w ..

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
ON CENTRAL VIRGINIA,
WRITTEN, PRINTED AND
PUBLISHED BY ALFRED PERCY.

.Piedmont Apocalypse. The Formative Years— 1700

to 1835 v H istory h ig h ly condensed w ith
humor. I llu s tr a te d .by P eter W. Williams. 136
pages. $2.50 by mail.

.Old Place-Names. A pairphlet tem porarily.out o f

p r in t . B esid es.g en eral place-nam es fiv e
pages o f t h i s s h o rt work d e al w ith th e
vulgar,names early tra d e rs & h u n ters.b e­
stowed on our creeks & mountains. Special
Order. $1.10 by mail.

The .Devil-In The.Old ffanripion.- This book com­

bines, a fa c t, a r tic le , dealing, with. the. un­
u s u a l r e lig io u s s i t u a t i o n in V irg in ia
.around 1800,and two sh o rt s to rie s .b a s e d
upon these facts. $1.50 — % -pages.

.Exploring the Present.and P ast Central. V irginia

.Blue.Ridge. Photographic Illu stra tio n s.a n d
Maps. This book has been b a se d .on fo o t
power research as well as lib rary .a n d re ­
cord research. Around 60 pages $1.50, by
mail or wherever i t .can be found.;
in tue Lynchburg area these books are available
a t o .P .B e ll Co., Lynchburg, The V irg in ia
S to re, Elon, Amherst County' o r a t t h i s
P ress, Elon Road, Madison Heights, Va.
 POLICY FOR PUBLISHING

The p o l i c y o f t h i s p r e s s i s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n
o f accu rate, in te r e s tin g , m o d e ra te ly -p rice d h i s ­
t o r i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n on V i r g i n i a i n g e n e r a l and
C e n tra l V irg in ia in p a r t i c u l a r

We b e l i e v e t h q t a f u l l d i s c l o s u r e o f t h e
p a s t w ill d e f i n i t e l y e s t a b l i s h C en tral V irg in ia
a s h a v i n g had a f a r more i m p o r t a n t p l a c e i n th e
e a r l i e r , f o r m a tiv e b u i l d i n g up o f t h i s n a t i o n than
h a s been r e a l i z e d h e r e t o f o r e .

B o th t h e a r e a and t h e e r a h a v e been p a s s e d
o v e r n e g l e c t e d i n good p a r t due to t h e asump-
tio n t h a t n o th in g ev er happened in our q u ie t,
h i l l country.. T h is h a b i t o f n e g l e c t i n t h e p a s t
h a s come down t o many o f u s t o - d a y who w ork
a t research.

The i n t e r e s t i n g h i s t o r y i s h e r e a l l about u s
i f we can d i g i t o u t and p r e s e n t i t to th e p u b l i c .
I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r two r e a s o n s : ( 1 ) The t r u e
p r e s e n t a t i o n and s tu d y o f t h e p a s t i s v i t a l in
p r e p a r i n g f o r th e f u t u r e , (N ote: T h i s l i t t l e t r u t h
h a s n e v e r been a d e q u a t e l y u n d e r s t o o d by our p r e ­
s e n t h e a d s o f governm ent. )

(2) A s e c t i o n o f th e c o u n tr y , r e a l i z i n g t h a t
i t was o n c e i m p o r t a n t i n t h e p a s t , m a y r e - e x a m in e
i t s p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n and s e t a b o u t im p ro v in g i t .
 THE DEYIL
in The
Old Dominion

Bj
A lfre d Percy

A Fact A r tic le
And Two
S h o rt S t o r i e s
On E a rly
19th C entury
R e lig io n .

1952
Percy P re ss
E l o n Road,
M adison H e ig h ts ,
Vi r g i n i a .
 The DECORATIONS on t h e c o v e r a n d c h a p t e r
h e a d i n g s o f t h i s book a r e t h e work o f th e a r t i s t
and c e r a m i s t j P e t e r W illia m s o f A n h e rstj Va. T h is
a r t w ork was o r i g i n a l l y e x e c u t e d f o r t h e book
F i e d m o n t A p o c a l y p s e by t h i s w r i t e r a n d h a s been
r e a r r a n g e d f o r T h e D e v i l I n The O l d D o m i n i o n . .

C o p y r i g h t 1952 by A l f r e d P e r c y

A ll r i g h t s re se rv e d .

P r i n t e d and P u b l i s h e d by P e g a n d A l f r e d P e r c y j
Elon Roadj M adison H e ig h ts ., V i r g i n i a .
M is s M a r j o r i e L i t c h f o r d j
E d ito ria l A ssista n t.
 CONTENTS

Page

GOD AND THE GHOST

A S to ry - - - - - - - - 1

THE DEVIL IN THE OLD DOMINION

F a c t s a b o u t The E a r ly 1 9 th C e n tu ry
R e lig io u s S itu a tio n - - - - - 20

THE TWO-EDGED SWORD

A Cto ry - - - - - - - - 40
GOB
AND THE
GHOST

A S to ry j
F i c t i o n on F a c t j
A m herst C o u n ty j
1802
 — pj
h e t a l l o l d man waved h i s r i g h t aim g r a c e ­
f u l l y b u t f o r c e f u l l y . The t a p e r i n g f i n g e r s
t w i s t e d i n t o a f i s t a n d h e shook i t c : t h e two
e l e g a n t j b e l a c e d gentlem en s t a n d i n g on t h e p o r c h .
A p r e a c h e r j b e n t upon t h e n e c e s s a r y work o f t h e
Lord., d i d n o t l i k e b e i n g th w a r t e d ----- e s p e c i a l l y
when a l l h e w anted was a t e n - a c r e s e c t i o n o f v i r ­
g in f o r e s t on a c r e e k b o tto m f o r a c a m p - m e e tin g
g ro u n d .
"H ere i t i s in th e p r o g r e s s i v e y e a r o f
1802; t h e G r e a t R e v iv a l t o awaken t h e s p i r i t o f
t h e n a t i o n i s s w e e p in g t h e c o u n t r y and y e t you_,
suhj won' t even s h a r e y o u r woods w i t h t h e L o rd "
H is gray e y e s w ere a ngry; h i s tem per was in
d a n g e r o f r e a l l y e x p l o d i n g . The R e v e r e n d Aaron
C r a b t r e e swung h i s n a g a ro u n d and l o p e d down th e
 driv e ., t h e t a i l s o f h i s b o t t l e - g r e e n c o a t f l o p ­
p i n g up and down w i t h t h e m o tio n o f th e h o r s e .
W hile s t i l l w i t h i n e a r s h o t h e o v e r h e a r d th e
y o u n g e r man l a u g h d e r i s i v e l y and p a s s a rem ark
t h a t v e r g e d upon t h e r i b a l d . H is f a t h e r r e p l i e d :
" T h a t ' l l dOj G e o r g e ! C r i t i c i z i n g e v e n a
c r a z y ., f i e l d p r e a c h e r who p r a c t i s e s w h a t h e
p r e a c h e s a b o u t th e B i b l e d o e s n ' t l i e w e ll in y o u r
mouth who t h i n k n o t h i n g o f c o v e t i n g what b e lo n g s
to thy n e i ghbor. "
P a r s o n C r a b t r e e h a d moved o u t o f m i d d l e - a g e
and h i s g r i z z l e d h a i r showed i t . He was t a l l and
h i s d r a b b r e e c h e s a n d r i d i n g b o o t s on l e g s t h a t
seemed t o lo o p a r o u n d t h e h o r s e a c c e n t u a t e d h i s
t h i n n e s s . But i f anyone th o u g h t he was a w e a k lin g
o r t h a t age h a d f a d e d h i s s t r e n g t h th e y c e r t a i n l y
h a d n o t ta k e n a good lo o k a t h i s e y e s. Gray e y e s
t h a t were in t u r n m e rry ; shrewd o r glow ing w ith a
f i r e ti\a t was c l o s e to f a n a t i c i s m .
Such was t h e c a s e a s h e t u r n e d i n t o th e h ig h
road m u t t e r i n g and mumbling to h i m s e l f ; o c c a s io n ­
a l l y p u l l i n g a t h i s l o n g n o s e a s though he
s m e lle d s o m e th in g u n p l e a s a n t ,
He groaned: " I t s u r e i s t h e t r u t h ■t h a t • t h i s
i s a p o o r s e c t i o n o f V i r g i n i a f o r th e w o rsh ip o f
God. HoWj oh L o rd j am I j Thy s e r v a n t s g o in g to
g e t a c h a p e l b u i l t h e r e f o r w o r s h ip i n Thy Glo­
r i o u s Name much l e s s a cam p-m eeting ground? L ord
h a v e m e rc y upon t h e s e s i n n e r s and make 1em s e e
t h e Li g h t ! "
P arson C ra b tre e had sp en t th e y e a rs s in c e
th e R e v o lu tio n in c r a c k i n g tough r e l i g i o u s n u t s .
The o n ly t h i n g h e a s k e d o f any community was to
be a llo w e d t o get one f o o t p l a n t e d and he and th e
Lord would do t h e r e s t . But h e r e h e c o u l d n ' t even
g e t t h e f i r s t f o o t down.
 The o l d e r gentlem anj h e h a d j u s t i n t e r v i e w e d
u n s u c c e s s f u l l y j was named George M oreland, Sr. He
was a p l a n t e r o f m eans i n t h i s p a r t o f A m herst
County and owned t h e v i r g i n j t i m b e r - c o v e r e d c r e e k
b o tto m c o v e t e d by t h e P a r s o n f o r a c a m p - m e e tin g
g r o u n d . T h i s new i d e a o f h o l d i n g a r e l i g i o u s
camp m e e t i n g i n an open f o r e s t h a d j u s t r e a c h e d
V i r g i n i a . I t h a d f i r e d Aaron C r a b t r e e w i t h t h e
dream o f p r e a c h i n g to t h o u s a n d s i n s t e a d o f t h e
hun d re d o r s o . t h a t c o u ld get in a c o u n tr y c h a p e l.
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e P arson he had p ic k e d t h i s
G o d l e s s d e s e r t in w h ich to r e v i v e a g r e e n ,
re lig io u s o a sis.
A round t h e n e x t bend a c r o s s r o a d s came in
s i g h t . Aaron u n c o n s c i o u s l y s h i f t e d h i s w e ig h t a
l i t t l e t o t h e r i g h t a s though t o make m ore f r e e
f o r q u i c k u s e t h e i n v i s i b l e T w o-edged Sword o f
th e L o rd h e alw ays went armed w ith . The i n v i s i b l e
n u t c r a c k e r was in h i s s a d d l e - b a g s . The sword was
a needy im plem ent now; h e was a p p r o a c h in g a tavern.
T h is t a v e r n h a d a s p l e n d i d l o c a t i o n h e r e on
t h e l i t t l e r i d g e w here t h e E ast-W est r o a d c r o s s e d
t h a t r u n n i n g N o r t h a n d S o u th . I t w o u ld a l s o be
a f i n e p l a c e f o r a c h a p e l , Aaron ■t h o u g h t , w h e re
p e o p l e , s e e i n g t h e b e a u t i f u l Blue Ridge b a r r i e r , .
w ould be m i n d f u l o f t h e Magesty o f A lm ighty God.
The t a v e r n s p r a w l e d a t t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n
c o m e r w ith wagon sh e d s, a w arehouse and a s t o r e ­
h o u s e s c a t t e r e d on t h e o t h e r r o a d c o r n e r s u n d e r
l a r g e t r e e s as y e t l e a f l e s s in t h e e a r l y s p r i n g .
J u s t b e y o n d ■t h e t a v e r n was a g r o v e o f t r e e s in
t h e c e n t e r o f w hich b o i l e d a f o u n t a i n t h a t gave
th e p l a c e i t s name.
The F o u n ta in h a d a f i v e s y a r d f o r t e g u e s t s
e n t e r t a i n m e n t , and a s t h e P a is o n roue up men were
b o w lin g t h e b a l l s . H i s e y e s gleam ed f o r t h e o l d .
man e n jo y e d t h e game a s w e ll a s t h e next,, though
h e dam ned i t p r o f e s s i o n a l l y b e c a u s e t o o many
gambled a t i t and gam bling was m o r ta l s i n .
He swung down a t t h e h o r s e b lo c k g i v i n g t h e
r e i n s to a N egro s t a b l e h and. A n o th e r h o r s e was
b e in g l e d to t h e b lo c k .
A l a r g e man came from t h e porch., b o o te d and
w e a r in g d r a b b r e e c h e s somewhat s i m i l i a r t o t h o s e
o f t h e P a r s o n . They w ere a b o u t t h e same a g e b u t
t h i s man was e r y b r o a d o f beam., n o t so t a l l and
p o s s e s s e d a stomach t h a t bu lg e d c o m f o r ta b ly .
''obody b u t an i n n k e e p e r c o u l d l o o k l i k e th a t
th o u g h t t h e P a r s o n .
"Come i n j s i r , come i n ! 11 s a i d t h e man,
h e a r t i l y . , " I 'm o f f to a t t e n d to a p i e c e o f
b u s i n e s s t h a t ' l l k e e p me t h e n ig h t., s i r ., b u t my
w i f e w i l l s e e t h a t y o u ' r e w e l l c a r e d f o r . We
k e e p a good c l e a n house., s i r . I r a B e a to n w ar­
ran ts th a t."
"T hank you., B r o t h e r B e a to n . I h o p e b u s i ­
n e s s i s g o o d , " t h e P a rso n r e p l i e d .
" F a i r to m i d d l i n ' . , s i r , f a i r t o m i d d l i n ' ,
t h a n k you! " t h e l a n d l o r d s a i d . , s m i l i n g . "Of
c o u r s e , t ' w a s b e t t e r when we h a d so many f o l k s
m o v in g s o u t h t o l i v e . On t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e r e
a r e a g r e a t many V i r g i n i a n s m o v in g w e s t t h e s e
d a y s . I vow, s i r , i t lo o k s l i k e everybody in t h e
Commonwealth i s b e n t on c r o s s i n g th e m o u n t a i n s . "
" Y o u ' v e a v e r y p l e a s a n t l o c a t i o n , Mr.
B eaton, " t h e P a r s o n s a i d . He p o i n t e d a c r o s s t h e
r o a d . " T hat c o r n e r o v e r t h e r e by t h e wagon s h e d
i s e x a c t l y t h e p l a c e f o r a c h a p e l . Wonder you
f o l k s d o n ' t b u i l d one and g e t a p r e a c h e r . "
The l a n d l o r d g r u n t e d h i s way up on h i s
h o r s e . S e t t l i n g h i m s e l f in h i s s a d d l e h e s a i d
w ith a n o t a b l e l a c k o f e n th u sia n :

