<55iV i S!??!5?' qa 1 '<^M*x^;/ **ibrary of QIl]c Hiiiccrsity of Hortb Carolina C O L L }<: C T I O N ( ) K N ( ) K T H C A R () L I X I A N A K N D O W E I) ]] Y JOHN S P R U NT HI L L of the class of 1889 eB :VoM SOUTHERN BOOK £XCH/^^G? RALEIGH, N. C. DEALERS IN .^''^ AND RARE BOOKS, ^TC; .^^o ^^^ ^^^^ This book must not be token from the Library building. Form No. 471 C; u %.v V'-' t //, f r -^ Elder F. M. JORDAN. LIFE AND LABORS Elder F. M. Jordan For Fifty Years a Preacher of the Gospel Among North Carolina Baptists A BAPTIZER OF BELIEVERS IN ALMOST EVERY RIVER, CREEK AND POOL IN THE STATE An Evangelist who Defended the Truth While Proclaiming a Gracious Gospel to vSinners ; Whose Joy and Crown of Rejoicing is the More iTHAN Seven Thousand, who by His Hum- ble Efforts Have Been Led to Christ Crucified WRITTEN BY HIMSELF FROM HIS DIARY raleigh, n. c. Edwards & Broughton, Printers and Binders 1899 DEDICATION TO MY CHILDREN AND THEIBAPTISTS OF NORTH CAROLINA THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTION- ATELY INSCRIBED BY TH E AUTHOR . PREFACE. I send forth this volume as a record of a life cover- ing a period of seventy years, half a century of which has been devoted to my Master's service. T have always tried to be faithful to my God, His truth as revealed in His book, and to my brethren. Whatever else I may have done, I have kept steadily in mind to be faithful to every trust. I send this volume out in the name of Jesus Christ, with the prayer that it may, in some measure, help to encour- age my Baptist brethren to be true to God and faith- ful in their service to Him. And may T not hope that it will serve the purpose of throwing at least so^me rays of light upon the history of the Baptists of ISTorth Carolina, who have been so busy making history that they rarely find time to record it. Through half a century I have preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in nearly every nook and corner of x^Torth Carolina. I realize that before a great many years my work on earth will be at an end. I am nearing the sunset of life, but the spirit of sunrise is in my heart, and I pray the Master, who has been my helper through the years of the past, to bless this effort and use this book for His glory. Through it may I speak for many years after my voice shall be silenced here forever more. F. M. JOEDAN. East Fork, Transylvania County, N. C. NTRODUCTORY. It seeiiisr tliat tlie devil Avill never forgive me for assisting others to start two orphan houses, two char- ity papers and two churches. How much less Avill he pardon Frank Jordan for standing nearly half a century, with his maul in his hands, ready to mash the heads of any imps wherever they might appear ? This venerable Christian soldier never dodged a battle. He bore the name of Francis Marion, a famous lighter of the Revolution ; but at Wake Forest he was known as Frank Jordan. lie was portly, pious and pleasant, preaching as he had opportunity, punctual in all religious servaoes, personal in his exhortations and fervent in his prayers. He was always ready to join in singing a hymn. In his text-books he simply did the best he could. His best srirl resided on the Hill. She was handsome, kind and good. He loved her — how could he help it? She loved him — as we all did. He took her instead of a diploma, and settled on a farm, preaching to conntrv churches. He dua' his sermons out of the Bible and preached on the practical duties of a Christian life. In those days we did not speak of the saved and the unsaved, but of the righteous and the sinner. In- stead of standing for prayer we kneeled at the mourn- er's bench. Instead of accepting Christ, we prayed Him to accept us. There was some noise and con- 6 INTRODUCTORY. iiision in protracted meetings, but each convert had an experience of his owti, and tlie preachers had the Bible and their methods of applying it. They knew nothing of our present pulpit helps, which make so many sermons so much alike. Evangelists were not expected to convert the town, or the community; the hope was that the Holy Spirit would bless sinners one by one. So the pastors preached and exhorted, prayed and sang, and the churches prospered. Their illustra- tions were sometimes homely, but they were not easily forgotten. Pastor Jordan lived in Orange where the cedars are not like those of Lebanon, or like those on the headwaters of Tar River; but they are low and the limbs begin at the ground. Here is one of his figures : ^'Brethren, I like to preach to sin- ners ; I like to cut down a pine tree ; I walk up to it, chop it nearly in two and down it comes. So when I preach to a sfener he has no props and the gospel cuts away all excuses and he falls before the mercy seat. Xot so mtli the moral man. He is like a cedar. You must first cut away some limbs to get to it, and you can hardly tell where to begin, there are so many limbs in the way. When at last you get it in two, it rises on its lower limbs and is higher tlian it was at first. Just so with the moral man ; when you cut off all his excuses he bounces up on some delusion and he is further from you than at first." INTKODUCTOKV. 7 Mrs. Jordan was a noble helper to her husband. She was industrious, frugal and wise in the manage- ment of her household. Mrs. Susan W. Graham and other good women in his field of labor assisted him in many quiet ways. His pastorate was a most decided success. He assisted other pastors and by degrees gave his time to protracted meetings, and finally decided to go to the mountains. In this way it came to pass that he has labored in almost every part of the State. InTow he looks behind on the work of his life, and tells his story from his 0T\m standpoint. His individual- ism is obliged to be prominent — it always has been. But standing so near the door of the grave, he will be more considerate than ever, and more apt to do justice to those whose opinions have differed from his. Yet he will rebuke sin and call sinners to repentance so long as life shall last J. H. Mills. Thoraasville, N. C, January. 1898. ]^early thirty years ago, when comparatively a stranger in ]^orth Carolina, I asked Elder Thomas H. Pritchard to give me some account of the Baptist ministers then laboring in the State. Among the first of those mentioned by him as eminent in zeal, labors, and usefulness was Elder F. M. Jordan. This made me anxious to meet Brother Jordan, and my wish was gratified at the Baptist State Conven- 8 INTRODUCTORY. tion ill Raleigh, in November, 1870. He was then one of tlie prominent figures in that body and. he took an active pai't in the discussions, his tall, spare form toAvering above those around him, and his strong, clear voice commanding attention by its ringing tones. It has been my privilege many times since then to be throA\Ti into Elder Jordan's company and, occa- sionally, to labor Avith him. I think that the secret of his A'ery exceptional success as a Avinner of souls may be resolved into several elements. He relies on the Holy Spirit. He believes the Avhole Bible Avith unfaltering conviction. He preaches the Avliole gospel. His sermons are delivered Avith directness of appeal and genuine earnestness of man- ner. He is gifted in the rare art of illustrating sacred truth in a homeh^ but forcible Avav. In this he sliOAA^s gxeat originality and his genial humor aa^II often provoke his audience to smiles as Avell as to tears. C E. Taylor. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE. Childhood -Church and School Privileges— Camp Meetings — Conversion and Baptism — Sunday Schools— Gameand Fish— Amusing Incidents- Muster Day— Ginger Cake and Cider— The First Coffee, etc II CHAPTER II. School Days — Teachers at Wake Forest -Newish— Seniors -Professors — Room-Mates— Dr Wait— J S. Purefoy—Pres. White — Conversion of Prof Simmons— Cole — First Sermon, etc., etc 25 CHAPTER III. Courtship and Marriage— Teaching School— Killing Turkej-s— Liles ville — Stanback's Ferry— Killing a Hawk — More Turkeys— Trouble With the Trustees — Ordination— Gen'l Dockery — Cartlidge's Creek — Dr. Stansil — Fire — Moving to Orange County 39 CHAPTER IV. Pastorates— Clement- Cool Springs— Mars Hill— Ktrr's Chapel— Death of Mother Cane Creek— Mt. Moriah— Mt. Hermon — Antioch— Bethel —A Colored Church 51 CHAPTER V. The "War— Beulah Association — Union Meetings - Incidents — Another Hawk — Whiskey for Medicine — A Promising Boy — Work in Winston- First Church in Winston 71 CHAPTER VI. As Evangelist— Durham— W T. Blackwell-John W. Cheek— Great Meeting — Convention — Julian S. Carr— A Prolific Sow- Doing the Work of an Evangelist— Wiuston—Catawba Station— Greenville 91 CHAPTER VII. The Great Meeting in Raleigh— Break Djwn— A Sister's Dream - Build- ing a Church— Sickness at Home -Jacob S. Allen— The Good Doctor Wilson— Kind Neighbors loi CHAPTER VIII. Great Meeting at Murfreesboro, N C. —Baptism of a Young Man at Night— Great Revival at Mocksville— Visit to the Grave <.f Dr. J. L. Pritchard — Meetings in Lumberton — Reidsville. Leaksville, Winston — Return to the East— Great Revival in Elizabeth City and Hertford — In Raleigh the Author Spends Several Days — Preaching in the Court House in Statesville ii7 CHAPTER IX Meetings Continued— Yancey ville— Durham— A Visit to the Mountains— Hendersonville— Littleton— W. T. Walters— Oxford— Stringing Fish- Evangelist Pearson— Vance and Settle— An Auction Sale— Breaking • up Home— Voting for Vance and Tilden— Asheville— 1877, Deep Snow— Salisbury— Judge Kerr— Dr. Whitehead— J. B. Boone- Shelby- A. L. Stough—Berea— Charlotte Rutherfordton - Enon— Gashe's Creek— Brevard— Big Ivey— Catching Trout— Shouting- Catawba Station — Kinston— Convention -Henderson— Wilmington— J. B. Taylor 143 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Lagrange — Drunken Deacons— Selma — Beaufort— A Camp Hunt— Wil son — J D. Hufham — Judge Kerr — Incidents— Commencement at Wake Forest— Refuge— Salem— Mocksville— Another Camp Hunt and a Cat Fight— Goldsboro— Salisbury — 1879 169 CHAPTER XI. Lumbertou — Whiteville — Asheville — Laurinburg — Rockingham — Lin coin ton— Cool Spring — Mt. Moriah— Waynesville — Charlotte — Union Hill— Spartanburg— A New Home— Wadesboro — Lilesville — Ashpole — Winston — Lilesville — Bennettsviile. S. C. — Greensboro — Mineral Springs, S. C — Jerusalem — Little River — Enou — Beulah — Bear Swamp, S. C. — Laurinburg — Ashpole — Fa5-eiteville 187 CHAPTER XII Rockingham — Fines Creek — Morganton — Abbott's Creek — Old Fort — Cane Creek — Toisnot — Wilson — Hamilton — Plymouth — East Fork — Sundaj' Meetings — 1S83 — Monroe — Polkton — Morganton — Smoky Hol- low 219 CHAPTER XIII. W. N. Convention — Cartoogajay — Coweta — Franklin — 1884 — Matthews — Rutherfordton — Monroe — Portsmouth — Littleton — Hendersonville — Highlands — Head of Tennessee— Old Salem— Limestone Springs, S. C. — Gaffney City— A New Home— Florence, S. C —iS8^— Raleigh— Salis burj' — Raleigh — Smithfield — Rockingham — Death of my Wife 239 CHAPTER XIV. Mt. Airy — A Long Trip with J. K. Connally — Various Meetings — J. R Pendergrass — Libert j' and Ducktown— Married — Doing Mission Work — Tusquitee — Brasstown — In Macon County — 1889 — A New Home — With Brother Connally Again — Home 259 CHAPTER XV. My Brother John — A Model Farmer — Twice Married — Church Member — Sunday School Superintendent — His Librarj- — Strong Convictions, Po liticallyand Religiouslj- — Great Admirer of W. J.Bryan — Strong Tem- perance Man — Naturally Bright and Witty — Marriage of His Daugh- ter — The Convention in New Bern — Sickness and Death 271 CHAPTER XVI. My Recollections of Elder Elias Dodson — Union of the Conventions — Meeting at Jersey Church, Davidson County — Letter from A. T. Rob- ertson — Letter from W. J. Sholarj— Letter from J. B Richardson — Win- ston — Jersey Church — Letter from F. H. Jones — Letter from J. F. Love 279 CHAPTER XVII. In Conclusion 319 LIFE AND LABORS OF ELDER F. M. JORDAN CHAPTEK I. Childhood— Church and School Privileges— Camp-Meetings— Conversion and Baptism— Sunday Schools— Game and Fish— Amusing Incidents— Muster Day— Ginger Cake and Cider— The First Coffee, etc. CHILDHOOD. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery County, ]Srorth Carolina, on the bank of Little Eiver, ^ve miles east of Troy, on June the 4th, 1830. My father, John Jordan, was of English descent. He was a good farmer and mechanic, generally, owned iind operated mills, or some kind of machinery. In the davs of my childhood he was a distiller, and drank some whiskey, though was scarcely ever intoxicated. On one occasion he went to hear a man preach on the subject of temperance, was convinced that he was engaged in an imlawful and ruinous business, and that he was pursuing a dangerous course to himself. So he made up his mind to quit making and drinking intoxicating liquors entirely, went home and tore doAvn his still-house and broke up the whole business. I was small then, but I recollect seeing him take dovm. the still-house and put it up in his cow lot to shelter his cattle. Not long after this he made a profession 12 LIFE AND LABORS OF of the Christian religion. I saw him baptized ; and till the day of his death he lived a sober, righteous, ffodlv life. Mv father was married three times, and by his three wives had seventeen children — nine sons and eight daughters. Of all this number I am the young- est. Father died at the age of seventy-two, in the triumph of faith in Christ and a good hope of heaven. !^^y mother's maiden name was Butler, daughter of Thomas and Mary Butler. She was born ISTovember 14, 1796, and died January 26, 1872, aged seventy- five years. She first married Reuben Butler, by whom she had three daughters — Susan, Lucy and Sarah. Butler, her first husband, died, and my father married her. She was a sister of his second Avife, and by her had tliree children, Jane, John and F. M. My mother was a pious, consecrated, godly Christian woman. Her house was ever the preachers' home, and of all Christian people, while at the same time she was careful to entertain strangers. She was truly "a keeper at home," and kept things in their places. She never allowed frolics or plays of any klud at her house, and when ten o'clock at night came, everybody had to either go home or go to bed. She certainly ruled her owm house well. Some thought she was too particular, but if she erred it was cer- tainly on the safe side. We lived just one mile from the old church, Forks of Little River, which was a wonderful place in those ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 13 tlays. We had regiilar monthly meetings, and the l>eople generally looked forward with profound inter- est to the meeting. Old brother Eli Phillips was our pastor for sixteen years in succession, was pastor when I was born, and as long as he lived. So it was a time of great interest when lie would come. Almost, if not every family in the community, wanted him to go home with them, and the sisters would scour and clean up, and bake their cakes and pies, kill chickens and have everything in order. And wherever the preacher would go several of the good old brethren and sisters would be apt to go with him and spend the night, and generally they would sit up till twelve and one o'clock telling their experiences, and talk and sing and pray, and have a good time. On Saturday, the regular meeting day, it was a custom in those days to lay down their work and all go to church,saint and sinner, so that there was generally a good turn out of the people on Saturday, and there seemed to be life and soul in all the service. It was customary in those days to hold camp- meetings, and for many years we held one at Forks of Little River, familiarly known as Cross Eoads. In front of the meeting-house there was a square space. In the center of this a large board-covered canopy, called "the stand," was erected. The sides were weatherboarded and hung to the upper plate by hinges, so they could be propped up by poles to let the air through or enlarge the seating capacity. The 14 LIFE AND LABORS OF seats were usually made of logs split in two, the flat sides smoothed, holes bored underneatli and pegs driven in them for legs. They were called benches, and had no backs. In one end a platform was built and a bench placed on it for the preachers. A pulpit was made by erecting a post on the front corners of the platform and nailing a board across. In front of the platform a space, covered with clean straw, was reserved for the mourners. A bench was placed against the platform before which they were to kneel, fold their arms upon it, and bow their heads upon their arms. This was called ^^the mourners' bench.'' Sometimes there would be more mourners than the bench would accommodate, then they would bow at the front seats or kneel upon the straw. In a Metho- dist camp-meeting I heard of a brother who became so excited because there wasn't enough straw for the mourners to kneel upon, that he cried out, ''more straw, brethren, more straw ! Here are souls perish- ing for the want of a little straw." The "mourners' bench" has about passed away, but I doubt if modem methods are half as good. When sinners are willing to come forward for prayer, they are generally in earnest. Those were the days of good old-fashioned religion, when the law was preached till sinners were convicted and cried for pardon, when there was great rejoicing over a sense of pardon and deliverance from the power and bondage of sin. In these days there is too much gospel without any ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 15 law ; the two go hand in hand. Many so-called con- versions are simply promises to do better, by either standing up or raising the hand. IsTever shall I for- get those camp-meetings. The neighbors would build tents around the square, each one facing toward the stand. Once a year, usually in August, after the crops were laid by, they would move into their t^nts on Thursday and remain in camp over Sunday. There would be several sermons each day, and one or two at night. The people were called together by the blow- ing of a trumpet, which hung in the rear of the plat- form. Whenever the hour for service would arrive some one would mount the platform and blow the trumpet. I can see '^Davy Wright" now standing on the stand, blowing the timmpet, and the people gathering from all directions. I remember distinctly the min- isters who generally attended the meetings for many years, to-wit: Eli Phillips, A. Shattuck, E'oah Eichardson, John Monroe, W. Q. Batie, John Cul- pepper, Wm. lineberry, P. C. Conly, D wight Hayes, E. L. Davis, and sometimes others. These bretbren seemed to be full of the Holy Ghost, and under their preaching, doubtless many believed and turned imto the Lord. jN'early, if not all, these good old soldiers of the cross are gone to their reward, and their happy spirits are mingling and rejoicing together around the throne of God. God alone knows how much these meetings and ministers, in connection with my saints 16 LIFE AND LABORS OF mother, had to do in moulding mj young heart and life. I can not remember the day that I did not want to be a Christian,f or I was brought up from the cradle mider the very best suiTOundings and influences, religiously. I being the youngest child, with a pious devoted, Christian mother, and all my brothers and sisters devoted Cludstians, save one brother, I was shielded from bad habits and bad associations. I must have been under conviction for sin from the day I passed the line of accountability. I was afraid to go to sleep at night, lest I should wake up in hell. I felt the condemning power of God's holy and righteous laAv, would often weep over my sins and wrong-doing; then I would hide away in the weeds, or some secret place to pray, and plead the pardoning mercy of God. When old brother Phil- lips, our pastor, or some other good minister, would spend the night with us and read a chapter in the Bible, and then pray, and in their prayers pray for the family, they would almost invariably pray for the renmant that was left, that the family might be a household of faith on earth, and an undivided family in heaven. These prayers would ring in my ears, and follow me wherever I would go, for I knew that I was the remnant that was still left out. In the summer of 1843, soon after I entered my thirteenth year, I hope to have passed from under the law that condemned me, to Jesus Christ who died to ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 17 save rae, and realized '^the peace of God which passeth all imderstanding, and shall keep the heart and mind through Christ Jesus." ^'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.'' Who- ever, under a sense of guilt and sin, flies to the Saviour's death is gladly received and freely par- doned; in his blood he is cleansed from all sin, and tlirough his obedience he is justified from all accusa- tion. Ee is no longer under the law, but under grace. I saw clearly that Christ is the way to God and to heaven, and I accepted him as my Savious. I had two strong evidences that I had passed from death to life : I hated sin, and took no delight in sinful anmse- ments or sinful companions. The things which were once impleasont and irksome, now became pleasant and delightful. T had great love and fondness for the society of the people of God, and felt constrained to unite with the church and follow my Saviour in the ordinance of baptism. I advised with my good mother, and told her that if I felt impressed when the opportunity was given, I should offer myself to the church as a candidate for baptism. So on Saturday of the regular meeting in October, 1843, I was received into the fellowship of Forks of Little River church, Montgomery County, N'orth Carolina, and on Sunday morning T was baptized by Elder Eli Phil- lips, our old pastor. Col. Archibald A. Leach and wife were baptized at the same time. I was baptized in Little River, within less than fifty steps of the 2 18 LIFE AND LABORS OF old homestead, where I was bom and brought up, and where scores and hundreds were baptized. I loved old brother Phillips so devotedly that I really wanted to go and live with him. He was our pastor from my birth to his death. He died soon after my baptism, and it was a sad time when we heard of his death. Soon after my baptism I felt strong impressions to preach the gospel. Though in my thirteenth year, it was on my mind nearly all the time, and wherever I went. The love of souls was lying heavily on my young heart, and as I would follow my plow from one end of the field to the other I was sermonizing, and in my way preaching to the people, though for several years T never told any one my feelings on the subject. I determined that, if called upon to pray in ptiblic, I would not refuse; that however feeble I would make the effort. So I began, and the Holy Spirit, as I trust, led me on step by step, and from one degree to another toward the gospel ministry. SUJSTDAY SCHOOLS. I was brought up in a good Sunday school. We had no literature save the Bible — no papers or helps of any kind. But we studied the Bible, and mem- orized hundreds of verses. I believe we got more scripture into our heads and hearts then than children do at the present time. I learned to repeat whole chapters, and have retained them in my memory to this day. I have always been able to quote scripture ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 19 readily, and attribute my ability to do so to my early training in the Sunday school. In our school the one aim seemed to be the salvation of both parents and children, for both attended. At the close of each ses- sion an invitation was given to any who desired to be saved to come forward. So there were conversions all along. Frequently during the week you might hear of happy conversions. GAME AND FISH. I was raised on the farm, and greatly enjoyed life. My brother John (tAvo years older) and I grew up together and were cared for in a large measure by our half-brother, Thomas S. Jordan, who was as a father to us. He was fond of fishing and hunting. The nice little river was full of fish, and the woods full of game, and, as Ave lived on the bank of the river, Ave Avould spend our spare moments catching fish, sometimes with a hook and sometimes Avith a gig. In various ways we would take them. Deer were as plentiful as rabbits, and AAdieu there Avould come a Avet time, and Ave could not ploAv, Ave Avould take our guns and dogs and go out and kill a deer. Sometimes A\^e Avould go at night, shine their eyes, and shoot them, and in many ways had good sport, and a good deal of meat. Mother Avas greatly opposed to keeping dogs and hunting ; she thought it Avas a Avaste of time and a needless expense, so Ave Avould have to hide our guns, and in different ways to try to fool her, and not let lior 20 LIFE AND LABORS OF know that we had been fishing and hunting, and some- times we were put to our trumps to keep from telling a little stump of a lie as to where we had been. Before T was large enough to carry a gun it was my business to drive for the others. Sometimes the old bucks would run by me, with horns looking like chair-frames, and scare me almost to death. Finally I began to carry a gun. One evening I went hunting alone witli a small riflo. The dogs started some deer, and <^no came bv mo. I fired away at him and killed liim dead in his tviicks— the first deer I ever shot at. There i was, nearly a mile from home, with a fine deer, the proudest little fellow in all the land. David Crockett or Daniel Boone never felt happier than I did a^: T hurried home to tell what I had done and get some one to help bring in my game. In a few days brother John and T went out for a drive. I took tlie stand and he went in the drive. Soon I heard the dogs, and directly saw seven deer coming to me. I fired at rliem, and they all stopped and stood there till 1 liad my gun nearly loaded. But before T got the cap on, the dogs came and away went the deer. With a sad heart, and trembling all over with the ''buck ague," T went to where they were standing, and there lay a fine, large doe, the leader of the gang and the fattest deer 1 ever saw. This was my second shot and my second deer. T was killing every shot, and thought T was getting to be as good a shot as my brother Thomas, who was given up to be the best shot in all that countrv. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. t^ 1 Tom was fond of hunting by firelight. He would fasten a long handle to a large pan, build a fire of fat pine in the pan and carry it on his shoulder, kee))- ijig the fire directlv behind him. Then taking his gun lie would walk tlirough the fields at night Avhere the deer were feeding, shine their eyes, lay his gun across the end of the handle, and shoot them dowm. One night he shot a neighbor's calf and on another a horse. This about broke his heart as well as his pocket-book, j'here were a gTeat many fish in the river, especially white suckers. These would not bite a hook, so we had to kill them at night with a gig. This we did by taking a torch, wading the river and sticking the gig through them. One night a number of us were in the river, when one of the party poked his bare foot imder a log to run the fish out. The end of his foot showed on the other side of the log, and taking it for the head of a sucker he thrust his gig through it. That ended his sport for the night, but it furnished no end of sport for the rest of us for many years. About this time an accident happened to me that came near ending my life, and yet it was very ludi- crous. My father owned a cotton-gin, Avhich it was iny business to feed. To keep the lint off of my clothes I wore a long apron made of coarse tow cloth. One day the wind blew the apron into the cylinder. The cloth was so strong that I hadn't strength enough to tear it, and was being rapidly drawn on the revolv- ing teeth. I pulled, kicked and screamed all at the •>•> LIFE AND LABOES OF same time. Finally the buttons holding the apron broke, and the whole thing went into the gin. I have never had mnch use for aprons since. In the days of my boyhood we had muster days, for the purpose of drilling and preparing for war. Dif- fie's muster-ground was about two miles from our home. On general muster days all the companies of the county would meet at Troy and drill under a Colonel. Col. Archibald A. Leach, the man who was baptized with me, commanded the Montgomery regi- ment. The drums would be beating, the fifes whist- ling, the uniforms of the officers gleaming in the sun- shine, and the men going through all sorts of warlike exercises. To me it was sublimely grand, and one of my highest ambitions was -reached when I became old enous:h -to shoulder my musket and start for the muster-ground. There was another attraction which was about as fascinating to a boy as the glitter of swords, uniforms and muskets. A man named Martin Hunsucker used to attend all the musters, mth sweet cider and ginger cakes for sale. The cakes were about five by eight inches in size and from two to three inches thick, and sold at five cents. Without any doubt they were the best ginger cakes I ever saw, and I never expect see their like ag-ain. I spent enough money for cider and ginger cakes to buy a good-sized negro. I will never be old enough to forget the first muster which I attended. I wanted to go very much, but had no ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 23 shoes, and was too large to go barefooted ; so I carried some leather to a shoemaker named Jimmie Sanders, and got his promise to have the shoes ready by muster day, without fail. On the morning of the eventful day I went by Jinmiie's for my shoes, but they were not iinished. I was terribly disappointed and very much out of hum. or, but was not going to miss the muster. Arriving at the ground I selected a place from whicli I could see the company drill, and stood in the corner of the fence trying to hide my feet. It was the custom for the guard to arrest all the mem- bers who came late and take them before the court- martial. . Directly after taking my stand I saw the officer coming with my little shoemaker. As they passed me I said, "They have got you, have they, Jim- mie ? I am mighty glad of it." The first coifee I heard of coming into our com- munity was bought by a man named John ^N^ichols, who lived not far from my father's. His wife boiled it in a pot with some bacon, and said she never could get it tender. I remember the first threshing- machine that was used in the county. People came for miles to see it. My mother used to tell us of the first chinaAvare that was brought into the county. Before that they used pe^vter cups and saucers, pewter plates and spoons. Some people had moulds and moulded their own ware. The children in my childhood days were often given for supper corn-bread soup. My mother 24 LIFE ANT) l>ABORS OF could make it better than any one else. She would put several strips of fat bacon into boiling water, crumble the bread into it, boil it for a considerable time, then pour in sweet milk and boil for a few minutes. It was served by pouring- it into a large bowl. The lx>wl was placed on a small table, when tiie children would gather around with their pewter spoons and help themselves. I don't think I ever tasted l^etter soup ; perhaps it is because I have lost a boy's taste, and mother doesn't make the soup. Our winter clothing was made of wool, raised, carded, spun and woven on the farm ; our summer clothing' of tow and flax, all of which was raised and perpared on the farm. I believe that the people "who own farms would do w^ell to go back to the custom of making their own cloth. A fcAv sheep would furnish all the wool they need, a little cotton patch the cotton, and a little flax patch the flax. As times are now, no farmer can make much money with which to buy ready-made clothes, and any good farm should furnish enough supplies to meet all the domestic needs of the family. chaptp:k il School Days— Teachers at Wake Forest — Newish— Seniors — Professors — Room-Mates — Dr. Wait — J. 8. Purefoy — Pres. White — Conversion of Prof. Simmons — Cole— First Sermon, etc. SCHOOL DAYS. The old school-house stood in the fork of the river, where I first went to school. My first teacher was Malcom Mnrchison. I was small, and could not bear to be scolded or whipped, so I did my level best to avoid either. The teachers in that day were exceed- ingly grura and sour, scarcely ever cracked a smile, and actually made the school-house a prison, which I now believe was a great mistake. In addition to their sour looks, they generally kept a good hickory, and did not fail to use it freely when the scholars failed to obey their rules, and they generally liad good rules and good discipline. When a child got whipped at school, he was almost certain to get another when he went home, for parents did not take their children's part and condemn the teacher then, anything like they do now. And then the teachers in that day had a dunce-block, which they would place about the center of the house, and as a punish- ment for some misdemeanor, they would make the child sit on that dunce-block. I can see them now, though it has been more tlian sixty years ago, and I can imagine just about how they felt, for it seemed ^6 LIFE, AND LABORS OF like the next thing to death to go to the dunce-block. Another fashion they had was that of throwing the hickory at the unruly one, and then make them bring it up. I can see the little fellows marching up with the switch, sometimes two, one holding to each end, and remember distinctly how they looked, but can't tell exactly how they felt, for to my gTeat relief and comfort, I never had to carry up the hickory, never got whipped, and never had to si t on the dunce-block ; but T was always in a terrible dread of these dreadful things. Schools in that day were generally large, and there were a grea many large families. Some- times there would be eight or ten in school from the same house. I recollect there was a family by the name of Ward; there were ten children. The oldest one was named Eli. One morning they commenced coming in, and they kept coming till after awhile the teacher said : ^"^Eli is your daddy and mammy coming to-dav ?" The above scenes are fresh to-dav in the minds of thousands of my age. There was another custom in that day, of turning out the teacher the last day of the school. The older boys would meet early in the morning, bar up the doors, so the teacher could not get in, till he would agree to treat the school to apples, cakes and candy. Sometimes the teacher would submit and treat them cheerfuljy, and at other times he would get mad, try to break in, and have a squally time. In those days we started to school about sunrise, ELDER E. M. JORDAN. 27 kiid returned about sundown, had one hour and a half play time in the middle of the day, and put in from eiglit to ten hours of hard work. What a change frojQ that day to this ! !My next teacher, at this same old school-house, was Malcom M. Leach, a good teacher, but with the same idea, that it was disastrous to the school to smile in the school-house. The next teacher was Martin Black, a good teacher, with about the same rules and regulations as the others. Finally we abandoned the old school-house in the forks of the river, and moved to the camp-gTound at the church, where a tent wrs used for a school-house for several years. Then a good school-house was built at the cross-roads near the old church, which, for aught I know, stands there and is used to this day. My brother, W. B. Jordan, lived at Pekin in the lower end of Montgomery County, and in 1849 I boarded with him and w^ent to school to Pilate Fry, a splendid teacher and a good school. After this school w^as out I Avent home to my mother's. Brother John and sister Jane still lived with mother. My brother, Thomas S. Jordan, had married Miss Eliza- beth Baldwin, who lived in Richmond Countv, about \ two miles from Pekin. She had fine property, a good plantation, and some twenty-two likely negroes. My brothers W. B. and T. S. Jordan were enfi:afi:ed in the mercantile business at Pekin, and after brother Thomas married he would frequently come back to 28 LIFE AND LABORS OF the old homestead to see us, and take a hunt. As he lived with iis so long and was so good to us all, we were perfectly delighted to see him come. On one of his visits he and brother John went out to kill a deer. Thomas took his stand, and John took the dogs and went into the drive. He started two large bucks ; they ran out by brother; he fired one barrel at the foremost one, and killed him, and as the other came in he fired the other barrel, and piled him. So they had two large bucks to bring in, and Avere delighted with their success. I was now in my nineteenth year, and the matter was about decided that I would preach the gospel, though I felt almost, if not utterly unprepared. I wanted to 2:0 to school, but saw no wav whatever to go, and yet felt "woe is me if I preach not the gospel. '^ So one evening brother Thomas drove up to my mother's in his buggy ; we had no idea for what pur- pose he had come. That night he told mother that he had come after me to take me to Wake Forest Col- lege ; that if I was going to preach the gospel I must be better prepared for my work. Mother told him that I was not prepared, and that she could not pre^ pare me to go to college ; and then it was such a sur- prise she hardly knew how to give me up, as I was her youngest child. Brother told her that he would make the necessary preparation for my going. So next morning I bade my mother and my brother and sis- ter, and the dear old home farewell, and started for ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 29 Wake Forest. Brother carried me down to his store, n distance of eighteen miles, gave me a good trunk, and packed it with such clothing as he thought I would need, with paper, envelopes, and such things as we could carry. Xext morning he took me in his buggy, with a large claybank horse, and we turned our faces toward Wake Forest. I do not remember all the particulars of our journey, but I remember that we stopped one evening* about sunset with a fam- ily by the name of Evans to spend the night, near Deep River. Soon w^e heard the family after a chicken. Directlv a little chicken ran into the house for protection, but two lai-ge dogs pounced upon it, and the little fellow had to give it up. He was soon in the pot, and we had him for supper. At length we passed on through Raleigh, and arrived at Wake Forest. My brother put me to board with Elder Wm. Jones, who was then agent for the college, bought me some books and such things as T needed, and left me among strangers, and far from the loved ones at home. For some days I felt rather lonesome, but delighted with the privilege of going to school. Sister Jones was a mother to me, and (lid all she ccnild to make me comfortable and happy. This was in the fall of 1850. I soon had matters arranged, and l>egan my regular recitation. The students were exceedingly kind, and the society matters were all new to me. They soon had me in a good room, with the sainted R.B. Jones, 30 LIFE A]S"D LABORS OF for my room-mate, a bed and firewood all gratis; so T felt very much like Ruth when she returned to her mother-in-law from gleaning in the fields. I had never seen such kindness and generosity. And behold ! the first thing I knew, the thing had. changed, with my trunk in another room, and Elder Moses Baldwin for my room-mate. 1 thought, well ! wel' ! what does all this mean ? I learned that Brother Jones was a Euzelian and Brother Baldmn a Philomathe- sian, and that both societies were hard after me. Prof. W. G. Simmons was there at that time, a member of the Senior Class. He and I were from the same county, and school-mates in the days of our boyhood. He was a Phi, and when he found out how things were going, he set in to break up the arrangement, for he could not think for a moment that a boy should come here from his county, an old school-mate, and join the other Society. So at the end of one month I joined the Philomathesian Society. Willis A. Eamsey, of South Carolina, was President of the Society at that time. John B. White was President of the college, and Wm. H. Owen, W. T. Brooks and W. T. Walters were the professors. . B. W. Justice, T. C. Collins and Owen, of Tennessee, graduated in the Ch^ss of 1S50. B. W. Justice w^as elected tutor. I recited to Professors Brooks and Justice in the Lan- guages, and Prof. Walters in Mathematics. The old College building, built by Capt. John Berry, was the ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 31 onlj one there then ; in this we had onr dormitories, recitation-rooms, Society halls. Chapel, and every thing else, pretty much. And then the campus was not even enclosed, and most of it set in scrubby old- field pines. The post-office was then kept at Forestville, and every day some of us would go after the mail. The Ealeigh and Gaston railroad track was then laid with wooden sills, lengthwise, and on these were laid bars of iron, and these bars would frequently break and turn up like a snake's head. If I mistake not, they only ran about ten miles an hour, and very often ran off at that. There were but few families living on the Hill at that time. Old Dr. Wait lived there, who had been President of the college for years, in the days of its infancy and great struggles for life and efficiency. He was the charm of the College Hill; everybody loved and admired him. He was then old and feeble, but still preached occasionally to the delight of all those who heard him. I recollect hearing him preach the ordination sermon of young L. H. Shuck, in which he said : ''If I had my days to live over again I would preach more on the ordi- nances of the Church of Jesus Christ, baptism and communion." I think many of our brethren would do well to remember this and act accordingly. Brother John M. Brewer married their only daughter, and their only child, by whom he has raised a wonderful and most interesting family of children, one of whom 32 LIFE AND LABORS OF is now Professor of Chemistry in Wake Forest Col- lege. Eternity alone will disclose the magnitude of the blessings which old Dr. Samuel Wait, his noble wife and daughter, have confered upon this world. James S. Purejoy lived at the college, it's ever true, faithful and devoted friend. There were few men whom T loved more than this pious, consecrated man of God. He was always engaged in eveiy good word and work, and his Godly, Christian wife was one of the salt of the earth. They, too, raised a noble family of children, of whom they had cause to be proud. Both their sons were my school-mates at col- lege, one has been a successful business man, and the other a good and influential minister of the glorious gospel of the blessed God, who not long since followed his sainted father and mother to the glory world. While I was at college the number of students averaged about eighty-five each session. President White was a good disciplinarian, and maintained good order. T remember some whole sessions that I never saw a drop of liquor, never saw a boy intoxi- cated, and never heard an oath. Some of these things might have occurred, but as I always kept good company, I never saw or heard of them. Professors White, Brooks and Walters preached alternately on Sunday and at night ; sometimes a ministerial student would preach at night. In the spring of 1851, if I remember correctly, we had a great revival of religion at tlie college, con- ELDEK F. :M. JORDAN. 