Our church in Sandburg

Front matter

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Introduction

OTJE excellent friend, the author of this work, caused the sheets- to be laid on our table while they were passing through the press, in order to elicit our opinion. "We have read it.

"And now, what of it? Is it a work of fiction?" Yes — no.

"Our Church in Sandburg" is as much Utopian as "Post-Oak Circuit;" but the reader who is acquainted with the history of Methodism for the past thirty years, especially in the South-west, will not be at a loss to locate " Sandburg," and to identify every minister and member of "Our Church " at the place. The characters are drawn to the life: Snell, Ticknor, Grumbles, Peters, Trigg, Standby, Hardwill — Old Sister Phipps and Aunt Euthie — and many others, of both sexes, saints and sinners, preachers and teachers, stewards and singers — surely, we have seen them all in the flesh — and the reader will know them all at sight!

The fluctuating fortunes of a small station are truthfully depicted — pastors are individualized — there were twenty-six in " Our Church in Sandburg," during the

6 Introduction.

thirty years over which this history extends — Presiding Elders are photographed — local preachers are brought into favorable notice — the inevitable contention about instrumental music, with the usual victory on the side of those who advocated its use — suppers, concerts, etc., to raise supplies — development in the Sunday-school — attainment of a respectable social status and settled prosperity — all these, and other matters, are presented with striking verisimilitude, as if the author, as will be suspected, had been quorum pars.

It is quite likely that he anticipated our agreement with him in his views on the various points here presented; if so, he was not mistaken. Those who wish a pleasing and correct concrete view of Methodism in this region — the system in its actual working — will find it in this charming volume. T. O. S.

Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South, ) Nashville, April 22, 1874. J

Chapter I

History proposed — Family name — Two questions — Location — " The Meeting-house 7 ' — How it was built — Society in Sandburg — Kepresentative men — Kepresentative members — Local preacher — Other names hereafter — Undeveloped country 15

Chapter II

First year — Our appointment — Court-house, etc. — Population — Amusements, and literary status — Large circuit- Sunday preaching — Brother Briggs, senior preacher — Brother Searcy, junior preacher — His trials — A revival — Our first Sunday-school singularly constituted — Did good — Fate of our superintendent 28

Chapter III

First year continued — Two valuable assistants — Religion superior to sectarianism — A striking incident — A remarkable friendship , 37

Contents.

Chapter IV

Second year — Nondescript Sunday-school dissolved — The new preachers, Brothers Thomas and Ashton — Appearance, labors, advancement, and fate of Brother Ashton — Brother Thomas a solid man — Was he a great preacher? — Obstacles and adversaries — Worldliness rebuked — A rival denomination — Pastoral labor needed and supplied — Additions — Annoyances — "Fool Billy" — Sister Euthie — Self-important brother " goes up" — A scandalous apostate — Church grows — Grand quarterly meeting and love-feast 43

Chapter V

Second year continued — Growth of Sandburg — Increase of Our Church — A caveat — Eiches to be consecrated — Marriage of the preacher — A wolf in the fold — Sunday-school reopened — A camp-meeting— Glorious results.... 54

Chapter VI

Third year — The anxious question — Brothers Snell and Hurt — Brother Snell' s levity — Does no good; is ignorant, fussy, and sinks to obscurity — Brother Hurt a better man — He is popular — A study — Brother Gliddon's wise counsel — A noble rally— Two remarkable conversions — We want a stationed preacher — Presiding Elder promises assistance 62

Chapter VII

Fourth year — The Bishop's visit and ministrations — Does God direct his people? — Egbert Worth stationed in Sandburg — The man, his labors and studies — Church

Contents.

