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THE PILGRIM’S BANNER.
A. V. SIMMS, Valdosta, Ga., v.ijtnrs
LEE HANKS, Boston Ga.
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Entered at the Post Office at Val
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Valdosta, Ga., June 1,1895.
EDITORIAL.
Conflicts m the Ministry.
CHAPTER IV.
After I had been speaking some
time in public, I wanted to go to
Little Blue Stone Church in W.
Va., (where I use to live) to try
to preach, and I wanted them to
think I was a preacher; hepce 1
selected a text and studied up a
pretty good sermon, as I thought,
to preach to them, I paid all
the money I had to get a horse to
ride, and on my way, I would make
the woods ring preaching my fine
sermon ; and when I arrived at the
place,. I was ready to go forward;
but when ! arose it was taken
from me, and there I stood in gross
darkness and.-could not. utter a
word. I had to be seated, and oh,
how I did wish that I could get
away from there! I felt like they
had all lost confidence, in me.
say that as gpod a sign
-wantthM--aT7?ancan’t preach
never will preach is to see liim
always ready and angry with the
bretSwp if they set him
apart or see the.qualifications in
him that he can see in himself.
The next day I.went there, and
oh, what a task it was! The
brethren solicite.d me for quite
awhile before J could , make the
offering. I arose feeling blank
and thought that it was impossible
to preach ; but I was brought low
and he helped me, and I had a
sweet time indeed,, and I felt that
the Lord was with me,. _ .1 was now
willing to go and bear darkness
and sore afflictions, for His. sake,
for He has taught me that all my
help must come from Him, and T
will now be submissive to. His will.-'
How sweet, and pleasant to feel
His gracious presence,.J went oir
speaking from time to ..time,. and
my evidences seemed to increase,
that my efforts were of, the.. Lord.
I had invitations to go far and near,
and I did not miss: any.. Saturday t
or Sundays but what I was atmeet
ingatsome placq,
Ip the spring of ..1882,1, got in
gross darkness and fe.lt th at I '.had
never preached and would never
try it again,. My troubles increased..
I wrote to, .Missouri. and made,
arrangements ,tq hire ,to. a man in.
a section where there were no
I Primitive Baptists,, for .< thought
if, I would get. away from them
my impressions wpuld leave, mo,
and I could get. rid of.; trying to
preach. I hated tp leave thedear
saints, bu t I will not impose, upon
them any longer. ,1 wept on this
way till a dear brother told me he
was fearful I would Ipse my mind.
I got so that I .could.hardly find
the way to a neighbor’s house.
I would often stop and ask myself
“Where am 1?”.; Everything seem
ed so strange. I concluded, that I
would visit my brother near. Dan
sville, Va,, before I went ,to .Mis
souri, so I made ready and started
out afoot to walk to his place from
I had now quit. preach
ing. I staid the first night with.. a
brother in W. Va., and the second
day I went over into Giles county,
Va., where there were.no old Bap
tists. I got very tired, the road
being muddy, and near night I
asked if I could stay over night,
and they said not. I went to an
other place and offered all the
money 1 had, which was fifty cents,
but they would not let me stay
I went to another place and beg
ged them to let me just lie on the
fl >or out of the rain and mud, for
I was tired and feeble, but they
would nut. I went on wondering
if I could find a barn to sleep in,
but could not. 1 began to pray to
the Lord to put it into the heart of
the first one I asked to let me stay.
I plead in earnest with the Lord
for help, and at the next place, a
lady was milking, and I asked her
if I could stay, and she said I
could. They treated me kindly,
and I shall always love them.
The next day I went out in Pu
laski county, Va., where the New
River Association was to convene
on the next day. I went as near
the meeting house as possible to
spend the night, as I wanted to
see the old Baptists once more.
I spent the night with a Campbell
lite, and next morning I went to
the meeting house early and felt
thankful that I had gotten to see
where the old Baptists worshiped
God once more. I did not know
whether the old Baptists would be
kind like they are in W. Va., or
not, as I was not acquainted with
any others. I sat there waiting
and soon saw two men come walk
ing; I went to them and made my
self known to them and learned
that they were old Baptist preach
ers. I did feel so good to find the
Lord’s people once more, and to
see they were one family. I felt
at home, but I did not want them
to know that I ever tried to preach.
Elder Moore of NorthCarplina was
at this meeting and he lived near
mv brother and had appointments
on back home. So I went on
walking to his appointments, and
the second day he tookjne off and
said : “Brother Hanks;J want
you to preach to-day.” MyTFepiy'
was, “Brother Moore, I can’t,‘l am
such a poor excuse.” He says, “I
want you to go forward, and don’t
take me on your back, for I have,
been young myself and know how
hard.it is to carry old preachers.”
