Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-25
Unurtten Chapters in Georgia History.
BY GEORGE c. SMITH, VlnenIIe, Georgia.

ability. Among those who were con-
verted was Judge Longstreet He was
a young lawyer a politician, a judge
of the circuit court, and an infidel. He
became a Christian, and a Methodist
preacher. DR.. Ignatius A. Few, to
whom I have alluded, became a Meth
odist preacher. Dr. John z. Dawson
entered the Baptist ministry. Young
Charles D. Mallary had come from
Vermont and was a leading Baptist, !,
and a worker in the revival, and
there were scores of preachers OF
moderate education but of great fer
vor who were at work at the churches
and camp meetings, general meetings
and associations. There was great
deal of excitement in the meetings,
but the extraordinary phenomena OF
the first awakening in Georgia will
no longer be found. Baptists and
Methodists alike encouraged emotion,
shouting and audible response in GER
tain communities, and the staid Pres
byterians were greatly delighted at
the awful solemnity and quietness OF
their revivals. The singing Of the Bap-
lists was from Mercer Chester and
the Methodists used the hymn book
and Zion's Songster. Choruses were
very popular. Il am bound for the
Promised Land" 81 VIII arise and go
to Jesus" as there any mercy here,
oh. pity me, my Lord" .. 'Oh, let as
meet in heaven" and many like them
rang out at every camp meeting and
protracted service.
The preaching at the campmeetings
and associations was largely exhorta-
lions 10 sinners. The preachers told
the sinners they were hair hung and
breeze shaken over hell. and urged
them to fee for their lives. When they
were concerted the converts gave up
jewelry and fine dressing and drinking
to excess and horse racing and took up
family prayer and private devotion and
going TO weekday meeting. To pay
debts to help their neighbors. to be
Industrious and plain were virtues.
The Baptist at the association spread
his floor with mattresses and fed scores
and scores of the brethren. The Meth
odists killed a beef, and sundry pigs
and countless chickens. and kept open
house at the camp meeting. Men like
Thomas Stocks, and BENJAMIN SAM
ders, and Jesse Mercer, and Governor
Rabun. and men like Asbury Huh. and
Henry Hull. and Walter I. Colquitt,
and young men like Jos. ]. Gresham.
and Chas. j. Mcdonald, and Eugene
Nisbett. were among the young con-
NertS ana workers IN the great meet
ings. Churches were built in Washing
ton, Madison. Athens. Greensboro, Ia
tonton and evangelical religion was
triumphant in all Georgia.
Out of this revival came as noble a
people as ever lived in this world, as
kind and just a set Of Shareholders;
as true patriots; as honest men.
From this great revival was born
Mercer university, Emory college,
Oglethorpe university, and the Wesley
an Female college. 1t revolutionized
Georgia and there never has been
general decline from the point reached
in those years; some day the philo-
sophie historian will recognize at its
true value the work of these men Of
God who spread vital Christianity
through all this favored land. 1t may
not be. alas. until this fearful wor-
ship of Mammon and pleasure, and
show, now in vogue. has brought about
its fearful catastrophe, and men look
back to what once was, and to those
days which J count as the golden, but
some day they will see it,