The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-05-25
Little Damascus.
EDITOR COMET:

ing IN the hill countries OF the lmagl-
nary holy land, 1 thought it might be
well to go down to Little Sodom and
warn them of the great danger of liv-
ing in sin and that | might ascertain
whether the required number could be
found in case the Lord should make
such a demand.
So an appointment was made for one
of the prominent churches at Z o'clock
p. M, April 25th. ! was there ON time
and one among the first at the church.
[ waited till little handful in compari-
son to the population of the city had
gathered and took their seats in the
back end of the church. / asked them
kindly to come to the front of the
church, as l had already began to get
chilly, and they advanced little, still
leaving the amen corner almost blank.
1 read the following hymn:
What is the thing of greatest price,
The whole creation round?
That which was lost in paradise,
That which in Christ was found.
The choir sang and | tried to pray.
I then read some scripture lessons
and tried to impress the fact that Gods
plan or system was the most perfect of
all plans and that it could not nor
would not fail in any case where the
whole plan was accepted. But as mis-
understandings were the cause of great
wrecks on railroads, so the same might
be expected in the spiritual world. For
some reason / did not feel free and did
not have that liberty that I must al
ways have. | felt that / was out of my
place some how and felt that might be
some where near the north pole.
l closed my talk falling to bring out
clear cut the thought that [ wished to
impress, and was glad to accept the
first invitation to go to warm room to
rest.
1 am glad l had the privilege of
preaching pure, sinless life to the
good brothers wife where I stayed, the
next morning. / enjoyed my little
sermon to her much better than I did
at the church, for / did keep her awake.
l find that Gods purest and best peo-
pie never hear anything too pure. So
| left little Sodom on the morning of
April Goth, remembering Lots wife.
/ came out to Milligan where I struck
elbows with some good spiritual people
and began to thaw out and come to life
again. Prof. Hopwood saw me stand
ing out on the campus, and walked out
and gave me hearty hand-shake and
kindly asked me to make talk IN the
morning class, next morning.
| met the professors and students in
College Hall next morning and had
splendid liberty to talk to the school
on the subject of pure and sinless life
and Gods perfect plan to make men
clean and pure, but for want of time /
just put on brakes and stopped.
1 consider the professors and pupils
Of Milligan college just as intellectual
as any people in East Tennessee, but
the difference is in a cold reception and
a warm reception.
Mr.. Wesley says the word perfect is
what many can not bear He says is il
not found in the oracles of God? If SC
what right has any minister to with
hold it? He says I will not though al
men be offended. Neither will I.
am now ON my way to Little Da,
mascus (Erwin). You will remember
that it was to this place I was going
one morning when / was converted. ]
had letter and papers in my pocket
from Chief Reveue Collector N. Gregg
to go and look after that business thai
is is direct opposition to saints and pro
hibition. So was out prosecuting the
saints. I had been under conviction
for some time and O brother graspet
my hand as [ was leaving home an(
said you can be converted on this trir
if you will be. My reply: If I can
will be. [ had only gone about fv,
miles, and while the tears still rolled
from my eyes to the ground, 1 made |
full surrender and peace like o rive,
went rolling through my liberated soul
The tunnel was dark as it was in tn,
second blessing, but a brighter anC
more beautiful light appeared on tn
other side.
1 am now at little Damascus and as
was the first town [ ever shouted in
wanted it to be the first town to hold
, meeting in, so / am here to work TO
the Lord.
AS was returning home from Mill
gan and was walking through wood
land, to my surprise I found a YER
large blacksnake with his head right i
my path. I stopped suddenly, an
said you old ugly rascal you. though
of that passage, the seed of the woma
shall bruise the serpent's head, an
asked myself, shall carry out th
scripture by doing so? And then