Childhood conversions

Introduction

Ocean Grove, N. J., May i, 1897. Mrs. Grace Weiser Davis,

Dear Friend, —

You kindly ask me to write a brief introduction to your forth-coming book on "Childhood Conversions," in which you intend to illustrate the same by instances and incidents under your own observation. Please accept this friendly letter instead of the old formality to which you refer.

I am glad you have given some of your time and strength to this work. Yourself converted at the age of eight, together with your wide experience as an evangelist, and especially your service vi INTRODUCTION.

at Ocean Grove with the young for a number of years past, and the great success of that work here, eminently quaUfy you for such a task.

Childhood and early youth are the most beautiful, interesting and important periods of human life. Beautiful, because unmarred by sin; interesting, because guileless; and important, because at that early period are inculcated the principles upon which the whole life is built. We cannot build well, unless we have good foundations. Around these periods cluster the fondest hopes. Every age and clime present marked illustrations of these things. The early histories of Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Joash, Josiah, Daniel and Timothy are prominent in the Bible. ''They all remembered their Creator in the days of their youth." Thousands too, in every land

INTRODUCTION. vii

and age since the Bible closed at the early ages of five, six, seven, eight, and other years of youth, by an intelligent surrender of their hearts to God, not only commenced a religious life, but proved themselves in later periods, among the most consistent and useful Christians.

The best people in all ages and countries have been interested in the religion of childhood, and this interest is stronger now than ever. The more spiritual the church, the stronger is this solicitude. To this work, men and women in almost all lands are being divinely called. There is no field of labor to those properly qualified more important, or where returns are more abundant; neither are there any departments of religious work having higher sanctions or greater encouragements.

viii INTRODUCTION.

In the days of the Lord Jesus upon earth, 'They brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

How beautiful and encouraging, to those who work in childhood fields, is the following paragraph: ''And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said. Verily I say unto you. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.''

How terrible, too, the following announcement, falling from the same hal-

INTRODUCTION. ix

lowed lips — ^'And whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea/'

Your work at Ocean Grove has been so blessedly successful among the children, in their direct personal salvation, that if your life had accomplished nothing else on earth, this would be a noble monument to your usefulness, and also proof that Ocean Grove is not a failure. May you have still greater success in the future, and your* little book be a great helper in that success. Very truly yours,

E. H. STOKES, President of Ocean Grove.

Preface

It is a grateful encouragement to Christian workers among the children that they so clearly appreciate the invitations of the gospel. Unbaised by prejudice, and free from evil habits, they seem fitted to receive the word and believe as if by instinct. To them the story of the cross is a painful reality, and the love of Jesus dying for the world finds a ready response in their innocent natures. Scarcely a pastor's experience that does not include frequent cases of adults who were converted so early that memory retains but vaguely the circumstances. There is 710 age limit to faith and love.

xii PREFACE,

Mr. Spurgeon, in a letter to Rev. E. P. Hammond, the '' Children's Evangelist," says, ''Dear Sir : My conviction is that our converts from among children are among the very best we have. I should judge them to have been more numerously genuine than any other class, more consistent, and in the long run more solid. I speak of those who are tried and kept under the wing of the church." He also asserts that of twenty-seven hundred members taken into his church in childhood he never had to discipline one.

The clearness with which they state their Christian experience will astonish those not accustomed to conversing with them. Catechise them concerning their evidences, and they prove them-

PREFACE. xiii

selves theologians who need not to be ashamed of their faith.

** How do you know you have found Jesus?'' was asked of a little boy.

'' Because He has forgiven all my sins/*

''What made Him forgive you?"

'' Because I told Him I was sorry for them, and the teacher said, ' If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,' and it made me cry to think I had not loved Him and prayed to Him, and I asked Him and He forgave me."

The loyalty of children to their early faith is a noteworthy fact. It is rarely found necessary to dismiss one of them from the church. Where this does sometimes occur, the cause may be xiv PREFACE.

found in the neglect of them by their parents or the spiritual authorities. It ought not to be presumed that they will be mature Christians at once. Neither are adult converts. '^ They will," says Dr. Bushnell, ** as many of us do, live a mixed life, sinning and repenting, and let us not on this account debar them from the privilege of assembling themselves with God's people at stated times to commemorate the dying love of Jesus.'* They will be children, but Christian children.

