Over the Telephone — An Unusual Conversion

1917

The Family Altar has a story of an unusual conversion. A young woman came before the session of a Presbyterian church and said that she wished to unite with that church. No one present knew her; she made an unusually clear confession of faith, impressing the minister so much that he asked her how she had been led to Christ. "Through Dr. S.," she replied. "Is Dr. S. a friend of yours?" she was asked. "No," she said, "I have never met or even seen him."

She was a telephone operator, and had had night service, from 9 p. m. to 3 a.m. Receiving many calls for this physician. Dr. S., she had more than once rung his bell by mistake. Always he answered, not only with courtesy, but in a voice that showed no trace of impatience. It was such a grateful relief from the surly, sleepy voices of others awakened at midnight, or the harsh expressions directed at her when she called a wrong number by mistake, that she finally became deeply interested and wanted to know the secret of the difference between Dr. S. and other men.

She made inquiries about him, until she learned that Christ was supreme in his heart and life, and that what she was so admiring in him was simply Christ living in an earnest Christian. Soon Dr. S.'s Savior was her Savior. Herein is a suggestion for those who have telephones and are sometimes annoyed by untimely calls.