Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-02-05
THURSDAY FEBRUARY s. 1903

Ieauy W run W nlect you. MS Is aIl th"u
He requires on your part. He is ready to
do all the rest.
1t is said that DR.. Rainsford, of Eng
land, in one of the Mortified conferences
at one time related the story OF an old
friend of his, a German professor, who
was an agnostic, and as You know the
creed of the agnostic is simp.y, Il do not
know" This Old professor came to visit
DR.. Rainsford and went with him to all the
services of his church When the day was
ended the rector said to him, Professor,
swer was, at is beautiful. but that is all |
can say" Then DR.. Rainsford put to him
these questions:
First, "Do you not think that it is, pos
sible that there may be a God:'' and the
Old professor said, "Yes, possible
Second, "Then do YOU not think that it
is probable that God has made a revelation
of Himself to His creatures" and his
friend answered, Yes, probable
Third, well. do you not think" said he,
chat He would make that revelation pain
fessor answered, 81 should think He would
"WefI." said DR.. Rainsford. :'have you
ever asked Him." and the old man an.
swerpd, NO"
For my sake" said he, "will you ask
Him now" and they fell upon their knees
in the study, and the Old minister said,
wLord God, reveal Thysef unto my dear
friend" When his prayer was ended he
said, Now, Professor, YOU pray, and the
old man lifted up his eyes and said. "Oh,
God" and then as it he felt he had gone
too far, he changed his petition, and said,
"Oh, God. If there be God, show me the
light and will" and he was just going
on to say, 81 will walk in it, when sud
denly he sprang to his feet with his face
radiant and shouted, "Why. l see it, see
it, and it is g,orious" His agnosticism
took wings and departed from him. Faith
i,.eI his heart and JOY thrilled in his soul
He has from that time to this been good
disciple OF Jesus Chr.st In the light OF
all this | make the plea, only encourage
your least desire, and you shall come to
know Him whom to know is life eternal.
"IIE HAD COMPASSION AND RAN"
never knew until recently what that
word Compassion meant. L know now
that it indicates ones suffering with an
other. 1t is this thai makes the story OF a
man : transgression SO pathetic. Other
hearts are made to ache and almost break
Other eyes are filled with tears and other
lives made deso,atc. | can see this o'd
father going up to the outlook from his
home. gazing off in the direction which his
boz had taken. coming d0Wn the steps
again like David OF Old crying out, "oh,
my son, my son, would God | had died Tor
YOU" lie had compassion.
We had in our city Il young man who
was more than ordinarily prosperous N
his business, and his prosperity seemed to
ha the cause OF his downfall. 1t became
50 marked that his partners called him
into their office to sa" that he must either
mend his ways or dispose OF his interests
in the concern. His promises were good,
and all went well for a little season, and
then when the failure was worse than ever
they insisted that he should dispose of his
interests to hem, and with great sum
of moaey ne began to sink rapd.y. lie
had gone from bad to worse nnt'I not long
ago they found him foatint II the river,
for be had taken his oNh lie. The story
is sad in the extreme, but the saddcst por-
ton of it is found in The fact that there Is
an cd man to-day gong about the streets
of the city mourning for his sou lie
scarcely lifus his eyes from the ground as
he walks. Sometimes YOU beho Il hun
with the tears rolling down his cheeks. lie
has compassion. And it is a fact that one
never sins, breaking even the least OF
Gods commandments, that the heart OF
the great and owing Father does not yearn
ovCy HIM aud long for his return.