Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-06-02
SUNDAY READING.
KentacIsy,s !" nIountaIn NIoses. !,


A letter to the Louisville, (Ky.) tom-
ier-.7om.nal gives an interesting account
of one George 0. Barnes, who is holding
largely attended revival meetings in
Kentucky. The correspondent says:
He began his labors at Lebanon,
where he preached month without re-
suits. Such a beginning would natur-
ally damp the ardor of one upheld by
ordinary faith; but it did not deter Mr..
Barnes. He left Gods work to Gods
will, and leaving Lebanon struck out
for the mountains. On the twentieth of
February, 1877, he purchased little
reed organ, and Miss Marie, his daugh-
ter, began to assist him in his work.
Ever since these two have preached,
sung and prayed the gospel throughout
the mountains and wilderness, holding
their services in winter in court houses
and in summer in the cool shade of the
woods. When Mr.. Barnes began his
work he concluded, like Mr.. Moody, to
take Saturday for rest, preaching every
other day in the week. At first he used
balsam for his throat to strengthen his
voice. As he proceeded the light of the
work became brighter in his mind. He
concluded to let God take care of his
throat and quit the balsam. Months
afterward he concluded that he
needed no rest on Saturdays, and
that God would sustain his strength.
For eighteen months, therefore, he
has not missed preaching two
sermons every day and three on Sun
day. Services are about two and half
hours in length. If he leaves one sta
tion to travel to another, he stops on
the way to hold his service in the after
noon. So eagerly is his coming expect
ed, that whenever he holds one of those
transitory services, some convert rides
ahead in the morning to inform the
people where he will preach. The
news goes from mouth to mouth and
flies like the Scottish torch from cot
tage to cottage. Signal fires lighting
the mountain Businesses of the moon
sinners could not startle the people
more. When the great preacher ar
rives there are usually hundreds and
sometimes thousands gathered to hear
him. They come afoot, on horseback
and in wagons for miles about. When
he has preached they depart, except
those who, rendered eager by his elo-
quence and simplicity, ride after him
to the next town to hear him. Often
when he enters mountain hamlet,
after having preached by the wayside,
he is the head of caravan of followers
and eager listeners. All through those
trackless mountains he has pushed his
way with his wife and daughter and
their little reed organ, which has been
in use four years, and is to-day in per-
feet tune, without having once been
touched by tuner. If you ask Brother
Barnes about the organ he will
tell you God keeps the organ in tune.
Miss Marie plays it without teach
ing, knowing nothing of music,
and it is in most exquisite tonal
purity. Through the mountains
Mr.. Barnes goes much as Christ went
among the Jews. He is hailed every
where. He talks to them in language
they know. He is pure, genial, sym
pathetic man. His faith is lifted by his
evident sincerity away above the mark
of ridicule, except from denominational
Christians. Where he goes he gains
audience from the busiest. The farmers
neglect their planting and plowing, the
merchants close their business houses
in the afternoon, the lawyers put down
their briefs. In Breathitt county, where
civil war was threatened, Judge Randall
adjourned court daily at IL o'clock, in
order that Barnes might preach two
hours. Judge Randall said the preacher
was stronger than the whole State
militia While there the lawless ele-
ment was powerless. In less than three
weeks he had registered 365 converts.
He breaches irresistibly. His Bible ex-
plantations are clear, simple and lucid.
All doctrinal difficulties disappear, and
the ministry flock to hear him like their
people. They sit amazed under the
simple power and child-like faith of the
great preacher. All he asks is that you
shall want to know Christ and receive
Gods mercy if it is offered. If you do,
then you are received. God will fashion
the mind, he says, if the heart has
longing for the truth.