PAGE

thronged—A wonderful revival and increase — A be- • reavement — Place supplied — Old Brother Carsner retires — New class-leader — A rich, proud steward- Sunday-school prospers — "Thank some brother to raise the tune.'' 76

Chapter VIII

Fourth year continued — Compactness — Not numbers, but animus — Eelentless conflict — Growing importance of Sandburg — Presbyterians — Their pastor — Another organization; claims all, allows none — The harness off, and on again — Godly women — "Old Sister Phipps" prays loud — Advantage of quarterly meetings — Fanaticism rebuked 85

Chapter IX

Fifth, sixth, and seventh years — Cultivating the field — . Methodism grows apace — Sandburg, a central point — Brother Lang — His style and spirit — Church polity discussed- — Christian education — School proposed — Brother Davidson — Scholarly and exact — Diversities of gifts — Preacher's wife — She labors much — Books and Advocates — Two candidates for the ministry — Brother Lowe — Stately and morose, but preaches well — Eeaction: worldliness and coldness — Dancing, and other follies — Our testimony — A "Stonewall" in the Church 92

CHAPTER X. Eighth year — "Sandburg Station, James Eider" — "Angel

of the Church" — Brother Eider's odd looks and unique

ways — Powerful exhorter — High-school established — 1%

Contents.

PAGE

Addresses — Opinions discussed: education is not religion — May be aided by it — Congregation mixed — Preacher's troubles — Emerges unliurt — Progress 106

Chapter XI

Ninth and tenth years — Dr. Godfrey — A model man — Inimitable preacher — A serio-comic act — Brother Lawne, local preacher, a sound man — Sunday-school and Bible-classes — The stewards mortified — They "come up to the help" — Dr. Godfrey returned — Church flourishes — A glorious work — Scenes and incidents — u Quench not the Spirit" — Converted in his buggy — Fourth quarterly meeting: three young preachers licensed — Presiding Elder, a man of faith and power 116

Chapter XII

Eleventh and twelfth years — Home mission work — Good results — Brother Liskew, our new preacher — Does better than appearances — Keaction, after tension — Christmas frolics— A proud woman makes trouble — What is to be done ? — Turn her out ! — Religion in high life — Temptation and flight — Brilliant example — Brother Liskew' s second year — Bigotry crops out — Negro-traders — Sandburg grows — Line of stage-coaches — Sins of civilization 128

Chapter XIII

Thirteenth year — Brother Gilliam — A pleasing, bookish, working preacher — Change of times — Church out of date — Must build a new and larger — God must have the best — The sisters lend aid — About fairs, suppers, and concerts — A liberal soul — Built and dedicated —

Contents.

Changes — Brother Hall sleeps in Jesus — Brother Ticknor forsakes ns — Their places filled — Two dissimilar officers — Brother Lawne moves away — His place filled— Brother Grumbles wants "to make the contempt" to preach — Brother Gilliam marries 140

CHAPTEE XIV.

Fourteenth year — Conference in Sandburg — Perplexing privilege — William Smith, station-preacher — " Who on earth is he?" — Discouragement — Comforted — Works and wins — Brother Broom's experience and zeal— A vision — Brother Foreman's weakness — The world turns — Preacher's wife helps him — Kevival — A concert — A failure — Sending forth laborers — Epidemic — First Psalms or Second Philip 150

CHAPTEE XV.

Fifteenth year — Brother Morton, preacher — His character — Large family — An old slander — A broken heart — Safe administration — Spiritual life — Lining the hymns — A trouble cured — Sudden fall — Professor Chardon's apostasy — Two acquisitions and their story — Our supernumerary — Migratory population , 161

CHAPTER XVI.

Sixteenth and seventeenth years — Brother Pollock's coming, works, and death — A Christian death — A supply — Too much for one — Revival and romance — Brother Burleson our preacher — A mistake — A year of gloom — Universalist preacher — A happy death sanctified to good — A train — Farewell to Sister Phipps — Aunt Euthie's burial — Under a cloud 171

Contents.

CHAPTER XVII.

Eighteenth and nineteenth years — Eailroad and telegraph — Brother Alfred Marsden — Civilization — Preacher labors — Sinner dies — Dr. Josephs's faith — A case of lay baptism- — Good preaching — Zion refreshed — Brother Marsden' s second year — Children sing — All sing — Israel rejoices — No formula — A Timothy sent forth — Baptists and Cumberlands organize — Help and health 179

CHAPTER XVIII.

Twentieth and twenty-first years — Eev. Dr. Roberts — His household — Sandburg remodeled — A bank and a banker — Mischief done — Additions — Col. Green — Dr. Haines — Brother Rowland — A liberal sinner — Not much progress — Dr. Roberts returned — " Marrying out of meeting" — Which should yield? — A storm of trouble — Discretion and loyalty — Preacher broken down.. 188

CHAPTEE SIX.

