The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-05-08
New Haven Letter 10 New York sun.
An EmnhatIc Call.

New Haven Letter 10 New York sun.
An Emphatic Call.
/ Perhaps one OF the most remgrka-
bic cases of halluCinatiOn tor, if Z
more dignifed name should be ap-
piled to it, religious c0nyicJiUn1 eveI
/ recorded has come 20 light in this
city.
/ Nearly everybody doing business in
Chapel street has seen the subject OF
this letter. He is 4 man OF about 25.
l sprightly and energetic in his move
ments, and highly esteemed. He has
( been employed for some years in q
well-knOwn carpet store. BE was So
Der, industrious and frugal, and 3 good
salesman. He married \ few years
/ ago, and has one pretty little gici Of /
years In the spring of last year He
bought a house, the payments on
I which he has regularly met, and alto
| gether he was regarded as a young
man Of ability and good promise.
Husband and wife are COMMITMENTS
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and exemplary members Of society,
and until recently had pursued the
even tenor of the way of ordinary cit
iZens- Some months ago a change
came over him. He became Impress
ed with the notion that he was called
to preach the Gospel.
For time he doubted the correct
ness or, SO to speak, the authenticity
of the revelation, and struggled
against it. He knew in his heart, as
did those wi.O knew him, that he was
an upright man, and he was afraid
that the call might be based upon
some mistaken and incOherent state
oftnind which would show him, after
| he had taken on the preachers gar
ments, that after all, he had mistak-
en- his ealing. and that he was not
ministeTihg To- the wants eta cOngTe-
CATION. So, not from any feeling of
antagOnism to his Maker, but humbly
/ doubling whether he could as q
preacher best serve Him, he resisted
| the encroachments of the Spirit. But
the unseen force crept over him with
| increasing power, and in that proper
tion which it asserted sway over his
mind his physical powers gave Tay'iH
the strife.
At last he fitted up little room en-
one of the upper floors Of the store,
and there he frequently retired 10
pray. While the streets were crowd
ed, and the store busy with trade, this
struggling man, who was wrestling
with the Lord, went away from the
bustie, and bowed himself in prayer
alone and unknown to the money
getters of the city. These prayers al
ways left him comparatively prostrat-
ed, and at length, the new power
gaining on him, he decided to give up
his business and begin under Him
whom he considered his new Master.
He laid the case before his employer,
and told him that he had made Up his
mind to begin studying for the minis
try. He recited his trials, his pray
ers, and attempts to learn what was
right, and thought that this duty was
plain.
His employer, who is an exemplary
church member, and likewise = man
of business, asked him to stay through
the spring trade. This he consented
to do. But from that time his mental
troubles increased. On one occasion
he was terribly affected. He went to
the little prayer.rOCm which he had
fitted up and prayed fervently and
lOuSs EAlLIA - laAAAC AC aGCAA1Ch " AO9(
all strength, and could neither speak
nor move. He was needed in the
store, and those who sought him
called his name aloud many times.
He heard every call, but was power
less to answer, until finally his
strength in a measure returned, when
he went down stairs and appeared to
his wondering associates.
When he reached home that night
his wife thought he looked more hag-
gard and depressed than usual, but at
tributed it to a severe cold which he
had taken, and after she had admins
tered a dose of hot lemonade they re-
tired. Repeatedly in the night the
wife awoke to find her husband about
getting out of bed. An unusual ex-
preston was on his face, and his wife
gently pushed him back, telling him
he must not get up, as he would take
more cold. After several such en-
counters she again awoke at midnight
to find him again attempting to arise.
A more than usually wild expression
was ON his and when the
wife demonstrated, he cried:
"WaterI Water! Water! Light
Light ~ in a strange, wild tone, which
struck terror to his companions
heart.
She sprang from the bed, lighted
the gas, and turned TO her husband.
What met her eyes was more hOrrify-
ing than the sounds she had heard.
Her husband sat in bed, his body
drawn up and cOntOrted, his DlOuth
out of shape, and his eyes rolled back
until their whites only were visible.
The body was rigid and mOtiOnless.
"He is dying" thought the wife, aud
she screamed for help.
A man and wife who occupied the
upper floor heard the cries, and
thought that one of their neighbOrs
was seized with the nightmare. The
screams continuing, they rushed
down stairs to see what caused the
commotiOn. Hurrying into the room
they saw the terrOr-stricKen wife and
almost petrified husband. The spec
taele OverpOwered the woman, who
fell to the floor fainting, adding new
complication to the situation. When
he had properly disposed Of her, the
husband ran for a physician, who, on
viewing the man, said that he was
suffering under sOlt Of paralytic
stroke.
The man has recovered, resigned
his situation, offered his home for
sale, and begun his studies. When
he had become well enough to tell his
wife of his trials, how he had felt, and
what he had done, she astOnished him
by telling him that she, too, had a
similar experience. She, like him,
had been admOnished of his duty. She
struggled and prayed against it, for
she found it hard to reconcile her
thoughts to giving up their pleasant
home and prospects for the trial and
poverty, for time at least, Of theO-
logical student and minister's wIe.
But now she, like her husband, has
cheerfully given herself to the service
of the Lord, and all who know them
wish them God speed in their chosen
work.
Lucy.
"Mr. Editor, I heard q young gen.
tleman friend of mine speaking on
spree. l asked him what he meant
~ n iEspraa -