>
 "We a i n 1t much f o r p r a y i n ' h e r e a b o u t s . Sort
o f f i g g e r t h e Q u a k e r s a few m i l e s S o u t h do
e n o u g h f o r u s a l l . A c h a p e l w o u ld be bad f o r
b u s i n e s s , w hat w i t h t h e way some p a r s o n s d o n ' t
t a k e i t k i n d l y when t h e boys g e t a l i t t l e happy.
Then and ----- Are you a p r e a c h e r , s i r ? "
"I am, suhj " C r a b t r e e r e p l i e d , h i s solemn
face h id in g h is la u g h te r.
"No harm m e a n t. P a r s o n , no harm m e a n t ! "
B e a to n s a i d h u r r i e d l y . " M i l l i e , oh M i l l i e ! " A
handsome d a r k - e y e d g i r l o f a b o u t tw e n ty came to
t h e m a in doorw a y. "The b e s t o f t h e h o u s e f o r
t h i s g e n t l e m a n , my d e a r . Good—d a y , s i r ! " He
w he e le d h i s h o r s e and ro d e away r a p i d l y .
C r a b t r e e p ic k e d up h i s s a d d le - b a g s and
j o i n e d t h e g i r l on t h e p o r c h . Sw eeping o f f h i s
b a t t e r e d o l d t r i - c o m e r e d h a t h e bowed.
"A f i n e e s t a b l i s h m e n t you h a v e h e r e . M iss
B eato n ."
"Mrs. N ot M i s s . I ' m h i s w i f e , s i r . " She
g ig g led .
" W e l l , t h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w ro n g w i t h y o u r
h u s b a n d 's t a s t e . " h e r e p l i e d s m i l i n g .
As th e su p p e r h o u r n e a r e d t h e l a r g e taproom
became a p l a c e o f m e rry a c t i v i t y . T h e p l a y e r s de­
s e r t e d th e fiv e sy a rd fo r th e tav ern w hile o th e rs
r o d e o r w a lk e d i n from n e a r b y fa rm s. T h e re w ere
se v e ra l tr a v e le r s as w ell. A parade o f serv a n ts
w e n t in and o u t o f t h e k i t c h e n d o o r a c r o s s t h e
room from t h e main e n t r a n c e . On t h e l e f t o f t h i s
f r o n t d o o r was a d o o r l e a d i n g i n t o t h e p a r l o r .
The b a r s t r e t c h e d a c r o s s t h i s w a l l w i t h a d o o r
midway a l o n g f o r s e r v i c e d i r e c t from t h e b a r t o
p a rlo r.
T h is h a d been t h e f i r s t warm week i n s p r i n g
and what w i t h b e in g S a tu r d a y n i g h t a s w e l l , t h e
 ta p room w ould be more crowded th a n u s u a l . A f t e r
d a rk t h e r e would be a f r o l i c .
''T h e y 'r e a l l bound t o be i n a s i n f u l s t a t e . "
t h e P a rso n m u t t e r e d t o h i m s e l f a s h e a t e h i s meal
in t h e c o m e r o f t h e room. "A ll d u r i n g t h i s h a r d
w i n t e r t h e y 'v e been sh u t in w ith t h e i r e v i l
th o u g h ts . Need a good o l d - t i m e stamping,, s h o u t i n g
m eetin g to r e l i e v e th e p r e s s u r e o f e v i l s p i r i t s
b e f o r e th e y b o i l o v e r an d t h e s e f o l k s g e t to
sin n in g . I f I could g et th e s e s in n e r s i n t e r e s t e d
i n r e l i g i o n m aybe o l d M o r e l a n d w o u ld s e e t h e '
L i g h t a n d l e a s e me t h a t c r e e k —b o tto m g r o v e f o r
G o d 's g l o r i o u s w ork. B e t t e r h o l d o f f a l i t t l e , ,
th e y a i n ' t f i n i s h e d e a t i n g . "
He chewed on t h i s and th e ham t h o u g h t f u l l y .
He c o u l d n ' t g e t t h a t g r o v e o f h u g e t r e e s a l o n g
t h e c r e e k out o f h i s mind. He c o u ld s e e t h e p l a t ­
form u n d e r them w i t h c l e a n s t r a w a r o u n d on t h e
ground b e s i d e i t f o r th e k n e e l i n g j r e p e n t i n g s i n ­
n e r s . H is mind p i c t u r e d th r o n g s o f e a g e r p i l g r i m s
sw a y in g t o t h e s o u n d o f h i s v o i c e a s h e s p r e a d
t h e Word and smote t h e d e v i l .
Loud l a u g h t e r from t h e b a r c a u s e d t h i s
v i s i o n to f a d e .
He h e a r d M i l l i e B e a to n s a y : " K i s s e s ? No
k i s s e s ! What do you t h i n k I m a r r i e d I r a f o r ? "
"We was w o n d e m 'j " d r a w le d a fa r m e r d r e s s e d
in homespun.
"I g u e s s y o u th m u st be served., " t h e P a r s o n
s a i d to h i m s e l f j a n g r i l y . "But L o rd i t ought n o t
to be a t t s n p t e d by an o l d man. "
She p r o b a b l y h a s a r i g h t h a r d t i n e o f i t , h e
th o u g h t. P e o p l e a r e to o w o r l d l y m in d e d , i o r~ f r e e ­
sp e a kin g L e t th e m f i n d t h e L o r d a n d t h e y ’ l l
r e a l i z e t h e r e a r e m ore w o r t h w h i l e t h i n g s i n l i f e .
 7
He s ig h e d . These f o l k s d i d n ' t lo o k l i k e th e y
w e re s e a r c h i n g f o r t h e L ord o r a n y t h i n g e l s e but
a good tim e .
H is a d v e r s a r y o f th e a fte rn o o n ., t h e p l a n t e r
G eorge M o r e la n d j and h i s son e n t e r e d . The s i g h t
o f them i r r i t a t e d C r a b t r e e f u r t h e r .
'Oh Godi I s i t wrong t h a t I c o v e t my n e ig h ­
b o r 1& c l o s e i f i t be f o r Thy woTk? " h e s i l e n t L y
. ,, e l o f hi ; S u p e r io r .
The y o u n g man., a dandy i n d r e s S j w i t h h i s
l i g h t h a i r n e a t l y c l u b b e d went d i r e c t l y t o t h e
b a r . The f a t h e r j o i n e d some companions f o r a game
of cards a t a corner ta b le .
Aaron C r a b t r e e made h i s way t o t h e b a r . I t
was h i g h tim e h e d i d some t a l k i n g . M i l l i e Beaton
was s m i l i n g and l i s t e n i n g t o G eorge M orelandj J r .
N o t i n g t h e l o o k o f l o n g i n g i n t h e y o u n g m a n 's
e y e s t h e P a r s o n f e l t doubly c e r t a i n t h a t r e l i g i o n
was n e e d e d h e r e .
With a n im b le l e a p he was on t h e b a r counter.
One hand h e l d a l a r g e w atch. He r a i s e d i t f o r a l l
t o se e .
" W e l l j " h e m u se d t o h i m s e l f j w a i t i n g f o r
th e m t o c e n t e r t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . "B etw e e n t h i s
w a tc h a n d my b o t t l e - g r e e n c o a t t h e y ' l l t h i n k I 'm
a t r a d e r . The L ord u n d e r s t a n d s t h e r e must be some
t r i c k e r y even in a good c a u s e . "
He s t o o d w ith one lo n g f i n g e r p o i n t i n g l i k e
a m a g i c i a n ' s wand a t t h e w a tc h r e f l e c t i n g t h e
s o f t c a n d l e - l i g h t a n d t h e r u d d i e r glow from t h e
f i r e . V o ic e s subsided., p e o p le s t a r e d ----- even t h e
c a rd p la y e r s g la n c e d over t h e i r c a rd s a t th e
unaccustom ed s i l e n c e in t h e room.
T he d e e p t o n e s o f t h e P a r s o n ' s p r e a c h i n g
v o i c e b e l l e d o u t s l o w l y t l i k e t h e gang of doom:
"Watch! W atch! W atch o u t f o r t h e f i r e s o f h e l l
 8

t h a t w i l l be y o u r l o t i f you d o n ' t r e c o g n i z e t h e
L o r d J e h o v a h a n d r e p e n t o f y o u r s i n s . Y our tim e
s h a l l come a n d you s h a l l f a c e t h e f o r k s i n t h e
ro a d . One way l e a d s upward to G lory and th e o t h e r
i n t o th e f i e r y p i t . Which f o rk w i l l . y o u take? Why
t h e one t o t h e p i t w i t h t h e m o lte n b r i m s t o n e to
b u m y o u r l i g h t s and l i v e r s b e c a u s e you h a v e no
c h u r c h t o p o i n t o u t t o you t h a t b e t t e r r o a d o f
l i f e ; no v i c a r o f God t o show you t h e e r r o r o f
y o u r w a y s . T he n o i s e I h e a r o u t s i d e o f t h i s
b u i l d i n g now i s t h e f l a p p i n g o f t h e d e v i l ' s w ing
a s h e h o v e r s p e e p i n g i n t h e w i n d o w ----- j u s t
wai t i n g -----"
"W hat's he w a i t i n ' f o r ? " A v o ic e i n t e r r u p t e d
" T h a r 's p l e n t y l i q u o r f o r a l l . "
The P a r s o n g l a r e d down a t t h e d r u n k e n wag
a n d h i s f i n g e r sh o t o u t a t t h e man l i k e a s t r i k ­
in g snake. H is v o i c e r o s e above t h e l a u g h t e r .
"I h a t e to s e e anyone in t h i s b e a u t i f u l la n d
r i s k t h e p u n ish m e n t o f t h e Lord by such m ockery.
S in n e r s such as you a r e f i t f u e l f o r t h e f i r e .Y o u
need p r a y e r . You n e e d a chapel where you can meet
t o w o rsh ip . You need th e work t o b u i l d t h e c h a p e l
in o r d e r to p r o v e you can work f o r so m e th in g be­
s i d e s your s e l f i s h s e l v e s .
"You n e e d a cam p -m e e tin g g ro v e down by t h e
c r e e k w h e re t h o u s a n d s may m eet w i t h you t o a s k
f o r f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n . I s h a l l h e l p you b u i l d
t h e d w e l l i n g o f t h e L o rd . You must h a v e i t f o r I
se e . among you t h o s e on t h e v e r g e o f h e l l . I s e e
i n t h e i r e y e s , shame; I know o f t h e s i n t h a t i s
in t h e i r h e a r t s . R e p e n t!"
He p a u s e d t o p o i n t and g l a r e a t some o f th e
d r u n k e s t . Aaron n o t e d f e a r on some o f t h e i r f a c e s
b u t n o t enough. Too many were g r i n n i n g a t him a s
i f he w ere some form o f amusement. But a s l o n g a s
t h e r e was f e a r in a t l e a s t a few o f t h e s e h e a r t s
h e h a d som ething t o work on.
P a r s o n C r a b t r e e h a d come by e x p e r i e n c e t o
know t h a t w h e r e a s many d i d n ' t h a v e t h e p r o p e r
f e a r o f t h e L o rd th e y h a d a s t r o n g s u p e r s t i t i o u s
r e s p e c t f o r th e powers o f t h e d e v i l .
Yes suhj h e was a t l e a s t g e t t i n g somewhere.
I f h e c o u l d k e e p i t up l o n g enough t o f r i g h t e n
m ore o f th a n w i t h t h e l u r k i n g shadows h e a n d t h e
L o r d would trium ph.
As h e a g a i n la u n c h e d h i s campaign o f f e a r a
wagon d ro v e u p o u t s i d e and a l o t o f young p e o p l e
b u r s t i n t o t h e t a p room. F i d d l e s a n d b a n j o e s ap­
p e a r e d a n d t h e s t r a i n s o f " O le V i r g i n i e N e v e r
T i r e s . , " d ro w n e d o u t t h e P a r s o n ' s v o i c e . H ands
c la p p e d and t h e s q u a r e d a n c in g began.
C r a b t r e e knew when h e was l i c k e d . He c o u ld
o n l y f i l e away i n h i s m ind t h e f a c e s o f t h o s e he
h a d s e e n w e a k e n i n g a n d g e t t o w o r k o n th e m
a n o t h e r tim e .
"Oh Lord! " h e p r a y e d s i l e n t l y . , " f o r g i v e Thy
s e r v a n t f o r h i s f a i l u r e and g iv e him th e s t r e n g t h
t o c o n t i n u e t o p l y Thy s w o r d t h a t t h e w i c k e d
s h a ll p erish or re p e n t."
U nseen by t h e m e r r im a k e r s h e w ent i n t o t h e
v a c a n t p a r l o r a d j o i n i n g t h e t a p room t h e r e to
l i c k s h i s wounds and remake h i s p l a n s .
I t was a s o r t o f o d d s a n d e n d s room. Some­
t i m e s u s e d a s a p r i v a t e d i n i n g room o r f o r p r i ­
v a t e p a r t i e s . T h e re was a s o f a on t h e p o rc h s i d e
o f t h e room , a d e e p c h a i r on t h e o t h e r a n d a
f l o u r b a r r e l in t h e f a r c o r n e r by t h e s e r v i c e
d o o r t h a t l e d d i r e c t l y t o t h e b a r . A lo w f i r e
b u rn e d in t h e f i r e p l a c e .
The P a r s o n j n e e d i n g t h e s o l a c e o f tobacco.,
s t o o p e d by t h e f i r e t o gT ate sa n e o f a t w i s t i n t o
 dO

s n u f f . He took a h e a r t y p in c h and a f t e r a sh u d d e r
a n d a s n e e z e s e t t l e d down in a c h a i r . He s i g h e d
g u s t i l y . The b a t t l e w i t h t h e d e v i l seemed n e v e r -
e n d in g .
He th o u g h t back o v e r h i s m a n e u v e r in g o f t h e
e v e n i n g and a d m i t t e d h e h a d u s e d t h e w rong t a c -
t i c s ----- a v e r y weak app ro a c h .
" b o r d ! " h e s a i d o u t lo u d . "Thy s e r v a n t i s a
ja c k a s s ! He a llo w e d h i m s e l f to be l u l l e d i n t o an
a m b itio u s dream o f b r i n g i n g h a p p in e s s to th e many
a t a camp m e e t i n g b e f o r e he had g o t t e n h o l d o f so
much a s an in c h o f ground.
"Thy w o r k e r i n t h e V i n e y a r d ham m ered to o
n a r a en t h e s i n s o f t h o s e who h o v e n 1t s e n s e
e n o u g h t o know t h e y a r e s i n n i n g . A s e n s i b l e
p r e a c h e r would h a v e made h i m s e l f l i k e d f i r s t ; , and
th e n w ien h e h a d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . , s t r u c k m ig h ty
blows w ith t h e Sword. Lord., I s h a l l mend my ways."
C r a b t r e e was gloom y a n d r e s t l e s s . A l o u d
y e l l from t h e t a p room b r o u g h t t h e r e a l i z a t i o n
th a t i t w a s n 't h i s s u b s id in g angry h e a r t b e a ts
t h a t made him f e e l t h a t t h r o b b i n g movement. The
f l o o r was in r h y th m ic movement from t h e sta m p in g
f e e t o f t h e d a n c e r s . Through t h e c l o s e d d o o r s ,
th ro u g h th e w alls., by way o f t h e f l o o r beams came
th e m u f f l e d m u sic , t h e b e a t o f c l a p p i n g ha nds, th e
tram pj tromp o f f e e t a l l f u s e d in sound and move­
m e n t. I t s t i r r e d a man. In t h e n e x t room p e o p l e
w ere g i v i n g th e m s e lv e s up to th e jo y s o f th e
d a n c e . A l l to o w e l l Aaron C r a b t r e e and t h e L o rd
b o th knew t h a t in t h e s t r e s s o f t h i s em otion men
a n d women c o u l d f o r g e t t h e m s e l v e s . T h e r e was
d a n g e r in t h i s .
Suddenly t h e P a r s o n began s i n g i n g and c l a p ­
p i n g h i s h a n d s . The w ords w e r e t h o s e o f a hymn
but rh y th m ic b e a t was t h a t of t h e da nc e . H is r i c h

—
 11

b a r i t o n e v o i c e became l o u d e r a s th o u g h t o drown
o u t t h e d a n c in g ., t o h e l p b l i n d o u t o f h i s m ind
t h e s i g h t s o f d ru n k e n n e s s and w a n to n n e ss h e p i c ­
t u r e d a s t a k i n g p l a c e in t h e n e x t room-----o f men
and woman on t h e v e r g e o f s i n .
A b r u p tly h e stopped; s a t down.
"Maybe t h e i r d a n c i n g w o u l d n ' t be so bad.,
Lordj i f t h e y ' d mix i t w ith a l i t t l e s i n g i n g wor­
s h i p . T h a t w ould h e l p keep them in l i n e . T h in g s
in l i f e a r e so c l o s e t o g e t h e r i t ' s h a r d t o t e l l
j u s t when and w here a p a r s o n h a s s t r a y e d o f f th e
p a t h . He shook h i s h e a d and added: "A man m ig h t
a s w e l l be d ead i f h e g e t s so o l d h e c a n ' t l e a r n
so m e th in g new. "
He w a s b u s y m u l l i n g t h i s o v e r i n h i s
th o u g h t s when t h e main d o o r o f t h e p a r l o r opened
n o i s e l e s s l y a l i t t l e way a n d t h e n c l o s e d . T h is
w as r e p e a t e d s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d . The P a r s o n
g la n c e d a ro u n d from h i s deep c h a i r in tim e to s e e
two f i g u r e s m erge i n t o o n e . S h o u ld h e l e a v e ? he
w o n d e r e d . He s t a y e d a n d f e l t u n c o m f o r t a b l e . I t
was a l l to o o b v io u s t h a t n e i t h e r t h e man n o r t h e
women knew he was t h e r e . He h e a r d t h e s o f a cre a k
a s th e y s a t down.
"You m ust make up y o u r mind now, M i l l i e ! " a
m a n 's v o i c e s a i d . The P a rso n c o u l d j u s t h e a r th e
w ords above t h e m u sic . "W e 'll go t o K a in tu c k . I f
I r a w a n ts a d i v o r c e h e can g e t o n e . What do you
c a r e ? W e ' l l be t o g e t h e r i n a n o t h e r c o u n t r y j my
s w e e t. But we must h u r r y b e c a u s e P apa s a i d some­
t h i n g t h i s a f t e r n o o n t h a t shows he i s s u s p i c i o u s .
He m ight do som ething t o s to p u s . . I d o n ' t want to
s t a y h e r e a n d be b o s s e d a r o u n d . I w a n t l a r g e
h o l d i n g s o f my own and you to s h a r e them w ith me."
"Oh George! Be p a t i e n t j u s t a l i t t l e lo n g e r ! "
s h e r e p l i e d . "Near t h e end of. n e x t week I r a goes
 12

t o L yn c h b u rg f o r two d a y s t o buy s u p p l i e s . T hat

w i l l be o u r b e s t chance. "
D u r in g t h e s h o r t e n s u i n g s i l e n c e A aron
C r a b tre e s t a r e d a t th e f l i c k e r i n g f i r e and
t h o u g h t d e e p l y on t h e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y s t a t e o f
t h i n g s in g e n e r a l a n d t h e d a n g e r o u s t e m p t a t i o n s
and p i t f a l l s o f th e f l e s h in p a r t i c u l a r .
H i s l i p s moved in s i l e n t p r a y e r : "Oh God,
f o r g i v e t h e s e s i n n i n g h u m a n s! I n t e r r u p t t h e
l i c e n t i o u s f lo w o f t h e i r t h o u g h t s b e f o r e t h i s
l e a d s t o c a r n a l s i n and o t h e r s i n s t h a t f o llo w a s ’
n i g h t th e day. Ohj L ord, g iv e Thy v i c a r th e power
and t h e know ledge to h e l p a v e r t t h i s wrong! "
G e o r g e M o r e l a n d was p r o v i n g s t u b b o r n . He
argued fo r th e p r e s e n t.
"I th i n k we s h o u ld le a v e h e r e b e f o r e sun-up.,
M i l l i e . We cdn be a c r o s s t h e James by t h e P e r c h ,
ferry before I r a r e t u i n s . "
The P a r s o n w ondered what h e l d him back; why
d i d n ' t h e do w h a t m o s t o f h i s b r o t h e r s o f t h e
c l o t h w ould t\ave d o n e -----jump up and r a i s e o l d
Hob; shame t h e you n g c o u p l e w i t h t h e i r i n t e n d e d
s i n ? S o m e t h i n g s t a y e d h im ; h e l d h im c h a i n e d
m o t i o n l e s s i n t h e c h a ir .. He a d m i t t e d t o h i m s e l f
i t was f e a r — - f e a r o f a n o t h e r f a i l u r e
The g i r l , h o w e v e r , was p r o v i n g s t u b b o r n
a f t e r h e r own fa sh io n .. She p l e a d e d w i t h t h e boy
so s o f t l y , t h a t even th e P a r s o n 's s h a r p e a r s c o u ld
c a t c h o n ly a m urm ur. H o l d i n g h i s b r e a t h h e
g la n c e d a ro u n d o u t o f h a l f - c l o s e d eye s. M i l l i e ' s
arm s c r e p t up a r o u n d y o u n g M o r e l a n d 's n e c k and
p u l l e d h i s h e a d down.
They w ere n o t a w a re t h e m u sic h a d s t o p p e d .
They w ere l o s t in tf y e ir k i s s and P a rso n C r a b t r e e
was l o s t in m i s e r y o f t h i n k i n g he had w a i t e d to o
l a t e t o act.. He h a t e d to admit i f b u t he was be­
 13

