The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-20
STORY OF HIS LIKE.
As Related by Mr.. Crittenton at
Greene Memorial Church.

IL is very SeluOIn JnaC Il man or Sucn
consecrated power and deep earnestness
visits our city. The effect of Mr.. Crit
terton's work in our midsts.will only be
known in eternity. AS he has stood be.
fore our citizens for the past five days ami
poured out his soul beseeching us in the
name of Jesus to throw aside the weights
and the sin that doth so easily beset us
many souls have been squickened and
many Christians led to see that they were
living far short of their privileges. His
manner has been so tender and the fund
of scripture quotations so logically pre-
sented that to reject his. invitations to
walk in newness of life has in very truth
seemed like rejecting the call OF God him
self
Speaking of his conversion anu the way
God led him to devote his life and fortune
to the relief of the robbed and spoiled, lie
said:
81 WAS u successful merchant bending
every energy toward accum ulatin z
money. God saw fit to take my little
Florence, only four years and four
months old, home to heaven. rebelled
thought it was cruel. could not I'M
derstand it. was broken hearted and I
went up to Woodlawn Cemetery and
bathed that little grave with tears from
March to October. One..wintry day as
stood by this grave God said I am the res
direction. and the life. Whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth. Though He were
dead yet shall he live. The mystery was
declared. Did God love me when l had
turned my back on him for 35 years:
Whose. cometh unto Me will in nowise
cast out. a t first the assurance was faint
but it gave me hope. I hurried toward
home, went up into my chamber and
communed with God through his blessed
book, and there looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of your faith, Heb.
III and =, was reconciled TO Gods provi.
dence. but.this was but the beginning
soon cfter my conversion | had IL
dream was in the midst of confusion
machinery and noise, thought saw paths
turning to the right and left. l was dis
tressed; then saw Jesus standing and he
said, Charlie, thine ear shall hear IL word
behind thee, saying this is tho way, walk
yc in it, and when We turn to the right
hand and when we turn to the left. Usaiah
30:2D. ha' promised God up in my
chamber that would be obedient. Soon
after this I attended che Fulton street
monday prayer meeting and was asked to
lead used to think that onl, c.anks
would spend the monday hour in prayer
How hard it was for me to lead, but had
promised to obey the leading of the spirit,
so did the best I could, but l. was terri
bly, mortified. | then went home and
committed II prayer for such occasions,
but when came 30 use it could not re
call it. My Christian friends took me
over to hear Jerry Mc.Auley, the founder of
the Jerry McAuley mission.
81 heard the story CT himself and wife
how God had sent DR.. Woods to save
just in time, rs he sent Ananias to help
Paul. Then told about my little girl.
How these good people did pray with me
then they called on me to pray. How
ashamed was. Then the devil came and
said, Crittenton, It's no Fuse, you were
meant to be II merchant, you had better
give up this aud devote your time to your
business. Then | attended II Methodist
camp meeting NJ Oswego, n. Y. Every.
thing and every bodyseemed to he praising
Cod thought il only could speak like
those people. An old steamboat captain
came up and talked with me. Said /
can't live where | am, I've got to get
somewhere, said the honest old captain.
You are filled up with pride. Are you
willing to 10 what God wants you to do:
a consecrated lady came up to ME and
said You ought to remove those diamonds.
thought she had better mird her own