The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-16

l bad. For, dear friends we must real ! ize that we are building character every 1 day. Do not watch yourself in your efforts or you will fall, Look not at l others or you will stumble. Look to
 Jesus and you will be saved!
 As I said, I began to be hard l hearted and to be less religious. I | dreaded and avoided evangelistic meet l ings because l did not want to be in- t1uenced. And then, my friends, there
 came the desire to leave the church. One day I said to my father: Father, I
 want to leave the church. 'Why?' said l he. Because there isn't enough society 1 in it, ] replied. Did you ever hear anyone say a thing like that dear friends?
 Well began to read books which tended to make me sceptieal From this I went to books on downright in- fidelity. began to think that what I didn't know wasn't worth knowing, just as people do who are in the posi- ton In which I was. What lacked in
 brains I made up in egotism.
 "One day I heard that Rev. MT. Will
 lis was going to preach in town (and
 by the way if you ever get chance
 to hear him don't miss it) I went in-
 tending to have good laugh, as he al-
 ways told funny stories Before I went
 out l was thoroughly mad and thor
 oughly stirred up, because everything
 Dr, Willis said seemed pointed directly
 and with very sharp point at myself.
 He showed me just what a silly con-
 ceited fool I had been and he showed
 me by his droll stories. It set me 4
 thinking and at the next opportunity
 went to camp meeting, but I heard
 not word that was said, so intent was my mind on the words of Dr. Willis.
 That night I believe I received a warning from my Maker. I dreamed that I had but thirty minutes to live but the last five minutes, when I shall make my peace and die. I thought we did so, but that when all became quiet and | tried to pray I could not do so. My | words seemed to go no farther than my mouth and I was lost. I awoke i'll an | agony of fear. I vowed to God that I | would mend my ways and yet l could | not bring myself to think of going to the altar and of making a profession of faith.
 Here, my friends, is the test. God knows human nature and He asks a test which is the true test of sincerity and of faith. I hesitated to do so, but the next week when I saw my father sing the call to sinners to confess and look at me with tears running down his face, l rebelled no longer but arose and standing at the altar I made my profession of faith.
 From this time on I took up my du- ties as church worker. Sometimes I doubted and when I did the words ''If ye love Me keep My commandments served to instill new faith into my heart. l became teacher and after while l saw the depth of the holy work. sought the baptism of the Holy Ghost realized that my time, reputation, faculties, all were to be given to the good work And so one lay I was called to Annapolis. They lad closed the saloons and they needed With a sad heart, for I lad never been away from home be- Ore, l started for the scene of my fu- ure labor.
 T worked quite while. I worked Il Baltimore six months. This was my irst work in the field, and from it I earned the great. secret of helping one- elf by helping others. It is sixteen ears since that time and I have seen O,000 souls saved during that period"