Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-11-21
Colored Preacher, Yclept "SOn of Thun.
DER

The Port Republic correspondent of
the Rockingham Register, under date
of November 9Th, says
THE negroes of this section have
been holding revival meetings. in
their church between here and Shen-
dun for some weeks. The preacher is
big, burly negro man Son of
vivified butt end of the edition of
congregation call him indeecenies,
Thunder He is colored edition of
Sam Jones without Sans indecenies
We were given q sample of his method,
which we think too grod to be lost -
1t seems the negroes have a part of the
church called 1.-The sinners corner ;
After preaching without any obvious
results to the occupants of this sinner d
corner, the Son of Thunder addressed
this corner, telling them, from the po-
sition they occupied he was satisfied
they were sinners, and asking them if
they had been impressed by what they
had heard. Getting no response, he
went over his text, picking out the
choicest bits of his argument, to which
he called their special attention, he
again asked if they felt any change OF
heart" Again getting no response. he
told them to stand up. Theyall, TO the
number of a dozen or more stood uf,
when he proceeded tbuslv: "There's to
be All election held in Port Republic
next week. There are two parties, and
two candidates running. One is a
democrat, the other is a republican.
The people are very much divided
some will vote for the democrat, some
will vote for the republican. Just so it
ic To nil ht- rti los
here One will vote for Jesus Christ;
one will vote for the devil. Which will
you vote for? You've got to vote. Now,
which will you vote for? If you are
willing to vote for Jesus Christ, right
here at this mourners' bench is the
place to deposit your ballot. If you
mean to vote for the devil, right where
you are, in your sinners corner is the
place to vote for him = You've got to
vote for one or the other. Now, all who
want to vote fer Jesus Christ come
right up here and give Him your ballot
You who want to vote for the devil, sit
down again and acknowledge him TO
be your master"
By this time the negroes eyes were
bullying, and they began to find out
they were in box Three or four of
the more tinid started for the mourn
ers' bench" the others stood irresolute,
with no inclination to seek the mourn
ers' bench" but afraid to sit still, and
so, tacitly. at least, acknowledging
themselves disciples of the devil. The
Son of Thunder" gave them no time
for thought, but, with all the strength
of his powerful voice, continued his
commands, either come forward and
vote for Jesus, or sit down and vote for
the devil. and forevermore be known
as followers of his satanic majesty.
Finally one negro could stand it no
longer, and made break for the door.
In an instant the others bolted after
him. and from their haste to get out
one would have thought they were
afraid of feeling, every second. the
traditional three pronged fork prod
ding them in the back. They solved
the problem by retreat, and now, it is
said, the SINNERS corner" is as care
fully avoided as though it were plague
infested. A trick of this modern Boa
nerges, and one worthy of Sam Jones
himself"