Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-09-28

We ask thee only to bcsow
Thy mite in doing good"
Pounding the Grace of God into Him
We have read and heard great many SER
mons, but tho most forciblc of them all is
that which we give below preaohcdby young
Methodist itinerant, somewhere up in the
Cumberland mountains. We take it from
an exchange and cannot vouch for tho truth
of it, 1t is good enough to be true
hen this old hat was new, there was
gap in Cumberland mountain, which is most
likely there now. There lived right in the
gap blacksmith, who was an inGdc!. man
of education, welding powerful influence
over the minds of mon around him, was No.
tent enemy, OF christianity, and made it his
particular business to whip every minister
who attempted to pass through the gap
At an annual Conference of the Methodist
Church. tho appoin,ce to this Circuit refused
to accept of his york. another was appointed.
and another, and they declined At length
the Bishop rose and asked if there vas any
minister in the Conference who had moral
courage and faith in Christ sufficient to en-
counter this monster. a young man rcspon
ded:
lierc am; send me-"
Ministers and Presiding Elders went to
their various appointments.
Ihe day arrived when young Bowden was
TO MI his lrst appointment, about two miles
from the gap. The blacksmith expcctip,t
rare sport. dismissed his striker and seating
himself by n tree at the road side, was read
ing Tom Paine, when he heard man an
| proaching, singing in voice that echoed
among the craggs and cliffs:
/" How happy arc they who their Saviour
| obey"
The. smith inquired if he WIS that d-n
Methodist preacher sent to this Circuit?
| Bowdcn replied that he was n Methodist
| preacher, and that he was appointed to that
Circuit.
Have you not beard" said the smith
that whip all disturbcrs of the peace tha,
pass this way7'
have, sir, been informed that YOU are
very severe on ministers, the servants of
| Christ"
Yes" said hc "nnd would pound the
ground with your Christ if he we're to offer to
preach in this neghtorhood"
make you this propositions" said the
smith. Promise me three things"
lst Ronouncc this Circuit
~. Burn up your Bible"
l
offer you"
B"wdcn replied that he could not comply
with his demand"
Chen" said the smith. "dismount and
try your hand at publishes
" Eowdcn replied that the coat he wore was
presented 10y some ladies, and not wishing to
soil Or tear it, he hoped he would allow him
to pull it Off /"
This request was granted Hc first drew
out his right arm, and, us his right hand saw
the light, he dealt the smith such blow that
1T telcd him heavily to the ground.
Bowden pnunced upon him with the fc
rocty nf n tiger. inflictin" blow nttcr blnw in
rapid succession, the smith cried out lu >ti,y
g enough"
When the preacher found that he had the
young enquirer entirely under his control. he
said to him that he would make him propo,i
tion
lat. Join in singing.
How happy are they who their Saviour
obey"
I'd. Promise to burn up Tom Pain"
| I'D. Promise to read Bible that | offer
you every day"
18th. That you go and hear me preach to-
| day, and regularly hereafter"
A few more arguments dealt heavily in TO
his ribs induced him to accept numbers three
and four, but he could not appear before his
ncighhors a whipped eur, with his face black
and blue, and rs for signing the only music
he had ever made was with jewsharp and
his trip hammer.
The preacher pounded his pcntcnt again
until he agreed to try and follow him IN sing
ing, it he would lead, When the singing
was ended, a few more blows induced him To
so with him to church
Curiosity was rife to learn why the black
smith should be at meeting, as also for the
| altered condition of his countcnnnce.
Faithful to his promise, the blacksmith d,i
| y read bis Bible, regularly attended meeting
and early became convert to chrstianity
and not until he joined the church was re-
vealed an account of the fist meeting with
the preacher.
Finally the affair was spoken of, and ut the
next Conference the preacher was asked for
tie truth Of the matter, and with tears in his
eyes. he exclaimed: My dear brethren.
ltappearcd the only argument could success.
fully use, and did indeed pound the grace of
God into him"
a LADY, playfully condcmning the wearing
OF whiskers and moustnchc, declared : "It
is one of the fashions invariably set my face
against"