Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou Thyself the answer to all my questionings.

Live out Thy life within me— In all things have Thy way!

I, the transparent medium, Thy glory to display.

 

The temple has been yielded and purified of sin;

Let Thy Shekinah glory now flash forth from within,

And all the earth keep silence, The body henceforth be

Thy silent, docile servant, Moved only as by Thee.

 

Its members every moment held subject to Thy call;

Ready to have Thee use them, Or not be used at all;

Held without restless longing, Or strain or stress or fret,

Or chafings at Thy dealings, Or thoughts of vain regret.

 

But restful, calm and pliant, From bend and bias free,

Permitting Thee to settle when Thou hast need of me.

Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou the glorious answer to all my questionings.

 

This hymn is attributed to F. R. Havergal in Songs of Victory, a song hook used by Mrs. Robinson for many years. It is not, however, in the authorized edition of Miss Havergal’s complete poems. On several occasions Mrs. Robinson indicated to the author of this book that this was her favorite hymn, at least her favorite in Songs of Victory.

 

†

 

INTRODUCING MARTHA WING ROBINSON

 
“One could not be in her presence long without recog­nizing her life was controlled by the One who dwelt within her. There was an inner radiancy and something of a celestial fire which burned the love of Jesus into our very souls.”

This testimonial to the life and influence of Martha Wing Robinson comes from Helen Innes Wannenmacher who with her husband, Joseph Wannenmacher, has ministered for over forty years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, resulting in the establishment of seven churches in that area and the thrust­ing forth of more than fifty young people into the whitened harvest fields.

Continuing with her reminiscences Mrs. Wannenmacher relates, “I saw her first when I was about eleven years old, when my father and I visited in the hotel where she was staying. I do not yet know why I should have remembered her, but I did.

“Small of stature, charmingly simple and modest, dainty in appearance, she was kind in her interest in me. Somehow, as a child, I felt her beautiful spirit was giving meaning to this new place where I had come to live, and I was happy. I had lost my mother when I was a babe, and now my father had brought me from my home and loved ones in Cincinnati to Zion, Illinois, where everything seemed strange and so different.

“What I did not know was that it was God who had led us to our new home in Zion, and it was He who had brought about the ‘chance’ meeting with this His ‘devoted minister’ who He knew would one day lead me to His feet—to accept Him as my own loving Saviour.

“Her life and influence have meant more to me than that of any one else in the world. The world is a different place because she lived.”

 

Ruth Brooks, one of the ministers of the Faith Homes of Zion, Illinois, first met Mr. and Mrs. Robinson in 1907, when they came to Toronto, Canada, to hold meetings for her father. Throughout the remainder of Mrs. Robinson’s life— about thirty years—Miss Brooks was closely associated with her, living in the same house with her for some time. She it is who furnishes the following graphic pen picture of the subject of this biography:

“To the eyes of the casual observer Martha Robinson would have appeared to be simply a gracious little lady— small-boned and fashioned on the junior-size scale—her height approximately five feet, three inches. Standing beside her tall husband, she looked like a pocketbook hanging from his arm.

“My earliest memory of Mrs. Robinson was of a small woman wearing a black skirt and white waist with a high kind of frilly collar. She was always neat. Her dark hair parted on one side was curled enough to keep it in place and combed away from a high forehead. The face was widest at the eyes, with a hint of high cheek bones, and oval in shape. Presiding over a sensitive, well-formed nose were large, deep hazel eyes which at times appeared to be almost black. These eyes were penetrating enough to search one’s soul but alive with understanding and compassion. One of her distinctive features was a mouth with corners built in so that they always seemed turned up; this gave the impression of a smile even when her face was in repose.

“Children loved Martha Robinson. They held her in awe, sensing, somehow, the dedication and sanctity of her life, but they were also aware of her love for them. I liked to go to her room whenever I had the ‘great privilege’. Neverthe­less I entered with some trepidation, for there was that Pres­ence which filled me with a nameless longing. The atmos­phere made me want to bow down and weep at Jesus’ feet. The memory of that reality of God s nearness exerted a pow­erful influence all through the ‘wandering’ years of my life.

“One day when I was about five years old, this gracious lady—who didn’t seem gracious in the role of a prophet— told me seriously and searchingly things I had done in the few weeks past which I knew no one else knew. And under the conviction of these words, I sobbed for hours, feeling that indeed ‘all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.’

“I was the recipient of her generosity on two specific occa­sions. I had baked my first cake and was attempting to smooth some very stubborn frosting on it. At the moment of greatest perplexity Mrs. Robinson came through the kitchen and seeing my plight said, ‘Let me show you how to make it easier.’ She scraped sticky stuff from the knife I was using— to all appearances the knife was being iced rather than the cake. Now she smoothed the frosting over the cake, dipping the knife in water frequently After a sufficient demonstra­tion, my good Samaritan supervised the job until it was com­pleted and seemed as delighted with the result as I was.

