The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-25
What u Whisper Did.

"UO you pray? lneSe were tuo WOruS.
They were whispered in the ear Of young
less and worldly; had often said to the
strivings Of the spirit, "Go thy way for this
time" His reply now was, "Do not be 80
personal in your inquiries"
A few days after, she whispered the same
question: "Do you pray!" This time the
appeal was horne in upon his soul as never
before. Still he returned careless answer.
BE did not wish to be Christian now.
Evening came and lie was alone. The
spirit whispered, .Pray," and the thought
came, II wish did pray" Then a resolve e
He knelt, but clouds and darkness seemed to
envelop him.
81 mean to be Christian sometime;" Il
can be when I am ready" II know how;;"
81 have been taught by Christian parents
the way" "There will be no trouble when l
set OUT" 81 will wait and see little more
Of the world" "Time enough yet"
These had been his thoughts for some
years. Thus he had wandered from "his
Fathers house" into far distant country,
enticed by such suggestions Of his souls
He must not only turn round, but go back
He had turned-but where was God1 He
supposed he should see him at once. Where
is the Fathers house? He supposed it would
be in sight "Oh that knew where might
find himl" This was the cry Of his hoart,
now thoroughly aroused to its needs. He
did not then know that it had ever been the
language of troubled soul. "The heavens
we're as brass" He had heard
the metaphor used; now he knew its mean-
ing. Yet he was resolute. II will be q
him. He prayed that this resolution might
not forsake him. He feared that it might
pass away in his sleep. He was grateful that
the purpose remained as he opened his eyes
on new day; but the morning brought no
dawning to his soul.
Thus days and nights passed by. Kindest
of friends and the best Of pastors tried TO
point out the way but all was dark. The sun
Of righteousness did not penetrate the clouds
His wise pastor said:
'Go and tell some ono over whom you
have an influence the resolve you have
made"
"Iknow of no ono WHO would liston to
me-" he replied.
At the weekly prayer. meeting with eager
attention he heard what good men say Of
peace and joy in believing. 1t did not help
him. He thought no must go out into tho
darkness carrying thicker darkness within.
But the closing lines Of tho closing hymn ar
rested bis attention and let ray OF light into
his heart. The meeting over, he went to his
pastor as soon as he could and said:
1--WE have just been singing
Go on to seek and know tho Lord,
And practice what you know;
81 can do that, and l thought perhaps that
Is what it is to be Christian. Is iii"
"Why, my dear boy, Of course it Is, D." said
the pastor, putting both arms around him.
From that hour tho young man went for
ward slowly. and not always in direct
course, but still forward.
There was q woman much tho young mans
senior who was bitter skeptic. Sho had
been hardened by sorrow and tho Sights and
frowns Of the world. She did not believe in
Christians She scoffed and made light OF
the new converts, especially this ono whom
she had known in his yaywardness. He was
moved to write her letter urging her to be-
come Christian. The letter written, he
laid it away for week or more, doubtful
about sending it., believing it would be held
up to ridicule 1t was finally taken to tho
office and mailed. 1t proved an arrow sent
from God. Humbled and greatly broken in
spirit, she sent for this young convert to
show her how to become a Christian. She
found the Saviour and started on new life.
These are incidents Of the revival Of 1878.
A year or more rolled away. This young
man engaged in business with an older
brother in New England >ity. God sont to
him slender boy, who was homeless, friend
less. penniless-we might almost say reckless
yet bright, earnest, interesting. After
some hesitation and questioning, the boy was
given employment. In few days his EN-
ployer urged him to 60 with him to the
rooms Of the Y. NJ. C.. A. Then he was led
to a prayer-meeting. Soon he became a
warm-hearted, active, useful Christian, lead
ing others as he had been led.
Not many months passed by and this
young workman was longing for all educa-
tion, that he might do more good. The
young employer encouraged the idea and
found school for him. The woman who
was brought to Christ by that delayed letter
was among the first to assist him, and
through all his preparatory college and sem.
mary studies gave him substantial aid and
the kinde:t care.
sThe workman Showed himself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed" His conservation to the Master,
his devotion to an oppressed race, his power
and eloquence, have been felt through the
wide land and across the sea. His glowing
heart now ceases to beat his tireless feet and
active brain are now at rest. Upon tho
marble beneath his familiar name might
truthfuly be Inscribed this title, which the
advance has given him: "The Best Beloved
of ALL"
We get little glimpse of what that whis-
per did. Prayer was behind it,, and so God
was Sin the still, small voice." Who can
measure its ever widening infuence2-tH
Porter Smith, (CambridgeJ in Advance:
THE above is presumably the experience
of the writer and the late DR.. James Powell.l