TWICE-BORN MEN
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF WELL-KNOWN MEN
IN DIFFERENT AGES AND IN VARIED RANKS OF LIFE
Compiled by HY. PICKERING
TWICE-BORN MEN, 44.
An American Teacher
DR. A.J. GORDON, whose name is of fame as a Bible Teacher, was born into a home in New Hampshire, in 1836. A new era was opening for American Christianity, a new impulse was throbbing with springtime energy in its veins. The greatest of modern missionaries had gone forth to grapple with the forces of heathenism in their very stronghold. The story of the heroic career in Burma had reached the homes of America. ln city, in hamlet, in distant farm, wherever devout hearts were praying for the spread of Christ’s kingdom, the history of hardship and suffering and faithful testimony was being rehearsed. The tale of the agony of Oung-Pen-La wrung the heart of the New Hampshire villager, and in his admiration he named his child after the apostle, Adoniram Judson.
The early years were passed in a quiet village lying in the trough of the billowy New Hampshire hills, in a home of exceptional piety, amid such surroundings as could hardly fail to nurture a wholesome, high-souled, nature-loving character. When the boy reached his fifteenth year a great change passed across his inner life. Hitherto a thoughtless, somewhat indifferent, unresponsive lad, he now became intent on new things. New vistas opened out ; a new seriousness sobered him; a new thoughtfulness was turning his attention to a larger life than that which had to do with fuller’s tub and farmer’s team. The weightier interests of the spiritual life began to absorb his thoughts. First came the struggle, the wrestling as at Peniel till the grey dawn. The conviction of sin was intense, unendurable. A realisation of the corruption of the human heart, a vision of the perfect God, high and lifted up—to what conclusion could these lead save that of unqualified unworthiness, of utter helplessness? The conflict of soul darkened, and intensified. A whole night was finally spent in such anguish of spirit that the father was obliged to sit with him till daybreak. Sorrow endureth for the night, but joy cometh in the morning. Calm as the sunshine which flooded the hills the next day was that boy spirit which had found peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.