33 dTicted by Brother Reynaldson, [I forget his ini- tials] but I remember that he was a great preacher. Among tlie number who made a profession of saving faith in Christ, were fonr of the graduating class, namely, John Mitchell, B. F. Biddlc, J. J. Freeman and W. G. Simmons, with a number of others. I saw all these baptized by old Dr. Wait, if I am not mis- taken, in a pool just over east of the college. I saw him baptize Brotlier J. M. Brewer, his son-in-law, but I am not certain whether it was at this time or not. The conversion of Professor Simmons was rather remarkable. One night during the meeting, after the service had closed in the Chapel, about ten o'clock in the night, I heard some one coming down tbe pas- sage and knock at my door, when in came Simmons, as happy a man, I think, as ever I saw. As he and I were from the same county, and had always been great friends, it seemed that he wanted to see me first. So he took me in his arms, and blessed and praised God for redeeming grace and dying love. One after another came into my room, until it was full. At his request I went after Professor White. He came, and it was a time of great rejoicing. Simmons finally lay down flat on the floor, and blessed and praised the Lord. T think it was 1 o'clock before we dispersed and retired. I never saw anyone who seemed to have brighter manifestations of his acceptance with God. And oh, what a great man he made, in almost 34 LIFE AI^D LABORS OF every sense of the word. He was one of the ripest scholars of liis age, could teach any class in college, in whatever department, and was about the only man that could. He told me that he had read every book in the library of the Philomathesian Hall, and that he never saw a problem in mathematics that he could not solve. And further, he told me that when he worked on the farm, before he went to college, ho would take his arithmetic to the field, fasten it on his plow stock, and solve problems as he would follow^ his plow. He graduated with first distinction, and was first elected tutor and then professor, which office he filled with great ability to the time of his death. Ho married Miss Mollie Foote, of Warren County, a refined and accomplished lady, by whom they raised a. family of remarkably intelligent children. They now have two sons who are professors in college. I was at their infair at his father's, Locky Simmons, in Montgomery County. Mrs. Simmons is still living at WakeForest, where her husband died. There were five preachers in mj class : Moses Baldwin, E. F. Beachum, B. F. Cole, B. J. Hackney and myself ; also B. F. Simmons, Freeman and Dr. Harris, who now lives near AVake Forest. Baldwin was my room-mate. Beachum was very modest, timid and unassuming. He was the neatest, cleanest man I ever saw. It was said of him, that dirt would not stick to him. Hackney went to col- lege after he was married, and made many sacrifices ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 35 for an education, was a hard student, but labored under many disadvantages, nevertheless he made a good preacher. Cole was from Chatham, and never had seen much of the world, but he was a good fellow. As in my case, both Societies were after him, and using various pleas for his consideration. Among others, the Phis told him that while the Eus outnum- bered them, the Phis had the best speakers and the most talent, and that it would be greatly to his advan- tage to join them, ^'Well,'' he says, "that is just the reason I want to join the other, to help them up." And he meant just what he said. So his case seemed rather doubtful. But he finally joined the Phis. Beachum and Hackney were Eus ; Baldwin, Cole, Simmons and I were Phis. Cole and I became won- derfullv attached to each other, like David and Jona- than. We studied together, walked together and prayed together. Don't think I ever attended to the duty of secret devotion so punctually as while at Wake Forest. There was a skirt of woodland over east of the college, in which I selected a large tree, at the root of which I would bow morning and evening to commune with my Heavenly Father ; and I found it to be the regulator of my life. I went to school for the purpose of gaining knowledge, so that most of the time T read and studied during the hours set apart for recreation, though somehow little Freeman could play all these hours, and then recite as good as I could. I am of the opinion that all the ministers of my 36 LIFE AND LABORS OF class were beneficiaries of the board of education, or aided by private individuals. Old sister Washing- ton, mother of Mrs. W. A. Graham, aided Rev. A. D. Blackwood, and when he left, from some cause, or through some influence, she took me up, though I had never seen her, nor had she ever seen me. She sent me twenty-five dollars at one time to buy books, and then paid my tuition for several terms, (a tei*m then being five months) and helped me in various ways, not only then, but as long as she lived, as we shall see. T was in college two years and a half. My class went on and graduated. The board ^\'anted me to become a beneficiary, and go on with my class, but my brother, who raised me, and who sent me to school, was opposed to it, said that I could teach a good school, and that he wOuld get me a school near his house and lx>ard me for nothing ; so I felt that I could not afford to disregard his wishes. Three of my class are dead. I do not know the particulars of Brother Beachum's death. Brother Hackney died in Florida, of smallpox. Brother Cole was elected tutor in the college soon after his grad- uation, and was taken sick, if I am not mistaken, dur- ing the first or second session, and died a remarkably happy, and triumphant death. How mysterious are* the providences of our Heavenly Father. I thought he bid fair to be one of the most usefiU men in the State. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 6i 1 remembor witli £:roat pleasure many of my scliool- mat-es: S. O. Tatum, J. II. Footo, W. G. Simmons. John Mitchell, J. J. Freeman, B. F. Biddle, E. D. Lea, W. T. Fairclotli, James Bond, W. H. Mitchell, W. A. Ramsey, J. H. Mills, with a host of others too numerous to mention. I left Wake Forest at the close of the session of 1852. FIRST SERMON. I preached my first sermon at Saron Church, Rich- mond County, Xorth Carolina, from the text, ''If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." (]\rat. 16:24). I preached some during my vacation, while at col- lege. I recollect going with Elder A. D. Blackwood to Brassiields, in Granville, during one vacation, where we had a glorious meeting. Here I formed the acquaintance of the Cannady families, the old motlier, N'at, Sam, Macon and the others. A strong attachment was formed then, which has lasted to this day. I remember falling mightily in love with Miss Kate ; I hardly knew whether it was because she was such a a'ood Christian or some other kind of love. I never said anything to her about it, but for my life I couldn't help begrudging her to the man she mar- ried. Most of these good brethren and sisters are dead, and no doubt in heaven, but this does not weaken the 38 LIFE AND LABORS OF attachment for them, and only increases the attrac- tion for heaven. 1 spent another vacation in Orange County, and preached at Mars Hill, before my sweetheart, who afterwards became my companion, as we shall see further on. CHAPTEE III. Courtship and Marriage — Teaching School — Killing Turkeys — Lilesville — Stanback's Ferry — Killing a Hawk — More Turkeys — Trouble With the Trustees — Ordination — Gene ral Dockery — Cartlidge's Creek — Dr. Stansil — Fire- Moving to Orange County. COURTSHIP AND MAREIAGE. While I was a student " at college, H. C. Stroud married Sarah II. Holeman, both of Orange County, and located at Wake Forest, for the purpose of 'going into the mercantile business. Miss Susan T). Hole- man came there to board with her sister, and go to school to Mrs. Walters. One day when I went to dinner, ]\rr. A. C. Jones, one of Brother Wm. Jones' sons, who was in school at the same time, said there were two young ladies there and asked me if I would like an introduction to them. I told him I had no objection. So he introduced me to the young ladies, Miss S. D. Holeman and Miss Amelia Holt. The moment I put my eyes on Miss Holeman I was won- derfully impressed and fell in love with her. (I had never seen her before) . We conversed pleasantly for a short time, and when I went to leave, I said to ^liss Sue, ^^Ego amo te." She knew what I said, and was very curious to know what I meant, for she did not know a word of Latin, and I didn't know much. So she got my young friend Jones to interpret the lan- guage for her, and it seemed to make a deep and last- 40 LIFE AND LABORS OF ing impression upon her mind ; so we improved the first acquaintance, and a strong tie of love and friend- ship was soon formed. I was fond of her company, and delighted to escort her to the Chapel, and linger in her presence. While Captain John Berry was building Wake Forest College, he had two negToes to die. He had them buried in the old field over east of the college, and built a nice brick wall around their graves. So one beautiful Sunday evening Miss Sue and I took a walk, and while standing by the brick wall around those graves we were engaged to be married. It was a solemn y^lace, and a solemn time, a time and place never to be forgotten. We often visited that place while there, and every opportunity since we left. I was there last spring, but so many changes had tran- spired T could not find the place. blatters went on nicely and pleasantly until we both left the college. I went to my mother's in Mont- gomery, and she to her father's, Samuel Iloleman, in Orange County. We were now separated, about ninety miles from each other, and though mountains lay, and river rolled between us^ our hearts were knit together, and Ave kept up a regTilar correspondence, looking forward with fond anticipations to the con- summation of the promise made while standing by the brick-walled graves at Wake Forest. In the fall of 1852, I taught school at old Cross Eoads in Montgomery County, one mile from my ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 41 mother's, near the old mother church, Forks of Little Kiver. In the spring of 1853, my brother, Thomas S. Jordan, made me up a school in Eichmond County, in his neighborhood, near Pleasant 11. Powell's, who was a prominent Baptist of that day. Powell, IST. T. Bowden, J. IM. Bradley and others were my patrons. I boarded with my brother ; he and his wife were just as good to me as heart could msh, and they gave me a delightful home. , It was a wealthy and very intel- ligent neighborhood. This was in the spring of the year, and turkey-gobbling time. Some mornings, on my way to school, I could hear the old gobblers gob- bling all around me. Other things being equal I had much rather gone after the turkeys than to have gone to school, for I had a great hankering for the things any way. One morning I called one up close to me, but had no gun. My school of five months closed in June. It had now been about twelve months since I saw Miss Sue, and Oh, how anxious I was to see her. So in the sum- mer I paid her a delightful \-ibit, at her home near Hillsboro, and we decided upon the 18th of October as the day of our marriage. I returned and engaged another school, where I had taught near my mother's. On the morning of the 15th of October, with a fine bay horse and a new buggy, in company with my brother John and a cousin, x\llen Jordan, and, with a happy heart, I started after my bride. Passing throui^h Ashboro and Cedar Falls Factorv, we arrived 42 T,IFE AND LABORS OF at old brother Enoch Cnitchfield's, a distance of fifty- five miles, before sunset, ^(xt di^y we reached and spent the night in Hillsboro; and on the 18th of October. 1853, Miss Susan D. Holeman and I were united in marriage, by Elder G. W. Purefoy, at the residence of Samuel Holeman, three miles north of Hillsboro. We came to Hillsboro and dined at the Orange Hotel, spent the night with deacon Thomas D. Oldham, tlie next night at Cedar Falls Factory, in Tiandolph Coimty, and the next evening we landed safely at my mothers on the bank of Little River, in Montgomery County, five miles east of Troy. Mother had prepared us a good supper, and our neigh- bors a id friends gathered in to greet us. 1 Would not recommend" long courtships, but we were engaged eighteen months. The reason was, that T was trying to make something to get a little start in the world. I told Miss Sue in the outset, that financially I was not worth a dollar in the world, that ] jiad nothing but my character, with a liberal educa- ii c-n, and that if she took me, it would have to be at her o^vQ risk. She replied, that she would marry me without a dollar, and would go with me to the ends of the earth. Though far away from home and loved ones, she never seemed to be homesick. We boarded with mother till my school was out. About this time the people of Lilesville, Anson County, had built a good school-house, and were look- ing around for a teacher. The trustees wrote to me ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 43 relative to the matter, and I made an engagement to teach a ten months' school for tiieni, for $400. So, early in the spring of 1854 we began the school, and boarded with Mr. J. J. Cox. Here onr surroundings were exceedingly pleasant, a fine, intelligent commu- nity, and a liberal-hearted, whole-souled people. Our school numbered about forty-five exceptionally good students; my wife assisted me, and we had a good time. In my school I had good rules, and had them obeyed, maintained good discipline, and, conse- quently, had but little trouble; for I managed my school more by love and kindnesp than otherwise. As a general rule the children seemed to love me devotedly; in some cases it was truly remarkable. When the classes of little boys and girls would come to recite, it was a race to see which could get nearest to me. Some of those noble boys were lost in the war. I remember Joseph Liles especially, son of James D. Liles, who was the best and most natural declaimer T ever saw, was lost, and I don't think his father and mother ever knew anything about the cir- cumstances of his death. Others are still living, with good homes and interesting families. Most of those bright girls developed into noble Christian women, became mothers, and have been a blessing in their day and generation. Though it has been forty-seven years ago, there are many pleasant memories connected with our stay and labors at Lilesville. There were so many delightful. 4:4 LIFE AXD LABOKS OF places to visit : Xelson P. Liles, Sandy Liles, James I). Liles, Tvra and John D. Williams, William Hooker, Gaston Long, the Smiths, the Ilenrvs, the Mortons, Benjamin Sanders, and many others. While at lilesville we attended tlie old Cedar Creek church, Avhich stood jnst across the road from the school-house. Here we heard the glorious gospel of the blessed God in its simplicity and purity, as preaclied by Elders John Monroe, John Culpepper, W. Q. Batie, E. L. DaA^s and others. This was a golrious church and people in that day. During this period I would frequentb' preach on Sunday to the churches around in the country, but not as pastor. Our first child, Julia Ann, was i)orn on the 17th of October of this year, at my brother T. S. Jordan's, in Bichmond County. Llis wife and mine seemed to love each other as sisters. In 1855 I tau2:ht another ten-months' school in Anson County,, four miles from Stanback's Fenw, in the Smith and Chapel neighborhood, employed by W. C. Smith, Jesse Capel, Daniel Horn and others. Here I rented the old Capel homestead, and we did our first housekeeping. Our surroundings w^ere of the most pleasant nature^ the people were rich, gener- ous and hospitable. Our family was small — only one child — and my wife's sister, Miss Julia A. Holeman lived with us. We had a good garden, my wife raised a great many chickens, and we never lived more happily anywhere than at this place. I recollect ELDER F. M. JORDAlSr. 45 there was a large hawk that troubled us and the chickens a good deal. I shot at him six times with a shotgun, but could not get near enough to kill him. One morning I started to the school-house, and saw him sailing through the plantation, coming toward me. 1 picked up a smooth stone and threw it at him as he passed me, hit him on the head, and killed him as dead as a flounder. So wiieii powder and lead would not bring him, 1 thought I would see what virtue there was in stones. Jesse Capel had a fishery on the Pee Dee Kiver. In the spring he gave us shad, and round fish nearly all the time. This was no small consideration then, and would not be now\ There w^ere a great many turkeys between me and the river, and in the spring you could hear them gobbling in almost every direc- tion. I called up and killed two large gobblers. One day Jesse Capel and I went dowm into the swamp, and killed seven — he four and I three. That was good sport, and good eating. At this place the near- est church to us was Pleasant Grove. Here we attended the regular meetings, and I would some- times preach. One Sunday I preached, and there was so much interest that the brethren insisted that I come back Monday. I did not see how I could leave my school, but finally I consented, went to the school-house Monday morning, dismissed the school, and went on to church. The interest still increased, so that the churches begged me to come back next day. LIFE AND LABOES OF I did not feel that I could leave my school, for I thought my employers would grumble if I did, and I felt that the meeting ought to go on, so I felt almost heartsick. I believe the Holy Spirit decided the case, and I went back Tuesday, dismissing my school again. It was the same thing over again, and the brethren threw all the responsibility upon me, as to whether the meeting should go on or close. By this time three young ladies became deply concerned about the salvation of their souls, Julia A. Kirby, Charlotte D. Kirby and Julia A. Iloleman. Miss Julia A. Kirby begged me to go on with the meeting till she was converted. So I carried on the meeting till Sunday evening, and all three of these girls, with a number of others, made a bright profession of a sav- ing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Monday morn- ing my employers met at the school-house to turn me off, for preaching that week, instead of teaching. I gave them a plain talk about the meeting, and the cir- cumstances connected with it • that I had nothing to regret, and that if they were disposed to turn me away it was all right, so far as I was concerned. I think they all felt ashamed of tlieir conduct and left, and I went on with my school. These young converts were very anxious for me to baptize them, but T had not been ordained. !My mmbership was then at Forks of Little River, the old mother church in Montgomery County, where ELDER F. M. JOHDAN. 47 I was baptized. So just at that time the church appointed the time for my ordination, and wrote for me to come. I went, and was ordained by Elders A. J). Blackwood and A. L." Stough, in the summer of 1855. Elder Stough preached my ordination ser- mon, from the text, "Preach the word." (2 Tim. 4 :2). Elder Blackwood offered the prayer. The former is still living, the latter dead. The next Sunday I baptized ten at Crump's Mill, who were received into the felloAvship of Pleasant Grove church, Anson County — the same converts above referred to. Miss Chaidotte D. Kirby was the first person I ever baptized. She is still living, so far as I know. Miss Julia A. Kirby married, lived about ten months, and died. She said on her dying bed, had it not been for me and that meeting at Pleasant Grove she would have been without any hope of heaven. She left a dying request that I should preach her funeral. I was then living in Orange County, and went one hundred and twenty-five miles to preach the sermon. I feel that her case alone will amply reward me for all that I have ever done. I am satisfied that the Holy Spirit directed that meeting in which she made a bright profession of the Christian religion. Here, as at Lilesville, we had a good school of bright, affectionate, lovely children. Before the close of my school here. General Alfred Dockery came to see me, to get me to teach at Cartlidges Creek, in Richmond County, near his beautiful home. Wo 48 LIFE AND LABORS OF made the agreement, and at the close of this session we moved across the river into the old homestead of Thomas Dockerv,Alfred Dockery's father,a l^eanti- fnl place near the school house. Here I commenced teaching in January, 1856, with the most delightful surroundings. The Dockerys, Bostics, Covingtons and others were our neighbors and patrons, while at the same time the venerable and the beloved John Monroe was pastor of Cartlidges Creek church. Here I was co-pastor with him, he preaching one month, and I the next. This was my first beginning as pas- tor. Oh, what a privilege to be associated with the sainted Monroe and all those good and intelligent people. I saw old Brother Monroe baptize all of Brother Dockery's daughters, Eliza, Martha and Mar}^ What good times and precious seasons we had in those good old days. Old sister Alfred Dock- ery, and old aunt Hannah Covington were among the best women of earth. What a benediction to mix and mingle with such good people. Four of Brother Alfred Dockery's sons went to school to me — Ben, Alfred, James and Henry. Henry was then a little black-eyed boy. While here our first son, and second child, was bom, Samuel Holeman. Dr. Stansil was our family physician. I remember at one time he knelt by the bedside of the suffering mother, and offered a tender prayer, the only time I ever knew the physician to pray with the patient. My wife always loved him. Mrs. SUSAN D. JORDAN. Mrs. JULIA A. LEE. (1st Child. 1 ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 49 • General Dockeiy was a great man in many ways, and an exceptionally good farmer. One mor^iing I was passing where the negroes were plowing ; he said to them, "Boys, if you want to plow a great deal in a day, turn round quick at the end.'^ This is the trouble with a great many people, temporally and spiritually — they are too long turn- ing ronnd. Here we met with a great misfortime. One beau- tiful Sunday morning in May, my wife washed and dressed the children by a small fire, and we all went to church at Piney Grove. When we returned in the afternoon our house was burned down with every- thing w^e had in the world except the clothes we had on, together wdth my library. I had a right good library, w^hich I had been collecting for years — all swept away in less than an hour. A great many people had gathered at the scene of smoking chunks, and expressed great sympathy with us in our loss, as well as grief at the loss of the old homestead. I never felt so lonely in all my life, not only then, but for months afterward. Our neighbors and friends were exceedingly kind to us, not only there, but in the surronnding counties. In a short time, from various sources, I had received over t^vo hundred dollars in m_oney, besides clothing and such things as we needed. A brother Covington let us have a good house for nothing, and we fixed up so as to teach out the school. We never could account for the cause of the burn- ing of the house. 4 50 LIFE Aiq^D LABORS OF Col. W. F. Leak made me a present of Scott's Com- mentaries — six volumes. About this time mv wife's father wrote to her that he had bought a nice little farm three miles from Hillsboro in Orange County, and that if she would consent to locate there he would make her a present of it. It was a good time to move, as we had scarcely anything to carry with us. So we accepted his offer, and about the last of December made our arrange- ments to leave the county where we had spent the days of our childhood and youth. The Pee Dee Association then embraced the coun- ties of Montgomery, Anson, Stanly, Richmond and parts of others. I attended most of her sessions for a number of years. I have my doubts as to whether these small county associations are as efficient as those large bodies. A few days before Christmas Brother H. G. Lucas took my wife and the two children to High Point, and they went on the railroad to Hillsboro. Brother John and I went in a one-horse wagon. We arrived at Hillsboro Christmas day, 1856. We spent the Christmas holidays pleasantly at my wifes father's, and the first of January, 1857, moved to our new home, known as the Bro^^Ti place. Here we had a nice little farm, comfortable house, with good barn, and orchard, and we entered more fully upon the duties and realities of life. Having been raised on the farm, T made good crops of corn and wheat, and raised plenty of hogs for my meat. CHAPTEE IV. Pastorates — Clement — Cool Springs — Mars Hill — Kerrs Chapel— Death of Mother— Cane Creek— Mt. Moriah— Mt. Hermon — Antioch— Bethel — A Colored Church. PASTORATES. Now begins really and more fully my first pastor- ates. I was invited to visit Clement Churcli in Per- son Coiinty. So I went the third Saturday and Sim- day in January. I shall never forget that visit ; Sat- urday was a favorable day. That night it turned cold and commenced snowing. Sim^day morning the snow was about one foot deep, the air very cold and the snow still falling thick and fast. It continued till the snow was, on an average, about three feet deep, and unusually cold. John L. Pleasant, who died in Asheville, was then selling goods with W. A. Brad- sher, at Bushy Fork. He went over to Robert Hes- ter's Saturday night to a debating society, and came very near freezing to death Sunday morning on his way back. He got into a negro's house and was saved. I remained at Brother W. A. Bradsher's till Wednesday morning, when I left for home, a dis- tance of fourteen miles, on horseback. I had to go just as slow as my horse could walk, for it was like wading in deep water. Sometimes I would come to lanes and places where it was drifted, and the snow would be eight and ten feet deep ; then I would have 02 LIFE AITD LABORS OF tc! let do^\^l tlie fences, and go round tlie best I could. It was about eight of the clock when I reached home, and nij horse was nearh^ exhausted. I have never seen an^i^hing like it. A great many birds and small animals perished. The church at Clement gave me a call, which I accepted at a salary of one hundred dollars. I also accepted a call to Mars Hill,two miles from Hillsboro, at the same time. Tliese two churches were my first pastorates in the Beulah Association. I was pastor of the church at Clement thirteen years, and Mars Hill twelve years. There are many pleasant memo- ries connected with my labors with these churches for so long a period. At Clement was old Brother John Ellysor, Stephen Wilkerson, W. A. Bradsher, James O. Bradsher, Joseph Coleman, ^N'at Villines, Sam Briggs, with their noble Christian companions, Jolm. Henry, with a host of others, all gone to the glory world. Some of precious memory are still there — T. K. Glenn, John Harris, Willis Villines, Lewis Hes- ter, and sisters Ann Long, John Henry, Kate Wil- liams, and many others which would require too much space to mention. God only knows how much hap- piness I have enjoyed with these families. I bap- tized and married numbers of their children. Sister I. B. Pleasant was the first person I baptized in that country^, and her youngest daughter was the last, about twenty years after, l)oth at Clement. John Blackwell and his wife raised a little negro boy by ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 53 the name of Lewis. They taught him to cook, card, spin, scAv and weave, and as they had no children, they left him their farm and other good property. While pastor at Clement T baptized him, and he grew up to he a good man, and a good church member. He has built an elegant house, has a nice family, is a ffood farmer, and is respected by everybody, except the negroes, who envy him. He goes by the name of Lewis Blackwell. On one occasion, while retuming frc; " one of my monthly visits to Clement, I was wnlerljornd at Flat Kiv^er, and spent the night in ii cabin near by. The cabin was small and had only one fire-place, on which all the cookinc was done. The man had three little pigs which had evidently been raised in the house. While the good woman was .busy getting supper, one of them turned over the slop-bucket. Turning to her husband she exclaimed, "Well, Jesus God, Jim, just look thar at them pigs." Poor woman, she died soon afte'r and left a dying request that I should preach her funeral. In the neighborhood of Clement tJiere lived a noted old bachelor named Jimmie Turner. He was not a member of the church, but loved to attend the ser- vices. He was fond of his toddy and sometimes took a little too much. There was also a hardshell preacher in the community named Llall. The hard- ehells always preach a man into heaven, it matters not what his life has been. Jimmie was very fond 54 LIFE AND LABORS OF of me and also of Brother Hall. One day, as I was returning from Clement, I met Jimmie on the road. He was just enough under tlie influence of his toddy to make him talkative. Putting his arm over my horse's neck he began telling me how much he loved me. When he had about exhausted his vocabulary and my patience, he wound up by saying, ^Well, Brother Jordan, I want you to do my preaching while I am living, but I want old Hall to preach my funeral.'^ There was another hardshell preacher in the commuuity named Quint Ward. He was an unusually eccentric character, and in his preaching dealt largely in personalities. A man named Paul Terrell lived near him. His life was not altogether exemplary, and after his death Brother Ward, in one of his sermons, said some uncomplimentary things about him. His family was very much offended, and the three sons agreed that whichever one met him first should thresh him. In a few days one of them met him in the woods, took him from his horse, and gave him a severe pummelling, telling him he might preach as much as he pleased about Paul the Apos- tie^ but he must keep his mouth off of Paul Terrell. He was visiting Raleigh once during a session of the Legislature, and requested the privilege of preaching in the hall of the Senate on a Simday morning. Just for a little fun the members granted his request. Dr. Pritchard was then pastor of the First Church, and J. H. Mills, editor of the Recorder. In his sermon ELBEK F. M. JORDAN. 55 the old man said, while crticising almost everybody, ''This little fellow Tom Pritchard is a pretty good declaimer, but most any school-boy can beat him at that, and as for this man Jack Mills, he's killing him- self drinking whiskey." Pritchard was a good declaimer, but Mills never drank whiskey. His fat, rosy cheeks were signs of good health, and not of drink. MARS HILL. Our membership was at Mars Hill, where I was pastor for twelve years. Here we had many good meetings and happy seasons. There are many fond recollections which cluster around Mars Hill. Soon after we moved to Orange my brother, John Jordan, bought a place near by us, and moved there from Montgomery County, with my mother. It was a great pleasure and comfort to have my mother, and brother with his family, near by us. And then we had such good neighbors and associations — my fath- er-in-law Samuel Holeman, John Riley, John Red- ding, Wm. Ward, Henry Whitted, Aunt Polly Mil- ler, Sister Parrish, the Funcetts, and many others. At the close of twelve years I thought it best to make a change; so I resigned, and the church called Elder F. H. Jones. Under his leadership the church pros- pered, and we had a good time during all his pas- torate. Brother Jones pabtized our three oldest children, Julia, Sam and Willie. When he resigned 56 LIFE AXD LABORS OF the church called Elder J, II. Vernon, and during liis pastorate with ns he baptized our two younger daughters, Jennie and Fanny. COOL SriilXG. About five miles west of Hillsboro was an old Pres- byterian meeting-house, which had been abandoned by the Presbyterians. There was no Baptist, and little preaching of any kind in that community. The house stood on the land Monging to Mr. John Bain, an old Presbyterian ; I got permission of him to preach there once a month. We had good congrega- tions, and the people seemed delighted with having preaching there. We held a meeting or two, of days, and quite a number made a profession of religion, and I baptized them in Mr. Bain's mill-pond. It was thought advisable to organize a Baptist church there; so the arrangement was made; the time set, and I invited Elder G. W. Purefoy to aid in the organization. He came, and a large congregation assembled at the old meeting-house. It was a beau- tiful day. Elder Purefoy preached a sermon suita- ble to the occasion. And when we w^ere about going into the organization Mr. Bain objected, said we should not organize a Baptist church in that house, nor on his land. So Ave repaired to a log in the woods, just off Mr. Bain's land, the whole congrega- tion following, and there we organized Cool Spring Baptist ChurclL We then had a church, but no ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 57 house. When I moved to Orang'e County, old sister Washington lived with Governor W. A. Graham, her son-in-law, and as she helped me so much while I was at Wake Forest, she seemed to be very fond of me and Avonld frequently go to hear me preach, both at Mars Hill and at Cool Spring. During a pro- tracted meeting at either place she would gather up her carriage full of such as had no way but to walk, and carry them to church. She was a great woman, and her gTeatness consisted in her goodness. She certainly had the mind and spirit of Christ in look- ing after the poor and needy, and helping those who could not help themselves. She told me that she had given her children about all that she expected, and that she had some money she wanted to give in building meeting-houses, educating preachers, and such objects of benevolence as she thought would accomplish the greatest amoimt of good. I pro- cured a nice lot near the railroad, five miles from Hillsboro, and Sister W^ashington gave me one himdred dollars in money, and with other help I had a good house built, which stands there to-day, a monument to the praise and glory of God. 1 was pastor of Cool Spring Church eleven years, which was always weak, financially, and, like many others, has had her ups and downs and ebbs and flows, but I learn that they still maintain the preach- ing of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. While Sister Washington is in heaven, she has many invest- 58 LIFE ANB LABOKS OF ments on earth, still working to the praise and glory of God. I was in Hillsboro on Thursday before she died on Saturday. She heard I was in town, and sent for me to go and see her. I went; she seemed to be as well as'usual, and we had a pleasant conversa- tion of some two hours. Wlien I was about to leave for home, she said she had some little presents she wanted to make to me and my wife. So she gave me fifty dollars in money, and my wife two fine black dresses and an elegant cloak. Of course we prized these things very highly, but not half so much as the love and friendship of such a noble Christian woman. She died Saturday evening, two days after. In those days 1 preached very often to the colored people. The Grahams, Euflins, ISTashes, Camerons, Turners, and others, owned a great many negroes, and, living with such intelligent families, they were more than average in intelligence themselves. I bap- tized and married a good many of them. John 'Nor- wood had a colored woman who was afflicted; had not walked for about seven years ; but she was exceed- ingly anxious to be baptized. They told her it would kill her ; but she finally consented and I baptized her at Mars Hill. Two of the brethren carried her in a chair down into the creek, and I baptized her and the chair. She soon recovered from her illness, and was able to do good service. She is now living in Hillsboro, in a good home, attending to her household duties. During the four years of the war I preached ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 59 at Cool Spring at 11 o'clock,and to the colored people in the basement of the Baptist church in Hillsboro, in the afternoon. They paid me well ; I recollect one evening thev took up a collection for me in Confed- erate money, and there was such a bulk of it that I had to tie it up in my pocket handkerchief to carry it home; but soda was fifty cents per pound and Irish potatoes were thirty dollars per bushel. KERR^S CHAPEL. Soon after locating in Orange I was invited to preach at Kerr's Chapel, in Caswell County, a dis- tance of twenty-five miles. The church had well nigh gone down. They had a good house, standing in a beautiful grove, in a magnificent country. The first Simday 1 preached there only twenty-five per- sons were present. The prospect looked gloomy ; but these were a few of the salt of the earth, and solid as the rocks. They gave me a call, which I accepted, and began to preach there, I think, in 1858. We soon had good congregations, and the church took on new life ; we had some glorious meetings, and the Holy Spirit was with us in great pow^r. I baptized a' goodly number of the best people of the coimtry. Among the number was old Sister Eachael Walker, one of the most noble, benevolent women of the land. She had a hope for a long time, but was rather of the anti-mission persuasion,and it seemed hard for her to decide which way to go. But during a good meeting 60 LIFE AND LABOKS OF at the Chapel she settled the question, and when the opportunity was given she came f orT\^ard to unite with the chnrch. She had not more than taken her seat when her noble son, A. B. Walker, came trembling, fell on his knees by her side, and asked her and the people of God to pray for him. He soon made a full surrender to the captain of our great salvation, and was happy in his love. Sister Bettie Baines, and others, were gi'eatly con- cerned about the salvation of her husband ; and he was miserable, left the meeting, and went to Danville without any business, to get away from the meeting ; but the Holy Spirit followed him, brought him back, and he was happily converted to God. At the close of the meeting it was my pleasure to baptize old Sis- ter Walker, her son and daughter — Bruce and Kate — and Thornton Baines, with a number of lovely young people, in Sister Walker's mill-pond. It was a time of great rejoicing. Brother Bruce Walker's wife was a Presbvterian, raised in Tennessee. She became convinced that she ought to be baptized, and seemed to be happy in anticipation of the act of obedience. While standing on the bank of the stream looking down into the liquid grave, she said : "'Thank God for the privilege of putting my feet in the footprints of my blessed Savior." She came up out of the water shouting, and just walked back and forth, blessing and praising God. And oh, what good church mem- bers were all these. ELDER F. M. JORDAISr. 61 T was pastor of tlie Chapel eleven years, and one happy scene after another transpired all the way through. The church grew to be strong and influen- tial. Old Brother Thomas W. Graves was a mem- ber at the Chapel, and though he lived eleven miles aw^ay, I am confident he was not absent from the reg- ular meetings a half dozen times in eleven years, and generally the first man at church. We generally spent the night together ; and the Lord only knows the happy seasons we have had at Alvis Lee's, Wood Covington's, old Sister Walker's, Thorton Baine's, and many other places. Most, if not aU of those good brethren and sisters have been gathered home, and are with the spirits of the just made perfect around the throne of God. Were I to visit the Chapel now I doubtless should know scarcely any one there. While pastor at the Chapel I preached at Burke's school-house, between the Chapel and Yanceyville. Here Ave had several protracted meetings and glorious revivals of religion. The converts were received into the fellowship of Kerr's Chapel and baptized. Elder F. H. Jones was with me in several meetings at this place, and old Brother Thomas W. Graves all the time. DEATH OF MY MOTHER. My mother lived with my brother John. She fell from the stairw^ay and broke her thigh, from which for weeks she suifered the most excruciating pain. 62 LIFE AND LABORS OF From some cause she wanted to come to mj house. With ,2Teat difficulty we brought her, and put her in my office, and made her just as comfortable as possi- ble, and gave her every attention within our reach. She died in my office in the spring of 1872, in the 77th years of her age. In early life she gave her heart to Christ, and lived an earnest, pious, devoted Christian, and died in the triumph of faith, with a bright hope of heaven. She was buried at Mars Hill, Orange County, two miles north of Hillsboro. CANE CREEK. I was pastor at Cane Creek, in Orange County, nine miles south of Hillsboro, five years. Here we had some precious meetings, and I baptized many happy converts. I still hold in memory the delights ful seasons I have had, both at church and the hospi- table homes of Thomas D. Oldham, John Moore, Wil- liam Sykes, Wyatt and Thomas J. Cates, the Craw- fords, and a host of others. I remember, at this place, on Saturday while I was preaching, I saw quite a number of the members going to sleep. I stopped and made this observation, ^'It seems that my preach- ing is having a very soothing effect. I see it is puir ting a good many of you to sleep. 'Now, we'll sing a song while you all wake up." I commenced singing, and by the time I got through with the song tliey were wide awake. This church was noted for having a great many members by the same name. Cates was ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 63 tlie largest. Thej would call the roll on Saturday's, and it was Gates, Gates, Gates. It was said in that country, that if you met a man and called him Sykes, and happened to miss it, just say, ''I am mistaken, this is lsh\ Gates," and you would be certain to hit it. There is a poor glady, blackjack section between Gane Greek and Hillsboro. Young Tom Oldham said you might plant peas there, and you could hear them for three weeks, grunting, trying to get up. MT. MORIAII. I was pastor of this church, in Orange Gounty, for -^YB years. This was on the road leading from Ghapel Hill to Durham, in a beautiful and flourishing sec- tion of country. Here we had precious meetings, and time and again we repaired to Patterson's Mill for the purpose of administering the ordinance of baptism. The beloved G. W. Purefoy lived near Ghapel Hill, and he would generally be present on these occasions, and give a Bible reading, and talk on the subject of baptism. And you may rest well assured that they were clinchers. It was said of him that he would hunt Methodists in the summer and foxes in the winter. He chased Methodists to bring them to the truth, and foxes for his health. Oh, the happy nights and seasons I have spent at the charming homes of Deacon Abel Maddrey, Wm. StrainJ John Kogers, Robert Patterson, and many 64 LIFE AND LABORS OF others in that cominimity. Abel Maddrey was one of the best deacons I ever saw ; he generally kept the finances of the church straight and in good condition. MT. HEEMON. I was pastor of this chnrch for several years ; do not remember just how long. I do not remember anvthine: verv striking: in connection with this church. We had some good meetings, and I baptized quite a number of good people. Here I remember with great pleasure the Strayhorns, Pratts, Hunters, and many others. Old Brother Jesse Howell was pastor of this church for many years. AISTTIOCH. This church is in Person County, ^ve miles south- east of Roxboro. T was pastor here five years, and never had a more delightful pastorate. At this time this was a new church, located in a thickly settled, thriving community. This country had been in a large measure under the anti-mission, or hardshell influence. But under the preaching of the word, directed by the Holy Spirit, the church grew in num- bers, power and influence. We had glorious revivals and great ingatherings, and frequently repaired to Brother Barton's mill to baptize believers. I recol- lect Brother John Mitchell was with me in a great meeting there, and David Moore, of the anti-mission ELDKIJ K. M. JORDAN. 