Lilias Trotter

Isabella Lilias Trotter (14 July, 1853 - 28 August, 1928) was a artist and a missionary for over 38 years to the Muslims of Algeria.

Early life

Lilias was born to Alexander and Isabella Trotter in the heart of the Victorian era in London. Her father died when she was twelve years old.

Art

When Lilias was 23, in 1876 she travelled with her mother to Venice together in 1876, quoting a letter from famous art critic John Ruskin:

cquote|When I was at Venice in 1876—it is about the only thing that makes me now content in having gone there—two English ladies, mother and daughter, were staying at the same hotel, the “Europa.” One day the mother sent me a pretty little note asking if I would look at the young lady’s drawings.

On my somewhat sulky permission, a few were sent, in which I saw there was extremely right-minded and careful work, almost totally without knowledge. I sent back a request that the young lady might be allowed to come out sketching with me. She seemed to learn everything the instant she was shown it, and ever so much more than she was taught.

John Ruskin didn't believe that ladies could paint before he met Lilias, he changed his mind after he met her, and believed that if she would give her life to painting she could become the greatest painter of the nineteenth century. Ruskin believed that if she would devote herself to art “she would be the greatest living painter and do things that would be immortal.”--he was unhappy that she was spending so much time on the streets of London, helping with the YWCA when he thought she ought to be painting.

Lilias, however, decided to give up her career in art in order to serve God. She always remained a good friend of Ruskin's though, and they wrote many letters when she was in Algeria.

About this decision Lilias wrote many years later:

cquote|Never has it been so easy to live in half a dozen good harmless worlds at once—art, music, social science, games, motoring, the following of some profession, and so on. And between them we run the risk of drifting about, the “good” hiding the “best.”

It is easy to find out whether our lives are focused, and if so, where the focus lies. Where do our thoughts settle when consciousness comes back in the morning? Where do they swing back when the pressure is off during the day? Dare to have it out with God. . . and ask Him to show you whether or not all is focused on Christ and His glory.

Algeria

After serving God in England for a time with the YWCA, she went with her own funding to Algeria to serve God there. In 1888 she founded the Algiers Mission Band, in the 1960's the Algiers Mission Band became incorporated into Arab World Ministries.

She also wrote several books--beautifully illustrated by herself, including "Parables of the Cross", "Parables of the Christ Life", and a book for Sufi Muslims "The Way of the Sevenfold Secret". First published in a periodical, and later as a booklet, "Focussed" inspired Helen Lemmel to write of the now famous hymn "The Heavenly Vision (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus)".

Books & Tracts Authored

*The Glory Of The Impossible.
*"Buying Up Opportunities".
*Literature for Moslem women.
*The House Of Dawn.
*Literature for Moslem boys.
*Cherry blossom.
*Sand Lilies.
*1878. A Startling Wish. A New Year’s address to junior scholars.
*1887. For the New Year. A Life on Fire. London: Marshall Brothers.
*1890. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22189/22189-h/22189-h.htm Parables of the Cross] . London: Marshall Brothers.
*1899. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22432 Parables of the Christ-life] . London: Marshall Bros.
*1916. When Moslems listen to the Gospel. [New York?] : American Christian Literature Society for Moslems.
*1929. Between the desert and the sea. London: Marshall, Morgan and Scott.
*1933. The Way Of The Sevenfold Secret. Turnbridge Wells, England: Nile Mission Press. [http://www.muhammadanism.net/Arabic/gospel/seven_fold_secret_arabic.pdf Arabic E-text] , [http://www.muhammadanism.net/gospel/seven_fold_secret.pdf English E-text]
*Focussed: A Story and A Song ( [http://christianelibrary.googlepages.com/f_trotter.html E-text] )
*Vibrations ( [http://christianelibrary.googlepages.com/v_trotter.html E-text] )
*Trained to Rule
*A Thirsty Land and God's Channels
*A South Land
*Smouldering
*A Ripened Life
*A Life On Fire
*Story Parables
*Heavenly Light on the Daily Path
*A Challenge To Faith
*Back-ground and Fore-Ground
*Winter Buds

ources

*Miriam Huffman Rockness, A Passion for the Impossible: The life of Lilias Trotter, Discovery House Publishers (2003)
*Patricia St. John, Until the Day Breaks: The Life and Work of Lilias Trotter: Pioneer Missionary to Muslim North Africa, OM Publishing, (1990)
*Constance Evelyn Padwick, Lilias Trotter of Algiers, Algiers Missions Band, (1975?)
*I R Govan Stewart, The love that was stronger: Lilias Trotter of Algiers, Algiers Mission Band, (1958)
*Blanche Anne Frances Pigott, I. Lilias Trotter: "Lalla Lili" (The Arabs' name for her), founder of the Algiers Mission Band, Marshall: Morgan & Scott, (1930)
*E Barth-van Marle, Uit leven en arbeid van Isabella Lilias Trotter, stichtster van de "Algiers mission band", Drukkerij van de Stichting Hoenderloo, (1932) nl
*Lily Gsell, Aus dem Leben der Missionarin Lilias Trotter: Botin Gottes in Algerien 1888-1928, Zürich: Schweizer. evang. Mohammedaner-Mission, (1945) (German)

External links

* [http://unveiling.org/lily/lilias.html Writings and Artwork by Lilias Trotter]
*gutenberg author| id=I.+Lilias+Trotter | name=I. Lilias Trotter
* [http://unveiling.org/author.html#I.%20Lilias%20Trotter Lilias Trotter Excerpts @ Unveiling.org]
* [http://www.kingsleypress.com/previews/lilias_trotter.php Lillias Trotter: The Frail Pioneer] (Bio from They Knew Their God, V.1 By Edwin and Lillian Harvey and Elizabeth Hey)
* [http://www.pawcreek.org/articles_pcm/testimonials/Lilias_Trotter.htm Bio from Paw Creek Ministries]
* [http://christianelibrary.googlepages.com/trotterscans Scans of Lillias Trotter Tracts]