Wawanesa: A Prairie Heritage - Nellie McLung, The Evangelist

Nellie McLung fiercely embraced a faith that required active participation...

"Most of us are too sleek and contented, our muscles too soft from inaction to get into active service for God.

A Prayer for the New Year
Lord, let me live where I can see,
The message in the blossoming tree;
The beauty in the wayside flower,
And love it for its one short hour;
While morning song of lark and jay
Can scatter all my doubts away,
And lift my poor heart from the sod,
And tell me I am born of God!
While I can feel I'm linked with all
The burdened ones who halt and fall;
While I can see my share of blame,
In every cheek that's dyed with shame;
While I can feel life's burdens sweep
Across my heart, and drive out sleep;
- While I can hunger, suffer, strive,
Lord, let me live - for I'm alive.

But if the time should come when I
Forget to lift my eyes on high,
Forget to seek for love divine,
Or seek it but for me and mine;
When my dim eyes shall fail to trace
Thine image in each human face;
When lulled by comfort, ease, or pride,
I find my soul is satisfied
to build its house of wood and hay
and let the old world go its way;
Content to preen before a glass,
While wounded ones barefooted pass
Easing my conscience when I must,
By throwing hungry dogs a crust,
Then, Lord, thy crowning mercy shed
And let me die - for I am dead.
Nellie Mooney McLung

Nellie McLung as a young woman, sitting at her desk.

Nellie's God, though firmly demanding, was also benevolent, liberal, and approachable. She writes:
"Some call it a day of judgement; I like best to think of it as a day of explanations. I want to hear God's side... I will ask about these and other things, and in the meantime, I am ready to believe that God is in his heaven, and is not overlooking anything."

In 1921, Nellie McLung represented the Methodist Church of Canada at the Ecumenical Conference in London, England. She was the first woman so appointed by the Canadian council.

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Nellie McLung fiercely embraced a faith that required active participation... "Most of us are too sleek and contented, our muscles too soft from inaction to get into active service for God.


A Prayer for the New Year Lord, let me live where I can see, The message in the blossoming tree; The beauty in the wayside flower, And love it for its one short hour; While morning song of lark and jay Can scatter all my doubts away, And lift my poor heart from the sod, And tell me I am born of God! While I can feel I'm linked with all The burdened ones who halt and fall; While I can see my share of blame, In every cheek that's dyed with shame; While I can feel life's burdens sweep Across my heart, and drive out sleep; - While I can hunger, suffer, strive, Lord, let me live - for I'm alive. But if the time should come when I Forget to lift my eyes on high, Forget to seek for love divine, Or seek it but for me and mine; When my dim eyes shall fail to trace Thine image in each human face; When lulled by comfort, ease, or pride, I find my soul is satisfied to build its house of wood and hay and let the old world go its way; Content to preen before a glass, While wounded ones barefooted pass Easing my conscience when I must, By throwing hungry dogs a crust, Then, Lord, thy crowning mercy shed And let me die - for I am dead. Nellie Mooney McLung






		Nellie McLung as a young woman, sitting at her desk.
Nellie's God, though firmly demanding, was also benevolent, liberal, and approachable. She writes: "Some call it a day of judgement; I like best to think of it as a day of explanations. I want to hear God's side... I will ask about these and other things, and in the meantime, I am ready to believe that God is in his heaven, and is not overlooking anything." In 1921, Nellie McLung represented the Methodist Church of Canada at the Ecumenical Conference in London, England. She was the first woman so appointed by the Canadian council.


	The History \| Picture Gallery \| People \| Mutual Insurance \| The Community Neighbouring Communities \| The Museum \| About Us \| Home