The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-09-21

satlon with son OF one of the elders
of the church; and this young man
was defending Universalism.
Mr.. W. the shoemaker, turned
to me and said, Mr.. Finney, what do
you think of the argument of this
young man ? and he then stated what
he had been saying in defense of Uni
versalism. The answer appeared to
me so ready that in moment l was
enabled to blow his argument to the
winds. The young man found at
once that his argument was gone, and
he rose up without making any reply
and went suddenly out. But soon 1
observed, as stood in the middle of
the room, that the young man, in
stead of going along the street, had
passed around the the shop, had
climbed over the fence. and was steer
ing straight across the field toward the
woods. thought no more of it until
evening, when the young man came
out and appeared to be bright con-
vert, giving a relation of his expert
ence. He went into the woods and
there, as he said, he gave his heart to
God.
X
spoke with many persons that day
and believe the spirit of God made
lasting impressions on every one of
them. I cannot remember one whom
l spoke with who was not soon con-
verted. Just at evening 1 called at
the house of a friend where a young
man lived who was employed in dis
tilling whiskey. The family had heard
that had become Christian and
as they were about to sit down to tea
they urged me to sit down and take
tea with them. The man of the house
and his wife were both professors of
religion. But a sister of the lady,
who was present, was an unconverted
girl, and this young man of whom l
have spoken, distant relative of the
family, was professed Universalist.
He was rather an outspoken ard talk
ative Universalist, and young man
of a good deal of energy of character.
sat down with them to tea, and
they requested me to ask blessing.
1t was what l had never done, but I
did not hesitate moment, but COM
menced to ask the blessing of God as
we sat around the table. had scarcely
more than begun before the state of
these young people rose before my
mind, and excited so much compass
sion that I burst into weeping, and
was unable to proceed. Every one
around the table sat speeches. for
short time, while l continued to weep.
Directly the young man moved back
from the table and rushed out of the
room. He fled to his room and locked
himself in, and was not seen again
until the next morning, when he came
out expressing blessed hope in Christ.
He has been for many years an able
minister of the Gospel.
In the course OF the day good
deal of excitement was created in the
village by its being reported what the
Lord had done for my soul. Some
thought one thing and some another.
At evening, without any appointment
having been made that I could learn,
l observed that the people were going
to the place where they usually held
their conference and prayer meetings.
My conversion had created good
deal of astonishment in the village. l
afterwards learned that some time be-
fore this some members of the church
had proposed in a church meeting to
make me a particular subject of prayer
and that Mr.. Gale had discouraged
them, saying that he did not believe
that l would ever be converted; that
from conversing with me he had found
that l was very much enlightened
upon the subject of religion, and very
much hardened. And furthermore,
he said he was almost discouraged !;
that led the choir and taught the
young people sacred music and that
they were so much under my influence
that he did not believe that while l
remained in Adams they would ever
be converted.
l found after | was converted that
some of the wicked men in the place
had hid behind me. One man in
particular, Mr.. c. who had a
pious wife, had repeatedly said to her,
d" If religion is true why don't you
convert Mr.. Finney? If you Chris
tians can convert Mr.. Finney l will
believe in religion" An old lawyer
by the name of M living in Ad
ans, when he heard it rumored that
day that / was converted, said that it
was all hoax that was simply try
ing to see what I could make Chris
tian people believe.
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