THE GLEANER.

Evening Star, Issue 14637, 5 August 1911, Page 9

THE GLEANER.

[By Duncan Weight, Dunedin,] No. 164. "o tasteTand SEE." A clergyman who lived in a community where scepticism and infidelity had led many astray gave a scries of addresses on the * evidences of Christianity. Both friends and foes attended. On tie last night of the lectures a prominent infidel camo in. -At the close of the meeting, which -was very impressive, the speaker said, in a very tender spirit : "There may be, and doubtless are,-some here to-night who do not believe, as I do, and who do not accept the truth of the Bible. If so, I invite him to the platform to aek any questions which may occur to him." On the instant the infidel referred to came forward and said : " I do not believe your doctrines—X cannot accept them." "But." said the speaker, "you! have denounced for years that which you have never tested. "Arc you -willing that I, who have tried Christianity and feel its power and force, (shall be your teacher, and will you submit to my "directions? You say that you are houeet in your belief, in an honest spirit vou will meet me." " 1 do thus meet you, and I will allow you to be my teacher." "Th-en," said the presicher, "kneel by my side and repeat the simple ( words < God be merciful to me, a, sinner.' " " But," was the reply, " I do not believe in vour teachings." " Well, vou say you are honest, and arc willing to* test the question; if so, you will heed mv directions." The audience, in hushed expectation, heard the infidel, as he sullenly kneeled utter the words desired, with sarcastic defiance. " Again repeat these words, said nis teacher, in tones of utmost gentleness, and agajn, still defiant, yet mora subdued, the infidel repeated "God be. merciful to me, a sinner!" Once moro came the request to repeat the sentence, and in the hearing of the audience, held by tho power of God's spirit, that petit ion" went up in a tone of almost tenderness, certainly far different from tho bravado with which it was first repeated. A fourth time camo the request: "Repeat it again," and, with his strong frame quivering with emotion, the poor man poured out his soul's need in lit© prayer of the publican. At the fifth repetition the man there and then. ibefoTa the large assembly, offered up from his ton I tho prayer which, when thus offered, meets with Gcd's pardoning mercy. ******* Thrice- happy the man who, like a true, penitent, cries out in tho words of psalm 51: I>o thou with hyssop sprinkle me, I shall be cleansed eo ; Yea, wash Thou me. and then I ehall Be whiter than the snow. A psalm which delighted Luther, and \\4is sung by George- Wiabart and his friends at the Ltiird of Orim'ston's in Ease Lothian en the night when he was taken prisoner, to be afterwards burned at St. Andrews : —• Have mercy on me, God of Might, Of mercy Lord and Kin;;; Tor Thy mercy is set full right Above all earthly thing; Therefore I cry lxith day and night, And with my heart shall sing ; •To Thy mercy'with Thee will I go. Hugh Miller visited Gluey in 18—, the home of tho poet Cowper. It was then a babel of notoriously wicked men. Ho saw two prize-fighters—one of them known m " Bendigo''--standing near a gin shop. . . . Tho scene changes. Thirty years have passed, and Bendigo is now about 60 years of age, and is in gaol for the 27th time. One- Sabbath ho hears in prison the story of David and Goliath. Bendigo not only listened but understood it all. He forgot where ho wag for the moment, and at the ilo.'-c bawled out: "Bravo! I'm glad the little 'un won." He kept thinking of itall in his cell. Next Sabbath tho sermon was on Shadrach, Meshaeh, axid Abednego. Ilia knowledge of God's Book was st> slender that he imagined the last name was Bendigo ; and he reasoned thus : " If one Bendigo may be- saved why not another?" Tho jieit subject wag. 