The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-02-14

WHAT RELIGION CAN DO FOR A
FELLOW


the most difficult person TO reach
in our Department was a young man
of about twenty-one, one OF the
keencst students in his classes and
leader among the fellows. Tie
was generally considered to be
atheistic in his beliefs; and he took
no trouble TO disparage that notion.
Everything seemed 10 substantiatc
il. lie repealed all advances, held
many back by his example, for he
was influential, and even crossed
the auditorium while the invitation
was being given and by the restraint
ing hand as well as the dishearten-
ing word and scornful smile, kept
still others from making the start
in the Christian life.
He attended voluntary Bible class
for the avowed purpose Of trying to
shake the faith Of believers. He
once told us that he used 10 get on
a spree" for weeks, during which
time he would go around through
the mountains with a Bible under
his arm, a bottle Of moonshine in
one pocket and forly-four in the
other. Each Sunday, sometimes
oftcner, he would tank up" find n
crowd or mabe one and then preach
to them. He was so drunk he never
remembered afterward just what he
said But he did remember that
he tried 10 discredit religion while
playing the role Of a preacher.
And during the two or three years
previous to his coming TO Berea he
had carried a gun constantly with
the intention Of killing a man who
had incurred his enmity.
All this he told us after his con-
version.
IL took place several days after
the close OF the revival.
lie had been in our room that
evening working on a debate since
eight o'clock. About ten the lights
were extinguished and we lighted a
lamp. We had more than once told
him that we wished that he might
become a Christian; this interest Of
ours and Of others, he had repealed.
Then imagine our surprise when he
suddenly asked us this question,
What do you think Of religion2'
We tried 10 tell him in a few
words what we thought il meant TO
be a Christian: that il was the only
truly happy life. that il cost but
that il was worth a hundred fold
all the sacrifice, Of what il meant
to the believer here and hereafter.
~ don't mean just that he replied"
We saw that he was interested.
That we should make a more per-
sonal appeal. We tried as best we
could 10 tell him what il would
mean in his own life; 20 show him
himself. then a picture Of what he
might be. to show him Christ and
a CLEAN Of the joys Of the Christ-life.
He listened intently. We inward'y
prayed for guidance 10 help him,
with Chrisrs help, 10 come 10 the
place where he could make fun
surrender 20 Him.
Presently he arose and walked iol
the door He paused silently for a
moment, then turned around.
For twenty years, all my life, !
have served the devil with my whole
soul, strength and body" he said.
I've surely tasted the wages OF sin.
Tonight I'll begin all over again.
I'll be a new man. I'll try the other
side Of life now. I'll put Him TO the
test"
We asked him 10 kneel with us in
prayer. We knelt together by our
bedside. After leading in prayer we
asked him TO pray. IL don't know
how" he answered. 81 never did.
We tried 10 repeat 10 him a short
prayer Of full confession, full Of
Of all and full acceptance
OF Christ.
He repeated it.-then again. His
voice faltered; then the stole rebel
lious heart melted and cried out for
mercy and pardon,-begged for for
giveness in the first real prayer he
had ever uttered. He arose from
his knees, his face radiant His first
thought was Of his mother. "Her
dying words were those Of petition
for me,"-he said. Wouldn't she be
happy TO know this?"
We told him we thought she did
know il; that we believed God would
withhold no good thing from those
whom He has taken unto Himself
That il the angels reioiced over the
return OF one wanderer. surely our
loved ones were in that joyful host.
After talking 10 him about how he
could help others, what he could do
TO show others Of the new decision