65 persuasion, and his family attended the meeting. His Avife made a bright profession of religion, and desired to unite with tlie church and be baptized, for she was a strong missionary in her feelings ; but her hus- band told lier that if she joined the Missionary Bap- tists he believed it would kill him. She told him she (lid not tliink it would, and the last I heard of her she had not joined the church, but held firmly to her missionary principles. But Brother Moore would sing and pray in the meeting, and one day he got so happy that he lay flat down on the floor, held out his hand, and said to Brother Mitchell, ''I can call you brother now." Some thought he would come over, but lie never did. Two others — sisters — got happy,, and seemed to greatly enjoy the meeting. The old churcli at Flat River had them all disciplined for going to the meeting, taking part, and getting happy. The only way they could keep from being excluded was to say they were sorry, and promise that they would not go there any more. There were two good Methodist sisters in this com- munity ; one of them was convinced that she had never been baptized, and that she ought to obey Christ by being buried with him in baptism. So she joined the church, and I baptized her. She came up out of the water, shouting happy. Her sister was standing by, pouting mad because her sister had left her and joined the Baptists, and said, ''Whenever I am bap- 66 LIFE AND LABOES OF tized, tlie heavens and the earth will come together.- ' In less than twelve months I baptized her in the same place, and they have not come together yet. And so it went on, by preaching the whole truth plainly, independently, and lovingly, I would steal the Meth- odists and the children of the hardshells, and baptize them. Of conrse my Pedobaptist friends did not feel kindly toward me, especially the preachers. I recol- lect there was a meeting going on at a Methodist church on the way from my house to Antioch. So on my way home Monday I stopped in there for ser- vice. There were tAvo preachers there ; both seemed to be glad that I had come, and insisted that I preach. T consented, and at the close of my sermon there seemed to be deep feeling ; quite a number came for- ward for prayer, and many were weeping in the con- gregation. We had a song and prayer, and one of these preachers took occasion to give me one of the worst scourgings that any poor fellow ever got on earth. He gave me to understand that I was an imwelcome intruder, and had no business there. He "said : "'Unless we, the Methodists, will go doA\m into the water, and be buried beneath the yielding wave they talk so miich about, we may all go to hell, so far as the Baptists are concerned." These are his pre- cise words. Further, he said to the people : ^^Unless you have a certain man to preach to you, and a cer- tain man to pray for you, you are not going to bo ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 67 nioiirners anyway.'' And then lie compared me to a large fishing-hawk sailing over a stream, spying a fish, and then darting doA\Ti and catching it. The trouble was, I had caught eight of his fish, and put them on mv string. T would s^ive five dollars now for all that he did say on that occasion. Most of my friends left the house, and there was great confusion. The spirit of the meeting was killed. On the next day I was told there was not a vehicle on the ground, and the meeting closed. Brother W. seemed to be remarkably sorry that Brother T. acted as he did ; did not think he would have done such a thing. Some time after that I met Brother T. in the town of Durham ; he took me to one side, and said that he wanted to make an apology for treating me as he did on the above-named occasion, without which he felt that he could not die satisfied ; that he treated me badly, and that he did not gain anything by it, and that if it had not been for Brother W. he would not have done it; so there seemed to be a contradiction. If the eye of Brother Henry A. Reams,of Durham, and others, should ever fall upon these lines, they will remember the above scene distinctly, for it was bound to make an indelible impression. I was charged with being a great proselyter, and s<^ 1 was; but I never took any unscriptural or imfair turn to get people to join the Baptist Church. I said boldly and publicly that if preaching God's truth 68 LIFE AND LABORS OF made people Baptists it was my purpose to make all I possibly could. I never was a policy m.an in poli- tics nor religion, and told the people plainly that I did not want them to join the Baptist church, nor would T baptize them, unless convinced that they came from principle. BETHEL. T was pastor of this church in Person County, which is located about ten miles north of Roxboro, for three years. This was a flourishing church, in a thickly settled community, of good, substantial peo- ple. IT ere we had some wonderful demonstrations of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and I baptized a goodly number into the fellowship of tliat church ; among the number were four sisters of W. T. Black w^ell, the founder of tlie city of Durham, the great tobacco man, known almost, if not all over the world. Two of these sisters were twins, and so near alike that I never could tell them apa.rt. They were always dressed just alike, without a ribbon's diifer- ence, and both went down into the water together. It was a lovely scene. Soon after their baptism they both died of typhoid fever. The' family, and espe- ciallv W. T., have ever been mv warmest and inost devoted friends. Old Brother D. A. Harris had a beautiful pond where we met to administer the ordi- nance of baptism. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. <^)5^ A COLORED CHURCH. There was a settlement of colored people in Hali- fax (bounty, Virc^inia, just over the State line from Bethel, who were free before the war, and almost white. They once belonged at Bethel, but finally built a c:ood house, and orscanized a church of their own, in their settlement. 1'hey had good farms, and g(X>d homes, and everything in good order. I preached for them two years as pastor, and they paid two hundred dollars per year. The distance was some forty miles. T went once a month. We had good meetings, and I baptized a number of them. I would take dinner with them, (and elegant dinners they were) and spend the night with my white breth- ren. I had a very pretty, heavy-built pony, named Boston, that I drove thousands of miles all over that county; drove him in a buggy that David Wri2:ht made for me in Troy, Montgomery" County, when I went to get married. I kept the buggy twenty years, and sold it for fourteen dollars at my sale in Orange. I brought my pony to the mountains, kept him till ho was seventeen years old, and sold him for forty dollars, which money my son James took and went V> Wake Forest College. CHAPTER V. The War — Beulah Association — Union Meetings— Incidents — Another Hawk — Whiskey for Medicine — A Promising Bo3^ — Work in Winston— First Church in Winston. THE WAK. During the war, which began in 1861, I was pas- tor of four churches, and preached a great deal all over the country, at school-houses and private houses,, as there were a great many women and children who could not go to church, and they needed the consola- tions of the gospel of Christ. This was a time of great confusion, trouble and suffering. It seemed to me that I could not bear for the war to begin. The thought that the people of the United States should engage in a cruel, bloody war produced a^vful feel- ings, with many sad and lonesome hours. As I lived on the road leading to the depot, we heard and saw several companies pass on to the dread- ful scene of action. As they were passing the drams were beating and fifes playing. ''Poor fellows !'' I said. ''Many of you are going away, never to return.'' While the companies were drilling at rialeigh, T went do^\^l and preached some to the sol- diers in camp, and as we lived near the depot we fed and cared for hundreds of the poor soldiers as they would pass to and from the army. At the time of the surrender there were numbers 7 "2 LIFE AND LABORS OF in camp at the old race track l)etween inv house and llillsboro. It was a time of great excitement, the great struggle was winding up, the companies and regiments were disbanding, and from all quarters the ■soldiers were wending their way toward the loved ones at home. I was planting corn. One morning I "went to catch my horses and they were both gone^ — •stolen. But the war was ended, and horses and almost evecrjthing else, we felt, were small things •compared with the closing of the war. THE BEULAH ASSOCLITIOX. At that time the Beulah Association embraced seven bounties — Orange, Person, Caswell, Guilford, Rock- ingham, Forsvth and Stokes. So the Association then was a big tiling, and contained a great many preachers and churches, with a large membership. It was no small matter to go to the Association, for sometimes it would meet fifty miles away, and yet the <3hurches were generally well represented, and we had to go either on horseback, in a buggy, or on foot. I lived in the bounds of this Association twenty years, and was present nineteen sessions out of twenty. The time I was absent I was sick with chills and fever. The Association met at Redbank, in Forsytli County. 1 was told that when it was learned that Brother Jor- dan was sick and would not be there, and it was sug- gested that special prayer be offered for Brother Jor- dan, Dr. Wingate led in prayer; after which Dr. EI.DEK F. M. JORDAN. 8 irufhain remarked that a man crnild afford to die every once in a wliile to liave siieli a prayer as tliat prayed for him. UXIOX MEETINGS. We held a union meeting every fifth Sunday some- where in the bound of the Assocation. I was present at every one of these fifth Sunday meetings for seven years. The distance nor the weather kept me away, when T was able to go. I recollect on one occasion brethren J. 11. Mills and J. D. Hufham spent the night with us, on their way to the union meeting at Kerr's Chapel. ^NText morning the snow was falling beautifully ; it was twenty-five miles ; the brethren thought it was too bad to go. I told them no, that it would probably clear aAvay by Saturday, and that we must go. So we started, and the snow fell thicker and faster. Late in the evening the bushes were so laden Avith snow and sleet that they were lapped across our road. T would open the way, and tell the breth- ren to come ahead. At length we reached the hos- pitable home of Brother Thornton Y. Baynes, where we had every comfort that heart could wish, and which T don't think these brethren ever enjoyed more. The A^eather took a favorable turn, and we went on to the Chapel and had a good meeting. Many of these meetings were about as interesting as the meeting of the Association, and would be protracted, and result in glorious revivals of religion. I remember one at 74 LIFE AND LABORS OF Ptedbank in the winter, at the close of which I bap- tized fourteen lovely young people, when the snow was about two inches deep, and falling beautifully ^ one of whom is the wife of our Brother R. W. Crews. The Association met in Greensboro in August, 1865, just after the war closed in the spring. From some cause there were a ffood manv vankee soldiers left there, and quite a number of them attended the meeting, so we had to be very particular as to what we said, lest we might go to the guard-house. I remember, Sunday evening some of the brethren and I were invited to take tea with old Brother F., who lived near a mile from town, and who belonged to the F. F. Vs. of old Virginia. We spent the evening pleasantly in conversation, eating melons and canta- loupes, supposing that we would have tea in time to get back to church. It was growing late, about time to start to church, but no tea ; the bell rang, I was rest- less and began to have the fidgets, but no tea. The women folks were at home, but we had not seen one of them. xVt length it was too late to go to churchy and we gave that all up, but still no tea. After a long time, all sitting in the parlor, the biggest little negro I ever saw came in with the biggest waiter they ever made, with more on it than you can imagine, of all sorts of cakes and nicknacks of all description, with cups and saucers and a pot of coifee. So there we were, with a cup of hot coifee in one hand, and which we could not let go, and nowhere in the world ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 75 to set it, and with the other hand take something ont of that big waiter. After worrying a long time I ([uit, hnngry, because of the inconvenience to which we were subjected. I would have given anything, within the bounds of reason, for a little table not larger than my two hands. It was then late in the night, and I thought they certainly expected us to spend the night there; when lo, and behold, we had to go back to our homes assigned us in the city. We started, and when we got in towai, church was over, the people had retired, and ever\i;hing was still, except the dogs. When I got to my home a big, ugly dog met me at the gate, and said by his looks and actions, ^'You can't come in here." I couldn't wake anybody up, ^^o I gave up in dispair. Finally I decided to go to Brother Jolley's, a good family in town, with whom I was well acquainted, and see if I could get in there. I went, and another ferocious dog met me, and would not let me in, neither could I arouse any of the fam- ily. I said ''Lord, wdiat shall I do. I am forty miles from Patsy and the children, and nowhere to stay." [ finally went back to my boarding-house, and suc- ceeded in waking up a negro, who guarded me to my room, wdiere I spent the shank of the night. So I said, ^^the Lord deliver me from fashionable Society, and handed suppers !" I attended quite a number of meetings at Bruce's 76 LIFE AND LABORS OF ( 'ross Koads, twelve miles west of Greensboro, and some of them glorious revival meetings. Here the hardshells, the ]^[ethodists and the Quakers were preltv strong, and the Baptists had rather slow and rongh sailing. But Dr. S. A. Powell, Dr. Winches- ter and old Brother Brown were a Avhole team, and with their families woi'ked manfnlly. I recollect there w^as a neighbourhood some two or three miles from this place, where there were some families of anti-mission Baptists and some Methodists. Theso good missionary Baptists were very anxious to lead them into the light, and teach them the way more per- fectly. So they started a Sunday-school there, and got them all to coming nicely, and were perfectly delighted that the "hard-sides,'' as they were colled, had started to Sunday-school. They procured some Siuiday-school literature, prepared by A. C. Dayton, sound to the core, in which there were some questions and answers on baptism. These brethren knew that these would be objectionable to the Methodists, but would suit the other persuasion exactly. So in order to suit all, and make smooth sailing, they took some hit-s of blank paper and pasted tlicMii over tlieir objec- tionable (juestions, so that the ^rethodists could :^ot see them, and then they wenild all pull on together. When the "hard-sides" found this out, they pulled out, an el said they would ne)t work with a people who would conceal the truth. So in trying to gain tlu- one, thev lost the e)tber, and ouiilit to have lost iK^th. ELDER E. ^l. JORDxiN. 77 Kow these bretJiren were honest and conscientious, and tlieir motive was pnre, bnt the end did not justify the means. It is, doubtless, a lamentable fact, that thousands of the professed people of God to-day are makini>' a strenuous effort to conceal and pervei-t God's truth. God saj- s : ''And he that hath my word, lot him speak my word faithfully.'' (Jer. 23:28.) For doing this very tliinj?' an intelligent woman, and a professed Christian, said I ought to be tarred and feathered, and lAinied up, and (me num said I ought to be stuck full (^f lightwood splinters, and they all set ^ on fire — which they might do l)efore'I would swerve a hair's breadth from what I conscientiously believe tO' 1)0 the teaching of my AFaster. There was a minister in the Beulali Association who had a fine orchard. One year it was very full, and the .temptation was so great that he had his fruit stilled. When the Association met we brought him to a hearing ; I rememer old Brother O. got up to defend him ; he said : ''Yes, Brother G. did make a little for medicine, for I bought fifteen gallons of him myself." I got up and said that this brother must have a large family, and live where there was a great deal of malaria, and where it required an iiuusual (pumtity of medicine. T remember at a meeting (1 think it was in Kock- ingiiam or Guilford), there was a boy whom Brother F. FT. Jones had recently baptized, dressed in his liome-pun. winch his dear old mother made for him. 78 LIFE AND LABORS OF and it was whispered around that he thought he was called to preach. I looked at him, and thought to myself, ''Well ; you are the poorest excuse for a preacher I have seen." But his church licensed him to preaeh and sent him to a good school a session oi' two, and then sent him to Wake Forest College, where, if I am not mistaken, he graduated with first distinction. That boy is Henry A. Brown, Avho has been pastor of the First Baptist Church of Winston for twenty odd years. So there is no tell ins: what an education, sanctified by the Christian religion, will accomplish. x\nd "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (I Cor. 1:27). It would require a volume to tell all the interesting things which transpired during the twenty years that I lived in the Beulah Association. Brother F. H. Jones and I, with the sainted Dodson, travelled all over every nook and corner of it. I have travelled, and preached more with Brother Jones than any other man. I always loved him, and love him to-day as good as David ever loved Johnathan. He baptized some of my children, and I baptized his precious little daughter at Kerr's Chapel, in her ninth year. She is now the wife of a Baptist preacher, C. S. Jones. He and I were returning from a preaching tour in the counties of Stokes and Forsyth, and stopped in Win- ston for dinner. Brother Alfred Holland, who had moved there from Johnson Countv, and who was a ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 79 decided Baptist, came over to see us, and to see if he could get either of us to go there and preach. It was a long distance from home, seventy miles, but I felt deeplv impressed to go there and preach. About this time I was called to the pastorate of the church in Thomasville, which I accepted, and was pastor there for three years, going once a month from Hillsboro. I think this Avas about 1871. There was no railroad to Winston then, but a regular stage line from High Point to Salem. So T arranged that when I Avent to Thomasville T Avould go across the country to Win- ston, a distance of fifteen miles, and preach tAvo nights in the Aveek. Sometimes I Avould get a con- veyance part of the Avay, and then take it on foot, and get along the best Avay T could to save expenses. So I sent on an appointment to preach in the court-house in Winston June 3, 1871, and the first trip I made on the stage. When I got off at Butner's Hotel, and started up the main street through Salem, those old Moravians eyed me as though a bear liad come into town, and as good as to say, ''I AA^onder Avhat you expect to accomplish here ?" But I preached, and this Avas a small beginning- of a great Avork in Winston. At rhis time there Avere about three thousand inliabitants in Salem and Winston, put together, and only five Baptists in both places. It looked like a great undertaking to build up a Baptist church here, but I, Avith a feAv others, felt that it could and ought to be done. At first T had tAvo homes — Alfred IIol- s;o I. IFF, AXD LAUORS OF land's, in Winston, and old Brother Aquilla Jones', in Salem. From these I would circle around to see the people. We continued this arrangement for a while, preaching tAvo nights in the week, A\^th good congregations ; and it appears to me now, that if the Holy Spirit ever helped me to preach in this world it was in that old conrt-house. In order to build up more efiiciently, it was thought best to organize a church, so that we could receive and baptize mem- l>ers. Accordingly, the First Baptist Church of Winston was organized, September 22, 1871, by Elders F. ]M. Jordan and Robert Gorniley, consist- ing of five members. Around this little nucleus we l^egan to build. Soon after this I baptized old Bro. Aquilla TI. Jones, whose wife was one of the con- stituent mem])ers and who was a pillar in the church ; also bapitzed his daughter, Miss Carrie, who has been a shining light in that church to this day. This lit- tle church organized a Sundav-school in the common school-house in Salem, and had a good Sunday-school ; and then we held a protracted meeting in the court- house, at the close of which I baptized ten in Belo's pond one beautiful Sunday evening, in the presence of fit was believed) 2,000 people. And time and again we repaired to this place to baptize believers. We held all our services in the court-house for more han four years. Flere we had our comnnmion ser- vice at night, the members sitting in the jury box. ELDEE F. M. JORDAIS'. 81 with bright lights beaming down from the chande- liers. It was a solemn and impressive scene. The next thing was to secure a lot and build a house. We found it very difficult to get anything like a suitable location. Time and again Brother Holland and 1 walked all over the place, trying to select a lot. One day we met up with a goiod ^|B ^. ., Moravian who told us he would let us have a lot, 'a^9f&'\''-: where we wanted it at that time. I bought the.lotjr 100 by 200, on Second street, June 18, 1874,,,}fbr which I promised iiim $250. Of this he gave t'eti,. We did not have the money to pay for it, and did not know where it was to come from. I went to Raleigh and presented our case to the First Baptist Church, of which the beloved Dr. Pritchard was pas- tor. He gave me a list of his principal members; Monday I went round to see them, and raised $153 ; the next day I made it out $200 ; went back to Win- ston, paid for the lot and took the deed. I walked over the streets of Raleigh until my feet were well nigh blistered, but I got the money, and I never saw money given more cheerfully. The other denominations were remarkably gener- ous and kind to me and to the work in which we were engaged all the time I labored in Winston. And yet I was wounded in the house of my friends. Bro. William Turner, a good brother and Baptist preacher, who lived there, opposed the effort of trying to build 6 82 LIFE AND LABORS OF up a Baptist church in Winston ; said that he had made an effort and failed, that he knew the people, and that it was a useless undertaking. I told him I did not think so, but that with the blessing of God there could, and ought to be, a Baptist church in Winston. Brother Turner had baptized and mar- ried scores and hundreds of people all over that coun- try, and was a man of great influence; so that it was exceedingly important to have his co-operation and influence. I went to his house and begged him, that if he wjould not help us, just to be neutral, and not work against us. His reply was : '^I intend to oppose ir to the bitter end." And this he did vigorously unto the day of his death, which was very discourag- ing to me, and a great hindrance to the work. He never came to any of our meetings, nor gave us any countenance in any way whatever. He would not assist in the organization of the church, and some time after the church had been organized he said it was composed of factory hands and kitchen women, and ought to be disbanded, and that it would never succeed without a new organization. And in addi- tion to all this, and while we needed all the help and encouragement we could possibly get, a Baptist fam- ily or two moved there, and they would not unite with the little struggling church, waiting to see whether it would be a success or failure. And when the bat- tle was fought, and they saw it was bound to be a success, in spite of the world, the flesh and the devil. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 83 then they came in, threw np their hats, and said, ^^Just see what we've done!" All this time the mis- sion board do^vn at Raleigh, who were helping to build up at this important place, could hear of the terrible opposition, and came to the conclusion, I think, that Brother Jordan and Brother Turner were at dagger^s points, and that the work could not pros- per with Brother T.'s opposition, and that if Brother Jordan was out of the way, and a new man in his place, Brother Turner w^ould fall in and matters would move on smoothly. All this time I had no ill-will oward any one, and only asked to be let alone. But it required a great deal of faith, moral courage, grit and gizzard, to hold on and persevere under all these circumstances, for there was no money in it. The board gave me $100 per year, the distance was seventy miles, each trip required five days, and some- times more, and by the time I paid my railroad and stage fare there was very little left. The truth of the matter can be summed up in few words : tbe Holy Spirit was leading, and God was on our side. After the arduous and responsible labors of four years, through heat and cold, and rain and snow, opposition and discouragement, I tendered my resig- nation to this dear (then little) church on February 2, 18Y4. And so far as I know tbeir was not a jar, or discord, or unpleasant feeling between us. To separate from, and bid this little church farewell was one of the most painful events connected with my 84: LIFE AND LABORS OF labors during a period of forty-seven years. Bro. W. R. Grwaltney was my successor, and then Bro. H. A. BroAvn was his successor. But Brother Turner never co-operated with either of these good brethren any more than he did with me. Here I feel impressed to make special mention of some of the brethren, sisters and friends who did an extra part in this great work in Winston-Salem in its infancy. Alfred Holland was a plain, imassum- ing man, and he may now be well nigh forgotten, or he may not be known by many of the members of the First Baptist Church of Winston, but eternity alone will disclose the measure of his part of the work in building up that wonderful interest in the Mas- ter's kingdom in the city of Winston. He was the prime mover of the whole thing, and I have never seen any man who manifested a more profound and absorbing interest. And his wife was a good help- meet all the time I was there. Their house was my home and they paid me $25 per year while I preached there. He died suddenly in the midst of his usefulness. Old Bro. Aquilla H. Jones was one of the pillars of the church and as solid as the everlasting hills. I baptized him. His wife was one of the salt of the earth, always cheerful, hopeful and full of the spirit. And there was old Brother and Sistei* Cannady, both of whom I baptized, and whose souls were absorbed in the building up of that great interest. IS^ever ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 85 shall I forget the meetings, and consultations I have had with brethren Holland, Jones and Cannady. Col. Joe Mastin, a noble man and fine lawyer, was a great friend to me and the interest there, though not a member of the church. I shared with him the comforts of his delightful home, and he would see tliat the court-house' was in order, and w^ell lighted, and always attended the service w^hen his official duties did not keep him away. He died while I was there, and I preached his funeral. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINSTON. The following historical sketch is by Dr. C. J. Watkins, and appears in the new Manual, just issued : In 1870 there w^ere but four Baptists in Winston- Salem. This church was organized by the Rev. F. M. Jordan and Robert Gurley, September 22, 1871, who preached the first sermon in the court-house, Fri- day before the third Sunday in June, 1871. This was a mission station, and was supported mainly by the state board for a number of years ; in fact it was not self-sustaining until Rev. H. A. Bro^\Ti became its pastoT. The Rev. F. M. Jordan resigned Febrary 20, 1874, and the Rev. W. R. Gwaltney accepted the pastorate of the church on Wednesday night after the third Sunday in April, 1875. A building committee was immediately appointed to raise funds and build a house. Rev. F. 86 LIFE AI^D LABORS OF M. Jordan had bought the lot, 100 x 200, on Second street, June 18, 1874, for which he paid $250. The lot had been paid for, and there remained $20, which was given over into the hands of our committee. Here the struggle to build a house commei^ced. The membership was small and poor, and most of them women. These were dark days indeed for the Bap- tists. Amid all our troubles we had the sympathy of other denominations. How different from our fore- fathers a hundred years ago. God was on our side. One sister gave us five hundred bushels of lime, with which the church was built and plastered. A brother, who has long gone to his eternal home,besides a liberal contribution, went around among his friends and secured not less than seventy-five days' hauling of lumber, brick, etc. Eev. W. E. Gwaltney preached for us one day in the week, each month, as we were not able to secure him on the Sabbath. We held services for a while in the court-house, and then in the little free school-house near the Salem line. During all this time the Methodists offered us the use of their church on a number of occasions, as also did the Presbyterians on one or two occasions, while the Baptists in different parts of ^orth Carolina came up liberally to our assistance with their contri- butions. Too much can not be said of the kindness of the Moravians, Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, as well as our Primitive Baptist ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 87 brethren and many friends in the Twin-City, who also made contributions to the work. And the time-honored Salem Female Academy was not the last to hand ns in a handsome contribution. On Saturday before the second Sunday in Septem- ber, 1877, Eev. W. E. Gwaltney resigned. We had just gotten our church in a condition for worship, with a debt of $500 on the church property. In this trying time our church called a meeting of its mei^ bers, and we laid the matter before God ; and w^ believe it was in answer to our prayers that Bro.jH. A Brown became our pastor. On the second Sunday in December, 1877, Brother Brown preached his first sermon in this house; and during the now well-nigh fifteen years that he has labored so earnestly and conscientiously with us, our church has prospered much and the Lord has wonder- fully blessed us. Besides paying the debt of $500,we have expended on the improvement of this church building not less than $3,000. In addition, we erected in 1886, a house of worship on Broad street, at a cost of about $3,000. In 1889 a number of the members of this church were dismissed for the purpose of organizing the Broad Street Church. Our church was incorporated by an act of the Leg- lature passed January 31, 1877. In consequence of another Baptist church here, that is, the Broad Street Church, it became necessary to change our name ; and 88 LIFE AND LABORS OF at the regular conference held October 3, 1892, a committee was appointed to take such steps as were necessary to effect a change of name from "The Bap- tist Church of Winston, ^. C," to "The First Bap- tist Church of Winston, :N'. C." Our membership now numbers over four hundred, and has l:>ecome quite too large for our present build- ing. Realizing this fact, and recognizing the changed surroundings of our present location, caused by the growth of our city in other directions, our church decided to move to another and more central locality. In accordance, therefore, with the action taken at the regular conference, held ^N'ovember 7, 1892, the church bought the lot at the northeast cor- ner of Cherry and Third streets, and 69 feet on Third street, more or less. For this lot we paid $6,000, the gentleman from whom it was bought himself con- tributing $500 toward the purchase money. We trust that we shall very shortlj^ commence the build- ing of a larger edifice, one more commodious and better adapted to our gTOwing needs. The following letter is from Dr. H. A. Brown, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Winston : WiNSTOX, K C, Feb. 3, 1898. Dear Brother Jordan: — The following are the names of the persons who entered into the organiza- tion of the First Baptist Church in this place : Alfred Holland, Mrs. I^annie E. Holland, Miss Nannie Marshall, Mrs. Permelia Jones, Miss Sarah F. Tverr. ELDER F. M. JOEDAN. 89 We have now about five hundred and fifty names on our roll, and the Broad Street Church has about one hundred and forty or one hundred and fifty. We have four Baptist Sunday-schools. Our church has a large school and two mission schools. We have also built a mission house in West Winston, costing about $2,000. We are about beginning a large, commodious house of worship. It will be, when done, one of the best houses for work and worship in the South. There were about seventy- five members when you resigned.'' CHAPTER VI. As Evangelist — Durham— W. T. Blackwell — John W. Cheek — Great Meeting — Convention — Julian S. Carr — A Prolific Sow — Doing the Work of an Evangelist — Winston — Catawba Station — Greenville. AS EVANGELIST. For several years I had a strong, growing desire to gc out into the highways and hedges and enlarge my field of usefulness. The work of an evangelist was impressed more and more upon my heart, as the Lord seemed to bless my labors in special and protracted meetings. It is said that the mind of the Lord is with his people; and the spirit seemed to be moving the hearts of my brethren at the same time. The sainted Dr. Pritchard, Col. J. M. Heck, Judge Kerr and a number of others, told me that they thought I ought to give up the pastorate of my churches, and go into the work of an evangelist. If I am not mis- taken, the convention met in Durham in 1874, and Judge John Kerr was President; at least it was in 187-i that I decided to give up the pastorate, and go out as an evangelist. I had been pastor of from three to four churches for twenty years, was pastor of the church at Durham at that time, and had been for four years, preaching twice a month. Before the town of Durham was built, and before 92 LIFE AND LABORS OF the railroad was made, the old Baptist meeting-house stood where Bro. Adolphiis Marcum now lives, and if I remember correctly, is the same house, converted into a dwelling, but when the railroad was built, it was so near the road that the church thought best to move out to a new location. So they built a right good house for that day and time, in the eastern part of the town, near where Bro. John L. Marcum now lives. The first time I passed along where Dur- ham now stands there was no Durham. Pratt's store was the only one there, and Dr. Durham was about the only man living there, the man for whom the town was named. The place was then called Pinhook, and the people would meet there of Satur- day evenings and have shooting-matches — shoot for beef, turkeys, chickens, drink whiskey, and have a big time generally. It is hard to realize the wonder- ful change which has taken place at the now city of Durham. i I remember while they were building the !N^orth Carolina railroad, and the first time the cars ran to Durham, I was there, and a great many people were there. It was the first time that hundreds of people ever saw a railroad or a steam engine and cars. There was great curiosity and excitement. One old lady seemed to think there was great danger in almost every direction. There was a passenger coach stand- ing on the track, with no engine anywhere near it. Some of her friends tried to get her to go through the ELDER. F M. JORDAN. 93 coach, and look at it. She said, "My God, I am not going to ride in such a wagon as this.'' Just think of the wonderful change from that day to this. The old Kose of Sharon Church then, is tJie First Baptist Church now; and then there is the Second Baptist Church, and East Durham Baptist Church, and West Durham Baptist Church, with a city of 14,500 inhabitants, all gTO^^m out of the Pinhook of 1850. John W. Cheek was one of the first principal mer- chants of Durham. I think it can be truly said, that W. T. Blackwell is the founder of the city of Durham. I was there when he began the tobacco business, and saw its work- ings and progress for a numbers of years. Some of my best friends on earth have lived, and now live, at Durham. During the four years that I was pastor here Bro. John W. Cheek's was one of my principal homes, and the T_.ord only knows the pleasure I have enjoyed in his hospitable home, around his fireside and family altar. I conducted the funeral service when his little boy died, and also when he died. I shall never forget how much his little son Edgar enjoyed reading Aesops Fables, and have often thought of how much he w^ould have enjoyed reading Uncle Bemus. Sister Cheek, 7iee Marcum, is still living at the old homestead, and I suppose all Dur- ham will join me in saying that she is one of, if not the best woman in Durham. I baj)tized her one beautiful Sunday morning, just 94 LIFE AND LABORS OF out south of to^\^l, with, a goodly number of others. The baptism was a beautiful, happy and impressive scene, and then it was a beautiful sight to see the large crowd of people, as they marched from the water to the house of God. AVe had some grand and glorious meetings in Durham. I remember one especially, when all the factories, business houses and saloons closed an hour and a half each day to give everybody an opportunity to go to chui'ch. W. T. Blackwell at that time was working about one hundred and fiftv hands, and he was the first man to dismiss his employees, and told them if they did not go to church it would not be his fault. The people would come to market, and find everthing closed up ; they did not know what to make of it ; they were told that a glorious meeting was going on at the Baptist church, and the people were gone to the meeting, but would return in due time. I believe that Elder J. B. Richardson was with me in this meeting; there were about fifty professions of reli- gion. But more of my Durham friends: In 1868, the State Convention met in Hillsboro, and W. T. Black- well sent me twenty-five dollars in money to repair my house and prepare for the meeting. After I moved to the mountains, W. T. Blackwell and Julian S. Carr, a good Methodist brother, sent me a check for $300 ; said they were able, and that it was a pleasure to them to do me this favor. They were ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 95 then associated together in business. I suppose that there are a great many people now who would be slow to believe that a Methodist would give me $150 in money at one ime, but some of the best friends I have on earth are Methodists, but not much wonder, for it is said that I have baptized more of them than any man in the State. I have a registered sow now, which mv friend and brother, Carr, sent me from his fine stock fanii at Hillsboro. She has brought me twenty-eight pigs, lost twelve of them, and I have sold the others for forty dollars. So, under the cir- cumstances, I think that I am entitled to pardon for lingering so long in and around Durham. The ven- erable and beloved Elder Jesse Howell was pastor of the Rose of Sharon Church for many years. I was his successor, and the beloved Dr. C. Durham was my successor. Elder G. P. Bostick, now missionary in China, succeeded Durham. J. L. White succeeded Bostick, and Elder W. C. Tyree, the present incum- bnt, succeeded White. What hath God wrought ? EVANGELISTIC WORK. The closing up of 1874 winds up my labors as pas- tor, and I make my arrangements to begin the work of an evangelist, endorsed by the Baptist State Con- vention of ^orth Carolina. Up to this time I have written entirely from mem- ory, as I made the great mistake of not keeping a ^6 LIFE AND LABORS OF diary. I shall now follow my diary for the next fif- teen years. On the 1st of January, 1875, I went to Winston and preached in the court-house on the following Sun- day. At the evening service about a dozen people subscribed $260 toward the building of a new house. ^ On the 6th 1 went to Thomasville, by way of Grem^-^i , boro, and, after a pleasant visit to Profess^iwltei^- hart's school, went to Statesville and preached iif^e court-house on the evening of the 8th. From States- ville I went to Catawba Station and preached for a week in Providence Church in the morning, and in the Academy at the Station at night. At the close of the meeting 1 baptized Ida Banner, Jane Baker, Mollie Baker and James M. Wilkie in the Catawba River, just above the railroad bridge. On the 21st I arrived in Goldsboro on my way to Greenville, preached in the Baptist church in the evening, and spent the night with Elder C. J. Nelson. Early the next morning Brother Kelson and I started for Greenville in his buggy, behind Billy, a fine pony. We dined at noon with Sister Carr in Greone County, and reached Greenville at 7 o'clock, having driven fifty-five miles that day. The meeting continued till February 8th, with two sermons a day and many prayer meetings in private houses. Brother I^elson remained with me through the meeting. One day I received the sad news from my son Willie at Wake Forest College that he was sick with meningitis. The ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 97 next day was spent in fasting and prayer ; prayed with a good woman who had lost two husbands, and had seen great trouble with her sons, on account of drunk- enness. One son in the asylum. She said but for the gi'ace of God she would long ago have been either in her gi'ave or in the asylum. Visited and prayed with another sister whose daughter had been sent to a convent entirely against her will. Poor woman was almost broken-hearted. What a blessed thing is the ministry of consolation! Met Miss Melissa Jones, who was led to Christ through my preaching while attending school at Salem. The seed lodged in her heart to bear fruit many miles away. ^^Cast ^ thy bread upon the waters — thou shalt find it aft^r many days." On Sunday, the last day of the meet- ing I preached from I Sam. 15 :22, on the importance of implicit obedience to all the commands of God. At 3 o'clock a large crowd assembled on the banks of the Tar River, within the city limits of the town, to witness the administration of baptism. After sing- ing ^Mesus, I My Cross Have Taken," and a brief prayer, it Avas my privilege to lead down into the water and to bury in the likeness of His burial and resurrection. Misses Lucy Cobb and Mary and Jen- nie Paul. The snow was falling beautifully. Miss Cobb had driven eleven miles through the biting cold to follow the Savior in baptism. At the evening service we raised $500 to secure a pastor, and the 98 LIFE AND LABORS OF nieeting closed. The cause of triitli and righteous- ness has l>een gi*0"\ving and strengthening in Green- ville ever since that meeting. I was in the room where tlie Baptist State Convention was organized in 1830, the same year in which I was bom. When Brother Nelson and I were there the church was small and without a pastor. For many years they have been worshiping in the fine memorial church, with a settled pastor and grow- ing congregations. I want to say here that during my labors as an evangelist, I have, as a rule, gone to the weak and waste places for the purpose of strength- ening and building up the cause of Jesus Christ. This will be seen as we proceed. On returning to Goldsboro we spent a night with Dr. Exum in Wayne County. He told us that he practiced in two hundred and sixty-nine families, and that within a circle of -iive miles, taking his home as a center, there were only eighteen church members. On my way home I visited my oldest daughter, Mrs. I ELDER F. M. JOKDAN. soul, in the pardon of her sins. She had been the subject of many prayers — has no father or mother to pray for her. Thirteen yoimg ladies imited with the chnrch to-day. Sunday, Julv 4. — At 8 o'clock a lar^e concourse of people assembled on the bank of the Meherrin Eiver to witness the ordinance of baptism. Hymn : ''Come, Happy Souls, Adore the Lamb.'' Prayer by Dr. McDowell. Reading Scriptures by Dr. Mitchell. Then the writer led thirty-two happy young converts do^vn into the water, and buried them with Christ in baptism — twenty-six young ladies, and six young men. Brighter faces and more heavenly countenances we never beheld. Many present said it was the most beautiful baptism they ever beheld. Repaired to the church — the right hand of fellowship extended to those baptized. The ^vriter then preached on the ordinances of baptism and communion — mode, sub- jects, design — after which we celebrated the Lord's Supper. Preached my farewell sermon at night. Thus closed a most glorious meeting of three weeks. Monday morning, met at the river, and Dr. McDowell baptized Miss Anna C. Caswell and Miss Anjia C. Deans. Miss Deans had been a Methodist several years. She was very happy when she obeyed her blessed Savior. 