The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-10-07
Young Men.

He came to me one day and said:
81 wish you'd 90 and see father.
He's sick; / don't think Immediate
ly dangerous. He is often down
this way, but is soon well again;
but noU he thinks he won't get
about again, and this makes me
afraid for him. 1 wish you'd 90 and
see him though [ am going from
home"
Neither father nor son we're regu-
lar attendants on my preaching,
though, as may be inferred, l sus-
tanned very pleasant relations to
both, though they were quite regular
in their attendance at, and we're
liberal supporters of, another church
with which the son united a few
years after. Both father and son
came occasionally to hear me
preach-the son more frequently.
| saw his father Immediately, and
had pleasant, though not entirely
satisfactory, conversation with him.
The next day l called" on him
again, and invited him to ride.
He said, 81 am too weak" and-but
his wife urged him-he finally
consented. We had not ridden a
quarter of a mile when he said he
felt better, and wanted to go further.
| then said: Il am not you pastor:
but you must knoW that feel deep
interest in your spiritual welfare,
and | would like to know just what
your religious views and feelings
are.
And now, after so many years
have passed, I can hardly yet write
the incident with composure. Plac-
ing his hand on my arm, he said:
81 thank you for this. Say what
ever you feel like saying to me,
knowing that it will be not only
well, but gladly received" He then
went on to give me a history of his
religious views and feelings for
more than thirty years past. 1 then
thought, and l think now, he was a
Christian and didn't know it, and
like many to-day, deprived himself
of much comfort and happiness
which he might have had, and of
many opportunities of usefulness
which his whole life gave him.
After. time this son and I went
to Saratoga. An eminent elder
and his wife whom he knew well
were there, and the first even
ing we were at the springs we spent
in their room, and, at the elders
invitation, we remained till after
evening worship. l led the worship.
The next evening we were in my
room, and l said "Before we retire.
you take the Bible and read and
pray" He quietly objected, and
said, eyes, do" towhich he replied
"IU read and you pray"
His pastor, whom I love very
much said to me afterwards I
think your influence had much to
do with his uniting with the
church.
This has led me to think that we
often make a mistake with such
young men. Young men who have
a high regard for the Church and
its services, for Christians and
Christianity, and especially thew
who have been baptized, / would
make feel that they are not consid-
cred as outsiders, and take some
pains to make them feel this. In
every way possible encourage them
to think they would be welcomed
by the Church, and on every suit
able occasion encourage them to
identify themselves with Christians.
They are now, if baptised, members
of the church, though few think of
them as such, and few Christians
take pains to make them think so.
The young man to whom refer
ence has been made has been for
years an elder in the Presbyterian
Church active, honored and beloved.
Over whom, and with whom / have
beenPermitted to reioIce as a trophy
won for Christian TateW-
gcDccr.