[ went forward and had sweet lib
erty, and Elder Moore encouraged
me greatly. I went on with him
and spoke every day, and he would'
often tell them of the prophecies
of the world, that the»old Baptists
would soon be dead, but that God
was raising- up young boys to
preach and that the- church would
stand;* ““
I went to my brother’s home and
soon had several appointments
that I tried to fill and had sweet
liberty. I was ' taken sick of
mumps and took cold, which re
sulted in a severe cough, neuralgia
and sore lungs, but in this condi
tion, filled several appointments,
coughing almost nearly eyery
breath, I heard of a Union rrteet
ingjn Franklin county, Va.*, about
fifty miles away, and I started to
attend. IJiad no way to go but
to. walk. . I went on suffering with
my head and lungs and Boughing. I
was. sa feeble, but. J .wanted to go
audbe with these dear children of
God and hear them talk of Jesus;
for i was cut loose from the world,
-On my way I fell in company
with an old Baptist preaeherKnd'
deacon, who were gohlg to the
meeting, but they treated me very
indifferently; and seemed to regard
mens a tramp. But I followed*
them to where they stopped over
for the niglit and spent the night
with them. The next morning
the rain was pouring and they
mounted their homes and the fam
ily, preacherand deacon left hur
riedly, paying no attention to me,
but seemed anxious to get rid of
me. I went on through the rain
suffering greatly. I felt like I wa’s
friendless and I am no Christian, or
they would not treat me as they
do. I was so feeble I could hardly
go, but I walked eight miles that
morning and would frequently
have to stop and rest. I got per
fectly wet and felt I could
not live and endure such expos
ure. I tried to ask the Lord to
restore me to health and give me
light to speak at the meeting. I
prayed all the way. When I ar
rived no one paid any attention to
the poor little tramp. I sat back
in the congregation while they
had meeting. When meeting ad
journed a gentleman who was not
a member, invited me to his house
which I appreciated greatly. I
went to his house and was treated
kindly. Next day I was found
out and appointed to speak, which
I did with some degree of liberty”,
but was still suffering. That night
quite a crowd came to I%'ftr the lit
tle tramp again; and again I en
joyed liberty. On Sunday there
was an immense congregation of
the aristocrisy from the cities pres
ent, and I was appointed to speak
again. O, my soul! He-w I dread
ed it;, Iwent to the woods and
begged for mercy and liberty to
speak, but thought it was impossi
ble for me. I went back with fear
and trembling and stood before
that large audience witmmy clothes
ragged and shoes and
hardly able to stand? But my
cough was soon gone, ahd the pain
left my head, and the w »k of Rev
elations seemed to be unfolded
and I never had such a sweet sea
son in my life. When I was
through there were about five hun
dred persons shouting praise to
God. The man with whom I staid
on my way there came to me and
made acknowledgements for the
way he had treated me. Ho said
he could have conveyed me, but
thought I was a tramp, and did
wish to show me any respect. I
was now perfectly happy and felt
like I could praise the Lord all my
life for his tender love and mercy
had been so great to me» I travel
ed on and walked from May ’till
November; over hills and mqun
tains and begged that is,
of nights—l had nomcjney to pay
time often in getting tb
traveled on, and mv clothes got so
ragged till I did not know what to
do. I wanted to keep on preach
ing Jesus jhe Way, the Truth and
the Life, and did not want to stop,
but I can’t travel—l am so bare
of clothes. At Southampton, Va t ,
I told a merchant of my condition,
. and he sold me a cheap suit of
clothes on a credit, and the next
winter I worked and paid him for
them. I went, on to the Staunton
River and Country Line Associa
tions, and met many dear saints.
At the Country Line I laet Elder
Isaac. Jones, of North*.'Carolina,
aud I traveled with
him, but could have no liberty in
his presence, for L would go first
ami he would tell them to watch
these young preachers, tod said if
one was.called he would rhave lib
erty, and oh,how cast down.l felt.
I left him one mgbt aud staid with
Elder Via, of Va., and he Ws so
tender .with me, and told so much
of his sore, trials till I h?id
liberty, and an old sister feeing I
.was almost barefooted, <ave me
five dollars, with which fought a
pair of boots and .was ready to go
on again. . But one night: I spoke |
and Elder Jones followed in his
usual manner of using harsh ex
pressions against young pfeaehers,
.and.lgot so badly in, the dark I
coulff not.sleep, and.next morning
I sat down to eat and. broke down
in .tears. I left and stat in the
woods till nearly time for meeting..
