Many of those who have lately begun this new life are young people, who have a good deal of influence over their classmates and associates. We feel glad to know that now they are on the side of Truth and are ready to use whatever influence they may have in the best way. Not only have sinners been converted, but Christians have been stirred up to do better work.
One night, after a sermon upon the subject “Confession,” from the text: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me,” an invitation was given to all who felt it to be their duty to confess any sins that were weighing upon them. The first who arose was a young man who was converted a year or two ago, and who has ever since been foremost in every good work. He said that he had been guilty of an act of dishonesty which had caused him much sorrow. In a lesson that he had written upon the board a few days before he had misspelled a word. One letter was wrong, but as it happened to resemble very closely the right letter, he reported it as such when he saw his mistake. For the next three or four days he had no peace. He knew that he ought to confess the act to the teacher whom he had deceived, but he was afraid that she would lose all confidence in his integrity. He also tried to persuade himself that it was a very little thing, hardly worth reporting. Why not keep quiet about it? No one would ever find it out. But these thoughts brought no comfort with them. The more he thought about the matter, the more he felt convinced that his act was not a little thing. He knew that it was a sin, and therefore not a small thing.
After praying about the matter, this suggestion came to him: “Since you have asked the Lord to forgive you, you have done all that is necessary. You need not ask your teacher’s forgiveness.”
He soon saw that he ought not to expect God to pardon his sin until he had done what he could to set the matter right with his teacher. He felt now as if the very salvation of his soul depended upon his making this confession. As soon as possible, after coming to this conclusion, he went to her and acknowledged his sin. With this acknowledgement came peace.
Other confessions followed this. Some told of similar acts of dishonesty, which they had committed. All who spoke expressed a sincere determination to do better for the future. We felt as if these confessions had cleared the moral atmosphere and made it possible for more effectual work to be done for those who did not profess to be Christians.
Among the number recently converted is a middle-aged woman from the neighborhood. For at least thirteen years she has fully realized that she ought to lead a better life, but has been so much under the influence of old superstitions and ignorant associates, who told her that she could not be called a Christian until she would say that she had seen all sorts of impossible visions and had numerous strange experiences, that she has hardly known which way to turn. Now she has come out from under her yoke of bondage and feels as if she had seen a great light, a much clearer and better one than that for which she watched so many years.
We are hoping and praying that the good, work which has been begun here may continue: that those who have started in the right way may have strength of character enough to keep in it, even when the prospect looks dark and they do not feel so full of enthusiasm as now.
Miss F. J. Webster.
A SUMMER SHOWER.
It fell out of a clear sky, without foretokening of cloud or of electric display. It was at Chattanooga, in Pastor Joseph E. Smith’s church. At the regular Wednesday evening prayer meeting a young man announces that he has made up his mind to turn and live a Christian life. Good Deacon Morford asks of the pastor: “How would it do to have a meeting to-morrow night?” It is appointed. Two or three more at that time come out on the Lord’s side.