“The second time Mrs. Robinson came to my aid I was in my early twenties. I was visiting relatives in Canada and was planning deliberately to inquire into some of the more ‘re­spectable’ pleasures of the world for myself. I felt at the time that I had been too much restricted and wanted to be assured I was not getting information about life by hearsay. The ‘world’ turned out to be less glamorous than I had been led to believe, but I was still fighting surrender.

“The time arrived for my return home —but I did not have the fare. Finally a letter came from my parents with the needed amount, but the money itself was not from them — it was from Mrs. Robinson! My heart smote me!

“My mother had previously written me that this servant of the Lord had received a flash from heaven: ‘Ruth isn’t very spiritual on this trip!’ This was the understatement of the year, but by it I knew that my spiritual condition had truly been found out and revealed by the Lord Himself to Mrs. Robinson.

“Now one can meet rebellion with rebellion — but this form of attack! Such kindness! The hard crust of my heart began to melt around the edges; the knees of my heart, to bend. It was the softening up for final surrender.

Suppose God had not had a channel for the flow of His love. Suppose Martha Robinson had been unwilling to go along with God in His kind of forgiveness. Thank God these are only suppositions, for He did find a little, unpre­tentious woman who had said to him directly, ‘Make me a channel in whatever way You choose.’ And because God took her at her word, many will rise up to call her blessed.”

 

†

On one occasion Mrs. Robinson was the matron of honor when one of her associates was married. Included in the wedding party was a vivacious, delightful, red-haired, freckle-faced flower girl, Mary Elizabeth Judd. Now a minister her­self, residing in Zion, Illinois Miss Judd gives this inimitable “physical description and personality sketch” of her friend in the form of a letter addressed to an imaginary acquaint­ance:

“Remember the other day when we met at the bookstore downtown, and you asked me to describe my friend, Mrs. Robinson, to you? We were both pressed for time then, so I will try now to comply with your request by letter.

“Of course, there are the usual marks of identification. In the first place, she’s not tall — being only slightly over five feet — with dark eyes and hair, small features and a fair com­plexion. But, I think you will easily recognize her, by the quiet radiance of her dedicated and serious face.

 

“Although the unassuming poise of her manner may seem to set her apart, if you have an opportunity to meet her, you will find her interesting, warm, and most understanding. Her keen, penetrating mind and giftedness will more than satisfy your discriminating taste! The unaffected simplicity and love for humanity which possess her seem all-embrac­ing; and her restful atmosphere of calm, unhurried patience will make you feel completely at ease. She can ‘dwell with kings, nor lose the common touch’, — a rare capacity to dis­cover in any society! Doubtless, you’ll notice at once the ease and eagerness with which she adapts herself to the needs of each person and situation. Where many dignitaries or professional people would be too busy or pardonably pre­occupied to pay attention to children and young folks, she —being young in heart—never fails to have some kindly word or greeting for them.

“Not to tire you with a lengthy description of my friend, I’ll close by mentioning that, in the midst of numerous duties and heavy responsibilities, Mrs. Robinson has most delightful touches of humor often revealed by a low chuckle and smiling eyes.”

 

†

 “Martha Wing Robinson appeared on the platform of a gospel tent on a warm summer’s day back in the year ten of this century,” recalls Bessie Pottinger who has faithfully served her Master in various churches from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts in this country and has also spent several years in South Africa.

 “This new and petite personage, unknown by name or any other biographical knowledge to a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl, nevertheless immediately stood out to her amid the many other briefly known, yet dearly beloved, ministers on that rustic stage. After the service, still not knowing the name of this evangelist, but sensing the love and humility radiating from this slight figure, she must find someone with whom to share this new experience, better felt than told. Having noted every detail of the speaker, she told a girl friend, ‘She’s small, and her head leans slightly to the left, but not stiff-necked.’

“But just what was it that so captivated the heart of this small-town child, and drew out her love to the pretty, new lady-minister? She was attired in a white shirt-waist dress with a small, white sailor hat, adorned only by a black ribbon, sitting atop soft black hair, self-styled. No beauty parlor touch there! Beneath her hair were heavy eyebrows and gentle, though sometimes penetrating, brown eyes. One could not refrain from observing that these eyes, with their thick black lashes, were never used to attract attention to their owner, but would often close while the pink lips moved quietly as if speaking to Someone very near and dear.

