Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-02-22
Praying In Court.

- D"'ff
At the recent Primitive Methodist mission.
AIRY meeting at Birmingham, the Rev. IL. w.
Burnett told the following story
In tie early days Of Primitive Meth.
odism, under the labOrs of one Of our
veteran home missionaries q notoriously
bad character was converted. Quite in
harmony with the custom of those times,
he soon began preaching. On one oc-
cassion he had large crowd of people
gathered by the waysidc, and 10 those
lie preached Jesus. An officious consta-
bic came up aud took our friend into Gus
tody. The news spread like wild.fire
thai Tom was locked up for preaching.
Had ii been said that it was for poach-
ing no one would have doubted it, but
this preaching gave quite different
character 10 the affair. On the follow
ing morning the court was crowded 10
hear the trial. The charge was read
over, and the prisoner asked what he
had to say in reply. Now this man had
been in that dock so often that lie did
not feel at all concerned--seemed quite
at home. Very quietly folding his arms
he addressed the magistrates tO the toll
lowing effect "Gentlemen, do you mean
business p
"Business business of course we
do"
"Well gentlemen, please excuse me,
but if you mean business, allow me to
say that of late great change has come
oyer me, and never commence any bus
liz, IS without first praying about it. If
you please, we'll pray"
He did not wait 10 see whether it pleas
ed or not; but with all the tervor of new
convert poured out his soul in prayer.
All in the court and ON the magistrate's
bench were deeply moved-some to
tears. But he prayed rather long, and
good as it was, they thought he might
now close SO the presiding magistrate
said in an underione, "That will do
just stop him. "The constable, shaking
our friends sleeve, said, "Stop y but he
prayed away. Pulling his sleeve vel
more vigorously he said, "Stop, man
stop p Lut he prayed with increasing
fervor.
One of the magistrates saw one o
the preachers iu the body of the
court, and calling to him said, "Mr.--
you come and stop him." But our deal
old brother enjoyed this novel prayer
meeting too much to be induced to stoI
it; SO he replied, loud enough for all t'
hear, "Nay, nay, you've started him;
can't stop him."
However, our friend in the dock drew
his devotions to a close, stood upon hi
feet, and again folding his arms, ant
with becoming meekness, "Now, gentle
men, if you please l am quite ready 70
business"
The prisoner was ordered into an ante
room while his case was considered. On
OF the magistrates moved to tears
said, ave have often had this man b'
fore us, but never under such circun
stances. If this is a sample of the wor
achieved by the labors OF the Primitiv
Methodists, wish them success where
ever they go."It did not take them lon!
to decide that he had broken no law, an
therefore they would very gladly acqu
him.
"Well, gentlemen" said the officer (
the court, shall we call him in and sa
. he is acquitted p
, "What, what call him in ? No, ne
E er, OF you'll have him on his knees i
t turning thanks. Let him go out at
/ side door, but tell him he Is fully at Ii
I erty TO carry on his good work"