Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-04-21
EARLY Rccollections OF
Oxford.
BY A (About) 64-year- old Oxford Boy

blackberries rs ever grew on the
earth. On the hills we could md
hickory nuts, walnuts, chestnuts,
mulberries. hazlenuts, &c. 1t
was not an uncommon thing to
see IS or 100 of the boys and
girls scattered for one mile up
and down the branch, some fish
ing, some hunting, some gather
ing nuts, others berries, and all
having a grand time. | believe
| can prove that a few husbands
and wives were secured on some
OF those picnic excursions. Move
me back % years and | think ]
could locate right there some OF
the hardest, and sweetest court
ing that WAS over done la the
history OF the town.
Speaking Of revivals awhile
ago, | cannot help but wonder il
we ever have such mighty sweeps
Of Holy Ghost power now as then.
When in 1854 the celebr ited
evangelist DR.. Daniel Baker,
held a meeting in the Presbyte-
rian church. people We're known
to fall from the pew under the
spell of his fierce denunciation.
against sin, and were es li'nber
as a rag. In place OF sending
for a doctor. they were carried
into the session room and then
they sent for God Almighty He
came and brought them back from
death 10 lie, and from the power
Of Satan to God. They left the
place Of prayer a. 70 urned to tn
church new creatures IN Christ
their hearts full Of peace AMI
their faces radiant with neS
found joy. One Of the favori.t
expressions uf that grand man
was "God bless Christian moth
ers, the vide world over " He
would say it with a voice that
sounded like the deep rolling
thunder, and when once heard
can never be forgotten. One Of
his favorite songs, sung by him
self, was: "Oh, there will be
rejoicing at the judgment seat OF
Christi" Other favoritc song
in those days were. Come hum
bic Sinner" The old Ship ol
Zion" this was Geo. Stainback Z
favorite, ~ am bound for tn.
promised land, - viii arise and
20 TO Jesus" ] am going home
TO die no more" One OF the dear
Old Methodist hymns was when
| was sinking down, sinking
down, Christ laid aside his crown
for my soul" ] have seen tears
literally rain down many and
many face at the singing OF
this old time melody.
\ great campmeeting song was
"Oh, brothers will you meet he
on Canaar's happy shore" DIR.
5. G. Burney was a man that had
great power in prayer. | can
even now after the lapse of more
than fifty years hear that saint
OF the Most High say in one o!
his prayers that seemed to almost
storm the very citadel of Heaven
20. Thou covenant keeping Cod,
we are burdened with the weight
of these immortal souls for whose
sake Thy Son did'st die. We
have come to Thine own altar.
stained as it is with all hallowed
blood to plead for Thy power to
save. Make bare thine arm Thou
mighty God of Jacob, and grant
us Thine own saving power"
During the war, 1861, Rev.
Bancroft wac holding meeting
in the Methodist church OF which
be was pastor. On Sabbath night
he called for penitents, and in
two minutes who should wall,
bravely and nobly to that altar
and kneel for prayer than one.
who has always been Oxford $
pride, the peerless Lamar. He
had been ordered out of the ar
my on account of his health by
President Davis, and was watt
ing for a vessel to run the block
AIDE 10 some country in Europe.
Russia, believe, to which he
was appointed consul. Not long
afterward ! understand that he
Joined the NJ. E. Church, South.
and remained true to the cause
till his death. | have more 10
say in another place about this
brave soldier, finished scholar.
eminent iurist, and eloquent ora
tor in other articles.
f. A. SMITH.
In no Ear, fsrta.4