The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-16
REV. Z G. PEARSON.
An Interesting Sketch OF the Great Evan
gelist.

The following sketch of Rev. R. G.
Pearson, published in the New York
Christian Herald, during the progress
of a gospel campaign conducted in
Brooklyn, last November will prove
interesting:
Although we'll known in the South,
| this is the first time the people of the
North have had an opportunity of
hearing him. He was born in Missis-
sippi, about forty years ago. He was
converted while quite young, and after
pursuing q course Of study in the
Cumberland University. Lebanon,
Tennessee, was graduated from that
institution and ordained as minister
of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church. In 1878 he was married to
most estimable Christian lady, who has
proved a true helpnleet to him in his
work. He continued the pastorate for
several years, and at one time was
associate pastor of the First Cumber.
land Presbyterian church, of Nashville,
Tennessee.
Ten years ago, after much prayer,
Mr.. Pearson decided to devote bis
whole time to evangelistic work wher.
ever the providence of God may lead
him. During bis evangelistic career,
be has been fully occupied, and has
often had more invitations than he
could accept He objects, on principle,
to the ordinary mode of engagements,
and has always refused TO stipulate for
a definite remuneration iu entering
upon An engagement. He has held
meetings in every Soutl err State, and
nearly all Of the large cities of the
South. God has wonderfully crowned
his efforts for the salvation of souls,
and the number of persons who have
been converted in various cities have
ranged from 800 too 1000. These iu-1
gatherings have proved permanent ad-
ditions to the church. In several places
whore union meetings have been held,
business houses, banks and saloons
have voluntarily closed, and sometimes
the courts have adjourned so as to af-
ford the employees. an opportunity to
listen to Mr.. Pearson's presentation of
the gospel. In some Southern cities,
the services have been held in "cotton
congresses" as the large warehouses
seat as many as 1000 people, and night
ly have they been crowded for weeks
together, the only attraction being the
preaching of the gospel by Mr.. Pear
son.
IAN incident, which occurred at
Rock Hill, S. c., will be long relnem-
bered in that locality. Mr.. Pearson
had been holding services for several
days in large tent, and the audience
had grown from day to day, until they
numbered from two to three thousand
persons. The work wss still growing
when circus visited the town, and
there were many predictions that the
counter attraction would draw off all
the evangelist's hearers. The circus
people made parade and fixed the
hour for the first performance at the
same time as the gospel service. To the
establishment of all, and the disgust of
the circus people, the attendance at the
circus was = meager 300 persons, while
the.gospel tent was crowded as usual.
The gospel had evidently taken a
stronger hold on the people than had
been realized, and the circus people
were not slow to appreciate the fact.
They pulled up stakes the same night.
and departed.
During the Worlds Fair campaign,
Mr.. Moody sent for Mr.. Pearson to be
one of his co-workers. He was led to
do this as the result Of bis travels in
the South, where, as he himself stated
in the Haymarket in Chicago, be had
continually come across Mr.. Pearson's
lasting footprints in Y. NJ. G. A. halls
and gospel missions erected as result
Of his work. Il heard of Evangelist
Pearson everywhere said Mr.. Moody,
but against him not one word, either
personally Or as to his methods; but
found him held in loving memory in
every place he had visited even after
the lapse of years. Mr.. Pearson Is the
author of cook entitled Truth Ap-
plied,' which passed through three edi-
tions in ninety days, and has large
sale in the South and Southwest, and
has been adopted by one Theological
seminary as a text book on practical
preat hing. AS to his present work at
the Hanson Place Baptist church, of
Brooklyn, Pastor a. G. Dixon says: Il
have been in many revivals, but never
in one which began with so many con-
versions. Verify, the hand of the Lord
is upon this preacher Of the Word.'