A Mother's Farewell

With a parent’s tenderness, Mrs. Jessie Philpott said good-bye to her “children” in The Moody Church on Monday evening, July 1, 1929. Issuing from a full heart, hers was the message of a mother unusual. Because her grateful “children” included many who live far from Chicago, we are venturing to print Mrs. Philpott’s talk—with the omission of only a few sentences—just as she gave it, without her correction or revision. Remembering the hundreds who will profit by the reading—as other hundreds thanked God for the spoken word—we trust the author will find it in her heart to forgive us for the liberty we have taken.

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You are very dear to my heart! You have been ever since the first day I came into your midst—very, very dear to me. I told you when I first came that my ministry was not a ministry of speaking, but a ministry of prayer; and that, if ever you had any burdens, you should come to my home or to me personally, and I would stand with you in prayer. And oh, what a blessed, blessed ministry I have had for seven years! Chicago is written indelibly upon my heart.

Someone said, “Love Chicago? When your home has been robbed and your pockets have been picked?”

Why yes, I love Chicago, for every day for seven years, I have knelt before God and said, “Lord, for this great and wonderful city I plead the blood of Calvary. I pray for every child of praying parents who today is in a den of iniquity. I pray for my dear children (for you in The Moody Church have been my children and I have been your mother).”

I am not worthy of the love and affection you have bestowed upon me. Ten thousand thanks for your kindness to me. Day by day I have said, “Lord I would like my last day in Chicago to be a day of prayer—prayer for this great and wonderful city.” And as I prayed today when I was alone I thought, oh how unworthy I am to have had the privilege of standing out for Christ in this great city for seven years. Tonight, as I listen to the dear words of these saints of God, I feel so humble. It makes me just cry out to God, “Search me and try me, O Lord. And as I go to the next place, draw me nearer to Thee that I may shine more brightly for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

We shall meet again. We who pray are never separated. I will never forget you. As I am doing my work, one face will bob up, and then another, and I will think of you who are here tonight. You are an unusual people. You have taught me to be more like Christ. After having come in contact with many of you, I have gone home and said, “Dear Lord, these people are farther advanced in the school of Christ than I am.” As you have looked into my face and said, “God bless you, Mother Philpott,” you have drawn me closer to the Lord.

I used to sit in the park when the workmen were building this church, and I would pray for the plasterers and the bricklayers, and you know, there is prayer surrounding every brick and surrounding each of these beautiful lights. Oh, I am so glad you have such a beautiful building! It is lovely to come into this place and sit down and feel the sweetness of the presence of God.

And now, dear children, if you will only be humble and obedient to the Lord, God Almighty will pour out the Spirit upon you, and you will have greater blessing in the future than you have had in the past. We will all gather Home in the morning, at the sound of the great Jubilee, and we will not take a bit of glory to ourselves, but when we look on the Saviour’s beautiful face, we will just lay our sheaves down at His feet. He is so lovely. He is the Lily of the Valley, the fairest of ten thousand to our souls.

But listen: Don’t get away from Him. If any of you are getting cold in your love, remember that Mother Philpott’s last words to you are, “Come close; keep in touch with Jesus and He will keep you sweet.” Forgive each other tonight. Love one another, even as Christ hath loved you. And may God’s richest blessing rest upon and abide with each of you.