Excerpt from History of the Holy Communion Church Institute: Of Charleston, South Carolina

An incident occurred this year which illustrates the tone of the institution. Tickets of admission to the theatre had been 2them to go, and waited up for them until their return. When they came, both were seriously under the influence of liquor. This was Friday night. On Monday, after the usual daily ser vice, Mr. Gadsden came into the vestry-room and said that he had a disagreeable fact to lay before me. Hearing all the par ticulars, I told him to leave the matter to me. During the day I staid about the premises, treating these young men as though I was not cognizant of their misdemeanor. The next day, after morning prayer, while I was still in the vestry-room, they came in, and under great embarrassment opened their case to me. They statedthat they had gone into the saloon adjoining the theatre, and, as it was a very cold night, each had taken a drink. Being unaccustomed to the use of ardent spirits, they had been overcome by the potion. They said they did not feel that at their age - one was nineteen and the other twenty - they had done so very great a wrong in taking the drink; the wrong was in going into a bar-room at all. It was a breach of confidence; in this they had transgressed, and feared they had lost my re spect. They were willing, they said, to submit to any punish ment I was prepared to inflict. Perceiving that they were deeply moved, I asked them if this was of their own volition. They replied, Entirely. I asked if this would ever again occur. Never, they replied, while under your charge. Then, said I, young men, your offense is as freely forgiven as it is fully and honestly confessed; we will never refer to it' again. I saw the big tears roll down their cheeks, and, as they pressed my hand, their hearts were too full for words. At that moment everything was gained, and these two young men were patterns in the school until they left. I learned at that time the full value of our heavenly Father's forgiveness to a truly penitent sinner. Since then, one of these young men, now a respectable citizen, called to see me, and remarked that this oc currence was the turning-point of his life; my course with him self and his young friend conquered them, and they would have died sooner than have offended again. It had made a lasting impression on their minds and hearts, and had a most happy influence on the institution. During this year fourteen youths were confirmed and became communicants.

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