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A. Tour.
Dear Brother Simms. I desire
to give to your readers a brief'
sketch of my littie tour in the Up
per and Lower Canoochee Associa
tion. I had been deeply impressed
to visit those Lndhren for two or
thrte months, but so many things
seemed to get in my way that it
took some time for me to get my
consent. They had plenty of preach
ers and I was trying to serve four
churches here and would have to
leave three of them, and feeling my
responsibility to these churches
greater than all others I was a
fraid to go. Again it was among
my old friends of youth and my re
lation, and I feared that I might
be mistaken in my desire to see
‘ them for an impression to try to
preach among them.
Finally I agreed to go as was pub
lished in the Banner for April 15,
and left my home on Monday af
ter the 4th Sunday in April,. I ar
rived in Savannah at 9 p. m. and
spent the night with Mr, M. J.
Cowart, who married sister Emma
Long, and felt that it.was a bless
ing to be there. Sister Cowart wa%
sick, being confined to her bed, but
I enjoyed a pleasant spiritual talk
with her and before I left she wan
ted me to sing “A few more days on
earth to spend” which I tried to do
and left the poor afflicted sister
with her own sorrows and her God.
She has a good Christian husband,
but except that she has but little
to comfort her except Jesus. She
is well provided for temporally and
in the midst of that great city of
fuss and confusion and idolatry
and ungodliness she is securely
kept by the power of God, and
many times she is refreshed by the
smilings of the beautiful face of
Jesus. . May the Lord bless them
and theirs. I left Savannah at 9:
30 a. m. and arrived at Summit
about 5:30 p. m. There I was met
By my father who carried me home,
home of my chidhood where I have
spent many days in wickedness
and vice where I was disobedient to
my parents,where they were always
good to me, where I received* my
. sally emerged from childhood to
manhood. Little did 1 then think
of the many sorrows and sighs and
heartaches that lay in store for me.
As 1 looked about the old place
and saw so many natural accuses
many things of the past were
brought to my memory,- - and I
thought I could plainly see, as I
’have many times before, the re
straining hand of God that followed,
me, even while I was unconcerned
* about Him. That night some of the
neighbors came over and we .had
a pleasant time till lerte in the night.
The next day, Wednesday, brother
W. J. Brown had an. appointment
at an old saw-mill near my father’s
and some distance from any church
and they published that I would
be w ith him. We met a large crowd
and the most of them old relatives
and friends, of course I was glad to
meet, them but while I was trying
to preach I saw in
many,aomething mJ|
I could see
was my cousin, sister Mattie Tree
> tor. They all told clearly the works
• of God with them and they were
, received and requested that I bap
tize them,which I did for Canoochee
church, and brother Broun bap
tized the other two for Hebron
church. This is a day long to be
rememberedby poor unworthy mi.
If I have ever seen the glory ofGod
it was upon that day poured out in
that congregation in the swamp by
the waterside. Many were made to
weep audibly and strong, resolute
men trembled and wept like child
dren.
From there we all went to bro
ther'Chancie’s, filled with the holy
ghost, and the Lord blessed me to
speak f gain with power concern
ing himself and his kingdom.
It seemed when the meeting was
over that everybody had received
the holy fire,and they could hardly
hitch their horses to their vehic
les to go home for talking of the
goodness of God and their love
one -for another. That night I
stayed with my wife’s parents,
Mr.« and sister Davis, and the
next day tried to preach at
Canoochee. We had a joyful
meeting, but no one joined. That
night I went home with one of my
uncles, W. G. Rountree, Just
here I will digress long enough to
tell a dream J had, about
his wife. She was raised a strict
Methodist, and when she married
my uncle she knew nothing of
Primitive Baptists. I knew noth
ing of her religiously, only that
Mie was a Methodist, and had not
thought about her until the night
*of the snow last winter. I was at
Elder Simms’ in Valdosta, and
that night I dreamed of being at
my uncle’s and that she was the
happiest arid most beautiful wo
men I had ever seen. Her coun
tenance was heavenly. When I
awoke I could think of nothing
else, and although I knew nothing
of her feelings, I felt assured by
faith that the Lord was leading
her, and I was emboldened to write
to her next morning and told her
my dreary and asked for a reason
uMBf 11 iimr'iu'iWLT
my letter she was under deep con
viction for sin and 01 dear reader
you can’t know the joy it gave me
to read her precious letter to me
in which she so plainly told of
her suffering condition, I- pitied
her and rejoiced for her at the same
time.- We passed two- -er—’three
letters and I found that she at
last had a little hope. I had
known for some time that ■my
uncle had a hope in Jesus, and I
tried to-admonish them both to
dotheir duties. After I learned
all this I had . a deep impression
to go to theit house, which I did on
Friday night. I. found her sad
and cast down, for she wanted tc
. follow Jesus and could not feel
worthy, and they had recently
lost one of their children.. . She
was a sufferer-indeed, but as I
1 stdbd and talked with her in the
J very place that I dreamed of see-
Bryant • and daughter-in-law of
Eld. N. W. Bryant now deceased.
