The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-27
THE AFTERNOON SERVICES.
Sam Small Relates the story of His Lii
md Conversion.

Sam Small Relates the story of His Life
ana Conversion.
The Children's meeting at 80 p. III.
was largely attended, and the greatest
interest was taken by ali who were pres
ent.I
At the afternoon meeting the large
auditorium was packed to hear Small re-
late his experience previous to his hav-
ing been converted and taking the pull
pit us n minister. The audience WIS
larger than that Of the morning, and
Notwithstanding the weather was sever
al degrees warmer, all were held spell
bound by Small, and, ut times duriug
his talk, many could be seen weeping
MS lie related his bitter experience, and
contrasted his life then and the life he
was now living.
After several songs were sang by the
choir Sam Small came upon the stand,
and after prayer by Rev. DIR. Randolph,
began the story OF his life by saying that
it was said on one occasion that there
came into distant city stranger that
attracted the notice OF idlers. He came
upon cage OF birds, that caused him to
take pity OH them. He bought one OF
the cages, and opening the door il
left the cage, and soaring about it caught
sight OF its mountain home, and uttered
a note of praise and disappeared so he
did, until they had all gone. Upon in
quiring why he did this, he said he was
once q captive, and he to-day was free,
and he took pity upon them and set
them at liberty. So to-day, stand be-
fore you, once a captive, but now free.
To-day ! am released from captivity
that had bound me for years, and am
now free from a bondage greater than
any human slavery on the face Of this
globe.
A glowing tribute was paii 10 his
father and mother, who, he said, daily
gave him counsel and advice. He left
home and passed through course Of
studies and graduated with some honor.
He began the practice Of law, with
friends by the score, to aid him and as
sist him. Fondness for society led him
into worldly things. Men high in the
community INDUCED in social disslpa-
ton, and I wondered why ] could not
do the same. | went out to engngc in
them. ! found ii was easy to yield to
the temptation. AS / began TO fall
found these passions multiplied and
they demanded more OF my physical ma
ture, and soon found that was max.
ing rapid progress toward the mael-
strom. could see strong men going
down, but said, | have strength OF will,
pride OF character enough to never per.
init myself to fall in the plane OF degra-
dation- they had fallen into. do not
believe that man has ever been born or
ever will that can indulge in these pas
sions that Can be saved by human will
power. Icould not bind these promises
in my own nature. After marriage my
wife demonstrated with me, but 1 put
her off with the suggestion that public
opinion would not allow it, and stitled
her entreaties with this talk.
The children God had given to me in
their cradles as looked upon them had
no effect on me. found was getting
less and less reliable, and found was
the subject Of shifting tides Of fortune
In all departments Of life was failure
It yas not from lack Of money that re-
signed my position to go 70 preaching.
was making S6,000a year. made toC
much money. had ample means ioI
pleasure, gambling and al other thing
Of this social life. Ny failures were o
integrity and other vital points. In thi
way went on until had to do some
thing to obtain relief. My physician