The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-04-21
FROM LAW
TO GOSPEL
EVANGELIST TELLS HIS STORY
Noted Evangelist Tells Tale of His
Conversion and of Late
Work.

ht tit TiISl Cnurcn
evening a very interesting service was
held in which Mr.. Cahrles Norton
Hunt, a noted evangelist of Minnesota,
gave his experience, telling the story
Of his call from the practice of law
to the preaching of the Gospel sixteen
years ago. Mr.. Hunt. a member Of
the church, as so many others, with
little of spiritual life or zeal, was busy
In law practice that was large and
constantly increasing. 1t was Just at
the time when the great religious cam
paign of Mills and Chapman was in
progress at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mr.. Hunt was not in sympathy with
the campaign, did not want to attend
the meetings and determined he would
not do so. He made a professional
excuse to be absent in Iowa until after
the meetings were over, but was COM
PEELED by business engagements to re-
turn home during the last week of the
meetings. Still fighting against the
Spirit, he was finally, very much
against his WILL induced to attend.
Felt Personal Appeal.
That night he thought the evange-
nearly everything he said, especially
in the later meeting. With men aris-
ing all about him he seemed glued to
his seat, saying to himself, 81 wont,
won't l won't" 1t was only after
terrific struggle that he surrendered
| to God. With that surrender came a
vision Of the future that was before
him as preacher of the Gospel This,
too, he un~villingly considered and an
| other fierce struggle with himself en-
| sued before he could be brought to
say, "Thy will, not mine, be done" At
last, completely surrendered, he shut
the door of his office, turned his back
upon the past and faced the new life.
Calls for evangelistic services came
quickly and often. A year of remark
able activity followed, wondrously
blessed of God. Year succeeded year
| until the name of the evangelist be-
came known throughout the middle
west, the east. the south and across
the water, and for years his name has
| been written alongside of those of
Torrey. Chapman, Sunday, Scoville
and others of the ablest evangelists
of the day. Mr.. Hunt was attracted
to this Valley by the wonderful stor-
| les of prosperity and of promise that
| came to him. He listened at first in
credulously, then with consideration
and conviction, until at last he said,
II will go; l will see for myself He
| came. He has seen and is now thor
| oughly convinced that the reality is
larger than the reports which came to
him.
Facts of an Interesting Life
Mr.. Hunt gave many interesting
facts regarding his life and CONVEX
sion. He paid glowing and deserved
| tribute to his mother and her belief
that her prayers and the consecrated
| life of his father were the most po-
tent causes which brought him into
his present work. He urged upon
every family the duty of maintaining
a family altar and said that no mat
ter how far boy might wander the
memory of the hour of family prayer
and the pure atmosphere of a Chris
tan home would bring him back to
his Heavenly Fathers house, even
| though it might be after many days.
He placed the influence of such a
home above the teachings of church
| or Sunday school.
Mr.. Hunt has been very successful
with his work. seeing many thousands
yield to Jesus Christ, under his preach
ing. His heart is in his work and he
counts all things as loss that he may
win lost ones to the Master, whom he
serves so well.
Mr.. Hunt is here making some in
vestments for himself and his friends.
His work is preaching the Gospel in
all parts of the world. He has made
1t life work and expects to continue
it as long as life shall last