The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-20

visit. One night 1 and my wife were
stopping with friend who was then
seventy years Of age. He had accunu.
lated half million dollars. One foot
was in the grave.
One night when everybody else was
in bed he and I remained up for a
talk, and what do you think he Wanteo
to talk about-about eternity, or about
the future of his soul? Is that what ne
wanted to- talk about? No. He leaned
over that old white hand Of his and
whispered, "Archie, do you know any
place up in Minneapolis where l could
invest little money where it would
bring big interest" [Laughter.]
You laugh. but there is nothing laugh
able in it; it was appalling. Thousands
of men in Philadelphia tonight are in
the same grip Of that awful curse, that
love for gold. I would rather under
take to save twelve whisky fiends than
one miser.
How Is it with the love of pleasure?
All, friends, as the years pass by the
less and less pleasure there is in the
world, but the more pleasure you seek
and endeavor to enjoy. the more of a
slave you become to it. You 60 to a
theatre and you will see women OLD
enough to be grandmothers, dressed
in low-necked gowns. exposing their
thin, weazoned old forms, blazoned
with diamonds, as eager to see the
play as the miss just making her debut
in society. The longer you live for
the world the more of slave you be-
come to it's pleasures, but the less
plea sure there is in it, and the time
will never come when it is easier to
give up the world than it is tonight.
Some years ago was stopping with
friend. and after we came home from
meeting he told me the story or his
life. He said: 81 had been happily
married for more than fourteen years.
I was the principal Of the public
school in the town where I lived. My
wife and I quite agreed in everything,
and we were very happy together.
zone night something over fourteen
and half years after we had been
married my wife said to me, Husband,
have decided to become Christian
and wish to unite with church, l
laughed at her and said, Tut, tut!
you're not going to become Christian;
I have no idea Of becoming Chris
tan, and don't see why you should
wish to become a Christian. Now we
have lived happily together for four.
teen years, and if you will do that 1t
may result in my going my way ana
you going your way and virtually IN
a separation
"After some further talk I finally
promised to let my wife become a
Christian, but on her promise that she
should not unite with the church; SO
she became a Christian, but did not
unite.with the church. 1t went on this
way for about six months, and you
know that no really converted Chris
tan can really be happy out OF Chris
tian fellowship.
"At the end of six months one Sat.
urday night she said, Husband, have
been trying for six months to be a
Christian outside Of the church, and
have decided that 1t is my duty to
make a public confession of my faith
and unite with the church. Then
was angry and said. Wife, see here,
now. I have no intention of becoming
Christian. and want you to under
stand that If you unite with the churcn
you are nothing more to me-
THAT was pretty stern test to put
to q loyal wife, but that wife was loyal
and not only loyal to her husband but
loyal to God and man. That wife said,
Husband you know that I love you,
but I must obey Gid, and His Word is
clear. l have made up my mind to
make a public confession Of religion
tomorrow, and to unite with the
church.
81 was very angry and said, Very
we'll, wife, then you 60 your way and
I 20 my way; you are nothing more to
me- We both went to our rooms and
retired for the night. could not sleep.
At 2 o'clock I cried, wife, l am con-
verted; we will 60 to church to-
gether.'"
When he told me that, he was Con.
gregational minister, and now he Is in
glory. If that wife had waited for him
perhaps neither of them would have
been converted. She went first ana
brought him in. If you will come first
perhaps you will bring your friends
along Suppose they won't come"
you say. Then come without them. l
had rather go to Heaven alone than go
to hell in company. If I were not
Christian tonight and not another per-
son started for Heaven tonight, !
would start though I started alone.
Men and women, don't you know you
are lost? Oh, yes. Don't you know
that Jesus Christ died for your sins?
Yes. Don't you know that If you &C.
cept Him He would save you tonight
Yes.
Well, will you accept Him? Will
you accept Him? Will you accept
Him? Feeling or no feeling, tears or
no tears, agony or no agony, will you
ranaiya Him9