Flint's Letters from America, 1818-1820Flint, James, active 19th century
History
Flint's Letters from America, 1818-1820
Flint, James, active 19th century
Ohio River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel
After dinner another orator took his place. The inclosure was again
filled with the penitent, or with others wishing to become so, and a
vast congregation arranged themselves on their seats in the rear. A
most pathetic prayer was poured forth, and a profound silence reigned
over all the camp, except the fenced inclosure, from whence a low
hollow murmuring sound issued. Now and then, _Amen_ was articulated in
a pitiful and indistinct tone of voice. You have seen a menagerie of
wild animals on a journey, and have perhaps heard the king of beasts,
and other powerful quadrupeds, excited to grumbling by the jolting
of the waggon. Probably you will call this a rude simile; but it is
the most accurate that I can think of. Sermon commenced. The preacher
announced his determination of discontinuing his labours in this part
of the world, and leaving his dear brethren for ever. He addressed
the old men present, telling them that they and he must soon be
removed from this mortal state of existence, and that the melancholy
reflection arose in his mind,--“_What will become of the church when
we are dead and gone?_”--A loud response of groaning and howling was
sounded by the aged in the inclosure, and throughout the congregation.
He next noticed that he saw a multitude of young men before him, and,
addressing himself to them, said, “I trust in _God_, that many of you
will be _now_ converted, and will become the _preachers_ and the pious
Christians of after days.”--The clamour now thickened, for young and
old shouted together. Turning his eyes toward the female side of the
fence, he continued, “And you, my {234} dear sisters.”--What he had
farther to say to the future “nursing mothers of the church,” could
not be heard, for the burst of acclamation, on their part, completely
prevented his voice from being heard, on which account he withdrew; and
a tune was struck up and sung with grand enthusiasm. The worship now
proceeded with a new energy; the prompter in the pulpit had succeeded
in giving it an impulse, and the music was sufficient to preserve
emotion. The inclosure was so much crowded that its inmates had not the
liberty of lateral motion, but were literally hobbling _en masse_. My
attention was particularly directed to a girl of about twelve years of
age, who while standing could not be seen over her taller neighbours;
but at every leap she was conspicuous above them. The velocity of every
plunge made her long loose hair flirt up as if a handkerchief were held
by one of its corners and twitched violently. Another female, who had
arrived at womanhood, was so much overcome that she was held up to the
breeze by two persons who went to her relief. I never before saw such
exhaustion. The vertebral column was completely pliant, her body, her
neck, and her extended arms, bent in every direction successively.
It would be impossible to describe the diversity of cases; they
were not now confined within the fence, but were numerous among the
people without.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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