Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
The Kentucky Mountain Moses.

A wonderful evangelist has been developed
inthe mountain regions OF Southwestern Ken
lucky. Under his eloquence the stifr
moonshiner melts into a saint and the noun
tain marauder becomes as harmless as her.
nit He breaches without money and without
price. He trusts for all he wants to the Power
that sent supplies to his prophet by the mouths
OF the ravens. When ne is to preach at any
place ha ,,o c9urlers fly before him proclalmng
up the hilltops aG night announcing his coming.
Crowds follow him from place to place as the
pastoral people beyond the Jordan folio wed
the herald OF new 0tspenSatiOn nineteen hun.
dred years ago, and the townsmen of all the
villages pour out, py hundreds to hear this
mountain evangelist Farmers leave their
their shops, ply sictans desert their patients
ard lawyers their briefs. while courts and
schools take recess, that al may attend these
Such, at least, is the account we have O; the
work and ways OF the Rev. George O. Barnes
through correspondent Of the Louisville
co, you,MaI Nor is Mr. Barnes man OF
the woods, unsettered and uneducated The
son OF Presby terrain minister, he received the
education which would qualify him for the
pulpit He Is son of Danyille College
Versed In Greek, Hebrew, Sanscrit, and other
tongues. Duly ordained as q Presbyterian
minister, he turned missionary, and spent six
and took charge OF Presbyterian church at
Stanford, where he preached model sermons,
no doubt, for eight years. Then he Withdrew
come so liberal as to bring upon him the cen
sure OF the Presbytery. So they parted com
pany, he going out. as he told his congregation.
without dollar in the world, but he didn't
suffer.
The next heard OF him Is In Chicago, preach
ing with such acceptance that an old Stanford
friend built church there at cost Of S., 600.
proposing to give 1t to Barnes, with a furnished
residence, and the congregation backed 1t I'D
with the offer OF salary or 81. 900 year. Few
preachers without dollar in the world would
have declined that offer, but Barnes did. He
had been called, he said, to go to the mountains
and preach TO those who are too poor TO pay for
the Gospel. He had had new revelation, so to
speak, and saw the Bible and his duty in true
This was about the beginning OF 1876. Pur-
Chasing 9 reed organ for his daughter, they set
he the preaching and praying. Barnes joins IL
the singing, too, but his voice. so MIGRATORY aud
musical In speaking, does not add to the har-
mony OF the music. But that does not matter;
and the people go to hear him preach, which he
does indoors In winter, but out OF doors in
summer, to crowds OF sometimes as many as
ten thousand people.
either. but plumb two hours and two hours and
a half long, with half hour for singing Nor
Is 1t one sermon week with him, but four
with all this use of his voice. and he uses It In
way to wear 1t out, 1t never gets out OF order.
1t Is like his daughters reed organ. which, with
Oil ItS IVuku JOUIu0y6 OVcT Luo mOu0C6l as,
never gets out OF tune. God, he says, takes
care OF both voice and organ, and keeps up re-
pairs at no cost to preacher or singer.
Mr.. Barnes is described as flfty-fOur years of
age. six feet two in height, slender and WELL
proportioned. thin face, aquillne nose and
dark hazel eyes. which light up with astonish-
ing brfllancy. His natr Is auburn, almost dark
red curling slightly. and falling on his collar.
This, with q thin moustache, long goatee,
struggling side whiskers and sharp features.
make up the personnel of the Kentucky evan
gelist.-Cin. Commercial