Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-14

perience of my Christian life. Its
memory sweeps my soul like a
strain of music from heaven and
fingers with me like the fragrance Of
flowers plucked from the gardens
blooming before the palace Of the king
in the Beulah land of God. / have
enjoyed an old-fashioned' pentecostal
revival of religion in my church at
Gainesville, one that reached out and
left it's impress for good upon all the
people of the town.
/ had rendered my resignation as
pastor and my heart was longing to
leave the church and the town in a
better condition spiritually than IL was
when / came. 1 had been here for
nearly four years and had learned to
love these people. Most Of them, ir-
respective of denomination, had treat
ed me with marked courtesy and
brotherly love, and to many Of them
I was bound with ties Of Christian
fellowship.
1 longed to see a genuine revival
of religion and yet could not see how
II was to come, for some of the ablest
preachers in all the denominations
had preached here, but they did not
grip the town Their sermons were of
thrilling interest and wrapped with the
gospel of Christ. But only once dur
ing my pastorate here had I seen
meeting of genuine interest, and that
was in the Methodist church.
My friends told me that it was a
risky thing to try and have a meeting
after 1 had rendered my resignation,
but I felt impressed with the thought
that / ought to have one and that
Mr.. w. D. Upshaw, the financial sec
rotary of Monroe College for Women.
was the man to assist me. I wrote in
viting him; he came, he presented the
old story OF Jesus and his love, and
God gave us the victory.
There were some thirty or more con-
versions, sixteen Of whom 1 baptized
last Sunday night.
There were many remarkable fea-
lures about this meeting. 1t is sim
pie story, and yet 1T will be one OF
thrilling interest to the child " God
who reads 1t.
1t was conducted by a remarkable
man. He is not a preacher, but an
earnest worker for the Lord. He is
known all over the state. His life and
his work ought to be an inspiration to
every young man in Georgia. When
boy of eighteen he had a fan from a
wood wagon that injured his spine.
He took to his bed and remained there
for seven years. But there was d.
vine purpose to better the world burn
ing in his heart, and he could not be
idle. He Conceived the idea of writing
book, and while in bed dictated 1t to
his friends. 1t has had a wide circu-
lation and is now in its ninth edition.
He also wrote articles for many pa
pers. At the end of his long imprison-
ment, with the help of roller chair,
a plaster of paris jacket and pair OF
crutches, he began going out into the
world. He is able to get about now on
his crutches and to speak sitting in
chair. He took part in the great cam
paign to raise $4,000 for Mercer uni
versity, and is now engaged in raising
$4,000 for the erection of new 6O-room
dormitory at Monroe college at For
syth. He receives not a cent for sal
airy and expenses but supports himself
by lecturing.
He came on Saturday night and
preached the next morning. There was
a magnetism in his pale. determined
face as he sat, crutches in hand, before
the audience. His manner is intense
and from the start he gripped the con-
gregation. A zeal for Gods cause
seems to be consuming him, and like
an oratorical cyclone he swept the
hearts of his hearers. Men unused TO
weep were moved to tears and their
hearts thrilled beneath his brilliant
words. Now he was seated, his voice
quivering with tenderness. Now for
getting himself and with one crutch
laid aside he was standing with up
lifted hand and blazing eyes, hurting
Gods denunciation against sin and the
sinner. have seldom seen a speaker
get hold of his audience as did this
man.
And when I saw his frail looking
body and his crutches and felt his
power / concluded that he is destined
to be to the religious world in Georgia
what Alexander Stephens was to the
political world.
The man was remarkable, but the
meetings were also remarkable. They
were remarkable for their silence.
Some folks are always talking about
shouting meetings.
We did not have a shouting meeting.
oh, no! the feeling was too deep for
anything so shallow. 1t was, never
theless, a meeting that pulsed with
the power of God. Men and women
sat with bowed heads and open hearts
and 1t seemed to me that we were in
the presence of the crucified and res
directed Christ, who went with stately
steppings from one heart to another.
One would as soon have screamed into
the face of God as to have shouted in