USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 39
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" His own Narrative first obtained from another, April 27, 1802, and afterwards directly from himself, May 22, is in my letter-book, and is exactly as follows."
66 LETTER VI.
" I was," said he, " nearly a confirmed deist ; and though reli- giously educated, despised religion until about four weeks ago.
" About that time a largeme eting was held at Providence. I had the curiosity to attend. For nearly four days I continued on the ground, though often determined to leave it without any unusual impressions, except what were occasioned by the cries of the dis- tressed. Although at some times I prayed to be religiously im- pressed, I never was more careless and hardened in my life until Monday evening, when sitting in Mr. - 's tent, reflecting on the strength of my body, and happy state of mind, notwithstanding my fatigue and want of rest, I was at once struck with an unusual sensation in my heart, which in a little time pervaded my chest in general. I felt no pain, but apprehended immediate death. I en- deavored to remove it by walking, but in vain. Having returned to the tent, the sensation pervaded my whole body, and convul- sions and involuntary gnashing of teeth ensued. Instantaneously these ceased, and I became as one dead, unable to move. While this continued, which was said to be about two hours, I expe- rienced a dreadful gloom, and confused horrors of mind, but had no particular view of my sins. This resemblance of death was succeeded by other convulsions, and again I felt quiet ; and until morning experienced more dreadful horrors, which increased as
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my bodily strength returned. When the exercise of my bodily organs was tolerably recovered, my horrors ceased without my being able to assign the particular cause of their removal. My first re- flections were how I could possibly make a public profession of religion, and exhort as others were doing. A plan was immedi- ately suggested how I might avoid it, which was to attribute all I had felt to fits ; and say I had been subject to them before. This, however, I immediately detected as a suggestion of the devil, and discarded, resolving to love God and profess the religion of Jesus Christ, let the consequence be what it would. I then began to in- quire what could be the cause of these new and sudden resolutions ; for, thought I, it is scarcely possible, that I, who have been one of the most abandoned sinners, could experience a change of heart, without being more dreadfully humbled for my sins. I then indeed saw that they were great and of a most aggravated kind, being committed against so much light and goodness. And although I could not feel humbled for them as I wished, and as I know I ought, yet the glory, wisdom, justice, grace, and condescension of God, as displayed in the device of salvation through a mediator, broke in upon my mind. My soul was filled with admiration and love, at the fulness and freeness of his grace in Christ. My heart acquiesced in this glorious way of salvation, and my soul was drawn out in love to the holy and blessed Jesus. Never before did I know anything of true joy, and blessed be God, for this week past, he has permitted me to enjoy his smiles almost without in- terruption. But I am not satisfied, and at some times am led to fear the whole is a delusion but glory to God if it should be so ; it is an incomparable sweet one. O ! how sweet to contemplate the glorious character of Almighty God, and his infinite love to sinners through his dear Son. I am indeed often jealous of my own heart, and this often leads me to examine, with great care, my exercises, and compare them with the word of God; and the gracious experience mentioned in other good books. And if I &m not greatly deceived, I can freely renounce all that is most dear to me in the world, for Christ and his religion. I pray the Lord may enable me to persevere. I desire to thank him I have been enabled to day, at court, to silence near a dozen of my old deisti- cal companions, by stating to them my own experience. My case evaded all their objections, and they appeared to be struck with solemnity and alarm."
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" Connected with the foregoing, which I had from the gentleman's own hand, is the following, which I had from the hand of my friend and neighbor, the Rev. John Carrigan, and also from the lips of three other clergymen, who were eye and ear-witnesses. To render the account more authentic, I have made no alterations in it, and indeed I saw no need to make any.
" SAMUEL E. M'CORKLE."
LETTER VII.
" North Carolina, Cabarrus County, May 29, 1802.
" REV. SIR,-I here transmit you a short, but I think important, statement of facts, to which I had the pleasure of being an eye and ear-witness.
