Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-09-03
A Remarkable Conversion.

On the last day of the week of prayer Ba-
silos Agha, an Armenian broker of wealth
and influence, was sitting alone in his Office,
when suddenly as by mighty rushing wind,
he was overwhelmed with sense of his sim
fulness before God He was about thirty
years of age, man of more than ordinary
intelligence, had travelled extensively, and
was imbued with French infdelity. Being
anxious for the elevation of his people, he
retained his connection with the Liberal
party " of the Armenian church, advocating
the sweeping away of old superstitions and
forms, and giving instead of the Bible the
teachings Of Aristotle and other ancient phil
osophers. He made the acquaintance of
pastor Mardaros and his intelligent wife !;
and partly from curiosity and partly from a
desire for increasing his information, some
times sought their home, occasionally at
tending preaching service in the chapel.
But his proud spirit scorned the humbling
doctrines of the cross, and he seemed very
far from the kingdom of Christ. Now, how
ever, the Spirit of God was powerfully striv-
ing with his soul, and closing his office, he
went home. His young wife was alarmed
at his appearance, and supposed he must
have heard bad news from distant relatives.
But to her eager inquiries he answered,
"No, no, it's my sins, my sins" Your
sins !" she scornfully replied, nonsense !"
But the strong man was bowed in anguish,
and when she saw him weep, she was anna
zed. Lifting up his head, he said, /" | wish
you would 90 and call the pastor" AS she
wrapped herself in her veil, she murmured,
" He has lied TO me, and now I'll deceive
him." On her return, when he asked, " Is
he coming 2" she replied, "No. He says he
won't come" Thinking himself forsaken by
man and God, he turned to the long daspised
Bible, and read about the barren fig tree
As he read the sentence pronounced by the
Saviour, ." Let no fruit grow on thee hence
forward forever" he groaned aloud, 81 am
that accursed tree. have never borne any
fruit to the glory of God, and my condemna-
tion is sealed" His agony increased, aud
while he sat there the pastor came in aud
seeing his distress, anxiously inquired the
cause. The agha could not speak, but
pointed TO the fearful words of condemna-
ton, aud they both wept. For week his
sins were set before him in black array, and
he found no peace by night or day until he
finally resolved to serve God whether he
saved him or not. One day when he was
pleading with an Armenian who rejected
the divinity of Christ, light broke in upon
had never before experienced. He was
man of noble and commanding presence,
but now his face glowed with light and
beauty that reminded one of Moses on the
mount.
The news of this wonderful, incompre-
hensibe change that had come over Ba,i-
los Agha created a widespread sensation
through the town. 1t was rumored that he
was going to tell about this new experience,
so strange and unaccountable, to his old
companions, aud on that evening they focked
to the chapel TO hear what he would have TO
say for himsef-men of rank and power,
who had never before entered that place of
worship. From our seats in the corner next
the desk We saw those Turkish aud Arme-
nian grandees sweeping in with an air of
lofty pride and arrogance.
The brethren gave them the seats of honor,
near the front, aud soon the building, which
was capable of accommodating from five
hundred to seven hundred people, was closely
packed. After the opening exercises Basilos
Agha stood below the desk, and in clear tones
and simple language told the story of what
God had done for this miserable sinner"
And then with touching pathos and an elo-
quence which had never heard surpassed,
and of which l did not consider the Arme.
uian language capable, he pleaded with his
countrymen to come TO that Saviour whom
he had so lately found. As in tones trem-
bling with suppressed emotion he dwelt
upon the love which he had found so un-
speakably precious, "sweeter than love Of
father, or love of mother, or love of brother,
or love of sister-this love of Jesus to my
soul,' an electric thrill ran through that
spell-bound audience. One might have
heard the beating of his own heart, and
when with uncovered heads the people had
received the benediction those naughty
aghas stole out as softly as if they had been
in the presence chamber of the Most High
God.-Romance of Missions.