The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-06-18
InternatiOnaI Sunday.schOOl Lessons.
HOW AN INFIDEL WAS CONVERT.
Ed


HOW AN INFIDEL WAS CONVERT
ED.
We have referred the following sketch
to Dr. Rankin, who remembers the con-
version mentioned and believes the mar
rative substantially correct:
1 was an intidel I belonged to
philosophical club in the city OF Wash
ingtOn, d. c., and was secretary Of that
organization | am happy to say that
upon my conversion the above-men-
toned organization was broken up,
and the late intdel President is now
preaching the Unsearchable riches of
Christ.
Mr.. Hammond had been laboring
here with marked success, and we were
discussing true revivals" in our club
meetings. l became interested in the
meetings. I was anxious to discover
the motive which influenced refined and
cultivated ladies to labor so anxiouslv
with men whose lives had been those of
shame and degradation. I saw that
when the change was effected in the ca
rger of a man. it was a change so strik-
ing and so real that it resulted in com
pletg revolution in his character aud
person.
/ was standing in the rear part of Dr.
Sunderlands church, talking with a
gentleman on the subject of religion,
when we were approached by his daugh-
ter, who said to me: pardon ME for
intruding upon your conversation, but
if you are not too much engaged 1
would like to have YOU talk to that gen
tleman standing over there, indicating
with her hand young man standing
and resting his hands on the back of
one Of the pews in the rear of the
church. / said to her that 1 would
rather not talk with him, for if he was
interested on the subject of religion l
might lead him over into heterodoxy,
and did not care to assume that risk.
"Oh, no, she replied, che thinks as
you do But l would like to know
whether your philosophy will do him
any good" "Very well, then" 1 an
swercd, 81 will talk with him." [
passed over and invited him to a seat.
l found that he agreed with me on the
subject of the probable cause of the
conversions, and began to wonder why
the young lady desired me to talk with
him. While leaning towards him l dis
covered that he had been drinking, and
then remembered to have seen him
coming out of a iquOr-saloOn that very
morning. l saw at once his difficulty,
and recognized mine, What could my
philosophy do for him? Surely he
knew enough of physiology and anatomy
to know what would be the effect Of
strong drink habitually INDUCED in
upon the human system. But what
gUOd did his knowledge of these sci
ences do him? So l asked myself, what
good can my philosophy do him, since
my appeals to His head can not reach
his heart2
If anything could do this young man
any good, then, it was not inldelity or
| any other scheme of mans devising. ]
saw this, 1 say, and, getting up to 90
out OF church, ] encountered my lady
| friend, and said to her: "Mv philosophy
can do him no good. " She replied:
THAT was just what prayed for" AS
| quick as flash the truth entered my
mind. If my philosophy can do him no
/ good under the circumstances, what
! good can it do meP If the Christian
| scheme alone can benefit him, is it not
grander and nobler than others, and
may it not also help me? 1 hurried out
Of the church, greatly troubled in my
mind--when something seemed to say
to me: you came near making a foo
of yourself" and l inwardly resolved
never to go near the church again.
afterwards learned that this young
lady repaired TO her home, sought he
sister, and the two together went to thei
room to pray for my conversion, Thu
youngest said she believed / would bl
converted on the morrow That praye
of faith saved my sick soul, and / was
indeed, converted on the morrow.
Notwithstanding I said 1 would no
90 near the church again, I was tn
first at the church on the next morning
took seat somewhat back, and witt
my whole soul trembling resolved Il
find peace if ] could that very day
just as this resolve was made, DR.. Sun
dcrland asked for prayers for a younl
man in whom he was deeply interested
and then poured forth q prayer full O
power and pathOs, / tried to cOntrC
myself, but the more / tried the strong
er this conyulsiOn held me. 1t seeme
as though two forces were contendin
would yield to the other thought q
God and Of Jesus. InvOluntarily I II
peated this passage of Scripture, but
repeated it as a drowning man catche
at straw; 81 believe that Thou arr
and that Thou art the rewarder of a
them that diligently seek Thee1 an
now ] come to Thee, since Thou has
promised that him that cometh TO The
Thou wilt in no wise cast out Savl
Lord, or perishn' Then an my bu
den dropped off, and the light of trut
and God swept over my soul, until
could have shouted Glory to Godl fC
every iov. At this moment L felt
kindly hand laid upon my shoulder, On
o voice I'm my ear asking: GLOW is
now. brother" It was the voice of ID
Rankin. j replied: "It is an rgI
nowri And it has been all right fro
that moment up to the present hour
Herald Of Mercy.
Every power we have may be mae
30 help us in any right work. whateY