I was in Egyptian darkness, and
was troubled till I thought f my peo
ple were dead, or some great ca
lamity would soon befall me. Oh;
that I never had Deen born! Oh,
that I .had given up the ghost
when I was a child. - My troubles
seemed unbearable and I could see
no deliverance for me, but I found
him a present help in trouble. I
was soon delivered and had a glo
rious feast again. I soon returned
to my brother’s,. near Cascade,
Va., but was not satisfied to re
main there, so I made some ap
pointments on to the Smith’s
River Association, which I attend
ed and met many dear brethren
and had some liberty in speaking
I went on filling appointments
and had to travel all the time afoot
and inquire the way from one Ap
pointment to another. I always
tried to find an old Baptist home to
stay at of nights for I knew I would
be cared for if I did. I remember
going to a church one morning in
a strange country and no one knew
me and I was such a young boy,
none suspected that I was the
poor excuse that was to preach
there that day.
Many questions were asked
about the preacher, and whether
he was on the way or would be
there, but hone could tell, as they
had never seen him. The time
came and no preacher, I went into
the house and tried to preach
which seemed to greatly surprise
the people. After meeting r
young man came to me and said,
“I want you to go to my house,
and I will furnish you a horse to
ride to fill the remainder of youi
appointments. I have never had
any confidence in preachers be
fore, but any man that will sacri
fice his life and (ravel on foot to
preach as you have done, I be
lieved he is called of the Lord.” J
thanked him and went to his home
to ride to fill my appointments.
The way would often seem dark,
but I found Him a present help
in trouble. “Man’s extremity is
God’s opportunity.” When we
are ready to perish and feel that
our case is hopeless the Lord de
livers ,us. The Lord has been
good to me and blessed me tem
porally and spiritually. His lov
ing hand has gently afflicted we
with bodily infirmities of life and
a minu beclouded with doubts,
fears and unbelief. I can say with
David. “It is good to be afflicted.”
Every conflict brings us nearer to
Jesus. It is always out of the
very belly of hell that I am made
to cry for deliverance (To be con-
, Scraps.
We yield our editorial space in
this issue to pur correspondents..
* * *
1 The Lord willing I will be at
. Bethlehem and Bethany (Brooks
Countv) at their regular meetings
in June. . -
*#.*
Brethren are reporting good and
prosperous times among our church
es from all parte of. the country.
Many are being added to the dif
ferent churches.- ' • ,
■* , *
-Elder J. M. Caldwell'of Jas
per, Fla;, who'was recently exclud
ed from the fellowship of the Prim
itive Baptists at Bethel, Hamilton
County, Fla., has again returned to
the Missionary Baptists. .
* *
.. -* -
The Annual Meeting at Cat Creek
church will convene on Friday be
fore the first Sunday in July. El
der Hanks of Boston, and Elder
Jennings of Dawson'have promised
to attend
• ■ *
*
The Atfniial Meeting as Mount
Horeb church, Madison County
Fla., will commence on Friday be
fore the third Sunday in July. The
church is hoping that our ministers
will not forget the time. ..Several
of the brethren . have expressed a
desire to.have Elders T; W. Stal
lings and P. G. McDonald with
them at that time.
We attended the regular meeting
at Harmony, Brooks County, Ga.,
on the fourth Saturday and Sun
day in last month, It was ,a very
pleasant meetmg. On Sunday as
the last sound.of the parting hymn
was dying away, a poor trembling
. ..
woman came up, and as she extend-: 1
ed her hand to the pastor (Elder
Barwick) said in tears and broken
accents “I can bear it no longer.”
She told a good experience and
the church recived her with tears
t joy. Under the faithful service
of Elder Barwick tins cl fl.'ch has
prospered and done well.
* w
Ty Ty, Ga., May 27 1895.
Elder A. V. Simms. Dear Bro:
As I suppose my subscription has
about expired, I thought I would
write you and let you know that I
have not forgotten you.
The Banner is highly apprecia
ted by myself and family. We are
always glad when it comes. The
editorials are so rich, and savor?
of the spirit of the monk and !owi\
Jesus. I.am often made te rejuic.
and forget my poverty while read
ing the precious letters from the
dear saints scattered abroad.
Brother Simms you and brother
Moore promised me you would visit
us at our church. This has been
near a year ago. How much long
er will we have to wait? (Not long
I hope, dear brother) Come to see
ns; I would be so glhd to have you
visit my family; you would be sure
to comfort at least, one poor old
sinner.
I hope God will continue to bless
, you and Elder Hanks and that
you may live long to comfort the
dear children of God and mayrthey
not forget your temporal necessi
ties is the prayer of a poor old
afflicted Sinner
W.W. Williams.
Experience.
Summit, Fla., October 1894.
