Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-06-18

II. :: :. !: .: - $50: ' !; !: ~! ;.
of those who were active laborers
or abettors of the great revival
Of 40. 1t would DE d pleasant
task to sketch more largely their
lives and those of others who
were not SO prominent. but [
must forbear at this time. But
| must not pass from this part of
my subject without mentioning
"Uncle Tom Langston," an old
colOred man, a slave at that time
whose prayers seemed 10 rend
the very heavens, He was the
leader among the negroes. many
of whom in a few years joined
cur church. After the War Uncle
Tom left US and became a mem
Der of a colored Methodist
church. He died, in triumph. I
believe. not se"y ony ago.
The first sad event in the hiss
tory of the church in Goldsboro
was tie death of F, L. Castex,
in the year 1851. But what was
sad to US was a triumphant de-
parture to him. At the last mos
ment his face was kind.ed with a
joyous smile as he waved his
hand heavenward and fell asleep
in the arms Of Jesus.
1t was a new departure to the
little bard of disciples. We felt
that it bridged the river. and
that Castex had pioneered us to-
ward the land of promise. Since
then many have passed from US.
They have died we'll, bless God!
The last, and perhaps the pnrest,
Mrs. Louisa Kornegay, just
reached heaven in time to witness
this assemblage from the battle
ments of the New Jerusalem.
May We all meet them there.
The Goldsboro Church re-
NAMED on the Smithtield circuit
for several years, then the Colds
boro circuit was formed if I am
not mistaken-then the Everitts-
vile circuit, and just before the
war Goldsboro was made d sta :
ton. At the close Of II e war it
was hracketed with Wilson as a
double-barreled station for, I
think. two years. For many
years it has stood in the front
rank of stations in n. G. Confer
ence, and may say it in this pres
ence is second to none for devo>
ron to the Masters cause, intel
liseace, culture, social position
and Christian liherality. There
have been many gracious revivals
and under Christ heaven is richer
by the fact of this Church's ex
istence. Perhaps no revival Of
religion which has ever occurred
in North Carolina has produced
more widespread results than
that of '49. The social position
and private character of the MAJ
tjurity Of The converts was the
best in the country, and many of
them were persons Of wealth and
refinement.
The doctrines of universal
atonement, sincere repentance,
faith in Christ as a personal
Saviour, spiritual regeneration.
and conscious witness of the
Holy Spirit were burned into
consciences by the Word and the
Spirit. Hence there were few
still born babes, but the CONVEX
sions were distinct and satisfac-
tory. As soon as converted and
added to the church, men and
women were encouraged to work
for Christ. They were urged to
sing and pray, to erect the family
altar, to study Gods Word ano
the standards of our theology. A
basket of books was almost al,
ways in Wyche's hand when he
was not in the pulpit. They were
/ readily sold and he took many
subscriptions to our periodical
literature. They were urged te
, give freely for Gods cause ano
, they did it, as I have shown from
, the material results. At thai
. time there was not a Sabbath
: School on a solid basis in the
county. Soon they sprang up OF
every band. There Vas nota re
spectacle or comfortable church
of any denomination in the
= county. In a few years Colds
boro could boast of four churches
Everittsville of two, and there
| were several built in the county
which did credit to the intelli,
gence and liberality of the peo'
| pie. Good schools began tt
spring up. A college was bull
in Goidsboro, now occupied BY
your admirable Graded School
The revival sent to the local ant
itinerant ranks five preachers
and one exhorter.
: Let me first speak of the ex
horter. Intellectually and b.
requirements the superior o
them all, he belonged to the Hol.
Catholic church in a noble sense
Among laymen, acknowledged a
a leader in Sunday School work
a wise counselor to the,ministers
for many years at the head o
Odd Fellowship in the State
q made talks, as he called them
replete with scriptural knowl
a edge and the spirit of devotion
at home among all Christians