The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-01-27

them.
To do this sue.
cessfully we must study the condi-
ton of those whom we would help,
and imagine how we should think and
feel if we were in their condition. II
we have had any experience in their
line of work, it will help US. II not,
we can sometimes acquire the requis-
tie knowledge by reading. When
Bishop Whittle was called to O mis-
sion near the railroad yards he asked
an engineer how to reach the railroad
operatives. The answer was, Read
Lardner's Railroad Economy until
you are able to ask a question OF an
engineer and not make him think you
are a fool" He won the hearts of
the first group of railroad men he ad-
dressed by asking them whether they
preferred inside or outside coanec-
tons. When he had done discussing
connections, steam heaters, and eX
hausts, he invited them to his chapel.
and every man came the next Sun
day.
1t is not wise usually to talk to PEG
pie about their relation to Christ in
the presence of others. 1t embarrGsses
and it may anger them. However, one
can often tell an appropriate story and
thus indirectly accomplish the same
end without giving offense. DR.. Tai
mage III the account of his conversion
gives good illustration of tacrful
preaching in the presence of others
An old evangelist by the name of OE-
borne stayed one night at his fathers
/ house. AS the family sat by the fire
he said to the father:
Are ali your children Christians"
Yes. all but Dewitt"
.He did not turn to look at me, but
gaZed into the fire and quietly told /.
story of a lamb that was lost on the
mountains on stormy night. Every
thing in the fold was warm and com
Portable, but the poor lamb persisted
in the cold. He did not make any ap-
plication. If he had | should have
been mad. But 1 knew that was the
lamb. and I could not get any peace
until | found Christi
The writer was once working at
country fair. In front of the platform
provided for the singers and speakers
large number of seats had been
placed for the audience We had an
organ, chorus. and three large mega
phones. The latter would carry the
sound of the singing half mile, and
people on the race course were soou
drawn away by the new attraction. AT
first the people stood aloof from the
seats and refused to occupy them
They had never seen a religious s;erv-
Ice at a fair and they were suspicious
Noticing this, the leader ordered the
singers down from the platform, di-
recting them to. scatter about in the
Seats. AS soon as the crowd saw that
there were no explosives under the
chairs, they crowded in and filled
them. Then the leader recalled the
singers to the platform, having used
them as decoys to allure the people
into the chairs. There was no decep-
ton about this. The people were tim
id and suspicious, and it was neces-
sary to show them that there was
nothing to be afraid of, and to fill
enough of the seats so that they would
not make themselves conspicuous b,
sitting down.
Paul says: I am become all things
to all men, that l may by all means
save some Though he was entitled
to support, yet he worked with his
own hands making tent cloth by
night, in order that he might not be
burden to the churches, and that he
might set an example of generosity to
other believers. In this way also he
doubtless gained the sympathy and re-
spect of other laboring men. On one
occasion when he had been arrested
at Jerusalem and was being carried
off to prison, he asked the privilege OF
addressing the crowd. To the surprise
of the people who supposed him to be
mischief making foreigner, he be
gan by saying that he was a Jew. and
addressed them IL their own language.
BY this tactful Introduction he gained
their attention and held it while he
told them the wonderful story of his
conversion.
II we are CONSCIOUS on lack of tact
let us ask for it, for the promise Is,
MY God shall supply all your need"
The basis of true tact is a love which
shrinks from putting another in an
embarrassing situation, and this
should always be remembered IN deal
ing with inquirers. True love is also
blind to many little faults, but SO Gag
er for ones salvation, that it misses
no good opportunity Of pressing home
his urgent need OF Savior. and the
savior's supreme love for him.