>INCIDENTS AND CHARACTERS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF METHODISM > >By > >The Reverend John Elmore DuBois > >Edited by Elizabeth A. DuBois >© 1998 DuBois Publishing Co, Simsbury, Connecticut. All rights >reserved. > > >EIGHT >(cont.) > >Keeping the Sabbath > > Pardon me for introducing just here an incident in which I was an >actor. It shows the superiority of example over precept and the power >of consistency. In Perry county, in the neighborhood of Mr. R. Walthal >and Mr. DeYampert it was a common practice with the people to violate >the Sabbath, by using it to make two loads of cotton a week to market. >Of course ministers arrayed themselves against it and did all they could >to dissuade the people from so wicked a practice, but seemingly with >little effect. > > It happened that I had to assist my mother-in-law in removing from >Coosada to Perry county. We started with a train of wagons, horses, >cattle, etc., in time to reach home by Saturday night, but from the >adverse events usually incident to such expeditions, we only reahed the >Campground in a few miles of home. Here, at considerable expense, we >must remain all day Sunday, or violate the Sabbath, and thus do what I >have publicly condemned. We remained. The day was pleasantly and >profitably spent. Many of the neighbors came in and we had a delightful >time; and Mr. Abernathy afterward told me that this one act did more to >restrain that community from Sabbath breaking than all our preaching on >the subject. So you see that consistency is better than precept. > > At this Campground a circuit preacher, whose name I shall not call, >gave us a powerful sermon. He seemed to be in the spirit, and burdened >with the weight of souls. His discourses had a good effect and elevated >him in the esteem of the people. Some time after this, Mr. Abernathy >invited myself and wife, together with a few other friends to a dining >at his house. This same minister was to make one of the party. My >wife, who was young in her religious experience, and who had heard the >sermon just mentioned, expected to be greatly edified and benefitted by >his conversation; but instead of a religious treat and a spiritual >feast, she was mortified by a prolific array of silly and disgusting >anecdotes. But enough for this time. > >[To be continued.] > > >==== ALABAMA Mailing List ==== >If you need to contact the list manager, please send your e-mail to >mmanson@snet.net >