THE TRACT AND THE BISHOPS
Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Job 19:23, “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!”
A faithful American clergyman was for a length of time chaplain to the military academy at West Point. It was a most important post, as many cadets were therein being trained for the future service of their country.
The chaplain delivered the pure Gospel of Jesus; he was sedulous, he was prayerful; but long, long years passed away and he seemed to be spending his strength for naught. Could it be that God has forgotten his promise that His Word should not return unto Him void? The chaplain’s mind was sorely tried and he hardly knew what to think.
It happened that the pious father of one of the young men died; and anxious for the spiritual welfare of his son, he made it one of his last requests that he would go and converse with the chaplain. In compliance with this charge the cadet went.
The chaplain talked with him and prayed with him; but it was evident that his words fell upon a listless ear, and the youth departed, not at all, as it seemed, affected by the solemn truths which had been urged upon him.
Before he quitted the appointment, however, the clergyman drew from the drawer of his desk two tracts, placed them in his hands, begged him to keep and read one himself and to dispose somehow of the other. “Let it go,” he said, “anywhere in the barracks; perhaps I shall hear something of it.”
About a week afterwards the chaplain was sitting in his solitary chamber, sadly musing over the failure of his hopes, astonished and humbled that, though he had so long been sowing, not a solitary seed had yet appeared above ground, springing up with any promise of good fruit.
While engaged with these mournful thoughts, he heard a tap at his door. “Come in,” he cried; and a cadet entered, appearing in much distress, so as for a while, to be unable to narrate the reason of his visit. When, however his emotion permitted him to speak, “I am come,” he exclaimed, “about my soul; pray tell me what I must do?”
Thankful to God for the evidence of the working of His Holy Spirit, granted at the very same time when he was fearful he had labored in vain, the chaplain inquired how thoughts such as these had come into the young man’s mind.
He had picked up a tract, he said, appeared under the door of his room one evening while he was studying; he read the tract; he had been struck with it; he had reflected upon it; and feelings and convictions heretofore unknown to him had sprung up within him. Nor could he rest, till he had, with troubled heart and anxious inquiry sought the good chaplain’s counsel.
But how came the tract at his chamber door? What hand had cast it there? It was the very identical tract which the clergyman had given the week before, as above related, to the other youth, and told him to “let it go anywhere in the barracks.”
Gladly did he embrace the opportunity of instructing the cadet. He read the Scriptures to him; he prayed with him; he pointed him to Jesus Christ, the compassionate friend of sinners, who is ready to pour healing balm into the wounded heart. And gradually the young man’s mind was calmed. He was enabled to take comfort; he was enabled to look by faith to Christ. And from that time he consistently adored the Gospel.
The other cadet was also brought to serious reflection, and eventually to a cordial dedication of himself to God.
But this is not all. Years had rolled away. The chaplain of his military academy at West Point was removed to other scenes. He passed over into Europe for a season of work and returned, and was appointed a bishop.
He was chosen once to preach the consecration sermon of another servant of the Lord appointed likewise to the episcopate. The individual was the cadet who had picked up the tract, who with an altered destination in life had become a minister of the sanctuary.
It only remains to name the brethren. The chaplain was Charles P. M’llvanine, Bishop of Ohio; the other cadet; know as the Bishop/General of the Confederacy, Bishop of Arkansas, LEONIDAS POLK.
Taken from “His Truth Keeps Marching On” compiled by Chaplain Alan Farley
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