g i n n i n g t o w is h h e h a d n e v e r s e e n t h i s A m herst
C o u n ty ; h e h a d b e e n a f a i l u r e h e r e from e v e r y
a n g l e . No! No! That w o u l d n 't do. For a p a r s o n to
adm it f a i l u r e was t o be unw orthy t o w i e l d e i t h e r
t h e sword o r t h e n u t c r a c k e r . A f t e r a l l t h i s was
war a g a i n s t th e d e v i l and no h o l d s b a r r e d .
He s t i r r e d j s a t u p r i g h t ; b u t t h e c o u p le was
s t i l l o b liv io u s.
From t h e t a p room came s h o u t s o f g r e e t i n g :
"Welcome h o s t ! " "G lad you g o t back i n tim e f o r
th e f r o l i c , I r a . "
The v o i c e o f t h e l a n d l o r d boomed o u t : "I
m i s s e d my man, f o l k s . S u r e i s good t o g e t back
to enjoy t h e fun w ith y o u . "
T h e re was a s u b t l e change in t h e s i l e n c e o f
t h e p a r l o r . Now t h e r e was a s t u n n e d e x p e c t a n c y .
No one moved. I n t h e dim l i g h t t h e P a r s o n c o u l d
s e e f e a r in th e r i g i d p o se o f th e c o u p le and
im agined t h e dawning f r i g h t on t h e i r f a c e s .
M i l l i e was t h e f i r s t to throw o f f t h e t r a n c e .
"Q u ic k ! G et i n t h a t b a r r e l . , G e o rg e ! H e ' s
c om ing h e r e t o l e a v e h i s w r a p s . " G e o r g e d a s h e d
o v e r and sc ra m b le d in to th e b a r r e l . M i l l i e
slammed down th e l i d .
She t u r n e d to f i n d t h e P a rso n s t a n d i n g t h e r e
h i s s to n y e y e s g i v i n g o f f s p a r k s .
The m a in d o o r o p e n e d w id e a n d I r a B e a to n
s te p p e d i n t o t h e room. M i l l i e k i s s e d him.
"T h is i s a s u r p r i s e ., IrOj " sh e s a i d . "I h a v e
been show ing P a r s o n C r a b t r e e t h e l i t t l e p a r l o r .
I s e e no harm i n h i s u s i n g i t f o r a q u i e t m eet­
ing., now a n d t h e n j o f p e o p l e i n t e r e s t e d i n h i s
good w o r k s . "
" W h y ----- e r ------- y e s , M i l l i e . , d e a r ., b u t I
am s u r e t h e good P a rso n w i l l h o l d h i s m e e tin g s in
m id—m o r n in g when t h e r e w o n 't be a s many i n t h e
 14

t a p room. I t w i l l be q u i e t t h e n . " H i s f a c e ap­

p e a r e d j o v i a l b u t h i s e yes d i d n o t sm ile .
"The l i t t l e w itc h .," th o u g h t Aaronj " th e a r r a n t
h y p o c r ite ; u s in g t h i s w orker f o r th e Lord as a
c lo a k to h i d e t h e s i n f u l t r u t h from h e r h u sb a n d .
I c a n ' t go t h i s f a r . I c a n ' t a c c e p t t h i s d u b io u s
o f f e r o f h e r h e l p t h a t i s b u i l t upon a b a l d - f a c e d
l i e -----b e s i d e S j w hat good i s a room w i t h o u t a
fo llo w in g ? I t a l k to m y s e lf too much anyw ay."
Then a n o t h e r th o u g h t s t r u c k him., a d d i n g to
h i s in n e r tu rm o il. I f he exposed t h i s s i n f d l
c u c k h o l d r y h e w o u ld r u i n h i s c h a n c e o f g e t t i n g
t h e campmeeting ground out o f George Moreland., Sr.
No man w ould want h i s son e x p o se d p u b l i c l y j e s ­
p e c i a l l y b e f o r e th o s e in l e s s e r w alks o f l i f e ,
"Chj Lord! Thy s e r v a n t i s s o r e l y t r i e d ! "
I f h e c o u l d keep h i s mouth s h u t and l a t e r . ,
c a s u a l l y m e n tio n t o Mr. M oreland t h a t h i s son was
on t h e v e r g e o f t h e p i t o f h e ll., t o sa y n o t h i n g
o f p r o m o tin g a s c a n d a l and bad b lo o d in 'tT ie
n e ig h b o r h o o d ., s o m e t h i n g mi g h t come, o f i t . The
P a r s o n th o u g h t t h e n a t u r a l r e s u l t o f such a good
d e e d on h i s p a r t would be such deep a p p r e c i a t i o n
on t h e p a r t o f t h e p l a n t e r t h a t h e w o u ld t u r n
o v e r t h e cam p-m e e ting ground a r e a t o him w i t h o u t
any more ado. I t was a l l f o r t h e G lory o f God and
th e end j u s t i f i e d t h e means.
Then h e b r e a t h e d d e e p l y f o r h e knew in h i s
h e a r t th a t a l i t t l e in n o c e n t t r i c k e r y f o r th e
good o f t h e c a u s e was t o be e x p e c te d ., b u t y o u
c o u l d n ' t b u i l d f a i t h and lo v e o f God upon th e
f a l s e f o u n d a t i o n o f a b r e a c h o f any o f t h e t e n
commandments.
t o n e would be h i s f o o t h o l d in t h i s community
b u t h e was c e r t a i n l y g o i n g to do a good j o b o f
e x p o s in g b o th t h e s i n and t h e p a r t i e s t h e r e t o .
 15

He g la n c e d a t t h e t a v e r n k e e p e r a nd s a i d in
a l o u d c a r r y i n g v o ic e :
"Mr. B e a to n , sufi, I am h e r e on G o d 's v i c a r
on e a r t h and no p r e a c h e r w o rth h i s s a l t w i l l u s e
t h i s room f o r w o rsh ip u n t i l y o u r h o u s e i s p u rg e d
o f m o r t a l s i n and s h a m e ."
The c h a t t e r in t h e t a p room slow ed down and
s to p p e d . L aughing, t h e p e o p le crowded to t h e open
door.
He h e s i t a t e d u n t i l t h e y h a d q u i e t e d down.
Tnose who h a d been u n a b l e to g e t to t h e doorway
b a n k e d a r o u n d o u t s i d e , some s t a n d i n g on t i p t o e
to see over th e heads o f th e o th e rs .
"This a f t e r n o o n you t o l d me you k e p t a c le a n
h o u s e , " t h e P a r s o n c o n t i n u e d . "That may be what
y o u t h i n k . " H i s v o i c e r o s e l o u d e r . "I s a y t h a t
t h i s i s a h o u s e o f e v i l t h i n k i n g . The d e v i l and
h i s m in io n s l u r k in a l l t h e s h a d o w s ."
He w a lk e d o v e r and s to o d by t h e b a r r e l .
"Where t h e r e i s e v i l t h i n k i n g t h e r e w i l l be
e v i l d o i n g . " H is to n e o f v o i c e now was m enacing,
a s w ith h i s h a n d on t h e l i d o f t h e b a r r e l J r e said:
■” ou do n o t b e l e i v e me? You want e v id e n c e ? "
He p a u s e d t o l o o k a t t h e s i l e n t , p u z z l e d
p e o p le . The lo n g f i n g e r o f h i s r i g h t hand p o i n t e d
t o t h e b a r r e l l i d 1 ic h w i t h h i s l e f t h e r a i s e d
and g e n t l y thumped back in p l a c e .
"You s h a l l h a v e y o u r e v i d e n c e , f o r t h e s i n ­
f u l s p i r i t o f t h e d e v i l can h i d e a nyw here. He i s
h i d i n g h e r e in t h i s b a r r e l . " ;
He s n a t c h e d o f f t h e l i d . A g h a s t l y , w h i t e ,
w ild -e y e d .c re a tu re sh o t out o f th e b a r r e l as
th o u g h i m p e l l e d by s p r i n g s . The P a r s o n h a d n ' t
c o u n te d on t h i s w h ite d w r a i t h o f a human.
However, h e p a u se d h a r d l y a sec o n d b e f o r e he
shout ed:
 " S a t a n 1 S a t a n ! The g h o s t o f e v i l s i n a n a
shame' 11 H is v o ic e sounded f r a n t i c .
The d e s p e r a t e - f i g u r e , s e e i n g a l l o f those
i n t e r e s t e d p e o p l e c r o w d e d in t h e m ain doorw ay
oodged a r o u n d t h e b a r r e l y a n k e d open th e s e r v i c e
ioox a n d r a n a l o n g b e h i n a t h e b a r t o v / a r d t h e
k i t c h e n d o o r in t h e t a p room. Those in t h e r e a r
saw t h e g h o s t d i s a p p e a r i n t o t h e k i t c h e n . A
woman scream ed *
From t h e k i t c h e n came y e l l s and t h e c o l o r e d
c o o k ' s h i g h - p i t c h e d v o i c e s h r i e k e d : " F o re Gawd
H i t ' s a han't ! "
One o f t h e b i b b l e r s r e e l e d to t h e back w in ­
dow and f o r e v e r a f t e r w a r d sw ore h e h a d b een in
tim e t o s e e t h e g h a s t l y f i g u r e o f s i n f l o a t o u t
o f t h e k i t c h e n and o v e r t h e y a r d to d i s a p p e a r in
t h e p a l e l i g h t , o f t h e t h i n moon b e f o r e i t h a d
even r e a c h e d t h e woods beyond „
- a r s h b r e a t h i n g o f men a n d t h e h y s t e r i c a l
s o b s o f women b r o k e t h e h e a v y s i l e n c e t h a t f o l ­
low ed B u dde nly t h e P a r s o n ' s v o i c e c u t t h r o u g h
l i k e a d e a th k n e ll, ° e w alked o v e r to t h e d o o r t o
s t a n a in t h e l i g h t from th e t a p room. As he spoke
h e f e l t t h a t God h a d g iv e n him h i s f o o t h o l d h e r e
a n a who was h e t o a r g u e w ith t h e d i v i n e ways o f
h i s m a ste r? •
The s k e p t i c s w ere a t a d i s a d v a n t a g e and i t
was t o o good a chance f o r t h e s a l v a t i o n o f t h e i r
s i n f u l s o u l s f o r him to p a s s u p . E very w ord h e
hammered home b ro u g h t d e e p e r f e a r t o th e f e a r f u l
t h e d o u b t f u l and t h o s e une a sy a t h e a r t .
W hile p l a y i n g upon t h e i r e m o tio n s a s though
each was a s t i i n g o f a h a r p s i c h o r d he w atched th e
p l a n t e r j G e o ig e M o re la n d . T h e r e was no f e a r in
h r . F o re la n d * s e y e s n o r d i d he wear t h e look o f
a s k e p t i c ; t h e r e was no u n c e r t a i n t y and no d o u b t.
 i7
"Thank th e L ord f o r t h a t " j t h e P a r s o n th o u g h t.
"He h a s n ' t m is s e d h i s son y e t . I must g e t o v e r to
him a t r u e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f th e s i t u a t i o n . "
As f o r t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e o th e r s ,, h e c o u ld
t e l l by t h e t e n s e lo o k on t h e i r faces., t h e i r deep
c o n c e n t r a t i o n j t h a t th e y n o t o n l y b e l e i v e d in
g h o s ts but th o u g h t they had j u s t seen one.
F o r a s e c o n d he f e l t a r e t u r n i n g , tw in g e o f
c o n s c ie n c e which was f o llo w e d by r e a s o n . Could h e
h e l p i t i f th e y t h o u g h t G eorge Moreland., J r . . , a
r e a l g h o s t? Ghost o r not., i f G eorge w a s n ' t gen­
u i n e e v i d e n c e o f e v i l h e ' d s u r e l y do u n t i l some­
t h i n g more e v i l came a l o n g . With a c l e a r e d c ons­
c i e n c e t h e o l d man p u t e v e r y t h i n g he had i n t o th e
b u s i n e s s a t hand.
H i s d e e p r i c h v o i c e was g o o d f o r e i t h e r
s i n g i n g o r p r a y i n g and h e ch o se p r a y e r now.. J u s t
a s h o r t p r a y e r b u t a p o w e r f u l one; a n d when t h e
"A m en!" s o u n d e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e t a v e r n , p e o p l e
r a i s e d f e a r - s t r i c k e n e y e s t o w onder w hat w ould
h i t them n e x t But t h e P arson, knew he w a s n 't go­
i n g t o h i t th a n w ith a n y t h i n g ,
H is v o i c e became c o n v e r s a t i o n a l j f r i e n d l y ,
b u t l i k e any good m o u n ta in s q u i r r e l h u n t e r ., he
was s t i l l c a l l i n g h i s s h o t s
"FolkSj I t h in k th e f i r s t t h i n g t o do now i s
t o th a n k B r o t h e r George M oreland who i s g o in g to
le n d u s te n a c r e s o f c r e e k bottom f o r e s t l a n d f o r
a c am p-m eeting ground. Yes., suh; we c e r t a i n l y do
a p p r e c i a t e h i s k i n d a c t* S o r t o f f e e l l i k e i t ' s
t h e f i r s t s t e p t o k e e p t h a t g h o s t from t a k i n g
some human form we m ig h t a l l know W ill you be
good enough t o say few words.. B r o th e r M o re la n d ? "
"W hy -----a h -------yeSj P a r s o n C r a b tr e e ., " Mr.
M oreland r e p l i e d though t f u l l y j h i s v o i c e a l i t t l e
h o a r s e . " I t m ig h t be p o s s i b l e ; s i r ; y o u ' l l n e e d
 48
a s much a s tw e n ty a c r e s . You p i c k y o u r l o c a t i o n
a n d I ' l l h a v e my h a n d s bush o u t c r o a d i n t o t h e
p l a c e , i f y o u w i l l p r e a c h t o th e m o n c e i n a
w h ile-"
"Whyj su h j I ' l l be p r o u d t o a n d t h a n k you
k i n d l y l " The P a r s o n ' s e y e s f i l l e d and h i s v o i c e
choked up a l i t t l e . "My f r i e n d s , t h i s i s a happy.,
m e l t i n g day f o r me. I f e e l t h a t we a r e on t h e way
t o t h e G lo r y o f t h e L o r d and t h e b a n is h m e n t o f
t h e d e v i l . A f t e r B r o th e r Beaton h a s wet o u r w his­
t l e s w i t h d r i n k s on t h e h o u s e t h e m u s i c i a n s
s h o u l d g e t b a c k t o work so a s we can a i l do a
1 i t t l e s i n g i n g ."
B r o t h e r B e a to n t o o k o n e lo o k a t t h e many
p e o p l e in t h e t a v e r n and h i s f a c e fro z e * He d i d
n o t lo o k t h e g e n i a l h o s t b u t r a t h e r l i k e a man
who s e e s h i s l i f e ' s b lo o d flo w in g av.-ay
" T h a t'll p le a su re us g re a tly P a rso n ," sa jd
L i l l i e s m i l i n g up a t , h e r husband* "W e 'll show o u r
a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r y o u r good work t h a t w i l l b r i n g
t h o u s a n d s h e r e f o r t h e m e e t i n g s w o n ' t we, I r a
dear? "
A m i r a c l e to o k p l a c e upon t h e h o s t ' s f a c e -
"Thous------ — S i t r i g h t down, f o l k s , and speak up-
J u s t name i t and w e ' l l f e t c h it! "
P a r s o n Aaron C r a b t r e e s i g h e d w i t h r e l i e f ,
mopped h i s brow, and o f f e r e d up a s i l e n t p r a y e r :
"Oh L ord I thank Thee f o r coming t o t h e a i d
o f Thy s o r e l y p r e s s e d s e r v a n t. I th a n k Thee f o r
p u ttin g in to th e s e f o l k 's h e a r ts th e w illin g n e s s
t o a c c e p t Thy m e rc y . Thou h a s t , w ith T h in e i n f i ­
n i t e wisdom, shown me how to b e g in Thy work and
w ith Thy sword b e s i a e me I am com fo rte d . Oh L ord
"Amen ! "

The End
THE DEVIL
in The
Old Dominion

The B asic
H i s t o r i c a l F a c ts
About th e E a rly
19th Century
R e lig io u s
Si t u a t i o n .
 20

o - d a y j t h e r e a r e few p e o p le who w i l l b e l e i v e

r t h a t t h e d e v i l ramped and r a g e d in The O ld

Dominion a n d t h e r e s t o f th e young U nion a r o u n d
1800 • Thenj i t was a s e r i o u s m a t t e r a n d c a l l e d
f o r t h e m a r s h a l l i n g o f a l l th e f o r c e s o f th e Lord-
W ellj p e rh a p s n o t q u i t e a l l b e c a u se t h e Bap­
t i s t s . , M e t h o d i s t s and P r e s b y t e r i a n s d i a n o t f e e l
t h a t t h e E p is c o p a le a n s w ere a d e q u a te to cope
w i t h t h e d e v i l . That i s what t h e i r p r e a c h e r s s a i d
but th e y w ere j u s t a b i t b i a s e d B e fo re th e Revo­
l u t i o n t h e C hurch o f E ngland h a d been t h e domi*-
n a n t , o f f i c i a l f a i t h and t h e B a p t i s t s . M e th o d is ts
a n d P r e s b y t e r i a n s h a d t o t a k e t o t h e by ways,
h e d g e s and m o u n ta in a r e a S j e l s e th e y m ig h t h ave
t o do t h e i r p r e a c h i n g from t h e b a r r e d windows o f
a county j a i l .
 21

