The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-12
Consolidated Aug. 9, 1881.

quest of Mr.. Poore the congregation
sang Nearer My God to Thee" and
Praise God, from Whom all Bless
iugs Flow" the subject Of the bless
ing leading the singing with a thrill
In his voice that by that congregation
was never heard on land or sea.
If any one imagines that there was
any drag in the meeting after that
they are quite mistaken. An ovation
was rendered Mr.. Poore on the ground
and as the remarkable incident spread
through the town and surrounding
country multitudes thronged the
Streets delegation after delegation
met him on his way home, or called
on him after he reached home. The
house was packed at night with peo-
pie. who. like the Jews in Bethany
that came not for Jesus sake only,
but to see Lazarus whom He had
raised from the dead, came not for
the meetings sake only. but that
ceived such tangible and appar-
ent blessing in answer to prayer that
had been offered In that house. The
crowds still come to Mr.. Poores home
and such an occurrence In the life of
one so well and SO favorably known,
and In denomination that Is noted
for its conservatism and quietude,
and yet In the life Of a man with such
an implicit and abiding faith In
the promise OF God, has received no
other explanation than that God was
pleased to hear the cry Of His peo-
pie and answer them according to
His loving kindness and tender mer-
cies."
The following affidavits. made In
the presence OF an officer Of the law
and under the seal Of the Common
wealth of South Carolina, will attest
the historicity OF the incident, even to
the most sceptical:
"The State Of South Carolina,
County Of Oconee.
Personally appeared before me
Thomas Drayton Poore. OF the town
OF Westminster. State and county
aforesaid, who being duly sworn, says:
That he is i9 years Of age, and that
he deals In real estate and farming;
that on the l1th day Of April, 1898.
he began losing his power OF speech,
and that this power of speech had be-
come totally lost on the 18th day Of
December. 1908. the loss being at
tributed as a result Of nervousness.
That he had been unable to speak.
even In an audible whisper. from the
aforesaid date. December Is, 1908,
until the 7th day of February. 1911,
at which timo the power Of speech
was completely returned to him; and
that he Is firmly of the opinion that
the return was due to prayer offered
In his behalf On that date, February
z. by members of the Westminster
Baptist church. during series of
revival services, conducted by the
Rev. F. G.. Lavender. That he re-
quested the spcial prayers, and
that at their conclusion, Immediately,
his voice returned and he was able
TO return thanks to God, loudly sing
ing His hymns
tSigned) Il. ID. POore.
Sworn to and subscribed before
me this End day Of April, 1911.
E. NJ. Scott,
'Nortary Public for s. G..
Physicians Testimony.
State OF South Carolina,
County of Oconee.
Personally appeared before me,
Burt Mitchell, M. D.. of the town of
Westminster. State and county afore-
said. who, being duly sworn, says:
That he Is a practicing physician of
81 years service. graduate Of the
Baltimore Medical College. and that
he has been treating Thomas Dray-
ton Poore about five years, his first
trouble being an acute attack OF neu-
ralgia. His second and last trou-
BILE was nervous indigestion. which
caused loss Of voice. That Mr.. Poore
lost his voice about two or three
years ago. and that his speech was
returned to him during a religious
service on February :, 1911, when
special prayers were offered that his
voice he returned To him. That 1t is
his (deponents) opinion that Mr..
PORES return Of speech was due to
his strong faith in the Almighty.
"(Stgnc6 Burt Mitchell. NJ. -.