The Harrison times., 1916-09-09
A FEW "REMINISCENCES.
(Arkansas Methodist.)

which the editor gives an account oil
his visit to the Fayetteville District
Conference awakened in Eiy mini
some thoughts Of the long age. When
he says, Last Sunday was spent by
the editor in Harrison, and the Sun.
day school is large and we'll organ
ized," and speaks Of the "bcsutifu!
and convenient house of worship. at
cost Of $4,000" am led 10 think
how different from the conditions that
obtained in 1878, when this writer
was preaching in that section OF the
country.
was on the Carrollton circuit, and
preached some in Harrison, though il
was not in my work. At that time the
best the Southern Methodists could
do for a place to hold their services
was in the court house. Sister
Crump" pretty nearly constituted the
Methodist South" church. The NJ.
E. church had little organization at
the place, and perhaps some other de-
nominations, but the town was not
much "churchified."
/ mean that there was not much in
terest taken by the people in matters
religious. The editor says, Harrison
has grown TO be town OF four or
five thousand, and our church has
kept pace with the progress of the
town" This affords this writer great
satisfaction, but not much surprise,
when he recalls the sturdy stock Of
men who were at the helm when he
was there, such as Rev. Dan Evans.
w. A. Dees, r. w. Gaudelocke, ]. o.
r. Ruble, and others of their kind.
Again the editor says, Green For.
est is a splendid town on an eleva-
ton in the center Of a plateau SUI
rounded with mountains. 1t is lovely
for situation, and the lovely homes,
substantial stores and attractive park
in the square indicate prosperity. The
new Methodist church, costing $4,000.
evidences the interest the people take
in matters religious"
This is so different from conditions
at the time of my pastorate there.
At that time one store, postoffice and
a printing press constituted the town.
There was no church or school house
there. A Mr. Camp ran the store and
a Mr. Tilden ran the newspaper.
There was a school house Il think il
was,) about one mile west of the lit
tie town, where the NJ E. church held
services once a month.
Mr. ]. ]. Grimm lived near, and he
and his family constituted nearly the
whole church. There were perhaps a
few others. A Rev. Mr.. Hood was
their pastor when first went there,
and scme time during the year he
was changed and a man nanrd
Knease was sent in his place. They
were both very courteous to me, and
invited me to preach in their house,
which ! did once a week on a we.x
night. | almost always stayed W b
Brother Grimm, who was very kind to
me, and his kindness is remembered
and cherished until this day. | hal
sixteen preaching places besides this
at which l tried to preach once
month.
We had some very gracious meet
ings that year. and several things
happened, the memory of which has
not been and never can be erased
from my mind. We had a small or
ganization six miles east of Carroll
ton, near the Harrison road, which
was known as the Flat Woods
Class Boaz Lipps and his family
were the principal "Methodists" in
that neighborhood, though there were
some others that were indeed the
salt of the earth"
We had only small log house (or
rather pole house,, as place to
hold services. In July of that year |
set a time to hold a protracted meet
ing in the Flat Woods, to begin on
Friday night. | went to stay all night
with Brother Lipps, after service, and
next morning while he was feeding
his stock | went out to feed my horse,
and he and ! fell into conversation
about the meeting. | shall always re.
member how deeply he was concerned
about revival" He said, Brother
Summers, our community is in a bad
condition, and feel that unless there
is revival that will result in the con.
version of the young people of the
community, and some Of the older
ones, too, there will be lots of them
lost. There is Atheism, and Soul.
sleepingism, and infidelity in several