A f te r th e p a s s in g of th e s t a t u t e s o f r e l i ­
g i o u s fre e d o m j a n d t h e d i v o r c i n g o f c h u r c h and
s t a t e , t h e .A nglican C h u rc h , s u f f e r i n g from t h e
t a i n t o f b e in g o f f i c i a l l y English,, was v e r y much
d i s o r g a n i z e d . The a d h e r e n t s o f t h e E p i s c o p a l
f a i t h w ere t r y i n g t o r e b u i l d in th e new o r d e r o f
th in g s., but th e p r e a c h e r s o f th e E v a n g e lic a l
T hree d i d n o t o f f e r th e n a id j com fort and a d v ic e .
They w ere o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t th e c o u n t r y yrauld
be b e t t e r o f f i f t h e former members o f t h e Church
of England became members in good s t a n d i n g o f th e
M e th o d is t B a p t i s t o r P r e s b y t e r i a n denom inations"
They a c t e d a c c o r d i n g l y a n d w ent a b o u t c h a s i n g
down t h e E p is c o p a l s a n s w ith a s much f i e r y z e a l a s
they fought t h e d e v i l . In some r e l i g i o u s minds i t
a l l seamed to be t h e same cha se .
The 4b th C e n t u r y was u s h e r e d in w i t h s i n
im a g in e d in e v e r y form from h a r d - h o o v e d j t a i l -
w a g g in g d e v i l s l u r k i n g b e h i n d e a c h bush t o t h e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f p a s s i n g c lo u d shadows a s e v i l
t h in k in g .
T h e r e was some t r u t h in i t a l l The m o r a le
and m o r a l s o f t h e c o u n tr y h a d dro p p e d decide-. '
For a l l o f our b i g t a l k we w ere a l i t t l e new no­
t i o n c h a r r i n g an u n c e r t a i n course* we were b l u s ­
t e r i n g and a f r a i d . A ll o f t h i s was a g r e a t a i d to
t h e d e v i l whom some o f t h e more s u p e r s t i t i o u s
t h o u g h t h a d t a k e n t h e e a r t h l y form o f Thomas
Jefferson.
E ver s i n c e t h e R e v o lu tio n t h e t h r e e grow ing
. E v a n g e lic a l D e n o m in a tio n s h a d r e a l i z e d t h e n e e d
f o r t h e r e v i v a l o f r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g in t h e
c o u n t r y . O f t e n t h e t h r e e h e l d j o i n t m e e t i n g s to
p r e s e n t a s t r o n g f r o n t a g a i n s t t h e i r common ene­
m ie s. They o b t a i n e d c o n v e r ts but th e y ware h a n d i -
c a p e d by n o t b e i n g a b l e to r e a c h enough p e o p l e .
 22

The p r i v a t e homes., t h e sm a ll c h a p e l s and to b a c c o

b a r n s w e re l i m i t e d a s t o t h e num ber o f p e o p l e
who c o u l d be p a c k e d i n . ThuSj m o re o f t e n th a n
n o t j i t was t h e g o d ly who a t t e n d e d t h e m e e t i n g s
w hereas t h e u n g odly were n e i t h e r f e a r f u l n o r c u r ­
io u s enough t o a l l o w th e m se lv e s t o be s h o e - h o m e d
i n t o an a l r e a d y crowded spa c e . In t h o s e d ays o u r
p e o p l e w ere in t h e m e n ta l s t a t e t h a t w ould w e l ­
come e v e n t s t a k i n g p l a c e on a l a r g e s c a l e . One
m ig h t say t h i s was t h e u n c o n s c io u s y e a r n i n g o f a
f r i g h t e n e d , u n c e r t a i n p e o p l e ---- t h e s u g g e s t i o n
o f s e c u r i t y in m a s s e s .
T h is i s e x a c t l y what was g iv e n them by some
p r e a c h e r o r p r e a c h e r s . The cam p -m e e tin g was in ­
v e n t e d o r d e v e l o p e d j u s t p r i o r t o 1 8 0 0 . Some
a u t h o r i t i e s s t a t e t h a t i t o r i g i n a t e d in t h e deep
S o u th w h e r e a s o t h e r s p o i n t t o K e n tu c k y . Though
t h e name o f t h e g e n i u s who d e v e lo p e d t h i s s im p le
an sw e r to t h e E v a n g e l i s t s ' p r a y e r h a s been f o r ­
g o t t e n h e b r o u g h t t h e stump and f i e l d p r e a c h e r
i n t o h i s own and made t h e new c i t i z e n s o f t h e s e
U n ite d S t a t e s crowd c o n sc io u s.
When p r e a c h e r s who h a d been a c c u s to m e d t o
e x h o r t i n g a h a n d f u l l su d d e n ly fo u n d th e m s e l v e s
s p e a k i n g to th o u s a n d s in a s p a r c e l y —s e t t l e d
c o u n try ., th e y h a d s o m e th in g t h a t d e f i n i t e l y i n ­
f lu e n c e d th e t r e n d o f t h i n k i n g and b e h a v io r o f
t h a t tim e . T h e r e f o r e ; t h i s was so m e th in g in t h e
m a k in g t o i n f l u e n c e h i s t o r y . I t d i d ------ a n d
sta rtlin g ly .
When t h i s w r i t e r stu m b le d i n t o a l l th is ., i t
seemed u n b e l e i v a b l e f Though t h i s a c c o u n t e d f o r
t h e b e g i n n i n g a d e e p a n d c onsum ing i n t e r e s t i s
t h e re a so n f o r c o n t i n u i n g t h e r e s e a r c h .
Some o f t h e b e s t h i s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h i te m s
a r e o b t a i n e d th r o u g h t h i s a c c i a e n t a l b l u n d e r i n g .
 23
You m i g h t s a y t h e r e s e a r c h e r . , k e e p i n g an ■.open
mindj but n o t knowing what h e w ants to s e a r c h f o r
o t h e r than som e thing i n a given p e r i o d , j u s t s o r t
o f n o s e s a ro u n d a l i b r a r y . , h o p e f u l l y .
My own p e r i o d i s between 1700 and 1835 w ith
s p e c i a l emphasis on a l l p h a s e s o f l i f e i n C e n tr a l
V i r g i n i a ----- Piedmont., Blue Ridge., V a lle y and th e
James R iv e r . T h is i s b e c a u s e o f t h e f ir m b e l i e f
t h a t when you t i e y o u r r e s e a r c h down t o a p a r t i ­
c u l a r county., o r town o r s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t y o u
m is s much o f th e p i c t u r e o f l i f e t h a t e x i s t e d and
you d o n ' t p a s s t h e p i c t u r e on to o th e r s ., though
you may do an e x c e l l e n t j o b on t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
p ie c e of research .
In t h e J o n e s M em orial L i b r a r y o f Lynchburg.,
I b lu n d e r e d i n t o a b i o g r a p h y o f t h e - e a r l y Evan­
g e l i s t L o r e n z o Dow. I t w as by C h a r l e s Coleman
S e l l e r s and i t g ave a p i c t u r e I h a d c e r t a i n l y
■missed. As L orenzo Dow h a d been in Lynchburg and
B e d fo rd a s e a r l y a s - 1804 and r a n t e d ' a o o u t Lynch­
b u r g " b e in g a p o o r p l a c e f o r t h e w o rsh ip o f God"
h e h a d made t h e l o c a l h i s t o r y books. However., i t
w a s s o o n o b v i o u s t h a t t h e r e w as a v a r i a n c e
between th e benign t r e a t m e n t o f o u r e a r l i e r l o c a l
h i s t o r i a n s on r e l i g i o u s s u b j e c t s and t h e u n i l i t a n t
r e l i g i o n o f Dow a n d o t h e r s .
T h i S j i n turn., l e d to t h e s t u d y o f r e c o r d s .,
d i a r i e s . , j o u r n a l s and b i o g r a p h i e s o f t h e Evangel­
i c a l p r e a c h e r s ; t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e Camp
M e e t i n g ; a n d t h e e f f e c t o f t h i s r e l i g i o u s up­
h e a v a l upon t h e s e c t i o n . , s t a t e and n a t i o n even
u n t o t h e t h i r d and f o u r t h g e n e r a t i o n t h e r e a f t e r .
As t o my own w o r k : T h i s b l u n d e r i n g h a s
changed my whole c o n c e p tio n a s to th e em phasis o f
h i s t o r y a n d h i s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h and i t s u s e ' i n
a v o id in g th e p i t f a l l s of th e fu tu re .
 24
I n p r e s e n t i n g h e r e some i n d i c a t i o n s o f t h e
s t r e n g t h p a c k e d in t h e E v a n g e l i c a l w a llo p o f th e
e a r l y 1 9 th C e n tu r y a c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s t a t u s
o f t h i s s e c t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y . The C e n t r a l V ir g in ­
i a Piedmont and V a lle y were f a r more im p o r ta n t to
t h e U n ite d S t a t e s o f t h a t tim e th a n th e y a re
t o - d a y . T h is h o l d s t r u e b o th from a m a t e r i a l and
a p o p u l a t i o n v i e w p o i n t . T h is b a s i c f a c t h a s been
i g n o r e d i n f a r t o o many r e c e n t w o r k s . I t h a s
c a u s e d h i s t o r i c a l d i s t o r t i o n a n d i n some i n ­
s t a n c e s p l a c e d upon t h e r e f e r e n c e s h e l v e s books
t h a t w i l l i n t h e f u t u r e c a u s e an e r r o n e o u s con­
c e p tio n o f th e h is to r y of t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p erio d .
The Camp M e e tin g o f f e r e d b o th i n t e r e s t and
c u r i o s i t y a p p e a l t o p e o p le whose amusements w ere
m o s t l y o f t h e homespun v a r i e t y . I t was so m e th in g
very n e w . I t a f f o r d e d and o u t i n g , i n t e r m i n g l i n g
a n d t a l k i n g w i t h many p e o p l e .
The w o r d s "Camp M e e t i n g " a r e d e s c r i p t i v e
o n l y in p a r t . A c t u a l l y t h e r e was a s e r i e s o f
m e e t i n g s l a s t i n g fro m t h r e e t o f i v e d a y s . I n
o r d e r t o be c l o s e a t hand t o a t t e n d t h e s e m e e t­
i n g s p e o p l e came p r e p a r e d t o camp o u t f o r t h a t
t i m e . T he few s c a t t e r e d i n n s a n d t h e p r i v a t e
homes c o u l d n o t accommodate t h e th r o n g .
The c h o i c e s i t e f o r t h e m e e t i n g g ro u n d was
u s u a l l y an a r e a o f c r e e k - b o t t o m l a n d upon ' h i c h
t h e r e was a s t a n d o f v i r g i n t i m b e r . I n su c h an
a n c i e n t f o r e s t th e h u g e .,w id e ly -sp a c e d t r e e t r u n k s
r o s e h ig h b e f o r e th e f i r s t lim bs. When c l e a r e d of
u n d e r g r o w t h t h e r e was s p a c e f o r t h o u s a n d s o f
w o rsh ip p e rs.
One o r more p l a t f o r m s f o r p r e a c h e r s would be
c o n s t r u c t e d . Nearby,, t e n t s w o u ld be p i t c h e d t o
s e r v e a tw o - f o ld p u rp o se . H ere th e e x h o r tin g
p r e a c h e r s c o u ld r e s t and renew t h e i r s t r e n g t h to
 25
r e t u r n t o t h e f r a y . They c o u ld a l s o h ave p r i v a c y
in w hich t o w r e s t l e w ith t h e d e v i l in some s t u b ­
b o rn s i n n e r . L a t e r , i f t h e p a r t i c u l a r s i t e be­
came a p o p u l a r m e e t i n g g r o u n d , t h e t e n t s w e r e
r e p l a c e d by l o g c a b i n s .
G e n e r a lly w i t h i n a s h o r t d i s t a n c e was an o l d
f i e l d , worn o u t by y e a r s o f growing to b a c c o . T h is
was r e s e r v e d f o r t h e camp s i t e . H e re t e n t s w ere
p i t c h e d and c o v e r e d wagons L ined up. Many p e o p l e
p r e f e r r e d s l e e p i n g i n wagons r a t h e r th a n t e n t s .
An a d d e d f e a t u r e o f t h e camp m e e t i n g was
th e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e t r a d e r s ' wagons, g i v i n g th e
h o u s e w iv e s from t h e back a r e a s a c h a n c e t o p u r ­
c h a s e a t f i r s t h a n d goods and u t e n s i l s . Always
c l o s e by w ere dram s e l l e r s . I n t h o s e d a y s when­
e v e r a crowd g a t h e r e d , r e g a r d l e s s o f th e r e a s o n ,
t h e r e was some h a r d l i q u o r d r i n k i n g .
H ere a t l a s t was t h e means t h a t s u p p l i e d th e
p r e a c h e r s w’j t h huge numbers of p e o p le f o r c o n g re ­
g a t i o n s . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e s e h a r d - w o r k i n g ,
l o n e l y t h o u s a n d s s c a t t e r e d o v e r a w id e a r e a had
o f f e r e d t o them an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a b re a k in th e
monotony, t h e ch a n c e to t r a v e l , even though i t be
a lo n g t r i p in a wagon, on h o r s e b a c k o r a f o o t . I t
b ro u g h t about the m e e tin g and t a l k i n g w ith p e o p le
from o v e r t h e m o u n t a i n , a c r o s s t h e r i v e r , o r
j u s t a ro u n d t h e h i l l . Above a l l i t was f r e e . And
i t m ig h t be s a i d t h a t many s e t o u t f o r t h e meet­
i n g w i t h a t l e a s t an a m ia b le f e e l i n g to w a rd The
L o rd f o r h a v i n g p r o v i d e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y .
Of c o u r s e , many o f t h e p e o p l e who a t t e n d e d
t h e s e f i r s t camp m e e t i n g s d i d n o t know what th e y
w ere g e t t i n g th e m s e lv e s i n t o . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t
t h e p r e a c h e r s d i d n 1t e i t h e r . I t i s e x t r e m e l y
d o u b t f u l i f a n y p r o o f c a n be p r o d u c e d t o show
t h a t t h e p r e a c h e r s knew b e f o r e h a n d t h a t m a ss
 26
a m o tio n a lism was g o in g t o t a k e o v e r th e m e e tin g s .
Most o f t h e p r e a c h e r s were a s u n p r e p a r e d f o r
what h a p p e n e d a s w e re t h o s e who a t t e n d e d .
At t h e e a r l y j s m a ll r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g s some
few were c a r r i e d away e m o t i o n a l l y by "The Power"
o f "The Word. " I t was c o n s i d e r e d by many a s a r e ­
l i g i o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n ----- t h a t t h e p e r s o n f e a r ­
f u l b e c a u s e o f h i s s i n S j was in a s t a t e o f m ind
t o r e p e n t j a sh f o r g i v e n e s s j j o i n t h e c h u r c h and
become a good w o r k e r i n t h e V in e y a r d . Or., i f h e
was a l r e a d y a b r o t h e r i n good s t a n d in g ., h e was
overcome by h i s y e a r n i n g to be a b e t t e r C h r i s t i a n .
Howeverj when t h e camp m e e t i n g s h i t t h e i r
s t r i d e ., w ith r e l a y s o f p r e a c h e r s hammering a t th e
D e v i l a n d s i n f o r h o u r s on end., m a ss h y s t e r i a
s e e p e d in., i n s i d i o u s l y a t f i r s t . P e o p l e f e a r e d
b e in g s i n g l e d o u t by t h e p o i n t i n g f i n g e r o f some
p r e a c h e r a s b e in g a s i n n e r . They f e a r e d t h a t p e r ­
h a p s th e y w ere s i n n e r s and d i d n ' t know i t . They
w ere u n e a s y a b o u t w hat th e y h a d been d o in g . One
