Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-02
A CHRISTIAN WORKER.
Beo5amAn HarPtSon ana the C1epk
Who Hesitated to Fully Commit
himself to the ReIiaious Life

The late President Harrison wa n
profound student Of the Bible. He
was, too. an earnest member OF tho
Presbyterian church and en- active
Sunday school worker.
Among tho attendants at HE Sun
day school was young man who was
| employed as q olerk In an Indianapolis
store This wos In 1881, relates the
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post,
during the session of the legislature
In which Gen. Harrison was q candi-
date for the United States senate. On
account OF tho uncertain complexion
OF tho senate at that time, the Indiana
contest was ono of national interest;
the days and nights were occupied
with planning and campaigning. and
every moment Of Gen Hnrrison's time
was demanded by his supporters In
quirses foT him were constant. He
left one oonfeSonOe only TO DO drawn
Into another.
One Sunday. al the conclusion OF the
regular service. q 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 general way, he was stin
perplaKed on q number OF points. In
| that condition OF mind he could not
conscientiously }oin q church. This
conversation was osverhaasd by Gen.
Harrison
The general Qo3etly sscertaIned
Sshere the young Sasn lived, and on the
next evening called at his boarding
houSs. The lAndlAdy, who recognised
him. was surprised and awed, and re-
Piled, 70 an inquiry II the young man
were at home, that he was. She In
vited tho general into the parior; but
he said that DO would rather mee4 the
young man In his own room
He was conducted 20 q small rear
room on the upper floor, and when the
young man opened the door In answer
to the lapdlady's knock end saw Gen.
Harrison he said as he was wont aft
e<vNerd TO express II; that ha might
have been knocked down by fsather.
Though hs had hong admired Mr..
Harrison at distance and ksd become
accustomed 20 seeing him at church.
be had never spoken to him, and had
not imagined thAs the general was
even aware OF his existence
Mr.. Harrison sat down. and with an
unwontedly cordial manner ct 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 Sculptures, and said.
| Now. ! am a much older man than
you have for years been a student
OF the Bible. and perhaps may be able
TO throw some Hight upon the points
which you do not understand. / hope.
too, that you win not look UPON my
visit as an intrusion"
Having inquired % 90 what points
were doubtful, Cen. Harrison pro-
decided to invest them with clear and
definite meaning. and then entered
upon On elaborate and masterfuI ex-
position Of the basic truths OF the
Scriptures.
! AT length the TALK drew to q close,
and Mr. Harrison looked at his watch.
Why how late 1t lei" he said.
1t wes 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. be spent hours in
sowing the spiritual seed In field ae-
cIdantaliy pointed out
There Is no doebt "a TO the general
coldnese OF Nh Harrison's manner
/ and wayss bat those who knew him
best learned thas beneath that cold
exterior there was q heart that was
I warm tor humanity