The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-12
ceive why the regeneration of Mr.. SMITH should b,

celve why the regeneration OF Mr.. SMITH should be
" announced; {" and their earthly joys would not
probably he much enhanced because All ex-Alder-
man descanted upon them.
We have from still another paper an elaborate
history of he vacillation and final decision of
" Awful " GARDNER, sinful pugilist, of which
let the following notices suffice:
A Christian who had been laboring with him,
said: Now, Mr.. Gardner, don't you feel as if you
ought to change your course of lifeg' Said he IL
do Then, he asked, why don YOU do so2'
well, said Gardner, II can't begin now"
why not now? 81 have some matters in New
York to settle up first " .'Ah, said the gentle
man, but you had better settle with Your Maker
hrst. well, said Gardner Il am going to
the city tomorrow morning, and when return |
will seek salvation"
He knelt at the altar, but again he was not con-
verted. He said to the minister 'What does this
mean Z 'Ah said the minister, God means
to give you such struggle that you will never for
get H. tie means to use you as means of con-
verting Others On Monday afternoon they got
him into private house. lie prayed so that near
~ all that part of the town gathered about the
house What is that?" ''Its Gardner praying
for mercy" That was good-was it not? (Cries
of Amen On Monday night he went again to
the altar: On Tuesday he said II have got to go to
White Plains, and friend said II will 90 with
you, and he put up his horse and they left to-
gether.
They talked on without knowing where they
were going, until he hauled the horse upon one
SIDE OF the road, and shouted out 'halleluiah /"
All at once the devil came to him and said
What are you doing-praising Coda man as
wicked as You have been-you have made mis-
take y Gardner said he thought he had made a
mistake, but he came to the Church. and while
kneellng, the clouds began to dspel, and a bright
light surrounded him. he took his handker-
chief, and covered his eyes, Said the Minister,
''What are yon doing, Gardner?'
Why, said he there is such glory shining
all around me- thought it must be a mistake and
covered my eyes to see if could see it vet: it is
all light and beautiful" (Sensation and loud cries
OF amen, "Glory be to God" &C. On Thurs
day night he came up and said, II have got reli-
gion-l thought it would be good but it is a great
deal better than thought it was" If we live two
weeks from Tomorrow you will hear him talk Of
Jesus himself in the 18th street Church
We forbear further comment on this conversion
| Perhaps some of the seriously minded may think
our allusion TO these matters to SAVIOUR somewhat
ungodly contempt for solemn things 1t is not te
the emotions that startle, or to the conviction:
that guide the individual in such cases that we ex
cept, as every sensible man may perceive But W.
fANNNSN
otherwise, which plucks charity from the retire
ment whence it borrows its chiefest grace-whict
dramatizes the convulsive agonies of humanity in
spiritual warfare, with the struggles or rewards O
which it is not the business of this world to deal
1t may be that purity of heart and amendment o
life are often engendered by aught that arouses {
community from its lethargic indifference to sacred
things. Yet we do submit that to hawk religion
through the street like common ware-to Duff i
through the press like northumberland encourage
an excited competition for its benefits is little kel,
to result in good On the contrary, whatever ad
vantage may apparently result for the time being
from exhibitions such as we have alluded to. the,
will undoubtedly be fearfully counterbalanced il
the future by the number of those who will be cal
lous to all appeals because they have confoundeC
holy things with the unholy expositions of thos
who have so handled rhem. Men will be rathe
shocked than comforted by the familiar way il
which solemn theme has been illustrated by tn
spiritual directors of Ex-Alderman PURDY AMI
LAWFUL GARDNER.