The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-08-27
DEALING WITH A SINNER.
(From Seaside Letter by Bayard Taylor, VIII
recently first saw a Camp Meeting.)

recently first saw Camp Meeting.)
At the door of tent we found two
men engaged in wrestling with third,
with middle.aged woman. pale and rigid,
standing near them. The sinner was
kneeling on the ground, with his arms on
the seat of a chair, and his head upon
them; the officiating saint knelt beside
him, with enc arm around his waist. The
prayer was given with an expression OF
great fervor, and will believe that it. was
solemnly sincere; yet it consisted mostly
OF stock expressions, with sort OF gasp
at the end of each, Us thus Il quote the
exact words):
''Let him not be cut down-ah! Let
him not be withered branch-ah! Let
him not be barren fig tree.ah! Let him
turn and be saved-ah! Let him blossom
and bear good fruit.ah. O, come down
and help him-ah!''
Inc sinner meanwhile was immovable
and silent. Finally the prayer came to
an end, and as there was no result,
another and singular application was
tried. The second saint Il call him Sc
technically, for the sake of convenience
took up the strain Of prayer, while the
first loudly approved Of every sentence,
Shaping the sinner on the back as he did
so. give the following portion literally
Second Saint-Our poor brother needs
help.
First (slapping the sinner on the back
True, Lord! true.
Second-He has lost his wife.
First-True, Lord! true.
Second-He is the slave of his appe.
tites.
First-True, Lord! true.
Both--Pray, brother!
Sinner lin melancholy voice)-I can't.
Presently the man turned around, and
| caught sight of his face. The express.
ion upon 1t was a curious mixture OF
fright, bewilderment and helplessness. I
doubt whether his nature was sensitive
enough to shrink at hearing his condition
revealed to the circle Of curious spccta.
tors: The praying brother rose to his
feetiand breathed hard, as If exhausted,
then turning to the people. he exclaimed:
"lf all the sins of the world we're packed
upon the shoulders of this poor sinner. or
upon the shoulders of William H. Crock.
ct, the Lort could take 'em off, sun.
pose some Of the bystanders must have
smiled, for he added, with great energy ;
Eyes, you will laugh and make fun Of me,
but the day will soon come when
the Lord will laugh at
you and make fun Of you.'' Then, not
very consistently, he professed his deep,
entire and tender love for his enemies.
his desire to take them to his bosom, and
especially to make them like unto him.
self-that is. saved, glorified, and happy,
During all this scene the woman stood
by the tent door, pale, grave and rigid.
| saw no signs of knocking or unseemly
behavior. There was general curiosity
among the people, but quietly and re.
specially manifested. Judging from the
great canvas diagram I should guess
that the most of them
were confused rather than enlightened.
As | did not hear the preaching, I can
not report upon it. The single scene l
witnessed was nots edifying; but we can
not judge Of it unless We could get a
glimpse into tho depths of that Devil.
dered soul. The fact that men of his
class are 50 much oftcner impressed in
public than by private missionary work
points towards the existence of a pecal-
lar aura which may be developcd at will
by the promoters of these meetings. AS
phenomena of human nature, they de.
serve much more study than they have
hitherto received.