1 )r, McDowell greatly enjoyed these meetings, and was very happy in seeing so many of his pupils giving ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 121 themselves to Christ, and their education sanctified by the Christian religion. I never labored with two more lovely spirits than brethren McDowell and Mitchell. Commencement exercises. Sermon to the grad- uating class by Elder A. E. Owen, of Portsmouth, Ya. Graduating class : Mary E. Boon, Virginia Ida Carlton, Sarah M. Finch, Mollie B. Fort, Fannie S. Sykes, Orelia P. Williams. I baptized four of this class. Essays good. Address by Maj. Robert Bing- ham; subject: "The Anglo-Saxon Pace." On my w^aj^ from Murfreesboro I stopped to see my brother Lockey Jordan, who lived near Boykin's Depot. Two oi my brother's children had died, and four of them had made a profession of religion. So it was arranged, that on Sunday I would preach the funeral of the children w^ho had died, and baptize those who had made a profession of religion. It was at a mill, and seats w^ere prepared in a beautiful cypress grove, just below" a long dirt dam, on the edge of the stream where there was a beautiful place for baptism. A large congregation assembled. I con- ducted the funeral service, and then went right down into the water and baptized the children, one son and three daughters. They seemed to enjoy their bap- tism very much, and the Holy Spirit manifested His presence and power. A young man was there who was greatly troubled on the subject of baptism, and went away more deeply impressed. About sunset he 122 LIFE AND LABORS OF came back, and requested me to baptize him. I hardly knew what to do ; but I thought of Philip and the Eunuch, and that they baptized believers in the army, and gaye them a certificate of their baptism, upon which they imited with their respectiye churches at home. By this time it was about dark, no one there except my brother's family, and some negroes. We went do^m to the water. It was night. Stand- ing there under those majestic cypress trees, we sang that soul inspiring old song, '^Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound, That Saved a Wretch Like Me." We could hear the echo awav down the stream. I thought I never heard singing sound so solemnly and sweetly in all my life. And then, like Philip and the Eunuch, we went down into the water, and bap- tized him. He came up out of the water happy, and went on his way rejoicing. Sunday, July 11. — Preached in the Second Bap- tist Church, Raleigh, at 11 a. m., and in the peniten- tiai*y at 4 p. m. Preached at night, and baptized Mrs. Caudle. This church and Sunday-school are growing most astonishingly under the pastoral care of J. J). Hufham. I want to say here, that I have no language to express the love and admiration that I cherish for Brother Hufham. He is one of the most lovable and congenial men with whom I have ever labored. Never shall I forget our labors together in that great meeting in tJie Second Baptist Church of Raleigh. ELDET^ F. M. JORDAN. 123 EteTiiity alone will disclose the measure of Brother Hiifhani's influence for good in this world. My son, W. T. Jordan, preached his first sermon to the colored people at Cross Koads, Orange County, the second Sabbath in July, 18 75. Sunday, July 18. — Began a meeting in Mocks- ville with W. R. Gwaltney, pastor. Drimkenness is the besetting sin of Mocksville, the great hinderance of the gospel. August 1. — Brother Gwaltney baptized Mr. Howard, an old man, who had been a gTeat sinner. At night ]\[aj. W. B. Clement and wife were received for baptism. One night while I was preaching, a Mr. Gaines arose in the back end of the house, came down the aisle, and gave me his hand, accepting Christ. Quite a number during my ministry, have accepted Christ while I was preaching. Why not ? A very striking incident occurred during this meet- ing. One night, while preaching, I was comparing and describing the difference between the self- righteous sinner and a reckless profligate. The srdf- righteous sinner was like a scrubby oak, or a cedar in the old field, with the longest limbs coming out at the ground ; it w^as difiicult to get to the trunk of the tree to cut it ofl', and when you did, it did not fall much nearer the ground than it Avas when you began to cut, from the fact that it w^as catching, and resting upon these limbs ; and then you have to cut off limb after limb, before you could get the miserable little 124 LIFE AND LABORS OF trunk on the gronnd. Like the sinner, righteous in his o\ni eyes, despising others, it was hard to break him oii tVom his self-righteousness, and have him beg for mercv; and consent to be saved by grace. Wbile the poor pVofligate sinner was like a tall pine tree in the sandhills, it was no trouble to get to it, and when you cut it off, it fell flat all along on the ground, because there were no limbs to catch, and hold it up. So this poor sinner, having nothing good to cling to, just falls flat, and cries out, '"God be merciful to me a sinner.'* There was a poor old sinner in the congre- gation of the latter class. lie went home after the service, and while he was in one room, and his wife in another, he called to his wife, and said : ^'Wife, wife come here, the old tree is doAvn." He had given up his oAvn self-righteousness and accepted the righteous- ness of Christ. August 8. — Began a meeting at Lystra Church, near Chapel Jlill, with Bro. J. P. Mason, pastor. Preached twice a day for eight days — a meeting of great power. On Monday I baptized seventeen in the presence of a vast assembly. Two of the num- ber from the O'Kelleyites and one Methodist. Thir- ty-three made a profession of religion during this meeting. Twenty-six united with the church. Sunday, August 21. — Began a meeting at Kidd's Chapel in Lincoln County. Continued eleven days. I baptized fourteen at Maj. W. A. Graham's mill, six of AA-hom were Methodists and one Lutheran. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. ^^"O Here, as elsewhere, we were faithful in expounding the two ordinances of the church of Jesus Christ, and the truth prevailed. If the people do not get ihe^ wliole truth from the Baptists they will never get it anywhere else. Bro. K. H. Moodey was with us in thi's meeting, and preached three good sermons. Here I had a good time in the charming family of Maj. W. A. Graham, and the good 'people, around Kidd's Chapel. Since the first of January two Sfedred and four persons have made a profession of faith in Christ and I have baptized one hundred and thirty- one persons. September 3.— Left home for Lumberton, Kobeson County, to aid Bro. A. H. Pittman in a meeting. Stopped in Wilmington with Bro. Alexander Old- ham. Visited Oakdale cemetery. Saw Bro. John L. Pritchard's grave and monument. Here lies the uoble man of God who once so faithfully preached the gospel of peace. Sunday, September 5.— Preached in the old Bap- tist Church in Lumberton, just out in the edge of the swamp. I have a good room in the hospitable home of Bro. Berry Godwin. The church seems to be in fine spiritual condition, and the pastor full of the Spirit. I preach day and night, and the interest of the meeting increases at every service. The whole to^^m is moved, and the spirit reaches out into the surrounding country. At midnight a bar-keeper sent f6r Brother Pittm.an and me to pray for him. We 126 LIFE AND LABOBS OF went and prayed for him that God would help him to give up his business, and give himself to Christ. Many seem deeply convicted of sin, and more or less conversions at every ser^dce. Visited old Sister McXeill, now in her 89th year; was baptized by Wil- liam Tims, 1811, has been a member of the chnrch sixty-fonr years. Mr. Bnllard was a bar-keeper ; had a good wife and one little daughter. Sister Carlyle went to him in his bar-room, and begged him to give np his business and seek salvation. He consented, went to the house of God, and he and his little daughter both gave them- selves to Christ. I baptized them. His little daugh- ter was the youngest person I ever baptized — think she was in her eighth year. Sister Carlyle, a feeble, sickly woman, was one of the best workers, and soul- winners I have met in all my travels. Sunday, September 19. — I baptized thirty-two happy young converts in Lumber River, several from nine to thirteen years of age. Monday I baptized six others, making thirty-eight in all. Many spectators weep as they see the lovely young people buried with their blessed Savior in bap- tism. The meeting lasted sixteen days — forty-one additions to the church — thirty-eight baptized. This lias been a wonderful work of grace. Brother Pittman is a dear, good brother, constrained by the love of Christ. On Friday night, October 1st, began a meeting in ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 127 AVinton on the Chowan Kiver. My home is with W. P. Shaw. The meetinc: continned ten days. On Sunday T baptized tAventy in the Chowan River— ten males, and ten females. As I write up these glorious meetings, many delia-htful scenes come to niv mind, which space for- bids to record. I recall with pleasure the names of brethren Shaw, :Mitchell, Vann, Taylor, Sister Garris and Luany others. Sunday, October 17.— The new, pine meeting- house in Davidson County, was dedicated to the ser- vice of (xod. Hymn, ^'I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord," etc. Prayer by Elder 11. Morton. Sermon by Elder F. M. Jordan. Dimensions, 36 x 56; cost, $900. The meeting is continued. On Thursday I go to Durham, and marry Miss ]!^annie Earthing to Mr. Thomas J. Christian, and return to the meeting. October 24:th, at Brown's Eerry, I baptized thirteen converts in the Yadkin River. Erom this place I went to Leaksville. Here I met Dr. Barker, a phrenologist, who examined my head. Among other things he said, "You would make a good pioneer — you are not afraid of the devil." On the 26th of October, I began a meeting at Leaksville, Rockingham Countv. The meeting con- tinued ten days in power and demonstration of tbe Spirit ; twenty-six made a profession , of faith in Christ, twenty united with the church,and on Sunday, 128 LIFE AND LABORS OF November 7th, I baptized seventeen in Dan River, at the Boat Landing, in the presence of, it was said, fifteen hundred people. Old Brother Fretwell, who had heen a Methodist more than thirty years, was baptized. Tie was very happy. Sister Morehead, sister of Col. J. K. Connallv, greatly enjoyed the meeting. I preached on implicit obedience to all the commands of God. She said she was always a strong Ea]itist, but that she was stron^f^er now than ever. Brother P. H. Fontaine is pastor at Leaksville — a safe, strong man. My association with these good pastors in my labors have been a great help and bless- ing to me, and I have always tried to strengthen and help them. During this year I have prear'hed two hundred and fifty-seven sermons, and three Itundred and seven have made a profession of relig^"r)n, and I have bap- tized two hundred and nineteen. ISTovember 8. — Start to the State Convention at Shelby. Stop at Brother Haden's, in Davidson County, and marry Miss Alice Haden to Mr. P. H. Thompson — fine dinner — nice time — fee, ten dollars. My home in Shelby is with J. 0. Roberts. Conven- tion organized. John Kerr President, W. A. Gra- ham Vice-President, J. D. Hufham Secretary, P. P. Lnderwood Assistant Secretary. A spiritual, har- monious session. I)eceml)er 1. — Begin a meeting in Peidsville, with P. II. Fontaine, pastor. The church is in a cold ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 129 state, and sinners hard to move. Zion is not in travail, for wlien Zion travails, she bringeth forth her children. I preach day and ni^ht, and the ice seems to be breaking and melting. Seme seem awakened, and some few professed conversion. Am almost exhausted from long and arduous labors ; have strong symptoms of paralysis ; keep my bed all day. This is the hardest field I have fcund. The people seem more determined to serve the devil than any I have met. j\rany professing Chri-stians seem almost entirely indifferent. But our reward depends upon our faithfulness, not our success. Ten professions of religion during the meeting- -seven men and thi'ee women. The meeting continued nineteen days — the weather exceedingly cold. This is the home of Judge John Kerr. I had many delightful and profitable conver- sations with him during the meeting. He was so spiritually and heavenly minded, it was a benediction to be with him. And then I had rich enjoyment with Brother Fontaine, and the good people of Reidsville. • Beturned home after an absence of three weeks, almost exhausted from continuous labors day and night. This closes the labors of 1875. Sermons two hun- dred and eighty- two, professions of religion three hundred and seventeen, baptized two hundred and nineteen. 9 130 LIFE AND LABORS OF How sweet to rest with the loved ones at home, faint emblem of that sweet rest in heaven. 1876. — JannaiT 4. — Leave home for Elizabeth City. Stop at Mnrf reesboro to see my daughter Jen- nie, at the C. B. F. Institute, Took the steamer ^'Ilellen Smith/'' touched at \Tinton, thence up the Black Water to Franklin, Ya., thence by rail to Ports- mouth, Va. ; stopped at the Crawford House ; left Portsmouth at 7 a. m. in the steamer ^'Thomas Jef- ferson y' came down the I)ism^d Swamp Canal ; saw one cornfield of eleven hundred acres, averaging- forty bushels per acre — at one place five hundred bee- hives. Sunday, January 9. — Begin a meeting in Eliza- beth City. The church is without a pastor. Bro. O. C. Horton lived in the city, and the beloved B. R. ()verby just across the country in Camden. Both of these good brethren were with me in the meeting. !My home was with Brother Horton. Prayer-meet- ing eveiy morning, and preaching at night. The congi'egations are large and attentive. The church is spiritual, and the Holy Spirit signified His presence, and willingness to bless at every service. Beautiful moonlight nights; the people come for ten miles in the country in carts, buggies, horseback, and on foot. A deep work of grace seems to be permeating the hearts of the people in town and country. The prayer-meetings are full of spiritual life, and exceed- ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 131 ingly precious. God's people are full of joy and hap- piness to overflowing. The Holy Spirit is wonderfully moving the hearts of the people of Elizabeth City ; Christians are work- ing and praying, and many are seeking salvation; convictions for sin deep and pungent^ and converts bright and happy. We rely upon the Holy Spirit to bless the word, and make it effectual in the conviction and conver- sion of sinners. More or less conversions at every sendee. The Lord be praised. Saturday morning eighteen received for baptism. Sunday, January 30. — I preach on baptism and communion ; twenty-one unite with the church. I never fail to teach young converts their duty with regard to baptism and communion. Most evange- lists never say a word about the ordinances, but just leave the converts to be picked up by anybody and everybody, without any instruction. They seek pop- ularity by dispensing with disagreeable truth. I always seek to please God and not man. Monday, January 31. — Met at the water at 10 a. m. Quite a number of boats gathered in a semicir- cle aroimd the place of baptism, and a vast assembly on the shore. Then it was my pleasure to baptize thirty-seven happy believers in Christ. This was a memorable day for the people of Elizabeth City. Met at night and gave the right hand of fellowship to those baptized, and commemorated the death and suf- 132 LIFE AND LABORS OF ferings of Christ. Bade the brethren, sisters and dear young con\rerts an affectionate farewell. Thus closed a glorious meeting of three weeks in Elizabeth City. Among the number baptized was Bro. J. F. j.ovo, noAA' pastor of the Baptist Church in Suffolk, Yd. lie i>= my son in the gospel, and I am proud of liiin. Sheriff Fred Cohoon and wife were also among the p limber baptized. T have many pleasant recollec- tions of this great meeting. My stay with Brother G. C. IToi*ton was delightful. Dear Sister Horton, now in lieaven, took so much pleasure in preparing fisli and oysters for me, of which I am so remarkably fond. Xever shall I forget the fine bluefish she fried tor me. And then all the people of Elizabeth City treated me so kindly. Brother Sykes, whom I bap- tized, sent me a barrel of fine fresh herring. Oh, how much I did enjoy those fish. And then I enjoyed so much the companionship of that noble man of God, Dr. Overby, for three weeks. I remember his fervent prayers, and earnest exhortations. I spent one day with Brother Stephens in Camden, whose daughter I baptized at Murfreesboro,and called to see Sister Overby, who has long since been in heaven. Oh, what a pleasure it won Id afford to see those ^ollng converts whom T baptized, and their loved ones, and rehearse the happy scenes of that wonderful nieetiTig. But many of them are already in the glory ELDER F. M. JOKDAT^. 133 ^^orlcl. We shall meet in the sweet bye and bye, in that beautiful hind on the other shore. On my way from Elizabeth City, I stopped at Hertford, Perquimans County. Elder T. Harrison, pastor of the Baptist Church, prevailed upon me to stay a week with him. I found a magnificent brick house of worship, built by old Brother Skinner, at a cost of $10,000, and a cold, lukewarm membership. We had two services ejtch day for a week. On Sat- urday T went out to Bethel, five miles in the country. T heard that the members of this church had been swapping horses, cheating, playing cards, dancing, swearing, and cutting up generally. So I preached the funeral of the whole concern. Brother Williams, the pastor, turned to me, and said : ^^I would not take a horse for that sermon." Dined with Brother George Fleetwood ; went out to "his mill, and killed four fine jackfish with a cvpress' board, and carried them to a sick lady in Hertford. At night seven united with the church. I preached at 11 a. m. on Sunday, and at 3 p. m. a vast assembly gathere^t, iiiid a time of great rejoicing among Cliris- tinne. 'Hi is is said to be the greatest revival ever kno^vn in Oxford. Great religious interest among all donomiiiavions. JNEore than forty professions up to this time. October -1. — ]\[et at the water at 3 p. m., and in the presence of a large congregation I baptized nine- teen happy converts. A Methodist brotlier, Hayes, and wife, were teaching a female school in Oxford at this time, and a large number of their girls made a profession of religion, but being under Methodist influence they did not join the Baptist Church. Some of the children of the Episcopalians, also, made bright professions of the Christian religion. I never failed to teach the young converts their duty according to the Scriptures to follow their blessed Saviour in the ordinancx^ of baptism, and that they had no right to come to tlie Lord's table without a scriptural baptism. And I generally strung my fish closer than any Evan- gelist T ever saw, or heard of. I attended a meeting of two weeks in Asheville, conducted by Evangelist Pearson, in which three hundred and fifty-one per- sons gave him their hand, confessing Christ, as they call it ; and he never said one word on the beautiful and significant ordinances of the ( ^hurch of Jesus Christ ; l)nt on Friday niglit would nrge those who };a(l given him their hand to go Sunday and join some cliurcli — Catholic, Campbellite, Episcopalian, or what not, as good as to say it did not make anv dift'erence^ ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 149 just SO tlioY joined something, and be poured or sprinkled, or innnersed, or neither, as one way was as good as another, or no way as good as any. Never said a word on Christian duty as taught in the Scrip- tures. And not one hundred out of three hundred and fifty-one joined all the churches put together, and you never heard of them any more. And I never saw scarcely a tear shed or any sign of repentance and sorrow lor sin during the meeting. He was unfaith- ful in tliat he did not preach the whole truth. In the meeting in Oxford I greatly enjoyed the presence and help of brethren K. H. Marsh, J. A. Stradley, F. R. Underwood and T. B. Kingsbury. On Sunday, the 8th of October, I preached in Carthage, and on Monday baptized Mrs. Henry Petty and Afiss Julia A. Fry. On the 12th, Gov. Vance and Judge Settle, Democratic and Republican candi- dates for Governor, spoke in Hillsboro. Two men were never more evenly matched in debate. It was the most interesting discussion T ever heard, and before the largest crowd I ever saw assembled in that staid old town. Vance had the advantage over Set- tle only in his aptness for telling stories and in repartee. On the 17th I began a meeting with the dear church in Winston and preached day and night till tiie 25th. There were forty-nine professions and thirtv-seven additions to the church. 150 LIFE AND LABOES OF During the progress of the meeting the city was greatly saddened by the death of CoL Joe Mastin. It was my privilege to preach his fnneral. The pro- CP:ssion was the largest I ever saw^, save in Raleigh at the burial of Col. Tucker. Tie was a fine lawyer, and a great friend to mo and to the Baptist cause in Win- ston. On the 27th of October we sold at public auction (»ur household goods and fanning utensils prepara- tory to moving to the mountains. This was my first experience at the auction business. There was one man present who bid on almost everything that was put up, and never began with a bid higher than five cents, whether the thing offered for sale was a hoe or a horse. The second day of November was busily spent in packing our trunks and boxes, and the night of that day was the last we spent in the old home where all of our children were born save two, and where for twTuty years we enjoyed so many of the blessings of God. The next day, JSTovember 3rd, was one of the sad- dest days I ever spent. Our dear neighbors and friends with whom we had lived so long on terms of kindness and Christian love, and who had been so much comfort to us in sickness and in health, called to bid us goodbye. Many of us never expected to see each other again on earth, but we parted with a good hope of meeting in the glory world. We hauled our goods to the depot, and the family ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 151 scattered over the neighborhood to spend a day or two before onr departure. My brother and I remained till after No\^ember Ttli, in order to vote for Vance for Governor and Tilden for President. • Most of the children of the two families and brother John went with the wagons through the country, a distance of nearly three hundred miles, while I with the women and younger children, went on the cars. If the inci- dents of til at wagon trip, as told by my brother and my son Sam, could have been printed they would have made an interesting book. My brother and I never regretted that our last act before leaving Orange County was that of voting for Vance, for while the moral influence of Vance was far from what it should have been, lie loved N^orth Carolina, was an honest man and a patriot of the old school. My dear niece. Miss Sue Stroud, died of consump- tion in Hillsboro, the 3rd of December, in her 26th ^ear. T baptized her, and always loved her as one of my own children. She died a remarkably happy and triumphant death. On the 10th of December I began a meeting in Asheville, with Brother Mitchell, which continued for three weeks, notwithstanding the cold weather, rain and snow. One night, during the meeting, my brethren thought 1 preached the most powerful ser- mon of my life, on the general judgment. Mr. Brond was convicted, and three young ladies con- Terted. Sunday Mr. Brond accepted Christ, and he 152 LIFE AXI) LABORS OF and his wife rejoiced together. The venerable Tliomas Stradlev was present. The church gave him tlieir hand as a token of their love and gratitude to him, for labor and sacrifices in erecting this house for God. It was a melting time. The snow is twelve inches deep, but good meeting to-night, notwithstanding the weather. Christmas day. — Good congregations, and good li leetings despite the cold and snow. December 31. — I preached the ordination sermon of Bro. John K. Connally. Ordination prayer by Elder John Ammons ; charge by Elder John Mitchell ; ]»resentation of Bible by Elder Ammons. Delivered my farewell address to the church and people to-night- Have been here three weeks. The weather has been unusually cold, and yet the meetings have been well attended. Twenty persons have made a profession of religion, and we believe the effects of this meeting for good, will be felt in time, and throughout great eternity. Bro. Orin Smith, Brother Bunn, and <.tbf'rs who were converted in that meeting, and in that cold weather, are doubtless now in heaven. This closes the labors of 1876 ; four hundred converts this year. One of the most arduous year's labor of mj life, having travelled and preached from Elizabeth City to Asheville. 1877. — The snow is tw^enty-seven inches deep. The French Broad River is frozen over — ice eight inches thick. The old people say this is the coldest ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 153 weather for tAveiity years. The snow-capped moun- tains ai-e beautiful, towerinii" toward the home of the wliite-robed throng in heaven. A bear walked through our yard last night. January IT. — Begin a meeting in Salisbury. There are only a handful of Baptists in Salisbury, and they have no house of worship. Elder William Lambeth and wife. Sister Sauciman and Sister Whitehead, and perhaps a feAv others had stood iinii here in Sal- isbury for many years, hoping and praying for a good strong Baptist Church,and regular Baptist preaching. Oh, Lord revive Thy work, and bless Salisbury with a great work of grace, and if consistent with thy holy will, build up a strong Baptist Church in Salisbury. Bro. J. B. Boone commenced preaching in Statesville and Salisbury in 1875, under the appointment of the State llission Board. We began this meeting in Meroney Hall, and it was estimated to hold fifteen hundred people. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit was manifest in the very outset, blessing and strengthening Christians, and convicting and con^ verting sinners. The hall is crowded to overflowing every night. There is a great awakening in Salisbury. Brother Boone left this evening for ^Northampton, to marry Miss Sarah Maddrey. More than one hundred extra seats have been provided during the day. Brethren T. Whitfield, W. E. Gwaltney and S. F. Conrad come to-day. Little Lena Meronej 154 LIFE AND LABORS OF made a profession of religion at home to-day, of whom we shall have more to say further on. The waters of grace are stirred — thirteen professions of religion up to this time. Eleven received for baptism. Breth- ren Whitfield, Gwaltney, Conrad, E. Erost and W. B. Clement present to-night. A consultation is held relative to organizing a Bap- .tist Church in Salisbury. The council is composed of the following brethren : T. Whitfield, J. B. Boone, W. R. Gwaltney, Wm. Lambeth and F. M. Jordan. I'he remaining members of the church, organized in 1852, agi'ee to go into a new organization. Three received for baptism. Sunday, Febiiiary 4. — Preached on the mode, sub- jects, and design of baptism. At 3 p. m. a large con- gregation assembled at the water near town, where I baptized twelve happy believers. February 5. — Met at 10 a. m. to organize a Baptist Church. Elders T. Whitfield, W. R Gwaltney, Wm. Fambeth, and F. M. Jordan fonned a presbytery, and organized a Baptist Church of nineteen members, called the Baptist Church of Salisbuiw. There is great religious excitement in Salisbury, many search- ing for the truth. Had to give up .Meroney Hall, and move the meet- ing to McNeely Hall. It w^as rumored that the hall was giving way on account of the vast crowds of peo- ple which assembled there, and that it Avas dangerous flnd misafe to go there. Brother Boone and I were ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 155 both of the opinion that the rumor was malicious, and circulated for the purpose of breaking up the meet- ing; our opinions have never changed. The interest began to wane, and we decided to close the meeting. Had the meeting gone on in Meroney Hall the Lord only knows what the result would have been. Judge John Kerr was there one night diu'ing the meeting, and I shall never forget how he talked, and prayed, and cried, and enjoyed the meeting. The newly organized church called Elder J. B. Boone for their pastor. The Baptist cause of truth and righteousness in Salisbury have been gi-owing in power and influence from that day to this. ±^o\y they have a good meet- ing-house, a good parsonage, with a settled pastor. Dr. Whitehead, Senior, was as perfect a gen- tleman as I ever met, and his sainted mfe was a firm, polid, pious, devoted, consecrated. Christian, Baptist woman. I am glad that she lived to see the longings of her soul gratified — a good Baptist Church in Sal- isbury and regular Baptist preaching, and both her eons fine physicians and prominent members of the Baptist Church. The name of Sister Sauciman is worthy to be pre- fterved and handed down to the last generation, as one of the salt of the earth, and solid as the everlasting liills. The names of the good women of Paul's day have been preserved for more than eighteen hundred 15rt LIFE AND "LABORS OF years; why not the names of the good women of the nineteenth centnrv { The t'olhwing letter from Elder .1. P>. Boone will c(tin(^ in very timely jnst here: TiioMAsviLLE. X. (\. Fcl). 19, 1898. Rkv. F. A[. Joedax. l)i(iv Brother: — In compliance with your request, ] have looked u]) memoranda and find that you came 1o Statesville to assist me in a meeting the 25th of ^March, 1870 ; preached your iirst sennon in the courts house from Ixev. 8:15 — IS, and that you continued the meeting till April 7th, at which time fourteen persons were haptized. In the number was A. T. IJolvertson, also a brother and two sisters. The audiences were large from the l)eginning to the close of the meeting, and at the baptism there was an iiiimense crowd. On the 16th of April two others were baptized. 1 also remend>er, in connection with that meeting, that you preached a sermon on baptism and the daughter of Air. ( 'harles Sumner was w^onder- fully affected by it. TIk^ point that was so fixed on her mind was, that everybody ought to be baptized. Tier parents objected and insisted that their pastor, Dr. Wood, should visit her and preach on the subject of baptism, to convince her. She was never allowed to join the Baptist Church, but as far as I have ever been able to learn, she forever carried the impression that everybody ought to be baptized, that is, that all believers should be immersed. I also find that yon came to my assistance in a meeting at Salisbury on January- 21, 1S77, and continued with me imtil Feb- ruary 4th. The meeting was commenced in the Meroney Rail, and the crowds commenced to gather ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 157 and to increase from the beginning until the hall was densely packed. It was estimated to hold not less than fifteen hundred people. During the meeting the rumor was set afloat that the hall had given way, and was dangerous for such crowds. I believed then, and have never had occa- sion to change my opinion, that the rumor was put afloat maliciously to break up the meeting. While that state of things was pending the owners cf the MclSTeely Hall very generously tendered us the use of it, in which the meeting continued to its close. On the 4th of February, there were twelve persons baptized. You did the baptizing. During tliat meeting, on the 30th of January, it became necessary for me to leave you and be absent three days, to get married. On the 27th of May you returned and preached luitil the 3rd of June, on whicli day there were eight persons baptized, among them Lena Merouey. These meetings were really the beginning of the new interest in Salisbury, which has resulted in the present church. While we had an organized ohi^rch before you came, the member- ship was feeble, and most of them poor. I com- menced preaching in Salisbury N^ovember 23, 1875. Yours sincerely, J. B. Boone. The case of little Lena Meroney was a very remark- able one. She made a profession of religion at home during the meetino- in March, in her 12th vear. She was exceedingly anxious to be baptized. Her mother and people were Methodists, and sternly opposed her joining the Baptist Church, and being baptized. Her mother finally told her that if she would wait three 158 LIFE AND LABORS OF months, and read and consider the matter, and then was not satisfied, she would give her consent for her to he baptized, believing no doubt, that during these three months she and the Methodist preachers could remove all these foolish notions, and get her into the ]^^ethodist Society. So Lena consented to the propo- sition, though she said it was a long time to wait. During these tliree months not a stone was left i/ntumed to change her mind. In the meantime the Conference met in Salisburv, and the preachers used evorv argument at their command to convince her that pouring and sprinkling were just as good and valid as immersion, and that she ought to go to the Metliodist Church with her mother and people. But she was smart and well posted in the Scriptures, and would quote to them Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8 and 16; Gal. 3: 27; and tell them that buiying did not mean pouring and sprinkling, and that believers A\'ere the only Scriptural subjects of baptism. So she stood firm. Ft was so ordered that just about the time the three months were out, I landed in Salisbury. She reminded her mother of her promise, and now she was ready to follow^ her Lord and Master. So she Avas received for baptism, and at 5 p. m., the first Sunday in June, in the presence of more than 1,000 people, J buried her v^-\th. her blessed Savior in bap- tism. She was perfectly calm and composed, and with a heavenly smile surv^eyed the gazing crowd. I ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 15§ heard somebody in the vast congregation say, ''God bless the child." Seven others were baptized with her. These meetings and baptisms made a wonderful impression upon the people of Salisbury. There was a young man from the country who attended this great meeting in January, who had been brought up under the Lutheran persuasion, a form of godliness without its power. He was won- derfully impressed with the spirit and soul of the meeting, and said to a friend of his, ^'I think we had better gear up our teams, and go somewhere once a year, where we can hear a good gospel sermon." Sunday, March. 4. — Preached in the Baptist church in Asheville. At 3 p. m. Brother Mitchell baptized eight, as the fruit of our meeting in Decem- ber. MarcJi 11. — Begin a meeting in Shelby, with A. L. Slough, pastor. This meeting continued day and night for two weeks — a meeting of great spiritual powder. Two sisters, Germans, and one Catholic, are numbered with the converts. They are positively forbidden to join the Baptist Church. At the close of the meeting T baptized fifteen persons — ten yoimg ladies and five young men. Thirty-five professions during the meeting. April 8. — Begin a meeting with Elder Thoma.s Stradley at Berea, in Bimcombe County. Preach 160 LIFE AND LABORS OF day and night for eight days. On Sunday Brother Stradley baptized thirteen happy converts. On the 22nd of April, I began a meeting in Char- lotte with Dr. Whitfield. ITold a prayer-meeting every day and preach every night for three weeks. The Lord only knows w^hat the harvest will be from the seed so^vn. Jnne 12. — Attend Commencement at Wake For- est College. Dr. H. A. Tupper, of Kichmond, Va., preached the Annual Sermon. Hon. D. G. Fowle delivered the address. The address before the Alumni Avas delivered by Dr. J. D. Hufham. Six graduates. The 22nd of July I began a meeting in Euther- fordton with Pastor C. B. Justice. The meeting is continued with spirit and power for eleven days and nights. Preach tAventy-one times, and baptize six liappy believers. Fourteen professions and twelve additions to the church. Bro. C. B. Justice is an exceedingly lovely man, and wise, successful pastor. August 4. — I began a meeting at old French Broad, our home church. On the 12th, I baptized eight persons, among the number our two sons, James F. and John Y. Jordan. What a pleasure to welcome our children into the church militant; may they all be welcomed into the church triumphant. On the 19th of August I began a n|ieeting Avith Elder N. Bowen, at Enon. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated at every service ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 161 for nine days, iit the close Brother Bowen bap- tized eighteen persons — ten young men and eight yonng ladies. The Salem Association met at Gashe's Creek, Angaist 30th. Introductory Sermon by Elder John K. Connally. D. B. Xelson elected Moderator, and C. M. Williams Clerk. This is a spirited and harmonious session of the Association. We have witli us Dr. T. E. Skinner, Drs. G. W. and :N^. A. Purefoy, Elder H. A. Brown,of Fayetteville, and John E. Ray, Jolin Ammons, John Mitchell. Sunday Elder John Amnions preached at 10 a. m., and at 11 a. m. Dr. John Mit<3hell preached the Missionary Sei*mon. Collection seventeen dol- lars. I preached at 2 p. m. Thus closed one of the most interesting sessions of the Salem Association. Decided to remain and protract the meeting. The meeting continued a Aveek. At the close I baptized three ladies in the Swannanoa Biver. September 9. — I began a meeting in Brevard,. which continued eight days. At the close I bap- tized nine at Brother Brooks's, in the French Broad Biver. During the meeting sixteen additions by experience, and four by letter. The Western Convention met at Big Ivey, in Bun- combe County, September 20th. Elder John Ammons is chosen Moderator and C. M. Williams 11 162 LIFE AND LABOKS OF Secretary. Elder E. H. Griffith, of Charlotte, made a good speech in behalf of the Theological Seminary located at Louisville, Kv. Elder J. B. Hartwell, returned missionary to China, preached a good ser- mon Saturday. Sim day a very large congregation gathered at the stand. Elder R. H. Griffith preached at 10 a. m. ; J. B. TTartwell preached the Missionary Sermon at 11 a. m. Collection seventy-five dollars. The Avrit-er preached at 2 p. m. Decide to stay and pro- tract the meeting. The church is in a cold, lifeless state, covetous and worldly-minded. Fear some of the members are unconverted. Some of them so express themselves. Bro. Leroy Sams is, and has been, their pastor for many years. Dine with Brother Ilurst. Sister Hurst is a daughter of Elder Humphi'ey Posey. Preach day and night, and hope it will have a savory effect ; if I can only keep the peo- ple from shouting until their is something to shout about. Brother Sams will get up and tell them how long he has been with them, and that he has married and baptized them, and preached the fimeral of those who had died, and soon put a whole lot of them to shouting, and have everything in confusion. I believe in shouting when the feeling is brought on by the Holy Spirit, and people can't help it, but a forced shout has a very chilling effect. So it took me about three days to get on the breaks, and get things regu- lated ; and I soon had a lot of the members mourners, ELDER F. M. JOKDA]^. 163 and coming forward for prayer. Bro. John Amnions said he met a fellow one night after service, and asked him what he thought of the preacher. ^'Why, he's the quarest man I ever seed; he won't let the people shout." Preached nineteen sermons ; some thirteen profes- sions. I believe this meeting has been, and will be, a great blessing to the people of Big Ivej. My home was with Bro. Zimri Carter, and the creek was full of fish; so of mornings and evenings I would take some recreation catching them. I caught thirty-two fine fish, and Miss Maggie fried them for me, and we had a good time. As fish is good brain food, I thought I could preach better after eating a good mess of fish. My mind seemed to be clear, and I would have great liberty. The 13th of October, began a meeting at Catawba Station. Stop with Bro. J. H. Trollinger. Here I was pastor of Providence Church in 1869 and 1870. Brethren and sisters glad to see me, many of whom I baptized, l^ine received for baptism. I baptized four lovely young people in the Catawba River. October 24. — I begin a meeting in Kinston, Lenoir County, with Elder J. K. Howell, pastor. Stop with Brother Cox, where I have a comfortable room. T)r. P. H. Lewis, who for three years had charge of Mills River Academy, in Henderson County, is living here, in charge of a fine school. Kinstx)n is a hard place. There is so much igno- 164- LIFE AND LABORS OF rance of the Bible, and so much heresy, that it is a hard matter for the truth to take effect. The churches are so loose in discipline that tlie world has no confidence in them. The Pedopabtist churches hero are cold and lifeless. Their object is to get the people to j(viu the cliurcli regardless of conversion, and t\w\ have more world than church. This seems to he an almost godless and Godforsaken people, the hardest T have found in all my travels. Corrupters and scoffers are too much countenanced by church peojde, who it is to l>e feared are in the bonds of iniquity. Pass a restless and almost sleepless night. Sin- ners seem determined to go to hell. May the Lord have mercy Tipon the town of Kinston. Doubtless iiere are many foolish virgins, who mil meet the bridegroom without oil and light — a fonn of godliness without its power. The Campbellites teach that remission of sin is obtained in the act of baptism. So their great object is to get people to consent to be baptized. Old Brother Deacon Loftin told me that he heard one of this persuasion preach in thai country. There was a man in the congrega- tion wliom he was very anxious to baptize, so he walked down the aisle, hdd out his hand and asked him to let him baptize him. The man says, '^I am not fit to be baptized." The preacher says, ^'Why not?" "Oh," he says, "1 cuss." "Oh, well," the ELDER F. M. JOKDAN. 