Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-03-15
DIR. WHITE BELIEVES IN PRAYER
But Boil Wccvu situation Not Crii-
cal Enough Yet for Proclamation
(Anderson Daily Mail)

(Anderson Daily Mail.)
At the First Baptist church Sun
day, concerning the attitude we
should take In reference to the boil
weeyil, and whether Governor Coo
per should call day Of fasting and
prayer to stay the coming and tho
increasing of this pest, DR.. White
said, in part:
The question has been submitted
to me here by more than one person
whether Governor Robert Cooper
should be potitioned to appoint
day for prayer to God to arrest the
ravage OF tho boil weevil.
1t Is published-and many recall
the event-that from 1878 to 1877
the State OF Minnesota, and five sur
rounding States, were menaced des.
perately by the locust (grasshopper)
plague. in October, 1876, the situa-
tion was so tragical in Minnesota,
and so threatening for Iowa, Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, that
the Governors Of these States assem-
bled at Oklahoma for consultation.
The United States government sent
it's noted entomologists, who con-
fcssed that their measures could not
cope with the conditions which were
indicated for the next year. In two
years the plague had extended from
three counties In Southern Minnesota
to thirty-two counties, which were
swept bare Of every green growth OF
every sort. At that rate the year
1877 would see 100000 people
without means Of subsistence. The
conference Of the Governors broke
up without hope Of human means
available against the gigantic calam-
ity. AS the conference drew to its
futile close the Governor Of Dakota
suggested that day Of prayer be
appointed, that possible relief might
come from higher power than had
yet been invoked; but no action was
taken on the suggestion. 1t found
lodgment, however, In the mind Of
the Minnesota Governor (Pillsbury.)
Some ministers of the State impor-
tuned him to issue proclamation
for the day Of prayer. Everything
else had been tried. Would the uni
ted prayers of the people prevail?
That was the question the Governor
took into consideration. On April 8.
1877, he issued the proclamation. I
have copy Of it before me. 1t was
to be day of fasting, humiliation
and prayer. The people were to meet
in their homes and places OF worship
on the 26th day of April. Withdraw
ing for that day from thoir ordinary
pursuits, and with coUtrite hearts
to beacech tho mercy OF God Tor the
sins of the past and His blessing up
on the worthier aims Of the future"
LET us, moreover" the proclama-
tion said, "endeavor to deserve a
new prosperity by new realization
OF the opportunity vouchsafed US
and q new conservation to those
things which make for the well-being
of men and the glory Of God"
The proclamation created a pro-
found impression. On the 26th Min
nesota was stilled in prayer. The
spirit OF repentance and heart
searching held the whole State in
solemn thrall that day. Well, what
happened? II nothing else, this
happened: For one day the con-
sciousness Of God reigned In the
people-for one day the Kingdom Of
God came there in an American COM
monwealth something like it Is in
Heaven. But, listen: I qoute from
the Saturday Evening Post:
"The 9th day of April, the day
following the day Of prayer, the sun
shone clear and hot over Minnesota.
and an almost summer-like warmth
penetrated that moist earth down to
the larvae of the myriads Of grass
hoppers. Quickened by this genial
warmth the young locusts crawled
to the surface In numbers that made
the countless swarms Of the preced-
ing summer seem insignificant-in
numbers sufflclont to destroy the
crops and hopes Of half dozen
DANDERINE