The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-22

influence Of fsoo tracts in a Military A.
cademy.-The late Professor of Ethics and
Chaplain Of the Military Academy at West
Point, presented four tracts TO student
who called on him. two of which he request
ed him TO read for his own personal benefit,
and the other two one Of which was, The
Last Hours of the Hon. Francis Newport,
10 drop where some of his skep,ical fellow
students would be likely 10 find them. One
week afterwards, on Saturday afternoon. a.
mother student called on. him, and said.
"You do no, know me, Sir, my name";
and then burst into Tears. For some time
he could not utter word; the professor.
couviced what was the cause Of his distress,
said to him, My friend, If, as trust, your
GRIEF is connected with religion-if you
desire to become a servant Of God, be en-
couruged 10 open'your heart TO me. whose
heart is already open 10 you. ''l do des-
ire to become servant of God" said he.
Deep emoiioR5 preyented his further utter
ance for few moments. Being then ask
ed what were the circumstances of his case
he replied, A tract was lying in my room
last Saturday | canno, imagine how it
got there, but took it up,rread il, and it
made powerful:impression upon.my mind.
1t was an account Of the death OF an inflel."
On being requested 10 give same account
of the previous state. of his. mind, The said
he had not actually considered himself an
infide, bu. had been in the habit of speak
ing lightly of religion. and nothing had ef-
fectualy arrested his attention ill he read
the tract. He not long after gave evidence
that he had been born of God, and united
himself 10 the communion OF the Church.
He soon manifested much anxiety for The
student through whose fundamentally he
had received the tract. "To him. under
God" said he TO he professor, "nexl TO you,
Sir, owe an immeasurable.debi; and, by
the help of God, will moi let him alone, till
we have him among u.s." few days af-
ter, he called upon the professor with this
very young man, rom whom he had receiv-
led the tract, leaning on his arm. Here he
is, SIR" said he, ''the Lord has brought
him." Unable. 10 restrain his emotion at
beholding what he hope. the Lord was do
ing for him, the professor threw his arms
around his neck. and blessed him. 81 can
hold GU, no longer" said he. this is not the
first time; | gave been often called. | can
hold out no longer, | will be a servant Of
God, henceforth, forever" 1t was in read
ing The Shepherd Of Salisbury Plain, tina.
he first folt his henri expanded with love to
God, and bursting with spirit Of prayer.
"Behold, how great matter little fire
kindcth." These young men are now ac-
live members Of the Church of Christ; they
have distributed thousands Of tracts among
the de,tituie, the ignorant. and the perish
ing; they are both!zealously engaged in the
cause of Sabbath Schools; by one Of them
a school of hundred children has been
raised up, where in a population of
thousand the Gospel has scarcely
ever been preached by the instru-
mentality Of one of them, as many as ten,
who Just now were dreadfully wicked. have
been hopefully converted, and are 50 ate red
as to as,onish their Hfmer companions.-
Both have made up their minds to conse-
crate their lives 10 the ministry of the Cos.
pei, and will be, we trust, through many
years, continually gathering new fruits. in
testimony of the unspenkable blessings
which may flow to the instrumeltaFty Of
one religious tract.
This we have copird from the Usefulness
of Tracts" 1t was written a number Of
years ago, and we are happy that we ore er-
abled to add 10 its Interest, and show that
the hope expressed in the conclusion has
been realized nbundantiy. In The course IF
q conservation sermon preached IN Cincn-
mutt, about four years ago. by Bishop Ne
lIvainc, this eminent preIaie, (who mig
well be the boast of any Church in any sge)
related the above facts, and 10 conclusion
remarked, THAT chaplain and that young
man (relerring to The above named c'de,)
have not mel since they separated al West
Point, until this day, they noT both stand
before this audience, am the chaplain, and
my Rev. Brother, This day 10 be consecrd-
ted Bishop Of Louisians, is the young ca
dstl" (Ihe RI. Rev. Leonidas Polk. row
Bishop of Lay imagine the effect u. on
the audience.