Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1881-05-11
A BackwOods Evangelist.
SOMETHING ABOUR REV. GEORGE O. BARNES
THE FAMOUS KENTUCKY PREACHER, AND
THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH THAT HAS
SET THE MOUNTAIN on FIRE.

L.
n reilglous excitement has broken out among
the mountains of Southwestern Kentucky. 4
new Messiah has made his appearance among
the moonshiners and rough mountainocrs. and
at his preaching "their hearts are stirred rs
the trees are stirred by the storm" Miracles
are wrought, the sick are healed by Amounting
and prayer, and other wonders attend the
preaching and ministrations of the Kentucky
evangelist. The Louisville C0ariey-,L,,irnoI
has an account Of the man and his ministry
that would fill four closely-printed columns
OF the Herald, and remarkable as the narrative
Is the writer says he has rejected the strange
stories told Of the wonderful preacher by the
excited nountainfolk, confirming himself to
what he has himself seen and heard. or what
has been confirmed by unimpeachablc testi-
mony.
Rev. George 6. Barnes, the mountain evan
gellst, Is regularly educated and ordained
minister of the Presbyterian Church, now in
the htty-ttth year of his age, and who has for
twenty-seven years been preacher of the
Gospel. He was prepared for the ministry at
Princeton, emerging from that institution
well equipped with a knowledge of Greek
Hebrew, Sanscrit, and several modern Ian
guages. For seven years after his ordination
he was missionary in Hindustan, where his
health failed and he returned to the United
States, with constitution seriously impaired
hen sufficiently recovered he took charge of
church at Stanford, KY, and preached accep-
tably for nearly eight years, but gave no sign
OF unusual powers. Towards the close of his
connection with the Stanford church his
preaching became somewhat cratic
The elders said he was shaky on doctrinal
| points and demonstrated with him. His re-
spouse was declaration from the pulpit that
the devil had got out of his own territory into
that OF the church; that he had crept into the
hymn books, into false translations ofthe Bible.
into the Articles of Faith. The Presbvtery
rebuked him, but he withdrew in disgust In
October 1871, he left his Stanford church. tell
ing his congregation he did so without a
dollar in the world, but with faith in God"
some of his flock offered to build an indepen-
dent church, but he refused, \ Stanford man
who had removed 20 Chicago and became
wealthy, induced him to remove to that CITY.
He built chapel in which Mr.. Barnes preach.
ed. An offer was made to the preacher of the
church, with furnished residence and S4OO(
a year, for which he was to preach two sermon.
month. This startled him and he literally
fled to the mountains, to escape temptation.
AT the beginning of 1876 he commenced hi:
work as mountain evangelist; poor, delicate
in health, and with no other companions thar
his wife and daughter. His chicago friend
sent him several checks of $50 each, with the
assurance that he would have one each month
as long as both lived. He sent it all back anC
refused all aid from his former friends anG
associates. He would trust everything t.
God" His throat was weak but he trusted i
to God and for four years and half ha,
preached uninterruptedly two sermons every
day with the result of strengthening instead o
destroying his voice, although at every preach
ing he violates all the rules for VOCAL preserva
ton. He bought small reed organ which il
played by his daughter who also leads tn,
singing. He had no musical education what
ever, but she trusted in God" and plays anC
sings correctly. The trust of Mr.. Barnes tina
he also would be able to sing acceptably, ha
been in the opinion of his hearers, misplaced
though he does not seem to have discovered
the fact. He accompanies his daughter in tn,
hymns, but with voice that will make tn,
heavenly choir stop their ears in agony unles
it is improved before he joins them.
His success among the people of the noun
tains has been wonderful. He breaches in tn,
: plainest language to them, but they neve
resent his structures, and his converts are mum
bered by thousands. His disciples follow hin
from one village to another The most law
less and violent communities become orderly
and peaceable under his administration Judg
Randall, of the notorious Brethitt county say
he was stronger in that county in restorin,
peace than the whole State militia and, tn
Judge adjourned Court that Brother Barne
might address the armed factions ready t.
shoot each other down. Hetakes no collections
accepts no money from the poor, will recev
nothing beyond the supply of the days needs
and will not stay in the house of a man VIII,
cannot afford it. He receives revelations o
new light" directing his progress and shap
ing his teaching The last light that broke il
upon him revealed his duty to heal the sick b,
amounting and prayer, as set forth in the sacreC
Scriptures, and he is now curing by thes
means cases given over by the doctors. H
does not claim that he will always be success
full in such cases, nor does he think it is neces
sary for him to bother himself about the matter
He leaves 1t all to Cod 1t may be that h
will die like other people, but it has beef
borne in upon him that he will go to HEAVIER
without dying.
|