165 preacher says, "Come alons: and bo baptized, and quit your cursing." The cliui'c]] seemed to enjoy the meeting very mucli, l)ut no sinners would acknowledge that they had any desire to go to heaven. These are hard sin- ners. I was informed here that a number of the men of Kinston fonned a leasrue that they would vote for no man for a to^ATi officer who was a church mem- ber. Preach my sixteenth and last sermon. Eight pro- fessions of religion. Good meeting for the church and cause. The Baptist State Convention met in Durham, ISTovember 7th. The Convention is organized by the election of Judge John Kerr President; Elder J. 13. Hufliam Secretary, and Capt. Wm. Biggs Assistant Secretary. The Introductory Sermon is preached at night by Elder F. H. Ivey, of Goldsboro. Elder J. D. Hufham offered a resolution in favor of the church at Statesville, and four hundred dol- lars is raised to finish the house of worship there. Brother Boone is happy. The Missionary Sermon is preached on Sunday by Dr. W. ^I. Wingate. This has been the best meet- ing of the Convention I ever attended. My home is with Pressley Mangum. On the 12th of Xox^mber I be^'an a meeting: in Henderson. My home is with Brother Lassiter. Fine prospect of a good meeting. Mrs. Meadows, 166 LIFE AIS^D LABORS OF wife of Dr. Meadows, made a bright profession of faith in Christ; she is a member of the Episcopal Cliurch. The religions interest is pervading the to^\^^. Large congregations at every service. Rev. ^Ir. Pettigrew came into, and engaged heartily in the meeting. The first Episcopal minister I ever knew to come into a Baptist meeting. Prayer-meetings exceedingly precious. Old diffi- cnlties settled, and a time of great rejoicing among God's people. Ten professions of religion at one ser- vice — a meeting of great power — don't think I ever saw it snrj)assed. I^ovember 29. — I buried eleven happy sonls with Christ in baptism, in Brother Lassiter's pond — beautiful place. Sister Meadows, the Episcopal sisr ter, one of the number. There were forty-five professions of religion dur- ing the meeting, a large portion of whom were under Pedobaptist influence. This was the reason so few joined the Baptist Church. Toward the close of the meeting I read the 6th chapter of Romans. Some of the Pedos said it was unfair and^ out of place to read such passages of Scripture at the close of a meeir ing in which the different denominations had engaged so heartily, and had such a good time. That word bury has given them a good deal of trouble dur- ing the last eighteen hundred years, or rather fifteen hundred. They are afraid of its influence. Preached my last sermon to a crowded house, and ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 167 bade the brethr,en, sisters, young converts, and friends farewell. A meltinc^ time. Leave Henderson for Wilmington. Stop with Dr. J. 7B. Taylor, and rest qnietly in his office all day. Have preached fifty-eight sermons since I left home the 5th -of October. December 2nd we begin a meeting with Dr. James B. Taylor in the First Baptist Church, Wilmington. The church is in fine spiritual condition, and the pastor is full of the Spirit, and of faith. The con- gregations are large and attentive. The meeting goes on day and night, increasing in interest at every service. At the close of the first week there are nine professions of religion, the church is greatly revived, and in good working order. Conversions at nearly every service. Sunday, December 16. — Dr. Taylor baptized nine- teen happy believers, most of them lovely young peo- ple. It was a beautiful scene. When I went to Wilmington, the largest city in the State, and the finest meeting-house, and Dr. J. B. Taylor for their pastor, T expected to find things rather stiff and starchy, but I never was more agreeably disap- pointed. The church was in the Spirit, and in a very tender state of feeling. After I would preach and invite penitents. Brother Taylor and the breth- ren and sisters would get up and move gently along down the aisles, and ^peak to this one, and that one, and invite them to come forward for prayer, until Ifj8 T.IFE AND LABORS OF every front seat in the church was filled with peni- tents. And relying upon the Holy Spirit, we had those good old-fashioned, pungent convictions for sin, and then bright, happy experiences of gi^ace. ^N'ot still-born, but quickened by the Holy Spirit, and brought to life. This truly was a glorious meeting. Tn those days I was regarded as a pretty good singer, and sang through nearly all the meetings I ever conducted. This has been of great advantage to me in all my labors. If there were not others to sing T would sing myself. I can beat tiiat singing we had in Wilmington last May, now, and not half t^\^ Lord, how I did want to sing! I thought the fidgets would well-nigh kill me. But then the thought would press itself upon me: ^^Bro'r rabbit, tha'll never do in the world for you to break out to singing right here in the Southern Baptist Conven- tion, in the First Baptist Church, in the City of Wil- mington ; and then old sin coon sitting right up there, doing her level best singing at the same time. 'No, sir; that won't do." And there was the President with a gavel in hand, and all them big preachers, and hard by stood the Armory, the jail and calaboose. So old bro'r rabbit, he lay low, he did. My home during this meeting was with Dr. Tay- lor. Don't think I ever spent two weeks more pleas- antly in all my life. Ever^^thing was agreeable and delightful. Brother and Sister Taylor did not leave a stone unturned for my comfort and happiness. CHAPTEE X. Lagrano:e — Drunken Deacons — Selma — Beaufort — A Camp Hunt — Wilson — J. D. Hufham— Judge Kerr — Incidents— Commencement at Wake Forest— Refuge — Salem— Mocks- ville — Another Camp Hunt and a Cat Fight— Goldsboro— Salisbury— 1879. I^AGRAIS^GE. On Simdav, the 2Ttli of January, 1878, I began a meeting in Lagrange with Elder J. K. Howell, who was then living in Kinston, and I think, at that time, pastor at Lagrange. Here I found the state of piety aiid vital godliness at a low ebb. There were great stimibling-blocks in the way of the peace and prosperity of the church. I preached day and night for eight days, with a prayer-meeting every morning. By this time I saw the trouble, and what was abso^ lutely necessary to be done. Both the deacons were drunkai'ds ; one of them had been a drunkard for about sixteen years, a great big, rich old fellow, and the pastor, and everybody else, was afraid to tackle him. And when you would say anything to a sinner about seeking salvation he w^ould point you to one of these drunken deacons, or some one else, for drinking and drunkenness were the bane of the place. So on Sunday I announced publicly that Monday morning, instead of having a prayer-meeting, we would have a church meeting and turn out these drunken deacons, and then I thought we might do some good ; that 170 LIFE AND LABORS OF \dtli the present state of things, I might stay there till doomsday, and wear out my lungs for nothing. So Monday morning the church met and organized for business, with Bro. J. K. Howell in the chair. I had to present the cases myself, for nobody else had the irioral courage to do it. Brother Wooten was there with Bible in hand for self-defense, and not in a very good humor. I made a plain statement of the case just as it was, and told the church and Brother Wooten what a A^ast amount of mischief both had done; Brother Wooten for drunkenness, and the church for allowing it, and that Brother Wooten would have to go out of the church, and stay out at least two years, and keep sober all the time before the people would have any confidence in him. So I got a motion and second to withdraAV fellowship from him, which was carried: Whereupon Brother W. gathered his hat, started out, and called for a letter for his w^ife. I told the church that his wife was a sensible woman, and didn't w^ant any letter, that she knew he ought to have been turned out long ago. The next case was that of Bro. C. G. Grady, who had been guilty of drunkenness for about three years. Some brother remarked that we could not try his case, from the fact that he was not present. "Well," said I, "Brethren, he is not far off; he is right out there in the bushes, for I saw him pass by the door just noAv." ;N'o excuse. So the church witlidrew ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 171 fellowship from him. And I believe to this day that the Holy Spirit sanctioned the whole transaction. The meeting went on another week, and at the close I baptized four interesting young people in Bear Creek. Brother Grady's was my home all the meeting, and Sister Grady was another good, sensible woman, and did not get mad about the exclusion of her husband, but wept like a child on account of his course. I recollect on Friday of the last week, I was invited out to dine with Brother Wooten. I went, and never shall I forget that big, fat turkey we iiad for dinner, and a table laden with tlie luxuries of life, and everything just as gentle and pleasant as well could be. Brother W. knew that he was wrong, and T believe that he admired my boldness and moral courage in having him excluded. I wish I knew the result, and what has grown out of that meeting. It would be a great deal better if many of our churches would have a church meeting, and exercise the proper and faithful discipline, before beginning a protracted meeting. SELMA. I began a meeting in Selma, February the 19th. The church was in a spiritual condition, and there were demonstrations of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the very first service. The meet- ing continued six days. At the close, on Sunday 172 LIFE AXD LABORS OF evenirig, I baptized eleven lovely young people in [Mill Swamp. T was on niy way to Beaufort, Tvhen brethren Allbritton the pastor, Graves, Hood and others laid hands upon me, and kept me a few days with good results. Brother Allbritton is a good, whole-souled brother, and it was a great joy to labor with him ; and Brother Graves and others were full of zeal and life for the Master. Oh, what fond anticipation of meeting these pastors and their flocks in the sweet bye and bye. BEAUFORT. On my way from Solma to Beaufort I stopped and spent the night with Bro. Jesse Eaton, four miles from Morehcad City, two of whose daughters I bap- tized at Jerusalem in Davie County. ]^ext morning Brother Eaton proposed that we go through the country to Morehea.d, and make a drive for deer, to which I readily agi*eed. So he secured a driver and some dogs, and we put out. I was placed at a stand, and another fellow just beyond me. Soon I heard the dogs start, and next the deer coming. There were three of them. They ran up close to me, but the buck berry bushes were so thick tliat I could not see them. So they turned and ran on to the other fellow. I listened every moment for his gun. The dogs came out in full chase, just making the welkin ring. I went over to where he was standing and asked him why he did not shoot ? ^'Oh,'' he says, "I EI.DEK F. M. JORDAN. IT 3 was waiting for them to stop." Three fine deer ran right close by him, and he with a good double-ba]^ relied gun, waiting for them to stop. Said I, '^It Vias yonr business to stop them, instead of waiting for them to stop." So, we went on to C'alico Creek, and gathered up some rock oysters, and had an oyster roast at old Mrs. Pigot's, which 1 remember made me very sick. We took passage and crossed over to Beaufort. Stopped w^ith Sheriff John 1). Davis. Began a meeting in Beaufort, February the 27th. Here I found the church and cause in a cold, lukewarm state; dissen- sions and strife among tbe brethren. I preached a week, and, as at Lagrange, we had to stop and have a church meeting to discipline some of the members. After a spirited deliberation the ckurch excluded one of the brethren. As before stated, this kind of work ought to be done before the protracted meeting begins. Spirituality is at a low^ ebb in Beaufort. The de\'il and whisky nearly hold the ground. So many unconverted people, and inconsistent members in the churches, and so much sony preaching, and so much formality, and so little vital godliness. Sinners are hard to move. On Sunday evening, March 10th, I baptized four ladies in the Atlantic Ocean, in the presence of a vast assembly. The closing scene on Sunday night was solemn and imprassive. 174 LIFE AND LABORS OF Taken altogether, I have ever been of the opinion that this was a great meeting for the old town of Beaufort. All classes and denominations came out to hear the faithful preaching of the Word. I remember one very striking incident which occurred during this meeting. There was a wealthy, accom- plished Episcopal lady who attended the preaching regularly, and seemed to be profoundly interested. The morning I left Beaufort she sent me a very kind note, with a two dollar and a half gold piece, stating that if I preached the truth she did not know any- thing about a change of heart, and requested an interest in my prayers, that she might be a Christian and meet me in heaven. My soul has ever gone after a people who are under the awful delusion of baptis- mal regeneration. ^N'ever shall I forget the kindness of the good peo- ple of Beaufort, especially my two weeks sojourn with the kind family of Bro. Jolin D. Davis. I am exceedingly fond of fish and oysters. Here I had them to my heart's content. Sister Davis would fry and stew, and bake, and cook them in every conceiva- ble way to suit my relish. A man who could not preach after eating a good, large dish of fried or stewed oysters, or a mess of good, fresh, fried fish, had just about as well quit. I wonder if Broth.er and Sister Davis are living there now? Returned to my home in the mountains after an absence of two months. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. A CAMP HUNT. 175 On iMarcli 30th, my boys and I started to Hogback Mountain, on a camp hunt. At Brevard brethren Wm. Aikin and Samuel King joined us, two as good, jolly old souls as ever blowed a horn. Camped the first night at New Prospect Church on the Toxaway Eiver. 'Next day we moved our camp to Thomas B. Eeed's, at the foot of Hogback Mountain, and that night, around a good camp fire, we had some fun. Mr. Keed had a pounding-mill fixed to run by water, for the purpose of crushing in a mortar the corn and cob altogether. AVhen in operation it made a fearful noise. Late in the night, when everything was quiet, my son Sam started the poimding-mill, and it fright- ened our horses till it was with difficutly that we could hold or quiet them. April 5. — We ascended for the first time the Hog- back Mountain, from the summit of which is the grandest scenery mine eyes ever beheld. A pleasant outing with plenty of fish, pheasants and squirrels. MEETING AT WILSON. At this time the Missionary Baptist Church in Wilson was weak, and surrounded with peculiar environments. Here was the stronghold of anti- mission influence. This was the home of Elder P. D. Gould,who edited and published "Zions Land- marks/' which had a powerful influence in prevent- ing the development of the churches and the spirit 176 LIFE AXD LABORS OF ot missions. There was great anxiety upon the part of many, and some especially, to strengthen and build up the cause in Wilson. For this, the soul of our beloved Bro. G. W. Blount was draAvn out. Dr. Pritchard, Dr. llufham, Blount and others were anxions for me to hold a meeting in Wilson, but did not know how to get the opportunity, as the church was rather opposed to excitement, and protracted meetings, though just as honest and conscientious as tljey well could be. So, Dr. Pritchai'd wi'ote to Brother Blount about the matter. Brother Blount replied that it all depended upon Bro. Cobb Moss; that if Brother Moss said I could go there and con- duct a series of meetings, I could go,otherwise I could not. An}^way it was decided that T should go and give them a trial. So on Saturday, April 20th, I landed in Wilson. Bro. eJohn B. Brewer met me at the depot, and carried me up to the Female Semi- nary, of which he was the President, gave me a nice room, and a seat at his table with all those pretty girls. T thought this looked like a favorable begin- ning. So I began the meeting in Wilson April 21st, and preached morning and night. Some of the church was opposed to a protracted meeting, so they decided that T could stay till Tuesday night, the night of the prayer-meoting,and tlien they would decide whether I could stay longer or leava JAMES F. JORDAN. 14th Child.) JOHN Y. JORDAN. (5th Child. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 177 I prayed earnestly for the direction of the Holy Spirit in the whole matter, in the meantime trying to b(3 as cautious as if creeping up to a wild turkey in a ten-acre field. So Tuesday night Brother Moss prayed one of the most tender, melting prayers I almost ever heard, and the meeting went on. The interest began gradually to increase, both in the church and among the unconverted. The prayer- meetings every morning were exceedingly precious. After the meeting had been going on about a week, Elders R. T. Vann and J. D. Hufham came and spent two or three days with us, which greatly strengthened and encouraged me. Some of the church told these brethren that I was going too fast. I didn't see how I could go much slower,and go at all. But after some two weeks several had made a pro- fession of religion, among the number Brother Moss's loA^ely daughter, and I baptized her with a number of others, and Brother Moss was full of the Holy Ghost, and would talk and pray and cry, and I could make any proposition T thought proper without giving offence. On May 1st, Mr. W. W. Brown fell dead in a store in Wilson, after taking breakfast with his children. I preached at night on death and judg- ment, from ITeb. 9 : 27. Great solemnity pervaded the congregation. I believe that God blessed this sudden death to the awakening of sinners. The 12 178 LIFE AND LABOKS OF - funeral services of Mr. Brown took place at the Bap- tist church. Elder J. D. Hufliam preached the ser- mon, from I Cor. 15:27: '^He hath put all things under his ieeV May 5. — I joreached at night on implicit obedience to all the commandments of God. I Sam. 15:22. And T then baptized five believers in obedience to the command of the great head of the church — Florence Winborn, Santie Waterileld, Sidney Winsted, Mrs. Hardie, and Miss Whitley. Sister J. B. Brewer was a Methodist, and when I closed my sermon that night on obedience, she turned to her husband, and said: ^^I want to be baptized.'' ^'Well/' Brother Brewer said, ^^You can be baptized during the meeting." "Ko," she says, ^^I want to be baptized right now, to-night.'' She was not pre^ ])ared to go into the water just then, and it was with reluctance she consented to wait till the next night. So on the night of May 6tli Sister Brewer was received and baptized — most beautiful and impres- sive scene. What a glorious thing it is to be faithful, and preach the whole truth, at all times, under all cir- cumstances, and at all hazards, and have the appro- bation of God, and the answer of a good conscience. God pity these poor, puny, sickly, cowardly evan- gelists, who preach for money and populai'ity, and ignore Christian duty, and the ordinances of the •church of Jesus Christ. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 179 The meeting progresses with increasing interest. Judge John Kerr is with us, and Las conducted some glorious prayer-meetings and made some heart- searching and soul-stirring talks. One night after one of his impressive addresses, amounting to a good sermon, I baptized Mr. and Mrs. Portis, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Humphries and Sheriff Briggs. Delightful scene, glorious meeting. Sometimes I would baptize three and four nights in the week, as the church had a good baptistry, kept in good condition. On Sunday night. May 12th, Judge Kerr preached a powerful sermon from the 22nd chapter of Revela- tions. Three re0. — T preached my farewell sermon. Peni- tents, young converts, and many Christian friends came forAvard and bade me farewell — much tender- ness and weeping. . Thus closed a great meeting of six weeks. Some fifty professions of religion, and forty addi- tions to the church by baptism. ^Fay 31. — T visited several families and dined with P>ro. (t. W. Blount. Found it hard to get away from the good people of Wilson. The church pre- vailed with me to stay and preach again at night, and E3.DEK F. M. JORDAN. 181 baptize. So I remained, preached at night, and bap- tized Wilson Vann and James Evans, and again bade farewell. At til is time the chnrch was without a. pastor. But right here I want to say that Bro. Cobb Moss was one of the sweetest spirits I have ever met. He was so full of the Spirit that he would give life and soul to any meeting, ^ever shall I forget his glowing talks, his tender prayers and flowing tears. June 1 1 . — 1 went to Wake Forest. Met with the Board of Trustees. Dr. P. S. Henson preached at ni2;ht. Wednesday. — Address before the Literary Socie- ties by Henry McDonald, D. D., of Richmond, Ya. Address before the Alumni at night by G. W. Blount, of Wilson, Ts^ C. Thursday. — Exercises of the graduating class. M V son, W. T. Jordan, was a member of the class. I return to the loved ones at home after an absence of ten weeks. EEFUGE. I began a meeting at Refuge church, in Henderson County, July 21st, which continued eleven days, at the close of which I baptized eleven interesting young people. SALEM. I began a meeting at Old Salem, in Henderson County, August 5th. The church in rather a cold 182 LIFE AND LABORS OF state. The meeting continued nine days; ten addi- tions; seven baptized. MOCKSVILLE. I began a meeting in Mocksville, August 18th, with Elder S. F. Conrad, pastor. The church is in rather a cold, lukewarm state, and sinners hard to move. The meeting continued two weeks with good interest. On Sunday, at the close of the meeting, 1 baptized thirteen, four husbands and their wives, among the number. Among those baptized, was Brother AYilliamson, who was a good lawyer, and I hope has made a good member. Brother Conrad, now of Charlotte, is a whole-souled fellow, bold as a lion, and would preach what he believes to be the truth, though the heavens fall. He would not hesi- tate a moment to tackle the world, the flesh, and the devil, all at the same time, for he has no better sense than to believe that God is on the side of the faithful and true. Sister Conrad is one of the old blue hen's Person C'ounty chickens. She told me in Mocksville that if she knew there was one drop of Pedobaptist blood in her veins she would cut a hole and let it run out. And she would, and be in a hurry about it at that. These are the sort w^hose works and teachings will stand the fires of the great day. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 183 CAMP HUNT. Wednesday, September 4. — My boys, Sam, Willie and James with Baldy l^icliols and Capt. Yateman, start to Big Hogback Mountain on a camp hnnt. Spend the night in Brevard with our old friends Sam- uel Xing and Wm. Aikin. Brother Aikin goes with lis. On the night of the 5th we camped at Flat Creek, killed qnite a number of squirrels, and had a good time. Next morning we made a drive for deer, and I killed a nice one, which made me feel exceed- ingly *good. So we moved on to our old camp, at the old church on Toxaway. Here we spent the night phjasantly around a good camp fire. THE CAT FIGHT. Late in the night, after everything got quiet, two of my boys decided upon a cat fight. (Willie and J ames. ) One of them went out in the bushes on one side, and the other on the other side. They com- menced mewing and growling like cats, and approach- ing each other, growling more and more angry and furious. ISTo two cats ever appeared to be madder than thesg. At length they became so enraged that it seemed like it never would do for them to get together. The balance of us were lying there in the old church, nearly dying laughing at their wonderful movements. At last they got together, and as God is my judge, I never heard such a cat fight in all the 1 S4 LIFE AND LABORS OF world. T never shall forget how Baldj ^N'ichols Iniii^iieil. It is strange to me now how two bojs could imitate cats so near to perfection. 8imday 1 preached to the people of that com- nmnity in the old Prospect Church, where we langhcd so heartily over the cat fight. On this hunt we killed twenty-three squirrels, one turke;), one pheasant, caught sixty mountain trout, killed a rattlesnake, and one deer, and had a tremen- dous oat I'lCijn. MEETING IN GOLDSBOEO. 1 begin a meeting in Goldsboro, October 6th, with Bro. T\ 11. Ivey, pastor. The church does not seem to be in travail. Sinners steeped in sin, and hard to move. Oh, for the power of Elijah's God. The interest increases as the meeting goes on. Sunday, night, October 20. — Brother Ivey bap- tiezd six personSjOne of them Miss Ann Eliza McDuf- fie, from Fa^^etteville. Friday night Brother Ivey baptized two young men. Sinners hardened in sin. Lord help. Sunday, at 9 a. m.*, Brother Ivey baptized tw^o in 7\euse Biver — Mrs. Raifod and Mr. Frank Phelps. J 'reach Sunday night. Some forty persons come forward for prayer. Consented to stay longer. Thursday night, October 31st, six united with the c Lurch." Five young men and one lady. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 185 Saturday niglit. — Three professions of faith — two received for baptism. Sunday night preached my last sermon, and bap- tized eight persons, making eighteen baptized during the uieeiting. The meeting continues twenty-nine days. Brc.ther Ivey was a strong man, and a fine pieacher, but was in bad health, and did not enjoy liis work and the meeting as he otherwise would. We tried to do good, faithful, solid work, not looking to the number of professions alone, as the result of a g<»od meeting. Wednesday, N'ovember 6. — The Convention met in Cliarlotte. W. A. Graham elected President, and W'm. Biggs of Oxford, whom I baptized, was made Secretary. Sermon at night by T. A. Munday, of Warrenton. Sunday attended the Baptist church. A. C. Dixon preached the Missionary Sermon, the best I ever lieard. Beturned home after an absence of six weeks. So delightful to be at home with my family. MEETING IN SALISBURY. T began a meeting in Salisbury with Elder J. B. Boone, November 29th. The meeting continued sixteen days. Th-ere were many influences brought to bear to keep the people away from the meeting ard away from Christ. The people seemed to be 186 LIFE AK^D LABOES OF hardened in sin. There were eight professions of reJigicn, and some received for baptism. The bap- rifem was postponed on account of a heavy fall of rain the last day of the meeting. Brother Boone and I preached the gospel faithfully, and visited a great many families, both in town and country. We have reason to believe that the good effects of these meetings have been seen and realized in Salis- bury till this day. ^ It was preparatory and founda- tion work. My home during this meeting was with Dr. Whitehead, Sr. What a benediction, to enjoy the comforts and reiining influences of such a home! I have spent much time and hard labor to establish the truth and build up the cause of Christ in Salis- bury. This meeting closes the labors of 1878. CHAPTER XI. Lumberton— Whiteville— Asheville— Laurinburg — Rocking- ham— Lincolnton— Cool Spring— Mt. Moriah — Waynes- ville — Charlotte — Union Hill — Spartanburg — A New Home — Wadesboro — Lilesville — Ashpole — Winston — Lilesville — Bennettsville, S. C. —Greensboro — Mineral Springs, S. C— Jerusalem— Little River— Enon—Beulah— Bear Swamp, S. C.—Laurinburg— Ashpole— Fayetteville. 1879. — January 1. — Thanking Thee, Oh, Lord, for all Thy loving kindness and tender mercies in the past, and praying the forgiveness of all sin, I this day reconsecrate my life to Thy service. MEETING IN LUMBERTON. Began a meeting in Lumberton the 10th of Jan- nary, mth my son W. T. Jordan, pastor. This was a glorious meeting of three weeks' continuance. On Simday, February 2nd, I baptized fifteen — ten young men and five young ladies. Among this num- ber was E. K. Proctor, now a leading spirit in the Eobeson Association. February 3. — Made ten visits. Hard to get away from the good people of Lumberton. At 9 p. m. I was summoned into the parlor of Brother Godwin, where I was greeted by about fifty brethren, sisters, converts and children, and was presented with fifty bundles of valuable articles for myself and family, and a purse of eighty dollars in money. I 188 LIFE AND LxVBORS OF had no language to express my gratitude to God for these expressions of love and appreciation. MEETING I'N WHITEVILLE. On the 5th of Febmarj I began a meeting in Wliiteville, with J. W. Dickson, pastor. Here I am comfortablv quartered in the office of Bro. John W. Ellis. The Holy Spirit manifested its presence and willingness to bless in the very outset of this meet- ing, though there were obstacles in the way. There seemed to be a determination upon the part of some to counteract Baptist influence in Whiteville. We had the Methodist quarterly meeting to begin with. Sunday we gave way and went to hear the Presiding Elder preach, and saw him sprinkle a poor, little, innocent, unconscious babe. How sad, how sad. I think the Elder remained there about a week, but he never came to our meeting, neither did the Meth- odist and Presbyterian preachers in charge there ever come; but went around every day and worked like men fighting fire to counteract my influence, and the influence of the meeting. We went right on preach- ing the everlasting gospel, repentance, faith, baptism, and weaving it all in just as taught in the 'New Tes- tament by the Master. God blessed His truth in the conviction, conversion and salvation of sinners. The interest spread in the to^\Ti and in the country. Most of Bro. X. D. Johnson's school are interested in their ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 189 salvation. Visited the school this afternoon. The meeting has now been going two weeks, and nearly all the penitents have made a profession of faith in Christ. This is certainly a genuine revival of reli- gion, and a great work of grace. Sunday, February 16. — I preached from I. Sam. 15 : 22, on implicit obedience to all the commands of God, which made a powerful impression. A good Presbyterian sister, organist in the Presby- terian cliurch, and two Methodist sisters, became dis- satisfied with sprinkling for baptism. They got together, and talked the matter over; said they believed that immersion was the only scriptural bap- tism, aud that the Baptists were right, and that if they never had been poured or sprinkled they would join the Baptists and be immersed, but they did not like to be called turncoats. I heard what they said. So one day I made some remarks, and said that some people said they did not like to be turncoats. I said, ^'N^either do I, but if I put on my coat with the inside out, 1 never feel right till I pull it off and turn it." I said it was, not cut nor made to wear that way ; that the buttons, and buttonholes were on the wrong side. Said T, ^'Did you ever try to button a coat put on with the inside out? Its a mighty awkward job." That I could see nothing in the world wrong in turning from wrong to right; now if you find out you are wrong, certainly there can be noth- ing wrong in turning and getting right. One of -190 LIFE AND LABORS OF these jMethodist ladies told me afterward that for about three .days and nights she could see nothing scarcely but that old coat lining, sticking on the wrong side. Saturday, Febrnary 22nd, I explained the sub- jects and mode of baptism, and their relation to com- munion. This pinned the basket. When the oppor- tunity was given, all tliree of these sisters came for- ward and were received for baptism, and Sunday I buried them with their blessed Savior in baptism. The following persons were baptized at this time: Robert Powell, S. F. McDaniel, Giles Innman, Frank Beasley, S. E. Memory and wife. Miss Ella Harrell, Miss Lee Ellis, and Mrs. Martha Smith. Sister S. E. Memory was the Presbyterian sister. I saw her at the Convention in Wilmington last ]\ray. She said, "It is worth coming to the Conven- tion, just to see Brother Jordan.'' S. F. McDaniel was a young lawyer of fine promise. There were twenty professions of religion, and nine baptized . Quit^ a number of the converts were pupils in Brother Johnson's school. 1 shall ever cherish in my memory the names of the good people of Whiteville — the Memorys, the Powells, the Plarrolls, and Ellises, with a host of others. Brother J. W. Dickson was a true yoke-fellow, a man after my own heart. We certainly had a good ELDER F. ijL. JORDAN. 191 time together in that great meeting. He was sound Si? a doHar, and true as steel. Monday, February 24th, I bade the dear people of Whiteville farewell ; and I thiuk it was one of the happiest days of my life, as I came through tlie swamps and piny woods to Lumberton, thinking of the young converts and the good meetings. My soul was full of love to God, and love to man. I spent the night so pleasantly with my son at Brother God- win's. My son W. T. Jordan was ordained to the gospel ministry at Wake Forest on the third Sabbath in February, 1879. Tuesday morning, at 9 a. m., I baptized four per- sons in Lumber River, and again bade the dear peo- ple of Lumberton farewell. I returned home after an absence of seven weeks. MEETING IN ASHEVILLE. I began a meeting in Asheville, March 2nd, with Bro. John Mitchell. The meeting continued a week. On Sunday, the last day of the meeting, I preached on baptism and communion. At night, I preached my fare^^-ell sermon, after whicli Brother Mitchell baptized eleven candidates, and the exercises of a glorious meeting closed. Fourteen additions to the church, and the church greatly revived. I think this makes four or five meetings I have held with Brother 192 LIFE AND LABOKS OF Mitchell in Asheville. I have certainly had a good time with brethren, sisters and friends in Asheville. MEETING IN LAUEINBUKG. Laurinburg was a thriving to^Aoi without any Bap- tist church or house of worship. Here were located the company's shops of the Carolina Central rail- road. My son, W. T. Jordan, commenced preaching here in a small, uncomfortable hall, a church of six members having been organized by Bro. ]^. B. Cobb. I began a meeting here with my son, March 23, 1879. When I arrived at this place I learned that it was arranged to hold the meeting in the Presbyterian Church, a large commodious house of worship. I did not much like this, for I intended to preach the whole truth at all hazards. But I thought if they could stand it, I could. So the meeting went on day and night with great power. The first week there were ten professions, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was manifest, both in the town and in the country. This was a Presbyterian stronghold, and many aged people had never seen any one immersed. So 1 determined that by the direction of the Holy Spirit, ihey should at least know the truth. So on Fi'iday night of the second week of the meeting I preached on the mode and subjects of baptism and communion, just did my level best, right there in the Presbyterian Louse, and the Presbyterian and Methodist preachers both there. There was the good of it, for I wanted ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 193 them to hear. In my sermon I said, that I took it as an insult for a Pedobaptist to invite me to the Lord's table if he knew my principles. After the sermon fourteen were received for bap- tism, moro than doubling the membership of the little church. This was a happy meeting. Saturday and Sunday were the regular meeting days of the Presbyterians. So we gave way, and went out to hear them. Saturday the preacher preached, and lo and behold, he had tAvo babies to sprinkle. After hearing that sermon the night before, and then right there in my presence, it did look like he hated a^vfully to sprinkle those babies. But he did, and they both cried as if they had the colic, and their mothers had to take them out to quiet them. The preacher's face was as red as a gobler's snout. Saturday night I preached on the importance of obedience to all God's commands. I believe the Holy Spirit sealed this truth home to the hearts and consciences of many souls. Sunday we Baptists went out to the meeting. It was their communion season. After the preaching the preacher invited all Christians to the Lord's table, except those whose principles forbid them. That let us Baptists all out, for he learned our prin- ciples Friday night. At 4 p. m., at Mr. Roper's pond, I baptized fif- 13 194 LIFE AND LABORS OF teen as happy subjects as I ever saw; never saw brig-liter countenances nor a more beautiful scene. There was a vast crowd of spectators. It was a beau- tiful evening, and it seems to me the Lord never made a more beautiful place to baptize believers. I learned that some of those old Presbyterians went away and said, that must be the right way after all. At night we extended the right hand of fellowship to those baptized, and I preached my farewell sermon. After closing this meeting my son and I went to Eennettsville to visit my nephew, Dr. John Jordan, and rest a few daj^s. Friday we returned to Laurin- burg, and I preached in the Methodist Church, and received two of their o^vll members for baptism, Mrs. Willoughby and Mr. Iluckaby. Saturday morning I baptized this good brother and sister, and bade the good people of Laurinburg farewell. MEETING IN ROCKINGHAM. I Ix'gan a meeting in Rockingham on Sunday, April 13, 1870. This was an old to^vn, composed of an intelligent, wealthy population, mostly of the Methodist persuasion. The Baptists never having had any organization or house of worship in the place. I began preaching in the court-house, and the Holy Spirit manifested its presence and willingness to bless. The congregations were large and att-en- tivo. Prayer-meeting every morning and preaching at night. My son, W. T. Jordan, joined me on ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 195 Monday, and aided in the meeting, which increased in interest at every service, until the wliole place seemed to be moved. On Thursday night, April 24th, after the sermon old Bro. John Monroe, W. T. Jordan and I, organ- ized a Baptist Church in the court-house, of twenty- four members. The exercises were very interesting. The next night I preached on the subjects and mode of baptism and communion, after which, eight were received for baptism. Many were convinced tliat the Baptists are right in their faith and practice. Saturday I preached at Cartlidge's Creek, and dined with old Sister Hannah Covington, now in her 85th year. Preached in town, at nights, and four were received for baptism, all Methodists. Sunday I preached at 11 a. ni., and at 4 p. m. I baptized sixteen in the presence of at least one thousand people, H. C. Dockery and wife among the number. We extended the right hand of fellow- ship at night and I preached my farewell sermon. This increased the membership from twenty-four to forty. There is an incident or two connected with this meeting worthy of special mention. Sister Dockery was an Episcopalian, but was convinced that it was her duty to be baptized according to the teaching of the N^ew Testament. Her husband liad been received. The last opportunity was given at 11 a. m. Tlie baptism was to be in the afternoon. She 196 LIFE AND LABORS OF was in great trouble. I went home with them to dine — went np stairs to rest a little before dinner was ready. She soon sent for me to come down, and help her settle the great question of the divine com- mand. Tn a short time the question was settled, and she Avas happy. With a bright, happy face, she ate her dinner, went down to the water and was received and baptized with her husband. She was one of the prettiest women and one of the most lovely Chris- tians T ever saw. It did look like a pity for her to die so young. Long since she has been in heaven. I now l^egin to look forward with fond anticipations to the day when T shall meet the young converts, and those whom I have baptized, in the glory world. Bro. Dockery's was our home during the meeting. Another incident connected with this meeting in Rockingham T will mention. Tlie goats had been accustomed to occupy the court-house whenever it suited their convenience. So they would sometimes come into the meeting. T recollect one Sunday morning at the 11 o'clock service, while T w^as preach- ing, an old goat walked in deliberately, and surveyed the situation. He would look at me, and then at the congregation. Every eye was fixed upon the goat, and the situation was both amusing and painful. At leni^th a friend relieved the suspense by putting out the goat. I thought, ^^Poor fellow, how fitly you represent the day, and that class of people, when Jesus will divide the sheep from the goats." ELDER F. M. JORDAN". jl97 MEETING IN EINCOLNTON. Lincolnton was a towTi of a good deal of wealth and intelligence, bnt very little piety. The people of the town and the surrounding eonntry had been under the influence of Lutherans, Episcopalians, and German Reformed denominations, a form of godli- ness without its power. Here the Baptists had no church nor meeting-house, and but a few Baptists in the town ; but they longed for Baptist preaching and Baptist privileges. Brother A. L. Stough w^as liv- ing at, and pastor of, the Baptist Church in Shelby, and preached occasionally in Lincolnton. The German Reforms had an old dilapidated house there with a membership nearly extinct. Brother Stough got permission to have this old house repaired, and fitted up for worship. On the first of June, 1889, I began a meeing wdth Brother Stough in this old house. The congregations were large and attentive. There was a great spiritual dearth in Lincolnton at this time. I don't know when there ever had been a revival of religion. The Holy Spirit was present in great power. God's convicting and regenerating work soon appeared. The whole town w^as moved, and all classes were coming out to the meeting, and the children and people of other denom- inations w^ere coming forward for prayer, especially the Episcopalians, and I have no doubt would have been converted if they had been let alone. But 198 LIFE AND LABOES OF when 'Mr. Wetmore, the Episcopal minister in charge, saw that tlio Baptist meeting was a success, and that there was danger of his people being brought under Baptist influence, he began to oppose the meeting the most stubbornly of any thing I ever witnessed. He stopped his people from coming to the meeting, and their children from seeking salva- tion. But the meeting increased in interest in pro- portion to the opposition. On Wednesday, June 11th, there were four bright professions of faith in Christ, and God carried on His work over the head of all opposition. The whole toA\ai seemed to be awakened. Saturday, June 14th, seven w;ere received for baptism. Preached at night on bap- tism and communion — the first duty the Lord requires after regenerativ^n is baptism. Sunday, at 5 p. m. I baptized six persons in the Catawba Biver, in the presence of twelve or fifteen hundred peoplc^^ — the first scriptural baptism many e\'er saw. Hearing of sickness in my family, I returned home. On the 19th I received a telegram to return to Lincolnton. Saturday I returned and found the meeting going on with great interest. Dr. T. Whit- field carried on the meeting in my absence. On Sun- day at 5 p. m. I baptized eleven persons — seven males and four females — in the Catawba River, in the presence of a vast assembly. Many felt and believed that immersion alone is scriptural baptism. