It is one thing to decide that a certain thing is right and quite
another thing to take a stand (regardless of what anyone may think or
say) for the right. He had heard the preachers telling about the life of
a Christian, the Savior's love and death, and God's great mercy, night
after night for two weeks; but no invitation to come forward had been
given to those desiring to make a change in their manner of living. The
ministers desired that each one be given a full understanding of God's
plan of salvation so that none would take a step in the dark.

John was fully decided to change his manner of living; but he did not
want to make any more mistakes. For this reason he restrained himself
from going to the motherly lady to inquire of her what he had better do.
His old desire to become a man had revived, but this time he desired to
be a man after God's own heart--pure and holy--like the one that God
created in the beginning.

The time for an invitation to be given to the penitent finally came.
Upon entering the meeting house that evening John noticed a slight
change in the arrangement of the seats. The long row of chairs supplied
by kind-hearted neighbors to help in seating the people had been
removed, and a long, narrow bench had been put in their place. John
wondered at the change, but did not have to wonder long. An announcement
was soon made, stating that the bench was to serve as an altar, where
those who desired to be converted and who wanted to consecrate their
lives and services to God could gather for prayer.

An explanation was also made to the effect that, though God is pleased
to see people humble themselves before Him, there was no virtue in the
wooden altar; it was simply a more convenient place to bow for prayer
than their seats would be. The services were shorter than usual; and