The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-11-24
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Il know that. But the truth is the truth
However, you must see and Judge lol
yourself think you had better 20 to the
house Of sister Russell, who will welcome
you with all her heart, and give you the
best she has
And | want no MORE said the preach
er.
After getting precise directions for find
ing sister Russell, he started on his journey.
/ Ii was nearly five o'clock, and he made his
calculation to reach sister Russel's by sew
en-, where he would remain all night, and
60 with her to the preaching place on Sun
day morning.
He had not, however been half an hOnr
on his journey, before heavy masses of dark
clouds began to roll up from the horizon
and spread rapidly over the sky: and ere
he had accomplished half the distance Ne
was going, large drops of rain began to
fall, as the beginning of heavy Storm
The preacher was constrained to turn aside,
and seek the shelther of a farm house,
where he was received with much kind
ness.
Nightlall brought no abatement of the
tempest. The Lightning still blazed out in
broad masses of fire: the thunder Jared
and ratified amid the clous like parks ofar-
tllery, and the rain continued to pour down
increasingly. The invitation to remain all
night, which the farmer and his wife ten
dered i'll all sincerely, was not, of course,
declined by the preacher.
In the morning, after being served with
a plentiful breakfast, Mr.. Odell returned
his warmest thanks for the kindness he
had received, and pooceeded on his Jour
ney. He has six mills TO ride: but it was
only hall-past eight o'clock when he STAR
ted, and as the hour of preaching was ten,
there was plenty of time for him TO proceed
at his leisure. AS sister Russell lived near
ly mile from direct course, he did not
turn aside to call upon her, but went to the
meeting house. On reaching the little
country church, Mr.. Odell found a small
company of men assembled in front of the
humble building, who looked at him Gu
riously, and with something of shyness in
their manner, as he rode up and dismoun-
ted. No one offering to take his horse, he
led him aside TO a small grove, and tied the
reins 10 tree. One or two of the men
nodded, distantly, as he passed them on
his way TO the meeting house door: but
none of them spoke to him.
On entering the meeting house, Mr..
Odell found some thirty persons assembled,
most of them women. If there were any
official members present, they made them
selvs in no way oi1icious in regard to the
preacher, who, after pausing at the door
leading into the little altar, or chanccl, for
a short time, and looking round with an ex-
preston of inquiry on his face, ascended
the pulpit stairs, and took his seat. All
was as silent, almost, as if the house was
tenantless.
In a little while the preacher arose, and
gave out hymn. But there was no one
to raise the tune. One looked at another
uneasily. Sundry persons coughed and
cleared their thrOats, but all remained si-
lent. Mr.. OdeIl was not much of singer,
but had practised on odd Hundred so that
he could lead that air very well, and the
hymn happening by good luck,to be setto
long metre tune, he was able to start it,
his done, the congregation joined IN, and
the singing went off pretty well. After
praying and reading chapter in the Bible,
he set down to collect his thoughts for the
sermon, which was, of course, to be eX-
tempore, as all Methodist sermons are. 1t
is usual for the choir, if there is one, to
sing an anthem during this pause or,
where no singers are set apart, for some
member to strike up an appropriate hymn,
in which the congregation joins. On this
occasion all was silent. After the lapse of
few minutes, Mr.. Odell arose, and turn
ing III the Bible to the chapter where the
text from which he was to preach, was re-
corded, read the verse that was TO form the
groundwork OF his remarks. Before OPEN
ing the subject, he stated briefly, that he
was the preacher who was TO hlr among
them during the ensuing yrs aj hoped,
in Divine Providence, th, ..aI both
10 them and TO him would rc-u. On the