The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-12
POWER OF SPEECH RESTORED
To WESTMINSTER Is. C.)
NAN.
Like the Marvels of Early Days OF
Christian Fra, Reads Story of MIR.
Drayton Poore, who, Dumb for
Three Years. Speaks Again, the
Thorn I'm the Flesh Having Been
Removed a. Direct Answer tn
Prayer-How People Regard the
Occurrence

question the most conspicuous man
I'm upper South Carolina today Is Mr..
Thomas Dreyton Poore. He had this
unabating conspicuousness since the
afternoon OF February z, 1911. II
does not dwindle In the least. but
rather grows greater as the circle
covering the knowledge OF his expe-
rience grows wider. People from diff
ferent parts Of tho State and from
the neighboring State OF Georgia have
como in numbers to- Westminster for
tho sole purpose OF looking on the
person OF this now marked man. Let
ters have been received by the hun
dreds making inquiry about him.
This popularity Is not the result Of
any achievement I'm the lines OF his
life iabors. farming and selling real
estate. The thing that has brought
Mr.. Poore into the lime light Is the
sudden restoration to him of the
power OF speech. OF which he had
been totally deprived for almost three
years. To be more exact. the thing
that has pointed him out as a con-
spicuous character is not the simple
fact OF the restoration OF speech. but
the circumstances under which his
speech was restored. and more es-
peciaily the cause that Is believed to
have been behind II and responsible
for IL. IL Is generally believed by
the best people and the people that
have given time and thought to the
thorough investigation Of the matter.
that nothing short OF a real miracle
one like those recorded In the expert
snces OF the early disciples--has been
felt IN ths life OF man dwelling righ.
J in our 'fnia " a miracle that was
performed while men looked on. and
attested by the experience that was
visible to about four hundred people
at the time. and thousands of people
since the moment that 1t was brought
abort
IN ahViy VI buc case Ol MT.
PoOre w., the story and put be-
fore the reader the evidence upon
which the claim OF a miracle Is based.
Mr.. Poore. who is one OF the most
reputable men of the town county In
which he lives. began TO lose the
power OF speech on the 11th day OF
April. 1908. and continued to grow
worse In this respect until on the 18th
day OF December OF that year ne was
utterly unable TO make an audible
sound. even IN the form OF a whis-
per. The physicians told him that
IL was the result of a case of ner-
vous indigestion that had been trou-
bling him fo- a long time. Mr.. Poore
was unable To make a single sound
In the nature OF speech until the af-
ternoon OF February IL. 1911. II
Is the return OF the power Of speech.
especially in the light OF circumstan-
ces OF It's return. and. as II Is con-
fideh.ly believed by all. the cause OF
it, return that makes Mr.. Poore to
be subject OF great interest at this
time.
The circumstances are these: There
as n protracted service In progress
at the Baptist church I'm Westminster,
OF which Mr.. Poore Is member and
officer. The services were being con-
Quoted by the Rev. S. f.. stephens. a
returned missionary OF that denomi-
nation. on the afternoon OF the Ith
OF February. at very quiet meet
ing In which prayer was the predomi-
mating feature. Mr.. Poore wrote on
n slip OF paper a request that prayer
be offered for him that God would
give him grace TO bear his aniiction.
Attention was called To the fact that
II might be Gods will To restore to
him his voice. and this was made the
burden Of tho prayers offered at that
time. Like Pau Of old. the broth
rem prayed that the thorn of the
flesh" might b3 removed. but If 1t
was not FOR the glory'of God that II
be removed that their brother might
be given grace To- bear q To Gods
glory and praise.
After the season of prayer was
over. without asking If the ansN OF
had been given. the leader announced
q hymn and none was more surprised
perhaps. than Mr.. Pooro To Gnd that
~ could join In the singing with IA
strong and mclodlous a voice as any
one present. Tho amazcment was
startling when Mr.. Poorc. just as the
minister was about 10 dismiss the