Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-09

to Georgia and there died.
Mr.. Reid taught but few years at
Bullock's Creek, and when he relin-
quished the school, Rev. Mr.. Walker, a
son-in-law Of DR.. Alexander, opened a
classical academy in the Bethesda con-
! gregation, about the year 1906. This he
| ably conducted many years. Most Of
| those who were his pupils are gathered
| to their silent homes; but some still
| live who enjoyed his instruction,
among them your Septuagenarian.
There was a feature in his school very
pleasing to both pupil and patron,
which recommend to principals Of
male schools now. 1t was called an
| exhibition" and was much more
agreeable, in its studied variety, than
the examinations now in vogue. These
| consisted Of dialogues, speeches, and
| several scenic representations, come
dies, farces, and sometimes even a
| tragedy, acted by the boys, which used
| to draw large concourse of people to
witness them. Never lived there a bet
ter man than this young preacher and
| teacher, yet taking little wine for the
stomach's sake, through the infirmity
of the flesh, he sinned. I recall one
Friday, when Mr.. Walker stopped at
my fathers gate on his way to Chester.
He refused the invitation to come in
and take social glass. My father, ION
hospitable thought intent" proposed
| to bring out the decanter to him, as he
sat on the horse. mo! no! as you in
sist, I'll go in-not take a drink on
horseback" He was going to see
criminal who was to be hung on the
| following Friday-a man named Floyd,
| who had killed the sheriff Of Chester
district, Colonel Num-. My step-moth-
er was much interested in the mans
case and begged her preacher to call as
he returned, and tell her If the man
seemed penitent and to have laid hold
on the precious promises held UP for
his acceptance. He kindly promised
he would crafty her. About an hour
before sundown, l, with my father,
was under the shade Of big chestnut
| tree which stood near the barn, he riv-
| ing boards and piling them, wncn Mr..
Walker hove in sight at a full gallop.
AS the horse neared the gate, ex-
pecting to be checked up at the
| frequent stopping place, he fell In
10 a lOIlS lTOl, WUlCl dlliOoI Sduo-
ed the rider to lose his perpendic-
ular, but urged on he resumed the cam
ter. Mr.. Walker righted himself; for
with the smoother gait he could retain
| the proper equilibrium-and passed
with a dignifled Good afternoon,
Squire" I lifted up my head, big with
discernment for lad Of ten. Never
stir! father, If Mr.. Walker wasn't
drunk" My father turned sternly.:
Let me ever hear Of you saying such
thing as that again, sir, and Ill give
| in your life!" Mum, was the word af-
ter that. In few moments my father
threw down the frower and walked to
the house. followed, for my task was
done when he stopped work. He walk
ed through the hall where my step
mother and sisters were sitting at their
sewing, and went-into- his. .-alaiklIAni-
"Katie!" he called, and his wife follow
ed. I crept near the door, and heard
him telling the mournful tale. How
hard I felt it, I might not repeat my
knowledge, gained too, through my
penetration, to the girls; but the inter-
dict was too heavy, and when my step
mother came out with a face a YARD
long, could only hug myself with ster-
| lie complacency that knew, too. Day
after the next being the Sabbath, in
| the pulpit the good old man confessed
his fault with tears to the congrega-
| ton, who wept with him in sympathy
and love. Nor was there one to whom
he was less dear or respected from the
humiliating avowal; freely was his sin
forgiven and forgotten, and not for one
| instant was his usefulness injured. l
might, after this, tell the other urchins
what I'd seen; but the information had
| lost it's zest, and I wondered vainly
why my father issued so stern man
date, when after all, Mr.. Walker told
about it himself in the meeting house.
I think it was in 1902, Mr.. Walker
visited Kentucky, and saw "the falling
down exercise" as it was called. Soon
after his return, he preached at big
camp-meeting in the Waxhaws, and
described it to the people; how whole
conversations were struck down by the
spirit of God, and falling confessed
| their sins and praised the eternal Faith
er for the wondrous redemption given
in His son. The large assembly, as
| they listened, were moved, and here
was the first Of this singular demon
stration Of religion, seen In South Car
olina. Not long after, the period for
the annual camp meeting at his own
church of Bethesda occurred, and again
many, like Paul, were struck down by
the power of God. Peculiar were Its
workings. Many now deem 1t as but
nervous affection, arising from sympa-
thy and undue excitement Of feeling.
I know not; but this I affirm, that
drunkards were reformed, the profane
became godly, and many who had been
scoffers were, from this time, true be-
levers. Mr.. Francis Erwin was taken
at that meeting with falling down ex-
ercise," and told me afterward that for
ten years from the time Of his CONVEX
sion he never, for one moment, doubt
ed his salvation, and knew him for a
good man Of eminent piety to the close
Of his life. Some who were thus affect
ed, it Is true, fell away from their pro-
fession, and returned to their sins like
"a dog to his vomit." I remember
watching the scene with apathetic curl
osity, for I was too young to take m
the spiritual meaning, and too philo-
sophical to be carried away by the out.
ward agitation. I was much amused
by old Mr.. George Dale, who would ap-
proach the exciting scene, but stand
behind a tree, from which he would
peer around awhile at the writhing,
groaning multitude eXclaim in the
atrical manner, What morose noise Is
this 1 hear? Methinks tits some de-
moniac!" then turn and run away, as
if afraid Of contagion. From Bethesda
the falling down exercise extended
over the state, like Il mighty wind stir
ring up dead mems bones, then lulled
as a storm exhausted of it's strength.
Mr.. Walker was for many years the
beloved pastor Of the people Of Bethes-
da. At last he determined on retiring
from the ministry. heard him preach
his last sermon. After the close of the
services we walked out together, be-
meath the shade of solemn forest
trees" and sat down on a rude seat
near the silent city of the dead" He
asked me If 1 discerned any decline in
his preaching. I truly told him mo;
that the sermon Of today equaled those
1 had heard from him in years gone
by" 1T is my last" he SAID;