Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-12-16
LEBANON CORREsPONDENCE.
Rev. A. ID. ERrl-Hon. G. q. smith
Hard Times, etc.

Hard Times, etc.
EDS. when / had
the pleasure of seeing you in your
office last, you expressed a desire to
hear from Lebanon, the county town
of old Wilson, occasionally. l will
crafty YOU III this matter. Since we
have q abroad connection with you,
Lebanpn and Clarksvills should know
each other better--"the little villag,
on the Cumberland suoth of you
cannot prevent our shaking hands
So here's to n letter acquaintance be,
tween the City of Cedars and the
great Tobacco Mart.
We are having quite religious OK
element among us now. Methodist
Baptists, Cumberlands all united In
the work. The great Baptist Evan
gelist, Bev. a. b. Earl, has recent,
been with us; Was with us two day,
and one night ; preached seven times
delivered one lecture to the Theolog
teal students of Cumberland Univer
sity, besides numerous talks to chris
tian people and sinners. He accom-
plisbed much good. Many were con
verified under his ministry. Tn,
churches were NIL aroused by III,
stirring appeals and close. conscience
searching sermons. There is grca
diversity of sentiment among oul
people as to the rank he holds in tn,
pulpit. Some place him along by thu
side of Spurgeon-some with llaflit
and some are free to say they heal
better sermons any Sabbath. When
hearing him, l must confess he dis
arms me Of criticism. His sermon!
went straight to the mark. Every
one of them reminded me of the ar
row picked up on celebrated battle
field marked thus, "for Philips eye
Now, since he has gone, have asked
myself, what is II in him that pro
duces such sensation wherever III
goes? What is his power? He bring
out, on any day of the week, tire,
times a day, more people than eve
attend church on Sunday. Old an,
young, learned and illiterate people
all are moved 10y his preaching. o.
Ms severe an analysis as am capabl,
of ! conclude it is his "faith in God.
1t is wonderful what faith he has. III
is holy man, fully consecrated I,
the work Of the ministry, and ha
deep experience i'm the things of God
Joined to this, he has u good natura
mind, wcll.storcd with religion
truth, and at perfect command-fer
! tile in resources, and withal n fin
tactician. He shells the woods unit
he develops the enemy-then by
flank movement he makes a terribl
assault, and before the sinner Is awar
of it, he opens fearful stream of sho
aud shell in his rear. He Is in Til
christian army what Stoncwall Jack
son was in the Confederate. But h
is to he in your city soon, and you viii
have an opportunity to hear for your
self Let everybody hear him. Pu
him in Franklin Hall.
Hon. G. G. Smith is to be with II
next week. This heightened, chris
tian gentleman has won for himsel
n warm place IN the hearts of GU
people. His coming Is looked to al
ways with much interest, not only b
lawyers and courthouse people, bu
by our citizens generally. They ar
delighted 10 see his frank and geniu
'Hcc, have high regard for him pei
sonally, and much respect for his !,
gal lore.
"Hard timcsn Is the bitter CON
plant, heard everywhere on ou
streets. But are we not grumblcl
constitutionally? IL n stranger wol
to take his stand on the public squai
in Lebanon, any day, and count Ill
immense droycs Of hogs, cattle, tn
keys, mules, and the numberle,
chicken wagons passing through I
market, and then go 10 the depot (
the Tennessee a Pacific railroad, an
; see ear after car, laden with the "a
\ test hogs, beef cattle aud mules, an
car after ear, full Of curn, wheat, la
. ley and the finest cedar lumber, |