God’s Protection of One’s Good Name
My friend, Hon. E. A. Rollins, who was Commissioner of Internal Revenue in “Reconstruction Days,” after the Civil War, told me of an incident in his experience that emphasized the truth which I now confirm by a recital of an experience of mine. It was during the bitter struggle for supremacy between President Johnson and Congress, while the attempted impeachment of the former by the latter was in progress with all its excitements.
One evening Mr. Rollins and Hon. Roscoe Conkling had occasion to be in conference with a friend near the outskirts of Washington. It was after midnight when they started to return to their homes, On their way they met unexpectedly a man
who was commonly suspected of being an 57
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agent of the more zealous and determined friends of the President in the effort to prevent his impeachment. It was even said that he was offering bribes of money — or of official favor in order to win votes from the opposition. As the two friends, who were acquaintances of this man, met him, they said a word of ordinary salutation, and passed on. After going a few yards, Mr. Rollins said:
“Conkling, suppose we were seen as we were speaking to that man just now. If it were told in Washington to-morrow that we two were seen out here in conference with that man after midnight, what unjust suspicion it might throw on us.
“We couldn’t deny the fact that we were out here speaking with him after midnight, and we shouldn’t have the opportunity of explaining to all how it happened, or, if we did, we might not be believed. I tell you, Conkling, we are always in danger of being misunderstood or misrepresented, even
when we are doing the best we can.” 58
God’s Protection of One’s Good Mame
To Mr. Rollins’s surprise, Mr. Conkling responded:
“Well, Rollins, we ought to believe that God will take care of our good name while we are honestly doing our duty in his service.”
Mr. Rollins suggested, as he told me this incident, that this truth impressed him more as uttered by Mr. Conkling than if a clergyman had said it. Yet it is a truth to be held precious, whoever utters it. If God can be trusted to guard our homes and health and life, we can surely trust him to guard the greater treasure of our good name and reputation, where his supernatural control of the natural is even more needed here than in those other spheres. My conviction on this subject has strengthened with the passing years, and I have had added reason to be grateful that this truth is a truth.
On one occasion, not long after the Civil War, I was sent for in my Hartford home to come to the relief of a Christian mother Glustrative Answers to Prayer
in another New England city, who desired my counsel and assistance. Her wayward son, in whose welfare I had been interested for years, had run away from home, and she had heard of him as in trouble in a certain district of Brooklyn, New York. Her husband was ill, and was in such a condition that she could not even tell him of her trouble, hence she was all the more anxious and distressed. When I learned the facts I determined to attempt her relief.
Telling my wife, who alone knew of my plans, I started for Brooklyn to find the young man. As the visit involved some personal peril, and my wife was anxious for me, I took, to encourage her, a pistol that I had carried in my army service. In this I made a mistake that I have never since repeated. God can protect his child without a revolver.
While attempting to board a crowded car at a street corner near the outskirts of Brooklyn, my buttoned overcoat lapel
caught on the hand-rail and was torn open 60
God’s Protection of One’s Good Mame
as I stepped up. My pistol fell out; it struck on the hammer as it fell, and a flash and explosion followed. Cries and confusion resulted, and all was excitement. As I stepped back on the ground I picked up my pistol unobserved and replaced it in my pocket, and I found myself in the rapidly increasing crowd, quite unsuspected of a part in the cause of this excitement.
As I stood on the sidewalk looking at the crowd, I saw that I could easily walk off unhindered; yet that would be unmanly. Seeing a policeman near, 1 stepped up to him, and said:
“JT am the cause of all this scene. A pistol accidentally fell from my pocket and was discharged. It may have wounded some one. I want to put myself in your care.”
It proved that the car conductor had received a slight flesh wound in the calf of his leg. I went with my protector to the police station office, and there the whole
case was considered. The policeman to 61
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whom I first spoke reported that I had ‘come to him: voluntarily when I was unsuspected, and it was manifestly an accident. I saw the conductor, and told him I would gladly meet all expense to which he might be subjected. Then I was permitted to leave unmolested, on the giving of my personal address. I inquired particularly if it was essential that my name be made public. Being told that the police office had no power to refuse to give it to the press if requested, I had to accept the state of things as it was, and I returned to my home.
My position was now most unfortunate. I was prevented, by the nature of my special mission at that time, from explaining to the public why I was in that particular region at that time, with a loaded pistol. A newspaper report of the occurrence would be likely to throw suspicion on me, without my having the power even to attempt the clearing of myself. I faced an
unpleasant dilemma. When I reached my 62
God’s Protection of One’s Good Mame
home in the evening, I prostrated myself before the Lord, and stated the case as it was.
I told him that, while I saw my error in having the pistol with me, I was seeking to do his work, and this trouble had come upon me in this effort. I realized that, if my good name was smirched in the opinion of the public, I ought to retire from his public service, for God’s servants should have a good report among those who are without. Hence I would leave it to him to say, by the issue of this affair, whether I was to continue in my special work for him, or to retire from it; and there I rested it.
It was with no ordinary interest that I looked into the New York papers as they came to Hartford the next forenoon. In at least three of the principal metropolitan dailies the report of the affair in Brooklyn was given in full; but in each case a different name was given as mine, and in no instance had it any resemblance to the real
one.
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“still boatince in she work ainles his
and guidance.. 3
How good it is for a child of: God 1 to
feel that in every peril in his sphere of
God’s service he “shall abide under the shadow of the Sai a AES a) eM SD