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ZION’S LANDMARKS.
“Thk Gem/’
Pkinceton, N. J.,
October lOtli, 1870.
Dear Drotker Sodenhamer:—Ac
cording to a partial }>roniise to write
you on my return honae, I embrace
the present opportunity, being con
fined to my room by sickness. I
will as briefly as I can give you an
account of my visit to North Caro
lina, and attempt to extend my most
grateful thanks to yon, and all others
who felt to welcome their poor Nor
thern brother, and e:nbrac(3 him in
their “heart of hearts.” Language
is too feeble for me to describe the
joy and gladnes.s of lieart, expenen-
-eed, in having been permitted to
•miagle in the society of so many dear
brethren, and the cornfort and edifica
tion derived from a personal acquain
tance of yourself, and it has greatly
•strengthened my weak hope, in the
never ending mercies of Christ to
see the great love abounding among
the Brethren at each and every place
we were entertained. I cannot rest
satisfied M'ithout mentioning the
names of those whose liberal hospi
tality was enjoyed and to say that
they, with all their families, done
everything to make our visit a pleas
ant one, and am under lasting obii-
. gations to them all. “And whoso
ever shall give to drink unto one of
these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily
i say, unto you. He shall iu no wise
lose his reward.”
I left my home on Tuesday Sept.
27 th, and proposed a journey of four
weeks, but my first week’s visit, was
all that I was permitted to follow
after my plan, or route of travel.—■
At the time I left home, I did not
know of the Contentna Association,
and that week was to have been spent
in traveling to Iliclimond, Peters
burg and other places in Virginia.
Yet had there been no meeting that
Aveek, roy plans would have been
partly frustrated, on account of the
great freshet. “Man proposes but
God disposes.” I arrived at brother
Hassell’s on 29th, a dull, rainy day.
They were expecting me, but disap
pointed in not seeing some one with
me. I was soon made to feel at
home, with them; met brother Joseph
Biggs and Sister, also a number of
bi’ethren on their way to Kehukee As
sociation. On Friday morning
brother Hassell kindly took me,
with his family in his cfirriage and
took up pur line of march for the
place of meeting. Stopped over
with many of the brethren at that
place. Saturday morning arrived at
the place of meeting, and there met
brother Biggs of Norfolk, Si.ster
King and family, and many new
friends. The meeting atss largely
attended, throughout; the best of or
der was observed. ’Twas the first
Association I ever attended .at the
South, and the contrast was very
great from those at the North, being
held out in the grove, and the eon-
gregations much larger; the contrast
was great, also, in manners, customs,
habits, conversations, diet; also man
ner of farming very different, croi^s
unlike ours, and even the face of the
country forms the greatest contrast,
from the hills of the North to tlie
level sea board country.
I have digressed, and Avill return
to my subject. After first days meet
ing stopped at Mrs. Whitehead s
over night. Elder St. John preached.
Nextday, Sunday, the great day of the
“feast” three sermons. Elders St.
John, Bodenhamer, and Gold. Staid
all night at sister Bryant’s. Elder
St.John preached again. Monday,
the last day of Association. The
preaching was all alike, no discord,
but was all “Salvation by Grace’*
from beginning to end. After the
meeting brother Daniel took me with
yourself and brother Gold, in hi.s
carriage, and kept us in his care dur
ing the following week. We went
to brother FaithfuTs and staid over
night. Next day meeting at Tarboro,
and that night at brother Daniel’s.
Our company consisted there of
brother Asa Biggs, brother and sister
Outterbridge, brother Cannad}’, and
ourselves. On Wednesday, to Little
Creek, stopping all night at Father
Thigpen’s; next morning to Sparta;
took dinner Avith brother Carney,
and at niglit at brother Dupree’s.—
Friday had meeting at Old Town
Creek, and there brother Daniel bap
tized brother Mercer; stopped at
nio-ht Avith brother Pitt.
o
Oil Saturday sta>’ted for White
Oak, the place of meeting; the con
gregation much larger than at
Kehukee, but the Aveather vms more
favorable, being very clear and plea
sant, and on Sunday the estimated
number on the ground aaxis between
four and six thousand peojile, nearly
one third colored; all was orderly as
could be expected, certainly very at
tentive to the preaching. The preach
ing a continuation of the other meet"
ings-
‘Christ and him crucified.”
mg
it at brother Bass’s,
and
il hr,' singing was '/cry good, and all
met [ Tu
joined in and appeared to sing A^dth
the spirit and understanding. The
eolored people took great delight in
that portion of tlie worship; their
Amices were very good, and it produced
a frame of mind similar to the Poet
when he penned these hnes:
My willinp: sotil wonld stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit and Bins herself away,
To ererlitsting bliss.
