New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-07

The Christians at Utica sent teegraphic dispatch
II was of congratuaon and suitable answer was
returned :,
! No man could look on that thronged audience
crowded interested, weepns-see the noble famlnes
represented the mercantile and commercai taen,-
leading men at the Bar, the Bench, in the Banks
on Change-and not feel that the moral and regious
power of our city is immense. The talent wealth So
cia position and power Of the Evangelical Churcn II
sufficient TO move the world from this standpoint OF our
metropolis.
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS.
No man was better known in New-York than Or'ile
Gardner the prize.fghter and trainer OF pugiliss'
While the revival was IN progress he was stopping In
the vicinity of NewYork. where his brother was re-
Gently converted and where he himself was led to con
slider the subject of religion. Some weeks ago. AT iorI
Chester, he attended an inquiry meeting held in a
Methodist Church and to the surprise and pleasure OF
the better class of his friends requested the prayers of
the CONGREGATIONAL request which. three different
occasions he repeated. Having some unimportant
business to do in this city, friend asked him II ne
wOuld Jump into the cars and 20 down and attend to
Iitr lie replied, u have more important business te
attend to first and shall not go 10 the city till II Is
done" He had then uuder his training three men for
prize-fgh On being aske if be would give them fur
Their lessons he replied that be woud 20 TO them soon
but different errand from that OF boxing and train
ing and that he wond try TO persuade them TO give mp
their fighting, to reform their character and to en-
brace religion.
y
with some person in Hoboken. upon whom he commit
ted assault and battery. for which offeDse he was
arrested and held TO bail In order to secure friend
who went his security from any possible loss his
count be placed in his hands money and several
orders, amounting in all to what deemed sufficient
10 all demands With this, his friend was author
lied TO affect settlement Of the matter. but failing to
collect the amount of the orders and the cash proving
insufficient the went TO trial. which resulted in Il
fine and costs amounting 20 Sl55. In the meantime
Gardner had gone TO East Port Chester, Conn, on
brother subsequently,
rested.
The story Of his conversion is thus narrated:
A Christian who had been laboring with him said
Now Mr.. Gardner don't you feel as II you ought TO
he asked why don't you do sot" well said Gard.
ner, l can't begin now" why not +" "Ihave
some matters in New York to settle up first :" All
your Maker first" well" said Gardner, - / am go.
ing TO the city 10 morning. and when return
will seek salvation" Well. in the morning be had
his carpebag ready TO start, but, said he II guess
will wait until tomorrow morning" and so he kept on
putting IL off until tomorrow for week The Spirit
of God had kept him there On Friday night he went
to the meeting, and while he there the minister
TO come forward and seek salvation I" We'll" said
be, If felt like that man would referring TO a
man who showed his desire 10 be saved but was not
yet converted. All" said brother Gilbert. "yonr
case is critical than his" DO you think 30
said he. Yes you know your duty and wil not DO
it, Gardner went home that night. 81 don't like the
remark the minister made said he land 1 won't stay
If nc thinks I'm in that condition" His wife said he
didn't sleep that night. He twisted and rolled about
as If in great distress. lie again put OFF going 10 the
city. He said to another friend II am not satisfied
with the life have led. am going by the grace OF
God to change my course am gong TO Try aud be
different man. On Wednesday he came forward and
knet down. but be didn't ret converted then He didn't
get converted the next day. and in the meantime the
rum holes had begun TO pour out the sinful men who
had known him, and they came and filled the gallery
saying. Lets see what's going on" But be didn't
finch. He kne at the altar, bn again he was not con-
lverted He sais TO the minister, What does thu
mean 4" An" said the minister, "God means e
give you such a struggle that you will forget it,
He means to you means Of converting others.
On Monday afternoon they got him in private house.
gathered about the house. "What Is that = said thoy
Its Gardner praying, for mercy" That was good,
make some here pray. On Monday night he went again
TO the altar On Tuesday no said %. have got 10 TO
White Plains and friend said, " will go with you,
and he put mp bis horse and they left together They
talked without knowing where they going un.
I'll he hauled the horse upon one side OF the road and
shouted Hallenjah!" All at once the devil came to
him and said, What are you doing f-praisiDg God
a man az wicked az yon have tecn-yon have made a
mistake Gardner said. He thought he had mode a
mistake, but he came to the church and while kneel
ing the clouds began TO dispe and bright night sur
rounded him. Soon he took his handkerchief and GOV
cred his eyes Said the minister. What are you do
ing Gardner" Why. said he there is such glory
shining all around me; thOughtit must DO mistake,
and / covered my eyes TO see II conld see II yet.
{" How is il . said he. An light and beautiful said
he great sensation. and loud cries OF Amen Hiory
to God" &cl land darkness has been succeeded by
the light and JOY OF Christ" On Thursday night he
came up and said II have got religion. thought u
would be good, but it il great deal better than
thought II was'
A member Of the New York bar was an infdel He had
long been known to the Missionary Of the North Dutch
Church who admired his abilities and his fine social
traits. and had often tried to do him good The first
time they personally met about ten years ago,
NJ. nj IA Ia Mt tree far
gone in nemperance boaed, soiled, ragged, unfit to
appear in decent society," lie ascertained his lodging
place and promised to call on him. did So but could
not find him. He repeated the attempt frequently and
at last succeeded on a Lords.day in finding him.
He attended church and the services affected him
deeply especially the singing. which revived many old
associations.
After service the lawyer held out his hand to his
friend, as he now regarded him to say Good night"
but his friend insisted on taking him home with him.
and at last won his consent.
he was convicted Of sin-he became at once u
changed man-he abandoned his cups-he became a
man of prayer and in the great congregation he could
arise and say 81 kaoy that my Redeemer lives, for
whose sake God has pordonsd me, and rejoice every
day in believing that here and hereafter shall be
happy that it may be So my constant prayer to God
sba ascend for grace and the aid Of His Holy Spirit"
For eight years he has witnessed good confession.
In the early part Of the month Of August a was
seen walking back and forth the sidewalk in front
of the North Dutch Church while the prayer meeting
was going on. He was dressed in the very painest
attire with pea jacket hanging on his arm His
tenance bore the very legbe characteristics ola hard
case" After walking for some time he paused, and
coming up the steps to the second story lectureroom
said to the lay Missionary at the door whose daily
II ia 10 see that those who come get comfortable