The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-01-28
CONVERSION OF PAUL
Scriptural Incident RetOld by Pow
erful Effect.

The subject considered by Mr..
Barrett on Tuesday evening was "The
Story of the Conversion of a Noted
Infidel" The services opened with
the usual song service, after which
a solo and duet were rendered by
Mr.. Bell and Dir. Tony, entitled Lead
Me Gently Home" and Mrs Canheld
and Mr.. Bell also sang a duet, Keep
in Touch With jesus" Mr. Barrett
took as his text, Acts 26;19; There
upon, o King Agrippa, was not as
obedient unto the Heavenly Vision. 7
The story of the conversion of st.
Paul has always been one of tragic
moment, among Christian people. A
mans personal experience Is large
item In human life and when st. PAUL
was called upon to defend his expert.
ence before King, Agrippa, he simply
told the marvellous story of his con.
version TO the cause of Cnrist. st.
Paul was the leader of new crusade
and from a spiritual standpoint, he
was King among Pigmies. n son OF
that removes prejudices, is without
doubt, a true vision and what were
the prejudices of st. Paul Was ever
man by training and education, more
thoroughly imbued in the subtitle and
refined prejudice s of his race, than
Paul? He was Hebrew of the He
bfews and Pharisee of the Pharisees.
Therefore his hatred of Jesus Christ
was simply unspeakabie. Paul well
knew of Christs ministry, His mir
acles and His spotless character and
yet when His name was mentioned,
all of the latent malice, hatred and
wrath in Panl's heart and life, broke
forth and all of this governed by UNI
comfortable prejudice. 1t is true
vision that reveals to our sinful hearts
Jesus Christ. "Who art Thou, Lord
| am Jesus, whom thou persecutest'
There is something good in other re-
ligions, % but there is no Christ. In
every true conversion, there is a time
of crisis. 1t is the moment of decision
that influences our lives and leads
them into good or evil. Paul's decision
was not based on logical reasoning,
but he had been firmly convinced
that he had been contending against
God and he realized a yielding to the
constraining love of a new found Lord.
He had been an enemy of Jesus Christ,
but now he proclaimed Him to be
the Son of God. In making this decis-
ion, he had sacrificed home, position,
comfort, ease and lit fact, everything
that had been dear in life. "Whereup-
on o King Agrippa, was not dlsobed-
lent unto the Heavenly Vision" In
the appeal of Mr. Barrett for seekers
one young man presented himself at
the altar of the church. So far in
these meetings about eighty souls
have been reached as far as visible
Indications are concerned, but scores
are still under conviction and it is
impossible to estimate the far reach
ing influences on the minds and hearts
of the people, who have heard Mr..
Barrett and mis- searching method of
presenting the truth, and Mr.. Bell,
with his inspiring songs and his spir-
itual testimony to the cause of Christ.
A large audience was present on
Tuesday evening and every part of
the main auditorium was filed. This
is the last week of the meetings and
there are yet good things 10 come.
The meetings will close on Sunday
evening next. Mr.. Barrett will speak
on Wednesday on the subject of "A
Mighty Narrow Escape" This will be
a special sermon and will be well de-
serving Of a large hearing.