'The Twelve Fishermen'; next Sabbath the story of the 700 left-handed men. He was greatly .interested, because he himself was left-handed. As eoon as ho loft gaol his old companions were waiting for him, but he declared lie would never again enter a public-house. He went to a mission meeting, and that very night, on his way home, he knolt in the snow and yielded himself to the- Saviour. As a, boxer ho had gained many a pri»e ; hut he declared : " When I camo to the Ciots of Christ, I was quite beat at tho first, ronnd." To a reporter of the 'Daily Telegraph ' he said ■ "If (.rod could savi old Bendy, Jle could save anybody." • ' * * * * " * e A MANLY UTTERANCE. Ncborly in all 'dii* world can do real evangel i-tic work better than tho man with horny hand." —iiot one. 'Chink of a great- meeting in Exeter Hall. Loudon. It was in v'very way roi.narka.ble, and the vast iiuditoriiim was crowded with, working men and their wives—railway porter*, enginetlrjveis, stokers, and m> forth. It was the annus I meeting of th'i Kail way Christian Men'* Association. The great building wns crammed to tho ceiling with some of the finest men and sturdiest representatives of the English working clasw. A man who. from hi.* general appearance- and sir.o, had tho look of an engine-driver, came to the front and, amidst great cheering and enthusiasm, as follows:—"Mr Chairman, there are .<ome people v.'ho in the present- day .-ay to is • Legislate! Legislate! Legislate! So sny we working men'. Parliament cad do a great deal for us, and the sooner it doe* it the better. There are other* who cay ' Educate 1 Educate! Educate !' So cay wo working men, and we are thankful for what ha* been done for us and the working classes. But while we are ready to jay "Legislate! Legislate! Legislate!" land "' Educate^'. F.ducat-e ! Educate !' we say, above everything else, ' Regenerate! Regenerate ! Regenerate !' " That sentiment was profound philosophy, and was ehoered to the echo. Would to God the leal working man could and would see things in this light, and com© forward in crowds to rally round the Christian workers in all our chtuchee! Hurrah for the man who work ! Whatever may be- thoir trade. Hurrah for the men who wield the pen. And those who use the spade! Who earn their daily bread By the sweat of sui honest brow. Hurrah for tho men who dig and delve,. And thoio who re-ap and plough! Hurrah for the men that vf-ork, And the trade that- suits them best! Hurrah for the s-ix days' labor, And tho one of blessed vest! Hurrah for the open heart! Hurrah for the noblo aim! Hurrah for a quiet home! Hurrah for an honest name! ******* MR TAYLOR'S MESSAGE. When on the verge of the great eternal world Mr T. E. Taylor sent to the workers this message: Tell my Labor friends that they have a divine chance hero if* they will only recognise the religious element, and lift the movement to the highest plane. ******* A SAILOR'S YARN. After 45 years of sea ho came home and took to farming. He had a praying wife, who kept on praying for his conversion. "Moody came to Burlington, and she coaxed me to go and hear hiiu. I had been round the world, and heard preaching from England to China. Forty years at sea, twenty as a master, I was always a churchgoer, but a ' head' believer all the time. Moody wakened me up. His plain talk decided me, and I tacked ship there and then, hove all tho accursed stuff that defileth overboard, even to tobacco, which I had used 48 years, headed off shore, clear of rocks and shoals, for blue waters, homeward bound. I shall never forget that sermon about Naaman fcha leper. Just my case j all the nice wpddjy sur-

roundings, but still the thought would come : * You must leave it all pretty soon, a 0 you a leper.' It didn't take any coaxing to get me there next time. Ours is a happy family now. I don't have to go out behind the barn when I get home from town for fear my wife would smell my breath, and I write no letters nor talk ■with anybody unless I tell them about the Pilot I have on board. Well, what result? Instead of sucking an old pipe and guzzling down drink I read the Bible. When the plough strikes a stone, instead of swearing, as I used to, I take out my Testament and read a verso or two. Now I keep three times the stock in good order and in warm stables, as I have found out all about ensilage, smoothing harrows, corn planters, etc. This is what the new Pilot has done for me. Of course, prosperity and happiness are in and about our home* now. Praise the Lord."