The annual camp meetings at Ocean Grove are abundantly confirmatory of children's conversion. It is a thrilling sight to see a hundred or more of the little ones every year marching through the crowds toward the altar to receive

PREFACE. XV

the holy communion amid shouts and songs and tears, Mrs. Grace Weiser Davis with her corps of assistants leading the lovely host. This elect lady, with her long experience as teacher and evangelist, is well qualified to write of the conversion of children, and the prayer of the writer of this preface is that still greater results may accompany her labors in this most important field, heretofore so marvellously blest of the Lord.

I. Simmons, D. D.

Pastor of First Church, Hartford, Conn,

LETTER.

For many years I have been greatly interested in the work of leading children to Christ, as well as the grown people. My evangelistic training commenced when I was appointed to lead the young people's class in my own church. Then, for a number of years I conducted meetings specially for children and young people at various camp meetings. In my work among the churches I always have special services in the afternoon for the children.

Those converted in childhood, if faithfully instructed and faithful to God, develop into the most useful Christian workers afterwards, as far as I have observed.

xviii LETTER.

The talks given in this book are just such as I have given to thousands and seen thousands commence the Christian life through them.

The boys and girls to whom reference is made are almost all living and working for Christ. From many books the impression is given that good children all die or become morbid. It will be seen that the reverse is true in this book of real stories of real, living people.

With a prayer that these short talks may help many children and many grown people who are trying to help the children, I send this book forth upon its mission of helpfulness. .

GRACE WEISER DAVIS.

Christian?

Chapter I. OUR SINS ARE MANY

''Lord, my sins they are many,

Like the sands of the sea; But Thy blood, O my Saviour,

Is sufficient for me; For Thy promise is written

In bright letters that glow, Though your sins be as scarlet,

I will make them like snow,"

is a hymn that most people know.

It is true of grown folks and children that our sins have been many, — all the cross words, the untruths spoken, the swearing, the impure words, the wrong" use of the lips in every way.

Then we have used our hands wrongly, and our feet wrongly, and in so many ways have done wrong. All these WTong actions are written against us, as well as all the good things we might have done but have failed to do.

A little girl, upon going to bed, said: "Mamma, I have been so naughty to-day.'' The mother said, ''Why, darling, I didn't notice it; what have you done?" 'T've had such a naughty fink," said the little girl.

She meant that she had let herself have bad thoughts; just such thoughts as you have had sometimes, when your parents have told you to run on some errand, and you wanted to play.

Perhaps you have felt mad inside and, instead of praying that you might resist the feeling, you have thought it over and over.

Just again as you have felt when your teacher or parents have made you do something that you didn't want to do. Perhaps you slammed your book on the desk, or banged the door shut, or made an ugly face. It was the wrong thought came to you, and you did not try to forget it.

So every wrong thought, or word, or act is written against us in God's book, and remains there until we ask Him to take them away.

Our sins are as the sands of the sea — so many that we cannot count them.

The little girl's mother did not know about the naughty thoughts of her child until she was told; but God did. He knows all about us; His eye is on us all the time. He sees us in the day and in the night. He sees us when no one else sees us.

A little girl named LoUie one day took a piece of cake from the table without asking, because she thought no one would see her. When asked if she had taken the cake, Lollie said, "No." One sin leads to another.

When Lollie's auntie told her how God had seen her when she took the cake, Lollie said, ''No, He wasn't looking then.'' She thought so, because she couldn't see God; but He saw her when she couldn't see Him, and He heard her tell the story.

I am glad to say that when Lollie understood this she asked God to forgive her and help her never to act thus again.

Chapter II. WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT OUR SINS?

WHAT GRACIE DID.

What shall we do about all these sins about which I have just written? I will tell you what a little girl, named Gracie, did.

She had tried to be good, but so often did the things she had not meant to do.

One day a pleasant-faced gentleman said in the Sunday School, 'T believe a child can be converted!" Then he said, 'T believe when you are eight years of age you are old enough."

Little Gracie heard him, and she said to herself that, as soon as she was eight, she would be a Christian.

Now, if I were telling little folks, I should say as soon as you are old enough tO' understand. Some understand when eight, and others not until years after.

