Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-15
CHAP TER VI.
Join Church and Make New Endeav.

ors to Keep Sabbath.-Age. Is.
In the year 1900, the Covenanter
church Of this country said in her
synod: slavery and Christianity are
incompatible" and never relaxed her
discipline which forbade fellowship
with slave-holders-so 1 was brought
up an abolitionist. l was still child
when l went through Wilkins town.
ship collecting names to a petition
for the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Here, in strictly
orthodox Presbyterian community, !
was everywhere met by the objec-
tons: "Niggers have no souls" 1.-THE
Jews held slaves" "Noah cursed Can
aan," and these points l argued from
house to house, occasionally for three
years, and made that acquaintance
which led to my being sent for IN
cases of sickness and death, before |
had completed my sixteenth year. In
this, in some measure took the place
long filled by mother, who was often
a substitute for doctor and preacher:
Looking back at her life, I think
how little those know Of Calvinists
who regard them merely as class
of autocrats, conscious Of their own
election to glory, and rejoicing in the
reprobation of all others; for l have
never known such humble, self-dis.
trustful people as have found in that
faith. Mother, whose life was full Of
wisdom and good works, doubted, even
to the last, her own acceptance with
God. She and l believed that jeal
Gus God" who can brook no rivals,
had taken away our loving husband
and father; our strong and brave son
and brother, because we loved them
too much, and l was brought up to
think it a great presumption to as
sumo that such worm Of the dust
as l, could be aught to the Creator but
a subject Of punishment.
During the spring Of 1881, mother
said to me:
sabbath week is our communion,
and I thought you might wish to join
the church.
was startled and without looking
up, said:
Am 1 old enough?"
IF you feel that the dying COM
mand Of the Savior, do this in remem.
brance of me- was addressed to you,
you are old enough to obey it."
subject was never again preached be-
tween us, but here great conflict be-
gan. That command was given to
me, but how could I obey it without
eating and drinking damnation to my
self? Was mine "a saving faith, or
did I, like the devils, believe and
tremble? I had been believing as
long as I could remember, but did not
seem to grow in the image of God.
The conflict lasted several days.
Sleep left me. The heavens were iron
and the earth brass. l turned to Err
skine to learn the signs of saving
faith, but found only reason to sus-
pect self-deception. l could not sub
NIT to Gods will-could not be will
ing that William should be lost-nay,
l was not willing that any one should
be lost. l could not stay in heaven,
and know that any one was enduring
endless torments in some other place!
l must leave and go to their relief.
It was dreadful that Abraham did not
even try to go to poor Dives, or to
send some one. My whole soul flew
into open revolt; then oh! the total
depravity which could question 1.-THE
ways of God to man." I hated Milton
l despised his devils; had a supreme
contempt for the prince of the Power
of the Air." did not remember time
when I was afraid Of him. God was
my refuge and my Shield in straits
present aid" If he took care Of
me, no one else could hurt me; if he
did not, no one else could; and to be
accepted by him was all there was OF
could be worth caring for; but how
should find this acceptance with m!
heart full of rebellion?
One afternoon l became unable tt
think, but a white mist settled dow
over hell. Even those contemplate
devils were having their tongues cool
ed with blessed drops of water. TIL
fires grew dim, and it seemed as
there was to be a rain of grace an