Steve P. Holcombe, the Converted Gambler: His Life and WorkAlexander, Gross
Religion
Steve P. Holcombe, the Converted Gambler: His Life and Work
Alexander, Gross
Holcombe, Steve P., 1835-; Methodists -- United States -- Biography
Gradually I sank lower and lower, until I became what I was when you
first saw me eight months ago--a poor miserable outcast from society,
and a burden to myself and friends. I was forsaken and despised by all.
I shudder to think that my life should ever flow in the same channel
again. During all these years of dissipation I wandered all over this
country--from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic almost
to the Pacific. I drifted aimlessly with no other object in view but to
gratify a terrible longing for strong drink. I had been in the city but
a short while when I heard of Brother Holcombe's efforts to redeem the
fallen. Having known him before his conversion, curiosity led me to
listen to him. During all this time I knew and felt that a day of
reckoning would come, but whenever such thoughts entered my mind, I
dismissed them, as they made me tremble at the very idea of having to
give an account of the misdeeds of a wasted life. On the 25th of last
June I was passing up Jefferson street, and heard singing in the
basement at No. 436. My first impulse was to turn and go away, as I was
in no suitable dress to go into a place of worship. Then the thought
came into my mind, "This is Steve Holcombe's place; I'll go in and see
what it looks like." Thank God, I did go in. The songs of those
Sunday-school children awakened chords in my heart which I thought had
died long ago. Tears came into my eyes, and then and there I vowed, if
by God's help salvation was possible for me, I certainly would make the
trial. Glorious have been the results. That evening I heard Brother
Holcombe once more; introduced myself to him and promised him I would
attend evening service, which I did.
From that day to this I have been growing in grace. The Lord has blessed
me wonderfully. My worldly affairs have prospered; and, what is worth
more than all the world to me, I am continually happy. Nothing disturbs
my peace, and I allow nothing to interfere with it. My trust is in my
Saviour; He has promised to care for those who trust Him, and I have
implicit faith in that promise. My old appetite and desires are all
taken away and I find pleasure and joy in things that in former years I
considered ridiculous.
Very truly yours,
FRED ROPKE.
TESTIMONIALS.
CAPTAIN EGBERT J. MARTIN.
I was born in Louisville in 1842; was educated in New York and Virginia;
served in General Lee's army during the war on the staff of my uncle,
General Edward Johnson. The only commission I received was received on
the third day of July, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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