This was the communion day
with Canoochee Church, a day
long to be remembered by many
ot us as a Bethel spot in our pil
grimage here below. The next
Tuesday we met again at the old
mill and after preaching by Eld.
S, M. Anderson and myself we
opened the door of the Church and
five more came forward. One was
a young sister Hattie Lamb; one
sister Polly Cowart; one brother
Wm. Proctor the husband of sis
ter Mattie that I had previously
baptized,'them and one was my
aunt Nancy Cowart, my father’s
oldest sister, and one was Mr.
Forehand. They all gave con
vincing proof of their acceptance
with God and we went to the
water and. I baptised the first
named four, but the other brother
was refered to the conference at
Hebron church. His wife had
been married before and divorced,
and it being a ques! ion among
the Baptists we thought best to
have his case pas-el upon in
Church conference. I was per
sonally willing to baptize him but
for fear of being misunderstood I
refused for the present. I hope
in my next letter to give to your
readers my reason for saying this,
and hope that our people may
come to some understanding upon
this.point ...... ...» ..•<?-
On Thursday I went to Antioch
Church and expected to have an
otherjoyful meeting, but my hopes
all fell to the ground and that,
evening was one of the darkest
of my "life, I had been so. won?
derfully blessed all the time on
my trip that I had become exal
ted'and did? not know “it; I was
not thankful for my blessing, nor
as humble as I should have been
and the Lord brought-.me low.
There was a large crowd present
and-much interest manifested but
I could not have the liberty of
speech as before and no one joined,
although I could see many that
wanted to, and that Evening alLtiMk
TlgHt out, * and mysoul
was left in utter oarkness, I was
greatly burdened with many lit,tie
ones on the outside and was dis
appointed and? discouraged be
cause they did not come in.
That.night I went to my room at
dark to retire, feeling wretched and
miserable,-and after J had undress
ed I noticed a Bible lying on the
table and the thought struck me to
take it and wherever it opened
there the Lord would show me
what was the matter. I opened it
and read the 13th verse of the 7th
chapter of Zach., “And as it came
topass that as he cried, and they
would not hear,, so they cried and
I ■ Would not hear saith the Lord of
hosts,” and I went to bed perfectly
'satisfied that it was all well. '
From here I went back to my
father’s and spent Friday night
with them? and Saturday morning
I took my departure from tty*'
with all its pleasant
■
■ i
M '* Sr---
■ sick
&- • : ■
Bain. W-j
. BL-
' lib
’ 'with biother A. Trapwell the clerk
of the Lower Canoochee Associa
tion and Monday went to the Lake
church and had a very pleasant
meeting. I spent that night with
brother (Dr.) D. L. Kennedy and
Tuesday at Mt. Olive, Wednesday
at Reedy Creek, Thur-day at, Sun
light and Friday at Ceder Creek,
Churches, without anything un
usual accuring, and the most of my
time in darkness.
■ R. H, Barwick. ■
(To be Continued.)
Southampton, Bucks Co., Pa.,
May, 13th, 1895.
Dfear Brethren Simms and Hanks:
I spent a part of last winter,
andof the two proceding winters,
in|Florida, oh account of my wife’s
hith. During my first winter
tbbre I was able to visit a number
of our churches, and enjoyed
peasant seasons with them and in
thl fellowship of the Gospel. I
al«p had some good meeting with
them in 1894, Last winter I was
on ly able to. visit three, .churches.
