THE FORGER FROM NEW HAVEN
It was at one of those long services I saw a New England man brought under deep conviction, and at last yield to the Spirit, make confession and receive Christ.
It was about 4 P.M. when he arose to tell his story of sin. He said, “I have committed a crime against the State, and I want to know if I can be forgiven before that is made good. I want to see three members of the Board alone.” Three of the men went into consultation with him. It proved that he had forged a check at New Haven for $300, had collected the money and had escaped.
He was told, “God will forgive you now and undertake for you in case you promise full restitution.” He kneeled at the altar, began to pray out loud, promised restitution and promised to bear patiently any punishment the State demanded.
A worker was sent with him to New Haven. He went first to his own father, who said, “John, I never want to see your face here; you had no business to come back, for you will be sent to prison and disgrace us all.” “But, father, I am converted, I mean to take my punishment, then live a true man ever after.” “Oh! that is different; in that case, I will help you all I can.”
They went at once to the man whose name had been forged. They found him very bitter at first, but when John told his story of how ashamed and sorry he was, and added, “I have come back to take my punishment, then I want to be a good man and a good citizen all the rest of my life.” At this point the father said, “Mr. Percy, I will gladly pay back the $300 and interest if you think you can forgive John.” That was done and the prosecution withdrawn.
The episode had a little after-clap. John came back to Washington, and came at once to the writer. He said, “Mrs. Monroe, I want you to ask Miss Stanislaus if she will marry me.” “Why, ask her yourself, man; I am not in practice in handling love matters.” “No, you see my red head and freckled face and freckled hands make me so homely I am afraid to ask. Do see her for me.” This I did. She accepted him, and he obtained a situation in the mountains of North Carolina as a school teacher. He preaches on Sunday and they both teach all week and seem to be doing good work.
The Gospel Tidings, of December, 1910, had this notice:
WHAT WILL YOU DO, FELLOW-CHRISTIANS?
“Eleven men, cold, hungry and friendless, the night of December 5, said, 'Mr. Kline, for God's sake, give us work!' He replied, 'We do not have the work to give until we get wood-cutting machines.' Mrs. Monroe said, 'I shall trust God's people to help me on that, even though the horse and wagon are not yet paid for.' So she personally took the risk of the 50 needed to put in the machinery. Her friends will remember that a great fire three years ago not only destroyed her property, but also her means of making money.
10 AND 15 CENT DORMITORIES
“'Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble.'
“The Gospel Mission Board feel that when the necessities of men are so great as in this call that it is God's call to help by giving them means to help themselves. Maybe in these suffering men your Saviour passes by.”
The Christian people of Washington made a generous response to that call, and by the next issue of the Tidings we announced that we could give fifty cents a day for six hours' work, leaving time to hunt a better place, and yet pay lodgings and food.
The October Tidings of 1910 said:
A MENACE
“What is the most important question now in Washington? From our standpoint it is the care of the unfortunate and the sinful. Why? In order to protect your home. When a man walks the streets hungry, cold and friendless, and looks through the window of your happy home and he sees you surrounded with the comforts he lacks, do you know you are in danger? Unless the unfortunate are comforted, they will surely dynamite our great cities.
“The Gospel Mission stands between you and this danger. We make these sons of sorrow realize that they need be only temporarily sidetracked from the great highway of success, that the grace of God, their renewed will power and our friendly hand may yet restore them to home, friends and society, and make them useful men.”
CHAPTER IX
The Penny Lunch and Free Dispensary
The following is a letter written by Mr. George W. Wheeler, which was published in our Gospel Tidings, of February, 1911: