It was the fourth night...
Illustration
It was the fourth night of the tent meeting crusade. People gathered under the big trees to hear the gospel. Then came the altar call, and young Matthew Simpson came forward. The church fathers met with him and he told them that he wanted to become a preacher. They knew this young man, and they were well aware that he had a speech problem -- stuttering. They didn't want to hurt his feelings, but they did wonder about this "call" he thought he had received. They were not sure he "had it in him" to be a preacher. About ready to turn the young man away, Joshua spoke. It was something when he spoke, for he was known as being so quiet. Speaking slowly, he said: "It seems to me that it doesn't matter much what a man has in him -- if he has the Spirit of God in him, he can preach. And I say, let's encourage this young man." The group agreed. Off to college went Matthew Simpson, and on to seminary. He became quite a preacher! He became a Methodist bishop. He preached the funeral oration for Lincoln's burial in Springfield.
-- Kettlewell
-- Kettlewell
