The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-29
A Gambler Converted.


II having been announced that Mud.
day, the circus rider and "ihree. earn
monte man," who has been converted and
joined the Baptist church, would relate
his experience in James's Hall last even
ing, some two hundred and fifty Of the
fastest young men OF the city assembled
to hear him. Munday was accompanied
to the stage by DR.. A. T. Spaldipg and
Mr.. John Mcclure. After prayer by
Mr.. Mcclure and short Introductory
address by DR.. SpaldiDg, Mr.. Munday
addressed the audience for half an hour
on the subject Of his Christian experience.
He said, iu substance
II had praying father aud mother
My mother, when | was but boy, used
TO often take me by her knee, aud talk to
me Of Heaven and of Jesus, and read the
bible to me, but needed her but little,
and when between sixteen and seventeen
years of age | ran away from my parents
and ventured upon the life that have led
until within the last few days | went
first to Dadevile, Va, but soon left there
and joined theatre troupe, with which |
staid for some time. But even the re-
straints Of an actor in theatre were too
great for me, and left the troupe and
joined the circus. | came to this city
with the circus and rode in it here, and
while here | spent day in a gambling
house. Il was all this time addicted 10
gambling,) l went with the circus to
various cities, and left the one | was with
and joined another, which also afterward
left. | left this second circus at Chatta-
nooga. | went from there to Nashville,
where staid for long time and while
there, Of course, frequented and spent
very much time in gambling houses, as |
had always done in the worst Of places.
The lowest sinks of sin and vice were my
daily places ofresort. From Nashville |
wandered off through the country, getting
my living-well, just as could-from
time to time, and from place to place ;
the constant inmate of gambling houses,
often l,onk, aud aluays with my mouth
and heart filled with oaths and basphemy
IL came to Atlanta last March, and
spent my time while here gambling. |
was at your gambling houses in this city.
From here l found my way to Norcross,
and while there engaged to work few
days. While at work one day Mr., Fack.
Ter, the'preacher, who was spending some
time in town preaching, passed by and
asked me if | was Christian. | told
him | was not. He told me of Jesus, and
talking few minutes about religion,
gave me tract, and asking NE to come
to church, left me- | laughed at him,
and cursed MIN and cursed the little tract
he had left and laughed at that. But,
after all, concluded to 60 to church that
night, and | went l heard him preach /;
and oh, when | came away | could not
get over it nor shake off the impressions
on my mind. was not satisfied; | was
unhappy and could not get rid of it; |
went again--and again and once while
he was preaching | got up and left the
house, resolved usver to go in n church
again.
81 went to the hotel and then cursed
Mr.. Fackler and his sermon, and said |
never would 60 near him again or be an.
noyed by his sermons. But was in
trouble, and could not be at peace, and |
went to church again the next night ; and
while there | was filled with sorrow for
my sins and wanted to be a Christian
and when the service was over went to
Mr., Fackler and gave him my hand. |
could not speak, for my voice was choked
with the sorrow that filled my soul, That
man Of God took me by the hand and
spoke kindly to me, and asked who was
and prayed with me. A day or two
afterward l was riding through the
country with one who had been almost as
bad as |, and who had recently professed
conversion. He had been like me q
gambler, but as we rode along he talked
to me Of Jesus and the forgiveness OIL
sins. Oh my friends, that gambler
talked to me of salvation through Christ
And he turned aside in the woods with
me, and in the solitude Of that place WI
knelt together and prayed. | was thcr
willing to pray anywhere. land for any
body to pray for me. We both prayed
long and earnestly, and when left there
| felt better-my heart was lighter ant
more at peace.
Returning TO town talked TO Mr.
Fackler. lie said he hoped was already
converted to God, but l could not foe
that was. That night after the sermon
he asked those who desired the prayers o
Gods people to come forward and sit oil
the front bench. +! went, and while ther,
| saw that God had forgiven me, tina
Jesus had taken me. My joy was full
| shouted the praise Of God and M
Saviour. Oh | was new man NJ,
heart was changed. And oh | though
of mJ poor sainted mother. whose prayer
were just then being heard, and who ha,
long since gone to that heaven where sh
had urged me to follow.
"Oh, my fellow sinners-my fellow
gamblers-lor | see familiar faces in thi
house, urge you to follow me. an
going with Jesus. IF you knew the hap
piness | feel in following Him, you woul,
come to Him. have been twice shot q
the gaming table, but God has preserve,
my life, to be, as | trust, His servant an,
a disciple Of Jesus. am willing I
speak for Christ anywhere. and, if nee
be, to bear persecution for Him. | be
you all to follow Him with me"
After brief prayer by DR.. Spalding
the crowd disperse, much impressed b
the ddress.-Atlanta (Ga.) Ne'cS.