The Work of F. N. Charrington By REV. SIR W . ROBERTSON NICOLL , M. A.,- LL. D. FROM “THE CHRISTIAN,” LONDON, ENG. I T came to me with a start of sur prise that Frederick Charrington is now in his sixty-second year.
a good, waterman, but did not indulge in the ordinary pleasures of rich young men. He entered his father’s great brewery in the Mile End Road, and travelled again on the Continent. On this occasion his companion was Mr. William Rainsford, son of the well-known Evangelical clergyman, Rev. Marcus Rainsford. Young Rainsford spoke to his friend about his soul, and plainly asked him if he knew whether he was saved. This was after their return to this coun try. Charrington promised at last that he would read the third chapter o f the Gospel of S't. John. He had previously been urged to do this by a young friend, who afterwards became Lord Garvagh. This friend had been brought under the influence of Lord Radstock’s preaching. That fine old veteran still remains with us, and still expounds the Scriptures from time to time, and it is very much to be hoped that a worthy record of his wonderful days will yet be written. No man living has had anything like the same religious influence on the higher classes, and this influence has been even more marked on the Continent than in this country. Garvagh plead ed with Charrington to go and hear Radstock, but at the time the young brewer disliked the thought of going to hear a Dissenter, though the Dis senter was a peer. Thus doubly called, Charrington read the chapter with the very greatest care, and was arrested by the words: “ Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” ■He now thinks, looking backwards, that this moment was the great turning point in his life. He had lived hitherto in a religious way, but the spiritual change that passed over him at this moment was definite and enduring. He says himself: “ I
So the years pass on. It seems like yesterday when I first heard of him and his great sacrifice. He has never spoken of his surrender as a sacrifice; and indeed the title of this book, T he G reat A cceptance , shows that his choice has* been without repentance. But there are few who would refuse to say that he made a great sacrifice at the start o f his life. I. He was born on February 4, 1850, and was the son of a famous and suc cessful brewer. In fact, the revenues of the business were so enormous that a million and a quarter pounds would have come to him naturally on his father’s death. How he was grad ually and in the end suddenly brought round to refuse is here told authentic ally. His parents were members of the Church of England, and belonged to the Evangelical section, then very powerful. Frederick studied at Marl borough and at Brighton College, liv ing the ordinary life of a boy born to great wealth. He did not proceed to the University, but traveled on the Continent. In these days young men o f position made what was known as “ the grand tour.” They traveled slowly and luxuriously. Young Char rington had as his companion Mr. J. H. Buxton, another wealthy young brewer, who subsequently became chairman of the London Hospital. They visited the Paris Exhibition in 1867, and traveled through both Switzerland and Italy. On his return, Charrington shared rooms with a young curate, Rev. S. J. Stone, afterwards a famous hymn- writer. He was a skillful rider and
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