Twentieth and twenty-first years continued — Uniform teaching — Spiritism and ministering angels — A sermon — Sound doctrine proves churchship.. 196

CHAPTER XX.

Twenty-second year — Brother Edmunds, station-preacher — Bright sword with dull edge — No execution — Social meetings and Sunday-school — Bad health — Place supplied — Pastor's labors needed — Church-music: organ or no organ — Old Methodism invoked — Charity is kind —

Contents.

PAGE

Losses and additions — The Waters family — The Fitz- James connection — A star that shone and expired in shame 207

CHAPTER XXI.

Twenty-third, twenty-fourth, and twenty-fifth years — A season of repose — Brother Trigg's two years — Suspected, approved — Eccentric habits — -Good wife — Johnnie — Brother Trigg sings— A new hat— " That's a fact! "—Eloquence — Unequally yoked — Brother Windham takes the station — Is a stormer, in spite of his faults — Good work — Stewards in trouble — Eepairs needed — Ways and means: What and which ?— School declining — Something must be done 216

CHAPTER XXII.

Twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh years — Retrograde motion — The case explained — Cheap preacher — Professor Smith, pastor — Too much to do — Something neglected — What makes history? — Social perfection — Society "made for man" — Music again — An obstinate fight — Brother Waters favors — Brother Standby opposes — Brother Fitz-James explains — Organ voted in — Brother Hardwill implacable — Was prayer answered? — Hard work and poor pay 227

CHAPTER XXIII.

Twenty-eighth year — Br. Easton, pastor — Big preacher — Five children — Litany! — A business meeting — Great agony — Advanced ground — A parsonage — The Doctor's appearance and style — Couldn't talk — Didn't know the children — Union effort — Two only Churches— Pastor's wife needs improving — What is the matter? 239

Contents.

CHAPTER XXIY.

Twenty-ninth and thirtieth years — Brother English, pastor — Meets expectation — Wild delight — Wins the children — New life — "Servant of the Most High God" — Precious season — Scene in a boarding-house — Sick comforted — Sin rebuked — "Surely once the garden flourished" — His second term — Gets sick — Is patient — Brother Edwards goes home — Liquor -dealer's death — High-school wanes — Hie jacet — Thirty years ended 248

CHAPTER XXY.

^Reflections — Gratulations — Deductions

OUR CHURCH IN SANDBURG.

Chapter I

History proposed — Family name — Two questions — Location — "The Meeting-house" — How it was built—Society in Sandburg — Eepresentative men — Eepresentative members — Local preacher — Other names hereafter — Undeveloped country.

I PROPOSE to write the history of a Methodist Church, beginning at the date of my earliest recollection, and tracing its career through a period of thirty years. I am to record its vicissitudes — its struggles in the day of small things — its battles against opposing forces — its seasons of revival and of coldness, as these varied ./times passed over it during a generation.

Memory recalls the holy zeal of its members, whose mutual affection and devotion to a common cause found frequent utterance in the phrase, " Our Church." In sympathy with that sentiment — a sympathy unchanged by half a century — I adopt their family name, and write of Our Church — its rank and file, its chiefs, its pastors — detailing with care

Our Church ln t Sandburg.

and candor their errors, their virtues, their failures, and their triumphs.

The design of this history is not merely to perpetuate the names and dates of a past age; it is rather to embalm the deeds and friendships of bygone days — to paint portraits in which expression shall be more fondly prized than lifeless features, and thus preserve fresh and familiar in the living present whatever was noblest and dearest in the buried past.

A modern writer asserts that there are two questions to be answered in writing biography: "What influence did the departed exert on society? and "What influence did society exert on hini?" Accepting this assertion as both true and wise, I shall keep its philosophy constantly in mind, and endeavor to show wherein and how much Our Church affected the destinies of society, and wherein and how far its course was modified by outside influence.