" On a late sacramental occasion, in a neighboring society, where I had the happiness of attending, my attention was frequently ex- cited afresh by new and extraordinary instances of awakening. None, however, appeared so pointedly to arrest the public mind as that of a certain gentleman, who experienced his first impressions on Sabbath evening. His own declaration was, that he was sensi- bly struck in the forehead, as if by the end of a person's finger. He, supposing the stroke to be of the apoplectic kind, became alarmed with the view of instant death-he earnestly desired to have blood drawn, crying out, ' I cannot live.' His alarm of death gradually abating, he spent the night almost in silence ; but still disbelieved it to be the work of God's spirit.
" On Monday morning I was awaked by his bitter and piercing cries at a distance. When I went to him, the crowd (many of whom were in tears) was listening to his lamentation, which was to the following purport :- ' O God, what a night I have spent in struggling against thy spirit ; I have been an opposer and a despiser of this work ; I came here with no better design yesterday morning, leaving my wife and children without calling them together for prayer, or even a wholesome advice ; I would not let them come; I thought I was strong ; I so despised the work and its friends as to begrudge it my presence; I had philosophized upon it, and could account for it all to my satisfaction, and that of my deistical friends with whom I had the greatest happiness for ten years past. But where did that philosophy come from, that struck me in the forehead yesterday ; O God, what a creature have I been ; and yet in thy un-
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bounded goodness thou hast taken hold of me; O the unbounded goodness of God; O the unbounded goodness of God; O the un- bounded goodness of God; when I came here yesterday morning I could not have prayed before four persons, or sung a piece of a hymn : no, the fact was I would not have done it; but now I could wish the world to hear me; O my friends, it is the work of God, it is the work of God; O yes it is; I have heard of Christians loving one another, and of one person feeling interested for the salvation of their fellow-sinners, but I never knew what it meant, or even be- lieved that there could be such a thing till now ;' pausing awhile he added : 'what a change has taken place in my mind since yesterday morning ; my wife will be glad to see it, and all the friends of Jesus will rejoice with us; O God, may these impressions continue ; I am afraid of high professions, but am constrained to acknowledge, from my present feelings, that if this world with all its glory was in my offer, I would not receive it as an inducement to exchange my present state for that in which I was yesterday; I came here and I knew not what brought me, for I confess I had not the approbation of my own will ; I came not to hear sermon, and when I was here I tried to hear as little as I could ; but God has laid on me his hand in mercy, when I was not seeking him.' His importunate exercises in prayer and exhortation, should they be all noted, would fill many pages ; but I have noted his soliloquy in the above lines, as that through which we may take the most immediate view of the soul's exercises, when under the convictive operations of God's spirit. The gentleman has the advantages of a liberal education, and has always, so far as I have been acquainted, supported a good moral character ; but till that period, by his own confession, had never sus- pected that there was any reality in religion, but scoffed at such pre- tensions. I suppose he is a little above forty years of age."
" LETTER VIII.
" May 28, 1802.
" I have just returned from a general meeting at Waxhaws in South Carolina, which commenced on Friday 21st instant, and closed on the ensuing Tuesday.
" About twenty ministers of various denominations attended, one hundred and twenty wagons, twenty carts, and eight carriages, and by a rough computation about three thousand five hundred
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persons, of whom more than one hundred were exercised on the occasion, few of whom received the sensible comfort of religion. I am happy that I attended, because I have returned with answers to two or three objections which were made here, against the least degree of divine agency in this work. These objections originated from facts that had taken place at two common sacramental occa- sions, which I had just before attended-one in the vicinity-the other at home. At the first of these the opposers were numerous, wretched, restless and daring. They cursed, and scoffed, and threatened, and fortified themselves with ardent spirits to prevent the stroke, or animate for opposition. And yet not one of them was struck down. At the other sacrament a number of females were afflicted, but not one man. These circumstances could not escape observation, united with another, viz., that it is at the close of all our meetings, when the body is debilitated and the mind impressed with a long series of dreadful sights and sounds, that by far the greater number fall.
