The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-10-25
DIR. CHALMERS AND THE STUDENTS.
"Ean mar mad, most Noble Fessas."

a. DIX CI1AkMEAD AIND
"Tan na mad, most Noble FessHs."
The following interesting account of the
conversion of some Glasgow Students, under
the ministry of DIR. Chalmers, is furnished
by correspondent of the Magazine OF the
Reformed Dutch Church.
By the rules Of the University of GlosgOw,
the Students must attend in the College Cha
pel for divine worship on each Sabbath day
The Students there, as in every institution
of the kind, were of all ranks, as it regarded
responsibility and principle. Some had drunk
deep Into infdelity, and these viewing relI-
giOus worship as lOathing contemPtibe thing
often found means after answering to their
names at roll call--tO escape from the lntol-
cradle penance of religious service. 1
b One Sabbath day Mr.. B. and Mr.. C. had
already eloped. And getting to the college
gate were contemplating the most pleasant
way of killing sabbath day; when Mr.. A.
nobleman's son, and two others of the same
infdel principles, having also escaped, saluted
them, with - How shall we spend the day
Let us hasten from this spot. or we shall be
cIapt up again with these psalm singers, to
growl lullaba or whine like BedIamites till our
heads are turned. Whittier shall we direct
our course? 7"
Mr.. C. proposed that they should go and
hear Mr. Chalmers preach.
"Chalmers Chalmers !" said Mr.. A. "the
crazy man, whom the vulgar run after? Why
he is mad fanatic, seeking for the little
mouthed popularity of weak minds. Poh! go
and hear religious fool, a knave, or perhaps
both. No, no, let us go to the Green, and
get stroll, and laugh at the high dressed
weaver girls who will be there on a Sabbath
morning. LET me tell you my hairless
added this youth, 6 the sound of the classic
Clyde is worth all the preachments of bash
full DIR. Chambers! And its beautiful banks
have something so romantic, never go but
Immediately wish to write poetry. Come,
chums, let us CO."
but Mr. A." said G.. shave you ever
heard DR.. Chalmers % " Never" was the re-
ply: g but so much is said about him, l be-
iieve he is mad. They tell such ridiculous
things about him, would laugh all the time,
if I were hearing him, by thinking of their
fanatacism Come let US go to the green, or to
the country, or any where else, provided it
only be away from these superstitious groan-
ings !" this he spoke, lnmicking the nasal Sec
tartan twang.
1--WE may find as much amusement in
hearing him nevertheless" rejoined G. "as
in going into the country. Besides, my friend.
let us condemn no man unheard. And be it
known to you, my comrades, that DIR. Chal-
mers stands as high as scholar as he does
as preacher. He is reported to be pro-
found mathematician versed in all science,
and withal really eloquent. us to hear
him Ourselves--and then for laugh, cry,
or Jest.
The party ultimately agreed to go and hear
DR.. Chalmers preach. On arriving at his
al 4 l,l md
great mutitudes standing without. Our stu
dents however, elbowed on, and just got with
inthe door when they heard Mr. Chalmers
announce this text, with peculiar emphasis
lam not mad, most Noble Festus" This pas
saga, so unexpected, and rendered so striking
to their minds by'their former conversation,
arrested their attention.
They heard the conduct of Jesus Christ,
and his Jealous Apostles powerfully delinea-
ted the opposition, contempt. and sneers,
of the ungodly and profane, which they had
to suffer, when labouring and striving to pro-
mote the holy cause of God, and the saliva
ton of the souls of perishng sinners. The
appeals which were afterwards made by the
preacher to the consciences of his hearers,
were irresistible. Amidst the weeping con-
course the hearts of our students were COM
petely melted down.
Stung with remorse, they withdrew at the
close of public worship-and retired to pray.
They fastened again to church in the after
noon, to unite in public worship. They be-
came penitent. They were converted, and
became members of the visible church of
God, hoping and preparing for a better inher
itance in the church triumphant.
Mr.. Editor-the above is no fiction. The
circumstances were well known and common
ly reported when was at Glasgow College
few years ago. J. X.
TRANQUIL, Conn. July 90, 1897.
From the Neap- YOU Observer,