The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-14
Christian Life Column.
His First Chance.

RAUQS GAhNAOug An0 O0SC4 w NJ SSO
thing definite and important to prove
himself worthy of the Christian name
It was a country church, old and con-
sentative. There were few young PEG
pie in it, and there did pot seem to be
any opportunity for practical every
day Christian work.
In the congregation was q man who
had been a druukard. To use a com.
mon phrase, he had reformed, and had
become a changed man. He was
thinking seriously of uniting with the
church when his probation had ended.
One day, in stress of temptation,
he was overcome by his old appetite.
He remained under it's debasing irfu
ences for about a week. Then he went
in great trouble to a friend and said:
What shall 1 dos"
dot" said the other. There is
but one thing to do. Go to the prayer
meeting. Take your usual seat, rise
at the usual time and tell the whole
story. Ask the pardon of God and Of
the church. Do this, If you are sorry.
If you are not sorry, stay away"
The poor fellow went, and did as he
had been advised. Trembling he told
of his temptation and Of his fall. With
tears he offered his confession, and
asked that the petitions Of Gods PEG
pie might be off cred for divine help,
that he might never again be over
come by temptation; but not a word of
ncouraging response n a prayer IN
his behalf was offered by any Of the
members present.
The meeting ended. The people filed
out past him on their way from the
church. Not one of them approached
him. It seems incredible-but this is
no fiction. They who had vowed to
cherish and help the penitent and the
fallen, went out and left their erring
brother standing alone in his shame in
the house of God.
1T can't be true. He must be q
hypocrite," one said to another as an
excuse for this neglect.
st is no use to coddle such men.
They are q disgrace to the parish"
said q third.
The young church.member passed
out with the rest. Some feeling of
sympathy egitated his heart. He
watched the retreating figure Of the
sbashed and humilitated man as he
slunk away from the church with
bowed head. The sight troubled him ,
He went home, but could not stay. He
wandered out again, and his anxiety
led him to the drunkard's house.
He hardly dared to knock at the
door. He grew hot and cold, wonder
ing what he ought to do. At last, he
thought he heard a woman weeping
within, and summoning all his our
age, he rang the bell, and then wished
himself a thousand miles away. He
had never spoken to the nan in his
life, and he thought that probably his
intrus on would be considered imper.
tinent.
Toe wife admitted him, weeping.
"Ol," she said, help me! May be
you've come in time to stop it. John is
going away. HIS packing up. He's
going for goodI He's leaving me and
the childrenI H5u never come back.
He says he'll never set foot in this town
again. He's so ashamed for what he
has done, and the way they've treated
him. He never can hold up his head
again. OH can't you plead with him,
and prevent him from goingi"
The young man forgot his timidity.
81 will try" he said. He went into the
room with the discouraged penitent
and shut the door. The sounds OF
pleading then of prayer came
through the partition to the wife's
eager ears. An hour later the visitor
came out. Behind him walked q man
whose head was erect.
"Well, Jennie" he said, "seems I've
got one friend left in this place. As
long as he sticks I'll try to stick, too"
Hope and determination were
stirred. Another attempt for perma
nent reform would now be made. The
unselfshnet g Of the young Christian,
in doing what others dill not do, had
plished this. The man was
saved TO his family. His soul had been
strengthened in its fight with evil.
Such consecrated work By every
Christian would win supreme honor
to Christianity and hasten the univer
sal reign Of Christ ia the hearts and
lives Of men.
O1e OF the most striking contrasts OF
the Bible is in the text: Now the