The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-01

Ao AN OK
given and the sense of condemna-
ZION n guilt would b. gone.
Now, II you are saying what YOU
DO not know to beetrue, you ought
10 be ashamed. II you are hold
ing out to a man like me a hope
when there Is no hope, you ought
to stop It."
a Life or Death Bargain.
AT this point, without appearing
TO cease speaking, the mans voice
seemed to die out Of him and he stood
silent, but with the intensity Of his
pose unrelieved-and his hungry eyes
searching the face OF the preacher.
Inc sincerity Of the man obviously
entitled him to every considerations
There was tragedy in the Ines Of his
race and in the tones of his voice.
he took some steps nearer, to bring
himself directly in front Of the chan
eel, and, stretching out his hand in d
gesture OF appeal, said:
IT want to know, sir, whether
you believe that his religion you
are preaching a u V a man like
me. O said that Jesus. saved a
thief on the cross. Do You believe
that Jesus can save q thief now?'
1.-The mans chin quivered and his
eyes swan as again the voice died out
of him. The entire audience was
moved by the force Of his appeal. Dr..
GoodeI confesses that he felt it to his
heels, but he felt also his faith rise
within him at the challenge. He
reached across the chancel rail and
took the appealing, outst~etched hand
in his, saying, in a voice Tor all to
lear:
"'My brother, I have honestly
declared a message in which I
believe. I cannot afford to preach
a Gospel that is not true, and I
will not. I am ready to make this
contract with you. II you will
meet the conditions which are
laid down In the Bible. by which
a man may come to God, and you
do not find salvation. I will never
again go into this pulpit to
preach!'
'Something like a sigh swept owe
the audience as they realized the SIG
n%ificance of the issues thus joined. AZ
for the two men, they knelt together
at the altar. There was an earnes'
exposition Of the way Of life by thu
doctor with the open Bible before him
with eager. earnest listening by The
man. Thereafter the minister prayet
fervently, and the seeker himsel Ut
tered a few broken sentences. Tnert
were other incidents of the revival ser
vice tina night, but nothing co1npar
able in Importance to this one, ane
the congregation was dismissed II
suppressed excitement. The service o.
the following night had been an
nounced. but with the stipulation tina
DR., Goodell would not preach excep
upon the condition which all now un
derstoOd.
"Will 1t Work."
"As the congregation passed on
and left the doctor alone, and fnall.
the man who had challenged his Cos
pei so strangely was also gone, ~
Goodell began to feel a sinking at Tn
heart. He realized that he had risket
all the future of his ministry upo1
the chance issue Of affairs in the sou
of a highly emotional creature VIII
had strayed into his meeting. Yet n
reasoned with himself that he ha'
done right and only what an hones
preacher could do. He believed tina
redemption began here and now. |
this man-if any honest seeke
couldn't get it, then either there wa
no such thing or else he, the preach
er. did not know how to proclaim !.
and night therefore as well cease I
preach as to continue.
DR.. Goodell did not slice
much that night. and the next day va
a restless one for him. Some OF NJ
parishioners thought he had been %
rash ana came 10 ttii I'LL y, Oo1 -
withstood their urgings. Night came
and the hour for service. Dr.. COCO
ell was at the church. but did not en-
ter the pulpit. Instead he sat Jus
inside the chancel rail with his eye
unon the door. Would the ma
= come? Would he come a conquero
= or a miserable failure, confessing de
: feat? The time to preach at lensl
q arrived. but the man did not. y
Il Goodell announced another hvm'
! and the congregation stood n sang
y There is a fountain filled wit
= blood etc
LAS the last note died hasty steI
9 were heard in the NesNbule. then u
n doors swung and a mantle man
a with hair disheveled and his feature
Q dripping perspiration, rushed 40"
the aisle.
..The car broke down, he e.
claimed. breathlessiy, but and q
voice rose in hoarse notes OF trlu1np
YOU can go ahead and preach.
1;f@ hG0 hoan mn