form o f t h i s m a la d y c a u s e d them t o b u i l d up i n
t h e i r minds sm a ll e v e n t s o r in c i d e n c e s u n t i l th e y
b e l i e v e d t h e n - t o be g r ie v o u s e r r o r s o f l i v i n g t h a t
c o u l d o n l y b e w i p e d .o u t by p u b l i c c o n f e s s i o n .
S o m e tim e s a s m a l l t h r e a d o f a n x i e t y was woven
in to a b lan k et of fe a r u n t i l th e poor c u l p r i t
f e l t sm o th ered in d e s p e r a t i o n .
Now when a l l o f t h e s e d e s p e r a t e e m o t i o n s
re ach ed th e s u r f a c e th o u g h ts and f e e l i n g s o f a
g r e a t m ass o f p e o p l e e a c h i n d i v i d u a l becam e
e f f e c t e d by t h e e m o t i o n s o f t h e o t h e r w h ic h i n
t u r n h a d a m u l t i p l e e f f e c t upon t h e crow d a s a
w h o le /
Suppose we s h o u l d f i n d o u r s e l v e s a t a n i g h t
camp m e e t i n g a t t h e tim e o f t h e " b r e a k o v e r " o f
e m o t i o n s t h a t f i n a l l y came a f t e r f i v e t h o u s a n d
 27
p e o p l e h a d been a t f e v e r p i t c h f r o m .n e a r h y s t e r ­
i c a l ‘ t e n s i o n f o r - s e v e r a l d a y s . T hese p e o p l e a r e
m a s s e d . i n *t h e f o r e s t a i s l e s w h e re many a red_,
f l i c k e r i n g p i n e - t o r c h v ie s w ith th e m o o n lig h t—
O v e r h a l f o f t h i s v a s t mimber a r e s h o u t i n g a n d
s c r e a m in g , l a u g h i n g a n a s o b b i n g . Some a r e c ra w ­
l i n g . i n t h e d i r t , w o rm in g t h e i r way to w a r d t h e
s t r a w by t h e p l a t f o r m , b e g g in g t o be s a y e d , c r y ­
i n g a l o u d t h e i r s i n s . Many h a v e t h e " j e r k s " -----
a p e c u l i a r c a m p - m e e tin g d i s o r d e r - t h a t c a u s e d a
c o n t i n u a l t w i t c h i n g a n d j e r k i n g o f - t h e m u s c le s .
T h is p a r t i c u l a r n e r v o u s ^ a f f l i c t i o n w a s : e s p e c i a l l y
p r e v a l e n t in K e n tu c k y . T o- s e e p e o p l e j e r k i n g was
t h o u g h t - t o be an a t t r a c t i o n : i m i t s e l f . . E v e n - t h e
q u i e t , u n e m o tio n a l Q uakers came t o - s e e for*them ­
s e l v e s t h a t th e s t o r i e s o f ' t h e . " j e r k s " w e r e ”t r u e ,
In r e c o r d - t i m e th e Q uakers w e r e . j e r k i n g a l s o .
Many p e o p l e f e l l in f a i n t s and became r i g i d .
Whenever p o s s i b l e a t t e n d a n t s s t a c k e d - t h e m u p - t o
o n e s i d e t o p r o t e c t them fro m t r a m p l i n g . The
s h o u t i n g , s to m p in g , s i n g i n g , - t h e dem ented c r i e s
----- a l l c o u l d be h e a r d - f o r m i l e s . T h e r e a r e a
number o f c a s e s on r e c o r d where p e o p lp some m i l e s
f r o m - th e m e e t i n g g r o u n d - h o v e been knocked o u t by
t h i s s t r a n g e . e f f e e t o f t h e s e r e l i g i o u s m e e tin g s .
In o t h e r words t h e r e were l i t e r a l l y a - t h o u s ­
a n d a n d m o re p e o p l e o u t o f r a t i o n a l c o n t r o l .
I f y o u . c o n s i d e r ; t h a t ' t h e e m o tio n a l d i s p l a y s - t h a t
sometimes o c c u r a t t h e l a r g e , p r e s e n t day .Lvangel-
i c a l m e e t i n g s a r e b u t f a i n t b r e e z e s . compared - t o
“t h e e m o t i o n a l . c y c l o n e s o f 1800 th e n you h a v e a
s l i g h t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w hat “to o k p l a c e .
N e i t h e r t h e p e o p l e n o r t h e p r e a c h e r s w ere
p r e p a r e d f o r a l l “t h i s . The p r e a c h e r s , ho w e v e r,
w e re q u ic k t o . c l a i m t h a t i t was a l l t h e e x p r e s ­
s i o n o f t r u e r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g a n d t h e b e s t me­
 28
th o d o f e r a d i c a t i n g th e d e v i l and h i s n e f a r io u s
works. The v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e e a r l y E v a n g e lic a l
p r e a c h e r s d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h i s n o r th e h y p n o tic
p o w e r t h a t came to many o f them b e c a u s e o f t h i s
p e c u l i a r e m o tio n a l s t r e s s . They a c c e p te d it., took
a d v a n t a g e o f i t a n d w ent on from t h e r e . As t h e
p r e a c h e r s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e o f t e n k n o c k e d o u t by
t h i s e m o tio n a l s t r a i n th e y n a t u r a l l y f i g u r e d i t
a l l a s p a r t o f The L o r d ' s work. They d i d n ' t know
enough h i s t o r y to be aw are t h a t mass h y s t e r i a h a s
done some s t r a n g e t h i n g s i n th e past., such a s th e
d a n c i n g m a n ia in t h e M id d le Ages.
Of c o u r s e j w h e n e v e r t h e d e v i l was r u n n i n g
w i l d h e m ost a lw a y s f e l l back on s e x a s a s u r e
f i r e way o f — uh — w e l l ; b r i n g i n g o u t t h e d e v i l
i n f o l k s . He w as a l w a y s p r o m o t i n g t r i a n g l e S j
b r e a k in g up homes a nd s u g g e s t i n g c l a n d e s t i n e m eet­
i n g s by p a r t i e s who s h o u l d n ' t be m e e t i n g o p e n ly
and c a u s in g e lo p e m e n ts - a n d d i v o r c e s . A ll o f t h i s
was a s o r e s u b j e c t w ith t h e p r e a c h e r s .
The b a t t l e th e y p u t up a g a i n s t th e d e v i l and
s e x u a l s i n n i n g was tr e m e n d o u s . I n t h e main th e y
w ere s u c c e s s f u l b e c a u se t h e m o r a ls o f t h e c o u n try
improved. However, t h e d e v i l put. up q u i t e a f i g h t
e s p e c i a l l y when t h e camp m e e t i n g s w e r e f i r s t
la u n c h e d . He was a b e t t e r p s y c h o l o g i s t than th o s e
f i r s t c a m p -m e e tin g p r e a c h e r s . He knew a b o u t t h e
s i m i l a r i t y betw een a l l v e r y s t r o n g e m o tio n s . I f
p e o p l e a r e w orked u p t o an e m o t i o n a l p i t c h from
o n e c a u s e i t t a k e s v e r y l i t t l e t o s h o v e them
o f f th e d e e p end i n t o th e s l i p p e r y s e a s o f
s e x em o tio n s.
The d e v i l p l a y e d t h a t t r i c k a t t h e camp
m e e t i n g s . D u r in g t h e " b r e a k o v e r " when t h e m ass
e m o t i o n a l o r g y w as a t i t s h e i g h t some men a n d
women w ould be much a t t r a c t e d to each o t h e r , and
 29
though i n t h e moment o f h y s t e r i O j th e y were o n ly
v a g u e ly aw are o f what was g o in g oiij t h e r e w a sn 1 t
any q u e s t i o n a b o u t i t s b e i n g s e x . N or was t h i s
p r o b l e n s o lv e d by s e a e r a t i n g t h e men and women a t
t h e m e e t i n g s . D u rin g t h e g e n e r a l u p h e a v a l o f th e
" b r e a k o v e r " they d i d n ' t s t a y s e p e r a t e d . When f i v e
t h o u s a n d p e o p l e w e r e s t i r r e d up i t p r o v e d im­
p o s s i b l e t o k e e p th e m a l l u n d e r o b s e r v a t i o n .
H e n c e t h e d e v i l g o t i n a few l i c k s on t h e s i d e
b u t in t h e end m ost o f t h e p e o p l e got on to him
a n d l e a r n e d how to a v o i d t r o u b l e .
These e a r l y E v a n g e l i c a l p r e a c h e r s had w ith in
t h e i r r e a c h s o m e th in g v e r y p o w e rfu l and dangerous.
T h a t t h e c o u n tr y d i d n o t s u f f e r a g r e a t d e a l ■from
t h i s d a n g e r i s due to t h e in h e r e n t f in e n e s s o f
c h a r a c t e r t h a t most o f t h e s e p r e a c h e r s p o s s e s s e d .
• P e r h a p s many w e r e s a v e d from a g r a v e m i s u s e o f
t h e i r power by t h e c o n f i n i n g l i m i t s o f t h e i r n a r ­
row m i n d s ; m in d s g i v e n o v e r t o s m i g h t i n g t h e
d e v i l a n d s i n w i t h t h e Tw o-Edged Sword o f t h e
L ordj in which t h e r e was n e i t h e r room n o r tho u g h t
t o u s e t h i s power p o t e n t i a l f o r p e r s o n a l greed.
P l e a s e n o t e t h a t h e r e I mean g r e e d and n o t
a m b i t i o n . On t h e o t h e r h a n d t h i s d o e s n o t mean
t h a t th ey f a i l e d to ta k e a d v a n ta g e o f t h i s
p o w e r f u l means o f mass c o n t r o l . Not t h e l e a s t o f
t h i s a d v a n t a g e was t h e h i g h d e g r e e o f s u p e r s t i ­
t i o n i n t h e m inds o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e p e o p l e
a t t h a t tim e . In o t h e r words_, th e y w ere m e n t a l l y
c o n d i t i o n e d to r e c e i v e th e f u l l e f f e c t o f th e
e v a n g e l i s t s ' o r a t o r y . C oupled w ith t h i s s u p e r s t i ­
t i o n w as t h e f e a r a n d u n c e r t a i n t y o f a y o u n g
c o u n try .
Myths,, l e g e n d s j t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l j g h o s t S j
h a n tS j t h e d e v i l and f i e r y p i t s o f b r i m s t o n e were
e l e m e n t s o f p o s s i b i l i t y a n d r e a l i t y i n t h e mi n d s
 3D
o f t h e p e o p l e . They w e r e e a s i l y sw a y e d by t h e
o r a t o r s o f t h e time., r e l i g i o u s a n d p o l i t i c a l .
O r a t o r y in t h e e a r l y 19th C entury was e v e ry ­
t h i n g t h a t t h e screcen., radio., t e l e v i s i o n and t h e
P r e s i d e n t i a l f i r e s i d e c h a t s a r e t o - d a y -----and a
w h o l e l o t m o r e . A man c o u l d h a v e t h e g i f t o f
s p e a k in g w i t h a s i l v e r to n g u e and a s l o n g a s t h e
p o l i s h e d w ords p o u r e d o u t i t d i d n ' t m a t t e r much
w h e th e r o r n o t th e y o r i g i n a t e d i n - a b r a i n o f v e ry
d u ll brass.
• G e n e r a l l y ’ t h e - e v a n g e l i s t s w e re n o t ' b r a s s -
b r a in e d 'a s f a r - as b rin g in g : a b o u t - t h e - d e s i r e d ’ e f­
f e c t upon t h e p e o p l e . T o-dayj a s k e p t i c r e a d i n g
a p a s s a g e from an e a r l y camp-meeting sermon m ight
be s t a r t l e d i n t o s a y i n g : " S u p e r s t i t i o u s H ooey1 "
However., a s h e . c o n t i n u e s r e a d i n g h e w i l l a d m it
a g r u d g i n g a d m i r a t i o n f o r an i m a g i n a t i o n t h a t
p ro d u ced such a g ra p h ic p i c t u r e o f - t h e h o r r o r s
of h e ll.
To ’ th e . e a r l y : e v a n g e l i s t s h e l l was a d e c i a e d
p o s s i b i l i t y i f you l e d a - s i n f u l l i f e a n d t h e i r
s i n c e r e t y a i d e d them i n g e t t i n g o v e r a d r e a d f u l
and r e a l i s t i c p i c t u r e t o t h e p e o p l e .
Though t h e camp m e e tin g p r e s e n t e d t h i s power
to th e p r e a c h e r s i t s u s e was n o t c o n f i n e d to t h e
camp m e e t i n g s . They w ere n o t slow in u s i n g i t on
t h e i r own c o n g r e g a t i o n s . The e m o tio n a lis m ., t h e
mass h y p n o tism j a l l ■te n d e d to m agnify th e s t a t u e
o f t h e p r e a c h e r ----- o f t e n to a l a r g e r s c o p e th a n
was j u s t i f i e d by h i s m e n ta l c a p a c i t y .
T h is b ro u g h t a b o u t an u n f o r t u n a t e s i t u a t i o n
w h e r e b y t h e v e ry p r o f e s s i o n o f p r e a c h i n g . c r e a t e d
a r e a d y - m a d e i n f l u e n c e o v e r h i s f l o c k . He., i n
turn., a c c e p t e d t h i s power a s h is-d u e ., a n d ’ d e l i v ­
ered f r o m t h e p u l p i t p o l i t i c a l 'a n d o th e r o p in io n s
n o t connected w ith h i s c a l l i n g about which h e was
 31
n o t w e ll enough in fo rm e d to r e n d e r a common s e n se
o p i n i o n . As t h e s e o p i n i o n s w e r e p i c k e d up and
a c t e d upon by th e c o n g r e g a t i o n s w i t h o u t question.,
o n c e i n a w hile., t h e r e was t h e i n h e r e n t d a n g e r
o f e r r o n e o u s i n f l u e n c e in p o l i t i c s and government.
T h i s w cs e s p e c i a l l y t r u e i n m o s t o f t h e
South. Though th e c h u rc h and s t a t e were no lo n g e r
c o n n e c te d t h i s s i t u a t i o n brought up th e p o s s i b i l -
iLy o f r e l i g i o u s m e d d lin g i n p o l i t i c s i n a manner
t h a t was e n t i r e l y u n f o r e s e e n a t t h e tim e t h e
s t a t u t e s w ere d r a f t e d . The state sm e n., w ith t h e i r
h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d s e n s e o f f o o b o d i n g a s t o any
t h r e a t to t h e i r e s t a b l i s h e d p o s i t i o n s were a f r a i d
of p u lp it p o litic s .
Thus we h a v e t h e h i s t o r i c a l b a s i s f o r t h e
t r e n d o f r e l i g i o u s i n f l u e n c e in p o l i t i c s t h a t
c u lm in a te d in th e p a s s i n g o f th e P r o h i b i t i o n
Amendment to t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s •C o n s t i t u t i o n more
than a h u n d r e d y e a r s l a t e r .
C ui S t a t e s m e n i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 t h - C e n t u r y
lo o k e d w i t h ja u n d ic e d e y e s upon t h e r i s i n g power
o f th e p r e a c h e r s and d i d what th e y c o u ld to keep
th e m i n l i n e . As t h e camp m e e t i n g s a t t r a c t e d
t h o u s a n d s t h e p o l i t i c i a n s b e g a n t o mumble i n
t h e i r b e a r d s : "What h a v e t h e s e p r e a c h e r s got t h a t
we h a v e n ' t g o t? " In t h o s e daySj a s now, th e so-
c a l l e d s ta te s m e n were alw ays l o o k i n g f o r a chance
t o t a l k . A good i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h i s o c c u r e d in
S o u th w e st V i r g i n i a w here th o u s a n d s w ere g a t h e r e d
to s e e a p u b l i c h a n g in g . -When t h e condemned man
r e f u s e d an o f f e r o f t h e c u s to m a r y " L a s t Words"
a p o l i t i c i a n s h o t t o h i s f e e t., t h a n k e d t h e man
f o r a l l o w i n g him to s p e a k i n h i s p l a c e a nd an­
nounced h i s can d id acy f o r r e - e l e c t i o n .
The f i r s t b i g camp m e e t i n g i n t h e B e d f o r d -
C a m p b e l l a r e a , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e c o r d s , was
 32

