There were several beautiful sketches drawn by Mr. Edge while in this locality. The one which particularly attracted my attention was a beautiful arch drawn upon the front leaf of a large Bible owned by Mr. Sirenous Reed. Directly up the center of this arch were very neatly placed seven steps, on the foot of which was written, beginning at the bottom the following words: Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness and Charity. Just beneath the bow of the arch was placed the figure of a young man who had just climbed this narrow stairway, kneeling upon the top step receiving a beautiful crown from the hands of an angel.
In conversation with some of them, Mr. Edge stated that he once lived in the land of Texas and had a wife and one child, when he began his missionary labor.He also informed them that he had a partner whom he very frequently travelled with by the name of Cob, whom he had not seen since leaving the State of Arkansas. In speaking of himself he said, “I am not worthy of but one of the nail prints in my hands.”
Some time after his departure, one of this little band was casually turning the leaves of the large Bible owned by S. Reed and discovered the 31st verse of the 24th Chapter of Matthew, inclosed in brackets, inside of which was written the name of Robert Edge.
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31He wrote his people two letters of encouragement, one while in the State of Georgia and the other while in South Carolina. In the last one he spoke some of visiting England. A few months later I met Pres. Morgan in the city of Nashville, who, while in conversation regarding this preacher, Edge, showed me a letter that he received some time previous with no name signed to it. As far as I was able to judge between the writings left in Henderson County by Mr. Edge and this letter, they were penciled by the same hand.
Every one of the 21 followers who fasted for the full three days were baptized. Late in the fall of the same year Hailey’s Creek Branch, save one soul, emigrated to San Jose, Colorado.
Elder Belnap and Elder Carver once passed thru Howville and stayed with Squire Long. He was very sociable and treated us kindly. As Mr. Long was an old settler and an influential gentleman we made some inquiries about Mr. Edge. He laughed and said he remembered when a crazy preacher came down on a rock some two years ago. The rock bursted and let him down on a sand hill. Told of his fasting and many other amusing stories. Said some believed he was a Mormon. Whoever he was he was certainly the shrewdest preacher that had been thru this country.
I don't know who Robert Edge was. But it is pretty clear Hyrum Belnap believed he was no ordinary mortal man.
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The Sirenious Reed mentioned in this article is my great great grandfather.
My grandfather, John L. BENCH jr., was a missionary in 1896 to 1898 in Tennessee. He kept a journal during his mission and referenced it many times as he recounted his mission in his Autobiography written in 1948. He was born in 1870. He left for his mission in 1896. The Mission Pres at his departure from the Southern States Mission was Ben E Rich, who he admired greatly.
In the mission section of his autobiography, he recounts his experiences with those he taught who knew or were converted by Robert Edge. One was Sirenious Reed. Another was a daughter and her mother, both of whom he taught and baptized in a matter of a few days, both having been taught by Robert Edge, who promised that they would be found by the servants of God, and taught. Another was a man, last name of Sweet, who had Robert Edge's name and greeting written in his Bible. Sweet's comment was that Edge knew the Bible better than any person he'd ever met.
In his Autobiograph, Grandad summarized part of his mission activities by saying he'd baptized seven who had been taught by Robert Edge. He also noted the description about Edge that came from different people in different areas that didn't know each other. They all descibed Edge's report about himself, that he'd been in the area some 1800 years. Most said that he knew the bible better than any preacher they'd ever mey. A few descibed his healing hands and blessings. Reed asked my grandfather about the sealing he'd receved in lieu of going to a temple. When he'd had the chance, and wondered if it was still valid.
My grandfather was convinced that Edge was one of the 3 Nephites, preservered to preach until the Savior returned. Grandad died when I was 12. We had many suppers with him around our table in Phoenix. He and Grandma lived with us five of his last seven summers. I helped my grandmother take care of him in his 90th year. He told me many things. His mind or memory never faded till his very last 45 days. He died in 1960
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