The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-27

w
such !. cross. He staggered under it,
anG in the brief intervals when he came
in fsom the work and sought the quiet
of his study for rest the sweat broke
out on his forehead, and he felt the ac-
tual terror of one who marches into
unseen, unknown hcrrors. Looking back
on it afterward, he was amazed at his
experience He was not a coward but
he felt a dread that any man Of his
habits feels when confronted suddenly
with duty which carries with it the
doing Of certain things SO unfamiliar
that the actual details connected with
it betray his ignorance and fill him
with the shane Of humiliation.
When Saturday. the election day,
came, the excitement rose to its height
An attempt was made to close ell the
saloons It was partly successful, but
there was a great deal of drinking go
ing on all day. The Rectangle boiled
and heaved and cursed and turned It's
worst side out to the gaze Of the city.
Gray had continued his meetings dur
ing the week, and the results had been
even greater than he had dared to hope.
{ When Saturday came, it seemed to him
that the crisis in his work had been
reached The Holy Spirit and the satan
of rum seemed to rouse up to desper-
ate conflict. The more interest in the
meetings the more ferocity and yileness
outside. The saloon men no longer con-
cealed their feelings Open threats Of
violence we're made. Once during the
week Gray and his little company Of
helpers were assailed with missiles of
various kinds as they left the tent late
at night. The police sent down special
protection, and Virginia and Rachel
were always under the protection of
Rollin or Dr.. West. Rachel's power in
song had not diminished. Rather with
each night it seemed to add to the in
tensity and reality Of the Spirits pres
ence.
Gray had at first hesitated about
having a meeting that night. but he
had simple rule Of action and was al
ways guided by it. The Spirit seemed
to lead them to continue the meeting,
and so Saturday night he went on. as
usual
The excitement all over the city had
reached its climax when the polls closed
at 6 O'Clock. Never had there been such
contest in Raymond. The issue of
license OF no license had never been an
issue under such circumstances. Never
before had such elements in the city
been arrayed against each other. 1t was
an unheard of thing that the president
of Lincoln college, the pastor of the
First church the dean Of the cathedral,
the professional men living in the fine
houses on the boulevard, should come
personally into the wards and by their
presence and their example represent
the Christian conscience Of the place.
The ward politicians were astonished
at the sight. However, their astonish-
ment did not prevent their activity.
The fight grew hotter every hour. and
when o'clock came neither side could
have guessed at the result with any GER
tainty. Every one agreed that never
had there been such an election in Ray
mond, and both sides awaited the an
nouncement Of the result with the
greatest interest.
It was after 10 o'clock when the
meeting at the tent was closed. It had
been a strange and in some respects a
remarkable meeting. Henry Maxwell
had come down again at Gray request.
He was completely Worn out by the
days work; but the appeal from Gray
came to him in such form that he did
not feel able to resist it. Donald Marsh
was also present. He had never been to
! the Rectangle and his curiosity was
aroused from what he had noticed Of
the influence of the evangelist in the
worst part of the city. Dr. West and
Rollin had come with Rachel and Nir-
ginia, and Loreen. who had stald with
Virginia, was present near the organ,
in her right mind, sober. with a humil-
ity and dread of herself that kept her
as close to Virginia as q faithful dog.
All through the service Loreen sat with
bowed head. weeping part of the
time. sobbing when Rachel sang the
song, 81 was wandering sheep,
clinging with almost visible, tangible
yearning to the one hope she had found,
listening to prayer and appeal and con-
fession all about her like one who was
q part of a new creation, yet fearful Of
her right to share in it fully.
The tent had been crowded AS on
some other occasions. there was more
or less disturbance on the outside Of the
tent This had increased as the night
advanced, and Gray thought it wise
not to prolong the service Once IN
awhile shout as from a large crowd
swept into the tent. The returns from
the election were beginning to come in,
and the Rectangle had emptied every
lodging house. den and howell into the
streets.
In spite of the distractions, Rachel's
singing kept the crowd in the tent from
dissolving. There were q dozen or more
conversions. Finally the crowd became