Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-12
PATHETIC
Was the Story Told
BY Mr.. Wagner, the
Converted InfideI.
Long Struggle Before Con-
version Came,
But Victory Over Doubt and
Sin Was Glorious.
Golden Rule Mayor Charged With
inconsistency.

hN'Shty 'O'A JN'''S '''' N''h 'ciA
and beard white as snow, voice trem-
bling, and tall form slightly bent and
shaking, Marshall O. Waggoner, of
Toledo, the converted inhdel, stood be-
fore an audience of 800 people at the
| United Brethren church, Sunday even
ing and said: "I am as toddling
child Of IS months; my spiritual life
is in its infancy"
There was something pathetic about
the picture presented by the aged man,
and his words, spoken tremblingly,
yet with an earnestness peculiarly i'm
pressive. There was Il reserential
hush in the audience, as the converted
man told his story-a story descriptive
of struggle whose victory meant
hope Of life enternal,
"On the 10Th of November, 1893, my
life eliminated III a form, of which
am unable to tell you," said the
speaker. ",rhe greatest care ever tried
before any tribunal, was tried by the
greatest lawyer that ever existed
Jesus Christ-and the case was against
me. l cried out, %, eternal judge,
throw myself OH the mercy of the
COURT Just as am without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me-!
o, the bitterness ofthat night! 1t was
distressing to think that sevenytwo
and a half years of my life had been
wasted-worse than wasted, many of
the years having been spent in work
ing against the cause of our God.
had read the Bible closely for the pur-
pose of gaining from it information
thought / would tlisprovc its state.
ments, and be hot shot to send into the
ranks of Christianity ] was Il mater
|ialistic infidel, and believed that il
/ lived honestly and treated my fellow
man in brotherly manner my
chances for escaping future punish
ment would he as good as those OF
the best Christian,
But, thank God. the Bible today
looks to me as bright as the noon-day
sunbeams.
"For 20 years ! had experienced oc
casional compunctions that l was er
ring, but wholly ignored them. On the
evening of November 10, 1893, knelt
in prayer in my room in my residence
on Madison ST., Toledo. l had lost
my wife by death, and was conscious
of my great sins. 1t was o'clock
when 1 began to pray, and then when
l concluded there was a meeting held
in my room. Christ was the leader
| read some in my grandmother's Bi
BILE, and then placed record on the
gramaphone. The first selection was
ion were praise God From Whom All
Blessings Flow" almost Persuaded y
"Just AS | Am Without Ono Plea,
"Nearer My God to Thee" and the
Lords Prayer"
II continued to pray and read and
listened to the music of the grama
phone. Finally nj O'clock, while lis
teuing to the song, Rock of Ages"
saw the light, and ever since have
felt better and happier. 1 know tina,
have heen forgiven of my SINS
"On the night of the Goth I slept sc
well. l was Il new man."
Mr.. Waggoner related the sad occur
renee of the death. Of his wife, anc
how short time before dying, she
had called him to her side, and request
salvation. Mrs. Waggoner had beer
Christian for several years, but hat
kept the fact from her husbands
knowledge.
An inddel delivered the funeral ora
ton over Mrs. Waggoner's grave, but
according to Mr.. Waggoner's instruc
tions, said nothing that would in any
way offend Christians.
Not long after Mrs. Waggoner'
death her husband found n note tina
she had addressed to him. contain
ed an appeal to him to change his
views Of religion.
"At my wife's open grave" contin
ued the speaker, II solemnly vowed
that would never again use profanC
language, or do anything that knew
would be wrong"
The speaker earnestly invited all his
hearers 10 do what they could for tn,
furthelance of religious work and cd