1883 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



147 



a few weeks ago, our pastor, feeling that the 

 interest warranted it, called for special meet- 

 ings to be held. Many came out ; a few 

 arose, and I felt that the work was doing at 

 least tolerably well. 



One evening after the meeting I said as 

 much to him ; but to my surprise he seemed 

 in trouble. Pretty soon it came out. 



'' Brother Hoot, I am very much discour- 

 aged ; yes, terribly discouraged. I am dis- 

 couraged because of the indifference of our 

 ciuu'ch. It is now a critical time with us; 

 our town is full of a healthy interest on the 

 subject of religion. Business men have 

 called to see me and talk it over, and I am 

 frequently accosted on the street, relative to 

 tlie matter. Our young peoi)le are discuss- 

 ing and deciding, and great numbeis are 

 ready for tlie (luestion, Wiiat shall I do to be 

 savedi' Through it all it seems as if the 

 most indiiferent class of people were the 

 members of our church." 



I suggested that we had a large attend- 

 ance each Sabbath. 



'• Yes," said he, " they come to hear my 

 sermons; and although I tell them what we 

 want with all the power I possess, they near- 

 ly all seeiii to think it doesn't mean them; 

 and at this critical time, when we want all 

 the inlluence that can possibly be brought to 

 bear, both in attendance and taking part, 

 they stay away." 



My good earnest friend had roused me up 

 some by his little sermon (which I may not 

 have given just as he told it), and I not only 

 went myself, but gave all of the shop hands 

 a pretty earnest invitation at the noon serv- 

 ice. After the short sermon I was almost a 

 little startled on seeing a young man arise 

 and acknowledge the wrong position in which 

 he stood, and ask prayers. lie had former- 

 ly worked for me, and I knew him well. I 

 wanted to get near hiui, and tell him how 

 we all rejoiced, but he was gone before I 

 saw him. On my way home in the darkness 

 I heard two talking earnestly. It was be- 

 fore the residence of our old friend "]M.," 

 who is now assistant editor of one of our 

 county papers. The new convert was bear- 

 ing witness already, with earnestness and 

 power. (Jne remark he made was this, in 

 substance : — 



''Friends, I have not been right, and I 

 knew I was not right. I have been dissatis- 

 fied all along, for I knew my influence was 

 on the wrong side. I have made up my 

 mind to-night, that this thing shall be so no 

 longer, and I feel happy over it already." 



There was no need for him to say he felt 

 happy, for it was evident in every word of 

 the earnest tones in which he spoke. My 

 friend, are you sure your influence is not on 

 the wrong side? is your life bearing witness 

 on just the side you know it ought to be V 

 You can not urge that you don't take sides 

 at all. A silent witness is a witness against 

 the cause that is up prominently before the 

 people. Y'e are my witnesses. As he fin- 

 ished, M. spoke : — 



" I tell you, friends, I have not been what 

 I ought to be. I am full of business, as you 

 know, and I have excused myself from at- 

 tending the meetings on this account. But 

 just let me give you an illustration : A few 



weeks ago the factory hands had a sleigh- 

 ride, and asked me to go. I had more letters 

 to answer that night than usual ; but my 

 wife and I both went to the sleigh-ride, and 

 we got home so late that I got up at four 

 o'clock in the morning and went up to the 

 othce and finished my writing. Have I ever 

 done that for the sake of going to meeting ? 

 No ; but I tell you, friends, i am going to do 

 better." 



lie did do better, for he came to meeting 

 and got up and confessed his past haif- 

 heartedness, and asked the prayers of the 

 rest of the young people. As he sat down I 

 breathed a '•thank God,'" and felt in my 

 heart tliat here was surely good solid work 

 being done for our town people, and for the 

 Master. 



After the young convert left us that even- 

 ing he went home to his boarding-place and 

 tolil the people there of his new resolve; and 

 when oue of our factory boys came in short- 

 ly after, lie told him also, evidently feeling 

 happy at every step in the work of bear- 

 ing witness, it came with the greater pow- 

 er from him, from the fact that he is usually 

 of a quiet and reserved disposition ; for eve- 

 rybody knows, who hears him speak, that it 

 is "out of the abundance of the heart that 

 the mouth speaketh." 



The spirit of these meetings has gone all 

 over and through our town. It has reached 

 us here in the factory, and has lightened my 

 cares in a way that none but God, to whom 

 I have gone so often pleading, can know. 

 There has been no excitement, and nothing 

 in the least approaching what might be 

 termed loud talk, even ; for the greater part 

 of our young people are educated and intelli- 

 gent, and their testimony is given in words 

 only loud enough to be heard distinctly. 

 While their faces are for the most bright 

 and cheerful, they seem to be so fully aware 

 of the solemnity of such meetings, that we 

 have the most perfect order. When one 

 rises who is just seeking a better life, an al- 

 most l)reathless stillness pervades the room, 

 that we may catch even the faintest word he 

 utters. Something like forty or fifty have 

 come forward within the past few weeks, 

 and more than half that number have ap- 

 plied for admission to the Church. This is 

 not all. Our old members have been re- 

 vived, and made bright and hopeful, and 

 voices have been heard in prayer around the 

 family altar that for years have been silent. 

 Hard feelings and unpleasantnesses have 

 melted away like frost before the morning 

 sun, and a iieighborly disposition to help 

 each other has come into many a heart, and 

 a broader genei'osity has taken the place of 

 narrow and selfish feelings. I make this 

 last observation mainly from personal expe- 

 rience. My faith is brighter, both in God 

 and my fellow-men. Header, are you, and 

 is your influence to-day on the right side ? 

 and if so, are you seeking first the kingdom 

 of God and his righteousness with all your 

 might, soul, strength, and mind? llemem- 

 ber, the Master said, " Ye are my witnesses." 



Whosoever tberefore shall be ashamed of me and 

 of my words, in this adulterous and sinful genera- 

 tion, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, 

 when he Cometh in the ^lory of his Father with the 

 holy angels.— Mark 8:38. 



