Page 6 - Good News January 2010 paper

he following story is a true saw how he loved and trusted Him there, an aide told me that 16 of unconverted soul. All I could say
account, taken from an old, to the very end, something the badly wounded soldiers had to him was, "Well, my dear boy,
Tout-of-print book called touched my heart deeply. I did for died. "Was Charlie Coulson one of you will soon be all right." With
"Touching Incidents And Remar- that boy what I had never done for them?" I asked. "No, sir," he these words I left him, and 12
kable Answers To Prayer" any other soldier - I asked him if answered, "he's sleeping as minutes later he fell asleep, "safe
compiled by S.B. Shaw and he wanted to see his chaplain. sweetly as a babe." in the arms of Jesus." Hundreds
published in 1894. Chaplain R. knew the boy well "When I came to his bed, one of of soldiers died in my hospital
We serve a truly faithful God! I from having seen him frequently the nurses said that at about nine during the war, but I only followed
was a surgeon in the United at the tent prayer meetings. o'clock, two members of the one to the grave, and that was
States Army during the Civil War. Taking his hand, he said, "Charlie, YMCA came through the hospital Charlie Coulson. I rode three
After the Battle of Gettysburg, I'm really sorry to see you like to read and sing a hymn. Chaplain miles to see him buried. I had him
there were hundreds of wounded this." "Oh, I'm all right, sir," R. was with them and he knelt by dressed in a new uniform, and
soldiers in my hospital. Many Charlie answered. "The doctor Charlie's bed and offered up a placed in an officer's coffin, with a
were wounded so severely that a offered me chloroform, but I told fervent and soul-stirring prayer. United States flag over it.
leg or an arm, or sometimes both, him I didn't want any. Then he Then, while still on their knees, That boy's dying words made a
needed to be amputated. wanted to give me brandy, which I they sang one of the sweetest of deep impression upon me. I was
One of these was a boy who had didn't want either. So now, if my all hymns, 'Jesus, Lover Of My rich at that time so far as money
only been in the service for three Saviour calls me, I can go to Him Soul.' Charlie sang along with was concerned, but I would have
months. Since he was too young in my right mind." "You might not them, too." I couldn't understand given every penny I possessed if I
to be a soldier, he had enlisted as die, Charlie," said the chaplain, how that boy, who was in such could have felt towards Christ as
a drummer boy. When my "but if the Lord does call you horrible pain, could sing. Charlie did. But that feeling
assistants came to give him home, is there anything I can do Five days after I performed the cannot be bought with money.
chloroform before the ampu- for you after you're gone?" operation, Charlie sent for me, Alas, I soon forgot all about my
tation, he turned his head and "Chaplain, please reach under my and it was from him that I heard Christian soldier's little sermon,
refused it. When they told him that pillow and take my little Bible. My my first Gospel sermon. "Doctor," but I could not forget the boy
it was the doctor's orders, he said, mother's address is inside. he said, "my time has come. I himself. Looking back, I now
"Send the doctor to me." Please send it to her and write a don't expect to see another know that I was under deep
I came to his bedside and said, letter for me. Tell her that since I sunrise. I want to thank you with conviction of sin at that time. But
"Young man, why do you refuse left home, I have never let a single all my heart for your kindness to for nearly ten years I fought
the chloroform? When I found you day pass - no matter if we were on me. I know you are Jewish, and against Christ with all the hatred I
on the battlefield, you were so far the march on the battlefield, or in that you don't believe in Jesus, had, until finally the dear boy's
gone that I almost didn't bother to the hospital - without reading a but I want you to stay with me, and prayer was answered, and I
pick you up. But when you portion of God's Word, and daily see me die trusting my Saviour to surrendered my life to the love of
opened those large blue eyes, it praying that He would bless her." the last moment of my life." Jesus.
occurred to me that you had a "Is there anything else I can do for I tried to stay, but I just couldn't. I About a year-and-a-half after my
mother somewhere who might be you, my lad?" asked the chaplain. didn't have the courage to stand conversion, l went to a prayer
thinking of you at that very "Yes - please write a letter to the by and see a Christian boy die meeting one evening in Brooklyn.
