The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-12
VOLUME Is.


we're, with few exceptions, Adolf
tionists. In this respect Mr.. Ran
kin suited them well, as he was an
Abolitionist and preached openly
against slaveholding. There was in
that church an Abolitionist eociety,
auxiliary to a state society. The
Concord society propagated the
doctrine of immediate abolition,
and when they saw any~ persons
who, contrary to law, were held in
slavery they liberated them by a
suit at law. In that part of Ken
lucky majority of the people were
at that time Abolitionists. Mr..
Rankin preached against slavery in
various places, one Of which was
the city of Lexington, aud was new
er mislisted. There was at that
time a general belief that slavery
was wrong, Mr.. Rankin, when he
came to Kentucky, was extremely
diffident. THIS he felt severely in
the pulpit NJ the commencement Of
his services, but after becoming ex-
cited with his subject. his diffidence
ceased to affect him, aud he spoke
with great earnestness and liberty.
He was called to assist Rev. John
Il. Moreland, near Cynthiana, at
communion season. On such occa-
sioIs there were four days meet
ing, and in favorable weather the
assemblages of people were so large
that no house would hold them. ON
that occasion the assemblage of
people was large, and the preaching
in the open air and stand was pre-
pared for the. ministers. During
Mr.. Rankin's first discourse at that
place Mr.. Morelsnd became so ex-
cited that he suddenly sprang up
and clasped Mr.. Rankin in his arms.
But for the deep solemniiy that
pervaded the congregation, there
would doubtless have been burst
of laughter. The solemnity was
untlisturbed, and Mr.. Rankin was
so much in earnest that he was not.
in the least, disconnected. Mr..
Moreiand caused him 10 preach
seven sermons on that occasion.
After the meeting closed Mr. More
land had an appointment at pri-
vaie house. and Mr.. Rankin went
with him. He insisted that Mr..
Rankin should preach, but he re-
fused to consent to do SO. Mr..
Moreland sang hymn and prayed
for the people and for the young
man who was to address them. At
ter that time Mr.. Rankin was much
less harasscd with difIidence, and
in process of time he became en-
tirely relieved from it.
Mr.. Moreiaud was a striking in
stance of Gods electing love. No
one appeared to be further from the
kingdom of God than he seemed to
be. He was brought up in utter ig-
norance. When twenty-five years
old he had not learned to read and
never went to church. He spent
his Sabbaths in froilicking with 9TH
er wicked young men. lie was q
corrupter of the youth of the neigh
borhood in which he lived. A pr
GUS woman became acquainted
with him and urged him 10 go to
church. He promised her he would
go, but went not. She was perse-
vering, and on one Sabbath morn
ing she determined to have him go
to church, and went by his board
ing place in order to take him TO
the place in wAich to hear the word
of God. She met him there and re-
quested him to go church. He said
be had promised to meet his COM
paniOns that day and that if she
would let him off that day he W ould
go to church the next Sabbath. No,
said she, you are corrupting the
young men of the neighborhood,
and, therefore, you must go to
church to-day. She took him by
hand and started with him to
church. lie was not rude enough
to pull his hand loose. lie thought
che would soon let him go, and he
would still go TO meet his compan-
ions ; but she led him to the church.
He there determined TO let the wo-
man know how much of the SER
mons he conld repeat to her. In
the forenoon lie situated himself so
as TO secure so much of the sermon
"a possible. In the afternoon he
situated himself 40 as 10 get 30
much of the sermon as he could re-
tain. Bnt before the second SER
mon closed he was so seized with
conviction that he cried aloud in
church, and returned home in deep
agony on account of awful guilt.
II resulted in his conversion. He
obtained an education and became a
Presbyterian minister. He was ex-
ceedingly successful in preaching
the gospel. Many revivals took
place under his preaching. lie was
q very impressive speaker. Con-
gregations in many instances wept
under his preaching. He himself
often wept; and while telling the
people how great a sinner he had
been, and what the Lord had done
for him, large tears rolled down his
cheeks and tended greatly to move
his hearers to weeping. He assist
ed his brethren at their communion
seasops, aud in the Lords hand he
was the iustrumeRt OF many reviv-
ais and OF many conversions. He
ultimately took charge Of church
at Indianapolis, and, after some
years, died in the triumphs of faith,
exhorting those around his bed so
long sc he could speak. He was
instrumental In opening fountains
OF lie that will AoW and widen as
they go Down to the end OF time.
Large will be the reward of that
obscare aud pious woman who led
4 H.. a.. A4.x-. - o.