" At Waxhaws I saw these objections vanish away. About twenty persons fell the first day, the far greater number throughout the whole occasion were men, and few opposers escaped ; not less than twelve of the most notorious fell. The second person that I saw struck was a man who had boasted that he would not fall. How- ever, struck he was, fled, fell, was found, and brought to a tent where I saw him, and heard him cry for mercy. Curiosity had compelled another to attend, and the fear of falling had induced him to drink freely : so that it was doubtful when he was struck down, what was the true cause. Time determined. I saw him twelve hours after, and he was trying, in ardent language, to express his repentance, love, joy, gratitude, resolution, and hope. I saw another soon after he had fallen. His companion was gazing on. A respectable by- stander told me that they were racing horses into the encampment that morning, that they were swearing and talking profanely, that the fallen had boasted that nothing but his bottle should ever bring him down, and that he would not for the value of the whole camp be degraded by falling for anything else. Another was struck down, and by one of the ministers (who told me) he was urged to pray. This he peremptorily refused. He was urged again, and then declared that he would rather be damned than pray. Such a comment on the enmity and pride of the human heart I never heard before. After lying all night on the ground, he crept away the next morning, and I heard of him no more.
" A remarkable occurrence took place on my return, not far from
26
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the encampment. A young man was exercised in a thick wood, he was found, and then called for his relatives and neighbors, to whom he gave a very ardent exhortation. His exercises were joyful, as they respected himself; but became painful when his thoughts turned on his thoughtless or opposing relatives and neighbors. But the most singular circumstance was his own solemn declaration, that he had experienced this painful work in that very wood long before he had ever seen it in others ; and therefore he cried out with unusual animation, ' O my friends, this work is the work of God, and not sympathy, as some of you suppose.'
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" LETTER IX.
" Narrative of Proceedings at Jersey Settlement, Rowan County, North Carolina.
" June, 4-8, 1802.
" A sermon was delivered on Friday to a large, thoughtless, disor- derly crowd, which became gradually composed and serious, until Monday, which was the most solemn day that my eyes ever beheld. Near three thousand persons attended, and of these near three hundred were exercised throughout the occasion, and perhaps not fewer than the half of them on Monday.
" Nothing very unusual at such meetings appeared, until Sunday evening, when a stout negro-woman, who had been all day mock- ing the mourners, fell ; and fell in a state of horror and despair that baffles description. In this state, she continued with intervals, for three hours. I viewed her all the time, and it was impossible for my imagination to conceive of her being more tormented had she actually been in hell. She often roared out, ' O hell ! hell ! hell! Thy pangs have seized me! O torment ! torment! What tor- ments me ! Hell can't be worse. Let me go there at once. It is my dreadful doom.' She said she saw hell-flames below, herself hung over by a thread, and a sharp, bright sword drawn to cut it through. Her exertions, at this moment, nor angel nor devil could describe. Two stout negro-men were no match for her struggles. I thought of the man among the tombs with his legion. Such an exercise I never beheld, and I have seen not less than a thousand. No one that saw it, ever beheld anything that would stand in com- parison. At intervals she cried, ' O for mercy ! but what have I to do with mercy ? No mercy for poor miserable me. Hope, how-
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ever, began to prevail, and at last she shouted, 'Glory, glory,' as loud, and as long as she had roared out, ' Hell-torment ' before. ' Astonishing,' said she, ' I have mocked the mourners, boasted that I could stand, been in hell, and, O praise God, praise Him, praise Him, He has brought me out. Never, never, let me forget to love, and praise, and serve my God, my Redeemer.'
