AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
65
So I was about to go to an interview with a black-robed priest at the Clair College Mission, who might have turned
me into a high ritualist, when a friend named `Wise' happened to say `You would enjoy the Bible Studies conducted
by Huntington Stone at the house attached to Peek Frean's!' Blessed be God, I responded, and learned at these
gatherings what Bible study could mean. Five years later, I received the following letter sent by Huntington Stone
to Mr Sutton, which may prove of interest:
Postal Address: Huntington Stone, Greenwich, S. E.
26th January 1915.
Dear Mr Sutton,
It was, I think, about a fortnight ago that I received a copy of Mr. Charles H. Welch's booklet entitled
`The Dispensational Place of the Lord's Supper', obtainable from Mr. Fred P. Brininger, 4 Spratt Hall Road,
Snaresbrook, N. E., and one or two leaflets, together with a note from yourself, asking me to study what you
enclosed.
The study has proved interesting, and the Author evidently handles the subject very thoughtfully, and
writes with a goodly measure of grace toward those who disagree with his interpretation.
The consideration of the theme has, I believe, proved profitable to me, though it is perhaps right to add
that I have not been convinced that the arguments prove that the definite command to the Corinthian saints
and `to all that in every place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord', bidding them to partake of the
Lord's Supper `till He come' was withdrawn at the end of the last chapter of the Acts. At any rate, one does
not find the instructions countermanded in any of the so-called mystery epistles. It is evidently true that
when the time came for doing away with Old Testament rites, the Lord might have elected either:
1.
To substitute much more numerous new rites: or
2.
To dispense with all rites between Paul's arrival at Rome and His return: or
3.
To leave us with two very simple little rites, symbolizing and memorializing some very deep truth,
and intended to be perpetuated until we see Himself.
This last alternative is what He has actually done, according to my understanding of the Scriptures.
Yours truly,
Huntington Stone.
About this time I was invited to help with a Ragged School Sunday School held in Marigold Street on Sunday
evenings. There were about three hundred scholars, exceedingly poor and ill-clad, in addition there was a Gospel
meeting attended by a number of poor old souls from the neighbourhood. While this work was of itself worthwhile,
although somewhat arduous and very trying, something happened as a result of rendering this service that not only
altered my whole outlook, but provided me with a loyal and loving partner for life. My sister, aged four years
younger than myself had on a number of occasions invited a fellow student home, a lady by the name of Winifred. I
had a suspicion that a friend of mine, named Will was attracted very much toward her, and hoping to expedite young
love's dream, at Christmas time
I sent him a card bearing the device `Go in and WIN', playing on the lady's name. This attempt however had
repercussions. I found myself thinking `why should I not go in and win, instead?' When I discovered that my friend
Will was falling in love with my sister (whom he subsequently married) I sent another card, this time addressed to
`Winnifred', and gave myself away, when asked `how do you spell Winifred?' We met several times in company
with others, and then I suggested that on one particular evening we should meet `at the park gates' so that we could
go for a walk and have a talk. Alas, we had not stipulated WHICH gate, so that one of us waited with some suspense
at one end of the Park, and the other waited in vain at the other end. I had a translation of Amos 3:3 very strongly
impressed on my mind, which reads: `Can two walk together except they have MET?' However, we survived, and
when I told my father of our attachment, his heartening reply to me was `Boy, you couldn't have chosen one we like
better'. From then on commenced
a fellowship that has suffered, shared, rejoiced and encouraged for over fifty years. Circumstances, which arose,
first by my association with the Bible Training College, and then with the ostracism that followed the issue of The