Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-11-06
Strange Scenes
SALOONS IN A VIRGINIA TOWN SELLING
OUT AND CLOSING Up WITH PRAYER
MEETINGS GOING on IN FRONT.

/
OUT AND CLOSING UP WITH PRAYER
MEETINGS GOING on IN FRONT.
South Boston, Halifax Times, Oct. %.
Next to the conversion of 300 people
the most notable result of Mr.. Flies vis
here Is tie closing of all the bar rooms il
South Boston, which is now one of til,
dryest towns IN The State. As reported
elsewhere, two bar-keeCeFs Of South Boston
-Messrs. /. Il. Mays and w. X. Cole
professed religion during Mr.. Flies meet
lug and Immediately closed their saloons
A called meeting of the Town Council
was held on Monday morning last with &
full attendance, Mayor w. d. Barbour
presiding. The only business transacted
was to refund to the baT-keeper convert:
of the Fife meeting their license money
from the time they closed. However there
still remained three bar rooms in ouI
town.
Tuesday morning Just after the sale OF
leaf tobacco at the Flag warehouse, where
the Fife meetings were held meeting OF
our leading business men vas held with
Mr.. j W. Easley, chairman, and Mr.. II
j. Watkins, secretary, to determine upon
some plan of closing the remaining three
bar rooms. They proposed to buy ont
the stock. refund license money, and use
their influence to get these gentlemen
business. They began at the saloon
of Mr.. Samuel II. Nelson. He was not in
bis place at the time when these men call
ed, but in they went, and while waiting
for him to core, they talked over the
matter. Rev. S. H. TompsOn led in pray
er. Never were so many Amens heard in
a saloon before When Mr. Nelson came,
be hestated for a little while on the
ground of the loss to himself in money
He wanted to quit the business, but didn't
see how he could lose so much. The bust
ness men present, through Messrs. J. w.
Easley, Ben. Terry, w. E.Owen and others.
told him they proposed he should lose
nothing. Rev. J. 4. DeShazo offered an
earnest prayer and at its close, Mr.. Mel
son told them bis decision was made once
for all. He was done forever with the
traffic. Spontaneously arose the grand
Doxology, praise God from whom all
blessings flow." Men wept for joy-maDy
colored people among them. Messrs. A.
B. Willingham, Jr., John Carter and Ed
die Hodge were appointed an inventory
committee, and the "Littie Daisy Sa-
loon" closed its doors forever.
The crowd then proceeded to the bar
room of Mr.. II. w. Moseley, on lower
Main street, and after prayer by Rev. j.
Z. DeShazo, and being assured that he
should not lose ole cent, Mr.. Moseley
stated that he did not wish to stand in
airy mans way, and would close his bus
mess. Messrs. K. NJ. Terry, R. A. Penck
and George Brown, were appointed an IN
ventory committee and took posse. sion of
the place. Thus leaving only one saloon
in town. Another earnest prayer was
offered, and again Mr.. Flies favonte
verse was sung-"Praise God from whom
all blessings flow"
BY this time a hundred men were IN the
crowd that marched across the street to
Mr. Neathery's saloon. He was disposed
to treat the matter lightly at first, Hal
Ingram, ever ready in everything TO help
the cause Of Christ called on Mr. II. J.
Watkins to pray. Feelngly he respond
ed and with all the soul and spiritual
power LIE possesses, he poured ont the re-
quests and heartfelt desires of that COM
pany to God, to put it into the heart of
this man to yield. At its close, he saio
he would accept their proposition. The
shout of that band of men that went up
from that saloon was sweeter than the
song of angels, and found a response ia
the heart of Col himself. Mcssrs. w. Z.
Owen. T. S. Farley aud w. d. Tuck were
appointed the inventory committee OF
this place. Thus ending the liquor traf-
fc in South Boston.
Mr.. w. Z. Owen offered beautiful
prayer Of thanks for the good work ac-
complished, and the whole crowd joined
in the song "Praise God from whom all
blessings flow," which had been sung in
each of the other saloons.
Messrs J. W. Easley, II. J. Watkins,
Jack Willingham, w. II. Shepherd, II. J.
Ingram and Mayor W ID. Barbour were
appointed finance committe TO look mp
the means to meet the demands Of the
purchasers.
Prominent business men then vOluu-
tarily gave their note for the amount re-
quired, got the money, and paid the above
named gcntlem en- for the stock Of liquors.
and the saloons were Immediately closed,
So that now not drop of liquor is sold
in South Boston.
DldN THO HlOl lOuH NUuHS VI ldiot NfOh
from vhlm all blessings flow" and
standing On tho Promises of God" ever
be heard in this and surrounding counties
South Boston is redeemed Gods name
is all powerful. We shall ever praise and
thank him for the blessing he has sent our
town. Mr.. Fife was tie instrument in
Gods hand in accomplishing this result.
When he went away he carried with him
the hearts and earness prayers Of our peo
Pile. As a thanks-offering the people gave
hlm purse of about seventeen hundred
dollars, and don't think that they gave
him enough at that. Every dollar OF ex-
penses has been met.
The scene at the depot Monday even
ing when Brother Fife left for his home in
n. c., was Que of tender
ness, and will never be forgotten. Five
hundred people crowded into the waiting
room and on the platform. The time was
spent in singing and praying. One or
.wo prOfessed conversion during the |
ime. Prayers were offered, songs sung,
md many expressions of regret that the |
evangelist had to leave.
Brother Fife told them that he wanted |
% hear bis fayorite song as the train |
noyed ont, and so as he stood on the |
teps OF the coach platform and shook
lends till the last moment, the crowd |
ang ont with joy and gladness the song
Standing on the Promises" This closed |
he greatest meeting in the history of the
own, and thus went away this servant |
# God, carrying the hearts of our people.
At the close of the services in the Meth
dist church Thursday night, Mr.. II. j.
Watkins presented the matter of buying
mt the saloons and between $1,000 and
2, 900 was raised as a guarantee fund
Oward the same.
WHO DRUMMER FIFE Is.
from Halifax letter IN Religions Herald.
w. P Fife, Esq, is a ruling Elder in
he Presbyterian church at Fayetteville,
I. c. Some three and a half years ago
e was converted under the preaching of
Rev. r. G. Pearson. the celebrated evan
.elist, and has since given himself ex-
lusively TO the study of the Bible and
work, He was invited to
IOuth Boston by the Methodist and Blp-
ist pastors, aud began his work there on
he 18th of October, and continued nine
ays. have never been in such a meet
ng before.
A Georgia editor created a sensation in
Il nrob " htla fbaNr xvara einuinn xra1i-