, As-Lhave been requested to
write my experience, I will make
* an attempt to do so. I wfrs raised
! an old school Presbyterian of the
J strictest order;l was taught to read |
my youngest brother (whfchHW'wß
four or five years older than I)
would get the Bible, sit down by
me, , and have me to read aloud to
him, he pronouncing the hard
words, and explaining their mean
ings. I always attended our church
regular (which was real.close by)
W e had preaching every other Sun
day and sometimes through the'
week. I felt that I was a sinnei
before God,and that I desired to be
saved and go to that better world
above when my last days ’were
ended here below;, that it was my
duty to join the church, keep
God’s commandments, do all
the good that was m my powei
to do,and as little bar m,I believed
that I must live a strict and pure
life and follow inChrist’s footsteps,
or else when I died Christ would I
say I gave you the holy book,(the
Bible) gave you my command
me.nts.and all my..teachings;- you
kept them not, you are not - wor
thy of me and have no room here
in Gods kingdom for those who
do not strictly keep my teachings.
Then of course I should be turned
away to that terrible place “hell”
and I felt that would.gneve me
most terribly,for I loved God and
tried to keep his holy will J joined
the old school ♦ Presbyterians at
Dudley. Edgar, Co, Illlinois (for
there Was where I lived at that
time) at about twelve'years of age
was baptized by sprinkling, and
of course believeing sprinkling to
be right, for I had been taught so. I
I loved the Presbyterians as a de
nomination, and believed them to
be the only true church of Christ. ’
I often prayed God to forgive my
sins for I ielt I was a great sinner
in the sight of God, but I did not
feel so confident God had answered
my prayers until a year or so afte’*
I had joined the Church, s
which was about sixteen years
ago. (I always felt a dread for any 8
one to see mo praying, thought 1
they would think I thought I was h
trying to get goodj.Then I would
remember Christ says“ Whosoever J
therefore shall confess me before ?
men, him will I confess also before * . I
my Father which is in Heaven |
Mat. 10 chapter. 9. verse, One I
night alter retiring I commenced
topray and ask God to forgive my Uli
sins and as I prayed God’s burning
love commenced to fill my heart,
getting stronger and stronger un- j
till my heart was filled with his 4
burning love, and I kept trying to 1
pray, but was so rejoiced I could f
not pray for praising Gofi. - I
seemed Jesus was right at my bed
side, standing so close, but I could f
not see him. I felt and wanted
to go to him then, for I was so hap- |
py. I thought I should always I
be just as happy as then. That j
lod had forgive my sins, I was so t
inppyl did not want to go to sleep. ]
[L seemed I should never get tired |
praising him, but after awhile I
fell asleep, and on wakeing m the
morning, I felt that burning love |
still in my heart, but not so strong. j
and my first thought was of J<...
but I told no one what Jesus had j
done for me.By the next night that
burning love had so ’t me, I gneved I
over it, and then I began to d< ■
thinking what had been the :
ter with me. I had never felt
such burning love before and
what else could it be.
But as I had never heard any
ones experience, it came to me
that Jesus surely had heard and
answered my prayer, but I was
still sorrowful because Gods burn
ing love had gone out of my j
heart and I prayed that he would
fill my heart with burning love’ '
again, for I thought I should al
ways feel his great love unless he •
had turned against me, and since
then at times I have felt very |
sorrowful and sinful feeling that' . I
God had deserted me, never to re
turn to me again, I was so filled
with doubts, that in my
I would ask God why he had for
sakeri me and thinking as I grew -
older ! would be better, and d<
pome thing that would be ptetr-:
God. Tlioughaff ofltfTdife i
have heard of the I’iiinitive
Baptist, and was taught to believe jg|
that they were wicked people and SB
many times have I said
almost see them killed. But like
Paul, when ( }od had struck me
blind, “as it were,” and had
brought me from death unto life,
and made me to see my sinful na- ;
ture. I knew then that if I was .i
ever saved it would be by the 3
sovereign grace ofGod,the doctrine
which no other people preached
but the 'Primitive Baptist, and |
agaiif I know that they are the true f
Church, for I never received.it of 'J
man, neither was! taught it but i
If never lie&ixl the ir ■
heart so stabrig, that I loved thm
as I had never loved before, nei--
thef was I satisfied until I was
taken into the church and Bap
tised in the fall of 1894, atAntioch
church Altoona, Fla., by brother < ~~~
M. L. Gilbert. May the Lord M
bless all of those who are in the A
Wilderness a» I was; and'bring «
them to a knowledge of the I
truth as it is in Christ Jesus ij
now dear Brother if you think
this worth printing you may do
so if not lay it away in remem
berance of your unworthy sister in wfeß
the Lord
Mrs Belle Reavea. -I
Dear Brother part of .this was I
written on her death bed.
• ■- j Yr
ca\es. ■
—
Remember ~, ..
That during these dull summer
months our expenses are just., the”®
same, and any who are - m arrears fBBB
wdl do us a kindness by'remitting wBI
what is due and renewing for
other yean