Elder James A Kelly of the Conference has contributed an
article detailing the work of companions in Sumner County 1898. He says “The
opposition have been very black of unjust criticism by the Christendom and the
slimy kiss of ingratitude from the hypocrite has tended to spice the pleasant
experiences of life.”
He recites an in the northern part of the county follows:
He recites an in the northern part of the county follows:
“Some few weeks ago we came in part of county on the
Louisville Nashville railroad and were greatly solicitous of preaching, but to
secure a house we could not in the village; and remaining about several days
the people would ask each other questions about those “notorious men” and their
business here which in a short time we would hear from some friends we hid met
during our sojourn with them: among those whom we had became ingratiated with at
the beginning was a merchant by the name of Berry: and after partaking of the
noon day meal we told the inhabitants of the station we would hold services,
using the porch of a store as the tabernacle. At the commencement we were baffled
not being accustomed to the situation of our listeners some in the road, some
on verandas, many about us and our attitude on street corner preaching the
Gospel of a crucified and risen Redeemer and why there should be a
dissemination of such truths made.”
“After dismissing the meeting the most important men of the
station came and wanted us to try and secure the “Missionary Baptist Church”
and continue preaching. This we did immediately, and succeeded in getting it
for two meetings. Our services were well
attended and those who were at first obstinate soon became interested in the
principles as advocated, which were a surprise to them.”
“During our short stay in Mitchellville we disposed of
several books and made many good Gospel friends who are glad to converse with
us.”
Mitchellville is a small (population 200) community on the Tennessee side of the state line with Kentucky. Today it is part of the Gallatin Tennessee Ward.
2 comments:
Not sure why this struck me so forcefully this morning, but that simple fact of telling at the end which ward this town is part of today brings the past into contact with the present and makes this moment in 1898 suddenly relevant -- even for people like me with no ties to the area.
And "the slimy kiss of ingratitude" -- how colorful!!
Elder Kelly had a way with words. I once thought it was just the way people wrote "back then", but I have since learned that there are examples of equally colorful writing today and several examples of poor writing from missionary journals of the past.
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