Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-03
A s.crv of Religious Conversion.

pr-sI,, l. ian .lul.I. "a different oa-,rt-ior
who viii assemble in Philadelphia this
week, says the Evangelist, few will at
tract more attention than the young and
eloquent French preacher, Eugene
Reveillaud He is just 80, Of Catholic
parentage. by whom he was originally
intended for the priesthood The priest
" education was irksome and dlstastful
TO the young Frenchman, and he He'd the
seminary ard subsequently entered a
Paris university. After tho Prussan war
he became republican journalist and
made & brilliant reputation. While loca-
ted at Troves. Reveillaud came in contact
with u. Berthe, a Protestant pastor,
through whom he became intellectually
convinced OF the truth of his religion.
The story of Reveillauds subsequent
conversion is thus graphically related by
pastor Berthe:
Sunday, the 14th inst. July, 1879. at
our midday worship, l had preached upon
The Vision of Stephen. In closing, |
urged nv hearers to allow the voice OF
conscience to speak more loudly than
that Of fear. or than any opinion of
authority Of men; to initiate the courage,
the faith, the fidelity of Stephen in bear
ing testimony to Jesus Christ. | held III
my haud the Book Of Songs, and was
about to give out the hymn
..venez an Prince de la vie.
Pechcurs, veneZ a Jesus Christ,
when ! heard step upon the pulpit
stairs. / quickly turned, and at once
recognized the young man who approach
cd me, and who, perceived, desired to
speak. VIII YOU allow me" he said,
To "a
Spirit? q | gave him permission, and be-
fore the communion table at the foot of
the pulpit stairs he expressed himself in
these terms;
too. nv brethren, wish to bear wit
ness to the Holy Spirit, and to proclaim
with our pastor that there is n world of
the invisible and supernatural which our
senses do rot reveal to us, but which the
vision of faith and grace from on high
enable us to know. God is great, and
nothing is impossible to his omnipotence.
Who are we that dare to put limits to his
power, or contest with him the right to
perform miracles within us and without
us? 4 miracle Is 1t not miracle the
fact Of my conversion?
went to sleep last night with thoughts
unholy. | do not recall that during the
day l had once lifted my soul to God. In
the night I dreamed. ] remember that
was arguing with Catholic lady. 1t was
concerning Professionalism. and my inter
locutrice said to me Your reh-
gion is not religion. You believe
in nothing" How" 1 replied, ''be-
lieve in nothing But we have the
same creed as the Catholics - and to con-
vince her. | began to recite the Apostles
1. n Al 60
mighty, maker of heaven and earth /; and
in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord,
etc | continued thus in my dream, labor
ing to recall the words of the text; my
convictions strengthening as | advanced
I had reached the part of the symbol
where it said, '.He shall come TO Judge
the living and the dead when, as 1t
seemed to me, the earth quaked, the abyss
opened, and the stars fell, as if the end
of the world had come. The impression
was instantaneous, and | awaited that |
should myself disappear in the universal
ingulfment. when i caught again, as up
on a branch. the symbol was reciting
Il believe in the Holy Ghost" | SAID,
and that very moment 1t seemed to NE
that 1 wGs rescued from the abyss, and
that the holy spirit entered my soul.
Saved. thought [, and | repeated with
the accent Of profound conviction, Il
believe, yes, believe in the Holy Ghost. "
The vision passed l WAS awake, but
the influence remained. ] had a sense of
happiness the most perfect, and precep-
tion the most vivid, of the immensely of
the divine love. / repeated the creed
from the beginning, and a new splflt
illuminated and vivified all its declara-
tions. Words cannot pant this mental
state, or the happiness that attended 1t.
Ny wife, from the depths Of her heart,
associated herself with my JOY and my
prayers, for INV enraptured soul could
only pray and prayer, alteration, thanks
giving, escaped without effort and with
out end from my lips. | opened my BIZ
BILE and read. For the first time in my
life the verses Of the holy book seemed
full of light, OF life, Of evidence irresIsti-
BILE Ny old objections vanished, and
as | comprehended, / feasted upon the
doctrine of my Saviour God, Of free par
don, of salvation, Of blessedness eternal
promised TO the elect.
owed to you, my brethren, members
with me Of the Christian church, this
first testimony of my new and living
faith. Without doubt | should have
hesltated at this hour, and contrary to
all usage, to make this public declaration.
| did not come here with this intention
but when our dear pastor spoke to us OF
Stephen, of the gift of the holy ghost
which he possessed, of the testimony
which be bore to the glory OF God, If
seemed to ne that the spirit himself
Commanded me to speak, to render this
testimony; and setting aside all othei
considerations, al the risk of passing
i.: yuu fer insane, | have oheyed-
And to YOU, my brethren, ] say glory I"
God in the highest, and peace on earth,
to men good Will. | say to You Christ
has come TO redeem us, TO save us, Il
charge himself with the weight OF ON
sins, to be our ransom with the Father
Christ reigns, and communicates himself
to us by his holy spirit. oh my brethren,
believe. Love Jesus Christ. Love God
to the end that God may perform hi:
work i'll you, as he has deigned TO do IL
me, and that you may have peace, com
munion with God through the spirit, JOY
OF heart, and the assurance of salvation
and of eternal life. Amen.