The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-11-13
A CHRISTIAN worker.
Who Hcsitated to Fully Commit
Himself to the Religious Life.

lhe late president Harrison was {
profound student of the Bible. HI
was. 100, an earnest member of ths
Presbyterian chur.h and an actiy,
Sunday school olworkpr.
Among the attendants at his Sun
day school was young man who was
employed as a clerk in an indianapolis
store. This was in 1851. relates the
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post
during the session of the legislature
in which Gen. Harrison was a candi
date for the United States senate. Or
account of the uncertain complexion
OF the senate at tha. time. the Indiana
contest was one OF national interest
the days and nights were occupied
with planning and campaigning, and
every moment of Gen. ilarrison's time
was demanded by his supporters. In
quiries for him were constant. He
left one conference only to be drawn
into another.
One Sunday, at the conclusion of he
regular service. member of Mr.. Har-
rison's church approached the young
clerk and invited him to join the
church membership. The young man
replied that he could not formally
affiliate himself with any church be-
cause, though he believed the Scrip
lures in IL general way. he was still
prrpIeXed on a number of points. In
that condition Of mind ne could not
conscientious join ii church. This
conversation was overheard by Gen.
Harrison.
The general quietly ascerlained
where the Young man lived. and on he
next evening called at his boarding
house. The landlady, who recognized
him, was surprised and awed, and re-
piled, TO an inquiry If the young man
were at home, that he Was. She in
vited the general into the parlor; but
he said that he would rat her meet the
young man in his own room.
He was conducted to a small rear
room on the upper floor, and when the
young man opened the door in answer
to the IandIady's knoci. and saw Gen.
Harrison, he said. as he was wont aft
erward to express it, that he might
have been knocked down by feather.
Though he had long admired Mr..
Harrison at distance and had become
accustomed TO seeing him at church,
he had never spoken to him, and had
not imagined that the general was
even aware of\his existence.
Mr.. Harrison sat down, and with an
unwontedly cordial manner at once
set the young man at his ease. He told
him that he had overheard, on the
previous day, his expression of doubts
regarding the Scriptures, and said:
Nov, am much older man than
you. ! have for years been student
of the Bible, and perhaps may be able
to throw some light upon the points
which you do not unders land. hope.
too, that YOU will not look upon my
visit as an intrusion
Having inquired as to what points
were doubtful, Gen. Harrison pro-
ceeded to invest them with clear and
definite meaning, and then entered
upon an elaborate and masterful ex-
position of the basic truths of the
Scriptures.
At length The talk drew to a close,
and Mr.. Harrison looked at his watch.
"Why, how late it isl" he said.
1t was two o'clock in the morning,
and he had talked with the young man
for seven hours.
Thus, at time when his political
future was in the balance, and when
political workers were constantly
looking for him, he spent hours in
sowing the spiritual seed in field &C.
cidentally pointed out.
There is no doubt as to The general
coldness of Mr.. Harrison's manner
and ways; but those who knew him
best learned that beneath that cold
exterior there was heart that was
warm for humanity.