The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-29

one bright summer night when the
moon had Just risen in the grandeur oil
iulness and the stars shed forth their
.winkling light the notes Of the bell tina,
swings to and fro in the sall tower of the
pretty little town of C rang out in the
s;,ll night air.
Come" said fricnd. go with us TO
near E deliver himself Of his foolish
belief.'
Twas Mr.. E, a noted infidel, VIII O
@as TO lecture. knew OF him. Raised
and educated for an Episcopal minister.
ne had refused to receive the orders be-
cause he could not believe their doctrines.
from this he grew worse and worse, as
regards his belief. until he was an open
and powerful exponent OF atheism. |
knew him to be good man. moral and
charitable, and while disliked 10 lend
even my presence to his views, still a
something carried me to the hall, almost.
as it were, against my will. | entered the
lecture-room, not with curiosity, like my
iriend, but with sad, deep feeling.
When the speaker rose saw. not an
elderly man. whose raven hair was tinged
with silver, but a very young one, not
possibly over twenty-five. His hair was
OF the darkest hue and his eyes of the
same cast, while his features were the
handsomest ever saw. His form, too,
was beautifully outlined. and his fore
head denoted nobleness and virtue COM
oined.
All! it was a sad thought to me TO
lhink that such noble and grand look
ing man should lend his powers to the
influence Of disbelief.
His lecture was one OF the most elo-
luent impressive and persuasive | ever
as'ened to, and while his language was
sowing and beautiful, yet it was s. plain
!ac every word was unmistakable
aAile he spoke his eyes sparkled and his
mole soul seemed to be in his theme
ne closed his lecture, and with it, in the
minds of many of his hearers, there
ceased belief in God.
Oh, how a man. human being. under
ne divine protection OF God, can teach
ais fellow beings to ignore their Creator
indeed strange. But let US see what
Sas the final fruit Of his work.
The lecture that heard was delivered
len years ago. A short while ago, while
nc, saw posted up in a conspicu-
Gus place notice that the REV A. ID.
e viii hold divine services at 81.
FauFs church at II O'Clock a. m and
80 O'Clock p. m. every sunday"
After reading it | turned to a friend
md asked him If he was the same man
who several years back lectured on afhe-
$40. Ny friend informed me that he was
I'D Ia. il had no. been long since he
professed Christianity.
| went TO hear him dat night and saw
ne same man who ten years ago had so
eaoqueneiy and earnestly advocated athe-
an now advocating the ChriseAin faith
"a the most powerful Arguments, and
pleading 10 sinners in tones Of 6ery elo-
Guence TO reiinquish the devil and serve
God.
determined in my mind 20 call on the
reverend gentleman next day and, fpos-
sole, learn the cause Of 20 great . change
10 his belief.
Following out my dissemination, the
aen day found me gently knocking at his
door. had bot short while to wait in.
vas ushesed into his library or sitting
nom. While waiting for him I saw
aeost me books Of every age and CEN
my. ! was amusing myself looking at
ms books when the reverend gentleman
cane n, holding in one land my card,
nd exlending the other for the whole
soui welcome grasp which he gave mine.
Not caring 70 breach my business At
sace, led him into general conversation.
ne VAS jovial, bright and gay, yet
eeu'd occasionally See dark cloud over