about. Here you are swallowing spiritualism, hook, bob and sinker, and
having trouble with the Bible and the only religion that can do the
business that we need to have done. The trouble with you is that you are
afraid that the Bible will upset your spiritualism, and you don't dare
to investigate the Bible and stand by the result of your investigation.
I'm tired of this whole business, and I have made up my mind to
investigate the Bible and, if it is what I think it is, to try to live
by it. I am going to be a Christian."

A shout and a laugh went up. I was called "Deacon," and it was suggested
that I lead in prayer or at least make a few remarks. But I had said
enough to put myself on record and it was hardly to be expected that
they would take me seriously on such short notice. When it came time to
go to bed I felt that in order not to be misunderstood I must pray in
the presence of my roommate. He was a cynic and a nothingarian and I
felt sure that he would neither understand nor appreciate it. It was
hard to bring it about, as he kept on talking in a way that seemed to
give me no opportunity to turn the subject naturally. I was tempted to
let it pass, but felt that, if I did, it would be fatal to my new-formed
purpose. So finally, in almost an agony of awkwardness, I blurted out,
"Jim, I don't care what you think about it, I'm going to pray." Jim
proved to be entirely mild and agreeable about it, however, and gave me
his blessing in a patronizing sort of a way. The next day I burned my
bridges behind me by packing my trunk and going home.

Up to this time I was conscious of nothing unusual. What things had
taken place I had done myself and it had been entirely within my own
option and power to do or not to do them. I had received the testimony
of at least four witnesses of the fact of conversion and the reality of
the Christian life; I had relaxed the opposition of my will and given my