The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-09
20 What Shall the Harvest Be?'

In one of the temperance meetings
connected with Mr.. Moody's revival
labors in Chicago, very intelligent
reformed drunkard attributed his re-
form to the influence of this hymn.
He confessed that it was difficult to
speak about past experience, especially
when a man had been heavy drlnker,
as he had been for sixteen years. lie
began sixteen years before by taking
his first bottle of ale in the back room
of country store, and then, entering
the army, he had plunged into disslpa-
ton, from which he thought at first he
could free himself; but as the years
went by, be found the habit had become
so strong that he couldn't control it, for
it controlled him. He had stood at the
mouth of the cannon, in front OF the
fixed bayonet, with the muzzle of
pistol right before him, and yet never
had felt there such heart-sinklng as he
experienced when he began to realize
what man was, fettered by this vice.
He came to this city some little time
ago and spent most of his days and
nights in drinking and in playing cards,
sometimes drinking thirty or forty
drinks day. While in this condition
one night he came to the Tabernacle out
of curiosity, to hear what was being
said and to see what what was being
done. He sat in the gallery, and was
shielded by one of the long wooden
pillars that upheld the roof. He saw
the crowds enter with happy faces, and
apparently light hearts, and nice clothes,
and it hardened his heart, for he felt
that he could never be like them. Then
he heard Mr.. Sankey sing the hymn,
"What Shall the Harvest BeW And
then, said he, Mr.. Sankey sang the third
verss-a verse that entered my heart.
1t rQused me from my stupor. 1t
brought me to feel what my own condi-
ton was, and these words entered my
soul:
Sowing the seed of lingering pain,
Sowing the seed of a maddened brain,
Sowing the seed of a tarnished name,
Sowing the seed of eternal shame.
o what shall the harvest be q?
o what shall my harvest be?
During the recital of these lines the
speakers voice trembled, his whole
frame was agitated. his words and man.
ner were impressed upon his auditors,
many of whom were moved to tears, and
sobbing was audible in many parts of
the great hall. He then went on to say
that that night he had listened to this
hymn describing his own experience, he
found no rest; the words seemed to
meet him wherever he went-"What
shall the harvest beF They were
written on the walls of the room in the
hotel where he boarded. They haunted
him wherever he went He tried to
drown the voice by drinking heavier,
but he couldn't remove them. There
they were wherever he turned-"What
shall the harvest beT' He left the
Tabernacle saying to himself he would
never return; but finally, such was his
unrest, he went into the inquiry-room
and talked with Mr.. Farwell and Mr..
Brewster, and after a great struggle he
gave himself to Christ. He trusted in
the salvation wrought out for him, and
though he had lost position, home, and
family by the accursed cup, he rejoiced
that God had looked down on him and
saved him.-Setected.
A WOMAN of fine mind and brilliant
accomplishments died in a ditch at
Edgewood, n. J. Drink was her ruin.
| l. he lElDuut says IL Is Feldtcu tHdt
when she was married she was bitterly
opposed to the use of strong drink, and
refused wine at her wedding dinner.
Her husband finally induced her to
drink with him at their dinner table,
and, having acquired the taste, she soon
| became slave to liquor, which finally
ruined her." hope the husbard had
no such responsibility, but cases have
/ i L. Al e
ruined the husband and the husband
the wife. "Wine is a mocker; strong
drink is raging. IN. Y. Advocate.