Since this record is in no sense a geographical treatise, but merely a recital of the rise and progress of a certain association of people during a stated period, there seems to be no reason why the exact location should be given. However, this much may be said: The location appears on the map between the longitude of Washington, on the east, and the Mississippi River, on the west; and between the thirty-fifth and thirty-seventh degrees of north latitude. Within these confines stands the town of Sandburg, the seat and theater of the scenes and transactions detailed in these pages. Alas! there live now but few who walked those

Our Church in Sandburg.

sandy streets and worshiped in that dear little temple at the time from which these annals begin.

" The meeting-house, " as above intimated, was small. It was a framed building, not painted, but very respectable for "the people called Methodists" of that day, in that section of country. The "society" was also small, numbering, I suppose, not more than thirty names. But they were zealous, devoted, united. I recall, even now, the boyish wonder with which I used to listen to a chorus which they often sang to one of their favorite songs:

We're all united, heart and hand,

Joined in one band completely; We are marching to Immanuel's land,

Where the waters now more sweetly.

This close union resulted, no doubt, partly from uniform views of doctrines and similar experience — for herein they walked by the same rule and minded the same things; but it was made more conspicuous by the outside pressure of an unfriendly community — an unfriendliness as distinctly marked as the religious character of the brethren. Some outsiders regarded them with contempt, others with indifference, and others still with feelings of bitter opposition. Methodism was not at all popular. To espouse it meant conflict always with public opinion, sometimes with friends and relatives.

How, then, could a society, so feeble and so unpopular, build for themselves a house so respectable? It was easily done: The members all gave what they could in cash and material, and some of them

Our Church in Sandburg.

did much of the work. For instance, Brother Carsner had a saw-mill a few miles off, Brother Sizemore was a number-one woodsman, Brother Lewis owned a good team; so it was easy for these three to contribute liberally in cutting, hauling, and sawing lumber. Nearly all the citizens contributed; some because they owned real estate, and knew that a good church would add to the general character of the town, and perhaps increase the value of building-lots; and others because it was then considered a social duty to assist a neighbor at a " house-raising," and they did not discriminate between this enterprise and the more common one of raising a private house. There were a few who desired to meet their fellow-citizens as often and in as large numbers as possible: they were candidates for popular favor. Sunday suited them as well as any other day, and hence they subscribed liberally to the undertaking. So it turned out, that by getting help from all these sources, our little flock soon finished the best church-edifice in all that region. Except in the one fact of its unpainted exterior, it was nearly equal to the best building of any kind in Sandburg.

Allusion was made above to the tone of public opinion that prevailed in and around town. That tone, it must be confessed, was neither pure nor high. A few examples of representative men in different grades of society will show the character of the people among whom our brethren lived. But before naming individuals, let me say generally: There were some well-educated men and women ; a larger number who were well informed and practically wise, but unlearned in books; and a yet greater mass who ranged from bare ability to read, down to wholly unlettered ignorance. These classes made up the people of Sandburg and the surrounding country. Now, more particularly, let me introduce some of the fellow-citizens of my boyhood's days.

Philip Krumpter was a well-to-do farmer, not far from town, lived high, and kept free house, after the fashion of the times. He warmed himself in winter and cooled himself in summer with brandy made at his own distillery. There was no Bible in his house till the Bible Society furnished it. His sons and daughters — he had two of each — were leaders in all the frolics of town and neighborhood, had been to dancing-school, and were far better educated in their heels than in their heads. When they went to preaching, it was for recreation, to see their friends, or to amuse themselves by laughing at the exercises. A warm, stirring song, with lively chorus, was, in their estimation, " mighty funny;" and a shout stimulated their ridicule to the highest pitch. Their property gave them the passport to respectability — their merry living drew around them a considerable circle of friends. Their influence was all against religion — avowedly against Our Church.

Ezekiel Snow was another prominent citizen, an ignorant man, as to books, but practically wise in worldly things. He had grown rich by hard work and rigid economy, was very moral in his habits,

Our Church in Sandburg.

sober and temperate in all things, was one of the few outsiders who never used profane language; but he evinced no interest at all in religion. He occasionally took his family to preaching — his house was a mile and a half from town — when the weather was fine and the roads were good, so that he could drive up in impressive style; but he remained out of doors or occupied a back seat, looked unconcerned, and returned home well satisfied with himself. His w^ife claimed to be a Presbyterian, was an exemplary woman, but had no church of her sort near enough to attend, and not being a very positive character, her influence in the family was scarcely perceivable, and the children grew up in a kind of genteel ungodliness.

