The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-06

Thomas went to New Bern, and during
the summer, ii revival broke out which
not only swept through the town, but it
went like a tidal wave down the Neuse
to the seashore, all the country being
deluged by its gracious overflow.
Thomas was taken sick with fever, but
his friends did not think his illness would
be serious. Moses Brock, the Elder, Leroy
NJ. Lee and other preachers FASTENED to
his bedside and endeavored to make him
believe he would soon be we'll; but ne
said: my work is ended; / am simply
waiting for the Master to release me
from this my last earthly charge" He
fingered for several days, but the end was
apparent. Friends gathered about the
house, and, with bated breath, spoke in
whispers, when the last struggle was GO
ing on. 1t was night, and single candle,
in the fire place, with a screen partially
before that, was all the light in the
room. Moses Brock, Leroy NJ Lee and
other minister's and friends were standing
or sitting near the dying man, when, all
at once, he exclaimed They come !
They come! Behold, they comet
At that moment the room was filled
with light above the brightness of the
monday sun; and when, after a mo-
ment 1t faded out, Christopher Thomas
was dead-the angels had come and taken
him home.
l may not have given. in every par
ticular, the story as it was written and
published, and, | am not sure that it was
not HezekIah G.. Lee, instead of Leroy
NJ. Lee. But, in substance, / have writ
ten the story as memory has kept it, If
any member of the Virginia Conference,
Tor any one else) has a copy of that
pamphlet, they would crafty a great
many people by having the whole story
republished
DR.. Bailey often spoke of the strange
occurrence, and firmly believed that, in
the dying moment, while living friends
could hear his voice, he was permitted
to see and to welcome the convoy which
heaven sent to bear his spirit home.
In these days of materialism when
nothing is to be accepted save that which
may be seen and handled, such a story,
as the foregoing, is at a discount; but
to those who believe that Saul of Tarsus
was stricken down on the way to Da-
mascus, and that he heard a voice from
heaven while light, above the bright
ness of the MONDAY sun, shined about
him. there is nothing, the least impossi-
BILE or improbable in it.
good lady writing from Burgaw, asks
me for some information about oN time
friends, away back in the thirties, when
she was a pupil of Mrs. Taylor. OF this
city, and alludes to building oil the lot
known rs Judge Gaston's office. BY the
way, do the school children of this city
know that those thrilling verses known
as the ''Old North State" were composed
by Judge CASTOR in that office, on the
corner of Hargett and Salisbury streets,
opposite Mr. John Browns undertake 19
establishment? l think it would be a very
appropriate thing for the children to
gather around that corner, on the 18th
day of next September, his birth day,
and sing with all the spirit. and fervor
and sweetness which their young souls
can throw into the song, this patriotic
StanZa:
''Carolnai Carolina. Heavens blessings
attend her!
While we live, we will cherish and love
and defend her;