moment. I didn't want you to die Sunday School teacher of the rejoicing in the love of that Jesus It was one of those meetings
on the field, so I had you brought Sands Street Church in Brooklyn, whom I hated. So I hurriedly left where Christians testify about the
here. But you've lost so much New York. Tell him that I've never the room. About 20 minutes later lovingkindness of God. After
blood that you're just too weak to forgotten his encouragement, the aide came and found me several had spoken, an elderly
live through an operation without good advice, and many prayers sitting in my office with my hands lady stood up and said, "Dear
chloroform. You'd better let me for me. They have helped and covering my face. He told me that friends, this may be the last time I
give you some." comforted me through all the Charlie wanted to see me. "I've have a chance to publicly share
He laid his hand on mine, looked dangers of battle. And now, in my just seen him," I answered, "and I how good the Lord has been to
me in the face and said, "Doctor, dying hour, I thank the Lord for my can't see him again." "But, me. My doctor told me yesterday
one Sunday afternoon, when I dear old teacher, and ask Him to Doctor, he says he must see you that my right lung is nearly gone,
was nine and a half years old, I bless and strengthen him. That is once more before he dies." and my left lung is failing fast, so
gave my heart to Christ. I learned all." Then turning to me, he said, So I made up my mind to go and at the best I only have a short time
to trust Him then, and I've been "I'm ready, doctor. I promise I see Charlie, say an endearing to be with you. But what is left of
trusting Him ever since. I know I won't even groan while you take word, and let him die. However, I me belongs to Jesus. It's a great
can trust Him now. He is my off my arm and leg, if you don't was determined that nothing he joy to know that I shall soon meet
Strength. He will support me while offer me chloroform." I promised, could say would influence me in my son with Jesus in heaven.
you amputate my arm and leg." but I didn't have courage to take the least bit, so far as his Jesus "Charlie was not only a soldier for
I asked him if he would at least let the knife in my hand without first was concerned. his country, but also a soldier for
me give him a little brandy. Again going into the next room and When I entered the hospital I saw Christ. He was wounded at the
he looked at me and said, "Doctor, taking a little brandy myself. he was sinking fast, so I sat down battle of Gettysburg, and was
when I was about five years old, While cutting through the flesh, by his bed. Asking me to take his cared for by a Jewish doctor, who
my mother knelt by my side with Charlie Coulson never groaned. hand, he said, "Doctor, I love you amputated his arm and leg. He
her arms around me and said: But when I took the saw to because you are a Jew. The best died five days after the operation.
'Charlie, I am praying to Jesus separate the bone, the lad took Friend I have found in this world The chaplain of the regiment
that you will never take even one the corner of his pillow in his was a Jew." I asked him who that wrote me a letter, and sent me my
drink of alcohol. Your father died a mouth, and all I could hear him was, and he answered, "Jesus boy's Bible. I was told that in his
drunkard, and I've asked God to whisper was, "O Jesus, blessed Christ, and I want to introduce you dying hour, my Charlie sent for
use you to warn people against Jesus! Stand by me now." to Him before I die. Will you that Jewish doctor, and said to
the dangers of drinking, and to He kept his promise. He never promise me, Doctor, that what I him, 'Doctor, before I die I wish to
encourage them to love and serve groaned. I couldn't sleep that am about to say to you, you will tell you that five days ago, while
the Lord.' night. Whichever way I tossed and never forget?" I promised, and he you amputated my arm and leg, I
"I am now 17 years old, and I have turned, I saw those soft blue eyes, said, "Five days ago, while you prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ
never had anything stronger than and when I closed my own eyes, amputated my arm and leg, I for you.'" As I heard this lady
tea or coffee. There is a very good the words, "Blessed Jesus, stand prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ speak, I just couldn't sit still! I left
chance that I am about to die and by me now," kept ringing in my and asked Him to make His love my seat, ran across the room, and
appear in the Presence of my God. ears. known to you." taking her hand said, "God bless
Would you send me there with A little after midnight, I finally left Those words went deeply into my you, my dear sister. Your boy's
brandy on my breath?" my bed and visited the hospital - a heart. I couldn't understand how, prayer has been heard and
I will never forget the look that boy thing I had never done before when I was causing him the most answered! I am that Jewish doctor
gave me. At that time I hated unless there was an emergency. I intense pain, he could forget all that Charlie prayed for, and his
Jesus, but I respected that boy's had such a strange and strong about himself and think of Saviour is now my Saviour! The
loyalty to his Saviour. And when I desire to see that boy. When I got nothing but his Saviour and my love of Jesus has won my soul!"