The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-05-11
RELIGIOUs coz VIZ.
REV. G. NJ. HEARD, Editor.
Crown Jewels from the Sewers.


At the National Camp-M Getting, held
at Oakington, IN the summer OF las
year, a iey Christians met in a tent fol
prayer. The subject which brought
them together was the uDsaved coudi
ton OF twJ notable individuals living ir
two different cities, and far away iron
| these who we're met in secret council tc
plead for their immediate salvation. In
the patience of faith, they waited on the
Lord, and in long aud earnest supplica
tion laid their cause before the grea,
Judge.
Two onths or more had rolled away
when the confidently expected answer
appeared. But how opposite the re-
suits! One Of the subjects of their
pleadipgs, who had lived to old age, be-
came hardened in opposition to Christi
auity, openly expressing his aversion,
and that in the most contemptuous
spirit and manner. This man, being
one evening in the parlor Of his man
sion, suddenly felt arrested by an un-
seen power, which forced upon his mind
the dreadful conviction that so long as
he continued to reject the Lord Jesus
Christ, so long was he exposed to the
indignation and wrath of the Almighty
God. And this conviction came while
listening to a Christian who with sweet
voice was singing songs cf Zion. The
stubborn heart aud silvered head bowed
low under the power of the almighty
Conqueror; and in the set-same night
he rose new man, washed in the blood
which c.eauses the soul, happy in the
divine love which for so long years be
had rejected. Since that eventful honr
this "wonder of grace" has continued
faithful witness of Christ-his house a
house of prayer, and all his ways testl-
flying to the genuineness of the remar-
kable change.
But what of the other? He was
noted character in the Fourth Ward,
welding powerful influence among all
classes, especially in political affairs.
Quiet and reserved as to his general
bearing, this man carried with him a
heart and will that were equal to any
work of darkness and blood Forty
years of life among the "wild beasts"
Of human kind bad so wrought upon
his physical nature that his looks could
almost induce belief in the possibility
Of the translni grafton of the soul of an
animal into tie body of a man.
Nevertheless, even for this being
Jesus Christ died; and earnest prayer
brought conviction Of sin, to enlighten
and alarm his conscience. His convic-
tion was as sudden and marked as was
that of the first case. 1t was in August
of last year, on Sabbath afternoon,
during a sermon preached in one of the
streets Of the Fourth Ward, by min
lister engaged in street preaching, while
this man stood carelessly listening, an
arrow shot into his heart, so quick and
sharp he suddenly turned and fed from
the spot But he could not run away
from God or conscience. His pain Of
mind was apparent to his companions in
sin, who could not, however, appreciate
the cause Of his strange conduct. Now
came the struggle between Gods Spirit
and this mans will. Conscience, sud
denly awakened, cried out against him,
and pleaded for the truth. But with
horrid oaths he resisted his Maker, and
fought with desperation against the con
victions under which he labored And
the wicked man conquered.
The impressions never came again.
Four months aiterTthe above event he
was struck with death while at the bar
of his "gin-mill," and after remaining
senseless for few days, unable to be
moved from the spot where the angel
smote him, he died as the brute dieth,
surrounded by dogs and abandonded
characters.