The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-11-06
FARMyILLE, VA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1908.

spite Of never having taken this impOr-
tant step. You may have had n gospel
bringing up that has helped you. but
what about that young clerk who is
watching your He has not yet public
ly confessed faith I'm God. lie has had
no sacred childhood He Is looking al
you now and saying well, If Mr. So
and-so can be good moral man and
not a church member guess 1 can"
Dare you, oh, moral man. allow that
boy TO make such an excuse? You
know you had a hard time TO keep your
Christian integrity, I'm spite Of all your
sacred past DO You feel that that
young man can safely run the gantlet
Of sin as you have done without the re-
stralning influence OF church member
ship? DO IT without public profession
Of Jesus Christ before the church al
tars?
Being able by the grace Of God TO
persuade a good, moral, upright man TO
publicly profess Jesus Christ i'm
church aisle was the means, ! believe,
by which I have accomplished my
greatest single work for good I'm the
gospel ministry. That man was one Of
the leading millionaires Of Pittsburg.
Every one who knew him was ready to
testify that he was square through and
through. His word was as good as his
bond. lie was the soul Of honor. Yet
year in and year out he went among
the business men of the Smoky City
as a good, moral man and not as a
Christian man. The young man said:
well, If l can be as straight and true
as Mr. So-and-So. that is an l ask.
guess my chance for heaven viii be
first class" ! heard Of such remarks
made by the young men. / made mp
my mind | would carry them straight
TO that millionaire II was morally
the bravest act / ever did / was at
that time merely boy and therefore
II was doubly hard. First | prayed
over the matter / felt that ! had a
right. and full right, 10 go TO God and
ask him for what was ON my heart
Then | started for that rich mans
house. I rang the bell and entered the
parlor When he came down l began
10 plead I'm the name Of my Christ /
said 10 him: "Mr. So-and-So l know
you are a Christian. No man with your
habits and your bringing mp could help
being a Christian. Your Christian
mother and Christian grandmother, be-
sides your Christian dead wife were
all members Of the old Second church.
But what about these young men who
are looking mp 10 you as an example,
Dare you and viii you be responsible
for their lives? Dare you refuse 10
publicly confess Christ and turn these
young mems minds toward the cross.
which IS the source of all your
strength Tears began 10 well up out
Of the great. fnancier's eyes. They
rolled down upon his cheek and his
beard. He extended his hand and took
mine and said, "Alr. Talmage, do you
think that the young men are saying
that about meW ! answered, II know
they are" Then he said, 81 Will pub
Hcly profess Christ as my Saviour I'm
the church aisle at our next com
munion."
In all the history Of the Second Pres
byterian church there never went forth
greater religious influence than on
that day. In the bank, over the coun-
ter. on the street and In the home hun
dreds Of men were saying: Have you
heard the news? Mr.. so-and-so has be
come a Christian lie joined the church
last Sunday" And from that one NOR
al Christian mans action Of publicly
protesting Christ in the church / be-
lleve hundreds Of young men were
brought to kueel at the foot Of the
cross. Oh moral Christian man. do not
suppose that while you are outside Of
church fellowship you can really help
the women who afe lGboring IN the Cos
pei. DO not be a Hessian or one who
Is fghting for American liberties when
you are not an American. BE born
again. Be a Christian church member.
Place your name In big black letters
upon the muster roll OF the church. As
a Christian, wearing the gospel armor
and fighting under the gospel standard
throw your whole soul and heart into
this Christ struggle against sin.
There Is 2 very common sign upon all
the board fences today. in which Henry
George stands with uplifted hand. say
ing. Il am for men, Today. as Christ's
messenger, 1 am pleading Tor men. !
want Christian men for gospel vista
ton. I want Christian men for the
PRAYER meeting and for the church ofii
GERS. want the Peters and Lukes and
Matthews. Bartholomew. Johns and
Pauls and the Tlmothys Of the present
generation. In other words. as a Chris
tlan pastor. / come today and say, 20
man. in the name Of Jesus Christ. we
want you to help the women who are
now laboring in our midst" VIII you
come and give to us your gospel hspi