_THE MISSIONARY’S DEPARTURE._
The missionary was loth to depart from this interesting field of
labor, but he was called, and must obey. He “threw his mantle” upon
the shoulders of a noble young man, whose name was Truman; he was a
fluent speaker, and an enthusiast in whatever he believed to be right;
a giant in courage and bodily strength, and above all, a conscientious
Christian; to him was consigned the care of this noble enterprise.
The rum-sellers, with their dupes, were now aroused to a full sense
of the power arrayed against them; they justified their conduct, by
holding up that of the ministers and leading men in the Church, and
the latter would quote Paul’s advice to Timothy, where he says, “Drink
no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and
thine often infirmities.” Tim. v. 23.
“Here,” they boastingly said, “wine is commanded as a drink;” and dared
a refutation.
But Truman showed them that this passage did not only _not_ prove that
wine should be used as a common drink, but _proved_ that it should only
be used as a medicine. He showed them, too, that Paul was a Temperance
Lecturer, and not afraid to reprove rulers before whom he “reasoned of
righteousness, _temperance_, and judgment to come.”
The argument that Christ _turned water into wine_ was also brought
forward; the reply to this was, that there was no evidence that the
miraculous transformation contained a single particle of intoxicating
matter; whilst every rational supposition, based upon the holy
character and pure doctrines of the Redeemer, would most emphatically
declare that there was not.
Such was the acute and powerful reasoning of this young man, that
minister and deacon were silenced, if not convinced. Mr. Truman having
been himself snatched from the very vortex of ruin, his experience in
the dens of infamy, and knowledge of the workings of the whole traffic,
enabled him to bring the truth home to the hearts of his hearers in a
very effective manner.
As the faithful missionary could delay no longer, he appointed the
time to preach his farewell sermons in the two settlements. The first
meeting was to be held in the Clear Creek school-house immediately
after Sunday-school. The day was pleasant and the school well attended;
the exercises of the same having been completed, order was called,
that all might have the benefit of the missionary’s parting advice.
He made a short address, and then desired each child to come to him,
that he might shake hands and bestow a trifling gift by which he
might be remembered. He would live in the memories of all, however,
without anything of this kind. A half hour after the dismissal of
the Sunday-school, the people had assembled to hear the “farewell
sermon.” The text was, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and give you
an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts xx. 32. The
sermon which followed was adapted, in every respect, to the occasion.
As all earthly ties must sooner or later be sundered, this shepherd
and his flock were compelled to part. It is needless to say that the
separation was sorrowful on both sides.
After leaving Clear Creek Settlement, the missionary filled his
appointment at the other place; and the parting which took place here,
was but a repetition of the first one. We now find him on his way to
a work among strangers in a strange land: he knew what would probably
befall him, but he had counted the cost, and, like Paul, was willing to
endure hardships as a good soldier.
Here, for the present, we will leave this noble, earnest and devout
Christian.
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