The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10

literally into the wilderness. returning
thence man Of deep and earnest rellSlous
convictions. Since that time he has pc
lieved himself TO be the special instrn-
ment of a divine power--the leader CHOSEN
TO defend tho liberty and the homes OF his
people. That incident WAS the turning
poInt in his life When this religious
struggle came upon him he was greatly
troubled In spirit, aud, like Mahomet,
turned TO the wilderness that he mlsht
commune with the Lord OF the universe.
His pilgrimage and his period OF ias'As
and prayer are thus described:
.One night, seeming greatly troubled IN
shirt. Paul Kruger gave his wife a rev
chapters TO read in the Bible, ana then
went suddenly away for some days, never
coming home. This was about 1897, when
he was 80 years old Some men went out
10 look for him. aud when In the noun
tain5 they heard somebody sing hut did
not take any special notice, and returned,
! telling that they had heard somebody
sing.
Then they came on the idea that 1t
might have been the president, aud they
went out again. and found him almost
dying OF hunger and thirst, even 10 sueh
an extent that they had 10 take the water
away, lest he should XIII hlmeelt by dFlK-
ing TOO much at time.
I'VE took him with us; he was go weak
with hunger thirst and fatigue that we
could hardly keep him on his horse. Ever
since then he has shown more special
desire for the Bible and religion He was
a changed man altogether. He lived Tor
religion, telling MS that the Lord had
opened his eyes and showed him every
thing His enemies often talked about
this sudden change. hut he never took
any notice They often made fun OF him,
but he let everything pass in silence
The place where this happened Is near
Kruger's old farm. Waterfront, near Rus
tenhurg, westward OF Pretoria
On this subject f. r, Statham, author o.
Paul Kruger and and His Times" says;
THAT this religious feeling takes shap'
which was better known In the England o
a century ago, the England OF the Metho
dist revival, than in the England of today
detracts nothing from Its value. II Pau
Kruger regards himself as specially gaid
ed and protected by supernatural power
the same thing is TO be said OF John New
ton, the friend of cowper. who. beginnin
his career as the captain OF SLAYER, endc'
II as the venerated rector OF one OF Lon
Idons most noted churches. The world
the English world, has become so cynice
. aud skeptlcal at The close Of the Nine
, teenth century that II forgets the cstima
I ton accorded TO the leading lights oil
: evangelical reisjon at the close or the
Eighteenth. The acknowledgment OF hi
q religious convictions ana their pubic II
Illustration and cnunciation has been /
habit of Kruger's HE.
a Everyone who knows Pretoria know
= the church opposite the presidenc,
. wherein on almost every Sunday Pau
q Kruger may be found employing both elo
h quence and earnestness In throwing tb
Q light Of his own personal experiences q
: the lessons OF the only book which h
@ cares to read. II 10 necessary to keep tn
It side of bis character In view. remember
p ing that however antiquated his view
may seem to children OF the present ger
= GRAFTON, with him they engage and absog
% the whole earnestness OF his being
Il Dom Paul Is carrying out his diyinely az
y pointed mission as a member OF the stric
J est and severest calvinistie sect of the r,
i formed Dutch church. and Is proud eve
20 OF being "Dopper" II is worth while
O. explain this word. because It shows Il