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 199 The work reached into the country. The old people said there never was snch a work of grace here. On Sunday we met at 9 o'clock and organized a Sunday-school of seven teachers and thirty scholars; some sixty persons present. At 5 p. m. I baptized twelve willing souls in the presence of a vast congre- gation, making twenty-nine during the meeting. At night those who had been baptized stood up in a semi-circle in front of the pulpit, and the right hand of fellowship was given. It was a lovely and impressive scene. Among this number were Thomas and James Wilkie and wife,prominent citizens of the town, and have been pillars in the church of God. Miss Mamie Wilkie, daughter of Brother and Sister James Wilkie, had been going to the Methodist Sun- day-school, and had about made up her mind to be a Methodist in spite of all that could be said or done. She was about half mad when her father and mother were baptized, and at the same time fighting the influences of the Spirit, and turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of her friends. After ^the right hand of fello'W^ship had been extended, her father and mother among the number, and the meeting closed, she came down the aisle heart-broken, gave me her hand and asked me to pray for her. I spent the night with Bro. Thomas Wilkie, her uncle, ^ext morning she sent for me to come dovm. to their house. I went, and saw her standing on the porch, with a bright, happy face, and the love of Jesus shed abroad in her heart. 200 LIFE AND LABOES OF About 12 o'clock in the night, in her room, alone by herself, she found the Savior precious to her soul. Then she was anxious to be baptized. Pure and iindefiled religion has a great deal to do with scrip- tural baptism. During this meeting a good lady who had been confirmed in the Episcopal Church the year before, was coming to the meeting, and by the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit was brought to realize that she was unregenerated and in a lost condition; tJiat she was in the Episcopal Church, but out of Christ. She requested me to come to her house and talk with her on the subject of her soul's salvation. She was coming forward for prayer in great distress. One morning I w^ent to see her, and soon after I got there Mr. Wetmore, the Episcopal preacher, came in.^ He told this good w^oman that he was her spiritual adviser, and that if she had any trouble she ought to come to him — as good as to say I had no business there. I was under the necessity of giving him a very plain talk on his false teaching; told him he had no evidence of being a Christian. I asked him for his Christian experience, his travel from nature to grace. He said the idea of having a gi^eat burden for sin, and knowing anything about any particular time or place when you lost it, was all tomfoolery, and that if that was religion he did not know anything about it. "1^0," said I, "I don't believe you do know anything about it, and unless you have a better KI.DER F. M. JORDAN. 201 • experience of grace T believe the devil will get you, certain." Said T, ^^You are the blind leading the blind, and God says you will both fall into the ditch." I offered liim the Bible, and told him if there was one syllable in all the Word of God that taught the bap- tism of an unbeliever of any sort, young or old, I wanted him to show it to me. He never attempted to show a single passage. Said I, ^^Do you believe in baptismal regeneration, as taught in the Episcopal prayer-book ?" ''Yes," said he, ''I believe every word of it." "Then," said T, ''If the little babe, when poured or sprinkled, is regenerated, made an heir of the kingdom of heaven, and adopted into the family of God, it does uot need any repentance or faith. But suppose this was not done, as most assuredly it was not, and the child growls up to be a man, and turns out to be wicked and profligate, but has been taught from the cradle that it was made a child of God when sprinkled in infancy, repentance and faith are excluded, and they are cheated out of heaven and happiness, and consequently infant sprinkling becomes a damnable heresy." When I was about leaving, "^ow," said I, "Mr. W., I believe the PToly Spirit is striving with this good woman, and if you will let her alone she will be converted and saved." She said that after I left he gave her a tremendous lecture, but said my plain talk to him did her a great deal of good. She per- severed and was happily converted,, and I baptized 202 LIFE AND LABORS OF ter and her husband — Brother and Sister Ciishing. One morning Mr.Wetmore was going through town, and met a fellow on the street, and asked him if he I'.ad l>een attending the Baptist meeting. Said he had. '•Well, what do you think of the meeting?'' ''Oh," he says, "I think it is a great meeting and they are doing a great deal of good up there." "Well," said the minister, '"is anybody joining the church ?" "Yes," said he. "They are just joining the church like the devil !" I believe Mr. Wetmore will have to give an account at the day of judgment for his oppo- sition to that meeting. MEETING AT COOL SPRING. I began a meeting at Cool Spring, Rutherford County, July 27, 187Q. The meeting continued eleven days ; twenty-five professions of f aitli in Christ. On the last day of the meeting I baptized fourteen. Elder J. H. • Yarboro's w^ife among the number — a splendid woman. On Saturday during this meeting I ran down to Lincolnton, and baptized Miss Mamie Wilkie and Mrs. Comwell. This sister lived six miles in the country, and was so persecuted that one of her brothers went and staid with her to protect her till she could be baptized. Z^lEETING AT MT. MORIAH. I commenced a meeting at Mt. Moriab, in Transyl- vania County, August 31, 1879, with Elder G. W. ELDKK F. M. .JOKDAN. -i''o Brooks, pastor. The meeting continued eight days. 1 preached day and night. The church seemed to be in the Spirit, and the word liad free course, and was glorified. Sunday, September 7th, we met at 10 a. m., on the bank of the French Broad Kiver, where I bap- tized nineteen willing souls in its sparkling waters — a happy scene. This is said to have been the best meeting ever held at lit. Moriah, before or since. MEETIIN^G IN WAYNESVILLE. On the 14th of September I began a meeting in AVaynesville, with Bro. E. Allison, pastor. I preached day and night for two weeks. On Sunday, the last day of the meeting, T baptized nine near the church, in the rippling waters of Kichland Creek. This was a good meeting. I never labored with a more congenial spirit than Brother Allison, always full of the Spirit and of faith. He and I have spent many happy seasons together. He had charge of a good church and people in Waynesville. During this meeting I caught some fine fish in Kichland Creek. Jesus tells us of fishers of fishes, and fishers of men, so I was both. MEETING IN CHARLOTTE. I began a meeting in Charlotte, October, 5, 1879. The meeting continued ten days; there were several '204r LIFE AND LABORS OF professions of religion. Carey Dowd made a bright profession of religion during this meeting. MEETIXG AT UNION III1>L, DAVIDSON COUNTY. Old ^Ir. Xicholas Williams, a man of wealth, intelligence, and influence, and uncle of Elder John K. Connally, lived on the Yadkin River, near Union Hill Church. Brother Connally Avas greatly con- cerned for his salvation, and requested me to go to Union Hill, and hold a meeting for his special bene- fit. I went, and began a meeting there, December 13th. It was a very rainy season, the streams were swollen, so that it was difficult to get to church. The Yadkin River was out of its banks. I preached a week, and the last day of the meeting baptized Miss Emma Haynes in the Yadkin River — a bright yoimg lady. T did* all I could for Mr. Williams, but don't know whether he ever professed any hope of heaven or not. This was a long and wearisome journey through the rain and mud. This closed the labors, toils and sacrifices of another year. ISSO.- -On the 4th of January, 1880, I began a meeting in Spartanburg, S. C, with Elder J. L. Vass, pastor. This meeting continued three weeks. There were quite a number of professions of faith in Christ. The last night of the meeting. Brother Vass bap'izcd eleven lovely young people. Brother Vass ELDER F. M. JOKDAN. 205 was a good financier, and I considered him a wise leader and good pastor. OUR NEW HOME. 1 purchased a lot at Hendersonville, and built a good house upon it. The 7tli of February, 1880, we moved into our new home, where we lived five years and sent our children to Judson College. MEETI?s^G IN WADESBORO. Sunday, the 29th of February, I began a meeting in AYadesboro. My home was w4th Dr. Covington. The church was in rather a cold state, and the stand- ard of morality and piety at a low ebb. Here I met witli many old friends. On Saturday I went nine miles in the country and dined with Charlotte McBride, the first person I ever baptized. At the close of the first week six men had made a profession of religion, and the church was greatly revived. But there were stumbling-blocks in the way — wicked professors of religion, billiard-tables and grog shops. In some parts of the town every third door is a grog shop. T always made it a rule not to walk on the side of the street where there was a grog shop, but I tell you it was close dodging where every third door on both sides was a grog shop. The meeting con- tinued two weeks, some were received for baptism, and the meeting closed. 206 LIFE AND LABORS OF MEETING AT LILESVILLE. On the 22ncl of ]\[arcli I began a meeting with G. W. Ilaniion, pastor. Here is where I lived and taught school in 1854, and I was now in the midst of my old patrons and pupils. I was suffering with pain in niy side, and Brother Harmon preached some good sermons during the meeting. There were sev- eral professions, and some received for baptism. Sim- da v, at 10 a. m., I baptized five persons, Mrs. Ingram, who had been a Methodist for many years, among them. MEETING AT ASHPOLE^ liOBESON COUNTY. Here Brother Stinceon Ivey had a fiourishing school in a good neighborhood. The church seemed to be rather lukewarm in the outset, but warmed up as the meeting progressed. The work of conviction and conversion soon appeared in all classes in the community, and the meeting went on in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. Husbands and wives, parents and children, were coming to Christ, and it was a time of great rejoicing. Most of the professions were made away from the church, at home, and in the woods, when the penitents were alone by themselves, and then they would tell volun- tarily of the love of Jesus shed abroad in their hearts, because they could nr)t keep it secret. This has been characteristic of nearly all my meetings, which I ELDEK F. M. JORDAN. 207 think is much more hoi^efiil than this handshaking and pulling out a confession of Christ. I preached day and night for four weeks. Saturday, May 8th, was a day of fasting and prayer for a revival of religion in the church and community. There were professions at almost every service. On Sunday, May 23d, I baptized twenty-five per- sons — twelve men and thirteen ladies. One Presby- terian and one Methodist among the number. There were more than fifty converts. I preached my farewell sermon, and the young converts, brethren, sisters, and many poor sinners gave me the parting ha,nd. i^ever shall I forget the sainted Brother Ivey; the Floyds, the Inmans, the Mitchells, the Pittmans, the Thompsons, and a host of others, with their dear children, and Brother Ivey's school. We shall meet again in the sweet bye and bye. I returned from Ashpole to Lumberton, and remained there and preached a week; had a good meeting, at the close of which I baptized Miss Cherry Godwin and Miss Ellen Cellars, two lovely young women, Methodists. On June 8th I attended Commencement at Wake forest. Met with Board of Trustees. J. D. Boone delivered the address before the Alumni Association. The address before the Literary Societies was deliv- ered by Dr. T). R. Wallace, of Waco, Texas. The 208 LIFE AND LABOKS OF Annual Sermon was delivered at night by Wayland Ilojt, D. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y. I began a meeting in Winston, June 20th, mth IT. A. Brown, pastor. The meeting continued twelve days. Tlie church Avas greatly revived; sev- eral professions of religion. I baptized three lovely young people. It is always a benediction to meet my many friends in Winston, where I have labored so much for so many years. Sunday, July 4th, I bee-an a meeting in Greens- boro, which continued a week. A very refreshing, delightful meeting. At the close I baptized Miss Hattie Sampson, from a Presbyterian family. Miss Mary Smith and her brother. LILESVILLE. I I began a meeting at Lilesville, August 8th, which continued ten days. A very delightful meeting. At the close T baptized eight persons. Mr. Weldon Cox and wife, Mrs. Jane Liles, and Mrs. Ann Henry among the number. BENNETTSVILLE^ S. C. Sunday, August 22nd, I began a meeting in Bennettsville, with J. A. W. Thomas, pastor. My home during the meeting was with my nephew. Dr. John L. Jordan. The weather was unusually hot ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 209 and oppressive, and the mosqiiitx>es, bugs and gnats, yerj numerous and troublesome. Great coldness and want of the Spirit in the church, and sinners hard- ened in sin. I continued to preach day and night, but little demonstration upon the part of either saint or sinner. Such a highly-favored people, and so far from God. ^ • 1 find these items in .njy diary : ^^More interest ; some manifest an interest in their soul's salvation. But it is with great difficulty that I can keep the bugs and gnats out of my ears, eyes and mouth. At a great loss whether to undertake to continue the meet- ing after the first week or not! I feel very much like^ that if I get out of this countiy I will not come back any more in hot weather. About the only redeeming feature is the scuppernong grapes. The meeting goes on, but sinners hard to move. Worldly- mindness a deadly hinderance. More interest, but oh, how hardened sinners are. Sunday, September 5th, preached my farewell sermon. Four profes- sions of religion, and three received for baptism.'^ Of a meeting in Greensboro, my diary says : Sun- day, September 26th, I began a meeting in Greens- boro. Prayer-meeting at 10 a. m., and preaching at night. The church is comparatively cold and sin- ners hard to move. Thursday night, September 30th, I baptized Sister Crump, who had been a very ardent Methodist. Monday night, October 4th, I 14 210 LIFE AND LABORS OF preachocl with gi-eat liberty. Mrs. Rosa Houston came for^vard for prayer, and made a bright profes- sion of religion. She was so bright and happy. Wednesday night, preached on the sin of covetous- ness. Some thought a little soothing-syrup would be good after such a sermon as that. Sunday, October 10th, preached at 11 a. m. At 3 p. m., met mth the church to consult with reference to calling a pasr tor. Preached my farewell sermon at night. Thus closed a good meeting of two weeks.'' MINERAL SPRING^ S. C. T began a meeting at Mineral Spring, October 23, 1S80. This is a good community, in a fine sec- tion of countr;^^ The church Avas in a lively spirit- ual condition. God's regenerating work soon appeared, and the meeting went on with spirit and powder. On Sunday, November 7th, I baptized fourteen interesting persons. One of this niunber was our young Bro. James Lucas, who graduated at Wake Forest, and I think is now teaching at Bethel Hill, Person Cyounty. Bro. H. G. Lucas and I were bom and raised within a mile of each other, in Mont- gomery' Coimty, and it w^as a great pleasure to enjoy his hospitable home, and talk of the scenes of our childhood days, and of the past. The parting scene of this meeting was a melting time. ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 211 JERUSALEM. i>om this place I went to Jerusalem, in Davie County, and stopped with Bro. S. J. Tatiira. Here I aided Bro. Conrad in a good meeting of eight days. At the close I baptized eight persons in South Yad- kin Kiver, at Brother- Lindsay's mill. The Lord granted us a parting blessing. Here I had a good time with Brother Godfrey and S. J. Latum, W. B. Clement, the Eatons, and many others of precious memory. From here Brother Conrad and I went to Farming-ton, in Davie County, preached a week, and had a good meeting. Oh, what a good church and people. Brethren B. F. Eaton, Dr. Wiseman, Furchis, Ptich, Charles, and Sister S. O. Latum, wife of Bro. S. O. Latum, who was my schoolmate at Waive Forest,, and one of the noblest men of earth. Returned home after an absence of two months and four days. LITTLE RIVER. On the 17th of December Bro. ^N'elson Bowen and I began a meeiting at Little River, Lransylvania County. Lhe weather was cold and sloppy, but the church and people were colder than the weather, in comparatively a frozen state. Lhe meeting lasted * eight days. Lhe old stovepipe was in a bad state, and I never saw a congregation and preachers smoked so badly in all my life. I never cried as much in any meeting, I don't think, but the tears were brought 212 LIFE AND LABORS OF by tliat miserable smoke, not by the Spirit. It reminded me of smoking a gromid-bog out of a hol- low tree. I find this note in my diary: 'The church and people in the valleys of Crabb Creek and Little River are in a deplorable condition, spiritually." I said one thing there, for which these good" people never have forgiven me: ^That I had been looking for the devil's headquarters, and that I believed I had found them." MEETING AT ENON. Sunday, January 16. — I began a meeting at Enon, Transylvania County, with W. W. Wells, pastor. The church was in a fine spiritual condi- tion, and the meeting went on with great power for two weeks. At the close of the first week Brotlier Wells was called away, and I carried on the meeting. Quite a number made a profession of saving faith in Christ. On Friday of the second week I preached especially to the young converts, with reference to their uniting with the church, as was my custom to teach them Christian duty, and their obligation to Christ. After the sermon tliirteen lovely young people were received for baptism. This was a hapj^y meeting. T was very much worn from tlie arduous labors of the meeting, and yet happy in iiiy work. Sunday, .laniiai'v ?)0. — A large concourse of peo ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 213 pie assembled at the water near Brother Beck's mill. It was m_v pleasure to bury with Christ in baptism fonrteen happv sonls ; all promising young people. It was a happy and impressive scene. We repaired to the house of God, where I extended the right hand of fellowship to tliose baptized; preached my farewell se.rmon, sang a parting hymn, and the Lord granted us a great, parting blessing. I have been intimately acquainted with most, if not all, these converts through all these years, and know that they have been burning and shining lights in the church. One of them. Miss Ida. Osborne, is now the wife of a Baptist preacher, Brother Bobeson, of Gaffney City, S. C. During this meeting, I dined and spent the night with Mr. Thomas S. Wood, who manages Mr. Lowdnes's fine farm on the French Broad Biver. He now has on hand one hun- dred and forty-two head of cattle, and is fattening fifty-five fine steers ; has one hundred fine sheep with other fine stock. Mr. Wood was brought up on a farm in Scotland. Says they cultivated fifteen hundred acres, had three hundred acres in turnips, and six hundred acres in oats, and had sixty-three pairs of horses for the plow. He is the best farmer in this country. BEULAH. The 18th of February, I began a meeting at Beu- lah, Henderson County. This was a good spiritual 214 LIFE AND LABORS OF meeting of eleven days. The church, was greatly revived and strengthened. I baptized six bright young people in the French Broad Kiver, and closed a glorious meeting at Beulah. BEAR SWAMP^ S. C. On March 10th, I began a meeting at Bear Swamp, Marion County, S. C. Here we had a glorious meet- ing with a liberal-hearted, whole-souled people. I preached day and night for eleven days. Baptized six yoimg people of great promise, viz. : Suphronia A. Daniels, Leonora M. Daniels, Mattie Ayers, Miss Watts, Edward Hill, and Aligood Coner. The church and friends paid me $93.43, cash, for eleven days' service. Here I want to record the names of some of these good people, whose hospitality and kindness I so much enjoyed: J. X. Page, E. B. Ford, Enoch Ayers, T. B. Ayers, D. M. Shaw, Lee Daniel, J. D. Boyers, and others. LAURINBURG. On March 23rd, I began a meeting in Laurinburg. The second night of the meeting Miss Sue Oglesby made a bright profession of religion. She promised me two weeks before that she would quit dancing, and seek the Savior. The meeting continued nine days ; there were several professions of religion. On March 31st I baptized three interesting young peo- ple: Miss Sue Oglesby, Alfred Vernon, and Walter ELDER F. M. JOKDAIT. 216 Falsted. My home during this meeting was with Bro. L. !N^. Lucas. ASHPOLE. On the 3rd of April I began a meeting at Ashpole, Robeson County, with Bro. Haynes Lennon, pastor. The meeting continued a week ; there were nine pro- fessions of religion. At the close I baptized six lovely young people. Brother Lennon is the pioneer preacher, known and loved all over that country. Had another delightful meeting and visit with the good people of Ashpole. MEETING AT FAYETTEVILLE. My diary says: "Sunday, May 1, 1881, I began a meeting in Fayetteville, with Brother Ebletoft, pastor. The interest increases as the meeting pro- gresses. Soon the work of conviction and conversion appears, and the Holy Spirit is manifesting His presence, and willingness to bless. The congrega- tions are large, solemn and attentive. Oh, for a genuine revival of religion in the old town of Fayette- ville. I feel gTeatly fatigued on account of long- continued and arduous labors.. Little Mary A. Atkinson is the first convert in the meeting. So bright and happy, such a heavenly smile upon her countenance. Mrs. Branch makes a bright profes- sion of faith, and seems to be so bright and happy, ^i'hus God is carrying on His work. Up to this 21f> LIFE AND LABORS OF Stage of the meeting not a single young man has r lanifested any interest in his soul. A want of good family government and good discipline in the clnirches is the bane of the churches and society at this day." An incident of this meeting I shall never forget On the evening of Memorial Day, I preached on religious privileges from the text, ^^And thou Caper- naum which art exalted to heaven/' etc. I had three men, one from Tyre, one from Capernaum, and cue from Fayetteville to meet in hell and relate their experiences. There was an old negro in the gal- lery- who liad been a regular attendant for more than thirty years — since the days of James McDaniel. When the fellow from Tyre got through with relat- ing his experience, the old negro gave a gToan that was heard all over the house, and greatly amused some of the people. When the man from Caper- naum got through, his privileges and blessings had been so much greater than the man's from Tyre, that the old negro gave a much louder and more prolonged groan. By this time many of the yoimg people were laughing. Then the man from Fayetteville began his story. He told of how he was born and reared imder the best of religious influences in Fayette- ville ; lioAv his parents, teachers and friends had urged him to give his heart to Christ, and how the Rev. ?j ames JMcDaniel had often broken his heart by Iris pure gospel preaching. Then he told about the EI^DER F. M. JORDAN. 2 IT war tJirougli which he had passed imhiirt, of the burning of the arsenal in. Fajetteville, then of that verv memorial day, of Gen. Wharton Green's speech, of the meeting in the Baptist Church, of the sermons, the prayers and entreaties of his friends, and finally said that he had turned his back upon all these priv- ile^r'es and blessings, and died without God and with- 01 It hope, and was now in hell because of his own lauJt. By this time the pepole seemed to have for- gotten the old negi'O, and the silence was almost pain- tnl. But the old man could hardly stand it. In tones the most a^\^ul and most awe-inspiring I have ever heard, he exclaimed with loud and long empha- sis, ^^My God !" The eifect was tremendous. I had to close the sermon and let the people go home, some laughing, some crying, and all apparently scared. CHAPTER XII. Rockingham— Fines Creek— Morganton —Abbott's Creek — Old Fort — Cane Creek — Toisnot — Wilson — Ham Iton — Ply- mouth—East Fork— Smiday Meetings — 1888— Monroe— Polkton — Morganton— Smoky Hollow. MEETING IN ROCKINGHAM. I began a meeting in Rockingham, May 22, 1881. I want to give an account of this meeting just about as it occurred, as a sample of most of the meetings which I have conducted. To elaborate, or give par- ticulars of all the meetings, would require several volumes. I preached at 11 a. m. Large, attentive congre- gation ; dined with H. C. Dockery ; preached at night, some interest upon the part of sinners. The church seemed to be longing for a great revival of religion in Rockingham. Spent the night with H. C. Dockery. Monday. — Prayer-meeting at 10 a. m. ; dined with Sister Il^orthcott ; preached at night ; some came forward for prayer ; good meeting. Oh, for the power of Elijah's God, to move the people. Tuesday. — Warm prayer-meeting at 10 a. m. ; dined with Brother Register at the hotel. Preached at night ; six penitents — ^great solemnity. Wednesday. — Prayer-meeting at 10 a. m. ; dined with Mr. Moore. Preached at night. The interest 220 LIFE AND LABORS OF seems to be spreading, and the number of enquiring souls increasing. But Oh, how hard the men are; folloAving the devices of satan, led captive at his will. Thursday. — Prayer-meeting at 11 a. m. Dined with Brother McCall. Preached at night — ^great solemnity — quite a number came forward for prayer. !^^ay God's regenerating work appear, and may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. Friday. — Good prayer-meeting. Preached with good liberty at night from the words of the jailer: '^What must I do to be saved V^ Thirteen young ladies came forward for prayer, and seemed deeply distressed with reference to the salvation of their souls. Saturday. — Good prayer-meeting. Dined with H. C. Dockerv. Preached to a crowded house at night ; a large number of penitents, and two profes- sions of faith in Christ. Oh, for power with God, that we may have power w4th men. Sunday. — Attended the Sabbath-school — delighted with the exercises ; twelve classes, with an average of about ten pupils to the class. Preached at 11 a. m. to a large congregation. Much tenderness — nine- teen came forward for prayer. Preached at night to a large and profoundly attentive congregation. Twenty came forward for prayer, and there were apparently six happy con- versions. The meeting to-night was one of great ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 221 power. Some promising joimg men among the con- verts. Monday. — Prayer-meeting at 9. Dined with Mr. McKinnon. Preached at night. One profes- sion of faith in Christ, others deeply distressed. God is upholding me in a most Avonderful manner. Tuesday. — Precious prayer-meeting. Dined with Miss Mary Cole; think she is a Christian, but she is so doubtful. The Lord give her trust and confidence to follow Him. Preached at night with some degree of liberty. The w^ord seemed to have free course, and sinners were deeply moved. Two professions of faith in Christ. The leaven seems to be permeating the town and community. Wednesday. — Prayer-meeting very precious. Dined with John C. ISTichols ; a delightful visit. After reading God's word, and engaging in prayer, old Sister I^ichols and two of her daughters got so happy that they shouted, and praised the Lord for a considerable length of time.. Don't know when I have been so happy myself. Preached at night; three professions of religion, and several new peni- tents. Thursday. — Ver)^ tender prayer-meeting. Dined with Mr. P. T. Long at the hotel ; good meeting at night. Friday. — Warm prayer-meeting. Dined with Brother Atkinson. Preached at night. The work of conviction and regeneration seem to be going on 222 LIFE AND LABORS OF in toA\Ti and coiintrv. The chiTrch is greatly revived and strengthened, and the Sabhath-school has shared largely in the blessings of salvation — such happy children. Saturday. — This is my birthday — fifty-one years of age. How fast these periods are being numbered. Took my birthday dinner with old Sister Alfred Dockery, and preached at Cartlidges Creek in tJie afternoon, where I taught school in 1856. Saw sev- eral of my pupils who now have families. Spent the day delightfully ; saw old Aunt Hannah Coving- ton, now 80 years old. Preached in to^^m at night — remarkably good meeting. Three professions of reli- gion ; eight received for baptism. » Sunday. — Delightful meeting with the Simday- school, which numbers one hundred and forty-six. Preached at 11 a. m., to a large congregation. One received for baptism. Dined with Sister I^orthcott. At 5 p. m., I baptized sixteen willing souls in the presence of at least eight hundred people — two aged mothers, the others interesting young people. It was a happy and impressive occasion ; just tlie same num- ber I baptized at a previous meeting. At night the right hand of fellowship was given to twenty-two, and this was a happy time. I then preached my farewell sermon ; one profession of religion, and tiiree received for baptism. How different the surround- ings from the first time I preached in the old court- house in Kockingham. Then, no church, no house ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 223 of worship, no Sunday-school. Now a good house, a good membership, a good Sunday-school, with a set- tled pastor, and the valley blossoming as the rose. Bro. T. Harrison is the pastor, the same good brother with whom I labored in Hertford, and whom I told at the water that Philip must have been a Baptist preacher. FINES CREEK. Julv 31. — I besran a meeting: at Fines Creek, in Haywood County, which continued eight days. On Sunday, August 6th, at 9 o'clock a. m., I married a couple, and at 10 a. m., I baptized a young lady. MORGANTON. September 6, 1881. — I began a meeting in Morgan- t-on, with Elder J. R. Jones, pastor. This place had been long neglected, and the Baptists were strug- ling to get a foothold. They had built a small house right in the business part of to^vn. This meeting continued ten days, with prayer-meeting in the after- noon and preaching at night. There was great indif- ference upon the part of professors of religion. Sunday, September 11. — At 4 p. m.,I baptized Mrs. Chandler in the Catawba River, at the McDowell Ford. Slio arose from the liquid grave with a heavenly smile upon her countenance. She is the first white person ever baptized at Morganton. Mr. Chandler and the oldest daughter made a profession 224- LIFE AND LABORS OF of religion. Mr. Chandler and Mrs. Ross were received for baptism, and the church and cause doubt- less greatly strengthened. From here I go to Abbott's creek^ Davidson county. I began a meeting at Abbott's Creek, September 20, 1S81. The brethren and sisters wept for joy on our arrival. The church is tender-hearted, and full of the Spirit, and the blessing of God was manifest in every service, and the interest increased to the very last. The hearts of sinners were easily touched and tendered, and the work of regeneration soon appeared. Mourners were comforted and Christians rejoiced and praised the Lord. Almost every sinner who came to the meeting seemed to be deeply impressed. Some professions and some received for baptism at almost every service. Six professions at one service. Some thirty souls made a bright pro- fession of a saving faith in Christ, and thirteen received for baptism. September 27th, a large congregation met at Brother Beeson's Mill, where it was my pleasure to bury with Christ in baptism, nine happy souls. The scene was beautiful and impressive. We repaired to the church, where I gave the right hand of fellow- ship and preached my farewell sermon, and amid sobs and tears bade the people farewell. Just eleven years ago, I baptized thirty-two at this place. I shall carry in my heart, to the grave the ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 225 Beosons, the Teagaies, the Clinards, the Traynhams, the Spiirgeons, and a host of other good people all around old Abbott's Creek. I hope I will be pardoned for tlie following inci- dent. I made an appointment to preach at a brick school-house in that- country. It was night, and to many I was a stranger. The house was packed, and every eye turned to see the preacher. I walked in and advanced down the aisle. Two girls were sit- ting on the end of a bench with an intense gaze fixed upon me. One of them said, "Lord, what a pretty man." OLD FORT. September 29, 1881. — I began a meeting at Old Fort- The Holy Spirit seemed to be with us right in the beginning. Sunday, October 2nd, the fourth day of the meeting, we met on the bank of Mill Creek^ at 4 p. m., where it was my happy privilege to bury with Christ in baptism, six willing souls, the first ever baptized at Old Fort — four men and two young ladies. The meeting went on tlirough another week in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. There were deep and pungent convictions for sin, and bright, happy professions of deliverance from the power and dominion of sin. Sunday, October 9. — At 4 p. m., I baptized six ladies in the clear, sparkling waters of Mill Creek — 15 226 LIFE AND LABORS OF two mothers, and four yoimg ladies ; twenty-one pro- fessions, fifteen received and twelve baptized; Capt. W. P. Terrell was one of this number. After attending the meeting of the Western Con- vention at Franklin, in Macon County, and preach- ing a week following the Convention, for which the bretliren gave me a donkey and five ' dollars, I returned home after an absence of nearly two months. CANE CREEK. October 30. — I beiran a meeting: at Cane Creek, Bimcombe County, which continued one week, at the close of which I baptized four persons. Have spent two days and nights at home in two months. TOISNOT. After a meeting of two weeks at Toisnot, with no visible results, I went to WILSON. My diary says: ''Elder Joseph E. Carter is pas- tor of the Baptist Church in Wilson, and lives in the town. I stop and preach a week with him. It was a delightful meeting and a precious season of grace. But there are so many isms to contend with — infidel- ity, the anti-mission spirit, and imiversalism, and devilism all combined. Here I had a chill, and was very unwell part of the time. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 227 ■•^Sunday, December 11th, I preached with unusual liberty morning and night. At night 'I preached on the plan Avhich God has devised through the death of His Son, whereby the soul may be saved. The house was crowded, and yet not a single sinner man- ifested a desire to be saved. The devil seemed to have this whole country almost entirely under his control. Very much fatigued from the labors of yesterday. Precious prayer-meeting; Christians are made to rejoice. Preached with good liberty at night. Christians express themselves as being greatly blessed and strengthened by the preaching. Spent a very restless night; could not- sleep. Both my mind and body are worn down. Oh, how I long to rest with the loved ones at home. Preached my farewell sermon December 14th. Bade the dear brethren and sisters farewell — much tenderness and wieeping. Have preached nearly eVelry night for more than three months, and much of the time day and night. I trust the blessing of God has rested upon these arduous labors. I greatly enjoyed my visit with Brother Cai-ter and his kind family. Betumed home after an absence of more than five weeks. Have spent only five days and nights at home in over three months." HENDERSONVILLE. After holding a good meeting in Hendersonville, I went to 228 ELDER F. M. JORDAN. HAMILTON. This place and country had been for many years almost entirely under the influence and control of the anti-mission Baptists, a non-aggressive people. Bro. R. B. Salisbury, a sound ^ew Testament Baptist, ^vlio had lived there for years, stood firm, but almost alone, hoping and praying for the time to come when they could have a good Missionary Bap- tist Church. Through the efforts, contributions and prayers of Elder T. D. TTufham, Dennis Simmons, Noah Biggs, and others, a good house of worship w^as built in TTamilton, a church organized, and Elder F. B. Underwood settled there as pastor. The meeting l>egan March 12th, and lasted nearly tlirce weeks. Brotlier TTufham was with me much of th(^ time, and preached some heart-searching, soul- stirring sermons. A large number were baptized, among them Frank Underwood, a son of the pastor, Bcv. F. R. Underwood, whom I found to be a quiet, consecrated man and safe leader. Brother Salisbury gave me fifty dollars, and Brother Noah Biggs twenty-five dollars for my labors. Both of these brethren have hearts as big as the world, and have done more than any other two laymen, perhaps, in building up the Lord's cause in eastern North Carolina. The following letter is in point here: ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 229 EvERETTs, X. C, Feb. 1, 1898. Dear Bro. Jordan : — I see in tlie Recorder, that you are writing a liistory of your life, and want inci- dents of intcre^st. My wife, Addie Whitley, a strong Methodist, was made a strong Baptist by your preaching in a good meeting in Hamilton, N. C, in 1882. Up to that time slie was one of the strongest Methodists I eve.r saw. She was sprinkled in infancy, and T have often heard her tell Dr. Hufham and other T^aptist preachers, that they would never get her under the water, and would say she was per- fectly satisfied with her baptism. But tiirough your preaching and impressing the importance of immer- sion, she became greatly interested, and to my great surprise, she joined the Baptist Church. And when you immersed her in the Roanoke, she exclaimed, ''How happy I am." Dick Salisbury's wife joined at the same time. She was about to join the Hard- shells. My wife died in 1891, in the full triimiph of faith, and as strong a Baptist as ever was. I think she enjoyed that old hymn you so often sang, ' 'Gathering Home;' more than any other. Yours in Christ, J. A. Whitley. PLYMOUTH. I take the following records from my diary : April 6. — Brother Under^^ood and I left Hamil- ton for Plymouth. Dined with Dennis Simmons in Williamston,, spent the night with Brother Lawrence in Jamesville. Saw them hauling the seine at the fishery. April 7th, began a meeting in Plymouth. The state of piety and vital godliness seemed to be 33(> LIFE AXD LABORS OF at a low ebb in the town and surroundmg country. Vice and sin abounded to an alarming extent. I heard Bishop Lvman preach at the Episcopal Church. I heard Judge Seymour charge the grand jury, and the negroes and the whit© men too. ^ever heard anything like it. He told the negroes that they never would be any accoimt, or do any good, until they built better houses, with more apartments, and not all sleep in the same room. He said some men have two or three farms, and yet spend a good deal of their time from home. He advised them to stay at home with their families and live virtuous lives. The people seemed to be wonderfully hardened in sin. 'No wonder — grog shops open on Sunday and fifty negro strumpets walking the streets. Judge Seymour seemed to understand the situation. Whiskey, for- nication and adultery the crying sins of the country. I preached with great plainness and faithfulness, and I believe in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. I kept my eye upon the people, and upon my Master, who says : '^^Cry aloud and spare not ; t«ll my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." The devil seemed to have con- trol of the people, and the hearts of professed Chris- tians full of prejudice. Someone will say, "Brother Jordan, you ought not to write these things." I never did believe in crying peace, peace, when there is no peace. There were some good Christian people in Ply- EJLDER F. M. JORDAN. 231 mouth, as there were in Sodom. Sinners seemed to be hardened and immovable. They appeared to grow harder at every service. But the church was greatly revived and strengthened. Preached on bap- tism and communion, after which Mrs. Tucker, Miss Emma Gray, Miss Sue Grant, arid Joseph Beasley were received for baptism, three of whom I baptized Sunday evening in the Roanoke River. Preached my farewell sermon at night, after which the Lord's Supper was administered. Bro. eT. A. Speight was present one night of this meeting, and if his eye ever falls upon these lines, he will remember the occasion. EAST FORK. July 23, 1882. — I began a meeting at East Fork, Transylvania County. The church was in good spir- itual condition, and the meeting went on increasing in interest at every service. I preached twice a day for ten days! This was a glorious revival of religion, much rejoicing among God's people over the salva- tion of their loved ones. There were twenty-three professions. August 1. — A large congregation assembled on the bank of East Eork, where it was my pleasure to bury with Christ in baptism ten willing souls — lovely young people, all of whom, so far as I know, have made good church members. 232 LIFE AND LABORS OF N'ever shall I forget the happy seasons I spent with brethren Joseph Glazener, S. D. Gillespie, C. M. Gil- lespie, A. II. Garren, Jason Gillespie, B. F. Aiker, their good families, and many others. In the month of August I attended the meeting of tlie Association at Bakersville, preached a week, and on Sunday, August 27th, I preached the dedication sermon of the nCAV Baptist Church in Bakersville. Old Brother and Sister S. M. Collis and I went on the top of Roan Mountain, and viewed the won- derful works of nature's God. We visited Cub Creek Church, and got them to dissolve and go to Bakersville ; thirty-three additions by letter. On the 19 th of September, I began a meeting at Enon Church, Transylvania County. The meeting continued twelve days. I preached day and nights This was a meeting of great power. Sunday, Octo- ber 1st, Brother Wells and I baptized thirty-six in the French Broad Biver, in the presence of a vast a.