Daily Republican., 1879-12-30
PRIzE.FIsHTER's CONVERSION
Am Incident Told by Rev. Adam
stengie I'm HIS sermon ON Sunday
nOrntuK ai UniOn n. II. Church.

hSrntDK 81 UniOn n. II. Church.
Only a short time ago it was announ-
ced that Dan. Rice the great Snowman
had been converted under the preaching
OF Mr.. Moody in st. Louis, but that re-
port has been contradicted aud now
IL appears that Dan. is not converted at
all and has not had any notion of be-
ing converted for some years past at
least. This brings to mind an incident
related by Rev. Adam Stengle in his
sermon at the Union NJ. L. church last
sunday morning. 1t appears that con-
siderable revival of the "only believe
and be baptised" persuasion Of people
In neighboring church was in progress
wien the preacher in fluent language
showed how easy it was only to believe,
but then that would not be Sufficient to
save the soul. "You must bs bap-
tized," says the preacher, and follow
ing was an invitation for those who were
willing to be saved upon these easy
terms to stand mp. Accepting the in
vitation a noted gambler and prize
fighter, the terror and curse Of the
neigh borhood, stood up. Every body
was astonished, The preacher himself
was astonished. Why, this is the no.
ted pugilisi, the gambler, the worst
man in the neighborhood.
"Do you accept salvation on these
terms : said the preacher.
GJ ro - said tha nr,,,, III A.,
"Do you believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ z"
"0h, yes indeed, always did"
''Doyou believe the BibleY ?"
"Oh, yes" --
"Do you believe that Christ was born
of virgin'"
"0h, yes indeed"
THAT he was crucifsd :"
eyes"
"That he was burisd !''
eyes"
"Tbat he rose again ?"
"Yes."
"That he now lives in Heaven in
terceding for your ?"
ayes, | believe it all"
"But this Is not sufficient"
"Well what else must do!'
"You must be baptized"
"Will that save Inc 7"
"Yes, l think tina. is all that is need
ed"
"You are certain there's no mistake
about that !'
"No, l think that will do"
"Oh, there must be some mistake
about it. am an awful bad man.
have terribly wicked heart. Why am
a prizs fighter and a gambler. Oh, you
have no idea how wicked l am. But do
you say that on being baptized all this
wickedness will be- taken out of my
heart ?"
"Yes, think you are a fit subject for
baptism"
"Will you baptizs me?"
eyes, will baptize you."
"Now Mr.. Preacher you are sure
there is no mistake about this, for |
have an awful wicked heart"
ooh, 10 there is no mistake, for don't t
the Bible say: Believe and be baptized
and you shall be saved p"
The time was set 10 repair to the river
to be baptized, and when it arrived the
prizs fighter ~as on hand, and thou
sands of people locked to the river to
see the sight.
Fully prepared the minister and the
gambler walked out into the stream un-
til the deep water was reached when
looking into the minister's face the gam
bier said:
"Now look here Mr.. Preacher, you
are sure there is no mistake about this
are you"
"Oh no, there is no mistake"
"And this will take all the wicked
ness cut Of my heart will l., for have
an awful wicked heart"
F"The bible says believe and be bap-
tizsd and you shall be saved"
There must be something more necss-
sary, for you don't know how bad l
have been. have nevec taken more
pleasure in any thing ip my life than
to knock a man down, and If the wick
edness is not all gone out OF my heart
when come out Of the water, the first
thing shall do will be to nit you right
between the eyes,
The minister said he guessed he was
not fit subject for baptism, and not
wishing to measure conclusions with a
trained pugilist in the water he has
tened ashore as fast as possible to the
1af n Ii