CHARLES H. WELCH
84
At their commencement my affairs were in such a state that to reach that meeting, my dear one (afterward, my
beloved wife) walked with me from South East London and back, while some who attended the meetings arrived
and returned by cab. At length Mr. Leonard Pinkney called a meeting, explained the circumstances and my out of
pocket expenses were met. The work I did at the Drawing Office was mainly two-fold:
1.
Most exact and minute drawing on box-wood blocks, of surgical instruments, for the making of wood
engravings and
2.
The retouching of photographs of machinery, which involved the spraying of white lead.
To counter the poisonous effects of white lead, milk had to be taken daily. I felt a little like the cleaner and dyer who
put up the sign `We dye to live', but was nevertheless thankful that my long quest was over.
I can now see that the four years gaining Art Qualification was my `Arabia'. I was being tested to see how long
I would resist the invitations to `soft pedal' the truth, and discontinue The Berean Expositor. Only grace sufficient,
abundantly supplied, and the loyalty of a handful of fellow believers enabled me to `stand and withstand'.
In 1913 Dr. Bullinger finished his course, and his last words written for The Companion Bible were those of
John 10:14,15 :
HIS AND HIS FATHER'S KNOWLEDGE. (Introversion.)
h 14-. I am the good Shepherd
i -14-. And I know My sheep
k -14. And am known of Mine
k 15-. As the Father knoweth Me
i -15-. even so know I the Father
h -15. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
His rough notes were sufficient for his co-editors to complete the Gospel of John, but after that, they were faced
with a problem.