The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-25
NOW AND THEN
By Trojan

Bob Penland was a rudy, rugged.
straight limbed, good natured boy, hV-
inc in the mountains Of North Caro-
lima. He was q hard worker but had
time TO occasionally go hunting and
enjoy other sports characteristic OF
the section in which he lived. He
with Il party Of boys, one night went
'possum hunting and rambled all night
without luck. The OpOSSunS were
either not out or the noses OF the dogs
were no good. Near daylight the party
halted and made a log fire in the
warmth and glow Of which they sat
down to rest and o u over the i'll
success. The dogs were III the cir
Gle, sitting on their launches and
blinking their eyes In the light OF
the fire. The entire bunch, young
men and dogs, sat very quietly nod
ding and warming themselves when,
suddenly, Bob opened his eyes and
said: Let us pray" For what? ?"
answered one of the party. Why for
these dogs, Of course replied the
jolly Bob and embryo preacher.
In after years at a protracted meet
ing he was converted and Joined the
Methodist church, becoming a very
active worker, subsequently entering
the ranks Of the local ministry. He
never asked the conference to give
him admission into the regular ranks,
but was used every year as q supply
and in that relation was a useful man
and successful as a preacher among
the rugged cole Nipth whom he had
lived all his life. They had absolute
confidence in his religion and personal
integrity.
Penland was 3 wonderful singer and
exhorter and as the people whom he
served said: A power in prayer"
At the season Of revival meetings he
was at his best and nightly did he
shell the sinners and sin, but his
heart was in the right spot, and tears
rolled down the cheeks as he pointed
the unsaved to the cross where the
burden of sin could be rolled away 1t
wasn't 'citifi"d preaching" as the
folks used to LAY; but the simple, plain
gospel. Things were not going
smoothly enough to suit the preacher
on n occasion and from the pulpit
he declared that Eben Jones was
standing in the way of the sinners
and sitting in the seat of the scornful,
There could be no successful meeting
until he was moved in some
and to that end he wanted all the
Christians present to join with him
in a prayer to Almighty God to get
Eben away from that meeting or
convert him. The Christians over
the log meeting house knelt at their
seats in great humility. Then he gave
all sinners present al opportunity to
be specially remembered in that pray
err to a throne of grace. All over
the house they tumbled until none re-
manned except Eben. Then brother
Rob gave 1t to him with such center
shots that, he too, went down, crying
for mercy. That was Bob's style and
he gathered them in and ALWAYS AT
conference reported many conver~
slons. Eben continued a penitent for
lays down at the mourners' bench
But finally he came an
expression for conversion in hat sec
uoh' after many days Of agony at
the mourners' bench. He was saved
and became d leader who hronpht
many others into the fold and Bob
vas happy.
lie preached many wears in thar
stHie and had souls for his hire. Never
uld his salary amount to $500 in anv
one year, but money was nothing to
nm. NOT long since the chariot swung
low and Bob went home: TO that nlaca
ne had SO often spoken of in sernon
ana song. the city Of God; where the
"iched cease from troubling and ira
weary are at rest. He was Of the
type sun ilVlng in hat section, Hon
ee., iaithIul. true men who believe in
~ neaven and ditto hell, and do
not rear to preach either side Al.
though he was but sportfne when ~.
niSn, VI the hunt he advised q nraver
o me dogs that had failed TO tree the
posSuIn, yet 1t WAS but q f~orecaste
: ne NE n was finally to lead
praying for those who had NOT done
Wen. When Bob had been called to
PASS on to his fathers it could he
aruiy SAID of him, he had served his
eonda '.ion Well and delivered the
soous at every station on the road ia
travelled. Liz iodo he
Ali men are
saint COMMANDED by the