s t a g e d n e a r New London i n M arch 1804- I f d r e w

more th a n f i v e th o u s a n d p e o p l e . The s t i l l n e s s of
t h e n i g h t a t t h e f i n a l m e e t i n g was r e n t a s u n d e r
by i h e s h o u t s o f t h e r i g h t e o u s and g ro a n s o f th e
many s i n n e r s . T h is camp m e e t i n g gave a g r e a t im­
p e t u s to r e l i g i o n in th e V i r g i n i a P iedm ont.
Q u i t e a p r o t e s t was made by the E p i s c o p a l
g e n t r y o f t h e n e ig h b o r h o o d but t h i s was a s c h a f f
b e f o r e t h e wind.
A s i m i l a r c ir c u m s ta n c e happened a t a s m a l l e r
c h u r c h m e e tin g n e a r W illia m s b u r g . The s t o r y goes
t h a t t h e r e was a p la n on f o o t by t h e W illia m a na
Mary s t u d e n t s l e d by a c o l l e g e h e a d to b r e a k up
t h i s u n c o u th j s h o u t i n g m e e tin g . However,, a s th e y
n e a r e d t h e c h u rc h a th u n d e r s to rm came up w ith a
heavy downpour o f r a i n and a b r i l l i a n t d i s p l a y o f
l i g h t n i n g . The s t u d e n t s had to run f o r c o v e r.
The p r e a c h e r c o n d u c t i n g t h e m e e t i n g a t o nce
took due c r e d i t f o r h i m s e l f and The L ord f o r hav­
i n g p ro d u c e d t h e th u n d e r storm , n o t o n ly t o break
up th e f o r c e s o f e v i l b e f o r e th ey c o u ld h e c k le
th e r ig h te o u S j but a s e v id e n c e of H is a n g e r a t
p r e s u m p t i o u s n e s s on t h e p a r t o f t h e W i l l i a m and
Mary f o l k s . The a s s u m p tio n b e i n g t h a t they., to o ,
w ere E p i s c o p a l e a n s . A p p a r e n t l y , t h e L o r d ' s V i c a r
in t h a t p u l p i t was b e l i e v e d by many o f h i s f l o c k .
T h e r e i s no q u e s t i o n a b o u t t h e o l d - t i m e j
e v a n g e l i c a l p r e a c h e r h a v in g had an e n t i r e l y d i f ­
f e r e n t o u t l o o k on l i f e a s w e ll a s h i s own r i g i d ,
d u t y in c a r r y i n g The Word. He was in many ways a
la w u n to h i m s e l f , n o t o n ly i n t h e p u l p i t , but in
e v e r y day l i f e .
They h ad t h e i r own m ethods o f c a n v a s s i n g th e
C h r i s t i a n s i n a town o r community. As th e y w ere
n o t tro u b le d about v i o l a t i n g th e r i g h t s o f p r i­
v a c y , a n d i n t h i s t h e y b e a t o u r m odern F e d e r a l
 33
G overnm ent t o t h e p u n c h by w e l l o v e r a h u n d r e d
y ears,, t h e y in a s h o r t tim e h a d an a c c u r a t e r e ­
c o rd o f who they c o u ld g e t to work on.
They j u s t b o l d l y s t a l k e d i n t o h o u s e s a nd
dem anded t o know w hat s o r t o f r e l i g i o n t h e i n ­
m a te s p r o f e s s e d . H aving ta k e n an i n v e n t o r y o f t h e
s o u l s o f a sm a ll c i t y j th e y soon knew who were o f
t h e i r own f a i t h t o be l i n e d up a s h e lp e r s _ , a n d
who w e r e s i n n e r s o f o t h e r f a i t h s t o be b r o u g h t
in to th e fo ld .
H ere we have a h i n t o f p r o b a b ly t h e most un­
f o r t u n a t e r e s u l t o f t h e Camp M e e tin g i d e a . I t d i d
a g r e a t d e a l to w a r d b r e a k i n g up t h e h a r m o n io u s
c o o r d i n a t i o n between the-M ethodists_, E a p t i s t s and
P resb y terian s.
As s t a t e d before_, u n t i l t h e com ing o f t h e
Camp M e e tin g t h e t h r e e d e n o m in a tio n s o f t e n worked
w e ll t o g e t h e r a g a i n s t t h e d e v i l and th e E p isc o p a -
l o a n s . A f t e r t h e Camp M e e tin g s became e s t a b l i s h e d
r i v a l r y b e tw e e n t h e f a s t - g r o w i n g t h r e e became
more a n d m ore a p p a r e n t . They began p o t s h o o t i n g
a t each o t h e r j s t r e s s i n g sm all d i f f e r e n c e s in
dogma and c r e e d , u n t i l e ach came t o s e e s i n and
s i n n e r s among t h e f o l l o w e r s o f t h e o t h e r f a i t h s .
Though t h e b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e d e v i l and t h e Ang­
l i c a n s was k e p t up a g r e a t d e a l o f e n e r g y was
p u t i n t o c o n v e r t i n g B a p t i s t s i n t o M e t h o d i s t s and
v ic e v e r s a as w ell as c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n to th e
d e v i l i s h q u a l i t i e s o f t h e - P r e s b y t e r i a n s . • The more
c o n s e r v a t i v e E p is c o p a le a n s must h a v e f e l t a g r e a t
r e l i e f a t th is d iv ersio n of in te r e s t.
The w e a k n e ss o f t h i s f a u l t a c t u a l l y worked
down th r o u g h t h e y e a r s w ith a s p l i t t i n g o f h a i r s
a n d a s p l i t t i n g o f v a r i o u s s e c t s from b a s e
d e n o m in a tio n s . B ecause o f t h e power o f t h e camp­
m e e tin g b u i l d up and th e need o f b e t t e r m oral
 34
v a l u e s and r e l i g i o n , t h i s w eakness d i d n o t a t th e
tim e too m a t e r i a l l y h a n d ic a p t h e im proving o f th e
m o ra le and m o ra ls , r e l i g i o u s and o th e rw is e , of
t h e young n a t i o n .
T his w r i t e r h a s a lw a y s been p ro u d t h a t Bed­
f o r d County and i t s B a p t i s t s t r i e d f o r a l o n g e r
tim e than anyw here e l s e to c o n t i n u e t h i s harmony
a n d t o l e r a n c e . They d i d t h e i r b e s t t o k e e p t h e
j o i n t m e e tin g s g o in g and to f u r t h e r th e b e l i e f
t h a t a man c o u l d be a M e t h o d i s t a n d n o t n e c e s ­
s a r i l y a s i n n e r ; a n d t h a t t h e d e v i l d i d n o t c u s­
t o m a r i l y a p p e a r a s a P r e s b y t e r i a n o r maybe an
Epi s c o p a l e a n .
The B a p t i s t s h a d e s t a b l i s h e d c o n g r e g a t i o n s
i n Bedford County b e f o r e t h e R e v o lu tio n . T h is i s
a l s o t r u e w ith r e g a r d to Amherst County though in
s m a l l e r num bers. The P r e s b y t e r i a n s w ere s e t t l e d
in t h e Bedford-Campbell a r e a b e f o r e t h e B a p t i s t s ,
a s w ere t h e Q uakers. P e r h a p s a l l o f t h e s e denomi -
n a t i o n s l i v i n g t o g e t h e r from an e a r l y a a t e may
a c c o u n t f o r B edford becoming l a t e r a g r e a t r e l i ­
g io u s c e n te r and th e f u r t h e r f a c t th a t t h i s
c o u n ty gave so many p r e a c h e r s to t h e n a t i o n and
to e a r ly fo re ig n m is s io n s ,
By th e tim e t h e G r e a t R e v iv a l was going f u l l
sw ing in t h i s a r e a t h e F r i e n d s were i n s t r u c t e d to
f r e e t h e i r s l a v e s . Many d i d a n d m oved w e s t .
O t h e r s k e p t t h e i r s l a v e s , re m a in e d h e r e and were
p r e s s u r e d i n t o o t h e r denom inations,,-
At t h i s ti m e t h e r e w e re few C a t h o l i c s a n a
Jew s l i v i n g i n t h i s p a r t o f V i r g i n i a . Thus t h e
members o f t h e s e two f a i t h s , l o c a l l y a t l e a s t ,
e s c a p e d s p i r i t u a l w r e s t l i n g m atch es w ith th e
f i e r y cam p -m eetin g p r e a c h e r s .
One m ig h t s a y t h a t many o f t h e e a r l y Bap­
t i s t , M e t h o d i s t and P r e s b y t e r i a n p r e a c h e r s were
 35

combat com m issioned from t h e r a n k s in t h e fie ld ,,

r a t h e r th a n e d u c a t e d f o r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r work.
They w e re s i n c e r e men who f e l t t h e c a l l th r o u g h
t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e camp m e e t i n g j a s m a l l e r
r e l i g i o u s m e e t i n g o r t h e e x a m p l e s e t by some
e s t a b l i s h e d m i n i s t e r . T h e r e was a t r y - o u t a n d
p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d , o f course., b u t t h e c r y i n g need
f o r p r e a c h e rs in t h i s b a t t l e a g a i n s t th e d e v il
a nd s i n in t h e O ld Dominion was a s g r e a t a s t h a t
f o r a d e q u a t e o f f i c e r s t o be l e a d e r s on a f i e l d
of b a ttle .
Some o f t h e s e men becam e r e a l l y ' i n s p i r e d
r e l i g i o u s o r a t o r s . O th e r s w ere i n s p i r e d o n ly
u n d e r t h e s t r e s s o f g r e a t -r e l i g i o u s e m o t i o n .
G u i t e ' a few o f t h e l a t t e r f i n a l l y becam e-m ental
d e r e l i c t s . W hereas - th e y c o n s i d e r e d - t h i s rousing.,
m ass e m o t i o n a l i s m an e x c e l l e n t s p r i n g a n d f a l l
t o n i c f o r t h e la y m a n ., ■t h e y - t h e m s e l v e s ■f e l l a s
v i c t i m s to o v e r d o s e s o f i t .
The M e th o d is ts worked o u t a system t h a t gave
them a n e d g e on t h e o t h e r s . They s e n t i n t h e
h i g h - p r e s s u r e , em o tio n s t i m u l a t i n g o r a t o r s to
s t a g e a b i g camp m e e tin g . ■T h is bro u g h t th e p e o p le
t o t h e p r o p e r p i t c h . 'Then., b e f o r e t h e y h a d a
c h a n c e ' t o b a c k s lid e ., t h e o r g a n i z e r s came i n ' a n d
t h e l o c a l c i r c u i t s w ere e s t a b l i shed.
S o m e tim e s l o v e c a u g h t up w i t h ' t h e s e f a s t -
m o v in g - camp m e e t i n g p r e a c h e r s a n d t h e y - c o u l d . ,
no l o n g e r d a s h from o n e m e e t i n g to a n o t h e r a l l
o v e r t h e c o u n t r y . ■The w iv e s f e l t t h e i r h u sb a n d s
s h o u l d be l o c a l i z e d t o a home c h u r c h o r a sm a ll
l o c a l - c i r c u i t . ' T h is c r e a t e d a demand f o r r e p l a c e ­
m e n t s . We g a t h e r from A sbury t h a t o n e - S o u t h s i d e
V i r g i n i a c o u n t y must h a v e been l a r g e l y p o p u l a t e d
by a t t r a c t i v e . , u n m a r r i e d g i r l s . A number o f th e
yo u n g c a m p - m e e tin g e x p e r t s w e r e m a r r i e d o u t o f
 36

c i r c u l a t i o n and tu rn e d in to th e l o c a l p a s tu r e s
o f t h i s county.
T h is becam e a p ro b le m to t h e M e t h o d i s t
C h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s . How c o u l d t h e y c o n t i n u e to
f i g h t t h e d e v i l and s i n V irg in ia i f th e ir best
b a c h e l o r o r a t o r s , th o u g h p r o o f a g a i n s t th e
f e m i n i n e w i l e s in t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y , su c ­
cumbed in t h i s c o u n ty ? F i n a l l y th e y a r r i v e d a t
t h e o n e p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n . They ro u n d e d up some
o f t h e i r o l d e s t o r a t o r s ----- men t i m e - t e s t e d in
a v o id in g th e s u b t l e a t t r a c t i o n s of fem in in e
w o r s h ip p e r s .
T h a t t h e r e i s no monument t o t h e l a d i e s o f
t h i s c o u n ty commemorating t h e i r s u c c e s s in c ap­
t u r i n g and m a r r y in g t h e s e o l d e s t M e th o d is t m in is ­
t e r s i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f V i r g i n i a m odesty in
f a i l i n g t o p r e s e r v e a c h ie v e m e n ts .
L i f e was p a r t i c u l a r l y h a r d in th o s e days fo r
t h e i t i n e r a n t , camp m e e t i n g s p e c i a l i s t s a n d t h e
c i r c u i t r i d e r s . K eeping t h e i r com mittments in a l l
k i n d s o f w e a th e r was a j o b t h a t r e g u i r e d s t r e n g t h
o f m in d a n d b o d y , e n e r g y a n d f a i t h . They r o d e
t h e i r h o r s e s t o d e a t h a n d h a d t o c o n t i n u e on
f o o t . They w ere o f t e n h u n g ry a n d c o l d . They h a d
t o p a r r y i n s u l t s w i t h t h e im p io u s; a n d s t r u g g l e
t o e s t a b l i s h i n t e r e s t in s e c t i o n s t h a t gave th a n
t h e c o l d s h o u ld e r s i f n o t a c t u a l h a r d r o c k s .
They h a d t o be q u i c k t o t u r n d i s a d v a n t a g e
i n t o a d v a n ta g e . I n t h i s book t h e l e a d o f f s t o r y ,
• "God and t h e Qnost" i s ba se d upon an in e c iie n t t h a t
a c t u a l l y h a p p e n e d in a n o t h e r t a v e r n in a n e a r b y
c o u n ty ." T h e Two-Edged S w o rd " is a l s o b a se d upon
fa c tu a l records.
With an e y e f o r t h e m ain c h a n c e i t was n o t
u n u s u a l , e s p e c i a l l y b e f o r e a nd a ro u n d 1800, f o r a
p r e a c h e r to a r r i v e a t a t a v e r n on S a tu r d a y n i g h t .
 37
when a d a n c e was s c h e d u le d . They h a v e been kno^/n
t o e n t e r i n t o t h e fun., f r o l i c a n d h i t a s h o t a
buck in t h e s q u a r e d a n c i n g a s any o n e e l s e . Then
a t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l momenti d u r i n g a m u sic break
o r som ething., l e a d them i n t o a r y t h m i c hymn and
em otion s t i r r i n g p r a y e r ----- t h e ta v e r n t e m p o r a r i­
l y b e c a m e a c h a p e l a n d t h e fun., f r o l i c a n d
d r i n k i n g was o v e r f o r t h e ev e n in g .
As h e r e t o f o r e in tim a te d ., t h e m e n ta l h o r iz o n
o f many o f t h e s e men may h a v e been l i m i t e d ., b u t
th e y had s t r e n g t h o f c h a r a c t e r , s p i r i t and a l o v e
o f God t h a t seems be yond b e l i e f now. R e g a r d l e s s
o f t h e m e th o d s th e y u s e d th e y a c h i e v e d t h e g o a l
o f im p r o v in g t h e m o ra lS j m anners and r e l i g i o n o f
th e - c o u n tr y . Oar n a t i o n i s b e t t e r o f f f o r t h e i r
h a v in g l i v e d and c h a s e d th e d e v i l .
•They h a v e g i v e n a r i c h t o n e t o o u r h i s t o r y
i f we d i d b u t know i t . T h e r e i s much i n th is
h i s t o r y t h a t we may soon n eed.

The End

REFERENCE

W i l l i a m B. B e n n e t t ’ s M e m o r i a l s i n M e th o d is m ,
R ichm ond, 1871
L o r e n z o Dow, B e a r e r o f The Word,
By C h a r l e s Coleman S e l l e r s , M i n t o n - B a l c h & Co.
P e g g y Dow’ s J o u r n a l ,
The J o u r n a l o f L o r e n z o Dow, Bound Works, 1881
D ia ry o f John E a rly . B e g i n n i n g i n Vol. 33 Va. Mag.
o f H i s t o r y and r u n n i n g i n s e r i e s through 8
v o lu m e s.
B io g rap h ical S k e tc h o f B ishop Jo h n E a r l y
By R i v e s C h i l d s , K a n dolph-M ac on H i s . P a p e r s .
A M e t h o d i s t S a i n t , L i f e o f B i s h o p Asbury
By H e r b e r t A s b u r y , K n o l f , 1927
 38
Rev. W i l l i a m H e n r y P 'o o t e ’ s S k e t c h e s o f V i r g i n i a , 2nd
S eries, P h ilad e lp h ia , 1856-
Peak s. o f O t t e r P r e s b y t e r i a n C hurch, s e e a b o v e and
12 Va. 417.
A S k e tc h H i s t o r y o f H at C reek ( P r e s b y t e r i a n ) Church,
1742-1854, By W i l l i a m I r v i n .
H i s t o r y o f th e 1 s t P r e s b y t e r i a n Church o f L ynchburg,
By Mary E l i z a b e t h K i n n i e r B r a t t o n .
R e co llec tio n s o f a L o n g L ife , Je re m ia h B ell J e t e r ,
. Hi chmond, 1891
L i f e o f J . B. J e t e r , by W i l l i a m H. H a t c h e r ,
B a l t i m o r e , 1886
The Two P a r s o n s , by G e o r g e Wythe M u n fo rd , Richmond.
H i s t o r y o f The R i s e . a n d P r o g r e s s o f t h e B a p t i s t s In
V irg in ia , by R o b e r t H. S e m ple , Richm ond, 1810.
The V i r g i n i a B a p t i s t P r e a c h e r s , By Jam es B. T a y l o r .
T h i s work i s i n s e r i e s : R ichm ond, 1838, P h i l a ­
d e lp h ia , 1859, e tc .

F o r m ore p a r t i c u l a r d o c u m e n t a t i o n r e f e r e n c e is
h e r e b y made t o t h e D o c u m e n t a t i o n S e c t i o n o f P i e d m o n t
A p o c a l y p s e by t h i s w r i t e r .
 THE
TWO-EDGED
SWORD

