The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-06-15
And Used His WondrOus
Talents Well.
CONVERSION OF EARLY TIMES
Which PartoOk of the MelO-
drama-True and Thrill
Ing Narrative.


while ago, recalls an incident illus
trating the wretched mans power 10
serve the cause of religion, had be
preferred the service Of God to the
service of the devil.
Nearly twenty years ago young
Baptist minister, of a missionary
spirit. with a song book and bible
for his companions, journeyed into
tie widest recesses of the Kentucky
mountains. Stopping one day to Stake
his thirst at the flood of a clear cold
stream that gurgled from a cleft In
the mountain side, the young apostle
saw in the overarching forest trees
an arbor for his labors which in the
moment was the origin of the since
famed camp ground of Cold Spring.
Summoning the rough but honest
hillsmen around him, the young min
lister told over and over in varying de-
tail the Story of the Cross. The
nearest church was forty miles away
and many of the grownup mountain
GERS had never before heard the
preaching Of a gospel sermon. The
novelty of the meeting attracted n
great concourse of people, and the
powerful earnestness of the preacher
moved the rough but tender hearts
of those children of the mountains.
When taught the way to mourn and
to win the priceless blessing, CONVEX
sion followed conversion till a score
of souls were rescued. The Jealous
missionary now announced that to-
morrow a congregation would be for
mally organized and he eXhorted the
new converts TO spend the afternoon
in secret prayer for the conversion at
the night service of the ten mourners
who were still at the mercy-seat,
that the parent church of that Wild
country might be strong as a vantage
ground for future labors. Without
patronizing wealth, without fawning
on position, the missionary was
watching, praying, hoping above all
else for the conversion OF Major
Brently, who had come night after
night to the altar, but the blessing
was as often deferred. Primitive peo-
lie, like the wild herds of the plains,
run into clans, and every clan, like
every herd, has its chief. Such a chiet
was Major Brentley. The missionary,
able to view such conditions from
above, knew the value of such con-
vert and had labored long and earnest
~ to that end. But at last his
heart grew weary and hope was APP
preaching despair, when the happy
incident that both honors and shames
the memory of that tcmpestuots
character whose death / have men
toned, occurred.
In the twilight Of a summer even
ing. alone by the roadside, the mis-
sionary was silently and piously pray
ing for the conversion of Major Brent
", when a stranger on horseback ac-
costed him with an inquiry about
lodging for the night. The missionary
told him that a revival meeting was
being conducted in the neighhorhood,
and that the good family with which
he was stopping had all the guests
perhaps they could conveniently en-
terrain. The stranger expressed his
10y that lie CHANGED to pass that way
Just when such congenial exercises
were being conducted, being himself
a preacher of the Word. His ad-
dress was easy and pleasant and the
missionary could not conceal his JOY
at the arrival Of co-laborer AS
surfing the stranger of share Of
whatever hospitality was at hand, he
acquainted him at once With the
progress of the meeting and the far
reaching importance of the conversion
of Major Brently. Politely declining
the evening sermon, the stranger
volunteered to lead the altar work.
Gathering strength from the pres
ence of an unexpected co-worker, the
young missionary preached with the
power of a philosopher and the zeal
of an apostle, painting with equal en-
ergy the glories of heaven and the
horrors of hell. The sermon con-
cluded, the stranger arose and APP
preached with steady step the impro7
vised pulpit. Facing the congregation,
he was a character to admire-a
large, strong man, just come into the
fullness of manhood. His face was
large, forehead broad and high, and
long hair hung in graceful waves
about his shapely head. His eyes, too
we're large and of liquid softness
torches for the touch of passions
flame. His voice was deep and strong
and yet it flowed with the softness
of some elastic fluid, run to the