The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-03-17
BY JOHN SKIES


It isn't so much that I'm not
qualified to tell you about church
meetings, past or present. There
are some very pleasant recollec-
tons in my storehouse Of memory
Of camp meetings my father con-
Quoted at Chicamocomico and at
Pleasant Hill.
But there is a person here, the
Rev. Andrew ]. Howell, who has
turned in to us his recollections
of the great Pearson meetings
starting on March 10. 1888. So, I'm
just going to turn this space over
to Mr.. Howell today and let him
tell you about those meetings:
ION March IS, 1888, the great
Pearson meetings were held in
Wilmington. 1t was the first time
anything of the kind had been I'M
dertaken in the city on such an
extensive scale. The churches had
arranged for a series of evange-
listic services to be conducted by
the Rev. R. G. Pearson, who had
acquired a great reputation as an
impressive and fruitful preacher.
Therefore, there were eager ex-
pectations Of his coming. Before
that the several congregations had
hid their own special services;
but this was a bigger and a CO.
operative effort that was destined
to create a wide and intensive in
terest. AL this was fully realized.
'The Sprunt Cotton exporting
firm offered the largest warehouse
Of their compress plant at Walnut
and Mutt streets for the meeting.
Benches were constructed, a
speaker and choir platform erect
ed, and everything provided to
suit the high expectations of the
people. A large choir was organ
lied, and special song books were
purchased. No preparation was
neglected.
''Then the evangelist came. He
was from Mississippi, and his rep.
utation had covered the South, in
many of the cities of which he
had preached. There were stories
of his strange, moving power, OF
his mysterious hold on his audi
ences, of his Illuminating Bible
sermons, and Of his unique person.
al appearance. All these elements
were clearly observed at once. He
was everything that had been fore
told Of him, and he stirred an un-
usual interest from the beginning
He is said to have given a strik-
ing resemblance to the forceful
vice-president of tn Confederate
States, Alexander H. Stephens; for
he was slight in body and had a
high pitched voice which was
much like that of woman. His
thin face had a skin that was
drawn and dark like parchment.
His eyes were brilliant; his hair
very dark; his words tender and
appealing. He preached with his
Bible in hand, and asserted Divine
Power in its every syllable. The
people filled the warehouse, drawn
by the impelling force Of the
preacher.
"On Sundays tn churches re-
Elected the widespread religious
interest. They received large num-
bers into their membership
Groups on street corners and in
the stores and offices broke
through all reticence and talked
freely about the meeting and per-
sonal religious matters.
'The great interest was really
city wide, and any one who did
not show personal concern was
considered rather as rarity
There were two we1l-remembered
men who were of the latter class.
They attracted attention by their
unsympathetic talk on the streets.
They were marked as strictly ul-
ira, and their attempted hunor
. met with small response. One OF
them soon afterwards left the CITY.
'but the other. who had mixed