At one of those I met a brother in
the.miniatery who. had. just been
called to the pastoral care of the
Church. Our interview was very
pleasant to me. I was not, looking
for anything.else, and so was ' not
surprised that it should be so, for
I hod been received cordially by
all the brethren in the ministery I
had, met. there,, and had felt a
warin loye and fellowship for them
so f|r aS 1 had become acquainted
.with them,, and with their. labors
in the Lord, .1 was, however, af
terward somewhat surprised to
leari that, this brother had been
in formed, by. a . traveling, minister
that I did not believe in the doc
trine of the resurrection of the
body, and his mind, had been
thus prejudiced against, me; but
to my gratification and comfort,
I learned a Iso. that during our in
terview on Saturday and Sunday,
he became* convinced that his in-'
formant had been mistaken as he
, saw clearly that ! did hold and
coijjgud f that precious dootrine;
and tTat he felt as though the
dwdsent .methqre to remove
that from his. mind, and
to comfort him.
I was glad that I knew nothing
of this prejudice on his part dur
ing our meeting; so.that jt might
be clearly the work of the Lord in
establishing fellowship and confi
dence.. I was pot aware that there
was a brother or sister in Florida
that.questioned my belief on that
essential point of doctrine. To how
many other brethren or churches
the same incorrect statements con
cerningmy views may have been
made I do not know, nor do I wish
to enquire., .But I would .caution
brethren, for their own peace;
security apd comfort, to beware of
the “back-biting” tougue. Beware
of those who whisper against a
brother.. Back-biting and whis
perinw are often done thoughtless
ly byAnnl brethren. But.it is from
theirjtesh, and is the, source of
nijury to the cause, and results in
evil to themselves. Say to a
brother whatever you have to say
against him; and require of those
who v(onld talk against a brother
toyoiithat they go to him with
their wigrges, and take a Gospel
course. If at anytime one is ccn--
vincej of such irregularity and un
sonndness in a professed brother
that he cannot walk in fellowship
with him, that for their safety he
thinks brethren ought to be warn
ed against such a one, let him be
open and plain and candid about
the matter, and not profess fellow
ship him to his face while at
the same time he speak s evil of him.
behind his back.
In ; the case of one who has
traveled as extensively among the
brethren, and has written as much
in o»r various periodicals, and
have during more than thirty years,
it ought not to be difficult to. de
cide as to ; the doctrine he believes.
If there should however, be any
doubt upon your J»md as. to the
.belief, of any minister or. brother,
fcnquire of himself. Write or
■peak to him candidly and faith
»ly. Ido not believe you will
Ren fail to I’et a plain answer,
■he I.
have met have plainly avowed
their sentiments upon/that'subject
and have not tried to hide them.
I have ever regarded the doc
tine of the resurrection of the
body as a most important and
vital doctrine, as the very ground
work, essence and comfort of the
Christian’s hope ; and have writ
ten several times upon that sub
jset. Two of those articles may
may be found in my book of
“Meditations on Portions of the
Word/’ are written about 25 years
ago, an other a few years later.
Ido not receive all that men
have said? and written upon this
subject, nos do I receive any of the
attempts ot uninspired men to ex
plain how this glorious mystery is
to be accomplished. Inspired
men have never attempted to ex
plain.it.- They say, “we know not
what we shall be.” It is enough
to know that Jesus shall appear
we shall d e like him, and shall ap-'
pear with him' in glory. It ■_ ik
enough to know that he “shall
change our vile Body; that it may
be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, -according to the working
whereby he is able to subdue even
all things unto himself. ” It -is
good for' the poor, self-loathing
sinner to know that it is our vile
body'that' shall be changed, not
Exchanged for another body, but
itself changed? The same body
that is sown in death, a natural
body, is raised a spiritual body.
The same body that is weakness
is raised in power. It is changed,
ot raised from corruption to in
cofruptibn, from mortality to im*
mortality and glory.
. If Ido not receive the explana
tions of one concerning, this mys
tery, or if I understand some
scriptures which he supposes to
bear upon this subject differently
from what he does, that gives him
no right to say that tdo not be
lieve in the resurection of the
body. .
An evil report may delay the
experience of fellowship’ tor one
»we never saw for a while, pr. may
mar for a season the fellowship
already felt; but truth will pre-,
vail. Go right on in what you
feel to be the path of duty. “Let
your eyes look right on, and your
eye lids straight before you.” He
who comes to the people .of God
any where “in. the fullne.ss of the
blessing of the. Gospel of Christ,”
cannot long be shut, put pf their
hearts by prejudice. His gift will
make room for fiim in; the hearts
of God’s dear children, and his
message from the Lord to them
will not tail to reach them for
their comfort, in the Lord’s good
time. It is not his natural power
of mind, not his learning, not his
eloquence of speech, not his know
ledge of mysteries, that , makes
room fpr the servant, pf . God per
manently among the Lord’s peo
ple, nor is it a . flattering tongue;
but it is his gift. And that gift
is always exercised in love. It is
inseparable from love., Wfiat ever
else, he may have, without charity
he is nothing. ,
I ask those of pur . brother edi
tors in the South and West, who
feel willing to do so, to copy this
in their perpdicals. Your brother
in Hope of the Resurrection of the
dead, . Silas H. Durand.
