The northern star and freemen's advocate., 1842-12-08

and he stopped not till he saw his name af6x
ed to the pledge.
In answer to call ofthose around him, the
new recruit ascended the platform-told in a
few words little of his story. He had NOV
ed in a respectable station in SoCiety-had
been abroad-had seen the Hottentot in his hut,
and the South Sea Islander in his canoe-had
visited various countries, and been through
many perilous and trying scenes. But worst
of all, he had been for long, long years, a de-
AIDED drunkard, and my salvation, said he,
kindness. He told me of this society and of
this meeting. He was the recruiting officer
that brought me this night to enlist in the CoLD
WATER ARMY, and wherever I may go,
however tempest tost will never forget the
solemn VOW which have taken this night
And he sat down with full heart, almost
bursting with emotion, while on all sides the
tears glistened on many an eye, and deep SYM
pathy glowed in many heart. Never had a
more hopeless case been before that audience.
All saw that though drunkard, there was an
honest noble soul within him, and the stamp of
a benevolent mind was on his face, marred, as
it was, with the iron heel of the &C monster"
He had been tossed on many a sea, but he had
come into safe harbor now. He had been
at the mercy of many storm, before him now
was the prospect of sunshine and calm.
When that audience dispersed, provision
was made to sustain and encourage the heavy
made man in the course which he resolved to
adopt. He became an inmate of the asylum
for reformed inebriates, under the care Of the
Washingtonians.
Here he was strengthened and encouraged
in the course which he had pledged himself to
pursue. He was clothed and supplied by be-
nevolent hands, and in little time his habits
of fsobriety had become so fixed that he felt he
could rely in great measure upon himself,
and auas safe. We go little further on in his
history, and we find him again under very in
teresting and solemn circumstances-you see
him in the house of Cod You notice his at
tentive countenance, up-turned, as he listens,
with fearful eye, to the theme of mercy that
dwels upon the lips of the living preacher.
&C / have presented before you in this dis
course,'' said the minister, the mercy of
HIM, who though he was rich, became poor,
that we, through his poverty, might become
rich, | have brought to your view to-day, the
Saviour as he is'revealed in the gospel-able,
willing, and waiting to save. There may be
in the ways of inquity and folly-who may
have squandered the best energies of mind and
body in vain and vicious pursuits But hear
me now, as | would plead with you as one
friend pleadeth with another. If you are rea-
dy here to abandon all your false and wicked
ways, and this Uery hour to humble yourselves
before God-if you are ready now to make
the publican's prayer, and say from all your
hearts, God be m'erciftI to me sinner!' i
you with the prodigal son can say I toil
arise and go tomy .fathern then we are ready
tes1y there is mercy for you, even though yol
think there is no mercy for yourselves. Here
then, in this very temple put that high resolv'
the throne of grace in prayer, make that pray
er your own, and let it be the prayer that shall
come up from your heart every day of YOU