There came a time when Gracie was eight years of age, and she was going to a camp meeting. She had made up her mind that there she would be converted. For a few days no one was invited forward for prayers.

One evening the preacher asked those who wanted to pray and be prayed for to come to the front. Gracie got ready to go, but when she reached in her pocket she found she had no handkerchief. So she thought she couldn't go that night.

The next night she was careful to have a nice, clean handkerchief; but when she got ready to go, something seemed to say, 'Tf you go, some one will steal your rocking chair/' So she didn't go that night.

The third night she did not take her chair tO' church, and took a clean handkerchief. Now, she thought, she was all ready.

But this time another thought came: she had on a nice, new hat. The thought came, Suppose you go and get so happy that you, knock your hat around and spoil it? Gracie had seen some grown persons get so happy that they would thus have their hats fall ofif.

You see, Gracie wanted to give her heart to the Lord, but something was holding her back. Do you know who it was? It was the bad man, whom the Bible calls the Devil, that said these things to keep Gracie from coming. The same bad spirit tries to keep everyone from getting good, and from doing good.

But, while Satan tries to hinder, God will help those who ask Him, and Grade prayed for help. So the next night she left her new hat home; and then, when the people were invited forward, she went.

But, while Gracie knew what she wanted, she hardly knew what to do.

An old lady asked her why she had come there, and she told her 'That Jesus might make her good." The lady said, ''Now pray: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." Gracie hardly understood what this prayer meant, but she prayed as told.

Then the old lady left Gracie, and she told the Lord how she wanted Him to forgive her of all the naughty things she had ever done.

A minister said afterwards that, at first, the little girl wept and then she commenced to laugh. He asked her why.

''O, sir, I felt so bad I just had to cry, and now I feel so good I must laugh. There's a verse I think of, 'Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled,' " said Gracie.

Then they stood her upon a bench, and she gave her first words of testimony for Jesus, as a converted girl.

Gracie's father said, ''Are you sure you are converted?" as he walked home with her. When she said she was, he asked her how she knew. She told him she felt so in her heart.

He asked her how she felt. That was a very hard question to answer. After thinking a minute, she said, 'T just feel as if I love everyone." It was the best way she could tell it.

So, when we give our hearts to Jesus, He gives us so much love that we love God more than ever before, so that we try hard to please Him; we love our parents so that we obey them; we love our playmates so that we are kind to them; and we love those who have been unkind to us so much that we do not want to return their unkindness, but to be kind to them.

Chapter III. AFTER GRACIE'S CONVERSION

Some people think that children cannot know, when they are so little, that Jesus has given them a new heart; but children can, and do know it, and so did Gracie.

That night, as she knelt down to pray, she commenced, as she usually did, "Our Father!" but she stopped, and then she said it over and over again, ''My Father!" Then she said, "My Father, who art in heaven; but, dear Father, you are on earth, too, and you are in my heart/'

Gracie's older sister told her afterwards how she felt afraid of her now, 11 because she was a Christian. So this sister had covered her head with the bedclothes, for fear she would be talked to. She said afterwards she was afraid she would smother, because Gracie prayed so long/and yet she was only saying the Lord's Prayer; but she said it over and over again, because it seemed so sweet to her since she understood it by heart.

The next morning Gracie saw an old lady, of whom she had always been a little afraid — she seemed so good; but now the fact that the old lady was so good made the child love her all the more. So Gracie ran right up to her, but did not know how to tell her.

All the people from one church boarded at the same place; so some one said at the breakfast table, ''Did you know that Gracie was converted last night?"

''No," said the old lady, "but I might have known it, she is so very loving this morning/'

So it was. Gracie loved God more, and she loved those who were trying to serve Him. She loved those, too, who were not given to Him; so she never stopped praying for her sister until she, too, had given her heart to Jesus.

Then Gracie loved her Bible more than ever. Gracie had been taught to read the Bible, and had learned hundreds of verses in the Sunday School; but now she loved them so much more and understood them better. They seemed to be written for her as well as the others.

When she and her sister went home from the camp meeting, they both joined the church. The sister was eleven, Gracie was eight. Some people thought they were too young to understand, and few spoke to them to welcome them into the church.

On the other side of the altar were two young men who also joined the church; but they went back into sin, while Gracie and her sister grew up trying to be Christians, and are trying to be so now.

