Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-06
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 6, 1858
RELIGIOUS REVIVAL"
Under this head the n. Y. Tribune has the
follouipo.

lawful Gsrduer's" story OF Himself
"Awful Gardner the converted pugilist,
was presen, on Sunday evening at meeting
10 the Methodist Church in Green street, and
narrated to the congregation the circumstan-
ces of his conversion, as follows
Il feel it my duty to tell you what God
has done for me. hope you will hear all |
have to say. There are many here who have
known me for ten years-have known me
when | was fearfully wicked. Now | am on
the Lords side. l want it thoroughly un-
derstood that now l am on the Lords side.
was on visit to my brother In the coun-
try, about twenty-eigbt miles away, at u town
called Portchester When / went there
had as much idea Of getting religion as many
of YOU have now; that is, none at all. but
hope when you get home you cannot rest or
sleep till you get religion. l went to church
in that town for accommodation, THAT'S all. 10
the folks. The Saviour was there. The
Lords spirit was powerfully displayed, ana
wen, from heart to heart oil through the
church. L. worked UPON me three or four
nights. The pastor OF the church came to
me aud asked Inc if | would not like TO get
religion and serve God. / answered, mo,
didn't care about it Just them" and told him
lie, for did; felt as though | wanted re-
ligion.
l got dreadfully uneasy, and made up my
mind l had better leave that part OF the
country; it was getting too warm for me.
told nv brother / Was going to New York
in the morning. He said, Wait another
day," and made up my mind | would stay
and attend another night. Some remarks
were made TO backsiders the next night,
many OF whom kOea; they sat there un-
moved The minister aud my friends had
been irving to get me to be u Christian, but
the devil said, Don't be taken in by those
fellows" Alter church that night, as we
were going bome-the minister lived Up our
way-I made some remark about those back
sliders, saving to him that if l were in their
place would come out like man, and seek
religion over again.
The minister told me that be thought l
was a very great sinner; that / stood in
critical condition, and was more likely to be
lost than any of them. L sand to my brother'
if that was tie way the minister was gong
to talk, | wculd 20. got my carpet bag
ready next day aud started; opened the
door: | wanted to 90 and didn't want TO
90; and hoped my brother would again
urge me stay; he did so, aud SO stayed.
That was Saturday. After | had my din.
nsr l resolved that l would seek the Lord
that night i made strong resolution;
felt where stood that perhaps 1t was the
last time the Lord would strive with me.
Saturday night the invitation was gwen to
come forward to the altar-on my shout
ders nv load of sins--up | went with them
the cross of Christ upon my back. | got
IN and threw my sins down by the altar
| tried as hard as a man ever did, and
got no religion
Sunday night ! attended with Ike re.
suit. That night could not sleep, my
sins looked so bad; they came up on every
hand and looked at ME; all the s,ns o! my
life crowded upon me, many should never
have thought Of, bad not the devil brought
them before me. / could not sleep; wig
gled and waggled around the bed all pigbt;
the Lord was striving with me. Monday
morning | got up and prayed; | did the
best could; asked the Lord to take
away the weight that bore noe down So
There was q friend came to me that day
and said be was going over to White Plains
and could 90 with him. Knowing L
would be in good company | concluded to
90, thinking he might do me some good.
There was little said on the way, put ne
told me to keep looking for The Saviour; that
was trying to get religion, ana hau let
everybody know it; the Lord was wiling
70 bless me ut any time or any where. l
was riding along, singing hymn, and IN
an instant felt as though / was blessed
am sure | gave up my soul and body.
The first thing / knew, God spoke peace to
NV soul. lie came like shot--it came
like lightning, when / was not anticipating
il and the first thing | said, was, "Glory
God bless me-" NY friend said he knew 1t;
be felt the shock too. We rode against q
stone fence two or three times, and came
near tumblng on the ground. The change
WAS surprising; the trees looked as il they
had been blessed: everything appeared TO
have Lcen blessed, even the horse ana
wagon. / felt strong. l could almost ny.
Glorv to God, this religion is good. lie
Lord has blessed me ever since. My faith
in him grows stronger every day. l would
face all the people that God ever put on
earth. and tell them oil / am bound for
beaven. NV heart says, see the scorneI; l
coz will 90 pray for bin. Everything
ia pleasing, love those ! used to hate,
Now. that shows pretty good for religion
don | il, UTOIDtIS. ''', J>N'I
/ used to seek to irjure, love now; Pray
for them. don't hate soul that "oo
ever nut breath in. As ! lock around, you
all lock good to me; love the Christian
little Letter than ;be sinner. but love you
TOO! | would not swap this religion tor all
New York city. would rather have reii !,
p;on and live on bread and water till H'd
calls NE. They talk about noise here1-What
will il be when we get to heavenf l have
tested the worlds pleasures, but religion Is
the only thing that will make man happy
here, and is the only thing that will IN axe
him happy hereafter. There are great
many here that know me. and it is no doubt
a mystery u them that God should accept
sucb a creature. Now is the time to step to
the altar. Don't say to God let me accom-
plish this or that, and then ! will seek you.
When YOU receive the religion OF Jesus
Cnrss yeu are the r;ohsss perS. n n (aFil =.
Come at once. Clear the way, mere. Seats
all around; allow yourselves to be LED 10
Christ"
-,
LEXANDRIA LIBRARY COMPANf.-
Y Library kept in the south room, hrst's'ory,
~ fbe Lyceum Hall, S. w. corner OF Prince ana
Washington streets. Open every evening from
I'LL, ond on Tuesday, Thursday ana