Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-09-24
HOW TO CONVERT MINERS.

HOW TO CONVERT SINNERS.
From earliest childhood, to most Of
us. the old established process Of con-
verting sinners by means of prayer
meetings, reviyals, camp meetings, and
all that sort of thing, have been famil-
lar and recognized as established rules
of accepted faith. Bringing sinners
into the fold thus, with singing, shout
ing, prayerful e%Xhortatlons, and excit-
ing eloquence, was and still is consid-
cred legitimate, eve If not lasting.
The various denominations of Protest
ants have each their peculiar methods
of operation in that respect, all, how
ever, having the same end In view
the attracting Of sinners into the fold
of their church. The Catholics also
have their own peculiar mode of in
ducing new converts into their church,
and are quite as successful In their
conversions. Predominant, and per-
haps most e~ficacious Of the various
modes Of calling or drawing sinners to
repentance is that of fear. The fear
of the wrath to eome-the fear Of hell,
is even considered a more potent agent
than the love of God or hopes Of hea-
ven.
Some one has lately preached a new
theory-a new method-in that res
pect. The idea advanced Is that the
great series of earthquakes and other
commissions, the fearful epidemics and
other devastating influences to which
this great globe we inhabit Is occa-
sionally subject, r simply the conse-
quences Of wrong doing on the part OF
msnkind-the wars, great battles, and
similar destructive sins against Ma
lures God. The argument is that &C.
cording to past history, heavy series Of
earthquakes, great epidemics, and even
| destructive tornadoes and similar con-
vulsive throes Of the earth or disturb
,nces Of the atmosphere, have invarl-
ably followed great battles, as though
both earth and sky were nauseated and
,ickened with the flow of human gore.
For instance, note the frequent dis
turbances in the equanimity Of our
continent during the last half dozen
years since the close Of u bloody
civil war. Holding that theory to be
good, what fearful quakings and retcli-
ings await the sicEening granite foun-
dations of the Vosges and Ardennes
ranges. How Metz, Strasbourg and
Paris have yet to quake and gasp with
in their massive walls, amid convul-
sive throes of mother earth. What
scourges Of black pestilencc, hurri-
canes and similar retributiye punish
mcnt will sweep through the land,
from the fertile valley Of the Rhine to
the vine-clad hills Of France. Could
not this idea Of resulting retribution-
these grand impending calamities fol-
lowing in the track Of mems misdceds,
mans inhuminity to man-be brought
e~ffectually to bear in the conversion of
sinners in case our ministers and spirit
nal heads Of the church would only
avail themselves Of its moral force
properly? Impress the sinner with the
belief that an earthquake will swallow
him, lightning strike him, or 4 tornado
blow him into eternity unless he pallses
and repents in time, forsaklng all
further pursuit of wickedness, and the
effect would he excellent.
Yet, after all, perhaps the more di-
rect and practical way to convert sim
ners, ia to avoid all theoretical follics,
and appeal practically to their reason,
conscience, and power Of perception
between right aud wrong. Very few
are able to realize the beauties Of hea-
ven or the torments of hell without
sctual experience, and men are too apt
to consider the matter in n practical
light, persistinS in their sinful worldly
ways despite all ministerial teachings,
md take chances on the, to them,
dubious and distant hereafter. Teach
men to be good for the sake Of being
good, the appreciation of their own
conciences and the coveted approval
Of their fellow men, and not from fear
of underlined or indefinite punishment
here or hereafter.