" Very different, but less noticeable was another exercise on Mon- day. After a sermon and two exhortations, arose, with trembling and wild consternation, a man who adjured the preachers before God, to say on their conscience, whether they did believe the ne- cessity of these convictions which they had been urging. The whole assembly was struck with solemn astonishment. The preach- ers, after a pause, said with one voice, ' We do, we do believe it.' He then turned to the assembly, and begged of those who had felt conviction, to pray for him, and others who had not. He sat down. An awful silence ensued, and then a prayer was performed for them. When this scene ended, he rose, and called on all who had not felt conviction, to join with him in prayer for themselves. After a short, pathetic prayer, he retired. I afterwards conversed with him. He said that he had never suspected our sincerity, but wished to have the assembly impressed with our public declaration ; that his first feeling was a bodily sensation rising from his bowels toward his breast, and that with this sensation arose his resolution to speak, and an impulse irresistible to execute it. And certain am I that, had he studied for a year, he could have devised no plan that would have produced such a solemn effect on the assembly. In the eve- ning he was severely exercised, and obtained as much consolation as, in his own words, 'such a sinner could expect.' 'This,' said he, ' is the chief ground of my consolation, that I feel resolutions made with a temper which I never experienced before. I think I feel that I am acting from principles, and that I feel the principles from which I act.' This man possessed a large portion of natural understanding, and a liberal education, but regrets that he has been too long wandering through the wilds of infidelity and intem- perance. He has firmly resolved to abandon his old companions, and choose new ones, and be another man. May God enable him so to do.
" What wonders are doing around us! What think you of a wed- ding, a gay giddy bride, and a severe exercise on her bridal day ? All this has happened in the vicinity of this meeting, and but a few days before it, I conversed with the bride. She said she had thought seriously of this work before ; but was not, when struck,
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thinking seriously about anything. She was struck soon after the ceremony was performed, and struck in such an awful manner, that for some time she knew not what was the matter. Her friends were prodigiously alarmed, and their mirth turned into sober sad- ness. She at last obtained a little consolation, and told me she was earnestly seeking for more. In the vicinity of this place is a man of mid-age, who was struck in his bed ; and a young woman, who experienced all this work in secret five or six years before ever she saw it in others. I know her, and believe that she abhors a lie.
" Westfield, August 9, 1802. To Mr. Langdon in Salisbury, Rowan County, N. Carolina.
" Your's, &c.,
" SAMUEL M'CORKLE."
A True Account of a Great Meeting held in the District of Spar- tanburgh, South Carolina.
" Abbeville (S. C.), July 7th, 1802.
" MY FRIEND :- I have just returned from Nazareth, where I have seen and heard things which no tongue can tell, no pen can paint, no language can describe, or of which no man can have a just con- ception, until he has seen, heard and felt. I am willing that you should have a perfect detail of all the circumstances attending this meeting ; and of all occurrences which there took place. But you must accept the acknowledgments of my inadequacy to draw a just representation ; yet, as far as I may be able, I will now give you an account of some things.
" The meeting was appointed some months since by the Presby- tery, and commenced on Friday, the 2d inst. The grove wherein the camp was pitched was near the water of Tyger River ; and being in a vale which lay between two hills gently inclining to- wards each other, was very suitably adapted to the purpose. The first day was taken up in encampment until two o'clock, when di- vine service commenced with a sermon by the Rev. John B. Ken- nedy. He was succeeded by the Rev. William Williamson, in an address explanatory of the nature and consequences of such meet- ings. The assembly was then dismissed. After some short time, service commenced again with a sermon by the Rev. James Gille- land ; who was followed by the Rev. Robert Wilson, in a very serious and solemn exhortation. Afterwards the evening was spent in singing and prayer alternately. About sundown the people
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were dismissed to their respective tents. By this time the counte- nances of all began to be shaded by the clouds of solemnity, and to assume a very serious aspect. At ten o'clock two young men were lying speechless, motionless, and sometimes to all appearance, ex- cept in the mere act of breathing, dead. Before day, five others were down ; these I did not see. " The whole night was employed in reading and commenting upon the word of God; and also in singing, praying and exhorting ; scarcely had the light of the morn- ing sun dawned on the people, ere they were engaged in what may be called family worship. The adjacent tents collecting in groups, here and there, all round the whole line. The place of worship was early repaired to by a numerous throng. Divine ser- vice commenced at eight by one of the Methodist brethren, whom I do not recollect. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Shackleford, of the Baptist profession. Singing, praying and exhorting by the Presbyterian clergymen continued until two o'clock, when an inter- mission of some minutes was granted, that the people might re- fresh themselves with water, &c. By this time, the audience be- came so numerous, that it was impossible for all to crowd near enough to hear one speaker ; although the ground rising above the stage theatrically, afforded aid to the voice. Hence, the assembly divided, and afterwards preaching was performed at two stages. An astonishing and solemn attention in the hearers, and an animat- ing and energetic zeal in the speakers, were now everywhere pre- vailing. Service commenced half after two by the Rev. John Simpson at one stage, and at the other, by the Rev. James M'El- henney, who were succeeded by the Rev. Francis Cummings. After these sermons, fervent praying, &c., were continued until, and through the night, in which time many were stricken, and numbers brought to the ground.
