The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-24

In the years 1s49-5O my field Of labor was
Kingscreek circuit. My colleague, who had
charge of the work, was Ed E. one
of the best men in our Conference; man of
noble impulses, generous to a fault, and deep
OF piety. This was one of the pleasantest
years OF my life, and one Of prosperity to the
circuit. We had appointed a protracted
meeting at Diltz's meeting house, or, as it
was more generally known, " The big
woods.''@ On the Sabbath previous to the
meeting, man by the name of c. =, liv-
ing in the neighborhood, and notorious as
drinker and fighter, had shooting match,
at the close Of which he amounted that their
big meeting had closed, and that on next
Sunday the Methodists would hold one at
the !" big woods" and invited all OF them
ssto be on hand and see the fun.''
+ Our meeting commenced as announced,
on Saturday at II o'clock. The attendance
was large, but no especial signs of revival
were manifest. c., with all his crowd,
was there, and all behaved with the utmost
decorunl. The meeting continued until
Tuesday morning, but without any interest
being manifested by saint or sinner. At the
close of the services on Tuesday morning,
my colleague said to me, 81 want you to
announce the close Of this meeting, and I
want you to speak plainly to the members of
the church for not coming up to the help Of
the Lord, to the help OF the Lord against the
mighty" I rose upon my feet feeling but
little like giving an exhortatton, or indeed
doing anything else, for was completely
discouraged by the unsuccessful effort we
had made.
However, spoke in plain language to the
Church, and then turning to the unconvert-
ed, 1 addressed them. As L spoke of the
terrors Of the law, the power Of g cd fell on
people and preacher, as Inever before had
witnessed it,. ..lsi .isilsi.} W saf!i,. 49,,
Never in my life had seen the destruc.
ton and ruin Of the ungodly as saw it
them, As I turned round to hold up the
Bible as a witness against them, my col
league sprang upon his feet, and lifting his
hands, and glancing his eyes toward heaven,
cried out, ssGod have mercy on the impeni-
tent !" At the same moment, C--'s daugh-
ter ran across the room to where her father
was seated, and said, s. Father, come and
seek the Lord, and ask for mercy, for you
are going to hell, and are taking mother and
all of us with you.'' The excitement at the
moment was intense. c. sprang up, and
at one bound cleared two benches and ran
out Of the house. Many who had never be-
afore uttered a prayer, cried What must I
do to be saved ~ Some knelt where they
were, others pressed forward to the altar.
Fathers wept over the return Of their prodi-
gal sons, mothers rejoiced to see their daugf-
tiers coming in penitcnce and sorrow to the
cross, while many of the aged members EN-
braced each. other and gave glory to God for
the wonderful display of His convicting
power. .s'4'l iijl..t'A- "sig'5i- '.--- "a 'iai39
I continued to exhort for a few moments /;
but feeling an impression that ]. ought to
follow C-,a and bring him back, { started
out and ran around the school-house, and
then round the church, but could not find
Aiius fANCAt = WUAb 'oub w UllO NAOa0S Out
could not find him there. Concluding that
he had gone home, turned toward the
church. At this moment my attention was
directed to a horse hitched to- the, fence,
which appeared to be frightened. With ears
erect, and nostrils expanded, he was looking
across the fence into the woods. ran and
mounted the fence, and ons looking in the
same direction, saw c. about three hun
bred yards in advance Of me, and running al
the top Of his speed, which was not very
fast, he being large, fat man of about 22(
poafids weight. I jumped down off the
fence and started after him as fast as I coult
rum. Having gained on him rapidly, callet
on him to stop, but instead Of obeying thu
command he tran thesfaster. L continued
running until he could hear me distinctly
/ cried out, &c, command you in tn,
name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop.
That time he obeyed the summons suddenly
and turning round in towering passion, he
shook his fist at me, and said he was no
going to be chased and run down like wilt
beast-that he was man. and as good
man as there was in the country. replied
that he might be physically, but morally h