The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-06

q have been much interested in lis
tening to a converted actor, Mr., s.,
who has been preaching in the church,
Sabbath before last he gave us an account
of the circumstances which led to his con.
version. He took for his text these
words, 'Ye have sinned against the Lord
your God, and be sure your sins will find
you out. Nun. Xxi: %.
He said he was at one time the mana
ger of theatre in one of the midland
counties in England. Those of this pro-
fession are obliged 90 work very bard,
studying day anu hight. When, there
fore, the Sabbath comes, it is usual for
!. .,hew-ta snell out beyond ;be precincts
of cities and towns, TO breathe fresh air,
and TO rest their eyes upon green fields,
and trees in nature quiet spots. The
first time he ever heard the words of his
text, Was on ole of these occasions, when,
with brother-actor and intimate friend,
they walked out on a Sabbath morning
This friend was highly gifted person,
full of enthusiasm, and wl,hal an artist.
They had wandered couple of ui es
into the country, when they came upon
a little church-One of those quantity
gothic stone churches, halEcovered with
ivy, seen only in England. His com
panion's artistic eye was struck with it,
and he said, Suppose we go in
The church had solemn, sombre air,
scarcely relieved by reflections of light
and color from the stained glass of the
windows. An aged minister was just
about beginning his sermon, and though
he seemed tremulous with age, the tones
of his voice were firm and clear, as he
pronounced the words of the text, 'Ye
have sinned against the Lord your God;
and be sure your sins viii find you out.
The words shot like lightning through
his heart; he thought, surely these peo-
pie who have sat under the ministry of
this good man so long, do not need such
a sermon; it must be for us young re
probates; and he took every word as if
intended for him alone. After the ser,
vice was over, he asked his companion
how he liked the sermon. oh said
he, "a fine style, l advise you to initiate
it.! Mr.. s., disappointed that his
friends feelings were not in unison with
his own, said nothing more.
His friend was much struck with the
beauty of some design on the stained glass
behind the communion-table, and went to
the old church again few days after
ward, for the purpose of sketching it off,
in order to transfer it TO some stage
scenery. One Of the old towers of the
church was undergoing repairs; he stood
near it, as the best point of view. While
thus engaged in his work, stone fell
from above upon his head, crushing it
and leaving him mapgled corpse upon
the spot. Never, said the preacher,
could he forget the horror of that sight,
and while he stood gazing upon the reek
ing remains Of his friend, he seemed to
hear again the fearful words that had
fastened themselves upon his soul: 'Ye
have sinned agains, the Lord your God,
and be sure your sins will find you out.
He left the church resolved never again
to enter another, and he did not, fOr
years, carefully avoiding every person
whom he thought likely to speak at all
TO him on serious subjects, lest he should
hear the dreaded words. 1t seemed as
if the whole Bible was made up of just
that sentence alone.
A short time afterwards an actor of
eminence-One whose name, he said, We
should recognize at once if mentioned,
though the Atlantic rolls between US and
his grave-a prey to consumption, was
to act tragedy, which ended in death
scene. He performed his part to the
satisfaction of the spectators, and when
he fell in moekery of death, it was so
real, that it brought down thunders of
applause, as the curtain fell. Little did
the delighted audience dream of the
scene that was taking place behind that
curtain. His companions seeing he did
not rise at once, went to him, and two
little streaks of blood from either corner
of his mouth told the whole. He was
not dead however, but fingered several
days. When he asked his physician if
there was any hope for him, and was
answered by solemn shake of the head,
a terrible despair settled on his counte
nance. and he exclaimed,
ooh Doctor
Canst thou not minister TO a mind diseased;
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow;
Raze out the written troubles of the BRAIN
And, with some sweet obliviOus autidote,
Cleanse the stuff bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart|
They were only the words of play,
but they were fearful words of solemn
import then. Graspiug Mr.. SIS wrist,
he cried out, "Oh s., the theatre
may do for US to bve by, but OH it will
not do to die by: we have all sinned