>INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF METHODISM IN >CHARLESTON, SC, AND ALABAMA > >By > >The Reverend John Elmore DuBois > >Edited by Elizabeth A. DuBois >(c) 1998 DuBois Publishing Co. All rights reserved. > >TWO [cont.] >Dunkards; A Tragedy > > The next incident that I shall notice was the advent of a >prophet. He was of the sect of Tunkers, or Dunkards, as they are >sometimes called. > >He predicted the destruction of the world by water in a short time. He >preached in the market places, at the street corners and in the public >squares. His dress was plain but unique. He wore a long robe or gown, >with a girdle about his loins. His hair was long and his beard >unshorn. He had a grave and serious manner, and bore himself with the >dignity of a true prophet. Money he would not receive, and clothing >only as one garment after another wore out. He preached the doctrine of >repentance and baptism by immersion. > >As he passed along the streets in his odd dress, with his long hair and >flowing beard, he created quite a sensation, especially among the boys >and the ignorant classes. Nor was his influence confined to these, as >he stood upon the streets and preached, or in the market places and >poured forth his terrific prophecies; for one lady of note and >intelligence suffered herself to be re-baptized at his hands, very much >to the mortification of her family and her friends. Although his >prophecies created quite a stir and much needless trouble, it is >unnecessary to say that the predicted flood did not come. > > In the year 1816, as well as I remember, a camp-meeting was held near >Charleston, which could be reached by water. On Saturday morning >several sailing vessels, filled with passengers, left for the >campground. In the early part of the day the wind blew a sweeping gale >and produced a very rough sea, but in the afternoon subsided and the sea >calmed. The vessel on which I sailed did not leave until after 12 >o'clock. Our voyage was delightful; but as we neared the camp-ground we >saw one of the vessels that had left early in the morning upside down. >It was then very calm, and the river not very wide, so we entertained a >hope that all were saved; but when we arrived our hopes were not >realized. There were several lives lost. All that attempted to swim >ashore were drowned, except Mr. J. W. Houck, of whom I shall have >occasion to speak hereafter. A boat that preceded our left clinging to >the wreck of the other. The loss of many lives, however, cast a gloom >over the encampment. > > How necessary to attend to the Savior's admonition, "Be ye >therefore ready." > > For full particulars of many incidents, we refer the reader to >Mr. Wood's book. > >Jno. DuBois >Eutaw, Ala. > >[To be cont...] > > >==== ALABAMA Mailing List ==== >--snip--- >NOTICE: Posting of virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, political >announcements, current events, items for sale, personal messages, flames, >etc. (in other words - spam) is NOT ALLOWED and will be grounds for removal >and exclusion from this mailing list. Spam crashes our servers and we have >to take a stand. >---snip--- >