Page 5 - Good News October 2009 paper

ne of the mightiest soul-
moved by such prosy talking? I
winners I ever knew was found the secret. It was
OColonel Clarke of Chi- because they knew that Colonel
cago. He would work at his Clarke loved them, and nothing
business six days a week so that conquers like love. Tears were
he might keep his Mission open very near the surface with
seven nights every week. Colonel Clarke.
Every night during the week Once in the early days of the
around five or six hundred men Mission when he had been
would gather together in that weeping a great deal over these
mission hall. It was a motley men, he got ashamed of his
crowd: drunkards, thieves, pick- tears. He steeled his heart and
pockets, gamblers and every- tried to stop his crying, and
thing that was hopeless. succeeded. But he lost his
I used to go and hear Colonel power...
Clarke talk, and he seemed to He saw that his power was gone
me one of the dullest talkers I and he went to God and prayed,
have ever heard in my life. He “Oh, God, give me back my
would ramble along, and yet tears.” And God gave him back
these men would lean over and his tears and gave him wonder-
listen spellbound while Colonel ful power, marvelous power
Clarke talked in his prosy way. over these men.
Some of the greatest preachers If we would see the seed that we
in Chicago used to go down to sow bring an abundant harvest,
help Colonel Clarke, but the men we must water it with our tears!
would not listen to them as they “He that goeth forth and
did to Colonel Clarke. When he weepeth, bearing precious
was speaking, they would lean seed, shall doubtless come
over and listen and be converted again with rejoicing, bringing
by the score. I could not under- his sheaves with him” (Ps.
stand it. 126:6).
I studied it and wondered what [R A Torrey in 52 Soul-Stirring
the secret was. Why did these Illustrations, Billy Apostolon,
men listen with such interest, Baker Book House, Grand
and why were they so greatly Rapids, Michigan, 1965].