The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-29
SAM SMALL's STORY,
A Graphic Sketch of Mis-Spent Life
How the Change Came.
81. .Joscph, No., Herald.

A Graphic Sketch of Mis-spent Life
How the Change Came.
81. Joseph, No., Herald.
Mr. Small spoke last night eloquen lily,
grandly, forcibly, and delivered one of
the most remarkable discourses ever
listened to in this city. 1t was story of
his past life, from his youth up, and con-
tanned an account of how, step by step
he fell, and then went lower and lower
in disgrace and sin, and how at last he
was raised to be man again through
the faith of the Bible. The account was
8 most touching one, and went home to
the hearts of many. The Herald has no
slenographic report of the sermon, and
will not attempt to produce it in long
hand, for its beauty and power would be
marred. Mr.. Small has very kindly
consented, however, to write the sermon
it was delivered extemporaneously al-
most-and to allow it to appear in the
Heralds pamphlet edition of the revival
sermons.
Tho speaker began with his life when
he was boy, and told how he grew up
surrounded by holy and hallowed intiu-
ences how he went to college and there
fell into bad company, was tempted time
and again, until be fell, and began to
drink liquors. He went through college,
applying himself assiduously and unceas'
ingly to his studies, and drinking to
keep up life and energy. He graduated
finally, almost physical wreck. Going
home, he soon recuperated the lost phys
ical strength, and then began 10 thirst
for something more than the quiet rou.
tine of daily life at his fathers home.
He came to the city, began again his
drinking for stimul0us only at first, and
then to crafty fast growing appetite.
He succeeded we'll in the world, was
prosperous in all he undertook, had many
friends, but day by day the appetite for
drink was fastened more firmly upon
him, until it was his very existence.
Many times be endeavored to reform
and did quit for awhile, but only to fall
again. During one of his sober intervals
be won the love of beautiful and loyea-
BILE woman and she became his wife.
They had not been married long until he
went again into dissipation. Lower and
lower he went until his wife's love was
gone and his children blushed when they
mentioned his name. He was carried
bome drunk time after time. He was
cut with knife in barroom and came
near dying, and was taken home to be a
burden upon his family.
Things went on. Matters became
worse with him until one of two alterna'
tives was left him, a drunkard's death or
suicide. His former friends moved in a
plane high above him. His associates
were many of them the lowest of earth.
One Sunday while Mr.. Jones was
preaching in Cartersville, in September
last. Mr.. Small was persuaded by his
children to take them to the meeting.
He went and sat at the reporters stand.
The sermon was the same preached to
men here last Sunday, on conscience
record, God. He was deeply moved.
Going home he plunged again into the
debauch from which he was not more
than half recovered, and kept it up for
Sorty-eight hours, the terrible battle
going on increasingly. Finally, he went
on his knees to God and prayed for four
weary hours, and was satisfied that he
had found relief, that his sins had been
forgiven. He arose a pardoned man.
But temptation came anew. The old
appetite came back fresh and strong.
Again he went to God in prayer, and
after two hours on his knees, arose with
his appetite for drink entirely gone.
What worked change in him, worked
one in his family. God touched the
tomb of his wife's love and the doors
we're opened, and the old love came back
to him, and warmed that wife's heart and
life with all its pristine beauty. The
hearts ofhis children welled up with love
for him, and they are proud to call hin,
by name.
Mr.. Small, after reciting the story of
his life, only the faintest outline of
which appears above, became more gen
eral in his talk. He referred to the
liquor traffic as a great and growing evil.
He quoted new and startling statistics,
and painted in glowing and telling colors
the evil effects of strong drink.
Mr.. Small concluded his sermon with
one of the grandest flights of oratory
ever listened to in St. Joseph. He de.
scribed the palace of purity, the human
soul, in all its beauty, pictured its grand
eur, aud the nobleness of the Christian
character that sat upon the throne of
honor in the palace This sermon pro-
duced better effect than all his others,
and is the best he has delivered here.
At its conclusion over a thousand people,
unconverted ones, stood up and said
they had taken their last drink, and
many of them have long been known as
the best patrons the saloons of this city
have. About half of this thousand said
they would tonight unite themselves
with some church. The meeting last
night was more glorious in its results
than any of the others.