TV e Are re entertained while at this
meeting at brothers Calvin, and
Willi»m Woodard’s. We there had
to part Avith nearly all our compan
ions, and they had beettme endeared
to me, A^ery much; and would again
thank them for their kindness and
affection towards me. After the As
sociation, we went to Wilson and, had
preaching, and the door Ot the church
being open, three gave in their ex
perience and received the right hand
of fellowship. That evening had to
bid you and brother Gold adieu at
brother Clark’s; spent the evening
with .sister Woodard. I was quite uu'
well while there, but wished to ap
pear natural and not cause them any
uneasiness.
The next morning, Tuesday, was
rainv and dull; went to the water to
see Elder Hart baptize the candi
dates, and while at the water,brother
Warren Woodard said he wanted to
“o-o with them and have a place
with them;” his old mother’s heart
was made glad to overflowing, and I
don’t know who rejoiced the most,
his brothers. Elder Hart, or all pres
ent. It was indeed a fi'.ting and glad
scene to behold five willing candi
dates go down into the liquid stream,
following the footsteps of their Re
deemer, and it, seemed a beautiful
ending of a series, of meetings—and
then to separate from all, and give
the parting hand, and say,
Ij'arewel! my de.-ir brethren, farewell for a
while,
ATe’ll soon meet again, if kind Providence
smile ;
But while we are parted .and scattered abroad.
We’ll pray lor each other and trust in the
Lord.
After parting with the friends I was
sick all day, and brother Biggs and
my.self left in time to take the cars
for the North; stopped that night and
the next day with him, not getting |
any better. I left Wednesday even-j
ing on Boat for Baltimore; was very
sick all night, making three nights
that I had suffered so I could not
rest. Arrived at home Thursday
evening, and found my family in
usual health. On Friday Aims obli"
ged to call in our Physician, and un
til the present (one Aveek) have not
been out of the house, but Impe soon to
be.enjoying that inestimable blcssinjJ
(health) again.
I heard in all, thirty-five discour.se*,
during my vi.sit, and if my judgment
is correct, they Avere all addressed to
the children of God, and Avere edify
ing and in.structing. Each one in his
own pccuiiar Avay fed the sheep and
lambs of Christ. A great poi’tion
Atas experimental, and Avas witnessed
to by all the brethren. It is Avell to
strengthen the brethren, to say tliat
all Scripture is to them, and not a
word of it to the Avorld ; all tha
promises they contain, are for them
only, and all the messages ever given
to any of God’s ministers, avIio ai-e
called to preach the everla.sting Gos
pel of the Grace of God, are given to
theClnu’Cii, and not a Avord is eA’CT
given them to give to the AA’orld-
A"et .sometimes, if left to tliem.selves,
ministers preach to tb.e AA'orid, and
thu poor sheep and lambs unngcr
for the AVord. Mar av
re all be draAvn
together by the bonds of love, and
unite ill .singing jiraiscs to His nan^.
“Blest be the tm that binds
Our hearts iu Christian love!”
Pardon me for taking up so m
of your valuable time, and regreS-
that my letter is not one of more
terest.
Re m ember you r n n wortliy brotligP
at a Throne of Grace :
TTours iu the bonds ofloAm,
' A. S. COOK.
L. I. BODENHAMER, Erajos.
WILSON, N. 0., NOVEMBER, 1, 1870.
1 have sinned: what shall I do unto thee ,
0 thou preserver of men ? Why hast >hou set
me as a mark against thee, so that 1 am a bur
den to myself ? Job 7; 20.
“I have sinned” is language that
is uttered by many, yet it originates
from different causes, and is prodne-
ti\’c of different effects. Hence, the
Christian and the Avicked both make
confession that “I have sinned.’k—
But there is quite a difference iu
1 the nature of their confessions, or in
I the causes producing the confession,
j as there is also in the effects produced
! upon the confessors. In the Christian
j there is an abhorrence to the deed or
j sin committed, producing pungent
! conviction, that causes the soul to
turn from sin and truly lament his
crimes, and to fly immediately to
God to make his confession, saying i
“I ha\’e sinned,” and rd.so to enquira
what he shall dc, snying: “What
shall I do unto thee, O thou preserw