" The next morning (Sabbath morning), a still higher, if possible, more engaged and interesting spirit pervaded the whole grove ; singing and praying echoed from every quarter until eight o'clock, when divine service commenced again at both stages, before two great and crowded assemblies. The action sermons were delivered by the Rev. Robert Wilson, at one stage, and the Rev. William Cummings Davis at the other. I did not hear Mr. Wilson. But Mr. Davis's was one of the most popular orthodox gospel sermons that I ever heard. No sketch, exhibited in words, would be ade- quate to portray the appearance of the audience under this dis- course. Imagine to yourself thousands under a sense of the greatest possible danger, anxious to be informed in all that related to their
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dearest interests, in the presence of a counsellor, who, laboring with all his efforts, should be endeavoring to point out the only way to security ; and you will have some faint conception of this spec- tacle.
" Thence ensued the administration of the Lord's Supper. To the communion sat down about four hundred persons. It was a mat- ter of infinite satisfaction, to see on this occasion the members of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches united ; all owning and acknowledging the same God, the same Saviour, the same Sancti- fier, and the same Heaven. We are sorry to add that the Baptists refused to join ; whether their objections were reasonably justifiable, I shall not presume to say.
" The evening exercises, although greatly interrupted by the in- temperance of the weather, progressed as usual, until about dark ; when there commenced one of the most sublime, awfully interest- ing and glorious scenes which could possibly be exhibited on this side of eternity. The penetrating sighs, and excruciating struggles of those under exercise ; the grateful exultations of those brought to a sense of their guilty condition, and to a knowledge of the way to salvation ; mingled with the impressions which are naturally ex- cited by the charms of music and the solemnity of prayer on such occasions ; and to all this added the nature of the scenery, the dark- ness of night and the countenances of the spectators, speaking in terms more expressive than language, the sympathy, the hope and the fear of their hearts, were sufficient to bow the stubborn neck of infidelity, silence the tongue of profanity, and melt the heart of cold neglect, though hard as adamant. This scene continued through the night. Monday morning dawned big with the fate of its im- portance. The morning exercises were conducted as usual. About half past seven the assembly met the ministers at the stage, and ser- vice commenced by the Rev. Mr. Waddel. After which ensued singing, exhorting and a concert of prayer. At length the business closed with an address, energetic and appropriate, by the Rev. Francis Cummins. In the course of this day many were stricken, numbers of whom fell.
" I cannot but say that the parting was one of the most moving and affecting scenes which presented itself throughout the whole. Families, who had never seen each other until they met on the ground, would pour forth the tears of sympathy, like streams of waters ; many friendships were formed, and many attachments con- tracted, which, although the persons may never meet again, shall never be dissolved. Not one quarter of an hour before I mounted
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my horse to come away, I saw one of the most beautiful sights which ever mortal beheld. It would not only have afforded pleas- ure to the plainest observer, but the profoundest philosopher would have found it food for his imagination. The case to which I allude was the exercise of Miss Dean, one of the three sisters who fell near the close of the work. Her reflections presented mostly objects of pleasure to her view. But sometimes, for the space of a minute, she would lose them ; the consequence of which was painful dis- tress. By the very features of her face I could see when her afflic- tive sensations approached, as plain as ever I saw the sun's light obscured by the over-passing of clouds. In her happy moments she awakened in my recollection Milton's lively picture of Eve when in a state of innocence.
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