A S to ry
F i c t i o n on F a c t
Lyn c h b u r g
& B edford
Coun t y
1813
 40

\ \ a r t h a S t . J o h n was s t i r r e d by t h e l o v e l y
Jf \m au v e l i g h t s t e a l i n g o v e r th e V i r g i n i a
Piedmont h i l l s in t h e l a t e O c to b e r a f t e r n o o n . The
m o u n ta in s beyond had a c o l d e r look which t o l d h e r
p l a i n l y t h a t th e y e llo w c h e s tn u t le a v e s had
f a l l e n a n d t h e o a k s w e r e brown i n s t e a d o f r e d
o r b r o n z e . M a r t h a ' s home was f u r t h e r up t h e
Jam es River., c l o s e r to t h e m o u n t a i n s .
Of c ourse., s h e c o u l d s p e n d t h e w i n t e r h e r e
i n L y n c h b u r g w i t h h e r u n c l e . T h a t w ould be m ore
fun b e c a u s e many o f t h e men h a d n o t y e t l e f t f o r
t h e f i g h t i n g in t h i s se c o n d war w i t h E n g la n d .
She s i g h e d . T h a t w ould n o t be f a i r to h e r
fa th e r ., e s p e c i a l l y as sh e was o n l y now r e t u r n i n g
from s i x m onths o f b a lls., fun and f r o l i c in P h i l a ­
d e l p h i a . , W a s h in g to n City., and Richmond. I t h a d
been an e x p e n s iv e t r i p and M artha knew h e r f a t h e r
was worried., what w ith t h e war and t h e bad grow-
 41
i n g se a so n t h i s y e a r . T hat meant v e ry l i t t l e t o ­
bacco money.
She g l a n c e d a t t h e n e c k l a c e i n h e r h a n d .
That too r e p r e s e n t e d t h e to b a c c o money o f two men
in t h e Army. I t was a l s o p r o o f o f h e r p e r s u a s i v e
pow e rs. R ecently., H enry H a r r i s o n and James Ken-
n e r l e y had p a i d h e r a g r e a t d e a l o f a t t e n t i o n in
Richm ond. So much t h a t b e f o r e s h e r e a l i z e d i t
th e y w ere w e ll i n t o t h e formal p r e p e r a t i o n s f o r a
d u e l . M a r th a h a d g l a d l y r i s k e d b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d
u n c o n v e n tio n a l to p u t a s t o p to i t . She c o n v in c e a
them th e y w e re i n u n i f o r m t o f i g h t t o s a v e o u r
s h o r e s from B r i t i s h i n v a s i o n r a t h e r than s h o o t i n g
a t each o t h e r o v e r h e r . They c o o le d down., c h ip p e d
i n and bou g h t h e r t h e n e c k l a c e . Though h e r d a r k
. l o v e l i n e s s d i d n o t n e e d su c h e m b e l l i s h m e n t sh e
was p r o u d o f t h i s g i f t .
M a rth a t u r n e d from t h e window and i t s v ie w
o f t h e town., r i v e r a n d t h e h i l l s a n d to o k t h e
l i t t l e b la c k r i d i n g cap from h e r deep brown c u r l s .
Though t a l l f o r a g i r l h e r movements a s sh e b e n t
down t o l i g h t a k i n d l e r from t h e open f i r e w ere
q u ic k and g r a c e f u l . In th e c a n d l e - l i g h t h e r d a rk
e y e s seemed r a t h e r w i d e - s p a c e d a b o v e h e r th in .,
s l i g h t l y - a r c h e d n o s e . The b la c k boots., th e snug-
f i t t i n g r i d i n g h a b it., b la c k w ith gold f r o g s on t h e
cloak., were becoming to h e r .
She h e a r d t h e f r o n t d o o r th u d s h u t and was
g l a d she had w a i t e d t o g r e e t U ncle George b e f o r e
g o in g u p s t a i r s t o c h a n g e h e r c l o t h e s .
The n e x t m o m e n t a d eep., v i b r a n t v o i c e
c a l l e d from t h e h a l l :
" I s God in t h i s h o u s e ? "
"Vhc on e a r t h ? " sh e s a i d a lo u d j s t a r t l e d .
Again t h e voice., l o u d e r : " I s t h e r e r e l i g i o n
in th is , home?"
 42
As M a r th a s t a r t e d tow ard t h e l i b r a r y d o o r ,
i t swung w i d e . A l a r g e j b l o n d man p r a c t i c a l l y
f i l l e d t h e doorway. H is b u f f b r e e c h e s w ere o f ex­
c e l l e n t q u a l i t y a s was h i s d a r k blue,, w e l l - c u t
c o at.
"Come i n j s i r ., " s a i d M a r th a , p l e a s e d w i t h
w hat s h e saw.
"Young l a d y j I a s k e d a q u e s t i o n . Does God
d w e l l i n t h i s hom e?" He s p o k e m ore s o f t l y now.
M a rth a was b o th i n t e r e s t e d and p u z z l e d by a
man w h o s e s p e e c h a n d a c t i o n s w e r e t h o s e o f a
t r a v e l l i n g p r e a c h e r y e t w hose l o o k s a n d d r e s s
i n d i c a t e d a g e n t l e m a n o f m e a n s.
"I d o n ' t t h i n k we a r e u n g o d l y h e r e j " s h e
r e p l i e d , i r r i t a t e d a t h i s a u d a c i t y . "W ouldn't i t
be m ore f i t t i n g . , s ir ., to u s e t h e d o o r k n o c k e r
f i r s t to p r e p a r e p e o p le fo r y o u r v i s i t ? "
The y o u n g man w as p l a i n l y d i s c o n c e r t e d .
"Why s u r e l y you know a man o f God h a s t h e r i g h t
o f e n t r y anyw here! " He sp o k e q u i e t l y a s h e came
o v e r a n d l o o k e d i n t e n t l y i n t o h e r e y e s . "You
h a v e th e lo o k o f a l a d y h i g h l y b o m . I wonder i f
y o u r e y e s show t h e g u i l t o f a s i n n e r o r an
u n b e l i e v e r? "
As w e l l s c h o o l e d a s M a rth a was in h a n d l i n g
c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h men she c o u ld o n l y s t a r e back
a t him a s t o n i s h e d . P r e a c h e r o r no p r e a c h e r t h i s
handsome gentlem an was e i t h e r c r a z y o r drunk.
He c o n t i n u e d : "What r e l i g i o n do you f o llo w ,
ma'm? "
"Why ----- why my p e o p l e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n
Epi s c o p a l e a n . "
"You w i l l f i n d o n l y c o l d c o m f o r t i n t h a t
r e l i g i o n ! " h e s a i d e m p h a t i c a l l y . Then h i s v o i c e
became low a n d p l e a d i n g . "You r e a l l y s h o u l d a sk
t o b e s a v e d a n d know t h e j o y s o f b e c o m i n g a
 43

M e th o d is t. You look t o be much too i n t e l l i g e n t to

r i s k t h e f i r e s o f h e l l b u r n in g y o u ."
M a r t h a s a i d q u i c k l y . , a n g r i l y : " S t u f f and
nonsense, s ir ! I th in k y o u 'r e h ig h ly presum p-
tio u s, "
He f l u s h e d , a s one in a u t h o r i t y m ig h t who i s
n o t u s e d to h a v in g a wanan, even a b e a u t i f u l one,
t a k e i s s u e w i t h him. Then he n o t i c e d t h e n e c k la g e
she s t i l l h e l d in h e r hand.
" L e t me s e e t h i s ! " he s a i d , t a k i n g i t from
her.
M a r th a th o u g h t h e was u n u s u a l l y l o n g -in- h i s
e x a m in a tio n .
" T h is c o s t a g r e a t d e a l o f m o n e y ," t h e young
p r e a c h e r s a i d ' f i n a l l y . He c o n t i n u e d , h i s v o i c e
r i s i n g i n su d d e n a n g e r : "A g r e a t d e a l o f money
s p e n t t o s a t i s f y your v a n i t y . D on't you s e e t h e s e
je w e ls a r e th e e v id e n c e of th e v a n i t y and s in
w hich m u st be d e s t r o y e d b e f o r e you can c o n f e s s
and be saved? Out o f t h e f i r e s o f h e l l th e y h ave
com e , s o , t o t h e f i r e t h e y s h a l l now be r e ­
tu r n e d . ::
He t o s s e d t h e n e c k l a c e among +h e b u r n i n g
lo g s . M a rth a d a sh e d to t h e f i r e l a c e and r e t r i e v e d
h e r n e c k l a c e but d a rn e d h e r f i n g e r s .
The young p r e a c h e r s a i d s t e r n l y : "Those who
s i n s h a l l b u r n . You h a v e f e l t t h e f i r e a n a a r e
fo re w a rn ed . "
You ----- you go t o h e l l ! " she c r i e d a n g r i l y
•Get our o f t h i s h o u s e , you bush—h o w lin g maniac! i:
At t h e d o e r he tu r n e d and s a i d in t h a t ae e p,
m u s i c a l v o i c e : You a r e a c r o s s I must b e a r . But
th e tw o -e d g e d Sword o f God w i l l c u t from you th e
r e t o f s i n e n d you w i l l become a w o rk e r i n t h e
.L-yid s Yineyai a . ■■
I n t o h e r l a u g h t e r went e l l t h e a n g e r , c e n t -
 44

s i o n and p a i n from h e r b u r n i n g h a n d . L a u g h te r,,

b e c a u se she knew i n t u i t i v e l y t h i s was t h e one way
t o s t r i k e back t h a t w o u ld h u r t him . The o u t e r
d o o r q u iv e r e d on i t s h in g e s .
H er u n c l e G e o r g e e n t e r e d t h e room s h o r t l y
a f t e r w a r d and welcomed h e r . He d i d n ’ t n o t i c e h e r
anger.
"W asn't t h a t G r i e f James I saw l e a v i n g h e r e
j u s t now, Martha? " he a sk e d .
"O h!" s h e s a i d j t h e n a d d e d i n a m u f f l e d
v o ic e : "I d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e hira, U n c l e ."
T h e r e was no r e a s o n why s h e s h o u l d h a v e .
But in h e r a n g e r now,, t h e c o n t r a s t betw een t h i s
e x p e r i e n c e a n d h e r l a s t m e e tin g w i t h G r i e f James
was c e r t a i n l y u n u s u a l . The l i t t l e g i r l v;ho h a d
f e l t so s o r r y f o r t h e l i t t l e boy b e c a u s e h i s
m o t h e r h a d d i e d when h e was b o r n a n d t h e y h a d
named him' Grief.. That was y e a r s ago when h e r fam­
i l y h a d s p e n t a month one summer on a p l a n t a t i o n
a d j o i n i n g t h a t o f th e James f a m ily .

I n h e r own be droom a t P i v e r h i l l a t l a s t j
M artha S t . John t u r n e d o v e r i n h e r mind t h e f u r ­
t h e r c o n t r a s t i n g in fo rm a tio n she had g a th e re d
a b o u t t h e young p r e a c h e r .
A dozen t im e s s i n c e y e s t e r d a y a f t e r n o o n she
h a d t o l d h e r s e l f s h e h a t e d hiirij d e s p i s e d him f o r
t h e b r a s s y b r u t e h e ' w a s . A dozen t i m e s m ore a
p iq u e d c u r i o s i t y had ask ed a dozen d i s c r e e t
q u e s t i o n s and r e c e i v e d many a nsw ers:
T h is m orning when h e r f a t h e r met h e r a t t h e
b i g g a t e on t h e e d g e o f t h e i r own f o r e s t s h e
c o u l d h a r d l y w a i t f o r o l d M e d d ie t o t r o t h i s
h o r s e o u t o f e a r s h o t b e f o r e q u e s t i o n i n g him.
H is f a c e had w r in k le d i n t o a m is c h ie v o u s
g rin :
 45

"My d e a r Martha., a s a m a r r i a g e a b l e young man

I ' d say James i s u p r i g h t , h o n e s t j comes o f good
s t o c k , and h a s r e c e n t l y f a l l e n h e i r to h i s
f a t h e r * s e x c e l l e n t p l a n t a t i o n h e r e in B e d f o r d
C o u n t y . As a p r e a c h e r I ' d s a y h e i s a damned
n u is a n c e . A ll o f th e s e s h o u tin g f i e l d p re a c h e rs
a r e . Get t h e p e o p l e s t i r r e d up e m o t i o n a l l y where
th e y can be b ro w b e a te n and s c a r e d i n t o b e l e i v i n g
a n y t h i n g . I f t h e s e p r e a c h e r s can work p e o p l e up
t o b e l e i v i n g th e y a r e in im m ed iate d a n g e r o f
h e l l f i r e , th e n th e y can a l s o i n f l u e n c e t h e i r po­
l i t i c a l t h i n k i n g . I d o n ' t say P a r s o n James d oes
t h i s . He h a s n ' t been back from t h e S o u th b u t a
few w eeks. W e 'l l p r o b a b l y soon know. He got Bob
H i l l t o n so worked up t h a t he t u r n e d o v e r t h e up­
p e r b ra n c h v a l l e y n e a r o u r l i n e f o r a camp-meet­
in g ground and swore o f f h a r d l i q u o r . "
O ld M iss L in d a M a r tin , a n e i g h b o r wi th whom
M artha h ad s to p p e d to g o s s ip lo w e re d h e r v o i c e to
a r e v e r e n d w h isp e r.
"D e a r G r i e f , i s o n e o f G o d 's n o b le m e n . I
f e e l l i f t e d in s p i r i t j u s t to touch h i s s l e e v e . "
M a r t h a h a d t h o u g h t a t t h e t i m e . "And I ' d
f e e l a d e e p e r s a t i s f a c t i o n i f I c o u l d smack h i s
jaws. "
Even o l d M eddie, t h e b e lo v e d h e a d o f t h e i r
" i n s e r v a n t s " , who h a d accom panied h e r back from
L ynchburg, added h i s o p in io n .
"Mr. G r i e f , h e g o t l i g i o n l o n g f o r e h e
grow ed up . He l e a r n t h i s p r e a c h i n ' by b r i n g i n '
down a p o w e r f u l s p i r i t on-Mr. P r e s i d e n t ' J e f f e r ­
s o n ' s f i e l d hands a t P o p la r F o r e s t . "
T h in k in g a l l t h i s o v e r M artha r e a s o n e d ' t h a t
h e r . c u r i o s i t y ought t o be s a t i s f i e d and s h e 'c o u l d
b e g in d r e s s i n g . She r e a c h e d f o r h e r c l o t h e s and
t h e r e was t h e n e c k l a c e . Why h a d n ' t s h e w r i t t e n
 46

Henry and Jamey t o th a n k them. T h i s m ust be done

r i g h t oway a n d w i t h t h a t th e y p a s s e d o u t o f h e r
mind. I n s t e a d t h e r e a p p e a r e d a large,, c l e a n - l i m b ­
ed,, young man w ith l i g h t . , s l i g h t l y c u r l y h a i r . She
r e m e m b e r e d ' t h a t f o r a l l h i s s i z e t h e r e was a
l i t h e g r a c e about him. Once a g a in M artha im agined
s h e was l o o k i n g i n t o h i s e y e s a n d th e n s h e was
s t a r i n g f a s c i n a t e d a t h i s a t t r a c t i v e m o u th .
An i d e a came s l o w l y t o t h e s u r f a c e o f h e r
mind; o n e ' t h a t d i s p l a c e d a n g e r . I n th e lo n g g l a s s
s h e g l a n c e d a t h e r r e f l e c t e d body. A f l u s h c r e p t
o v e r h e r . M arth a t r i e d to la u g h . H e r e t o f o r e
l a u g h t e r w ould h a v e come e a s i l y t o h e r l i p s a t
any such a b s u r d i d e a . M a r r ia g e t o a crazy., sh o u t­
i n g f i e l d p r e a c h e r '■ She c o u l d n f t make h e r la u g h
so u n d g e n u i n e . T he w h o le t h i n g - w a s h u m i l i a t i n g
but t h e thought rem ained.
•Trembling., s h e - c lim b e d i n t o h e r huge bed and
c r i e d w i t h a d e s p e r a t e b i t t e r n e s s . She d i d n f t
know what was wrong but was f e a r f u l o f what m ight
b e . Nor was h e r mood h e l p e d by t h e th o u g h t t h a t
• G r i e f James lo o k e d upon h e r . i f a t a l l ; a s m erely
a n o t h e r s o u l to be saved; from an im a g in a ry h e l l
T h e r e w a s n ' t a n y t h i n g i m a g in a r y a b o u t t h i s
p r e s e n t hell!. Could h e sa v e h e r from t h i s h e l l o f
d e s i r e though i t w a s n 't th e h e l l o f h i s O ld T e s t a ­
ment o f God? C r was i t ? M a r th a S t Jo h n was new
f u l l y a w a r e of h e r own f e e l i n g s She c o u l d even
s e e t h e i r o n i c a l humor o f t h e w h o le s i t u a t i o n .
But s t i l l ; she d i d n o t f e e l l i k e la u g h in g .
The man o f 'God h a d shaken h e r to t h e a e p t h s
o f h e r b e in g . He who-would a b o l i s h s i n h a d in some
s t r a n g e way c r e a t e d in h e r e t h i s d e s i r e f o r him
S h e f a c e d t h e t r u t h in h e r own mind.
B e c a u s e M a r t h a had a l w a y s b e e n c s t r o n g -
m i n d e d p e r s o n . c a p a b l e o f h a n d l i n g any o f t h e
 47

