The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-15
Founding tho Grace Of God Into Him.


of them all is that which we give
below, preached by young Metho-
dist itinerant, somewhere up in the
Cumberland Mountains. We take it
from Mississippi exchange. and
cannot vouch for the truth of it. 1t
is good enough to be true:
When this old hat was new, there
was a. gap in Cumberland Mountains,
which is most likely there now.
There lived right in the gap black
smith, who was an infidel, man of
education, welding powerful influ-
ence over the minds of men around
him, was q potent enemy of Chris
tlanity, 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, the appointed to
this circuit refused to accept of his
work; another was appointed, and
another, and they all declined. At
length, the Bishop rose and asked if
there was any minister in conference
who had moral courage and faith in
Christ sufficient to encounter this
monster. A young man responded:
"Here [ am-send me-"
Ministers and presiding elders went
to their various appointments.
The day arrived when young Bow
den was to fill his first appointment,
about two miles from the gap. The
blacksmith, expecting rare sport,
dismissed his striker, and seating
himself by tree at the roadside,
was reading Tom Paine, when he.
heard man approaching, singing, in
voice that echoed among the crags
and cliffs,
"How happy are they who their Saviour
The smith inquired if he was that
ID Methodist preacher sent to this
circuit
Bowden replied that he was Me-
thodist preacher, and that he was ap-
pointed to that circuit.
'Have you not heard" said the
smith, "that I whip all disturbers of
the peace that pass this way?"
81 have, sir, been informed that
you are very severe on ministers, the
servants of Christ"
eyes," said he, "and I would
pound the ground with your Christ
If he were to offer to preach in this
neighborhood. I make you this pro-
position" said the smith. "Promise
me three things: 1. Renounce this
circuit. 2. Burn up your Bible. 3.
That you will read Tom Paine, which
I here offer you"
Bowden replied that he could not
cOmn1u with h;o Jop,onJ
.'Then, said the smith, "dismount
and try your hand at pugilistics.
Bowden replied that the coat he
wore was presented by some ladies,
and not wishing to soil or tear it, he
hoped he would be allowed to pull it
Off"
The request was granted. He first
drew out his right arm, and, as his
right hand saw the light, he dealt
the smith such blow that it felled
him heavily to the ground.
Bowden pounced upon him with
the ferocity of q tiger, inhicting
blow after blow in such rapid success
sion that the smith cried out Justify,
Enough"
When the preacher found out that
he had the young inquirer entirely
under his control, he said to him
that he would make hir, q PROPOSE
tion:
"1st. Join him in singing,
How happy are they who their Saviour
s'2d. Promise to burn up Tom
Paine.
'3d. Promise to read a Bible that
offer you every day.
"4th. That you go and hear me
preach to-day, and regularly here
after"
A few more arguments dealt heavily
into his ribs induced him to accept
numbers three and four, but he could
not appear before his neighbors q
whipped cur, with his face black and
blue, and as for singing, the only
music he had ever made was with a
jews-harp and his trip hammer.
The preacher pounded his penitent
again until he agreed to try and fol-
low him in singing, if he would lead
When the singing was ended, q few
more blows induced him to go with
him to church.
Curiosity was rife to learn why the
blacksmith should be ut meeting, as
also for the altered condition of his
countenance.
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