Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-07-18
Religion versus Love.

A little more than four years ago a
gentlemen, then about twenty three years
Of age, fell in love with young lady,
aged about nineteen, of Port Jervis, N.
Y. She returned his affection, and for
time all went along smoothly. The
lady was daughter Of pious parents.
and although she was not connected with
any church, was firm believer in their
tenets, and looked with feeling akin to
horror on anything approaching skepti-
cism or doubt. But the time came when
she learned that her lover was deist
that he disbclieved in revealed religion,
had no veneration for tho Bible, and
took no interest in churches, seldom or
never attending them save as her escort.
She was deeply panied by the revelation.
She sent for her lover and cndeavored TO
convince him of his error, but no was
not satisfied with her arguments, and re-
fused to accede to surrender Of his
principles. The more the lady pondered
the more her duty seemed clear to her,
and she finally decided to rcnounce her
love. She accordingly wrote him long
and ar-stained letter bidding him good
bye forever. The gentleman again and
again urged her to reconsider her deter
mination, but she was obdurate, and a
separation took place. Ilc was deeply
grieved, but although he was, as he
thought, badly used, felt that she had
acted up to what her convictions Of right
demanded. He could not ns easily di-
vest himself of his love, and after few
months he left the village and engaged
in business elsewhere The lady mourn
cd, but tried to satisfy herself that she
had acted correctly. Two years made her
more liberal than she had been, and she
began to study on the subject. The
more she read the more she distrustcd her
former decision, and she finally became
quite as liberal as the lover she had dis.
cardcd. Whether the logic Of tho books
she read or the promptings Of tho ole
love had most to do with this change i
would be hard to tell. The lover, too
. had undergone change. The fact tina
his creed had cost him his sweethcar
'e annoyed him, and, struggle as he would
he could not Danish her from his memory
. Last winter a revival Of religion tool
place in the city in which he was en-
= gagged in business. At the solicitation
: Of friend he was induced to attend. A
in the other case, 1t would be hard I
:, tell whether the change was brougl
!. about by the argument Of the preacher
" by the excitement which prevailed, Q
u by the memory Of his old love. Sufdc
u it TO say that he united with the churc
- and in a short time became n zealou
% member. He thought over the actio
of his former sweetheart in discardin
him for his infdclity, and wrote her
70 brief note asking the privilege Of on,
.. more calling on her. She responded
re the affirmative. The gentleman cam
re and when she timidly apologized for b
nc previous dismissal Of him, he, to her 81
nc prise, defended her conduct, said she b;
NJ been in the right. and in her place
a as would to-day do the same. Her hea
o' sank at these words. She confessed Z
-. ne great change in her sentiments; frt
'n being firm believer in the Bible, 8
~ had discarded it, and with it her bel
-, in any revealed religion. II was n
,ar the gentlcman's turn to he Mortified.
"a la' pleaded with her, urged everything
~. could think of to induce her to chan
as her mind. She could not, and told b
''o SO. He felt that he must not be ~
ios equally yokcd with an unbclicvcr," al
n . taking counsel of his religion, gave