Duties of Children to Parents.
Dear Brethren in the Lord: I
Will now try to comply With my
promise to write something under
the above heading,' though I have
wished ! had not made the promise.
I will begin by refering the chil
dren and young people Who may
read this, to Ex xx, 12.
“Honour thy father and thy
mother, that thy days may be long
upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee.” The first
important truth to consider, is
that though we may be old and
gray-headed,yet we are our father’?
and mother’s children,and can yet
honour them, or bring disgrace
upon. them. There is an idea among
grown up y_>ung men and ladies
who are barely grown, that they
are.free from parental restraint. —' f
“free from Papa and Mama,” and
can do as they list Some mean more
and some less by these words. But
all Who have lost respect for their
parents have lost it for themselves.
Children should honour their par
ents as Jong as they live,and when
they are in their graves, they can
continue to honour and reverence
them. That son or daughter who
does not reverence and esteem their
parents cannot make a good cit
izen and is unfit for any social
position in this life, for the world
will lose all respect for them. Chi
ldren who have good pious parents
should imitate them in all good ex
amples, Whether they be living or
dead.- And if you find they have
some faults or weaknesses (and all
fyave them) you should try to be
an example to them by doing bet
ter than they.
. I heard a father say not a great
while ago that his boys had been
a, great.help to him. He mention
ed his former weaknesses and said
that when his boys grew up they
abstained from the things of which
he was guilty,, and so it learned
him an important lesson; that if
they could refrain from these
evil things, so could he, and that
it was a severe rebuke for him. In
this his children honoured him and
did him great good.
It is a weakness of most young
people to be too extravagant in
dress. They pride themselves in
fine clothes, fine cigars, and cary
ing themselves id' the most con
spicuous manner possible. Their
parents plead for economy, but
all to no avail. And when these
fine clothes have once been pro
cured, they then seek for frequent
opportunities to exhibit them.
They will go to visiting, or to pic
nics or any where just so they are
having ‘a good time’” •
They will plan out a long trip
and set their hearts upon it, and
then tell father and mother “I
MUST go, I’ve PROMISED to go.’’
No doubt many children have
brought financial ruin upon > their ’
parents in this way, without ever
stopping to count cost of
their useless enjoyments.
ten cannot toCe Lbeir own good
their paints, hence, the
necessity 1 for them to'Jfieijjweir
advice.
Biit I would not be understood
to mean that it is expected that
children should be like old people,
but they should know that their
parents love them and studies their
interest as none others can. Some
children are good enough at home
but when away they seem to for
get the council of that pious father
or that sainted mother and in their
anxiety to do as others do, overleap
the bounds of discretion, and do
things they would be ashamed to
hear of. Ghildren should conduct
, themselves in the absence ot their
parents as though they were pres
ent and looking gon. How many
good parents have had to wear the
blame of the wrong doing of their
children?
Have you ever heard language like
this: “How ugly that boy did do 1
Now didn’t he show his raising?”
Thus the wrongs of children are •
wrongfully heaped upon their
parents. Oh how parents love
their children. I heard of a case
once where father and son were
being tried for murder and the fath
er confessed guilt ih order to save
his guilty son;
Try dear children to conduct
yourselves m such away that when
God shall call your parents home
you will not regret the manner in
which you have treated them. It
was my sad lot once to; be present
when a child looked upon the pale
face, pf his father as he Jay silent
in death, and said with heart-ren
ding cries; “Oh father forgive me
of my wrongs and I will be a better .
boy I Oh if I could hear him say
“I forgive you”
That scene and those words are
sounding in my ears as I pen these
lines. Had he been dutiful and
obedient he would not thus have
grieved over his misspent life.
In conclusion let me admonish
all children to honour your father
and mother by a chaste and order
ly life ; for if you are atf ungodly
rebellious son,or erring thoughtless
daughter, you will bring the grey
hairs of your parents to the grave
and they will mourn over you in
their dying hours, for they love
you. ■ ‘
Yours unworthily,
Rufus H. Jennings.
March 1895.