Particularly the evening family worship was an
outstanding feature and a powerful attraction. At ten o'clock the
gong was sounded. Nothing like constraint was used to secure the
presence of any guest, but all were invited, and it was a rare thing
for any one to be absent. Work was for the time suspended, that
every servant might be present. The service usually
consisted in the singing of psalms and hymns, the reading of the
Scriptures, and prayer,—the master of the house presiding, or some
one among the visitors who was known to be competent for guiding the
family devotions. At times the service was carried beyond its
regular limit, for the children of the family, growing up to
womanhood, all possessed the gift of song, and helped much in the
"grave sweet melody.'' Mr Darling and his family had now found their
niche and mission. We have before us some letters of visitors,
kindly written after their return home, in which they speak of those
nightly gatherings—"wells in the desert" as one calls them— with
glowing enthusiasm. We are tempted to quote a few passages :—
From Mr DRUMMOND Grant, Coleraine, Ireland.
"A visitor at the Regent Hotel for many
months, the gathering of the guests and of the whole household in
the drawing-room for evening worship at ten o'clock was to me a
channel of grace and a perpetual joy.
"Often during my residence have I heard other
visitors express their thankful appreciation of this 'well in the
desert,' and testify to the gladness they felt in joining there in
the communion of saints with the other guests, whose path for a few
days crossed theirs as they journeyed to the Mount Zion.
"Mr Darling made conscience of being always
present. He gave out the hymn himself, and read the portion of
Scripture, and usually prayed. His prayers I remember well,—humble,
fervent, direct,—always asking for some definite thing,— ever
conscious of sin, and confessing it,—conscious also, and confessing
it, that through the atonement of Christ, which he held with a firm
grasp, this sin was washed away from the soul of every believer. He
remembered there any sick or tried member of the company of
visitors, and he took in in his wide sympathy the whole family of
God, and especially the workers in temperance and evangelistic
missions, with all which he had ever an intense and practical
sympathy. Frequently he would request some known guest to lead in
prayer. This was often an introduction of one Christian to another,
and thus many happy and lasting friendships were begun.
"The assembly for worship was seen at its best on
Sabbath evenings, when the visitors, perhaps forty in number or
more, after their various church services in the city, entered the
drawing-room on the sounding of the gong, followed by the troop of
male and female domestics. Then Mr Darling, radiant after his active
Sabbath work, finishing with some school of else-uncared-for
children miles away in the country, would take his seat at the table
and give out some well-known Gospel hymn. The singing of this was
led by Miss Darling, and heartily joined in by the company. A
portion of Scripture was read. Some one then gave unity and voice to
the mute prayers of the worshippers. Always on this evening a second
hymn was sung, and after it Miss Darling or one of the guests sang
another hymn or two ere the company retired.
"This 'worship' threw over the hotel a charm,
marking it as a Christian home. No visitor was pressed to attend,
while all were invited. It was a free and glad worship.
"During those many years what a testimony it was
and a confessing of God and Christ before men! What quickenings of
slumbering consciences in godless lives have there not been as they
found themselves in that home, face to face with God and His truth,
from whom they were fleeing! What seeds of truth have there
been dropped in passing, but receptive, hearts! How many 'solitary'
and sad ones, set for the time in that family, have by its cheerful
worship been cheered! How many workers have there received fresh
impulse in their labours for the Lord! God only knows!
"Of this I feel assured. From that home altar
waves of blessing have rolled out to the ends of the earth, borne by
the ever-changing company of visitors from all parts, who there
found that the worship of God was not confined to so-called holy
places or times; and that at no time, and nowhere, was it more
fittingly offered or more welcome to God than at the evening hour
around the hearth in the home."
From Dr MOXEY, Lecturer on Elocution, New
College, Edinburgh.
"One of the first to call on me after my
conversion, and to welcome me as a brother in Christ, was Mr
Darling. Like the practical man I afterwards found him to be, his
visit did not end in mere congratulation; but, with a view doubtless
to my own good, and to the effect that the testimony of a young
convert often exerts, he engaged me to meet a company of friends in
the drawing-room of the Regent Hotel. It was there, as far as I
remember, that I first, in my own city—the city that saw my body
into earthly existence and my soul into life eternal—told out the
story of the love surpassing knowledge.
"In the providence of God, my wife and I found a
temporary home, often for months at a time, in the Regent Hotel, and
our acquaintance with Mr Darling was continuous and intimate. We
always found him the same self-unconscious, utterly unselfish man.
One seemed to feel that he was carrying on the hotel more to give
employment to others, or to afford means to assist others, than for
any personal gain. He was a father to the servants and a friend to
the guests —a man with a big heart. His ever cheery smile and the
warm grip of his hand gained your liking ere he said a word; and
when he spoke, it was generally to tell you some good news of the
rescue of some poor drunkard, or to enlist your sympathy in a
bereaved family. The only thing he said nothing about was the
immense sacrifice of time and the substantial help in money that had
come from himself. I never met a man in my life who would
inconvenience himself to the extent that Mr Darling would to help a
fellow-creature. No expenditure of time or effort was denied, and I
fear I have trespassed too often on this beautiful trait in his
character. The last case I named to him was a poor man in the
Grassmarket, up five flights of steps. He started right off to see
him, found him bedridden, with a wife and young daughter, and not a
penny in the world except what might come from the charity of some
Christian friend. He prayed with him, relieved his pressing needs,
obtained a regular grant from a public fund, and found his daughter
a situation with one of his own family. This loving, unostentatious
service to this poor dying Christian lasted till his death, and
smoothed his passage to the grave. It may be he has thanked James
Darling in the presence of Him who reckoned the good deed done to
Himself.
"On one occasion I met him carrying a large
basket, evidently for some poor woman, on the North Bridge. It never
occurred to him to be put out, or to stammer out an explanation.
'How are ye, doctor? I've gotten a load the day,' was all he said,
and he looked as if he enjoyed the burden.
"Only one other circumstance I would mention, and
it is in connection with the family worship which he conducted night
by night in the drawing-room of the hotel. Frequently he has invited
me to read the portion of Scripture or to lead in prayer. I always
grudged taking part in either, as I had more enjoyment and, I
believe, reaped more benefit in listening to him, and I could not
but think that it would be similarly more beneficial to the company
present. There was an inimitable naturalness and absence of effort,
added to a humility and reverence, in his conduct of the service,
and it was always a disappointment to me when he called on anyone
else—even of his frequently distinguished guests —to take a part. I
do not remember any occasion of his reading the Scripture wherein I
did not obtain a new light on some verse or verses; I never had a
similar experience with any one else's reading."
