The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-08-04
How millionaire was Con-
verted.
BY REV. SAMUEL T. CLARKE.

During recent visit in the southern
part OF the State, singular incident in
the realm of spiritual therapeutics came
under observation which is worthy of
record. By the means of what seems
almost vagary of the mind, it was shown
that while the Church may mark out its
set ways and methods after which souls
are to be born again, yet ever as of old,
the wind bloweth where it listeth and
thou nearest the sound thereof and canst
not tell whence it cometh or whittier it
goeth.
Here was man reported by his as
sociates worth six or seven millions, self
made, exhibiting all the phases of a
Pauline regeneration in this age when
the Gospel in its simplicity is by some
regarded as inert or worn out. The Pres
byterlans in that section are anxious that
it should be spread abroad in the columns
of The Evangelist
Mr.. John Dubois, who recently died,
was the lumber king of Western Pennsyl-
vania. His name had been for years
power by reason of strong and vigorous
mental and practical traits. But he was
never a friend OF religion rather the
reverse. For year or more prior to his
death, he privately became interested.
He read his Bible. Then he took step
most unusual, and yet on the whole, well
judged.
He sent for his attorney, Hon G. A.
jerks, recently Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, and retained him to give advice
as to how to dispose OF the most impor-
tant part of his estate, namely, his soul.
He did not go to preachers, but to one he
had trusted as a weigher of evidence and
Judge OF law. He made it a pure matter
of business, as he would the disposition
of any other valuable property The
result is well told by that leading Jour
nal, TIE Catoroa&g18 Republican, which
says:
a few days before his death Mr. Dubois
sent for the Rev Mr.. Bell, and after
long conversation with him, he was bap-
tized and received into the Presbyterian
Church He Immediately sent for the
heads of all the departments in his works,
and as many of the men as could crowd
into the sick room, to the number OF
about fifty. When they were gathered
he gave them such an exhortation as had
never been heard before in all this region.
He told them he was dying, and that if
he had been assured of his eternal well
fare week before, he would not have
been living to talk to them. He could
not let 60 life, he said, until he got that
question settled, and he urged them not
to put it off as he had done. He was
willing now to die, but if it was the will
of Providence that he should live one
year longer, he would not wish to take
up his affairs again. He would put in
every day, he said, going about the mills
telling his men the great truth that he
had at length found out, and trying to
undo some of the evil his example had
wrought in his long lifetime. His voice
and brain were strong, although his body
was wasted almost to a skeleton, and he
could scarcely sit up in bed propped with
pillows. The men had worked for him
some ten, some twenty, some thirty
years. They were rough, grizzly fellows
from the logging camps and the mills,
but there was not dry cheek in the
room as he talked to them and called
them by name, and bid them goodbye.
~. Y. Evangelist