The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-14

AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF Mr.. STURGEON.
When ! was young child staying with
my grandfather, there came to preach in
the village Mr.. Knil, who had been mis-
sionary ut st. Petersburg, and a mighty
preacher of the gospel. He came to preach
for the London Missionary Society, and ar
rived OIL the Saturday before at the manse.
lie was great soul-winner, and he soon
spied out the boy. He said 10 me, Where
do you sleep. for want to call you up in
the morning? I showed him my little room.
At six o'clock he called ME up, aud We went
into that arbor There, i'll the sweetest way,
he told me of the love Of Jesus, and Of the
blessedness of trusting him and loving him
in our childhood. With many story he
preached Christ to me. He knelt down in
that arbor and prayed for me, with his arms
about my neck. He did not seem content
unless kept with him IN the interval be-
tween the services, and he heard my child
ish talk with patient love.
On Monday morning lie did as on the Sab
bath, and again on Tuesday. Three times
he.taught me and prayed with me, and
before he had to leave, my grandfather had
come back from the place where he had gone
to preach, and al the family were gathered
for morning prayer. Then, in the presence
of them all, Mr.. Knill took me OH his knee
and said: ''This child will one day preach
the gospel, and he will preach it to great
multtudes. am persuaded that he will
preach it in the chapel Of Rowland Hill,
where I am now minister BE spoke very
solemnly, and called upon all present to
witness what be said. was made to prom;
ise that when preached in Rowland Hill
chapel, the hymn "God moves in mys-
terious way should be sung. Would it ever
be other than an idle dream? Years flew
by. After I had begun for some time 10
preach in London, DR.. Alexander Fletcher
had to give the annual sermon to children
in the Surrey chapel, but as he was taken Ill,
I was asked in hurry to preach to the
children. Yes, said, I will, if the children
will sing God moves in mysterious way
I have nude. promise long ago that that
in Dowlnnd Hill chapel, and the hymn was
sung. My emotions on that occasion can-
not describe. Still that was not the chapel
which Mr.. Knill intended. All unSought BY
me the minister at Woltonunderedge which
was Mr.. Hills summer residence, invited me
to preach there. l went OH condition that
the congregation should sing Cod Moves in
Mysterious Way" which was also done.
After that went to preach for Mr.. Richard
Knill himself, who was then at Chester.
What i meeting we had.
.'God moves in mysterious way,
His wonders TO PERFORM
After more than 40 years sat under that
arbor! No doubt it is mere trtle for othels
to hear, but to me it was IN overwhelming
moment. The present minister Of Siam.
bourne meeting house, and the members of
his family, including his son and grand.
children, were in the garden, and could
not help calling them together around that
arbor. while praised the Lord for his good
ness. One Irresistible impulse was upon
me; it was to pray to God to bless those lads
that stood around me. DO you not see how
the memory begat the prayer? l wanted
them to remember when they grew up. my
testimony of Gods goodness to me, and for
that same reason tell il TO you young peo-
pie who are around me this morning. Re
member that special promise. Il love them
that love me-, and those that seek me early
shall fad me.