PEN PICTURES by William P. Pearce

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 17, 1900

PEN PICTURES.

By William P. Pearce

WILLIAM P. PEARCE.

“ALMOST thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:28. Did you ever stand on the bank above Niagara Falls, a little below the bridge between Niagara City and Goat Island? If so, you may have noticed a rock projecting from the water, called “Avery’s Rock.” Quite a history is connected with it. It was in July, 1855, that Averill and two companions, while boating on the upper river, were caught in the current, and carried down on the reefs between Goat Island and the mainland. The boat was upset, the two companions were drowned, while Averill caught hold of a log that had been stranded on this rock. The next morning, the 19th, the early sightseers were surprised to see a man clinging to such a frail support—only a short distance from the foaming, roaring falls.

An alarm was sounded; hundreds of persons gathered, and many plans were suggested whereby he might be saved. First, a small boat is lashed to a strong cable, and sent upon its mission. Like a cork it bobs up and down, till, all at once, it is upset, and the cable is broken. Now from Buffalo comes a lifeboat. From the station it is carried by twenty strong men to the river bank. Strong ropes are wound about it, and two new cables are made fast to it. It is now launched. Beautifully it rides the waves. Gracefully it leaps the many formidable reefs. Only one more remains between it and the log. As it rises to plunge, it tips over, and partly fills with water. Finally it strikes the log, then stops. The spectators cheer. Averill climbs out on the log toward the boat; but as he does so, the current sweeps it around, breaking the cable, and with the current it is carried over the falls.

A third boat is now brought into action. It is a long flat-bottomed one. It makes the trip successfully. Quickly Averill seizes it, and signals to the men to pull. The voyage upstream is begun. What if the rope should break, or the boat upset as it climbs the reefs? The tackle catches, and the men, relaxing the strain a little, allow the boat to drift backward. Now the cable becomes entangled, and as the men pull, they make one side of the boat dip water. Off comes the boot of Averill, and quickly he bales it out. Now he climbs back on the log, and tries to push the boat from its tight place, but all in vain. For three months after Averill perished, that boat retained its position.

A fourth effort is made, this time by a raft with an empty barrel at the upper end to add to its buoyancy. Also some ropes are placed on it for him to lash himself to it, and beside there is placed a can of provisions. In safety this raft reaches the log. Averill climbs upon it, and lashes himself to it. Again the rescuers pull hard. Everything goes well, and the shore is almost reached. “He’s sure to be saved,” some one whispers. “God help him,” breathes a third. But what’s up?—The upper part of the raft catches under a reef, and in spite of all efforts it can not be moved. Alas! alas!

It was at this time that one of the large ferryboats of the lower river had been pressed into service. With care it was let down, until Averill was reached. Unlashing himself, he thrust out his hand to grasp the ferryboat as it came near him. But quick as lightning, it swung around, and with terrific force struck the helpless man in the chest, knocking him into the river. See, there he is! His head and hand rise above the foaming waves. How rapidly he is being carried toward the falls. Look! he is going over. Going! Gone. almost saved! but LOST.

In like sense many are almost Christians, almost saved, but altogether lost. To be almost a Christian is like Jeroboam, who said: “It is too far to go to Jerusalem to worship,” and therefore chose rather to worship calves at home. It is like Micah, who thought himself religious enough because he had a priest in his house. It is like Agrippa, who said, “Almost thou persuadest me,” and yet went on in his sin. It is like Ananias, who brought part of the price, and left part behind.

“Almost persuaded; harvest is past; Almost persuaded; doom comes at last! ‘Almost’ can not avail; ‘Almost’ is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail— ‘Almost,—but lost!’”