Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-04-10
RELIGIOUS REVEALS.


u
"Awful Gardner" the converted pugil-
i.t, was present on Sunday evening at
meeting in the Methodist Church in Green
street, and narrated to the congreya ion the
circumstances of his conversion, as follows ::
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 known me when
| was frightfuly wicked. Now l am on
the Lords side. l want it thoroughly I'M
derstood that am now or the Lords side.
was on visit to my brother in the coun-
try, about twenty miles away, at town
called Portchester. When | went there
had as much idea of getting religion as
many Of you have now-tha. is, none at all.
But | hope when you get home you cannot
rest or sleep till you get religion. ! went
to church in that town for accommodation,
that's all, to the folks. The Savior was
there. The Lords spirit was powerfully
displayed, and went from heart to heart, all
through the church. 1t worked upon me
three or four nights. The pastor of the
chul CHI came to me, and asked me if would
not like to get religion and serve God. |
answered, "No, didn't care about it just
them and told him a lie, for did. | felt
as though wanted religion.
got dreadfully uneasy, and made up my
mind had better leave that part of the
country; it was getting too warm for me-
| told my 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
We're made to backsliders the next night,
many OF whom | knew. They sat there
unmoved. The minister and my friends had
been trying to get Inc to be a Christian, bat
the devil said, ''don't be taken in by those
fellows" After church that night, as we
were going home-the minister lived up our
way-I made some remark about those
back ELDERS, saying to him that if l were in
their place would come out like man,
and seek religion over again.
The minister told me that lie thought
was very great sinner, that l stood in a
critical condition, and was more likely to
be lost than any Of them. l said to my
brothe-, if that was the way the minister
was going to talk, I would 60. l got my
carpet bag aud started. opened the door;
| wanted to go, and didn't want to 90, and
hoped my brother would again urge me to
stay. He did SO, and | stayed. That Was
Saturday. After had my dinner, Iresolv-
ed that would seek the Lord that night. -
| made strong resolution: felt where
stood, that perhaps it was the last time The
Lord would strive with me. Saturday night
The invitation was given to come forward to
the altar--on my shoulders my load Of sins
up went with them, the cross OF Christ
upon my back. l got up, and threw my sins
down by the altar. tried as hard as man
ever did, and got no religion.
Sunday night attended with a like re-
suit. That night could not sleep, my sins
looked SO bad; they came up on every hand
and loo cd at nae. All the sins of my life
crowded upon me; many of them l should
never have thought of, had no: the devil
brought them before me. could not sleep;
l wiggled and waggled around the bed all
night; the Lord was striving with me. Mon
day morning got up and prayed; did the
best could; asked the Lord to take away
the weight that bore Inc down so. There
was friend came to me that day, and said
he was going over to White Plains, and l
could go along with him. Knowing that
would be in good company, | concluded to
60, thinking he might do HE some good -
There was little said on the way, but he
told me to keep looking for the Savior; that
/ was try ing to get religion, and had let eve
rybody know it. the Lord was willing to
bless me at any time, or anywhere. l was
riding along. singing hymn, and in an in
slant felt as though | was blessed. | am
sure gave up my soul and body. The first
thing l knew, God spoke peace to my soul.
1t came like shot-it came like lightning,
when was not anticipating it, and the first
thing / said was, 'tglory! God has blest ne!'