Joshua Freed, a man in pretty good circumstances, was a worse man than either of those before-named. He was dissolute in morals — followed with greediness all the baser amusements of the day, such as gander-pulling and cock-fighting. He kept game chickens, and did not scruple to spend Sunday in this cruel pastime. His family consisted of four boj's, who were growing up, at this time, without restraint and without home association, except that of their wicked father and of careless servants. Their mother died when the youngest was born. Their house was a lawless abode of passion and revelry, and their life in society, till excesses in crime disgraced both father and sons, was a deadly miasma.

It is pleasing to pass to a better model of manhood, though he was not all that true manhood

Our Church in Sandburg.

implies. Col. John Mount was the most extensively known and by far the. most popular citizen of Sandburg. He was every inch a man in size and features, and a perfect gentleman in manners and address. He had inherited large property, was thoroughly college-bred, and lived up to the highest standard of easy elegance. Having no professional engagements, and being ambitious of political preferment, he was frequently a candidate for public favors, and was several times elected to the State Legislature, and afterward to Congress. It was considered, at that time, necessary for a candidate to treat the people on public occasions: his success depended more upon the amount of whisky he distributed than upon the brains he possessed; and Col. Mount found the affections of the masses more readily secured by a well-filled jug than by the sparkling creations of a well-filled mind. But while he showed his liberality by profuse treating, he must evince his sympathy with the dear people by partaking of the treat; and thus he grew so fond of his dram that, though seldom really drunk, he was more seldom perfectly sober. His influence over all classes was very great: unfortunately, it was on the wrong side; for while he was a believer in Christianity, and showed its professors profound respect, he served the world and advocated sin with the whole energy of his being. His example was a stumbling-block to many who mistook his pleasing manners for genuine virtues, and, in admiring his brilliant qualities, readily glided into his pernicious vices.

Our Church m Sandburg.

One of the most highly esteemed young men of Sandburg was John Dexter, attorney at law. He was a handsome man, witty and fascinating in conversation, and was, therefore, much courted in society. Fun was his besetting sin, and this he could extort from every subject, however grave, that chanced to be introduced. Thus, though not an avowed infidel, he diverted the thoughts of others from serious matters, and drew them into all kinds of reckless gayety. These, with the Gibbons family — rich, and worldly-minded — and Dr. Browman — a popular physician, whose daughters were beauties and belles — give a fair outline view of our social surroundings. That is, these were the leaders of outside life: what they said and did was law to those below them in society — a law more potent in shaping the destinies of a generation than the statutes of a powerful government.

I need not mention the names of many who dragged out their days of weary toil without impressing their fellow-men. Of these there are some whose brief prominence will appear in this narrative; but the rest — passive as they were in the transactions of their day — such as Joe Sizeman, who said, "Of all sorts of fresh meat, give me good old bacon," and Peter Overton, the wood-hewer, who said, "I never expect to feel befitten to join any religious society; but if I ever do, it will be the Freemasons" — did nothing worthy to be recorded. It is sad to think of the multitudes who live, labor, suffer, and die, and are forgotten forever. Not unnoticed by their God while living, not forgotten by him in the profound solitude of their graves, they pass into an oblivion with men, as nameless as leaves in a wilderness.

I will now introduce some of our most conspicuous members, as memory calls back their features: First comes the venerable James Carsner, the old class-leader. We all called him Uncle Jimmie, for he was a general favorite with the young people, and enjoyed the full confidence of the whole community. He was tall, large-framed, slightly bent by age, with keen black eyes, benevolent features, and a full shock of gray hair — the crown of a noble life. His broad, beaming face was always cleanly shaved on meeting days — it was unchristian then to wear long beard. Uncle Jimmie " seemed to be a pillar" in the Church. His zeal knew no abatement, his judgment was sound, his social status good, his reputation unchallenged. "When he led class, it was as one having authority; but it was a paternal authority, for he was kind to the erring, gentle to the timid, sympathetic with the sorrowing, and able to guide to higher attainments those who were growing in grace. When he prayed in public, it was as one having power with God, for heaven seemed near to earth as he appealed to the throne of grace. When he sang, what a voice! how clear! how strong! His favorite song was,

The voice of free grace cries, Escape to the mountain; and when he launched out in those lofty strains, there was a mellowness in the tone that spoke the feelings of an earnest and honest heart, and secured the reverent attention of the congregation. Everybody acknowledged him to be a good man, even those who added, "but an enthusiast."