^sembly. It was a beautiful and impressive scene. There was rather a striking incident occurred dur- ing tJiis baptism: When I went down into the water with a candidate I would quote an appropriate pas^ sage of Scripture. I was standing in the water, just ready to baptize a candidate, when I said, '^John was baptizing in Enon near to Salem, because there was much water there. Brother Wells and I are bap- tizing in the French Broad, near to Enon, because there is much water here." A Presbyterian gentle- ELDER F. AI. JORDAN. 283 man standing on the bank, said to his wife, ''There, by God, Sue, I told you he would spoil everything." This much-water business is a troublesome affair. At this meeting, there were forty additions to the church, and forty professions of religion. That's stringing the fish pretty close. These were mostly young peo]>le, and nearly all made a profession of religion at home, or when alone. As before stated, this has been characteristic of my meetings. SUNDRY MEETINGS. During this year I held a meeting at each of the following places, from one to two weeks: Marion, McDowell County; Bethel, Buncombe County; French Broad, Henderson County; Cathey's Creek, Transylvania County ; Whiteville, Columbus County ; and Marion Court House, S. C. Thursday, December 14. — Our dear brother, Elias Dodson, died this morning in Wilmington. Sainted brother, rest in heaven, we hope to meet thee on the other shore. MONROE. 1883. — On the 9th of February, 1883, I began a meeting in Monroe, with W. B. Harrell, pastor. The meeting continued ten days. The church seemed to be in a fine spiritual condition. The prayer-meetings were exceedingly precious. There was much rejoicing with the people of God. The 234: LIFE AND LABORS OF last night of tbe meeting was a melting time. Breth- ren J. E. King and Dr. Harrell baptized fourteen during the meeting — six men and eight women. Had great enjoyment with brethren C. Austin, Sister D. A. Covington, Griffin, Dr. Harrell, and many otliers. From this place I visited my old home in Mont- gomeiy Coimty, ^yhere I was bom and reared. Had been absent for thirteen years. For about a week I preached in the court-house in Troy, and visited relatives and old friends through the day. Visited my sister, Katie Reynolds, who is now eighty-seven years of age. She is the oldest and I the youngest of three sets of children, 17 in number. Visited Isaac Suggs and family in the afternoon ; preached in Troy at night, and spent the night with my brother-in-law, D. Wright. Preached at Cross Roads, my old mother church, where I was baptized, and one mile from where I was bom. Looked over the old homestead, the house, the springs, the grave- yard, the place where I was baptized, the bam, the old school-house, place in the fork of the river, where I first went to school. Spent the night with Joseph Reynolds, with whom I grew up and spent the days of our boyhood together. Whiskey and drunkenness are the curses of Montgomery County. So fifteen years ago I bade farewell to my native county, rela- tives and friends, in all probability to meet no more until the second coming of our Lord. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 236 POLKTON. In March I began a meeting in Polkton, which lasted eight days — a good revival meeting, at the ©lose of which I baptized Miss Leo Beman. MORGANTON. In May I held a meeting of one week in Morgan- ton. Good meeting, some profeissions. Sunday, July 15th, I baptized Miss Ida Harkins in the French Broad River. July 27. — I began a meeting at Cane Biver, in Yancey County. This was a revival meeting of great spiritual power. Bright, hopeful conversions, with great rejoicing. Many sinners ask what they must do to be saved. Sunday, August 12. — I baptized fourteen lovely young people in Cane Biver, in the presence of a large congregation. Here I had great enjoyment in the families of the good people of Cane Biver — Dr. Whittington, James Boland, Andrew Phipps, Jacob Sams, Gilbert Wilson, Mark Bird, T. B. Bay, and many others. Bro. S. el. Morgan was with me in this meeting. SMOKY HOLLOW. This place is in the valley of Mills Biver, a beau- tiful, fertile country, with a thrifty, progressive peo^ pie. There was no Baptist Church in that beauti- ful locality. An Episcopal preacher had been visit- ing most of the families in that community, and leav- 286 LIFE AND LABORS OF inp: a prayer-book at nearly every house, teaching his l>aptismal regeneration. T made up my mind to preaoli at Smoky Hollow school-house once a month throiio-h the spring and summer, and then hold a protracted meeting, and somehow I felt assured that God would convert, the people, and we would organize a Baptist Church. So in this way I preached, and we had large congregations and good indications. September 2, 1883. — Ero. S. C. Owen and I began a meeting at Smoky Hollow, and we went on preach- ing alternately ; true yoke-fellows. There was marked demonstration of the presence and power of tho Holy Spirit from the very first service. And the work of conviction and conversion soon appeared. There were conversions at almost every service, and the gospel proved tho power of God unto salvation. Sunday, September 1>. — I baptized eleven happy believers in Mills River, in the presence of a large, and solemn assembly. And on the 13th, I baptized five others. Repaired to the school-house, extended the right hand of fellowship to those baptized. Brother Owen preached a very practical sermon, and the delightfid exercises of the glorious meeting closed. The next Sunday I baptized ^ve more, as the fruits of the meeting above mentioned, mailing twenty-one in all. Se])tember 23. — I preached at Pleasant Grove, and baptized eight for Bro. A. W. Beck, in the French Broad River. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. '287 CHURCH ORGANIZED. Saturday, Septeml^er 29, 1883.— Met at Smoky Hollow, Henderson County, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Presbytery, Elders J. E. Carter, D. B. Kelson, T. Bright, Joseph Miller, S. C. Owen and E. M. Jordan. Elder J. E. Carter preached on the doctrine and principles of the Bap- tists. Then a church of forty-eight members was constituted. Exercises very interesting. Elder S. C. Owen was called and accepted the care of the new church. A building committee was appointed for the purpose of erecting a new meeting-house for the Lord. The name of the church is Mt. Gilead. A beautiful lot was selected, and a large, commodious house of worship erected, where they have had regu- lar preaching and Sunday-school, and now have a strong church. Bro. J. S. Khodes, a fine farmer, and substantial Baptist, is a member of this church, and has been a gTeat blessing to the church and com- munity ever since its organization. I have spent so many happy seasons in his delightful home. Soon after this church was organized, Bro. Alfred H. Rich, a good lay brother, though he lived four miles aw^ay, organized a Simday-school, attended regularly, and had the best Sunday-school in all the land. They had a Sunday-school celebration there which suj^ passed anything ever seen in that country. CHAPTER XIII. W. N. C. Convention— Caitoogajay—Coweta--Fraaklin— 1884— Matthews — Rutherfordton — Monroe — Portsmouth— Lit- tleton— Hendersonville— Highlands— Head of Tennessee — Old Salem— Limestone Springs, S. C— Gaffney City— A New Home— Florence, S. C— 1885 -Raleigh— Salisbury- Raleigh— Smithfield— Rockingham— Death of my Wife. The Western ISTorth Carolina Convention met at Enon Clmrch, October 18, 1885. Introductory Sermon by F. M. Jordan. Elder D. B. E'elson, President, and Charles E. Lee, Secretary. G. A. Ximnally, of Georgia, J. E. Carter, Is". B. Cobb, and J. B. Boone, among those present. On Sunday, at 11 a. m., G. A. Nunnally preached a sermon of great plainness and power from the text, ''I am not ashamed of the gospel," etc., in which he showed that baptism represents on^half the gospel and the Lord's Supper the other; and urged the brethren to keep prominently before the people this great Bible doctrine. A Methodist preacher heard the sermon — a strong man. After the congregation was dismissed he said to a brother in the aisle, ^'If any man preach any other gospel, than which JSTun- nally has preached, let him be accursed.'' That man is to-day a strong Baptist preacher. Erom the Convention, I go with Bro. John Ammons to Macon County, to hold a series of meet- ings. i40 LIFE AND LABORS OF October L^G, 1883. — I began a meeting at Cartoo- gajay, in Macon County, Avliicli continued nine days, and was a spiritual feast from the beginning to the end. Sinners came to Christ and Christians rejoiced with the angels in heaven. On Sunday, November 4th, a large congregation assembled at the w^ater at 11 a. m. It was my pleas- ure to bury with Christ in baptism, fourteen happy souls, two husbands and their wives among the num- l)or, and old Sistei* Crawford, se^^enty-two years of age, and aunt of Governor Robinson. Many said it was tlie most beautiful baptism they ever witnessed. Here I enjoyed my visits most w^onderfully with old Bro. Cr. W. Crawford, Emerson G. Crawford, the Clovers, the Silars, and many others. Two Indian l)oys seemed to take a great liking to me; went out ;md caught me a nice o'possiun, and seemed delighted to do anything for my comfort. COWETA. NovemlK'i- 1 1 . — T began a meeting at Coweta, (eleven miles above Franklin. This church is com- j)osed of a gmKl substantial membership, w^ere in the Spirit, and ready to receive a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Professions of religion more or less every flay. The meeting continued eight days. Sunday w(^ mot' on the banks of Coweta Creek. I baptized sixteen lovely young people — nine young ladies, and seven vounff men. The occasion was sol- Mrs. JENNIE B. BREVARD. (6th Child.' F. M. JORDAN, Jr. •7th Child.) ELDER F. M. JOKDAN. 241 emn and the scene beautiful. While at the water there came up a sprinkle of rain. A Methodist girl said to Miss Catharine Sellers, who was to be baptized, ''^I thought you Baptists didn't mind water." ^'No," she says, '^We don't when the Lord sprinkles it on us, but we don't want any man to sprinkle it on our head and pat it." These have made the substantial men and women of that church and community. T still have in my heart, and hold fresh in my memory, the names of those dear people — the Gar- lands, Bro. John Bates, Sister Sellers, the Longs, the Carpenters, and a host of others. FRANKLIN. November 19, 1883. — I began a meeting in Frank- lin. The meeting continued two weeks. The Christian people seemed to enjoy the meeting very much, but sinners hard to move. There were some professions of religion. December 2. — A large concourse of people assembled on the bank of the Tennessee River, where it was my great pleasure to baptize Sister S. H. Harrington, Brother Blaine and his two daughters. Sister Harrington had been a Methodist, but had become to be a decided Baptist from principle, and in every way a splendid woman. 16 'j4:'2 life and labors of MATTHEWS. 1884. — The 27th of January, 1884, I began a meeting at ^latthews, eleven miles from Charlotte, with x\. L. Stough, pastor. Great coldness among all the churches of the place. But the church warmed up, and we had a good meeting of thirteen days. There were eighteen professions of religion, and ten additions. The last day of the meeting a large congregation assembled at a creek in a body of AV(X)ds, one mile from to^vn, where it was my pleasure to baptize ten happy souls — five men and five ladies. EUTHERFORDTON. February 10, 1884. — I began a meeting in Ruth- erford ton. My home was with Bro. C. B. Justice. This was truly a glorious meeting. The prayer- meetings were exceedingly precious, and Christians wore made to rejoice. This is the third meeting I have held in Rutherfordton. I have certainly had a good tiuie with brethren C. B. and M. H. Justice, Gravson, Dr. Lvnch, and manv ohers. MONROE. March 2, 1884. — T began a meeting in Monroe, wliich continued ten days. Large congregations and great solemnity. A great many seemed to be deeply interested in the salvation of their souls. Quite a immlK'.r of professions of conversion. Fourteen ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 243 additions to the church. I baptized eleven happy believers — five young men^ and six young ladies. I spent a week with my son in Lnmberton, resting and visiting old friends. He and I baptized five per- sons and had a good time. On the night of March 21st, I preached in the Second Baptist Church, Raleigh. One profession of religion and many penitents. PORTSMOUTH. In ]\Larch I assisted Rev. A. E. Owen in a meet- ing in Court Street Church, of Portsmouth, Va. It was a meeting of great power. The church was harmonious and aggressive. Brother Owen was its pastor for more than twenty years. He is a most lovable man, and the more you know of him the better he gi'ows upon you. There were a great many accessions to the church, and the members w)ere greatly helped and strengthened. My stay in Ports- mouth with Brother Owen and his charming church and famil}^ was delightful beyond expression. On my way from Portsmouth I preached in Frank- lin, Va,., and stopped at Littleton, and preached eleven days with Pastor D. A. Glenn. The congre- gations were lairge, attentive, and tender. The prayer-meetings were warm and full of the Spirit. Sinners are moved, and strong men bowed before the Lord. The Spirit's work of regeneration soon appeared, ^ine received for baptism, and two by 244 LIFE AND LABORS OF letter. I preached my last semion on baptism and coninuinion. T Mieve God's truth was more fully eshiblislied in many hearts. Again I bade farewell to the dear brethren, sisters and young converts of Littk^toii. 1 had gi*eat happiness in the delightful Cliristiaii homes of brethren Glenn, Shaw, Brown- in «r, P>obbitt, and many otliers. 1 i-(*tnrned to mv home in the mountains after an ahs('nc<> of over t\v<> months. "Home, sweet home," TI KXDEKSOXVILLE. Diii-iiiL' tIk- inoiith of ^lay, 1884, there was & glorious revival of religion in Ilendersonville, con- ducted by Eider Joseph E. Carter, the pastor. I was ill this meeting most of the time, and preached several times. BrotJier Boone, tlien President of .hidson College, t(X>k an active part in this meeting, and the students of tlie College shared largely in tii(5 glorious results, dune 1st, Bro. Carter and I ba})tiz(^d seventeen persons, all young, only one mar- ried ])ei\s(jn. Eight of the Indian children, who were rent there U) school by the Government, were among the number. dinu^ 10. — I attended the Conunencement at Wake Forest ('oHege. Met with the Board of Trus- t<'es. K(\-. ( ". A. Stakely, of South Carolina., prciH'licd the scniKin at night. The address l>efore the Literary Societies was delivered by J. B. Thomas, of l)rklyn. N . Y. \)v. Lansing Burrows delivered ELDER F. M. JOKDAN. 24:^ the address before the Alumni exercises of Commence^ ment Dny; fifteen graduates. Sunday, June 15.- — T preached for Dr. Skinner, in file First Baptist Churcli, Raleigh, morning and night. I learned that some of the members had been drinking, card-})laYing, dancing and cutting up gen- f-rallv, and also that the pastor had been sending his daughter to a dancing school. So at night I preached the funeral of the whole concern, and exj^osed the amusements of the day. Among other tilings, I said that it would not do me any good to hear a man preach who would send his daughter to a dancing school. The pastor was sitting behind me. 1 saw Dr. Bailey nearly splitting his sides laughing while I was preaching. ISText morning I A\ent down to the Recorder office, saw Brother Bailey standing in the door, laughing. ^'Well,'' he says, "I'll give you your diploma; you'll not preach here any more in ten years." The brethren com- plimented me highly on the sermon. HIGHLAISTDS. July 12. — I began a meeting in Iligldands, Macon County. July 13th, at 11 a. m., S. II. Harrington, W. W. Wells, John P. Morgan, and F. M. JoTdan, organ- ized a Baptist Church in Highlands, of twelve mem- bers. Highlands is beautiful for situation, without a well or a negTO. The meeting continued, but there •iiO LIFE AND LABORS OF were liinderancetter stop it. From that they pitched into l.iin, and then his son took it up, and you never saw such a time, I stood there as much composed as Sii" Isaac Xewton over was in any of his mathemat- ical (Icmoiistration^^, for 1 knew that they were hang- ijig thf iiisclvcs, jiud 1 wanted to give them plenty of i(ip( . and let them break their necks and die easy. After awhile things quieted down, and we assembled at tlie church. One of the sisters who was baptized was mightily torn up in her feelings about the con- I'nsion at tlic water, and was airxious to see me, to see how I h)oked. She said when she saw me come to the door, I looked so bright and happy, that she f('h so 1 iippy she could almost fly away. Another e baptized by a man who believed in it. Everv]K)dy knew tliat I believed in it fully. So she was received for baptism, and baptized. Preached my farewell sermon, and bade the church and frienda fareAvell. Thus closed a glorious meeting at Head of Ten- nessee. Miss Gracie E. Sitton, whom I baptized at this meeting, is now my second wife. Til is church abandoned the old house, and have built one of the best meeting-houses in the country. Here T had the pleasure of being with Elder Thomas Carter, both at church and at his hospitable home, also at the Dillards, the Sittons, and many others. OLD SALEM. T)eginning August 23rd, I preached a week with I3ro. E. J. Morgan. There was a glorious revival of religion. Brother Morgan baptized six lovely young people in Cane Creek. The last day of the meeting I preached a sermon of great plainness on the heresies and false teachers aroimd us, especially baptismal regeneration, and a form of godliness with- out its power. 250 LIFE AND LABOES OF LIMESTONE SPRINGS^ S. C. T l>t^an a ni€^tiiig at Limestone Springs, S. C, Soj-itember 2, 1884. Eight came forward for prayer tl;c first service, and at the second service there was i.up piofession of religion, and then at nearly every -c'^nce during the meeting. The church seemed to be in travail, and the Holy Spirit brought sinners from darkness to light, and from the service of satan tn the service of God. A Roman Catholic lady was numbered with the converts, and baptized. The con- -i' lotions seemed To be deep and pungent, and the con- verts bright and happy. September Tth, .at 10 a. m., I baptized eight happy ^<>uls, five ladies and three men, nearly all heads of families. At 11 a. m., nearly ever soul in the con- gregation bowed before the Lord. GAFFNEY CITY. I went to Gaifney City, September 8th, and began a meeting with Brother Wingo, pastor. The meet- ing progressed with great power. September 15th, T went t/) Limestone, and baptized Mrs. Pruitt. Sep- teml)er 10th, Brother Wingo baptized twelve happy souls. Septeml>er 21st, I preached on baptism and communion. At night the house was crowded to overfloAA'ing. Baptized six — four young men and two ladies, making eighteen during the meeting, and nine at Limestone Springs. ELDER. F. M. JORDAN. 251 Monday we met at 10 a. m. for a farewell service, interspersed with songs, prayers and talks. We gave tlie right hand of fellowship to those baptized — a melting time, a great parting blessing. At both these places I foimd a warm-hearted, whole^-souled people, whose love and kindness I shall never forget. October 4. — I preached to the colored people at their Convention in Hendersonville, on baptism and communion. They certainly enjoyed it. October 16. — I went to the Western Convention at Waynesville. W. W. Wells, President, and C. E. Lee, Secretary. Introductory Sermon by J. E. Car- ter. Sunday, Elder J. E. Carter preached in the Bap- tist Church at 11 a. m., and Elder J. B. Boone in the Methodist Church. OUR NEW HOME. I exchanged my place at Hendersonville for a farm on the Swannanoa Biver, and on November 8th we moved to our new home. My wife was delighted with her home, and so were the children. FLORENCE^ S. C. December 14. — I began a meeting in Florence, S. C, with Elder B. G. Covington, pastor. The meet- ing continued a week. The weather was cold, rainy and very disagreeable. There wei-e some profes- sions of religion, and we had a very enjoyable meet- 252 LIFE AND LABORS OF iiiu:. IJi-otlior ( 'nviiiiitdii and 1 were ordained in the ^ame elnireh — Forks «>f F.ittle River, MoiitjGromerj ( oiinty, X. r. Took my C'liristmas dinner with m_v nephew. Dr. »lohn L. dorchin, I]ennettesville, S. C. Til is winds u]) tlie laV)ors, toils and sacrifices of 1884. ^ RALEIGH. 1885.— January 11, 1885.— In the Second Bap- tist Clnircli, Tialeicrh, Elders W. R. Gwaltney, Alvin Betts, and F. ^f. Jordan, ordained Bro. Duncan ]\roLeod to the ii'ospel ministry, and at night I began a meeting in the Third Baptist Church, Raleigh. My home is with Bro. C. B. Edw^ards. The church seemed to be in the Spirit, and in g«KKl wfirking order; congregations large and atten- tive. Six professions of religion at the fourth service, and the meeting progressed with great power. Great interest in the church and congi-egation. Bright j;rofessions of religion at almost every service, and great rejoicing among Christians. January 24. — T baptized twelve willing souls: a most beautiful and impressive scene — candidates so happy. ''Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience. '* Eight^'^'U professions of religion during the meeting. I return home after an absence of two months. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 253 SALISBURY. May 28, 1885. — I began a meeting in Salisbury with Bro. J. F. Tuttle, pastor. The church seemed to be in travail, and sons and daughters were born into the kingdom of grace at almost every sei'vice. June 1st 1 baptized five, and the interest increased at every service. Juno 7th I baptized twelve^ — three young" ladies and nine young men. Jime S. — Baptized five others, making twenty-two in all during the meeting, and thirty-five professions of faith in Christ. Brother Tuttle had sown the seed, and had his church in fine condition, and I came along to help him gather in the harvest. This is the fourth meet- ing T have held in Salisbury, and have labored hard ic lay a good foundation for a church of the living God, and to establish His truth in the hearts of the people. Brother Tuttle is a glorious, good brother, a good worker, and a good pastor. RALEIGH. December 6. — Began a meeting in the Third Baj> tist Church, Ealeigh, which continued two weeks. A good revival meeting, and a goodly number of bright professions of conversion ; some strong men. First and last I have spent five months in Raleigh in protracted meeting-s. Eternity alone will disclose the result of these labors. There are many endear- 254r LIFE AND LABORS OF ing ties which bind me to the good people of Raleigh. During the year 1885, I have preached from one to two weeks at each of the following places, with more or less conversions and baptisms : Cane Creek, Hooper's Creek, Bakersville, Bethel, Coopers, Catawba, and Marshall. RALEIGH. 1886. — February -23. — I began a meeting in the Third Baptist Church, Raleigh. Preached six niglits and baptized fourteen persons. March 1. — Began a meeting with my son, W. T. Jordan, in Lumberton. I preached eveiy night for two weeks. At the close, I baptized nine persons in the baptistry. The house was packed and the scene beautiful. March 10. — Began a meeting with Elder J. R. Jones in Smithfield. The meeting continued twelve days. There were thirteen professions of religion, and on Sunday Brother Jones baptized six persons handsomely in Xeuse River. A good meeting. T.rother Jones and I have had a good time together on more occasions than one. ROCKINGHAM. April 1."). — Began a meeting in Rockingham with Elder B. 11. Phillips, pastor. Very large and atten- tive congregations, and many came for miles in the country. There are a great many penitents; twelve ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 255 professions of religion np to this time. Circum- stances are such that I must leave the meeting. Mv son Willie came this morning and will carry on the meeting. DEATH Oi'^ MY WIFE. On Monday, November 1, 1886, I returned home from Bethel Church. Mj dear wife met me in the yard and kissed me for the last time on earth, though in her usual health. Tuesday, at 4:30 a. m., she was stricken with a severe pain in her shoulders and breast. She suffered dreadfully till 12 m., but was some better in the evening. At about 8 p. m., another pain struck her, and she endured untold suf- fering all night — reason dethroned. iSTovember ?>. — At twenty minutes to seven my dear wife breathed lier last. She died calm and easy, with a beautiful smile upon her face. A truer wife and mother never died. E^ovember 4.— We carried the body of the dear wife and mother to Asheville. In the First Baptist Church Bro. J. E. Carter preached her funeral. She was buried in tlie new Asheville Biverside Cemetery, in a beautiful spot near the French Broad River. Farewell, my darling. Oh, how sad and lonely ! How desolate is our home without a mother. That evening was the saddest to me that I have ever spent on earth. May the Lord prepare us all to meet the sainted mother in heaven. 256 LIFE AND LABORS OF The followinir obituary notice was ^\Titteii by Brother Carter and published in the Western North Carolina Baptist: IN MEiVrORIAM. SiisiiH Daniel Jordan, the wife of Elder F. M. JordiiTi, died at her home in Buncombe County, on Wednesday, Xoveml>er 3, 188G, at 6 o'clock in the mornini^. At that time she was 55 years and 10 months of tu^e. She was the daui^-hter of Samuel Holeman, and was born on the 3rd of January, 1831, near Hills- boro, Orani2:e County, X. C. There she was raised. At the ao-e of 15 she was baptized by Elder A. D. Hhickwood into the fellowship of ]\rars Hill Ckuvch, iicar her liome. She lived in fellowship with other churches of which she became a member, in her (tlianije of homes, until the day of her decease. On the IStli of Octol)er, 1853, she was married to Klder F. ^I. Jordan, who at that time was in the lK*^innineen g'iven for the long' number of years to her husband as to and fro he went preaching the gospel and baptizing thousands of converts; but the last "welcome home" came on Monday evening before her death. Soon after, disease came upon her ; for several hours l>efore death she lay unconscious and tlien lier spirit departed. Who that knew this good womau, aud who that knows her sorrowing husband, will not heave a sigh or drop a tear as these lines are read. Our dear brother in the ministry, will have the pulsations of thousands of pious souls beating in sympathy Avith liiui when the sad news comes. We commeud liim to God and the power of His grace. And so we do all the family. On Thursday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, her funeral was preached in the Baptist Church in Ashe^dlle, by llie An-iter, from Luke 10: 22 — ^'Aud was caiTied by the augels into Al>raham's bosom." A long procession of carriages followed the remaius to tlie new Asheville cemetery. On an evening, sunny slo]x^, which overlooks the beautiful French Broad Biver she was laid to rest, a spot so beautiful ;i- to suggest the glories of the comiug resurrection. "vSlie is not dead but sleepeth." Joseph E. Carter. CHAPTEE XIV. Mt. Aiiy — A Long Trip with J. K. Connally — Various Meet- ings — J. R. Pendergrass — Liberty and Ducktown — Mar- ried — Doing Mission Work — Tusquitee— Brasstown — In Macon County— 1889— A New Home— With Brother Con- nally Again — Home. MT. AIRY. The 9 til of February, 1887, I began a meeting- at Mt. Airy, Surry County. The churches were cold, and sinners hardened in sin. I preached twenty- one nights, to the best of my ability. The church seemed revived, and there were some professions of religion. I had a good time with Bro. C. C. Hay- more in the meeting, and in his delightful home. Also brethren E. Galloway, K. T. I^utt, and others. March 8. — I visit the orphanage at Thomasville and pray for and preach to the children. March 13. — I preach at Rich Fork at 11 a. m., and at night — spent the night with J. H. Mills. I preached a week at night, in the Baptist Church in Thomasville, to hardened sinners. August 5. — Bro. J. K. Connally and I start on a long missionar}^ tour through the western counties. We preached at Enon, Little Biver, and a week, alternately, at Brevard, and then went to Mt. Moriah, riat Creek, Fairfield, and Hamburgh. We attended the meetino; of the Tuckasei2:ee Association at Cul- •J do LIFE AND LABORS OF lowlioo. Elder S. H. Harriiiirton preached the Intro- uiictoi-A' Sennon. Saturday, at 11 a. m., Elder J. E. Carter preached a nu'iiiorial sennon to the joy and comfort of many Christian hearts. At the close of the sermon a real eld-fashioned handshakini»- ensued, and the Holy Spirit seemed to l>e present, in a large measure. Sunday a lari»-e congreg-ation assembled. Bro. J. K. (V>mially preached a solid gospel sennon at 10 ;'.. ni. I followed him at 11 a. m. Good order, and gooil attention. Klder S. C. Owen preached at 2 ].. ni. August -Jo. — We begin a meeting at Head of Ten- nessee, in Georgia. I preach day and night up to Sunday. Christians are made to rejoice, and we have a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Sunday. — Brother Connally preached a sermon of great power to a very large congregation. At night two professions of religion. The meeting continued a wcK^'k, and proved a great blessing to the church and conmuinity. S(^ptember 2. — Bro. Thomas Carter and I start to llic. Western Xorth Carolina Association at Hayes- \ille, (^lay County. Beached the meeting on Sat- urday. Sunday a large congTegation assembled. Bro. .1. \V. r. awing preached at 10 a. m., and T followed at 11 a. ni. Elder Thomas Carter preached in the altornoon, and tlic Association closed. I remained and protracted the meeting. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. ^^U Preached twice a day for eight days. Had a good re\^i\'al meeting, with some professions of religion, and had a good time with Elder J. W. Hall, and brethren Trnett, Cherrv and many otliers. This interesting incident is in point just here with leference to Elder J. R. Pendergrass: Franklix^ Macon County^ N. C. Dear Bro. F. M. Jordax : — With pleasure I grasp my pen to declare the benefit which your example and preaching, as an humble servant of C^lirist, has been to me. I met you first in the town of Hayesville, Clay County, N. C, in the year 1887, \\ here the vacation before my last yeiar as a student at AVake Forest College was spent in teaching. The devil had persuaded me not to return to college and complete my course of study as a ministerial student, but to follow the advice of Horace Greeley, ''Young man, go West." While making my way to the West, I Avas, uncon- ciously, driven into the Hayesville Baptist Church, Avhere you were conducting a protracted meeting, and listened to your sermon on the notable subject, "Christian Emulation." As I sat there on that cold bench without living parent, or a roof under which to shelter this body on earth, the darkness which hovered o'er me broke up, and a true view of duty came home to me, boi^ue on the wings of your rich and loving voice. There, in that meeting-house, on that day, and in that service, God's Holy Spirit seized me, as sensi- bly as a steel trap catches the mink ; my judgment was humbled, my mind became willing, and I returned to Wake Forest, finished my education, and 262 LIFE AND LABORS OF lia\f happily enjoyed both the presence and blessing of the T^jrd in almost everything which I have -under- taken from tliat glad day, and from that blessed service. Later, yonr presence again encouraged me, when yon came to Macon County, across deep rivers and rougli mountains, tlirough the cold December weather, to hold revival meetings in our churches. While at Coweta where you preached twice a day for two weeks, notwithstanding the rain, sleet, and snow, large congregations attended and the Lord gave con- versions and additions to the church at almost every service. The good results of that meeting still live, and vour livelv sermons and name are fondlv cher- ished by the best citizens and Christians of that community. ]May the Lord give you many days and strength and couraire to continue snatchinir vouncr men from the snares of the devil, as David did the sheep from the lion and the lamb from the paw of the bear, and send them on their way rejoicing to that better land. J. R. Pendergrass. From Kayesville I went to Peachtree, in Cherokee County, and preached five days ; and then' to Marble Springs, and preached five days, and Bro. J. TV. flawing baptized eight as the result of the meeting. Wliilo. at Peachtree and Marble I greatly enjoyed tlie homes of the McGuires, brethren Lawing, A. B. Smith, and many others. LIBERTY AND DUCKTOWN ASSOCIATIONS. Scj^tember 2S. — T spent the night with Thomas Dickey in Mnrphy, and start to the Liberty and ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 263 Duckto\vn Association, which meets at Liberty Church, twenty miles southwest of Murphy. The Association met Friday, September 30th, Elder McGee, Moderator, and A. J. Kilpatrick, Clerk. This Association is largely anti-mission in prac- tice. Bro. J. W. Hall preached at 11 a. m., Friday, and I preached at 11 on Saturday, ^ot one cent is sent up from the twenty-seven churches for any object, save the printing of minutes. I preached at 11 a. m., Sunday. A collection was taken for foreign missions, amounting to seven dol- lars. T think this was the first collection ever taken in the Association for foreign missions. I wonder how this compares with tbe Liberty and Ducktown now? I returned to Murphy and preached in the Methodist Church at night. On my return I preached at Hiwassee, in Georgia. Came on to the Western Convention, which met in Clyde, Haywood County, October 15, 1887 — a very good session of the Convention. The church decided to protract the meeting. I preached' day and night through the week; the church seemed greatly to enjoy the meet- ing, and there were a great many penitents, but not many professions of religion at the time. But old Brother Haynes told me that at a meeting they held some time afterwards there were nineteen persons who united with the church, and dated their con- victions to that meeting in which I did the preach- :>t)4 LIFE AND LABORS OF inir; ?ai(l lie thoiio-ht T ought to know it. The seed must bo sown before there can be a harvest I returned home after an absence of nearly three ni LIFE AND LABORS OF itii in a large measure. Our home in Murphy was with Tliomas Dickey. TUSQUITEE. Drc'cmlx'r 11. — [ k'gan a meeting at Tusquitee, and preached twenty-one days in succession. Elder T. J. ^lartin thought it was a series of good sermons, hut I iliink the people were more carried away with his prayers than my sermons. He was wonderfully able in prayer, and could bring heaven and earth together. Oh, how much we did enjoy that meeting. llo would pray and T would preach, and the Holy Spirit manifested His presence. The professing Christian people of this valley are very cold, lukewarm and indifferent. "Nfr. John Moss, an aged, and very wicked man, is deeply concerned about his soul's salvation. He is the eldest son of Elder Howell Moss, who was a min- ister of the gospel for forty years. Last night he realized the pardon of his sins and peace with God at his home. He made an open profession of reli- gion to-day, and there was a time of great rejoicing. December 25. — Christmas day, at 10 a. m., I bap- tized Jolin Moss in Tusquitee. This was a happy occasion. This closes the privileges, labors and toils of 1887. BRASSTOWN. T preached a week at BrasstoA^m, with Bro. J. W. Hall, and had a good meeting. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 267 In February^ 1888, I held a meeting at Shooting Creek, Clay County. A glorious revival meeting, at the close of which I baptized seven happy souls. While living in Clay my wife and I visited every family on Tusquitee, from head to mouth, except two, and scores, if not hundreds, in Clay and Chero- kee, and all over that country, and I preached more or less all over that country, and some in Georgia. I must state here that I was sent to Clay and Cher- okee by our beloved brother, J. A. Porter, of Ashe- ville, individually. I was his missionary, and reported to him, aud he paid me for my labors. I believe it was all under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The object was to visit the people, preach the gospel, edify saints, educate and strengthen them in the grace of giving to missions, education, and to engage efficiently in every good word and work, and win souls to Christ. It may be that Brother Porter never made a better investment. Oh, the good that men might do, who have the means, if they only had the will. :\larch 2, 1888.— We left our delightful home at Brother Bristol's, and the dear people of Tusquitee, for Asheville; crossed the mountains, and stopped with Bro. C W. CraA\rford, and preached a week at Cartoogajay. I preached in Pranklin, and at Holly Springs, and rested a few days with Bro. J. D. Pranks. In March we stop at Hamburgh, Jackson County, 20S LIFE AND LABORS OF and 1 preach eleven days; had a glorious revival nieetinir mid a pXKlly niimlx^r of happy converts. I haptizcil tjuite a niiinber in the Tuckaseigee Kiver. .1. II. House, of Sylva, and Zeb Watson, of Cnllow- hee, both tine school teachers, were among the num- Ix^r. Als(.) Franklin Watson, who is now a fine law- yer and prominent Baptist. This was a meeting fill- rcju'hing in its results. ,lune 10, 1888. — We came to Macon County, and made nnr headcpiarters in the delightful home of Bro. .1. D. Fi-iinks. Here T held good meetings with l>n>. S. II. Harrington, at Flats of Middle Creek, Teasanty, and Coweta, in which there were many professions of I'eligion, and a goodly number bap- tized. T held a meeting at Ellajay, and had a lively time with the Campbellites. I was with Bro. A. B. Thomas in a good meeting in Bumingtown. And then we had a good meeting at Briartown, on N^anta- hala. And then a good meeting at Cowee. So that I have preached nearly all over Macon County. In Xovemlx^r we returned to Asheville, and the 7th of December we rented a house and lot in Bre- vard and commenced housekeeping. 1880. — Having a body of timbered land in Transyl- vania County, T built a comfortable house during this year and moved into it, November 23rd. September 1. — Bro. J. K. Connally and I started rm a praching tour through the counties of Bimcombe, ]\radison, Yancey, Mitchell, Watauga, Ashe and ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 269 Alleghany. We attended the Yancey County Asso- ciation on Jack's Creek, and preached in Bnms- ville, Jefferson, and attended the Ashe and Alle- ghany Association, in Ashe County. I preached ahont a week in Sparta, Alleghany County; The Hardshell Association was held near by, and begaii on Friday. We thought almost everybody would go to the Association, and that it was hardly worth while to continue the meeting. But I have ever felt that we made a mistake. We ought to have gone riirht on, two or tliree weeks. I reckon I should have remained but for one thing. Here Brother Comially left me, o-ot into a wagon, went to Winston, took the cars, and went home. There I was alone, and one hundred and fifty miles from home, and then tlio. thought of that long, lonesome road, across rivers, and over mountains, and all the way alone. I felt so lonely and sad, that I did not feel much like preaching. But I reckon Brother Connally thought he would make some amends for leaving me. So when I got back to Asheville, he made me a present of his fine 175-dollar buggy, which buggy I have yet. I was gone from home just one month. CHAPTER XV. My Brotlier John— A Model Farmer— Twice Married— Church Member — Sunday School Superintendent — His Library — Strong Convictions, Politically and Religiously — Great Admirer of W. J. Bryan— Strong Temperance Man- Naturally Bright and Witty— Marriage of His Daughter— The Convention in New Bern — Sickness and Death. MY BROTPIER JOHN. Mv brother John Jordan, was born in Montgom- ery Coiintv, 'North. Carolina, September the 8th, 1828. He and I grew up together on the farm, worked together in the fields, fished and hunted togetJier, w^ent to church and Sunday-school together, and loved each other as David and Jonathan. In fact no two brothers ever enjoyed life together better than we. He was born to be a farmer and became an ideal one. His judgment concerning agricultural interests was unsurpassed. His farm was always neat, his tools in the very best of order and his fences high, tight and strong. He had a place for every tiling, and kept everything in its place. His theory was that nothing made good neighbors like good line fences, and he never lay down at night feeling uneasy lest his neighbor's cattle might break into his fields. His home was a pleasant and hospitable one, and he alw^ays took great pleasure in entertaining his friends. He was tmce married, his first wife being- Miss Mary Suggs, an industrious, persevering •J r2 lAFK AND LABORS OF wonijin, l)y wIkhh he had seven children — five girls and two boys — all of whom, save Mary, are living. His s(Hj4:>nd wife was Mrs. Mary Shipman, widow of the lato Edward Shipman. and dangliter of ^'Uncle ,l{)oV' Allen, well and favorably known all over West- cvu \orth Carolina. Tn early manhood he made a })rofession of religion, was baptized by Elder A. D. Blackwood, and nnited with the old home church, Forks of Little Kiver, in Montgomery County. Every department of church work had a faithful helper in him. He was a. Sunday-school Superintendent dur- ing a large part of his life, and a deacon for more than forty years. None of the church services were ever missed by him unless he was providentially kept away. lie ahvays counted one every time. He was a Baptist to the core, and a thoroughly religious man. The Bible and the Biblical Recorder about constituted his lil»i-ary. Keligiously and politically he was a man of st.rong convictions. Politically he w^as a Drmocrat. and never anything else. It was his con- viction that Christian mon should take a deep inter- est in politics, local, state, national and international. With him the more religion you got into politics the W'ttci'. To him it was a burning shame for other- wise good citizens to stay away from primaries and elections, and thus allow the scum of the community to run the Government. .Vnd he did all in his power 1o defeat a man who was a candidate for election to the Legislature because ''he was neither fit to stav at ELDER F. M, JORDAN. 273 liome nor go to Raleigh/*' On one occasion he was riding home from town with a neighbor. The neigh- bor was a Republican, and said something deroga- tory to the Democrats, whereupon my brother made him stop his horse, got out and walked home, saving ho would not be caught riding in the same wagon with such a man. He was a great admirer of W. J. Ervau, and while on his death bed said, "I am for Bryan to the end." Notwithstanding his pronoimced Democratic proclivities, he was held in high esteem by all who knew him, of whatever political persua- sion, and was always regarded as one of the very best citizens in every community where he lived. 