This article is taken from Issue 1, Called to Surrender the Will
By R. A. Torrey
My first pastorate was a little village of 969 inhabitants. In the village were two public-houses. One day I sat in my study at my desk working on a sermon for the following Sunday, with my exordium, my firstly, my secondly, my thirdly, my fourthly, my fifthly, and my peroration.
As I sat there working away on my sermon, something or Some One said to me, “Go down to Thompson and Horton’s saloon and speak there.” “No,” I thought. “that was not what I took two degrees at Yale for, to go and speak in a public-house; that was not what I was trained for. I was trained to prepare sermons according to the best homiletical methods and to deliver with the best art of oratory, that are at my command.”
And I worked away on my sermon with my exordium, my firstly, my secondly, my thirdly, my fourthly, my fifthly, and my peroration. But the voice was very insistent, “Go to Thompson and Horton’s saloon and speak there.”
Finally, I could stand it no longer, and sprang from my study table and took my cap, and hurried for the saloon. I did not dare walk slowly lest my courage should ooze out before I got there. As soon as I reached the door I pushed it open and hurried in. A number of men were sitting at a table playing cards.
“Gentlemen,” I said, “Please lay down your cards; I have come down to pray with you.” They dropped their cards. I think they were frightened, but I do not think they were as badly frightened as I was. I knelt and prayed, and then arose and said a few words to them, and went back to my study.
A few days afterwards, I was passing by the other saloon. It was kept by a very wicked and dangerous man. As I passed the saloon he was leaning up against a post in the front of the saloon.
“See here!” he gruffly said as I passed. I stopped to listen. Then in an angry voice he said, “I hear you went into Thompson and Horton’s saloon the other day and prayed.” “Yes” I replied. “I did.”
“Well I would like to know,” he said, “if my saloon is not just as good as Thompson and Horton’s saloon?” “Well,” I said, “I will go in now,” and in I went.
Taken from The Wonderous Joy of Soul Winning in the Public Domain
Taken from Life on the Altar Publications
Issue 1 Summer 2021
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 