DEATH OF THE LATA GEORGE MULLER'S SUCCESSOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13263, 20 April 1905, Page 2

DEATH OF THE LATA GEORGE MULLER'S SUCCESSOR.

The last Home mail brought tidings of : the death of Mr .lames Wright, director of the well-known Orphan Homes at Ashley ' Down, Bristol, founded by the late vener- ' able George Muller some 70 years ago. Mr J Muller, in 1870, chose Mr Wright to be his associate director and successor, though for many years before that he had been his "right ' hand," and bore the burden of responsibility j of all tho branches of the famous "Scrip- 1 tural Knowledge Institution for Home and ] Abroad "—viz., day schools, Sunday schools, ' Bible and tract distribution, missionary, and j tho Ashley Down Orphan Houses. By last \ report of tho institution, we learn that Mr 1 Wright had under his care last year 2158 ) orphans, had sent assistance to 180 mis- ■ sionaries in all parts of the world, had aided ' 47 schools, and that considerably over a ) million Bibles, New Testaments, books, and 1 jracts had been distributed gratuitously during the year. As had been tho lifelong prac- 1 tice of the saintly Muller, so continued ' James Wright. Without, anyone being per- ' sonally applied to for anything, except as 1 the result of prayer to God, funds for all the above objects havo been, and continue to be, freely and voluntarily forwarded. George Muller confessed that mere philanthropy was never his foremost aim, hut ".to magnify and glorify God as stiil tho living God Who, now, as well as thousands of years ago, hears the prayers of the children and helps those who trust. Him." James Wright was a. man of similar spirit, and-depended on God for all needful supplies, just as George Muller for 70 years had done before him. Since Mr Wright's boyhood he had been known to Mr Muller; thev had been in church connection for over 60 years, and he had been engaged in what was familiarly known as " Midler's Orphanages" for' 45 years. In 1871 he married Lydia Muller, - the only daughter and child of George Muller. For nearly 30 years Mrs Wright had gratuitously given . her service to the Orphan Homes. She died some 15 years ago.' Mr "VTright was in his seventy-' ninth year when he passed awav; his late father-in-law. who died in 1598." reaching the age of 93. On George Frederio Bergin, who has been connected with tho Orphanage_ for over 30 years, and in every way like-minded with the two fprnier directors, now devolves tho responsibility of directing one of if not- the most remarkable philanthropic faith works of our age. A few .months ago the writer of this note spent a week visiting the five Orphan Homes on Ashley Down, and enjoyed the privilege of addressing from dav to day most of- the children. The reality of the work—its extent, its quiet calmness and order, the joyful, happy, contented expression of its 2000 orphans (about 12,000 have

■ passed through its doors), to watch them s indoors at their lessons or at pliiy in tlio lovely fields adjoining, to experience tho P deep. spiritual atmosnhero that surrounds 1 these orphans and the whole institution, ) with its 200 teachers and workers—made one ) feel how true was the oft-repeated saying of r the founder that "God will not fail those - who really trust Him." Tho work carried i on these 70 years by George Mnllev and his , son-in-law, .lames Wright, in the spirit , of faith and prayer, is in truth a world-wide r object lesson (o Iho Church of God.— r [Contributed.]