The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-23

We have received. for publication,
ths$ $olseSiDs touching letter from Mr..
E. Z, @tokes! !Aaaccom b psnied byA p.:-
vase 4Rse expressive es bis 'intssest l.
religiSds aud moral Subjects, surely
Oil xESo Asad isNiN Invoke. ton behAl.
OF the writer. those spiritual blessings
which. from his prison cell. he gene
rousiy calls down on others. It is not
the least interesting inoident connected
With the remarkable revival now in
the Marion Street Methodist Church,
that it has produced this humble and
feeling tributs to the power of true
religion:
"HAvE FAITH IN GOD" AND "ouENcH
NOT THE SPIRIT"
To Req. ". d. Kirkland. Pastor of
Marion Street If. E. Church, South:
Though on eick bed and in prison,
where have been for thirteen fi3)
months, I feel constrained to write you
few words expressive of the Joy of
my heart on reading in the PuGN1x,
of last Tuesday, your well-timed an.
nounoement Of the revival of religion
in Columbia. We are told by Christ
himself that ''joy shall be in Heaven
over one sinner that repenteth more
than over ninety and nine just persons
which need no repentance" If this is
so-if the angels, arch angels and saints
made perfect who stand continually
before God rejoice OF the repentance
OF one sinner, how much moro ought
we, who are in this vale of tears, re-
ioice over the repentance and conver.
sion of fifty (50) immortal souls in
South Carolina.
You may not know me, but I have
visited your church, as have visited
almost every church in the beautiful
city of Columbia; and have heard
you preach, and appreciate the bold
and fearless manner you have in pub.
fishing the Gospel of Peace. (May
God always open your mouth boldly to
declare His truth. am an humble
member of the Protestant Episcopal
Church of the United States, and
love my church and honor it's
great antiquity, yet. at tho same
mend your cordial invitation to
other denominations to join your
church in carrying on the glorious
work already begun in your midst. 7
welcome, also, your kind and earnest
request to 'Christian people every
where. to pray for the success of these
services" and although. as I said be-
fore, l am only an humble lay member
of my church, and that. too, in prison,
I feel that you and yonr flock are not
for your invitation to extend
to my cell. The Bible tells US that the
Lord heareth the groa oing of the pri-
soner. and I trust God will hear my
prayer Tor the SUCCESS OF your labors,
for, since reading your communion
tion, / have not ooased to earnestly
the throne of mercy May
God greatly bless your united efforts
in the cause OF Christ, is my prayer.
Religion is not only blessing in
itself TO the individual possessor
thereof, but it is ar essential prerequi-
site to every we'll regulated family,
or State, for righteous
ness exalteth nation, but sin is re-.
prosch to any people," Jesus Christ
loves tho people of South Carolina
men, women and children-but We do
not love Him or obey Him as We
should. Let this no longer be the
case, but let us pray TINT the good
work 30 auspicionsly begun at the ca.
pital Of the State proceed until every
family and every individual, from the
to the sands of tue sea-
shore, shall rejoice in the salvation OF
God. I am, in sincerity and truth,
your brother in Christ,
EDWARD Il. STOKES,
A prisoner of tue judiciary of South
Carolina, and prisoner of Jesus
Christ.
Cell No. l, State Prison. Greenville,
South Carolina. October 16. 1874, a.
d.