'No one ever questioned his sincerity, religiously or polit- ically, and he was always regarded as a genuine Christian gentleman. Temperance was with him a -cardinal virtue. When the Good Templars organized a lodge in Hillsboro, he became one of the first members, and though he lived three miles in the country, rarely missed one of their weekly meetings. The members seemed to think they could hardly have a meeting without ^T^ncle John," as they called him, and always demanded a speech, to which demand he never failed to respond in the liveliest possible manner, keeping the lodge convulsed with laughter, sometimes for half an hour. One evening he was late to the meet- ing, and in explaining his lateness said his mule 18 L>74 LIFE AND LABORS OF wouldn't let him catch him. 'Tinally," said he, "after fooling with him for nearly an hour, I got a rail and knocked him do^vn, and when he came to . 1 liad the hridle and saddle on him and was on his hack." TFc Ix^lieved in good, wholesome food, and kept an abundance of good things to eat on his table, but drew^ the line at onions. Would not allow them to be raised on his place. His oldest son, "Kit," w^as \orv fond of them. Frequently he would come to my house, go into the garden, pull them up and eat tliem, top and all. Sometimes when going to mill, he would take a piece of cornbread in his pocket, go i y the home of an old negro, buy a lot of onions, put them up Ix^fore him on his horse, and go on to mill oating cornbread and onions. But when he got home he had to hold his breath while in the presence of hi? father. ^ly Ijrother didn't have much education, but was blessed with good, hard, common sense, which he used to great advantage. He w^as naturally bright and one of the wittiest men I ever knew. It mat- tered not what sort of a crowed he w^as in, his dry liumor kept thrm all amused. His oldest daughter married W. A. Smitli, of Hendersonville. ]^ow, Mr. Smith's hair isn't exactly red, but it shades deeply in tliat direction. When he asked my broth- er's consent to the marriage he scratched his head awhile and said, "Well, Smith, I guess you can have ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 275 her, but I would much rather your head was a dif- ferent color." But his daughter made no mistake in marrjdng Smith, for he is a thorough Christian gentleman, and one of the best citizens in all of Western ISTorth Carolina. I once attended with him a meeting of the State Convention in 'New Bern. He was sent to one of the most fashionable homes in the city, and with him an old brother from the sand hills, who rode a little grey mule nearly a hundred miles to attend the Con- vention. The old man had never been used to nap- kins at the table and didn't know what to do with his, so he put it in his pocket. One day he said to my brother : ''These are the nicest people I ever saw in my life; every time you go to the table they give you a pocket-handkerchief." My brother said that when they left for home the old fellow had thirteen napkins in his coat-tail pocket, enough cloth to make him a shirt. One night he got lost on his way from church, and despairing of ever being able to find his home, paid a little negro ten cents tO' show him to a hotel. We always lived near each other till the last few years of his life. In 1876 we moved from Orange to Henderson County, he purchasing the Huger farm, four miles southeast of Hendersonville. Here he was greatly astonished at the poor house in which some of the people lived ; said you could see through them from one side to the other, and some of the 27 G LIFE AND LABORS OF cracks wtn- hig- eiioucli for a good-sized pig to crawl tliroiiP]R F. M. JORDAN. 277 rounded bv kind neighbors, enjoying the esteem and confidence of everybody who knew him, he was resid- ing in peace and happiness, when the sickness which ended in deatli in a few days overtook him. That he might he near the doctors he was moved into Hen- dersonville, to the residence of his son-in-law, W. A. Smith. For several days his sufferings were intense, but wlien death came, all was peace. He died on the 28th of September 1897, aged sixty-nine years and twe^Qty days. Rest, brother, rest. Separated but a little longer, we shall soon clasp hands on the eternal shore. There in the presence of Him who loved ns and gave him- self for us, we shall unite our voices in thanksgiv- ings for the love that sought us, the blood that washed us, and the grace that saved us. CHAPTER XVI. My Recollections of Elder Elias Dodson— Union of the Con- ventions—Meeting at Jersey Church, Davidson County — Letter from A. T. Rob rtson— Letter from W. J. Sholar — Letter from J. B. Richardson— Winston — Jersej' Church — Letter from F. H. Jones— Letter from J. F. Love. MY KEOOLLECTIONS OF ELDER ELIAS DODSON. Elder Elias Dodson was a native of Virginia, but spent most of his life in ]^ortli Carolina. He and I were intimately associated together in the service of God for about twenty-live years. During the twenty years that I lived in the Beulah Association we were together in nearly all the Conventions, Associations and Union Meetings, and a great many protracted meetings. In some ways he was eccentric, and a stranger would not have known how to appreciate him; to those who were intimately acquainted with him he was one of the most lovable of men. He was a graduate of William and Mary College, Virginia, if my memory serves me correctly, and had a most wonderful memory. He could repeat almost a whole sermon, that he heard many years ago, and page after page of beautiful poetry, and other literature which he had read. He kept a diary of his life, in which he recorded many things of interest, some very impor- tant, and others quite amusing. When he woidd come to our house, I would spend a good deal of my 2S0 LirE AND T.ABORS OF time 'reading- his diaries. Some one doubtless has tluso diaries now,and it is a wonder to me that nobody lias written a bioo-raphy of this good man. He was wonderfully ac<.nirate in remembering dates and giv- inir statistics; and I suppose was the best historian of his day. When the Baptist State Convention met ill llillslx)ro in 1S6S, Judge Ruffin made a special retpiest that brother l)o<:lson be sent to him. Said that he was the best historian and the most entertain- ing man that he had met. This was certainly a great eonipl ill lent, coming from the Chief Justice of the State. Oiu' night during this meeting of the Convention, Brother 1 )odson and I were sitting in church together ; he thought some of the brethren were making rather wild speeches. He whispered to me and said, ^'Brother Jordan, common sense is a very scarce com- modity here to-night." I think that I can safely say, he was the most consecrated man to the service of God I ever knciv. II( liad no settled home,and yet he Avas at hnnic everywhere he went, for almost, if not e\-ervl)ody seemed to love him, and were glad to see him come, and sorry when he left. Before the Civil war he had good property, good landed estate, and some fine negroes. He had gi'eat confidence in the snccess of the Southern Confederacy; sold his land fnr Crmfederatc bonds and lost that, and then Lin- cnhi freeo support missionaries to the Indians. With his saddlebags swinging on his arms he visited almost every church in the State once a year. Stopping in a to\^m, he would preach whenever an opportunity afforded and visit the members of the church individ- ually, asking each one for a contribution. If they could not give cash he would ask for a subscription, and either come back to collect the subscription or send the list to the pastor for collection. His manner of approaching a brother was somewhat peculiar. THOS. H. JORDAN. (9th Child. I ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 289 Indians now; who will care for the poor Indians now ?" Soon after this he died in Wilmington, J^. C., in the home of Alexander Oldham, on the 14:th day of December, 1882, and was buried by the side of the lamented eJohn L. Pritchard, once the able and beloved pastor of the First Church, and who died of yellow fever while ministering to those afflicted with the same disease. During his last days he was tenderly cared for by Brother and Sister Oldham,who buried him in their OAvn burial lot, under the fragrant boughs of a beautiful magnolia tree which they had planted twenty years before his death. He had lived a Christly life, he died a Christly death, they laid him in a grave which Christ had lighted up with His o^wn glorious presence, and he went home to be forever with Christ. This sweet little poem by Willoughby Eeade is gladly given a place here: FALLEN AT HIS POST. '^ God's finger touched him and he slept." If honor in humility cloth lie, And praise for faithfulness deserved be, If toil and zeal unwearied merit have, And ceaseless labor for the Master's cause Ensure His " well done, faithful servant mine "— Then honor, praise and reverent love we'll lay Upon his bier who fell on yesterday. Known through breadth and length of our whole State. By mountain tarn or ocean's weedy marge, Or where the rivers run to seas of light, 19 290 LIFE AXD LABORS OF In hamlet, city, village, far or near. This man of purpose higli, and soul sincere. Life's master— thought for him, '-God and his cause !" Unknown wliere fashion tricks the ways of men, Scorned and derided by a shallow world, And yet a hero, grander in his toil Tlian he who conquers worlds and dies unwept ! Misfortune misses thee and friendless poor Shall watch in vain the coming of thy steps. Thy name shall pass— the workman buried is, The work goes on unto its glorious goal. Oh, wearied feet that never rested much. Rest by the jasper sea ; 'bide gentle soul, Within the sunshine of perpetual peace. With reverent hand we lay our praises down, And give to Him. the Man Divine, all praise, Who moulded such a faithful soul from dust. Though floral tributes did not mock thy bier. The flower of a white life shines o'er thy tomb. And shall — while the magnolia sweet shall weep Her petals pure, in fragrant tears of love. Lay down the tired pilgrim — face and eyes So they can catch the " golden raying crown " Of Christ's sunrise. Hush I let all weeping cease, He rests in God— call not his grave a grave, 'Tis but a sleeping place, " the chamber Peace." Good-night, wise, quaint and honest soul — Good-Night. WiLLOUGHBY ReADE. W^ilmington, Dec. 14, 1882. UNION OF THE CONVENTIONS. For quite ii iiuiiiber of years the question of unit- infj; the Eastern and Western Conventions had been agitated. Ashe and Alleghany, Watauga and Yancey had gone, and the French Broad Association, Bun- comlx' and llenders:*L' LIFE AXD LABORS OF inattor, and go liack to my old text, Prov. 3 : 5-6, •*Tnist in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not To thine own nnderstandina'. Tn all thy w^ays acknowlcd.ii-e Ilini, and He shall direct thy paths." M\ heail "tcw more and more tender, as I wept and prayed for the dirwtion-of the Holy Spirit. The next (hiy Brother Cashwell made a plain statement <»f the fact.s, as he saw them, why it would be best for the Conventions to unite, after which I made a sp(>eeli, wliieh, in connection with Brother Cash- well's, 1 believe, caused the ^Association to vote in favor of the union of the Conventions. AAHien the Convention met in Hendersonville, October 19, 1898, I was thoroniihly convinced, and was fully prepared to vote with all my heart and soul for the union. Thnrsday. the 20th day of Octol)er, was a memora- lle «hiy. I'ho whole day -was taken up in discussing the merits of the .question as to whether it would be Ircst for th(^ Western to dissolve and unite, with the State ( 'om'ontioM. 1 made the opening speech in favor of the union, and never felt more conscious of being gnided by the Holy Spirit. The discussion was warm, l>ut in the main in a good spirit. The ques- tion was decided in favor of the union, and most of the brethren seemtnl to l>e happy over the decision. Xo one regretted more than I to give up our yearly meetings of the Western Convention, for I had only iniss<^'d one session ont of twenty-two, of the vears iliat I had !iviils, at tlieir homes, along the road-side, in thrir fiehls, and just an\^vhere, and would come- out voluntarily and tell what the Holy Spirit had wrought in their hearts, hecause they could not suppress their f(M?lings. The whole oomniunity was moved by the power of the Holy Ghost. It was difficult to preach, indeed it (lid not seem to require much preaching; just pray and sing and rejoice. Simday, the last day of the meeting, was a memorable day in the history of the old Jersey Church. A large number had been received, and were to be baptized. There was a nice stream running near the chiu'ch, through a body of large timber; a beautiful place for baptism. The brethren prepared two large tents near each other. The males prepared for bap- tism in one, and the females in the other. Brother liichardson and I were both to baptize. We marched out of onr tent in double file, by the door of the sis- ters, wIk'u they fell in, in like manner. We marched doA\Ti to the creek below where we were to baptize, and then marched up the creek to the place a]'>}>ointod. Brother Richardson and I took our placnrr>e, Patrick Dowd, AVilliam Lineberry, young John Culix'ppcr and P. C. Conly, were cotempo- raries in their day. And what a host they Avere. Eternity alune will disclose the good that the^ men of God accomplished in this world. LETTER FROM A. T. ROBERTSOX. LorisviLLE^ Ky.^ Jan. 25, 1898. Pkv. F. :\I. Jordan, East Fork, X. C. My Dear Brother: — In reply to your request for an account of my conversion and of the meeting that you held in Statesvillo in 1870, I am at a loss to know how much you wdsh written, besides being greatly publied foi* time. I remember the meeting VM-y well, and shiiU 1o the end of my life. It was a great epnch in uiy early life. I had been a regular atteiKhuit ;tt tlu^ Sunday-school in the court-hous^ in 8tates\ ille, 'he I>aptists having no house at that time in tin- i LIFE ANB LABORS OF but a little boy at the time. Rev. J. B. Boone, tlie sturdy and beloved pastor, had so^^m good seed, and you were able to reap the harvest. Brother Boone was a tower of strength with his little flock at that time. T wish to mention my sense of gratitude for his tender personal kindness to me in my early life. There are happy and holy memories connected with that meeting long ago that have followed me all my life. God's blessings on you in your labor of love. Yours f rater nail V, A. T. Robertson. LETTER FROM W. J. SHOLAR. Bayonne^ N. J., June 5, 1899. My Dear Spiritual Father: — You will pardon my long delay in replying to your letter, of a month ago. I have been very, very busy, and this is the first real opportunity that I have had to write to you. I met your son in Isew York when he was on a visit there and had a pleasant visit with him. I was delighted to receive your letter and to learn that you are still vigorously preaching the good news of salvation to men. Yes, T was converted imder your ministry or preaching in the revival you held in Charlotte in 1876 or 1877 — which was it? And was baptized along with a number of others by Dr. Whitfield. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 299 I was a lad, but remember to have been deeply interested in the meetings and yonr sermons, and althoiigli no one spoke to me, I went up to the front seat one night when father and mother remained at home. I do not recall my thoughts at that time. I remember weeping and a young lady came and knelt bv me and talked to me. I remember, too, to have had a sw:eet peace come over me when I stood and acknowdedged Jesus as my Saviour. I have never had the least doubt from that day to this that I was saved that night, and I feel sure that if I had not given myself to God then, I might never have done so. From then on I was always deeply interested in the church and Sunday-school, and have held all the offices in the latter at various times. I can testify that my membership in the church has been a safeguard to me many times. I must say, however, that my disposition to attend church and Sunday-school was due to the example of i[ txorVly father, now in heaven, I do not remember Avhen T began to go to church and Sunday-school. I have been going since I remember anything at all. My lather always said ^'Come, boys ; its time for us to go to Sunday-school," and he led the way. It was never a hardship for brother and myseli to go. We expected to go to Sunday-school at 9 a. m., every Sunday just as much as we expected breakfast. After Sunday-school we remained to church — father, mother and wc two boys — all sitting together. And i3Ui> LIFE AND LABORS OF we never li'ot out of tlie habit thus inwroiifflit with our l»eiiit>. Oh, tliat Christian fathers now would lead llieir boys to church. I haven't a man in my clinrch here who brings his boy either to Sunday- school or clnii'eli. It was predicted in my yontli tliat I would be a preaclicr, ])roba])ly l)ecause I was always interested in clmreh matters and never missed ;i meeting on •SiiiKhiy or during the wee-k Onr fani'jv moved to fvaieigh, X. ('., in 1880, and we united with the First Baptist diurcli. I was placed in a Sundav- school class taught by ^[iss Fannie E. Heck, of whose good Avorks you have doubtless heard. She exercised a wonderful iniluence for good over all the young men in tliat class, and it is largely due to her sweet inilnence and kindly sympathy that I determined to give my life to preaching the gospel. After I entered college she corresponded with me until after I came isTorth, . and her gracious spirit and rare Chi-istian devotion have been incalculably great in influencing my life. The first urgings to preach came from friends, who tr>ld me that I ought to go to college and prepare for the ministry. I rejected the advice and w^ent into business. But in 1884 I finally decided to obey God'fi call, and after conversations with Dr. Skinner, my pastor, and Dr. C. E. Taylor, I entered Wake Forest, in September. I preaehed my first sermon in what was then ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 301 known as the Fayetteville Street Sunday-school, which I had helped organize. That was in the sum- mer of 1886. In 1887 I came ]^orth and entered Colgate Uni- versity, and Avas gTaduated in 1889. I then took a three years' course in tlie Theological Seminary at Hamilton, X. Y., graduating in 1892. During the Christmas, spring, and summer vaca- tions of my two years in Colgate, three of us spent the time in evangelistic work. We were all over Xew Y(U-k State. God very richly blessed our labors, giving us hundreds of conversions. Even in hottest August weather, in haying time, we had crowded churches in the villages w^here we preached. It gave me valuable and rich experiences. All dur- ing my seminary course I preached regularly nearly every Sunday and during vacations. In the summer of 1891 I supplied tlie large First Ba]:)tist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., while Dr. Willingham, then the pastor, went to Europe. I was ordained there. After his return I supplied the old First Church of Greenville, S. C, for two months, Avhile Dr. ]\runday was in ill health. Before graduating in June, 1892, I had been called to the Xoble Street Church, Brooklyn, :N'. Y. I remained there two years and eight months, having had a happy season, baptizing one hundred souls. I accepted a hearty call to become assistant pastor to Dr. John Ilumpstone in the Emanuel Church, 302 LIFE AND LABORS OF Brooklyn, X. Y., but remained only two years and two months. I had few opportunities to preach, and 1 felt tlie deprivation of that keenly, so in July, 1897, J accepted a hearty call to the Bergen Point Church, Bayonne, where I have one of the most discouraging fields near Kew York. There, my brother, is an epitome of my life since God spoke peace to my soul through your ministry twenty years ago and more. IIow wonderfully God lias dealt with me ! When I landed at Wake Forest ill September, 1884, I had just fifteen dollars, uith no certaintv of cettins' anv more. The Education Society paid my board only. I borrovred money at various times as I needed it, and after I caiiiB JSTorth I earned more than enough to pay my expenses i\v preaching. I have paid back all tlio borrowed money, purchased books- to tlie value of $1,400, fur- nished a home for $2,000, over which my lovely wife presides with. Xew York thrift (for I won her up here), and in. which our two precious children, a boy and girl, make life a joy. God has alwavs blessed mv labors in tlie savins of souls. I have an evangelistic spirit and have never had anyone to aid me in special meetings. One of my '^spiritual children" — a young man converted under my preaching in Brooklyn, and baptized by me, is now himself a preacher in New York State. But the work u]) here is hard and discouraging. The people love pleasure on Sunday and it is a day of ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 803 recreation to thousands. With the coming of warm weather the churches are empty, many of them clos- ing entirely for t\\'o and three months. Indifference is stamped on every other household in town. Even the church members are indifferent, utterly so, to the perishing men and women about them. The world is in the churches. Half the church members in this city were never converted, if barrenness of fruit is the criterion. But I have written enough. I have talked freely to you, as to my father. God is good. I love Him and He loves me. I'd rather preach than do anything else. I have been very unworthy many times, but God has always been good to me. I should be glad to see you again before you depart to be forever with the Lord. But it may never be. Of this one thing, however, I am certain, and that is, that we shall meet at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and whatever I may have done or shall yet do for Jesus will be but added luster to your crown of rejoicing. May God richly bless you, my brother, and give you many years yet and full strengi;h to proclaim His precious gospel. My heart turns longingly to the Old ^orth State once in a while, and I hope to visit her again in a year or two. Yes, I shall take a copy of your book. With Christian love, I am cordially yours, Wm. J. Sholar. 304 LIFE AND LABOES OF LETTER FR0:M J. B. RICHARDSON. High Point, [N". C, December 22, 1898. Dkai; HitoTHER F. M. Jordan: — I well remem- Iht and shall never foi-o-et our labors together in pro- tracted meetings. In 1874 I labored with you as pastor in Dnrhani, X. C. The clmrch there was mooting the question of disbanding and going to the country, where most of the members lived. Only some half a dozen lived in town, led by dear old Bro. Wesley Cheek. These, with \o\\ as their pastor, said, "Tt will never do to retreat from the tovm.. The Master says, 'Occupy till I come.' " You and Brother Cheek met me at the de])ot on Saturday night at 10 o'clock. It was a dark and dreary night. Conducting me to the home of Brother Che^k, we were soon in a ])rivate room, where you and Brother Cheek told, v»'ith saddened looks, of the church's sit- uation. Then on our knees we laid the case before our Great Head, imploring" His guidance. Xext morning was radiant with the smiles of a beneficent Providence. Wc thanked God and received courage. By 1 1 a. UL, the church was nearly full of a wait- ing congregation. A sermon was preached and you gave an invitation to inquirers after salvation. Some dozen oi- more came foi^ward for prayer and instruction. At night, the weather being most fav- orable, the house was filled to packing the aisles. At the close of the sermon, some forty or fifty rose for ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 305 prayer. Services were annoiinoed for next day. On Monday the congTogation was about the same as on Sabbath, with interest increasing. At night services the honse was again packed, and the Holy Ghost was most graciously working among us. You and Brother Oheek had not as yet announced your pur- pose of a protracted meeting at that time. You and I had arranged to start to Flat Eiver Association on the next day, provided the Lord did not indicate our further stay in Durham. But His fin^er-point- iug was clear that night, and you announced that the meeting would go on as long as the Lord showered LTis blessings upon us. On Tuesday the meeting was still increasing. At night we had a powerful meeting. On Wednesday you ^vere requeisted to announce before the people that a fashionable wedding would take place at 8 p. m.^ that day in Church, which stood but a short distance from us, and that all our congregation were invited to attend; and further, that at the close of the marriage service a protracted meeting would com- mence, led ])y the Rev. Dr. , President of University! ^There/' said some, ^^oiir meeting will have to stop" ! ^^No," said the faitliful, "the Master is at the helm ; He will pilot us." At night the people largely went to the marriage, you and I holding prayer-meeting at our house till marriage service ended, and then the great crowd swung back, 20 306 LIFE AND LABORS OF leaving the Doctor only a couple of dozen to com- mence his meeting. The Doctor continued his meet- ing till Friday night and then closed. Your's went on increasing in interest and numbers. I stayed with you for three weeks ; we labored day and night. ( Apropos, you remember Brother Cheek wore hi< everyday, threadbare suit for the first week, and then put on his new suit. ) At the close of the meet- ing you baptized forty-five. This meeting was the ''turn of the tide," and from then till now the banner of Truth has waved over Durham. WINSTON. You remember our battle at Winston. You were laboring there as missionary for one-fourth of your time. Only about scA^en Baptists — all you could find in the Twin City, and they without any organi- zation, house or lot. You purposed a protracted meeting in the court-house. But owing to some oppo- sition from a Baptist source you failed to get any ministerial aid, till you sent for me. For near two weeks we, alternating, preached in the old court- house, crowded every night to its full capacity. A most gracious meeting, resulting in tlie organization of the First Baptist Church. Thus the starting of the Baptist cause in Winston. I have forgotten the vear. ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 307 JERSEY CHURCH. But the most gracious presence of the Holy Spirit was in a meeting at Jersey Church, in 1874 or '75. 1 was pastor. Meeting commenced on Saturday Avith four or five inquirers upon the first service. You readied me on tlie Sabbath. On inquiry I told you that I knew of only about twenty unconverted people attending our regular services. You preached, and fully that number cried for mercy. We held no night services. Xext day the people came in crowds. You rose to preach, but soon had to stop ; the sinners all over the house were cryiug out aloud for Chris- tians to pray for them. Old and young, gray headed and beardless cried aloud till nearly every seat in the house was a mourners' bench. Thus it continued - with increased power from day to day without another sermon preached for ten days. Straw was brought in and put all over the floor as a cai'pet. Strong and brave old Confederate soldiers, husbands and wives of many years, farmers worth their thou- sands, sons and daughters of strong minds, lay at length on the straw carpet, like the wounded and dying before a mighty victorious power. There they lay for hours helpless as wounded soldiers, till late in the evening, when wagons and carriages were pro- vided, in which they were helped to the nearest homes for the nia'ht. Often the brethren had to carrv them in arms from church to vehicle. One farmer, OA\ai- ing a $25,000 plantation, who, while on his knees in 80S LIFE AND LABORS OF cluircli received a mefisage to hasten to one of his farm quarters, where his hands were fighting, replied aloud, heard all over the house, "Tell the overseer I can't come; my sonl's salvation is worth more than all my fann." Xor did the interest ahate at night-fall, for the convicted cried and ])i-ayed aloud in some instances all iiiii'lit. neither eating nor slumbering, even at late hours of night, seeking the still Avoods where they were heard groaning like wounded, dying soldiers. We put forth efforts to quiet them, but all in vain. Infidcds and sceptics came to look on but the conta- gion on the first day :^wept them from their boasted pedestal to boAv in prOvStrate form for mercy. ^NTever liavc T witnt^ssed sueli a meeting. On the 10th day you and I led sixty-five down into the baptismal waters. At next monthly meeting I baptized ten more, making seventy-five in all. Your brother, J. B. Kichardson. LKTTKi; FIJOM 1'. JI JONES. Having been solicited to write a chapter of per- s(»nal reminiscences for this book, I do so reluctantly, first, because writing is not my forte, and second, i)"canse ii has Ik'ou a]>out twc^nty years since J was )nTimat>edy asso<'iat('d with the brother about whom 1 u ritx', and many things that occurred while we were ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 309 together, and wliicli init>'lit be of interest to the public, have fadcHJ from my memory. If 1 remember correctly, I first met Rev. F. M. Jordan at tlie North Carolina Baptist State Conven- tion, ill (joldsbo>ro. about thirty-nine years ago. Tall, stately and commanding in appearance, my attention was directed to him. So T inquired, '^What tall brother is that standing uear the church door V A brothor replied, ''That is F. ^t. Jordan, a very earnest Christian, and one of the strongest Baptists in Xorth Carolina.'' Xot long after this, I met him at the Beulah Asso- ciation in Madison, Rockingham (/'ounty, X. C. At this meeting he made a stirring speech on Temper- ance. One brother, while speaking on this subject, said, "I have only about fifteen gallons of whiskey made every fall to use in my family for medicinal pur- poses during the year.'' Brother Jordan, in his reply said, ^'That good brother who has just closed his speech must have a very large family and must live in a very sickly place to need fifteen gallons every year for medicinal purposes." The brethren were greatly pleased and amused at Brother Jordan's retort. The Association finished its business Saturday. Dr. Toby, the returned missionary from China, preached Sunday morning and Brother Jordan Sun- da v night. The meeting continued for ten days, Bro. J. L. Carroll and the writer aiding the pastor, 310 LIFE AND LABOES OF L. 11. Shuck, D. I). The meeting was a very preoious one. It took liold of the whole community. Twenty-five were baptized durino- tlie meeting and otliers afterwards. Some who were made very ha]>py at the beginning of the meeting while Brother Jordan was preaching his earnest, tender sermon, seemed to think that this sermon prepared the way for the precious meeting which followed. Among all the ministers in the Beulah Association, Brother Jordan was perhaps the most regular in attending the Union Meetings. lie was usually there at the begimiing and remained until the close, manifesting interest in everything that came before the body. On one occa- sion I went fifty miles and he about forty miles to get to the place of meeting. I reached the church alx)ut 10 o'clock a. m., and had just taken my horse from my l)uggy, when Brother Jordan drove up, and seeing me, said, '"Oh, my brother ! You thought you would catch me napping, but I'm here ; and I'm here on time!" He did not enjoy being behind, but desired to keep up in all things. He was a helpful hearer. I rarely preached in his presence but that his constant interest, flowing tears and responsive face was an inspiration to me. lie was not accustomed to consult convenience in tlio service of Christ, and had little sympathy with those who did. On one occasion two churches invited the Union [Meeting — one was very central and easily ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 311 reached, and one brother fa,vored going to the central chnrch because of its convenience. Brother Jordan favored going to the other church, because it was a mission church, was remote and would put us to some inconvenience to get there. He said, "I like to do some things for Christ because they are inconve^ nient." He frequently got after the brethren of other denominations for saying they preferred sprink- ling to immersion because it was more convenient. He claimed that Christ commanded immersion and not sprinkling, and that the command must be obeyed, however inconvenient. I followed him as pastor at Kerr's Chapel in Caswell County, and at Mars Hill in Orange County. Several of the most earnest and active members of these churches pro- fessed conversion and joined these churches under Brother Jordan's ministry. At one time he was my pastor, and was frequently at my house. His social spirit and a kind word for each member of the family made him at all times a welcome visitor to our home. He baptized my oldest daughter, now the wife of Kev. C. G. Jones, of Covington, Ky. At another time I v;as his pastor and was frequently at his pleas- ant country home near Hillsboro, ]^. C. He was sometimes at home, and when there greeted me as a brother in Christ. At other times he was away, but his thoughtful, Christian wife, his interesting daugh- ters and his industrious, promising boys, made his ;U2 LIFE AND LABORS OF home, even in his absence, a place of interest and of pleasure to me. 1 baptised three of his children ; among them Wil- lie, who is now an efficient pastor and a popular preacher in Colorado. I married his oldest and accomplished daughter, Julia, to brother C. E. Lee, of Kaleigh, N. C. Brother Jordan not only did good wherever he went bv his earnest, able, impressive sermons, but aJso bv his private talks to the unconverted. A good sister told me to-day that F. M. Jordan was the first minister who ever spoke to her privately a.boiit her soul's salvation. A faithful presentation of the AVord of God from the pulpit is not sufficient to make one useful and efficient as a minister, but we must have private conversations and live consistent lives. It is needful that we ^^Take heed" both to ourselves *^and to the doctrine." Brother Jordan did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God for the sake of popularity. It was his custom to close a protracted meeting with a ser- mon on baptism, and the Lord's Supper. He thus left the yoimg converts with their eyes open as to what he believed to be their duty as believers in Christ. Having been together quite frequently in pro- tracted meetings, in Associations, in Union Meetings, in State Conventions, and in each other's homes, it is not sui*prising that an intimacy and friendship, like ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 31 3 that wliieli existed lietweeii David and Jonathan, should liave gro^vn iij:* between us. Brother Jordan is several years my senior, but we have both made the greater part of our record as laborers in the vineyard of Christ on earth, and may we not hope that the pleasure we have had as we have preached and labored together for Christ, and for the salva- tion of souls on earth, is but an earnest of the pleas- ure^ we shall realize as we shall enter upon the rest remaining to the people of God, as we shall sit at the feet of Jesus and praise His name for dying love and for redeeming grace, and for allomng us to preach the gospel to the perishing. F. H. Jones. LETTER FRO]\t J. F. LOVE. I have been requested to write for this volume an account of a revival held by Brother Jordan in Eliz- abeth City, X. C, in January, 1876. I was selected for this because I was an interested and a regTilar attendant upon the services and was converted in one of them. Through affectionate veneration for the subject of this book I undertake a brief narrative of some events of the meeting. Many things which would be most interesting to the readei' have been effaced from my memoTy, as I was but a small boy at the time. From the day of my baptism until I myself had '3-14 LIFE AND LABORS OF be<^n preaching the g'ospel for nearly ten years, I did not see Brother Jordan, and then for a few minutes only. Therefore, he still has in memory's gallery, the "fonn and ])eauty" of twenty years ago "nnmarred and unmixed" with the geoitler and more sombre graces which the experience of these years may haye added. T shall make no attempt at por- traitTire, but should 1 it would l>e of the man of ju'inie and power as he appeared to the eyes of one of his spiritual children twenty years a^o. The Baptist Thurch in Elizabeth City was with- out a pastor when he arriyed and began his work. More and more he engaged the attention of the town and counti-y for miles around. The preacher and the meeting were soon topics of familiar conversation in every circle. Most vividly do 1 see him now as he stood, tall, erect, frank, and fearless, conscious of his mastery of the great audiences. Xot the words but the "ring" of his messages is fresh in memory. Such pelting blows he did deal to flagTant sinners! How the slendei- props were knocked away and the self- righteous were brought sprawling in the dust of humility! With what relentlessness was the flimsy vf il of excuses rent in twain and startled souls made to cry (tut for mercy! Social vices received such exposure and rebuke that ^^society" folk became veno- mous in their rage. It was rumored that a brick-bat clul) was organized and a surgeon Avould be needed to mend the sacred interloper when they had finished ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 315 with him. This added to the crowds at the night service. At the appointed hour, the preacher ascended the pulpit stair, with a calm dignity, and after taking a long, silent look over his audience, stroking the meanwhile, as his manner \vas, the side of his nose with, his left forefinger, he sang, without instrumental prelude, interlude, postlude, or accom- paniment, his favorite solo, '^There is a gate that stands ajar," etc. Then followed a prayer for the presence, help and power of God, and a sermon which evinced it. The Rubicon was crossed and conquest followed conquest from that service. Among the memorable features of that meeting the 10 o'clock prayer and experience services are prominent. I do not remember to have witnessed since such seasons of subdued spiritual rapture. The immediate and more visible results of the meeting were the application to and acceptance by the church of thirty-eight persons for baptism. How well we remember the fears we felt lest the ckurch would not receive us and we be permitted to imitate and obey our Lord in baptism, and how bright, though chill, seemed that January Sabbath, when, by the authority of the church, the evangelist led us, willing followers of our SavioT, into Pasquotank River, and buried us with Christ in baptism, and raised us again to walk in ne\ATiess of life. ]\Iore Christian workers developed from among- the converts of that meeting than we have kno^vn. from 310 LIFE AND LABORS OF aiiv other revival. A lara-e number of zealous and consecrated Snnd ay-school teachers, deacons, choir- singers, and one preacher have for years, by their labors, been adding- to the reward of the man who won them to salvation. The subsequent character of the converts was, we believe, but a complement of the quality of preaching done and methods employed by the evangelist, and those ministers who had, in pre- ceding years, indoctrinated the Baptists of that com- munity, and to whom we would like also to pay a tribute were this a fitting place for it. For the mak- ing of a vigorous and strong Christian there is noth- ing more important than a good theological pedigree. Spiritual parents in whose blood is the healthful tonic of sound doctrine usually beget healthy spiritual children. The doctrines upon which the preacher in this meeting expended without apology his power of illumination were human depravity, the sover- eignty of God, a vicarious atonement, unmerited grace, salvation by faith, and an endless hell. It may be remarked here that these are the doc- trines which lie as a foundation to the Christianity of this nation. The men who built tlie churches and founded the Christian institutions which have shaped American civilization believed and taught these things. These are tlie solid timbers which were used by those who before us planned and wrought for this rising temple of evangelical religion. Let us of this generation take heed how we build ELDER F. M. JORDAN". 317 thereupon. If any are tempted to substitute for the old doctrine of depravity the new one of sinless per- fection, or for the old-fashioned hell the modern fallacy of universal salvation, we would entreat them to enquire whether upon the old tlie seal of God's blessing has rested, and would commend to them the words of one of the old builders: '"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a. wise master-builder,! have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Xow if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest : for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built there- upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss." (1 Cor. 3: 10-15.) The Monday following the baptizing Brother Jor- dan left the town and has not since returned. ZSToth- ing connected with the preacher or the meeting, except my own conversion, is remembered more clearly than a sore disappointment which the wrriter suffered on that morning of the preacher^s departure. Having begged a 50-cent piece of my mother, I hastened away from home about as fast as my feet 318 LIFE AND LABORS OF could carrv me to Deacon [Morgan's in search of the preael, mingling with the people of God 824 LIFE AND LABORS OF and witnessing the transforming power of Christ in the lives of the people. I have met and become inti- mate! v acquainted with thousands of as good men and women as God ever pennitted to live, and nearly all of my happiness has come through associating with them. 1 have traveled thousands of miles, preached thousands of sermons, endured many hardships and self-denials, but, thank God, they are all beliind me now, and 1 look upon them as treasures laid up in heaven, ^[any of those who were converted under my ministry, and of those whom I baptized and mar- I'icd. arc now in heaven, and many others are burning and shining lights in the church militant, living and working for Jesus. ''They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth fortli and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with liini." 1 am now in the t^^dlight of life's harvest ; my hoary locks are reflecting the beauty of the world beyond, but, bless God, my sheaves are standing thick around me. My tasks are done. The night is coming on. "T know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which T have committed unto him against that day." ^'I have fought a good fight, T have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crr>wn of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." Soon I shall ])reac'h my last sermon, offer my last prayer, and ELDER F. M. JORDAN. 325 take my last look at these sparkling waters, these majestic moimtains, these beautiful valleys — earth, friends, home and loved ones, and soar away to dwell with God f orevermore. FINIS. , , t-r i\ yi y ■■.>:r>r>r»' > »L^:>L*L>I>l>l> . ;K>M(kl»i>;K