ent 24 yards of flannel, and today
were taken out of the box in the Boys' Orphan-House a 5l. note and
3d. Also 2s. was given, and 1l. besides.

Dec. 11, 12, and 13. On the evenings of these three days there were
public meetings, at which I gave an account of the Lord's dealing
with us in reference to the Orphan-Houses and the other objects of
the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. As the work, and particularly
that of the Orphan-Houses, was begun for the benefit of the church at
large, it appeared well to us, that from time to time it should be
publicly stated how the Lord had dealt with us in reference to it;
and as on Dec. 9th the third year had been completed, since the
commencement of the Orphan work, this seemed to be a suitable time
for having these meetings.

Should any one suppose, in reading the plain details of the trials
through which we passed during the four months previous to Dec. 9,
1838, respecting the Orphan-Houses, that I have been disappointed as
it regards my expectations, as far as the funds are concerned: my
answer is, that the reverse is the case. For straits were expected.
Long before the trials came, I had more than once stated publicly,
that answers to prayer, in the time of need,--the manifestation of
the hand of God, stretched out for our help,--was just the very end
for which the Institution was established.

I further state, that the Orphans have never lacked any thing. Had I
had thousands of pounds in hand, they would have fared no better than
they have; for they have always had good nourishing food, the
necessary articles of clothing, etc.

It is now (namely on Dec. 10, 1838) four years and nine months since
brother Craik and I established the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.
The reasons which we had for doing so were, that thus a testimony
might be borne that the children of God need not to go to unbelievers
to ask them for money; nor require the patronage of the great men of
this world in the Lord's work; and that, further, believers generally
might be stirred up, to renounce their alliance with the world in the
management and promotion of religious objects, and that, lastly, it
might be seen, that, without contracting debts, such objects can be
carried on.

Painful as it was, and as it still is, to us, to be obliged to differ
from so many of our brethren, in these particulars, nevertheless we
were called upon to work without them, if we could not conscientiously
work with them.