Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-07
From the Lutheran and Visitor
A THRILLING INCIDENT, OR GOD
SPEAKING BY ELECTRICITY.

SPEAKING BY ELECTRICITY.
DEAR Bro. RUDE For the bene-
fit of your young readers, I will re-
late an incident in my ministry that
may by the blessing of God, if prop
erly pondered, do them some good.
At Mt. Zion, in Augusta County,
Virginia, on the 18th day Of July,
1863, was preaching q funeral SER
mon in memory of two worthy aged
persons who had died several weeks
previous from Smallpox. The day
was hot and the congregation large.
The deceased wore pious Christians.
They left family of interesting
children mostly grown. Knowing
the persons, their christian deport-
mcnt, their extreme suffcrings, their
resignation to Gods will, and vet
their natural attachment to their
dear children, I selected, as appropri-
ate, the following text: "For am in
a strait betwixt two, having a desire
to depart and be with Christ; which
is far better: nevertheless, to abide
in the flesh is more needful for you"
(Phil. I: 23,24.") !
| AS l drew near tho close of nv
remarks, speaking of the resignation
or willingness Of tho Christian to live
to be useful in the Church and family
&C., yet how reasonable the desire to
departfrom such extreme suffering and
Fiction, and "to be with Christ, which
is far BETTER" an unusual solemnity
pervaded my mind and that of the
large audience.
God saw fit, just then, to speak by
a more powerful and terrific voice
than that of the poor feeble tongue
in the pulpit. The dark, lowering
clouds were gathering thick and fast
over US. The vivid lightnings began
to flash, the terrific thunders to roar.
The clements above seemed 70 be in
a frightful confusion or combat, roar
ing and flashing, rumbling and crash
ing. The most frightful was a forked
or converging flash of lightning just
east Of the church making it's way to
the ground, followed by the awfnlly
majestic peal of thunder.
The sermon was closed, a short
prayer offered, few appropriate lines
with the doxology sung, and just as
the benediction was spoken, man,
frightfully looking indeed, stood at
the fence few steps from the church
in full view of the window. The
large drops of rain were beginning
to fall thick and fast. The man was
without coat or hat. Most Of the
congregation soon rush to his call,
and through the dreuching rain they
follow him few hundred yards cast
of the church, and there lay the life:
less body of little VIM. Henry Spit
Ter. The converging fash of light
ming, directed by an omnipotent God,
had struck the side of his head. pas
sing across his breast and down his
leg, rending the new linen clothing as
it passed, leaving the body bruised,
blackened and dead. What q painful
scene! Men and women weep. The
angry elements becoming somewhat
quiet rapidly shed their tears on the
heart-rending scene. But God, who
| is too wise 70 err, did it'll
4. The body was taken to the house,
and next. to Mt. Tabor cemetery, and
then deposited in the grave. Many
friends were there. with the heart
stricken parents, TO shed o sympa-
thetic tear. There was no preaching
called for at tho time by the parents,
why, I cannot tell. ~, .z.-si.
II NowI must say for; the Informs
ton and warning Of others what I
am sorry to hays.to say. Little Hem
Try was: twelve years and some days
old, ana on that Lords day was out
gathering blaekberries With some 9th:
!. er children: They wers within few
hundred yards Of the sabbath-schooi
I'm hs house Sf God, almost or quite
in hearing distances Of thesswset, vol.
ces Of the dear little ones who were
praising GodSin his. sanctuary May
4 nesittle reader of these lines 4eNsr
4 violate Gods holy day or neglect the
sabbathsehool. sasprineis here, Sam