The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-10-01

AoVe VI Gountly"Tr1p to Abbeville-
Arrival at Smyrna Camp Ground
walk about" the old Plaee-hnage
! OF the Rev. James DannelIy G.
w. Huckabee-The Barneses Youngs,
Cllnkscales and others-S. S. Meeting
on STANDARDIZATION Revival Meet.
ing on the Sabbath-Smyrna, 1.-THE
Banner Church New Ecclesiastical
Arrangements, ETC., etc.
MR. EDlToR: No man can surely be
blamed for dwelling with loving
heart Oh the place Of his nativity.
Love Of country is certainly natural !;
whether it be identical with patriot
ism is question wo leavo for po-
litical philosophers to decide.
The object Of this letter is, however,
to call the attention Of your readers
to some items Of religious intelligence,
which connects themselves with Alb
bevillc District; tho birth place of the
writer. On my arrival ut the town.
Immediately took passage with Bro.
Manning Brown, accompanied by Bro.
A. Il. Smith, for Smyrna, near Lown-
dcsville, where a meeting had been in
progress for eight days in succession.
We passed many points on tho road
made familiar by the experience of
former days. Arrived at the Church,
my first impulse was to walk about"
the old camp ground, and bring up the
"reminiscences Of fifteen or twenty
years ago, when this place was the
great gathering place of the people
for miles around. Nothing is left of
the former buildings, except the car
Dor" covered rs it is with boards.
The growth Of the trees in and around
the old camp ground surprised the
writer. People, however, interest us
moro than natural scenery, and when
they arc not present, then th,ir mem
orles demand undivided attention.
The prominent figure in the whole
panorama Of the past us it swept be-
fore the memory Of tho writer was
that of the Rev. Jamos Dannclly. we'll
known in Georgia and So. Carolina as
one OF the quaintcst, sharpcst, most
sarcastic, and yet at the same time,
ono of the ablest and kindcst hearted
OF all our preachers. His charactcris-
tics have been described time and
again, and need not be reproduced
here. lie left his impress OH his gene
ration, i'll a manner which few men
ever do. Like all other really great
men, he WAS q great sufferer, and per-
tlcularly toward the close of his useful
life. AT the time here referred TO, tho
flames had kindlcd upon him, and he
was in the condition Of the bush of
Moses, burning but consumed" At
tho last camp-meeting attended by
the writer, Bro. DannclIy was in the
habit of taking position between the
preachers tent, and the arbor and
there he would stand, one hand on his
walking stick, occasionally brushing
the pcrspiration from his brow with
the other hand, looking like "paticnce
on monument" and every now and
again holding conversation with a
passing friend. This is the last dis
tinct recollection the writer has Of the
man. His sohole life, and labors, suf.
ferings, and triumphs form rich lcga-
cy to the Church, which he loved so
well, and SO faithfully served.
Then came vividly and clearly be-
fore the writer's memory, tho image
OF dear, good Bro. Huckabce, who for
years was so intimately associated
with Smyrna in particular, and the
Cokesbury circuit in general. Re-
markable for purity, and elevation of
Christian character, sound common
sense and great zeal for his Church,
he eNcrted perhaps, wider and more
extended influence for good, than
any other may of his day, in this par
ticular section of the circuit.
We must not. forgot the names of
such mon as the Bnrneses, tho older of
whom has gone to his reward in Hea-
ven, and the younger, the Rev. Zcpha-
niah Barnes, has found his reward in
part, in tho possession of fine homo
in Louisiana, and a household ESQ said)
of Journteen living children, to arise and
cal him blessed. The writer could see
before him also the figure of good,
old fashioned, father Garrison, as he
appeared in that stand, in his extreme
old age, giving us q vivid history of
the past. His wrinkled, withercd Wis.
age, trcmulous; but clear, and distinct
enunciation, and his remarkable mcm-
ory Of facts, stamped him as man of
great individuality of character.
| We must not forget such laymen as
fathers Young and Clinkscales, or the
gentlemanly and warm hearted Brown.
lee, the Powells, and others, who by
their practical good sense guided, and
by their piety adorned the Church OF
their CHOICE. ,.... ~, .............
H.