The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-05-04
@Sgh Gtmplars Column.
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STORY OF THE BOTTLE.

II Its details could DC WftSon, WINS ~
nish a richer fund of incident than all the
works of fiction ever Published. The
many wonderful revolutions wrought in
the family circle, the sudden changes
from unmingled Indebtedness TO unalloy-
ed happiness, from death TO life, from the
bondage of sin, to the liberty Of the sons
of God, would ill volumes. The cere-
ments of the tomb have been unsealed
and intemperance has given up the dead.
Who has not seen the poor incbriate
trembling upon the giddy verge Of a
drunkard's hell, taken from his perilous
condition, his feet planted on the rock of
ages, and new song put into his mouth
even praise TO God.
The writer has witnessed many scenes
that would have awakened in the most
unfeeling bosom, undying sympathies for
this Heaven-sent reform. The evidences
that God is its author and friend are nu-
merous and convincing. Nothing but
that spirit that called Lazarus from the
tomb, could re-animate the whisky-rotted
carcass Of an outcast drunkard. Man
may "roll away the stone" but divine en-
ergy must call the dead TO life.
The incident the writer impcrfectly
attempts 10 sketch, occurred in one Of the
cities Of the West, during that period
when the whole community were excited
by the Washingtonian movement;
movement which arrested thousands, and
tens Of thousands, who were on their way
10 the second death, who arc now ripen-
ing for glory, honor, Immortality, and eter-
nal life; movement which has filed
many desolate homes and hearts with
thanksgiving and the voice Of melody.
For nearly week 1 had been laboriug
day and night in the place referred 10,
the houses were crowded TO OVERLOOKING,
and near two thousand had taken the
pledge. The lifting up the "brazcn ser
pent in the wilderness" in the days of
old, was not more potent TO heal those
who had beon bitten, than was the pledge
on this occasion to extract the scorpions
sting.
"The blind received their sight, the
lame walked, the lcpers were cleansed."
1t was indeed Pentecostal season.
Our last appointment was at eight o.
clock in the morning, and the interest con-
timing undated, at that early hour the
spacious sanctuary was filled. had
been speaking but few moments when
/ observed poor drunkard seated on the
Threshold Of the door near the place
occupied. Doubtless for the first time in
many long years, he had approached the
Lords house. He had been worshippine
at different shrine. His bloated face,
bloodshed eyes, trembling limbs and rag
ged garments, attested how his devotions
had been rewarded. These outward cx-
hibitions were but the signals of dis
tress hung out by the soul, the evidences
Of the utter desolations of the inner man.
Like others who have faithfully served the
same cruel and memorable tyrant, he had
suffered prosecutions, stripes and impris-
onments, his name was cast out as evil,
and his family and friends were filed with
loathing and disgust at his presence. All
hope of bis renouncing bis allegiance had
long since fled. The poor-house, the
prison, and the moro cherries hovel, had
been alternately his abiding place. He
had drank the cup Of bitterness to its
very dregs; there was nothing left to him
Of life but tho power TO suffer, and he had
experienced all of death but the quiet of
the grave. Such was the wreck Of what
once was the image of God, now marod
and defaced, that had found his way TO
the door-stonc of the sanctuary.
A little boy occupying position near
the inebriated wretch, discovered protrud-
ing from the pocket Of his tattered coat,
small green flask partly filed with whis-
ky. The roguisa little fellow watching
his opportunity, slyly possessed himself
of the bottle and placed it in the pulpit.
L held it up before the audience, and in
CURED who was benefited LIZ the manu-
facture or traffic Of the accursod poison
They all recognized the owner of tho
bottle without knowing how il had found
eto - Al