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
At present we have the house on Jefferson street. We have a
Sunday-school of scholars who do not attend any other school, and would
not. It is supplied with able and devoted teachers, such as Brother
Atmore and others. The devotion of Brother Atmore is shown by his
refusing to leave his class one Sunday to go to the Masonic Temple
during Sam Jones' meetings. The children show a wonderful improvement
since they have been coming to the Sunday-school. Brother Atmore's boys
were almost unmanageable at first, but they are now so changed that it
is very noticeable. This Sunday-school feature of the work is one of the
most important and promising parts of it, and we believe the results to
be accomplished by it _alone_ will amply repay all the outlay of labor,
time and means that has been made in the enterprise. We have also a
reading-room in connection with the Mission-room, where we have papers,
magazines, books, etc. The words of invitation and welcome painted on
the door have drawn in some who, but for the reception, sympathy and
help which they found there, might have gone on in their wretchedness to
suicide.
While we furnish lodging, food, etc., to those who are destitute, yet it
is with a view to their spiritual welfare and ultimate salvation. And so
soon as we find a man is availing himself of our charity with no
intention or effort to become a Christian, we let him go.
III. THE FUTURE.
In looking at the past, we find there are several plain and striking
results of the work. The most apparent is the radical and astonishing
change for the better that has taken place in the cases of many unhappy
men and their families. Two years ago these men "sat in darkness and in
the shadow of death," being bound in affliction and iron, because they
rebelled against the laws of God. Therefore He brought down their
hearts. They fell down and there was none to help. And none but
themselves and God knew the bitterness of their bondage and the depth of
their dark and unrelieved despair. But they were brought into contact
with a new force and a new agency by means of the efforts and sympathy
and instructions of those engaged in this work, and to-day their old
life with its bitterness and bondage and darkness is left behind from
one to two years in a path that, it is hoped, is not to be retraced
forever, and now these men are happy again, and some of them prosperous
in business. And what shall be said of their families--their wives and
children, innocent sufferers from the vices of husbands and fathers?
Husband is husband again, father is father again, and the long dark
night of hopeless sorrow and bitter tears has ended--ended at last, and
ended, let us hope and pray, forever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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