The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-08
THE TEXAN MISSIONARY.
BY CHARLES SUMMERFIELp.

During the last week OF September. 1886,
the first successful camp-meeting was held
in Eastern Texas. l. employ the epithet
successful, because several previous fail
ures of like kim had rendered all efforts
perfectly hopeless Indeed the meridian
OF that period was most uncongenial to a
religious enterprise. The country bor-
dering on the Sabine was occupied, rather
than settled. by class Of adventurers. al
most as wild as the savages whom they
had scarcely expelled. and the beasts oi
prey which still disputed the dominion oil
the primeval forests. Professional gam.
blers. refugees from jail absconded debt
ors, outlaws from every land. forgers Of
fsse coin, thieves. robbers, murderers, in
terspersed among the race OF uneduca-
ted hunters and herdsmen, made up this
strange miscellany; without courts, or
schools, or even the shadow OF civil au-
thority or subordination-a sort OF munic-
ipA pandemonium, where fierce passion
sat enthroned, waving its bloody sceptre.
and naked Bowie knife!- Let no one ac-
cuse me of exaggeraiion, for the sake ol
dramatic effect. | am now speaking oi
Shelby county-that home Of the Lynch.
ers-that terrible locale, where. ten years
later, forty persons were poisoned to death
at marriage supper!
1t will be obvious that, in such com.
munity, very lew would be disposed to pa.
tronize carnp-meetings. and accordingly
a dozen different trials, at various times
had never collected hundred hearers, a,
any single occasion. But even these were
not allowed to worship in peace. Uniform
ly the first day and night, band of armed
desperadoes, headed by the notorious
Watt Foreman, chief Judge and execu.
toner of the Shelby Lynchers, broke into
the altar and scattered the mourners, OF
ascended the pulpit End treated the preach.
ers with gra,uitous robe Of tar and leath.
ers. Hence, all prudent evangelists soon
learned to shun the left bank OF the Sabine
as if it had been infested with cohort o
demons, and two whole years elapsed
without any new attempt to erect the cross
in so perilous a field.
At length, however, an advertisement,
appeared promising another effort in be
half of the gospel. The notice was unique
perfect backwoods curiosity, both as to
its tenor and mode OF publication. Lei
me give it uerbatim et Ateratum:
"BARBEcuE CAMP MEETING will
be camp meeting. to commences the las
Monday OF this month. at the Double
Spring Grove. near Peter Benson's, in the
county Of Shelby.
The exercises will open with splendid
barbecue. Preparations are being made
to suit all tastes; there will be a good bar
becue, better liquor, and the best of gos'
|pel. Paul DENTON.
Sept. I. 1885,"
This singular document was nailed tc
the door Of every public house and gro.
Gerry; it was attached TO the largest trees
at the intersection of all cross roads and
principal trails, and even the wandering
hunters themselves found it in remote dells
Of the mountain, miles away from the
smoke of human hahitations.
At first many regarded the matter as 9
/ hoax played off by some wicked wag in
ridicule Of popular credulty. But this
hypothesis was negatived by the statement
of Peter Brinson, proprietor Of the Double
Spring Grove, who informed all inquirers
that he had been employed and psid by q
stranger calling himself Methodist mis-
sionary, 10 provide an ample barbecue a
the period and place advertised.
..But the liquor-ihe better liquor-are
you 10 furnish the liquor, tool" was the
| inyariable question Of each visitor