The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-04-18

beapoFt IoE the WnoIe o0utheaStcTn
country. There was not then a rail.
road in operation west of the Savan-
nah River. / reached Charleston on
Saturday night, and stopped at the
Merchante' Hotel on King street.
Sunday came, beautiful, bright,
November day, which in Charleston q q
latitude could not have been surpassed
for all that makes the lovc!iness, the
sweetnees and the glory Of the day
time. | was stranger and wanted to
60 to Church, more for curiosity than
for anything else, for I was not q
member Of any church, but on the
contrary man somewhat Of the world.
1 asked the clerk whore TO go, and he
handed me- the mornings paper of the
day before, (there was no Sunday pa
pers in those days,) aud called my at
tontion to notice that DR.. Capers
would preach at Trinity Church, on
Hassell street. went, according to
his direction, and found the way by
simply following the people,
When entered the church it was
crowded; lsrge number of negroes
filling the spacious galleries, while
more whites than could be seated
were on the large floor below, filing
every pew, and many sitting in chairs
in> the aisles. I had just found seat
when a man, apparently about fifty
years old, with gray looks aud bald
head, rose from his seat in the pulpit
and raised, with most musical voice,
the hymn we have so often sung aud
that all Christian people love, "Come,
Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
Such singing I had never heard be-
fore, and to this day the grand swell
of that orchestra fingers in my mind
and cchoea in my soul.
There was no organ, no choir; no
other leader but the handsome, veuer-
able man, who started the hymn.
The whole congregation was one
grand choir, the negroes in the gallery
and the whites below, sending in q
glorious chorus, their praises to God.
Was there ever before or will there
ever be again, better congregational
music than this? -.
The minister, after the usual intro
duotory services, read the 14th chap.
ter of St. John, singing out these
words from the second verse: II go to
prepare place for you," 40 the GEN.
trail point of bis discourse. DR.. Ca
pers had not been preaching long be.
fore / fele myself, far back in the au.
dience as was, under the influence
that came from the God Of truth
through mis- sweet voice and rich ut.
terance. If ever there was the "unc-
ton OF the Spirit" it was in this ser.
mon. His description of the MANSIONS
in tho Fathers House will never
forget while my mind retains it's fac.
ulties. Bles:. ID be God for the effect
upon me Of this the greatest sermon I
ever heard, At times the great au-
dienoe would be 80 moved upon that
the emotions Of those in the front
would aeem to me to move over the
whole as wave on tho surface of
disturb ed lake, and when in burst Of
God.inspired eloquence he closed in
an appeal to his hearers to be ready
to enter the place prepared for them,
1 was q poor, trembling sinner, cut to
the quick with convictions Of sinful.
ness and unworthiness.
I went from Trinity Church to ny
room and for tho frst time, on my
knees, I asked God to forgive my sins
aud help me to be q better man. I
went back to my young wife, rejoicing
in the faith I once had ridiculed,
and thanks be unto Him, I have kept
this faith, and am ready now for the
place prepared for me. ....4
Years passed by. I moved to
Tennessee and became i'm.
mersed in the buainess cares of large
cotton planter. I heard tha. my