Gracie found that the Lord would help her in her lessons, at play, at home, and everywhere, and all the time.

Chapter IV

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN? HOW OLD MUST ONE BE?

What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to give yourself to Jesus, have your sins forgiven, and then what? I will tell, you what a little girl in New York City told me, 'Tt means, after that, to mind everything Jesus says." That is it, exactly. When you are going to do anything, to say to yourself. Will this please Jesus? Said a little boy, 'Tt means to do just as Jesus would if He w^ere a little boy and lived in this house."

Can boys play ball, and marbles, and fly kites, and have a good time, if they are Christians? Can girls play with dolls, and tea parties, etc., if they are Christians? Yes, and enjoy themselves much more. Nothing need be given up but sin, which leads to doing naughty things.

How old must one be to do this? you ask. As soon as you are old enough to obey mamma and papa, you are old enough to obey God. As soon as you know what would please or displease them, you can know what will please or displease God. As soon as you know you love papa and mamma, and are loved by them, so soon may you know of the love of God.

Said a little boy, ''I thought persons must grow up and be very wicked before they tried to be Christians." Not so, however. The Bible says, '*Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth!" 'They that seek me early shall find me."

There is a saying, '' Twill save you from a thousand snares to mind religion yoimg." That is so.

God can save a drunkard and help him to give up drink; but how much better to give your heart to Him and so be kept from ever learning to drink! Samuel was only seven years old when his mother gave him for service to God. Asa was only eight years of age when he commenced to serve the Lord.

Jesus can use a boy or girl to do much good, if they keep near to Him.

He used the little maid to help Naaman find healing.

He used the little boy and what he iiad to feed thousands of people. The little boy was close to Jesus, and so was used; Jesus blessed what he had.

IS CHILDHOOD CONVERSIONS.

So, if bo3^s and girls will let Jesus bless them, He can make them a blessing to others.

The little maid spoke for Jesus, and hov/ Jesus blessed her words!

Joseph, when a lad, pleased God, and obeyed his father. His brothers treated him badly. But, because Joseph kept on trying to do right, God took care of him. After a time Joseph was next the King, while his brothers were in need.

Did Joseph return evil for evil? No. He was a Christian; he returned good for evil, and his brothers were sorry for the way they had treated him.

Seme boys are afraid they will be laughed at if they try to be Christians. Please God, and He will take care of those that laugh at you or who treat you badly. Isaac Watts, the great poet, became a Christian when nine years of age. His influence will never die. Adam Clarke, the great commentator, was converted when four years of age. Alfred Cookman, the great revivalist, was converted when about ten years of age. Jonathan Edwards was seven, William Penn was nine when they started to be Christians.

I could fill this book with the names of bishops, and preachers, and Sunday School superintendents and Sunday School teachers who are all intelligent workers for Christ now, all of whom were converted under the age of fourteen.

I mention these names above to encourage boys and girls to seek Christ early and serve Him all the days of your life.

In these pages to come I want to tell you real stories about real people who tried to be Christians, and some of the things they did. I have known all to whom I refer, and most of them are living now.

Chapter V. MAY BE SURE GOD HAS FOR- GIVEN YOUR SINS

At a series of meetings at Ocean Grove, N. J., held for the children during the camp meeting, a boy named Samuel came forward to pray for himself.

He, at last, thought God had forgiven his sins, and he said his heart felt lighter.

The next afternoon he was forward again. Upon being asked why he had come forward again, he said, ''I wanted to feel quite sure the Lord has forgiven me.'' He said he felt the Lord had blessed him a little, but he wanted the Lord to bless him more. Soon he rose, his face beaming with joy, and said the Lord had answered his prayer.

What God did for Samuel He will do for any little boy or girl who will ask Him to forgive and bless them.

I told this story at another of the children's meetings at the same place. Afterwards, another boy came forward, named Andrew Robertson, who was thirteen years old. His mother had brought him up to be a good boy, so she went to him and said, ''My boy, have you not been trying to be a good boy? Why have you come here?"

''O, mamma,'' he said, "I want to be sure that I have a new heart." After some praying, he said he felt sure that he was converted.

When he went home he spoke to his brother, urging him to come to the children's meeting and give his heart to the Lord. But the older brother told him that he was a Christian already. "Well, you want to be sure of it, that's all," said Andrew. He led a brother and playmate to Christ at these meetings.

