The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-28
The Temperance Column.
Edited bY
REV. J. l.. MARTIN,
REV. D. j. SIMMONS,
REV. Il. N. PRATT,
REV. s. III.
A Direct Answer to PRAYER.
(Southern Christian .ddvocute.1


~[Southern Christian Advocute.]
In the county OF ~, North Carolina, O
Methodist church had been established
where the gospel was dispensed by the faith.
ful ambassador Of Christ, and us the result
many precious souls were converted and
miles around felt the benign influences OF the
gospel. The people were remarkable fol
their qulctudc and good order. In come
ton with the church, o camp ground WAS es
tnblished. The cause of Christ IN that par
Of the vineyard was in u prosperous cOndi
tion.. But that highly favored community
was destined 10 pass through u severe 0rdeaI
that would test the fidelity and faith o.
many. 1t was In the year 1915, Satan moved
a certain man to erect Il grog Shop In tina
ncigllboriood, within a few miles OF tn,
church. where devastation and death wert
dealtout by the half pint. Soon after anoth
or went up. and then another, and in o short
time no less than five Of these sinks OF iniq
uity had been established within II few miles
Of encll other. Tho evil influence thus gene
rated, swept over that section like u fearful
cyclone. Dissipation and all It's attendant
evils followed as II natural result. Gamblin.
became fashionable. The young whose hab,
Its were in their formative state were attract
cd to these places. Special appointment:
were nude, and these dlssipated young mcr
wonld alternate, make the rounds, visiting
the fearful ARENA, and were Oh theii way t,
ruin. The state OF things can better be inlag
ined than described. II is true, many stOo,
firm and denounced the nefnrious establish
mcnts. What more could they do? For the
houses were licensed by law. and the Stat,
was actually deriving an income from thes,
pests of society and destroyers Of peace ant
good government. and what conld law-abid
Ing Christians do?
Tho time was approaching for the camp
meeting. Many of the pious and dcvou
looked forward to the occasion with feeling
mingled with hope and fear. prnytrs wer
offered up to the Great Head Of Tie Church
that He would arrest the %evil-locrs and turf
their feet to the testimonies Of the Lord. Th
appointed day for the meeting to
had come. The host OF Gods Israel had lel
their homes and pitched their tents on tn,
Cross had left their different fields of labo
and had come to minister to the people II
holy things.
Tho host was m%arshallcd and the battle sc
In array. But what II sud change had takci
place since the last meeting. Instead OF til,
uniform quiet and good order that had hith
crtO prevailed, now rowdyism and disorte
were manifest. Day after day passed, Blu
the ranks Of the enemy stood firm. The.
seemed to be invulnerable to the influence
OF the gospel The meeting was rapid.
drawing to n close. The congregation had as
Scmbled for the aftcrno0n service on Monday
one more service. and then the exercise
would close, and tho congrcgatiOnNwouId dis
pcrsc. y young preacher. now q Presiding
Elder In the North CarOlinn Conference, wa
going to preach he asked brother H., wht
was then In charge Of the circuit, TO offer NJ
the opening prayer, and hc prayed. as broth
er II. tan pray, when lie has hold OF the horn
wlckedncss OF the wicked might CUiie to. ~
end. lie referred to the cril-docrs who wcr
then cHcrting such q pcrniciOus influence il
that community. He said, "Oh, .I.hrd tn.
If thou scest that they will ever repent nnt
turn to Thee, spare them, OH Lord. spar
them! But II Thou sccst that they will ney
err repent and turn from their wickcdneSs
cut them down and let them sink into hell
better Tor II few to perish than many" Ant
then turning his eyes heavenward he said
'Oh. Lord. VIC are In earnest" All preseIr
felt that he was In earnest: rs much 80 rs Da
vid, when he prayed that his enemies nigh
go down quick into hell. Some called tn
crs became cNasrcratcd and threatened tn
man Of God. Sinners often pray AMI asl
God to damn them and send their souls Il
hell, and fail to be affected by the prayer
But for n minister or a pious man to ole
up such II prayer In reference to them. Is yer.
exaspernting. The meeting closed, til
crowd dispersed, all repaired to their homes
The pious to fight the batt.cs Of life, and tn
unSodIy to pursue their course Of revelry ant
dissipation. IN a short time after, while MI
n. H., one Of the ringleadcrs. WAS sitting Il
the gambling table playing cards, he was sud
denly seized with u severe pain in his body
Lnit uclIlNtu nlln OI tue IOWGT III SlcpCl
his clsr batlcd hes skill OF the physicians
III u few days his speech returned, u1ld h
spoke, but it was to curSc-curSc, and thcl
! hr died. Soon after, while L. e., one OF til
} whiSkcy sellers. was crossing Il creek on
! foot.log, he fell Off into the water and WAS tn
ken out n liIclcss corpse and then Mrs. VI
H.. the wife Of one of the proprietors. VIII
sold In the absence of her husband, %Slcicne'
and died; and then W. b., one Of Tn" clan
took sick and passed away, to stand the frar
fml test: airi soon after I. ~, ariother pre-
prictOr was summoned into Gods presence
soon after y. H.. who regularly visited thcs
sinks, WAS called to give an account or hi
conduct. The prayer OF brother II. was no
more frarfu!ly impressed upon the minds &
tho people than ever. for no less than five y
, the evll-dDcrs were called into eternity be
fore the frost Of autumn had spread its whit
mantle upon tho ground
soon every shop was closed. the clans bro
ken up, order and quiet restored. Now tn
question comes up, was NIL this accidental
or was IL answer to tho fearful prayer otlnrc
up ut the c~amp-Inceting? II accidental. /
was indeed q strange combination Of circun
stances. 1t Is manifest that the hand nf Go
was In 1t, II 1t was only pcrmissiec prov
dcncr. W.
Denver, y. G..