Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-19
Hauled up on Deck.

lie had been overheard for a long, long
time, and was nearly drowned. A single
glass of wine at "genteel party carried
him to the edge, and the next glass sent
him over into tipping. Soon he was out in
the open sea Of drunkenness, the pillows
going over him " like mad" Many respect
able people had seen him drifting along,
and merely lifted up their lazy hands in
pity, and droued out, Poor fellow what
wreck he has made of himself ~ Some
pointed him out rs a warning. Not one of
them stirred ~ finger TO save him. The
poison-sellers sold him all the grog he could
pay for, and calculated how long his empty.
ing purse and broken constitution would
last for them TO prey upon.
At length good woman espicd him iioat-
ing in the great deep of incipient damnaiion.
lie was n perfect stranger 10 her, hnt She
threw out small float for him to lay
hold of. 1t was in the shape of a friendly
invitation TO come 10 a prayer-meetng for
hard drinkers" lie grasped hold OF the
offer and came The spirit of God met him
at that meeting, gave him grace to sign a
pledge of abstinence and strength to keep it,.
lie is a converted man to-day, with clean
face, d clean shirt clean breath clean
home, and a clean conscience. Hauled up
ON deck by that noble woman's hand, he is
now helping to throw out life-preservers for
other tippers who are bulleiing with the
pillows OF drunkenness.
Dropping all metaphor, this is the VERT
able history of one Of the most interesting
converts TO sobriety whom | have had the
pleasure of welcoming TO the Lords table
for long time. Some others, saved 10y per-
sonal effort, sat down with him at that table
of redeemng love last Sabbath. Not drop
of intoxicating wine was set before them ut
that board where Jesus met His disciples
only the pure juice of the grape was offered
as a token of the pure love that shed it,
blood for our redemption.
Now. why cannot others 60 and do likewise
That woman was one of group Of Chris
tian workers in this city who not only pity
the slaves of strong drink, but throw out /.
rope Of rescue TO them. Brother Moody die
the same thing in the llippodrome. DIR
Reynolds and his noble co-workers are do
ing il in Massachusetts. IL is the one only
thing that can be done 10 save the drowning
multitudes that are soon to be beyond tn,
reach Of help. have made you fishers Of
men," said Jesus Christ TO His first fol
lowers. No fishing "pays better than fo
those who have gone overheard through temp
tation. The most hopeful cases are thos,
| who have not drank 50 long as to weaker
their capacity to hold ON. Suppose tina
some do slip overheard again so do many
church-mrmbers relapse into former sins
Is that any reason for giving up preaching
praying, and laboring for the conversion o
sinners Rum-drinkers are simply sinner
to I've saved, like other sinners, by Cod
word, and converting grace, and by Cod
blessing on human effort for them. llapp,
is that church which has n deck-load OF res
cued sinners.
One more good effort have been obser,
ing lately. In the room where pen thes
hurried words, "a Band OF Hope, composed o
fifty boys and girls, hold their meetings.
young lady organized the movement an
manages it. Those youngsters are not likel
to fall overheard, for they have been laugh
the danger and how to avoid it. After a
our conventions and legislation aud enact
ment Of resolutions and platforms, we hay
got TO save our felow-creatnres one by on,
and that by personal effort in the strengt
of God'