The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-24

South Carolina, none shine with more
peculiar lustre than Rev.iJames Dannelly.
Bold, ardent, brilliant and eccentric, he
was SUI ge..eris, and at once the most
popular and efficient preacher of the up.
country.
In person he was of the medium height,
quite corpulent, weighing about two hun.
dred and fifty pounds, had but one leg,
the other being supplied with wooden
stump. His face was round and forid,
hair thin and of silvery whiteness, fore.
head high and partly bald, nose arched
aad aquiline, much resembling inshape
a hawks beak. His small gray eyes,
set unusually far back in his head,
snapped and scintiIated with 81 peculiar
lustre when he was excited. His voice
pitched on IAN unqsually high key, with
peculiar nasal twang, was shrill and
loud, being distinctly heard at the re-
motest parts of the vast. camp-meeting
audiences to whom he often preached,
and when he became aroused, had vol
ume and music which, like Roland's mar.
! velous horn, at once spread CONSERVATION
among the foes of God, and noarshaled
the church militant to victory.
Rev. James Dannelly was child of
afliction. He lost a leg by liberation,
and constantly suffered from painful
sores on the other, which were kept in
famed by the heavy weight of his body,
served to disquiet his mind, and gave
him a severe and harsh utterance, which
made him terror to evil doers. His
nature, however, was tender, sympathetic
and generous, and those only who knew
him Intimately understood him properly,
and knew how to appreciate him.
In his day he was the most popular
preacher of the up. country, maintaining
his popularity to the day Of his death.
An appointment published for him to
preach never failed to attract crowd,
even when disease and trouble had we'll
nigh crushed him. He frequently gave
offence, and persons became very angry
with him, but he seldom or pever failed
to secure their attendance and improved
behavior the next time. We have heard
as thrilling eloquence from the lips of
Rev. James Dannelly, as we ever heard
from any man. We have seen immense
congregations greatly moved under his
sermons. The ministry of Rev. James
Dannelly was ministry Of rebuke. He
felt called to grapple with the popular
vices and frivolities of the day, which he
did with gloves off," cutting to the
bone, and dividing the joints and the
marrow.
At S. Camp meeting, Mr.. Dannellsssl
nreached the IL O'Clock sermon on Satur. |
day to an immense congregation. The
preacher seemed particularly unhappy in
his feelings. He began rough, and got
rougher and rougher. He not only
shocked our sensibilities, but outraged
all the decencies of our nature; we were
abashed, ashamed, and hid our faces in
our hands. His closing sentences we're
the climax of all coarsenes We ever heard
from the pulpit, and instead of. yielding
his place to the preacher who was in the
pulpit to close the service, he took the
hymn book and gave out
~ charge to keep have,
A God to gloryfy,"
and said "If any persons present desire
to forsake their sins and seek forgiveness,
let them approach the alter" Of course.
we expected no one to come, as all proper
feeling seemed to be killed out by the
sermon but what was our surprise to see
an unusually handsome gentlemas from
a remote part of the congregation come
rushing to the altar, prostrating himself
under intense feeliDg-a number of
young men following, all deeply affected.
Our curiosity was excited to know more
of the case; so, finding at which tent
this gentleman would dine, We directed
our attention thither, and at the table
interrogated him with regard to the ser.
mon. He declared it was the grandest
sermon he had ever heard. "Why," said
be, lit laid open my heart as no other
sermon ever did,"
At camp.meeting held at Sandy
Spring, some years ago, Mr.. Dannelly
preached at II O'Clock on Sunday, to a
large and appreciative audience. 1t was
one of his characteristic sermons
and finest efforts. Being much exhausted,
he returned to the preachers tent and
laid down on bed, putting and blowing
from heat and exhaustion, wher an old
gentleman came running in, exclaimiDg
as he came, "Mr. Dannelly I am so
glad to gee you," &C., &c. We cast our
eyes toward the speaker and observed
that Mr.. Dannelly bad put out his hand,
in his peculiar style, twisted, with the
palm up, sure indication 10 ua that he
did not heartily reciprocate the warm sal
alton. Mr.. Dannelly did not open his
mouth until his enthusiastic friend had
completed his greeting; then in his loud,
shrill, nasal tone, said, "Do you still
whiskey yeti" The last word being pro.
nounced in kind of shrek, was the
stunning question. The friend was non
plussed, but rallying up replied, "You
know Mr.. DannelIy, we never could
agree upon these questions; twenty years
ago We argued them, but could not agree.
I keep my still, and make little for the
convenience of my neighbors." "Do
you sell whiskey get 2" the last word pro-
nounced with still louder shrek.
The friend staggered under the persistent
force of the question, but rallied in mo-
ment. 20, Mr.. Dannelly, how can you
be so hard on an old friend? You know
we never could agree on these subjects.
I still sell little along, but hopc / do no
harm by it," "Do you drink whiskey
yets" he uttered, with still louder em.
phasis. The old friend coughed, hemmed,
laid his hand on the arm of the fierce
parson, patronizingly: "You must not
he hard on me, my old friend. You
know, Mr.. Dannelly, we never could agree
on these matters; twenty years ago we
talked them over and could not agree. |
still take my dram three times day."
"Are you deacon in the Baptist Church
uets" vociferated the excited preacher,
in thunder tones. 20 yes, Mr. Dannelly
I am still trying to serve my God and,
make my way up to heaven" Just then
Mr.. Dannelly raised up in the bed, and
in his loudest, shrillest voice, screamed
out, "You are the worst man l ever saw
in my life. Your breath now smells
l;l>a n rnno coob Ynn oun m ade DRINK.