Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-03
copies FORUM
RED 10 TIE MEMORIES OF
SIXTY YEARS AGO

l}eaF EsitOI.
As tbs goth Of February comes
aaeia fond recoilections carry me
baeR to the most important event OF
ife. / mean my conversion to
Christianity, which occurred just six
Il years ago.
II you will kindly insert the fol
lowing sketch in your paper there
may be a very few that are still liv-
ing that were there on that night.
suppose that Taylor George, James
Harris, George Thorn and, ! think
Elihu Ware and Mary E. Booth,
don't know if there are any others
living that were there at time. ] was
then 10 years old, now | am almost
70. We are going down the Valley
one by one:
| On February 20, 1867, just sixty
years ago, I was converted in the old
log school house, known as the Union
School House at that time. The
house stood within few yards from
where the Concord Church now
stands. Brother Joseph Teter, assist
ed by the members Of the M. E. and
u. B. Churches, was conducting a
series of meetings, and through the
influence and prayers of Gods peo-
pie / then and there became Chris
tian. Since that time years have
come and gone until three score years
have passed.
While mingling now with large
congregation, in building that cost
$125,000, we sometimes have had
what the leader calls when and
where meeting. That is to let each
one tell when and where they found
Jesus. It is a good thing to do and |
love to tell the story For they who
know it best seem hungeriny and
thirsting to hear it like the rest, and
when in scenes of Glory III sing the
new song, twill be the old, old story,
that / have loved so long. | am so
glad today that Jesus came into my
life when | was young man. AL
though / must say that l have not
lived up to all my privileges faith
fully as I should have done. Like
Job, if justify myself, my own
mouth shalt condemn me If | say
me. Il say an perfect, it shall
also prove me perverse. Yet through
all these years the Lord has kindly
led me on.
Many times the skies were clear
and the pathway bright, while around
dark clouds would hover over nay
pathway. The angry pillows wcuid
rage around me, and often when easi
down have l implored the Master te
guide me Alright. When the sva
answer seemed to come dowa fres.
the skies, Near thee my son is tile
old wayside cross, like a gray fries
could in Echens of moss and its cross
beam will point to the BRIGHT. golder
span that bridges the waters SO safelr
for man"
When | think of the time and place
when and where was born of ia
Spirit. often think Of the dear a
hymn:
20, sacred hour, o, hallowed spat3,
Where love divine first found ne;
Wherever falls my distant lot,
Ny heart shall linger round thee"
Often in my daily vocaticns
memories of that sacred place 60
to take me back to that eyentful n
when | was converted sky years
Where, oh where, are the fli
that were there that night? AIN
all are gone. Oh the fond n1era
of those dear friends and that SAX
hour; and, when from earth I'll g:za
to soar up to my home in HeaT
down viii | cast nay eyes once mo- y,
where l was first forgiven.
don't suppose there will be many
who will read these lines that viii
feel much interested in this subject,
yet to me it is a source of joy and
comfort that could not be bought
with all the wealth of the Fords,
Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Goulds and
all the wealth of the world combined,
''for what will it profit man if he
gain the whole world and lose his
own soul; or what will man give
il exchange for his soul"
J. B. SKIDMORE,
614 Dresden Avenue,
Fact ivarpooI lbia5