A SOUL AT AUCTION.

BY REV. JOHN HENRY DICKERSON, OCALA, FLA.

There is a very good story told of Rowland Hill and Lady Ann Erskine. You have seen it in print perhaps, but I would like to tell it to you. While he was preaching in a park in London to a large assemblage, she was passing in her carriage. She said to her footman, when she saw Rowland Hill in the midst of the people: "Who is that man?"

"That is Rowland Hill, my lady."

She had heard a good deal of him, and, desiring to see him, directed her coachman to drive near.

When the carriage came near Rowland Hill saw the insignia of nobility, and he asked who that noble lady was. Upon being told, he said: "Stop, my friends, I have something to sell." The idea of the preacher suddenly becoming an auctioneer made the people wonder, and in the midst of a dead silence he said:

"I have more than a title to sell, I have more than the crown of Europe to sell—it is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine. Is there any one here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give?

"'I will give pleasure, honor, riches—yea, I will give the whole world for her soul.'

"Do you hear another bid? Is there another one? Do I hear another bid? Ah! I thought so; I hear another bid: the Lord Jesus Christ—what will you give for this soul?

"'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the world knows not of—yea, I will eternal life.'

"Lady Ann Erskine, you have heard the two bidders for your soul; which will you accept?"

REV. JOHN HENRY DICKERSON, OCALA, FLA. Deputy Grand Master of Florida Free and Accepted Masons.

And she ordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, will you do the same?

Transcriber's Notes

Illustrations have been moved from their original locations to prevent splitting paragraphs. The page numbers in the List of Illustrations are for the original printed book.

Table of Contents page numbers put in order: Moved Mrs. Georgia Gordon Taylor (page 75); originally listed after page 57 in book.

Pgs. 36-45: The five images of the various committees may be clicked to see an enlarged, clearer version.

Pg. 53: Changed section to sections (other sections of the country.)

Pg. 78: Changed citzen to citizen (Douglass is the new citizen—).

Pg. 131: Changed our to ours (prosperity as ours is at this late day)

Pg. 176: Changed nothwithstanding to notwithstanding (never harmed, notwithstanding the number)