Not far from him lived old Mother Black, then the oldest Methodist . in those parts. She was a lovely specimen of aged womanhood, was the mother of a large family, whose children — the Blacks and Lewises — perpetuated her vigorous character and her Christian faith. They constituted, to a great extent, the strength of our little society. Sister Lewis, oldest daughter of Mother Black, was the most' demonstrative member among us. I recollect how heartily she used to shout, and how the cold chills would thrill me when her wild key-note, "Glory! glory!" gave the signal of a general outburst of praise. She reared a lovely family — none of them remarkable for intellect or culture, but all remarkable for uniform and consistent piety. Her daughter Mattie, a meek and gentle girl, was a great pet with both boys and girls in the village school. Even those who made light of her religion, and declared it impossible for one so young to be a Christian, respected her virtues and admired her beautiful life. The untimely death of this amiable girl was, if I remember correctly, the first loss Our Church sustained. It was indeed a shock to her schoolmates, who knew but little of death, and followed her to the grave with strange and silent wonder. It was a serious loss to the Church-members, for they doted on their little sister, and anticipated a rich harvest of good works in the maturity of her life.

We were blessed with the labors of a local

Our Church in Sandburg.

preacher, Rev. John Givons. He was a comely man, and pleasant to look upon, about thirty years old, very positive in his manner, free and fluent in conversation, but sometimes too solemn and gloomy in expression. His zeal was fervent and tireless, but his gifts as a preacher were not of a high order. His delivery was plain, his voice rather monotonous, his gesticulations too rapid and stormy. He was a saddle and harness maker, managed a large shop, and worked himself a portion of the time; he was, therefore, not expected to preach carefully-prepared sermons. But his sound sense, practical illustrations, and blameless life, secured and maintained the general respect of the people.

There were two other families, the Crossties and Mundays, persons in medium condition as to property, and more moderate as to cultivation, who were sound in the faith and reputable in Christian character. Nearly all of these two family connections were devoted Methodists, bearing the burden of our unpopular name and cause with commendable firmness. Socially, they were among the best of their class, and were no mean element of our strength.

There were in our little band a few of the poorest of the pdor. The Browder family, utterly thriftless in worldly matters, professed to be laying up treasure in heaven. Mrs. Baughn, the hapless wife of a miserably-worthless man, claimed and received the fellowship and sympathy of our sisterhood. Baughn, whose wealth consisted in a poor character and eight unpromising children, lived about 2

Our Church in Sandburg.

half a mile from town, in a cheerless, leaky, pinelog cabin. The old lady had higher aspirations than her do-less lord, had seen better days before the star of wedlock shone malignantly on her destiny, and would often pour out her sorrows in strains of womanly eloquence in the presence of her more fortunate sisters. But she had a disagreeable twang in her voice, and a flippant alliteration in her language, which often produced disgust or mirth where she sought for pity or assistance. There was something laughable in her frequent and fluent use of the term, " Seems like." On one occasion, when she had called upon a neighbor for creature or mental comforts, and was bewailing her isolation from society, she closed her lamentable story by saying, "Seems like I never see nobody, without somebody goes by; and seems like nobody never goes by, for I never see nobody go by, seems like." I have recalled our good Sister Baughn from the long-forgotten grave in which she slumbers, not to furnish an item of amusement, but to illustrate a fact in history.

These brief sketches must suffice for the present. Other names will be introduced when needed to portray the onward progress of Our Church. And since this is not a biography, confined to the life of one man; and not a romance, delineating the character of an imaginary hero, just so much information about particular individuals will be given as may be necessary to exhibit the parts they acted, and the influence they exerted, as year succeeds year in the narrative.