The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-14

Then, anyone who it at all acquaint-
ed with the religious history of our
country in the XVIII Century knows
about George Whitfield and the ex-
element regarding him in his evangel-
istic meetings in New England and the
middle states. Harvard College con-
demned him and closed its doors
against him just as Princeton has just
done towards Billy Sunday; and all
over eastern New England largely in
fuenced by Harvard College churches
were closed against him; but that did
not trouble him, because few meeting
houses were large enough to hold the
crowds that came to hear him. The
old meeting house in my native town
was shut before him and he held his
meeting under great elm on the
spacious Common; the able minister
who was then pastor went to hear him
in the crowd; he afterwards said re-
garding it: 81 went to pick a flaw in
his theology but he picked hole in
my heart" and from that time be be-
came his friend and supporter; and
this experience so effected him that
great Jonathan Edwards in his troub-
| no Will NlAdlNi a. 4NOl
and his name is now associated with
Edwards in the religious forces which
reformed New England in the middle
of that century.
All histories of the eastern states,
particularly of the churches has much
to say about Whitfield during his var
ious visits to America; but the diary
of Connecticut farmer gives a vivid
description; he had happened to hear
him at Philadelphia when on one of
earlier visits. was deeply affected and
greatly longed to hear him again.
And at later time he heard Whit
field had landed in New York and was
another preaching tour; he heard OF
his great meetings in that city. of his
course through Long Island. then in
| Newport, r. |. 1t is interesting to
know that Massachusetts, Governor
| Belcher sent his son to escort the
great preacher from Rhode Island to
| Boston where he held meetings on
the Common of that city where ten
to twelve and more thousands assem-
bled to hear him; our Connecticut
farmer heard that he had proceeded
westward through Massachusetts, to
the Connecticut Valley, and then turn
ed southwark into the state of that
name; that he had been at Hartford
and was now coming to Middletown,
not far from his home. Let farmer
Cole tell his story. He says: Zone
morning all of a sudden. about 8 or
. o'clock there came messenger and
said Mr.. Whitfield is to preach in
Middletown this morning at ten
o'clock. | was in my field at work
| dropped my tool that | had in my
hand and ran home and run through
my house and bade my wife get ready
quick to go and hear Mr.. Whitfield
preach, and run to my pasture for my
horse with all my might, fearing
should be too late to hear him" He
tells how he took his wife up behind
him and rode as fast as the horse
could carry both. then would get off
and run while his wife pressed on;
thus changing off and on several times
to ease the horse and improve every
minute and not be late; then he tells
what they saw when they reached the
/ top OF the ridge of hills overlooking
Middletown and the Connecticut river;
Il saw before me a cloud or fog rails
ing; first thought off from the great
river, but as came nearer the road