“Then, when Martha Wing Robinson stood to address the audience, hearts quickened as they listened to words issuing from those lips which previously had been convers­ing with that Someone near and dear, bringing forth hidden treasures from the storehouse within. She spoke as the Saviour, her Beloved, spoke when here on earth—so that little ones could hear and understand, but also so that mature, hungering ones bowed to the Jesus within her.”

 

†

 Charles N. Andrews, pastor of the Fredericksburg Pente­costal Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia, furnishes this ac­count of Mrs. Robinson in her latter years:

“She looked as though she might have been someone’s little old mother as she sat in her leather armchair which ap­peared large — perhaps because of her own smallness —  with her head a little to one side. Quite noticeable under her ‘crown of glory’ of lovely white hair were her deep brown eyes — lively, missing nothing, kindly, and interested, eyes that could be quite piercing or filled with sorrow and compas­sion upon hearing of some tragedy which had happened to an­other. The fact is, she was a real mother, and, although she did not have any children of her own, many called her ‘Mother.’

“As can readily be seen, this description of Mrs. Robinson is of her later years. In fact, my only personal remembrance of her is that of the last three or four years of her life, al­though my family and I had lived in the same house with her for some time when I was a very small boy. A happening of that period, as related by my mother, is to me an example of her life and ministry.

“While we were living in her home, I became very ill. As Mrs. Robinson passed our room, my mother told her of my serious condition, unquestionably with the thought that she would pray for me. Instead, without even stopping, she quietly said, “A mother’s prayers bear special weight with the Father,” and so encouraged her to believe for the answer to her own prayers.

“To those who knew Mrs. Robinson this action would not mean that she was heartless or not interested in praying for me — unquestionably she did. Rather, it is an illustration of her ministry. She herself had come to know the Lord in reality, as her Great Physician, for example, and her ministry was not just to tell others what she knew so much as to lead them into that place where they would know and experience Jesus for themselves.

“My first remembered contact with Mrs. Robinson oc­curred many years later when as a young man I had returned with my family to Zion City and was training for the ministry. During this time it was my privilege to see and to hear her on various occasions, and a number of events showed me clearly that her ministry was truly and always by Christ in her. One outstanding incident conclusively proved to me that it was the Lord Himself who ministered through her.

“One day I happened to be in the kitchen of her apartment on some errand. Most unexpectedly the door from her liv­ing room opened, and she came out to see me. Immediately and persistently she began to question me about a personal matter which I had discussed with no one. I had been diligently praying about this problem, and desperately had I asked the Lord not to let me make any mistake. Under these circumstances one can imagine my surprise when she herself brought up the issue and dealt with it in such a way that I knew only the Lord could have revealed the situation to her. As she proceeded to question me—one of the methods the Lord had her use to instruct people—she also gave me some pointed advice. Then, suddenly, she said ‘The answer is “No”,’ and without saying anything more she abruptly left me, returning to the living room, the door closing behind her.

“Of course, I knew what that meant, but only later did I realize that it could only have been Jesus in her, giving me a direct answer to my own prayer to Him. Needless to say, this word kept me from making a mistake that would undoubtedly have hindered me from going on in the ministry in the way that God wanted and consequently would have changed the whole course of my life.

“The outstanding thing about her was that Jesus had be­come the Center and All of her life so that others have been impregnated with the same desire to know Jesus and to have Him reigning within them, living out His life so that both their personal lives and the meetings which they might con­duct would be controlled by Him.”

 

†

 This final appreciation of Martha Wing Robinson comes from the pen of Hans R. Waldvogel, pastor of the Ridgewood Pentecostal Church, Brooklyn, New York. In addition to his extensive labors in metropolitan New York, Pastor Wald­vogel has also had a world-wide, evangelistic ministry.

“Rumors had come to me from different quarters about a woman who lived in such close fellowship with God that all the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in the Bible were exercised by her. Ordinarily one associates the thought of deep-life saints with a forbidding mysticism. Upon making the ac­quaintance of Mrs. Robinson, however, not only did I find that not the half had been told me of her godliness—but I was pleasantly surprised that instead of an eccentric person, I found a happy, cheerful child of God who certainly lived Constantly in His presence and combined with her spiritual experience had a good dose of common sense.

“How graciously she understood how to minister to old and young the word of life, always endeavoring to lead people to find the Fountain from which she had been drinking— Jesus! Having come to her for guidance about some intricate problem, she smilingly said to me, ‘Why do you come to me for advice when you have free access to Jesus and the guid­ance of the Holy Ghost? He will instruct and teach you in the way you must go.

“Those who accepted her teaching invariably discovered for themselves the Storehouse of God’s unsearchable riches which she had discovered and to which she had directed them.

“Forever then shall I thank God for bringing me in touch with the ‘most unforgettable character’ I have known, Mrs. Robinson, and to enjoy her remarkable ministry which was not in word only but also ‘in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance.