Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-04-25
SAINTS IN JEANS.
A Week among the Hard-sheu Bap-
lists.
From the Independent. |

! [From the Independent
Many years ago spent week
in neighborhood of Hard-shel
Baptists, in the western part Of
Georgia. This appellation, howev
er, seemed applicable to their re-
ligious tenets only, for they were
exceedingly kind-hearted and hos
pitable. Most of them were small
planters, in the enjoyment of an
easy competency; and, although
strictly anti-missionary rs regards
the heather, they never forgot that
"the Greeks were at their door,
AT stated periods they held theil
ccclesiastic councils, called associa.
tione. A meeting Of this kind was
to be held during the week at Eben.
czer, the name of the church in that
vicinity. AS the association EN-,
braced several counties, liberal
preparations were made for the en-.
tertainment Of the brethren from
abroad and for the crowd always
present on such occasions. A few
days previous it was customary for
the male members of the church and
congregation to meet and specify
what each one could furnish, in or
der that there might be not only a
variety, but sufflcicncy also. Al
such a meeting, on this occasion
one of the members was asked what
he would prefer to contribute. lie
said: Gin anticipation Of the meet
ing, he had already purchased cot
fee, sugar, tea, ETC., and also a gal
lon Of whisky" ga gallon!" ex-
claimed the astonished BROTHER
ga gallon! Why, Brother W., you
are just as able to support the Cos
pei as l am, and | got barrel"
AS the daily exercises commenced
in the morning and continued till 4
or 5 O'Clock, p. NJ, all took dinner
on the church grounds. Tables
were erected under the gigantic
oaks, and covered daily with every
thing to tempt the appetite and
cheer the heart of man" Several
Old family servants kept the coffee
hot, and it was freely served at any
time during the day.
The people began to assemble on
Thursday, and the brethren from a
distance were distributed among
the families, as convenience dicta-
ted. One brother said, "as he had
lately put right smart-sized condi-
tion to his house, his wife thought
they could offer their hostilities to
at least 4 dozen of the brethren.''
On Friday, at II O'Clock, The first
important sermon was to have cen
delivered by Father r., an old and
venerable minister in their church.
He was "an Israelite, indeed, in
whom was no guile" Every child
loved him, and his countenance
showed that he loved everybody
His text was "Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God"
After preaching about 20 minutes
he stopped suddenly, looked around
in confused ami troubled manner,
and said:
"Will one of the brethren tell me
what my text was? l have lost my
ideas. | don't know one word
have said or wanted to say. The
Devil sarved me just such trick
once over in Jasper county, but the
Lord made him bring it all back to
me that night. Pray for me breth-
rem"
l don't know that the "archangcl
ruined" is often unjust]y accused;
but it was evident that he had not
interfered here. Age and tie Ia
bors of a life had done their work
upon him; and, as the old Indian
chief said to himself, che was an
aged pine dead at the top" Father
r. being seated, brother from a
distance rose and made a few des
ultory remarks in reference to the
beauty and fertility of the country
over which he had passed, and
thanked God for the devotional
frame of mind which had been in
duced by viewing these scenes of
Natures handiwork. "Never, my
BRETHREN" said he, "till this morn
ing did l ever feel the force of that
beautiful passage OF Scripture:
'The voice of the turtle dove is
heard in the land. When got to
Joy Greek | saw at least a dozen of
'em, of all sizes, a-sitten on log a
sunnin.' But the moment they
heered the stephens Of my animal
the last one of 'em slipped co-chunk
into the water. Hence, we view,
my brethren, the meaning of the
apostle when he said, 'The voice of
the turtle is in the land" After
this an experience meeting was
held. Several were enrolled for
baptism on the Sabbath, and some
backsliders confessed their errors
and were ieinstated. One member
said "he wanted his name struck
off the church book. That he hadn't
felt any change since he was bap-
tised, and found it powerful hard
to come up to the rules" "But,
don't you Think" asked 4 brother,
"that there has been some change
for the better, since you joined?
We don't hear SO much complaint
of YOU" "Well, yes; mebbc a tri-
file. 1 have quit stealing entirely,
and lying measurably; but it seems
like l can't quit fiddling. l mauled
and split six thousand rails to pay
for my fiddle, and its mighty com
fort to me-" The improvement
seemed encouraging, and he was
advised to let his name remain on
the record. The morning services
now cl, sed, and dinner was an
nounced, after which a preacher Of
considerable note among them oc-
cupied the pulpit, and much good
feeling was manifested. At the
close the local minister arose and
announced the order of exercises
for the morrow. 81 hope," said he,
"that all the congregation will be
here by 10 O'clock, for precisely at
that hour we shall march for the
creek, where l shall proceed to bap-
tize four adults and six adultercsses.
Brother NJ. will preach the IL