Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-10-30
STRANGE SCENES.
SALOONS IN A VIRGINIA TOWN SELLING OUT
AND CLOSING UP WITH PRAYER MEETINGS
GOING ON IN FRONT.
From the South Boston, Halifax Times,
%

FROM the South boston, ii al1IaX Times,
Oct 81
Next to the conversion Of 800 people. the
most notable result of Mr.. Flies visit here is
ton, which is now one of the dryest towns in
the State. As reported elsewhere, two bar
keepers of South Boston-Messrs. 1. Z. Mays
and w. 4. Cole-professed religion during
Mr.. Flies meeting and Immediately closed
A called meeting of the Town Council was
held on Monday morning last with full at
tendance. Mayor w. d. Barbour presiding
The only business transacted was to refund
to the barkeeper converts of the Fife meeting
their license money from the time they closed.
However there still remained three bar rooms
in our town.
Tuesday morning just after the sale of leaf
tobacco at the Flag warehouse, where the
leading business men was held with MI. J.
w. EaSley, chairman, and MI. H. j. Watkins
secretary, to determine upon some plan Of
closing the remaining three bar rooms. They
proposed to buy out the stock, refund license
money, and use their influence to get these
men business. They began at the saloon of
Mr.. Samuel IL. Nelson. He was not in his place
at the time when these men called, but in they
went. and while waiting for him to come,
they talked over the matter. Rev. S. H.
Thompson led in prayer Never were SO
many Amens heard in saloon before. When
Mr.. Nelson came, he hesitated for 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
business men present, through Messrs. j. w.
Easley. Ben. Terry, w. E. Owen and others,
told him they proposed he should lose moth
ing. Rev. j. K. DeShaZo offered an earnest
his decision was made once for all. He was
done forever with the traffic. Spontaneously
arose the grand OLD DoXology, Praise God
from whom all blessings fow.'' Men wept
for joy-many colored people among them.
Messrs. A. B. Willingham, Jr., John Carter
and Eddie Hodge were appointed an invento-
ry committee, and the Little Daisy Saloon"
closed its doors forever.
The crowd then proceeded to the bar-room
of Mr.. W. II. Moseley, on lower Main
Shazo, and being assured that he should not
lose one cent Mr.. Mosely stated that he did
not wish to stand in any mans way, and
would close his business. MesSrS. r. NJ
Terry, r. A. Penick and George Brown, were
appointed an inventory committee and took
possession of the place. Thus leaving only
one saloon in town. Another earnest prayer
was offered and again Mr.. Flies favorite
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. Tie was disposed to treat
the matter lightly at first. Hal ingram, ever
ready in everything to help the cause of
~
Feelingly he responded, and with all the soul
and spiritual power he possesses, he poured
out the the requests and heartfelt desires of
that company to God, to put it into the heart
would accept their proposition. The shout Of
that band OF men that went up from that sa-
loon was sweeter than the song of angels, and
found a response in the heart of God himself
Messrs. W. E. Owen, T. S. Farley and W. d.
Tuck were appointed the inventory commit
foo of this nlaca Tins ending tha liuuOr
traffic in South Boston.
Mr.. w. e. Owen offered a beautiful prayer
of thanks for the good work accomplished
and the whole crowd joined in the song
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow, y
which had been sung in each of the other
saloons.
Messrs J. W. Easley, H. J. Watkins, Jack
Willingham, W. II; Shepherd, H. j. Ingram
finance committee to look up the means to
meet the demands of the purchasers.
Prominent business men then voluntarily
gave their note for the amount required, got
the money, and paid the above named gentle
men for the stock of liquors, and the saloons
were Immediately closed. So that now not a
drop of liquor is sold in South Boston.
May the glorious songs of "Praise God from
whom all blessings f1ow," and Standing on
the Promises of Cod ever be heard in this
and surrounding counties.
South Boston is redeemed; Gods name is all
powerful. We shall ever praise God and thank
him for the blessing he has sent our town
Mr.. Fife was the instrument in Gods hand in
away he carried with him the hearts and
earnest prayers of our people. AS thanks
offering the people gave him purse of about
seventeen hundred dollars, and don't think
they gave him enough at that. Every dollar
of expense has been met.
The scene at the depot Monday evening
when Brother Fife left for his home in Fay
etteville, n. g., was one of tenderness, and
will never be forgotten. Five hundred peo-
pie crowded into the waiting room and on the
platform. The time was Spent in singing
and praying. One or two protested CONVEX
sion during the time, Prayers were offered
songs sung, and many expressions of regret
that the Evangelist had to leave.
Brother Fife told them that he wanted to
hear his favorite song as the train moved
out, and SO as he stood on the stems of the
coach platform and shook hands till the last
moment, the crowd sang out with joy and
ses.'' This closed the greatest meeting in the
history of the town, and thus went away this
servant OF God, carrying the hearts of our
people.
AT the close of the service in the Methodist
church Thursday night, MI. II. j. Watkins
presented the matter of buying out the saloons
and between $1,000 and $1,000 was raised as
guarantee fund toward the same.
WHO DRUMMER FIFE Is.
From Halifax letter in Religious Herald1
W. p. Fife, Esq, is a ruling Elder in the
Presbyterian church at Fayetteville, N. c.
Some three and half years ago he was con
verified under the preaching of Rev. r. &.
Pearson, the celebrated evangelist, and has
since given himself exclusively to the study
of the Bible and evangelistic work He was
invited to South Boston by the Methodist and
Baptist pastors, and began his work there on
the 18th of October, and continued nine DAYS.
l have never been in such meeting before,
---< -esr <------------------
STONEWALL JACKSON AT PRAYER.
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF
TWO CONFEDERATE GENERALS.