Page:The Story of the Jubilee Singers (7th).djvu/86

 American Missionary Association in the field for which Mr. Pike was the District Secretary. To strengthen the working force in the business management, Mr. J. Hamilton Halley, grandson of the well-known and venerated Rev. Dr. Halley, was engaged for a time. But he brought to the work such energy, tact, and appreciative sympathy that his services have been retained ever since.

As this was the season when many of the people of the larger towns in Scotland were at the summer resorts, it was decided to pay a short visit to Ireland. Letters from Mr. Burns, and the endorsement of the Hon. George H. Stuart, who is held in high regard in that country of his birth, prepared the people to welcome them. Dr. Henry, President of Queen's College, presided at the first concert in Ulster Hall, Belfast, and Rev. William Johnson, the Moderator of the General Assembly, aided heartily in the subsequent work there. At Londonderry their welcome accorded with the historic fame of that old, liberty-loving town, so foremost in Protestant zeal and good works.

Returning to Scotland, they were met with the announcement that the authorities of Glasgow had acted upon Lord Shaftesbury's suggestion, and voted to invite them to give a concert at the City Hall under their official patronage. Looking backward to the bondage and ostracism that was still so fresh in their memory, such a thing, in that great city of 500,000 people, seemed almost incredible. The City Hall was full. The Lord Provost presided, and beside him, on the platform,