped along as well as I could.A man I knew named T. J. Jones announced he was hav<strong>in</strong>g abaptismal service <strong>in</strong> Walthamstone <strong>in</strong> London and <strong>in</strong>vited me asa fellow pastor. He didn’t know I was a penniless pastor, but thatwas <strong>the</strong> true situation. I believed God wanted me to go, so Iaccepted <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>vitation, know<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Lord would provide.I presented myself to <strong>the</strong> Lord, and He told me to “act normal”as if I had money. So I let my landlady know I wouldn’t be homeuntil late, put my Bible under my arm, and walked to <strong>the</strong> busstop. I was expect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Lord to provide bus fare through one of49