The weeks glided swiftly by. The fall term at the academy ended just before Thanksgiving; the winter term began immediately after. Ray's pay from his two pupils enabled him now to be entirely independent of his friends; in fact, he was saving something toward his prospective college course.
Early in the beginning of the new year, a well-known evangelist, and one whose fame as a successful Christian worker was in all the churches, visited Easton. Union services were held in the largest hall of the city, and though the evangelist remained but a short time, an unprecedented religious awakening took place. Religion became the theme of conversation on the streets, at the places of business, and in the homes. With the departure of the evangelist, the churches, dividing the city into districts, vigorously carried on the work.
In the suburbs of the city, near the academy, was a young but growing church. Here Ray, on coming to Easton, though he did not sever his connection with the First Church, Afton, had made his religious home. He became a teacher in the Sunday-school. He frequently led the prayer meetings; and so efficient had he proved himself in all religious work, that when this thorough awakening on the part of the churches came, Mr. Gage, the pastor of the young church, pressed him into full service. It fell upon Ray to take charge of the evening services whenever Mr. Gage was detained elsewhere.
One evening when he was in charge of the services, he was quite surprised to see Mr. Grafton, the merchant, some time after the meeting had begun, enter the room and take a back seat. Ray knew that the chapel was the nearest place of worship to the merchant's palatial residence, but he had never known him to enter its doors before. Indeed, he seldom ever went to church anywhere, and when he did, it was at one of the most aristocratic and fashionable churches farther down town. This made his entrance into the chapel now all the more noticeable. He paid the strictest attention to the remarks and prayers of those who took part in the services, and even once or twice added his deep bass to the familiar songs that were sung. Near the hour for closing he arose, and said:
"I arise to-night not because I can testify to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know nothing about it. In fact, I do not even understand it. I believe intellectually in the existence of a God, and in Jesus Christ as his Son. I am willing to admit that, the Bible is his book. Farther than that, I cannot honestly say I am now prepared to go. But I would like to know what it is to have Jesus for an intimate and personal friend, such as many here to-night have testified he is to them. I would like to know that I am saved. I would give all I am worth to-night to know that peace which is said to pass all understanding."
He paused, and made as though he would sit down; then he went on, hurriedly:
"For weeks, yea months, I have been in a state of unrest. Ever since the day the leader of this meeting had the courage to speak to me in my office in defense of his Lord, I may say I have had no peace. The burden is getting too great for me to bear. I feel I must have light soon, or I shall sink in sheer despair."
Amid a marked stillness that had fallen over the meeting at this unexpected circumstance, some one began to pray. It was Mr. Gage, the pastor, who had entered the room in time to hear Mr. Grafton's words. When his fervent appeal that God would give this man light for Jesus' sake had ended, and the meeting had closed, Mr. Grafton thanked the pastor somewhat haughtily for the interest he had manifested for him, and immediately left the room. When Ray entered the street, however, he found the merchant waiting for him.
"Mr. Branford," he asked, "are you willing I should walk up to the academy with you?"
Ray gladly consented, and they walked on for a short distance in silence. When far enough from all others to be unheard, the great man inquired: