The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-06-15

but he Furnished the gold and fres-
coed the walls Of THAT house not
made with hands," and the altar space
was filled to throng when the call WIS
made.
It was apparent now to the enrap-
tured missionary that his meeting had
reached the flood and his face was
radiant. He had seen the strange
power of his opportune co-worker to
move the hearts of men and was wild
with Joy when he saw him stand
above Major Brently and raise his
hand to check the song In ringing
tone the stranger commanded: Let
us move heaven to mercy for this
mans soul. There is a voice within
me, sweet and clear, that whispers the
hour has come for this mans soul TO
lay hold of that chain whose upper
link is fast to Jehovah's throne, and
my faith in God shall perish If this
voice plays me false"
For an instant the stiffness of the
tomb was over the congregation. His
startling declaration frightened, ap-
palled, paralyzed his hearers. Was
it the wildness of caprice or the
confidence of faith? The speaker
stood silent for a moment, as If
waiting for the force of suggestion 10
play it's part. All eyes were upon
Major Brently whose frame now shook
like the reeds of the field when
stirred to violence by the wasteful
hurricane. Then the stranger knelt
beside Major Brently and bade the
congregation kneel. With a voice
strangely strong, strangely soft and
strangely measured, he led the pray
er. Raising his voice with the free
dom and grace of a bird of flight, he
fashioned his petition for the needs
of the hour, and as he touched with
wondrous power the hearts of his con
gregation, chorus of prayers, earnest
and anxious, rose upon the stiffness
of a mountain dell and a summer
night. The stranger chose his words
and style with faultless elegance and
played upon the hearts OF his hear
ers with the skill of a master upon
his harp, and the response was all
that pride could covet or humanity
cherish. At last, fashioning his pc
tition personal to Major Brently, he
steadied his voice and in unbroken
measure. prayed: eye message-car-
rying angels, hear! Unfold your
wings and poise your heads for flight.
Prepare to shame the lightning with
your speed, for there's a message
soon that earth must flash to heaven
that soul is born into the eternal
soulship Of Cod"
The strangers work was done. Ma
jor Brently arose slowly. like one
disrobing an armor of ponderous
chains, but his task done, he embrac-
ed the stranger, shouting GLORY to
God in the highestl Don't send the
angels, brother! Heaven seems so
near that Christ and the Saints can
hear me shout the good news!" The
stranger, leaning upon the altar, his
face abeam with delight, called back:
Tell it, brother! Thunder it through
the heavens till the very throne
trembles with its power!"
Morning came and tile stranger
passed on his way, and there was gen.
uine sorrow in the young mission
ary's heart when he later learned that
his chance co-worker Of night was
a variety actor who played upon Lifes
stage every varying part, as fortune
cast the company. But he still credits,
under God, the player of many parts
with the conversion Of Major BIently
and the consequent mooring Of the
gospel ship in the harbor Of Cold
Spring. j. II. THOMAS.
NarroWs, Ky.