The Washington bee., 1903-01-24
SINNERS AT PRAYER.
Frightened by Sound of GabrIers
Horn in Church.
OOlored Boy In Belfry sounded 4hs
TerrOFiEing InstruBAent, Bat IL
Certainly Wrought the Ef-
fec9 Desired.

George A. Cox, a reyiValist of some
note in northern Indiana and south
ern Michigan, resOrted to an unusual
expedient recently to turn sinners
from their evil ways. 1t was so sue
Cessful that he may repeat it for
their benefit if the nOtoriety result
lng from his first attempt does not
put the worldly on their guard and
thus make it impossible TO dupe them
again.
He had been preaching night after
night 70 a village congregation, but
had utterly failed TO awaken interest.
The usual special prayers for the con-
version of sinners had been offered
and meetings for women only" and
''for men only" had been held. but
nothing seemed able to bring the sin
aers 70 the anxious seat. One night,
says the Chicago Inter Ocean, he Sc
creted a negro boy in the belfry of the
little church. The lad was provided
With large horn, and at a certain
junctuCe in the minister's closing
prayer he was TO blow it with all his
might.
The sermon that evening was from
the text, MANY are called, but few are
chosen" and Mr.. Cox eloquently dwelt
upon the delights of the saved and the
zufferings of the lost. Then he knelt
in prayer and begged the Lord to
hasten the day Of his coming and TO
turn the hearts OF the wicked toward
Him before it was forever too late.
Gabriel, come blow thy trumpet, ="
he shouted. Come and sound thy
mighty warning of approaching woe to
q stiff-neeked people"
This was the signal for the negro
boy in the belfray, and he sounded
blast after blast in answer TO the min
ister's prayer.
There was a commOtiOn in the con-
gregation. Many pious men and
women fell on their knees and began
% pray. Sinners sat with blanched
faces and trembling forms, expect
ing every moment for the world to
come TO an end.
lister, "Our petitions are at last an
swered. Down upon your knees,
brethren, that you may receive the
Lord in cOntriteness of heart and hu-
mility Of spirit. for this is surely the
day of the resurrection"
So we'll had the programme been
carried out that saints and sinners
alike dropped on their knees, and a
hundred voices were raised in sup
phcatiOn for forgiveness, many of
the oldest and most hardened sinners
an the village praying Justify for
mercy A call for penitents was fol-
lowed by a rush to the mOurners'
bench, and by hallelujahs from mem
beTs who saw their sons and daugh-
ters taking the first steps toward a
better life.
After quiet had been restored, and
while the congregation sat in breath
less silence waiting for something
supernatural 10 happen, Mr.. Cox
called the negro down from the bel
fry, and the lad came down, horn in
hand, and a broad grin upon his face.
As he came down through the little
scuttle hole in the ceiling and
dropped to the floor, Mr.. Cox pointed
him out as the supposed Gabriel, and
then began to shame the sinners for
the cowardice they had displayed.
IF thus you are frightened at the
horn of Gabriel" said the minister,
what viii you do when you stand
before the judgment seat of God
whose mercirs you have trampled up
on, and whose grace you have SO long
abused? Shame upon you. Come to
God, confess the evil of your lives,
and ask forgiveness before Gabriers
trumpet shall sound in reality for
Won"