When this boy went to his home in Paterson, N. J., in September, he was taken sick; but even then he tried to do some work for Jesus.

A cousin was sick, and he urged that some one of the family visit this cousin and try to get him converted. He said, "It would be so awful if he should die and not be saved.'' So the cousin was visited and prayed with and was converted.

This boy had a constant desire to see others become Christians, and led a number to Christ — at least helped to do so.

24 CBILDHOOD CONVERSION.

His father was a minister and his mother a very earnest, active Christian. It had been their hope that Andrew would be a minister when he grew up; but he grew worse, until they saw their dear boy had consumption.

One day Andrew asked his mother if she thought he would get well.

She said she thought they ought to leave that in the Lord's hands; but she asked if he didn't think he was ready to die, if God wanted him. Andrew said, "Yes; but I do so want to live.''

One day in October he commenced the subject with his mother by saying, 'Mamma, I've been thinking about what we talked some time ago about my living, and I don't feel about it as I did then. It's all right, if He doesn't want me to live here much longer."

From then on the dear boy seemed to

CHILDHOOD CO.WEASIONS. 25

grow weaker, and one day Jesus took Andrew to Himself in heaven.

But it was wonderful up to the very last how this dear boy, who was so sure he was the Lord's boy, tried to get others to the same knowledge, and he died trusting in Jesus. I have no doubt he is with Jesus to-day in heaven.

What Andrew knew in regard to being God's child, every boy and girl may know if they pray earnestly to God for forgiveness and believe the Word of God and afterwards try to please God.

Andrew's choice of hymns was, 'The best friend to have is Jesus." Just before he died he asked his mother when she thought he would be well. The mother said, ''I think Jesus is coming for you to-day, and you will never be sick or suffer any more."

He smiled, and a number of times afterwards, when he was suffering most, said, ''Mamma, Jesus seems a long time in coming." He told his mamma he would be watching for her to come to heaven.

Just before he died he seemed to be talking with some one, and smiled as he answered, "Yes and no." Then he went to sleep here, and awakened in heaven.

The eyes filled with love to the last Now see Jesus' face with delight;

His sickness and sorrows are past, He dwells with the saints, robed in white.

Chapter VI. MAKES ONE HAPPIER TO BE A CHRISTIAN

A lady in Washington, D. C, held a prayer meeting every week at her house.

She had been praying very much for a special blessing upon the next prayer meeting to be held, but the day proved to be a very stormy one, so only one lady came. They had a prayer together, and wondered why she had been so drawn to pray, if it w^as going to be so stormy that no one could come to the meeting.

This lady had a little daughter, six years of age, named Virgie. She knelt with the two ladies, and afterwards kept saying she was so happy.

When they asked her what made her so happy, she said, ''Why, you asked Jesus to bless us, and He has done it. I feel so happy!"

From that day on, Virgie was a changed girl.

When I knew her first, she was a curly-haired girl of thirteen years of age. She was an earnest. Christian girl, working in the church and Sunday School, a great comfort to her mother and helpful to many others. People who were sick liked to have Virgie come and visit them. She would sing and talk about Jesus to them and pray with them.

She was anxious to help people become Christians, and she tr'ed to help them other ways. So she helped the poor people, and carried things that might tempt the appetite of the sick.

When seventeen years of age, she was not feeling well, and the doctor said she had better go into the country. So she went to Virginia. She had to ride some miles in a stage at the end of her journey, and there she talked to the driver about giving his heart to God, and gave him some tracts.

Virgie grew worse, instead of better, and so they sent for her mother. When the mother arrived and Virgie saw her, she said, "Mamma, Tm so tired! Won't it be nice to go home?" In a few hours Virgie had gone to her heavenly home.

On the way back home the mother had the same stage driver take her and Virgie's coffined form to the cars who had driven Virgie when she had come to the place. He wept, and said he had never heard anybody talk like her, and that Virgie had helped him to become a

Christian. So Virgie's last action was to do good.

In Virgie's church and Sunday School, where she had been so beloved, they draped her chair in beautiful white. They said they would not put black in her memory, but white, to remind them that Virgie was wearing a white robe in heaven, and that it might help them keep themselves as pure as dear Virgie had been.