The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-12-02

'uihSu Lldni anu LnOugnG no one caTeu
anything about me or my family ; and
so | made up my mind that l must
live and die as ! was. But when you
came and spoke so kindly, | felt as if
had one friend on earth. | had no
idea that a wretch like me could ever
become a Christian. Years ago had
abandoned myself to despair, and was
going with all my family, to he'll, and
knew it. My home was a hell every
day. But when you encouraged me,
that SO vile man as | might come to
Christ, | felt resolution in my breast
to try. For three weeks my sins
crushed me down. l could neither
eat nor sleep, and thought | must die
in the struggle. At last gave all up,
and cast myself on Christ as undone,
and he spoke peace to my soul. From
that moment, the power of my habits
was broken, and have been in new
world. All this l owe, under God, to
your visit. Oh ! if you never had
looked me up, what would have be-
cone Of me Thanks to God for
such a minister"
This man lived far back in the
mountains, four miles from the vii
lage. Two large churches, for nearly
half century, had existed in the
town able ministers had been settled
there and yet this man, born in the
town, the father Of ten children, at
this time nearly 60 years of age, had
never heard a sermon, had never read
a word in the Bible, had heard of the
book, but knew nothing about it ; had
never heard of the Lords prayer had
neither seen or read a religious book ;
his children had never been led to the
Sabbath school, and hardly knew of
such thing as the Sabbath he had
been a miserable drunkard from his
youth, poor, profane, degraded, dis
honest, and despised. This man and
his wife became praying people erected
the family altar, learned like children
the word Of God taught their little
ones to kneel with them, to say their
prayers, and fear God. lie immedi-
ately clothed himself and family took
a slip in the church, and fills it every
Sabbath himself and wife joined the
church, and are among the most grow
ing and esteemed members.
The congregation where this pastor
is now laboring had become much re-
duced. For many years no conver-
sions had occurred the older class
had removed, become aged, and died.
The young had grown up and settled,
and were neither members Of the
church nor generally attended meet
ing. This congregation is now filed
up with nearly a new set, many of
whom have been looked up and drawn
in by the visits of the pastor. Valu-
able young men, living inremote parts
of the town have been reached that
would otherwise have grown up as
they were, utter strangers to the house
of God.
| This pastor in one of his tours put
up for the night with family seldom
seen at church. A son nearly of age
was at home. The evening was spent
in religious conversation. The father,
he had heard, was a deist /; but he
found it to be otherwise. He wept all
the evening; expressed his deep con-
viction of his need of christ. The
young man put on airs of scofing, and
would try to divert his mind by cypher-
ing, but he would drop his pencil and
listen. At the close Of the evening,
prayer was requested. 1t was pro-
| posed to sing, and the young man was
requested to read the 223rd select
hymn. This was done first to please
him; then to have him hear his own
voice uttering such words and lastly,
| death had been in the family, and a
brother was then dangerously sick in
/ California. He began at every sue
ceeding stanza his voice soltened, and
Al 1