The evening times., 1899-08-14
ALWAYS AN INFIDEL.
Mr. WnggOner, of Toledo, Explains
His Recent Convention.

His Recent Conversion.
New York, Aug AN. o. Wag-
goner, of Toledo Ohio, who was recently
converted from infidelity to Christianity.
writes to the Journal explaining the
manner of his conversion. He says:
II was born at Norwalk, Ohio, October
| 8, 1925. Beginning with the years of rea-
| son until quite recently, l was an une-
quivocal, materialistic infidel, but never
an agnostic, as has been stated.
/ During my lifetime have been a great
reader OF everything pertaining to the fu-
ture, both for and against an after life.
My earliest impressions were had from
my dear old maternal grandmother. She
was one of the family of Bigelows who
settled in New England very early in the
history of that country. Through her l
am direct descendant of that great di-
Vine Rossell Bigelow. Her efforts TO i'm
press me with the idea of an eternity were
for the most part lost, but some of them
have always remained indelible upon my
heart.
My conversion came on the night of
the 18th OF November last. 1t was a new
-be-forgotten night From $3.50 in
the evening until O'Clock in the morn
ing, with only an old Bible, given me by
my beloved grandmother. and a wonderful
instrument known as the gramophone
(Which / believe to be God-given and
God-controlled piece of mechanism for
company, l communed with my Saviour
When l had finished, / retired metamor-
phosed from an infidel into a firm believer
in Christianity. Since then, and though
In my seventy-third year, l have labored
unremittingiy from four to seven days
and nights a week in over ninety churches
in this city and adjacent towns to ex-
pound the Gospel.
Each day that has passed since that
memorable night my mind has become
more fully impressed with the knowledge
that | am now right.
Il have concluded, and with delibera-
ton, to cremate what few literary-if they
may so be called-works possess that en-
courage infidelity or agnosticism. | have |
not SO many books of this kind as has |
been said. / have perhaps 100 to 125 loan
ed out. These, under the existing cir |
cumstances, l cannot reasonably expect to |
see again, but what l have will be con- |
signed to the flames
The plan OF burning them in public I |
have abandoned, for the reason that | find |
the ceremony would call together a very
large, and, to a considerable extent an
undesirable crowd. Therefore the burning
Will be in private, witnessed only by the
members Of the Memorial United Brethren
Church, Hicks Street and Lawrence Ave-
nue..
1t will be seen that secularists did
nothing TO influence my conversion.
have always been an independent thinker.
nave been for many years a correspond
ent and writer for all the leading infideI
papers, beginning with the Boston In |
vesugator." l have supported all that
might be termed scientific. materiaIistic
but never have / been IMPRESSED
with anything in the line of spirituaIism,
theosophy. Swedenborgianism, OF occult
ism.
Il have for forty years been totally free
from the use OF tobacco or liquors of an
intoxicating character, or tea or coffee
How could you be a, Free Mason. hold
ing such views as you did?' has been asked
me by those who knew I had for many
years been active in Masonic bodies. To
these have replied
1 was a hard worker in Masonry and
was perfectly honest in my position.
would not even permit man, when l {
was master of lodge, who was not a de- ,
vout, God-fearing man, to carry the Bible :
In funeral professions. Masons will TN :
derstand my position when / say that / ,
subscribed to the obligations of Masonry :
IN all sincerity. l used the Bible for it's ,
moral precepts in the work, l have held ,
responsible positions in Ma
| :
priest l claimed had right to my own !,
belief as to what constituted deity I was :
then laboring under the same mistake :
that thousands are laboring under today. .
believing, as 1 claimed, that honesty, !.
strict integrity, and fair dealing, We're all /.
that was necessary in life.
Regarding the real cause of my con-
version, that is a question of great mag
nitude and a peculiar one to answer l l
have always felt an inner consciousness
Of power near me, which, to certain !.
extent, controlled me. 1 am satisfied that l
his was the arm of my Saviour that has
aver been with me and supported me, and
inally, without any argument or evangel-
stic work of any character by man,
brought me out of that darkness into tho
aith that is lighted by the countenance i.
,f my Saviour.
In the past nine months have realized I
more real enjoyment, more peace and l
of mind and soul than in all my :
previous life The greatest obstruction I !
Lao to contend with was persistent be- :
ief that there were too many hypocrites !
n the churches and too much coldnes2 !. ,
md lack of fire and fervent zeal among :
he ministers l was continually harpinS l
lpon that subject ;.