Christian Conversation.
By DeWitt Talmage
You take two Christian people of this modern day and place them in the same room. (I suppose these two men may have no worldly subject in common.) What are they talking about? There being no worldly subject common to them they are in great stress for a subject, and after a long pause, Mr. A. remarks: “It is a pleasant evening.” Again there is a long pause. These two men both redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, Heaven above them, hell beneath them, eternity before them, the glorious history of the church of Jesus Christ behind them, certainly after a while they will begin to converse on the subject of religion. A few minutes have passed, and Mr. B. remarks: “Fine autumn we are having.” Again there is profound quiet. Now you suppose that their religious feelings have really been dammed back for a while; the men have been postponing the things of God and eternity, that they may approach the subject with much deliberation, and you wonder what useful thing Mr. B. will say to Mr. A. in conversation. It is the third time, and perhaps it is the last, that these two Christian men will ever meet until they come face to face before the throne of God. They know it. The third attempt is made. Mr. A. says to Mr. B., “Feels like snow.” My opinion is, it must have felt more like ice. Oh! how little real, practical religious conversation there is in this day. I would to God that we might get back to the old-time Christianity when men and women came into associations, and felt, Here I must use all the influence I can for Christ, upon that soul, and get all the good I can. This may be the last time I shall have in this world for interviewing that precious soul. But there are Christian associations where men and women do talk out their religion, and my advice to you, is to seek out all those things, and remember just in proportion as you seek such society, will you be elevated and blessed.—DeWITT TALMAGE, in the Interior.