The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-13

though t it the proper thing; after
wards she came to me and said, II
think it is pride, not piety, that
effects Charlie" When l was lad
of tender years, in that apart OF Ohio
where we then lived, they had grand
republican celebration. A neighbor's
boy, of my own age and looks, was
selected with myself as captains of
our little playfellows. An old gray
haired republican took US two by the
hand and introduced US to Gen.
Robert Schenck, the orator.of the
day, as his twin boys. The General
laid his hands on our young heads
and gave US his political blessing.
We were before and afterwards that
the most intimate chums. But be-
fore we were out of our teens he ha d
been SO cursed by strong drink that
he was nothing less than drunkard.
Touched and fired by this ruination
OF my playmate [ entered the tenn
perance work with my whole soul. I
labored earnestly in the woman's
crusade in Ohio, also in the Francis
Murphy movement that followed it.
AT first, and more or less ever, / was
censured for my youth. "Too young"
they said to work for temperance.
But there was he, my playfellow, Of
the same age, and none said he was
too young to follow intemperance. If
children are old enough to know
wrong and to deliberately follow it,
they are old enough to know the right
to follow it, yes, to work for it.
A Christian minister once
determined to preach from the words,
"Now is the excepted time: now is
the day of salvation" While think
ing upon it he fell asleep. In his
sleep he dreamed that he was trans
ported into the bane of the damned,
and set down in the midst of a
conclave of lost spirits. They were
discussing the most effective Way of
securing the souls of men. One rose
up and said, II will go to the earth,
and tell men that the Bible is all a
fable, that it is not divinely
appointed of God" No. that would
not do. Another said, Let me go;
/ will tell them there is no God, no
savior, no heaven, no hell" and at
their last words a fendish smile
lighted upon all their faces. 'sNo,
that will not do; we can not make
men believe that" Suddenly one
arose, and with wise mein, like the
serpent of old, suggested: "No I will
journey to the world of men. and tell
them that there is God, that there
is a Savior, that there is heaven,-
yes, and hell, too-but Til tell them
there is no hurry; tomorrow will do;
it will be even as today" And they
sent him. Dream, or no dream, there
is nothing SO patent in the world
today for keeping men in the service
of satan as this procrastinary argu-
ment. Not single one of you here
tonight but what intends some day to
give your life to God; only not now?
Early life IS the easiest period of
transition into Gods service.
The Rev. DR.. Ashbel Greene, at
the end of his long and eventful
Christian life, said; "If had my
ministry to go over again, I would
give more attention to the children"
The Rev. DR.. Samuel Miller affirmed
that he would give ten times as much
attention to the children as he had,
if he were to live his life over again.
From all quarters of Christs King
dom today comes this same testi-
mony. Bishop Simpson had the
fullest authority possible for saying,
II am satisfied that the day is com.
ing when in our church, and in all
the churches Of the world, we shall
look chiefly to the conversion of
childhood, and as comparatively
rare instance to the conversion OF
those in maturer years." Mr.
Spurgeon says: "Of the many boys
and girls whom we have received into
our church fellowship, they have all
gladdened my heart, and I have
never received any with greater
confidence.
The flower of the army Of our God
in past-Bible times, were soldiers OF
the cross from childhood. Baxter
Polycarp, Mathew Henry, President
Edwards, DR.. Watts, Bishop Hall
Robert Hall, were all Christians
before they were thirteen years OF
age. Spurgeon was converted when
fifteen years old. Mozart composed
music when five years old. Macauley
welded the pen at eight years of age
with the power Of master. Those
trained to music in childhood make
the best musicians. So those who
are in childhood trained into tho
Christian life make the worlds best
| Christians.