s i t u a t i o n s t h a t h a d a r i s e n betw een h e r s e l f and

h e r many a d m i r e r s i t was a l l t h e more a b s u r d t o
f e e l now t h i s l a c k o f c e r t a i n t y in h e r s e l f . She
was a f r a i d j b e c a u s e sh e d i d n o t want t o l o v e t h i s
man. O t h e r than h i s b e i n g handsome he was th e op­
p o s i t e o f any dream s h e h a d e v e r h a d o f t h e man
sh e m ight m arry.
She m ust g e t o u t ----- r i d h e r m ind o f t h e s e
t h o u g h t s . S h e 'd go o v e r to s e e h e r f r i e n d M i l l i e
Hi 1 t o n .
i M a rth a h u r r i e d p a s s e d t h e s t a b l e s and b a m s
t a k i n g t h e s h o r t - c u t p a t h t o th e a d j o i n i n g p l a n ­
t a t i o n . P e r h a p s t h e woods would b r i n g to h e r some
m e a su re o f c ru ie t. A lr e a d y t h e f e e l o f th e l e a t h ­
ery., n e w - f a l l e n l e a v e s and p i n e t a g s u n d e r h e r
f e e t made h e r b e t t e r . On a h ig h h i l l t o t h e w est
t h e sun sh o n e on t h e t a l l s p i r e o f t h e s e n t i n e l
w h i t e p i n e a n d M a r t h a be g a n t o r e s p o n d a s d o e s
any p e r s o n s e n s i t i v e to t h e b e a u ty o f f o r e s t .
S n e . c r o s s e d t h e s n a k e r a i l f e n c e t h a t was
t h e b o u n d a ry l i n e a l o n g a l i t t l e r i d g e l e a d i n g
to t h e r i v e r h a l f way between t h e two h o u se s.
On t h e o t h e r s i d e t h e l a n d s l o p e d g e n t l y
down t o a stream ., a n d a g r o v e o f v i r g i n tim b e r .
M a rth a s t o p p e d a s t h e m u s ic o f many v o i c e s
s i n g i n g a hymn w e l l e d up t o h e r .
" A -----a camp m e e tin g ! " sh e s a i d j s t a r t l e d
i n t o re m e m b e rin g t h a t h e r f a t h e r h a d spoken o f
t h i s grove b e in g t u r n e d o v e r t o Parson James.
S ta n d i n g i r r e s o l u t e sh e r e a l i z e d t h e r e were
n o t enough v o i c e s f o r a f u l l m e e t i n g . No d o u b t
th e y w ere u s i n g t h e g r o v e f o r w o rsh ip u n t i l th e y
c o u ld b u i l d a new c h a p e l.
Even w h i l e t e l l i n g h e r s e l f s h e shJould go
home she moved s lo w ly on down t h e p a t h . A l i t t l e
f u r t h e r a l o n g t h e u n d e r b r u s h d i s a p p e a r e d and t h e
 48
s i n g i n g was l o u d e r . A l l o f t h e s m a ll t r e e s and
b u s h e s h a d been c l e a r e d from t h e g r o v e . T h e s e
l a r g e f o r e s t g i a n t s w e re a s p i l l a r s o f a hug®
c h u r c h j l a r g e r t h a n any s h e h a d e v e r s e e n a n d
t h e i r b r o n z in g l e a v e s made a c o l o r f u l c e i l i n g . In
t h e . c e n t e r o f th e c l e a r e d a r e a was a p l a t f o r m in
f r o n t o f which two h u n d r e d p e o p l e 'w e r e c l u s t e r e d .
They a p p e a r e d l o s t in t h i s a r e a where a th o u sa n d
o r m o r e 'c o u l d a s e a s i l y w o rsh ip .
•The l a t e a f t e r n o o n sun f i l t e r e d down through,
t h e t h i n n i n g l e a v e s upon t h e p e o p l e and c r e a t e d
a h a l o e f f e c t on t h e b lo n d h e a d o f t h e lo n e f i g ­
u r e whose deepj r i c h v o i c e l e d t h e s i n g i n g .
'Ohj I ought n o t t o h a v e . come!" M a rth a t o l d
h e r s e l f . She moved f o rw a rd from t h e shadow o f one
l a r g e t r e e t o a n o t h e r . " A f t e r a l l j what h a v e I
t o f e a r ? " That was i t j sh e d i d n ' t know.
The hymn came t o a c l o s e a n d P a r s o n Jam es
r a i s e d h i s h a n d s f o r p r a y e r . T he m u s i c a l v o i c e
c a r r i e d e a s i l y t o w h e r e s h e l e a n e d a g a i n s t an oak
T h e P a r s o n p r a y e d on a n d on a n d t h e s h a d o w s
l e n g t h e n e d . H e re a n d t h e r e a s a c c o m p a n i m e n t ■t o
t h e p r a y i n g v o ic e came a sob.
The p r a y e r s to p p e d and w ith a mere change o f
to n e th e v o i c e swept i n t o a sermon o r e x h o r t a t i o n .
At f i r s t o n l y s n a t c h e s w e r e a s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e
s e n t e n c e s t o M a r th a . But t h e v o i c e p l a y e d upon
h e r e m o t i o n s l i k e some l o v e ly ., d e e p l y - s t i r r i n g
m u s i c . H er b r e a t h q u i c k e n e d w h i l e s h e f o u g h t to
k e e p from s o b b i n g o r s c r e a m i n g . What was h a p ­
pening? I t w a s n 't h i s t h r e a t s o f e i t h e r h e l l f i r e
o r t h e p a i n s and a n g u i s h t h a t f o l l o w e d t h e ways
o f s in ? Of t h e s e M a rth a was only v a g u e l y aw are.
On and on t h e v o i c e p l e a d e d j begged., t h r e a t e n e d ;
b u i l d i n g up to some s o r t o f c lim a x o f f e a r . There
was no f e a r in h e r j now; n o t h i n g b u t t h e s e n s e of
 49
b e i n g . c a r r i e d on an e m o t i o n a l t i d e e v e r n e a r e r
speaker.
S u d d e n ly j a woman sc re a m e d : "Oh- God! What
can I j a sinner., do to be saved?"
The scream c h i l l e d M artha t o h e r s e n s e s . The
t o r t u r e d v o i c e a g a i n c r i e d o u t f o r m ercy from a
young woman s t a n d i n g n e a r by. I t was h e r f rie n d .,
M i l l i e H i l l t o n . H er f a c e was h a r d l y r e c o g n i z a b l e
in i t s d i s t o r t e d f e a r . Then i t was t h a t M a r th a
r e a l i z e d t h a t sh e h e r s e l f had unknow ingly movedj
up among t h e w o r s h ip p e r s .
M a rth a s t a r t e d to go t o M i l l i e ' s a i d j b u t h e r
f r i e n d s u d d e n l y d a r t e d up t o t h e p l a t f o r m a n d
f e l l on h e r k n e e s.
N e a r b y j a man s h o u t e d : "I h a v e s i n n e d . I
g r o v e l i n t h e d i r t b e f o r e t h e L o rd "! He d r o p p e d
t o t h e g r o u n d a n d began worming h i s way to w a r d
t h e p l a t f o r m on h i s stomach.
As M artha dodged back to w a rd t h e p r o t e c t i v e
shadow o f a t r e e o l d Mr,. H u d d le s to n y e l l e d some­
t h i n g a t h e r . She g o t o u t o f h i s 's ig h t ,. She was
now a f r a i d o f b e in g r e c o g n iz e d .
G r i e f James s t o o d on t h e edge o f t h e p l a t ­
form, g e s t u r i n g w ith h i s handSj e x h o r t i n g :
"Oh what a happyj m e l t i n g tim e! Ohj what a
c om fort t h i s h o ly m e e tin g i s t o t h e Lord! Gome on
upj b r o t h e r and s i s t e r s . , and meet t h e S a v io r iC n s t
away y o u r s i n s , seek repentance., and j o i n w ith u s
i n t h e happy b e t t e r l i f e . "
The r e s t o f h i s w ords w e re dro w n e d o u t in
t h e pandemonium t h a t f o l l o w e d . P e o p l e jumped up
a n d down, l a u g h e d a n d s h o u t e d . O ne v o i c e was
y e l l i n g o v e r and o v e r j i b b e r i s h t h a t had no mean­
i n g a t a l l . Some f e l l s e n s e l e s s t o t h e g ro u n d .
O t h e r s j e r k e d and t w i t c h e d i n t h e t h r o e s o f some
s t r a n g e f i t . N ot f a r away., a l i t t l e b e h i n d t h e
 53

o th e r S j a young woman an d man em braced each o t h e r

a s though in a dream .
F e a r f o r h e r own s a n i t y now d r o v e M a r t h a
b l i n d l y from t h e s c e n e .
'Oh Godj what does i t a l l mean?" sh e p l e a d e d
h y s t e r i c a l l y a s she r a n back up t h e p a t h .
At f i r s t s h e was s i c k i n m ind a n d body. She
c o u ld n 't fo rg e t th e f r a n t i c , h a lf - c r a z e d ex p res­
s io n on h e r f rie n c b s f a c e , o r t h e b e h a v io r o f t h e
o t h e r s , many o f whom s h e knew. Then o v e r h e r
p a s s e d a wave o f wholesome a n g e r.
"My God, d o e s n ' t want me t o do t h a t s o r t o f
t h i n g t o d e m o n s t r a t e my b e l i e f in Him, n o t even
i f i t be t h e w i l l o f P a rso n G r i e f Ja m e s ."
S le e p came in t h e e a r l y h o u r s o f t h e m orning
t h e e x h a u s t e d s l e e p from w r e c k e d e m o t i o n s . And
l a t e r i n t h e f u l l l i g h t o f day t h e t o r t u r e o f
a g a in t r y i n g to re a s o n o u t h e r th o u g h ts and
fe e lin g s.
T he r e s t o f t h e d a y r i d i n g a l o n g l o n e l y
w ood's r o a d s brought n o t h i n g t o s t i l l t h e a c h e in
h e r h e a r t , t h e w o r r y a n d d o u b t i n h e r m in d .
Toward e v e n in g sh e t u r n e d homeward.
M a rth a h a d r e a c h e d t h e e n t r a n c e g a t e when a
h o r s e g a l l o p e d u p f a s t b e h i n d h e r . She g l a n c e d
o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r t o s e e t h e man she l e a s t w anted
t o meet now.
P a r s o n Jam es p u l l e d up , n o d d e d s t i f f l y t o
h e r , and swung o v e r . c open t h e g a t e . The s w e a t-
l a t h e r e d h o r s e was blowing.
H er f e e l i n g s to w a r d t h i s man w ere n o t what
s h e e x p e c t e d them t o b e . Now t h e r e w as o n l y a
b u r n i n g a n g e r w i t h i n h e r ; an.ger a t h e r s e l f a n d
a b o v e a l l a t t h i s b l o n d god who m i s t r e a t e d h i s
h o r s e . M a r t h a h a d been r a i s e d in t h e t r a d i t i o n
t h a t even i f you d i d n ' t w ant to s p a r e y o u r s e l f
 51

you m ust s p a r e y o u r a n im a l u n l e s s i t was a m a t t e r

o f l i f e and d e a th .
As th e y r o d e t h r o u g h t h e g a t e s h e w a tc h e d
t h e h o r s e , e x p e c t i n g t o s e e him stu m b le and f a l l ,
James was unaw are o f t h i s .
"I t r u s t j " h e s a i d j a f t e r c l o s i n g t h e g a t e
"fo u f i n d y o u r s e l f m o re i n t h e humor t o a c c e p t
t h e l o v e o f God a nd r e p e n t a n c e o f y o u r s i n s th a n
v^en we met l a s t . As G o d 's v i c a r on e a r t h I s h a l l
be g l a d to h e a r y o u r c o n f e s s i o n . "
M i s e r y s t r u g g l e d w i t h h e r a n g e r . "Had I
a n y t h i n g to c o n f e s s I w o u l d n 't f e e l a s s u r e d w ith
a f a t h e r c o n f e s s o r who so b r u t a l l y m i s t r e a t s
h is horse. "
The words were s a i d now and th e y s e a r e d i n t o
t h e P a r s o n . He w a v e d h i s h a n d a s t h o u g h t o
d i s m i s s th e s u b j e c t .
"A h o r s e must n o t s t a n d i n t h e way o f a man
o f God g o in g about h i s H o l y -------- »
He sawed h i s w o rd s o f f and a l o o k o f s u r ­
p r i s e and c h a g r i n s p r e a d o v e r h i s f a c e . The g i r l
was w a tc h in g from u n d e r h e r lo n g l a s h e s .
He t u r n e d r e d a n d cla m p e d s h u t h i s l i p s a s
though d e te r m in e d n o t speak what was in h i s mind
and n e a r t .
G r i e f Jam es, in t h a t f l a s h o f a seco n d ,
s e a r c h e d h i s s o u l . He h a d n e v e r b e e n e a s y on
h o r s e f l e s h , b u t h e r t o f o r e h e had worn o u t th e
p o o r b e a s t s i n t r y i n g t o k e e p up w i t h a c l o s e
r e l i g i o u s s c h e d u l e . T h i s s c h e d u l e c o u ld n o t have
been m a in ta in e d by a man o f l e s s e r z e a l .
Now, when f a c e d w i t h t h e t r u t h h e knew h e
h a d n o t been r i d i n g h i s h o r s e h a r d d i r e c t l y upon
t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e L o r d . F o r t h e f i r s t tim e h e
h a d s u b o i d i n a t e d t h e man o f God t o t h a t o f t h e
human drawn h e r e by t h e t o r t u r i n g memory o f t h i s
woman.
 54

He lo o k e d a t h e r a n d s a i d h e s i t a n t l y . , s o f t l y :
"I d i d n o t mean t o be c r u e l t o th e h o r s e . I
j u s t d i d n ' t t h in k o f him. M y -----my th o u g h ts were
e ls e w h e r e . M y -----my th o u g h ts were on yoUj I 11
"How c o u l d t h e y be? Y o u 'v e o n l y s e e n me
o n c e b e f o r e . " M a rth a w ondered why sh e s a i d t h i s .
I t was so o b v io u s and t r i t e .
She l o o k e d a t him w i t h what h e t h o u g h t was
t h e f r a n k ; l e v e l g l a n c e o f a woman e x p e c t i n g an
a n s w e r t o a q u e s t i o n . A c t u a l l y i t was a woman
w a i t i n g b r e a t h l e s s l y f o r h i s n e x t words.
That he was now shy made M artha more s u r e o f
h e r s e l f ; gave back some o f h e r l o s t s e l f - c o n f i ­
d e n c e . He was i l l - a t - e a s e i n t h e s t i f f s t r a i g h t
b a c k e d c h a i r h e h a d s e l e c t e d . M a r th a f e l t t h i s
b e s t f o r t h e moment; s h e c o u l d watch t h e c a n d l e ­
l i g h t f l i c k e r o v e r h i s f a c e w h i l e h e r f a c e was
m o r e i n t h e shadow . B ut t h e g i r l h a d - f b r g o t te n
t h e f i r e l i g h t t h a t g a v e a glow t o h e r e y e s a n d
b r o u g h t o u t t h e warm t o n e s o f h e r e b a r e arms and
t h r o a t above t h e lo w - c u t gown.
"That once was enough to show m eyour w o r ld -
lin e s S ; your n eed f o r rep en tan ce; " he s a id f i n ­
a l l y . "What a l o v e l y woman you w ould be i f you
w o u ld a c c e p t t h e l o v e o f God a n d d e d i c a t e y o u r
l i f e t o Him! Oh what work we c o u ld do t o g e t h e r in
H is V ineyard! "
He l o o k e d a t h e r a n d h i s w hole s o u l s e a n e d
to p l e a d w ith h e r th ro u g h h i s b lu e e y e s.
She d i d n o t show h e r l e t - d o w n f e e l i n g ; b u t
t h i s was c e r t a i n l y t h e u n e x p e c t e d . I f t h i s was
lo v e - m a k in g i t was beyond h e r v a r i e d e x p e r i e n c e .
But i t d i d n ' t l e s s e n t h e d e s i r e t h a t had r e t u r n e d
t o p la g u e h e r . The P a r s o n ' s u n u su a l method c a u se d
a t e a s i n g imp w i t h i n h e r t o w h i s p e r i d e a s f o r
unusual r e p l i e s .
 55

".Do,! h a v e t o be a M e th o d is t to be l o v e l y
S i r ? Why c a n ' t I j u s t s t a y an E p i s c o p a l e a n , o r
b e c o m e a P r e s b y t e r i a n , a n d s t i l l k e e p a few
f e m in in e a t t r a c t i o n s ? "
She l e a n e d a g a i n s t th e back o f t h e s o f a and
th a s o f t l i g h t f e l l upon th e c u rv e of h e r
b reasts.
I n f u r i a t e d h e j u m p e d t o h i s f e e t . The
h e s i t a n t boy who h a d been t r y i n g to speak o f lo v e
gave way to t h e m i l i t a n t p a r s o n .
"You a r e n ' t l o v e l y now. You f l a u n t t h e e v i­
dence o f y o u r s i n by t h e s c a n t y c l o t h e s you wear.
The d e v i l h a s c o n t r o l o f y o u , m a k in g you tempt,
men w ith h i d e o u s p a s s i o n . Y o u -----you tempt j e s s '
Ch Godj have mercy upon me! Keep me from, t h i n k i n g
e v i l ! Cuench t h e f i r e s o f t h e f l e s h and t h e de­
s i r e s t h a t s o r e b e s e t Thy hum ble s e r v a n t ! D riv e
away from t h i s woman t h e e v i l t h a t h a s t a k e n
p o s s e s s i o n o f h e r and c l o t h e h e r in r ig h te o u s n e s s !
Oh God Above, g u i d e h e r t o b e l i e f i n C h rist,
o u r R ed e e m e r, a n d s a v e h e r from t h e p a t h down
she h a s s t a r t e d 1"
James, h i s v o i c e h o a r s e ,w a s n e a r c r y i n g now.
When h e came t o a b e w i l d e r e d p a u s e , M a rth a
said q u ie tly :
"My God i s an u n d e r s t a n d i n g God. He knows
t h a t i f two young p e o p le meet and f i n d th e m se lv e s
a t t r a c t e d to e a c h o t h e r i t i s n o t in i t s e l f
s i n f u l . I f ----- i f c e r t a i n t h o u g h t s a n d d e s i r e s
t r a n s p i r e in o ne f o r t h e o t h e r . My God d o e s n o t
say t h e o t h e r i s a t f a u l t , i s s i n f u l . "
H er v o i c e sunk t o a w h i s p e r a s she c o n t i n ­
u e d on: "He d o e s n o t c a u s e me t o f i n d an e x c u s e ,
on which to blame t h i s d e s i r e . My God i s lo v e and
mercy, f o r g i v e n e s s a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g . He d o e s n ' t
t r y t o f r i g h t e n me w ith t h r e a t s o f th e d e v i l ana
 56

th e f i r e s of h e ll because of th e l i t t l e th in g s
t h a t a r e n ' t s i n s b u tj maybe., j u s t m i s u n d e r s t a n d ­
i n g s . H i s l o v i n g k i n d n e s s shows me w here I h a v e
been wrongj j u s t a s He i s showing me t h i s moment.
J u s t a s ------------- "
"Stop! Blasphemy! You p r o f a n e t h e name o f
God! Who a r e you t o say t h e s e th in g s ? What do you
know o f H i s k i n d n e s s and m e rc y j you who a r e o f
t h e p i t ? You who can be s a v e d o n ly by f a l l i n g a t
t h e f e e t o f t h e B l e s s e d S a v io u r a n d b e g g in g f o r
m e rc y ; b e g g i n g f o r t h e r i g h t t o r e p e n t a n d a s k
f o r f o r g i v e n e s s o f y o u r s i n s ! U n t i l you dOj t h i s
i s a house o f h e l l in which I w i l l n o t s t a y . "
He s to rm e d o u t o f t h e room l e a v i n g t h e g i r l
s t a r i n g a t t h e f l i c k e r i n g flam es o f th e f i r e .
As t h e o u t e r d o o r slammed., M a rth a S t . John
f e l t a w i l d e l a t i o n . G r i e f James h a d by h i s v e r y
w ords a n d a c t s a d m i t t e d h i s l o v e . He w ould come
bac k . He w o u l d ' t e l l h i m s e l f - t h a t i t was t o con­
v e r t her., t o sa v e h e r so u l; but h e would ccme.
From o u t o f d o o r s came t h e r a p i d h o o f - b e a t s
o f a , g a l l o p i n g h o r s e . As t h e sound became f a i n t e r
i t c a r r i e d away w ith i t h e r e l a t i o n .
" P o o r ■h o r s e ! " sh e muimuredj r i s i n g . Then., a
moment l a t e r . , a s s h e saw b e y o n d t i m e a n d t h e
y e a r s : "And poorj p o o r me1 "

The End.