Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-11

shore, out just bClOFt lutl SOl 10 the
shore the rope snapped and the boat cap
sized. and they were lost, their bodies
afterWard washed upon the beach. Oh,
what a solemn day it was-I have been
told of it by my brother-when these
twelve men lay AZ the foot Of the pulpit.
ana he read over them The funeral service.
They came very near shore-wthin shout
ing distance of the shore. yet did not ar
rive on solid land. There are some men
who come almost to the shore Of Gods
mercy, but not quite. not quite. To be
almost saved is to be lost.
Two Prodigals.
| viii tell YOU Of two prodigals-the one
that got back. and the other that did not
get back. In Richmond there Is a very
prosperous and beautifuI home in many
respects. \ young man wandered off from
that home. lie wandered very far into
sin. They heard Of him after, but he was
always on the wrong track He would
not 20 home. At the door Of that beauti-
full home one night there was great out
cry. The young man OF the house ran
down to open the door 10 see what was the
matter. 1t was midnight. The rest Of
the family We're asleep. There We're the
wife and children of this prodigal young
man. The fact WAS he had come home
and driven them out. He said: cut of
this house, Away with these children,
l Will dash their brains out. Out into the
Storm The mother gathered lem up
and fled. The next morning the Grother
the young man who had staid At home,
went out to find this prodsal brother and
| son, and he came where he was and sIw
the young man wandering up and down
| IN front of the place where he had been
| staying. and the young man who had kept
| his integrity said 10 the older brother:
Here. what does all THIS mean? What is
the matter with you: Why do YOU act in
this way" The prodigal looked 1T him
and said: no am [? Who do you take
me to be-" lie said, You are my broth
err NO. / am not. | am 4 brute. Have
YOU seen anything Of my wife and chill
| drcn? Are they dead: | drove them out
| last night in the storm. | am brute.
John, 10 you think there is any hep for
me? DO you think | will ever get over
| this life OF dssipation:' He said, John.
there is one thing that Will stop this"
| The prOdigal ran his fingers across his
| throat and said: THAT viii stop it, and
! will stop it before night. oh, my brain.
| | can stand it no longer That prodigal
never got home. But | will tell yol of
prodigal that did get home. In England
two young men started from Their father
house and went down to Ports.Gouth-1
! have been there-a beautiful seaport.
Some of you have been there. The father
could not pursue his children for sorue
reason he could not leave home-and so
he wrote letter down to Mr.. 'iriilin, say
ing:
Mr. Griffin. | wish you would go and
see my two sons. They have arrived in
Portsmouth. and they are going to take
ship and going away from home. l wish
you would persuade them back
The Pardon OF the Gospel.
Mr.. Griffin went and tried to persuade
them back. He persuaded one to go. He
went with very easy persuasion because
he was very homesck already. The other
young man said: Il Will not go. L have
had enough Of home I'll never go home"
We'll" said Mr. Griffin, then if you
won't go home I'll get you respectable
/ position on 4 respectable ship No, you
won't" said the prodigal; no you won't
am going as private sailor; as a COM
mon sailor That will plague my father
most and what will do most TO tantalize
and worry him will please me best. Years
| passed on and Mr.. Griffin was seated in
his study one day when messenger
| came to him saying there was young
man in irons on Il ship at the dock-a
| young man condemned 10 death-who
wished to see this clergyman. Mr.. Crit
! fin went down to the dock and went on
shipboard. The young man said to him,
You don't know me. do you:" "No,"
he said, Il don't know YOU" why,
don't you remember that young man you
tried to persuade TO go home and he
wouldn't go?" "Oh, yes" sold Mr. Grit
fin. Are you that MANI" Yes, l am
that man." said the other 81 would like
to have you pray for me. | have commit
ted murder and l must die. but l don't
want to go out of this world until some
one pravs for me. You are my fathers
friend and l would like to have you pray
for me-
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority
| to judicial authority to get that young
mans pardon. He slept not night nor
dav. He went from influential person to
| influential person, until in some way he
cot that young mans pardon. He came
down on the dock and as he arrived on the
dock with the pardon the father came. He
had heard thai his son, under disguised
name. had been committing crime and
was going to be put to death. So Mr..
Griffin and the father went on ships deck
and at the very moment Mr.. Griffin offered
the pardon 10 the young man the old
father threw his arms around the son 8
neck and the son said: Father L have
done very wrong and am very sorry |
wish L had never broken your heart. |
am very sorry ''Oh," said the father,
don't mention it. 1t won't make any
difference now. j is all over. l forgive
YOU. my SON. And he kissed him and
kissed him and kissed him. To-day |
offer you the pardon Of the gospel-full
pardon, free pardon. / Do not care what
your crime has been. Though you say
Won have committed crime against God.
against your soul. against your fellow
man. against your family. against the day
of Judgment. against the cross of Christ
whatever your crime has been. here is
pardon. full pardon. and the very moment
YOU take that pardon your Heavenly