TWICE-BORN MEN
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF WELL-KNOWN MEN
IN DIFFERENT AGES AND IN VARIED RANKS OF LIFE
Compiled by HY. PICKERING
One of the Cambridge Seven
SIR MONTAGUE BEAUCHAMP, Bart., B.D., stroke oar of one of the Cambridge University Trial Eights, one of the Cambridge Seven, thus relates his conversion: “During the first few months of my life, in 1860, I was for days often thought to be dead; nothing but skin and bone laid upon a down pillow. My parents dared not plead for restoration unless the spared life should be for the glory of God.
“I have very distinct recollections of daily prayer and Bible reading with my mother when 5 or 6 years old. I had two sisters a little older in this same group of our big family. They must have decided for Christ about the same time. The verse that appealed to me was: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” That was enough for me, and I accepted His salvation. The greatÂness of that word has grown ever since and still increases.
“At a private school all went smoothly. At my public school, though I took some stand as a Christian my ardour cooled off. Later at Cambridge I greiv thoroughly cold. The fact of God and of Jesus Christ could never deny. But concerning the Holy Spirit I was in grave doubts. Then during the long vacation of 1881, the great crisis of my life came. It was after several months of intense pleasures of all kinds. It seemed that God had given me the very best of everything in the homes of many friends. I was convicted of ingratitude, and also knew that such pleasures could not be the aim and object of my life. One of my sisters was with me on this round of visits, and she was the instrument used of God. The Word which brought the great change was Revelation 3. 19: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me;’ and there in the margin of my same Bible still in use I see this note: ‘Aberuchill, Sept. 30th, 1881,’ for that is the place and date of the battle fought and won. Praise God!
“It was midnight and after all others in the house had turned in. But the next day my sister wisely urged me to confess Christ amongst those of the house party, and also to write to my mother and others. One of my elder brothers, at this time a backslider, wrote back saying: ‘Ah, another case of measles. I had an attack once like that, but it passed off.’ Thank God, this brother was brought back some years later through much tribulation, and died a valiant Christian after a short life of testimony.
“On my return to Cambridge (1881) I was rowing two consecutive years in the ‘Varsity boat up to the time of going to Putney. I had taken a firm stand for Christ, and with others started a Trinity Boat Club Bible Reading. When D. L. Moody came to Cambridge, this Bible Reading band was an asset of his mission for ‘Varsity men.
“A sudden and most unexpected call came to go to China in 1884. Stanley Smith was the instrument used of God. I had now known him intimately for just ten years. The call was to join the C.I.M. He told me that C. T. Studd had already joined, and as accepted missionaries they were touring the country for further recruits.”
In his 70th year he sailed again for China in 1929.