midnight
Strengthening of this sort , truly , was much-needed , for during the previous persecutions of 1837 and 1849 Queen Ranavalona had given terrible evidence of her fierce and relentless nature , so that Christians were now well aware of what they had to expect if another cruel fit came upon her . The sermon finished , another hymn was sung , followed by a prayer , after which , before finally breaking up and dispersing , the worshippers collected in various groups ; and exclamations of surprise , joy , and fervent thanksgiving were heard , now and again , when friends who had parted as enemies on account of religious differences unexpectedly met as brothers in the Lord . It has ever been a result of persecution that the persecuted cause has made progress -- naturally so , for trial and suffering winnow out the chaff and leave the good seed to flourish with increased vigour . Few false professors attended those midnight meetings , which were so full of joy and danger , and none of these ever got the length of Ranavalona 's fiery stakes or the fearful `` rock of hurling . '' For fully a quarter of a century , -LRB- from 1836 to 1861 -RRB- , did the persecution of the native Christians last in Madagascar . During most of that dark period Queen Ranavalona the First endeavoured , by cruel prohibitive laws , torture , and death , to stamp out the love of Christ from her dominions . Through most of that period she tried to prevent her people from meeting for worship , praying to God in the name of Christ , or reading the Scriptures or any other Christian book , and those who disobeyed her did so at the risk of losing property , liberty , or life .