INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF METHODISM

By

The Reverend John Elmore DuBois

Edited by Elizabeth A. DuBois
(c) 1998  DuBois Publishing Co, Simsbury, Connecticut. All rights
reserved.

ELEVEN
[Cont.]

	After a frugal meal, came a social hour.  The preachers would assemble
under the shade of a big oak, and hold the council of war, plan the
siege and the order of attack.  The more zealous and pious would devote
themselves to the young converts and seekers, while the careless and
unconcerned, in idle groups, would discuss the crops, the chase and
neighborhood gossip.  This hour was always fraught with peculiar
pleasure to the unawakened youth.  Dressed out in his new home-spun
suit, he would strut back and forth, in view of the rustic maiden, whose
bright eyes and silvery laugh thrilled his very soul, and made him wish
that all of life was one long protracted meeting.

	But a burst of song reminds all that the evening services have opened,
and they go crowding into the church, or under the arbor.  After an
hour's service, they adjourn to meet at "early candle-light."  "At early
candle-light!"  Who has not heard this announcement?  Night meeting in
the country!  What hallowed associations cluster about such an event!
But  I must push on.

	Sunday is the big day--big crowd--big dinner, big preacher, but little
of the Spirit--driven off by show and man-worship.  The best work was
done in the week.  Those who went were in earnest.  Souls were
converted, God honored and man blessed.  Yes, the streets of heaven are
thronged today with redeemed spirits, through the instrumentality of
protracted meetings; and thousands more are on their way, rejoicing in
the hope of a blissful immortality through the same means.


[To be Continued]

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