The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-26

| Joining In the chorus.
Secretary Huges read requests for
prayer. 1t was desired by two young
men; by three sisters in the Roman
Catholic Church, the last Of family Of
ten ; by two Uuiversalist preachers for
a mother and sister in Mormonism. The
prayer to cover these requests was a
silent prayer the congregation rising.
Seekers for Pardon, or justification, or
sanctiGcation, we're then asked to 'kueel
at the altar Ministers went from the
stand and knelt with them. A prayer
in verse was sung-softly, sweetly,
feeliagly. No noisy demonstration
broke upon its pathos. The effect was
most impressive and solemn. At
length, Parson Iuskip remarked that, as
God must have blessed some one, he
wished they would make it known. One
young woman arose, aud throwing up
her arms. began and continued to shout
'Bless God in an almost breathless
ecstaey. A man from New England
arose and declared that he found it an
exceeding difficult thing to keep a
living Christ in his soul in his native
place. He had to keep up running
FIRE Of prayer. He had followed Brother
Inskip in his mind in his recent journey
across the plains, and had asked God to
continually bless him, for he knew
Sodom would have to take it. Al this
Amanda Smith, the colored sister, lift
ed up her voice in triumphant shout.
Amanda's voice is singular, and is at
once recognized. A man arose, e1-
claiming 4 am brand picked from
the FIRE. -Four months ago | was a
drunkard. But Jesus has redeemed
me, aud l must tell of It'll whiskey,
tobacco and all, the blood of Jesus has
washed out Of me- Short testimonies
followed, consisting of single sentences
expressive Of religious feeling. After
these, Sister Smith spoke: 'My trouble
vas the length of time it takes to do
this great work, but I heard Brother
Iuskip ask-God bless him GLORY to
Jesus, too how long will room be
dark when you take light into it2
Another trouble with me was, how to
90 to work to get it. He said, when
you're tired and go to bed, at night, you
don't worder how you'll get to sleep.
And it is just so with this blessed ex-
perience. When Jesus comes in he
makes everything all right, and there's
no use fretting about it,
The 5 o clock bell aroused me this
morning to the early service. soon
found myself in the midst Of great
multitude. The Tabernacle was nearly
fled. Mr. Little, of the Water-street
| Mission, sang ballad with great spirit
and feeling. Miss Drake delivered
herself Of some apt illustrations, which
enriched her clear, sharp sense A
reformed rumseller from Poughkeepsie,
n. Y, said that when he was selling
rum he couldn't read his Bible. 1t
condemned him. He hadn't read it for
two years prior to his conversion. He
had since kept Temperance house for
twenty years, and succeeded. After
prayer, during which "the blessing"
had ccme to many, the excitement was
| very great One strong, weatherbeaten
man, who had apparently been crushed
with his misery, breaking GU: into sobs
and groans, suddenly arose from his
knees in joy, A woman, unusually
blessed, seemed unable to terminate her
expressions Of exaltation' Another,
ieapins On a seat. raised her haods,
shouting "Glory to God" until at length
she tell backward. The benediction
was pronounced, but was unheeded.
Men with streaming eyes embraced
each other. Women broke out in
rapturous expressions Of JOY Every
body seemed anxious to shout Sister
Smith, who had made vigorous efforts to
restrain herself, broke forth with
Hallelujah. anyhow . and added a ring
! ing hand clap. At the beginning of
the s o'clock morning service Mr.,
Iuskip told ofwhat he had seen that
morning. AS the sun was rising a
cloud tingcd with the mornings s
splendor rolled through the sky, and
as it came floating over the sncampment
a most perfect rainbow arched the
Tabernacle. The meeting was presided
over by the Rev. Alfred. Goodman, a
man of ministerial appearance, With
heavy back eyebrows and hair, and an
air of dignity and composure. In voice,
physique, aud general straish. forward
ness these Methodist ministers are
really remarkable. Pastor Hedstoin
interes,ep everybody with the story OF
his conversion 10 Methodism. It was
soon alter his arrival 10 New York
from Sweden, and while engaged il
mercantile pursuits. One day a lady
entered his store to make a purchase
She had on what he thought was a very
ugly bonnet-ugly from its painuess
lie inquired, and learned that she va
a Methodist, differing from even tht
present Me.hodists He didn't know
who or what the Methodists we're, bu
was inxuisitivo enough to hunt out ont
of their churches, became interested il
their services. was converted, deter
mined to preach, threw up his business
and set sail for sweden. The captain
and crew OF the ship in which he saile'
, we're a drunken, profane set. H'
prac,iced 10 preaching ell the wa!
, across the Atlantic, aud all On boart
r were converted. The next speaker va
.n Eo;scnnsj .fpdenk named Rarber