Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-08-21
UNCLE TOMS LETTER

Many strange things have come tC
pass since ] was a boy, things that
looked to be almost impossible, YET
they are actual facts just the same.
Representative" tells us of his visit
to holy roller meeting, or holy dan
GERS, whichever we please to call it,
and says he never saw anything like
it in all his life. Well, believe the
Bible refers to some things the Holy
Ghost has done in the past ages of the
world which hardly look reasonable,
yet it all occurred just the same. The
spirit of the living God began TO
strive with men at the very beginning
and as such the ancient worthless wei e
as we'll acquainted with it's power as
we are in this age and generation, if
not better. In the case of Elijah,
didn't they beg Elisha to let them
search for Elijah. When the spirit and
power of God is upon man be does
many things that we call silly and
foolish. | remember when but boy
of attending meeting in Sprytown,
near Hollow Springs, in Cannon Coun-
ty. There 1 saw people under the
power and a strange influence that
would cause them to jerk, and the
women's hair would crack like a
whip. and some would fall as lifeless
as if they we're really dead, so l am
not ready to throw off on our Holiness
people as | might be il I had never
seen the powerful manifestation of
Gods Holy Spirit upon men and wom-
en-. When think of those times and
days when both saint and sinner be-
lieved in Holy Ghost religion, and
note the absense of its power now
among christians | really doubt the
reality of most peoples religion.
Is there a Holy Ghost religion If
there is who has it, is the question 1
ask myself. We're our fathers dcluded
or was it's manifestation real' I re-
member when young man and not
any too good, there was young lady
l often kept company with at Wesley
Chapel, who ! really thought a great
deal of. One day she fell under the
power of some strange influence at
the eleven O'Clock service and re-.
mained that way until after the night
service. A doctor was called in and
no sign of life did he discover, and
when she came out of her trance, or
whatever it was, it was like awaken
ing out of a sleep. When l recall
these things and muse over them and
mediate on what the Bible says re-
garding Elijah, David and others, and
what John says regarding himself, I
frankly say it knocks all the criticism
may entertain against the Holiness
people out of me. No man can ex-
plain or ever has explained the Jerks
that existed so and go years ago.
doubt whether there is enough religion
among the average professors of relig-
ion to cause the Holy Spirit to mani
fest itself along the lines l refer to.
One thing l know, our fathers and
than the christians of today. They did
keep the Sabbath. Why, sinners beat
the christians of today in doing that.
AS | sit and write these memories of
fifty and sixty years ago l am wond-
ering how many real Holy Ghost chris
tians there are do not say the Holy
Dancers are under the power and in
fuence of the Holy Spirit, but do
believe they are as near it as any of
the rest. l am glad Representative"
did not criticise them, for | think that
is the trouble now with the churches.
Not many of them have the Holy
Ghost and they think no one else has
A holy religion is what the Bible
teaches. and believe no man or wom-
an is safe that has not that kind of re-
ligion. 1t is power beyond any ques-
tion in my miud.
Sometimes in my boyhood days
preachers would act just as silly as
the Holy Dancers are acting 1 recall
to mind scene at old Hickory Grove
in Rutherford County. A great reviv-
al was going on under a large shed.
Around that shed we're poles nailed to
the posts. One evening a preacher
came under the strange influence of
some power, and be jumped upon one
of these poles and walked it back and
forwards, exhorting sinners to repent.
He couldn't have walked it to have
saved his life if it bad not have been
for this strange power. Holy Ghost
religion has been a strange influence
in all ages.
Here at the Hobbs School house
some strange things have been enacted
by the Holy Ghost. There was an old
lady who could hardly get about with
Out her staff, yet I've seen her throw
down staff aud walk the benches and
shout, "Glory to God Aunt Fan
ME McGovern, another cripple, could
hop and skip like young girl when
happy. We talk about the old time
but do not see anybody now
with it. Religion, or at least the Ho-
" Ghost kind. is power, aud the
v orlj has never understood anything
about it The chief governor of Abab |