IN PERSECUTIONS OFT

Mission in Atlanta -- Driven Out -- First "Repairer" Office -- Sectional Prejudice -- Tent and Gospel Wagon Donated -- A Whole Street Meeting Arrested.

They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.

     November 1, 1895, by invitation we began a meeting in a mission in Atlanta, Ga., then under the auspices of the North Georgia Holiness Association. The revival was a clean sweep, taking in holiness professors, many of whom found they did not have the genuine article. After a number prayed through it brought light and conviction upon others until it reached the leader who saw that to get right meant restitution. Though rich and well able to do it, he backed down, wrote to the president of the association to return quickly, for "Shelhamer," said he, "is about to organize a Free Methodist Church in the mission." Such a thing had never been intimated, or even thought of.

     However, it brought the president back and immediately his countenance toward us was changed. He said the meeting must close, and the door was locked. Seeking souls desired us to pray with them and, having no place, we invited them upstairs into our 12x14 room which was bedroom, tract-room, "The Repairer" office, and all we had in the world. Here the fire broke out anew, and in order to stop it the mission people raised our rent to twenty-five dollars a month, knowing, of course, that we could not meet it. A reporter was sent to interview me, and came out in his paper in large headlines, "Shelhamer Lost the Mission." He went on to describe my height, color of hair and eyes, then said: "If he ever does succeed in establishing a congregation here it will be a unique one, for the lightest word he uses is law." The opposition began in earnest and from the same pulpits where I had formerly preached I was now denounced. I had preached in different city churches, but they were now all united in opposing the " crank from the North." One dear old preacher spoke to me thus: "Understand, I have nothing against you, only I wish you had stayed where you belonged, and I had never seen you." A prominent woman in religious circles said, "All I wish is that the Mason and Dixon wall had been one hundred feet high, and one hundred feet thick, so that Shelhamer could never have gotten over it."

     We were forced to move from above the mission, having to use a wheelbarrow rather than hire a drayman because of lack of funds. We did not then realize that God was permitting it all in order to enlarge our borders. Venturing by faith, we rented a seven-room house. Having outgrown this, our next move was to an eleven, and later to a seventeen-room house, each time being more centrally located.

     During the first year or so the fight was intense, even the children being taught to ridicule anyone who dared to attend the "Yankee Meetings." At first our services were held in private dwellings. A large woman, whose husband got saved, was so enraged that she wanted to horsewhip me if I ever stepped inside her door. She boiled over, then came to the meeting and was blessedly saved. People came from different parts of the city to attend our morning family prayers which frequently lasted until noon, and sometimes until toward night. A man from Iowa heard that we needed a place of worship and shipped, prepaid, a new tent worth one hundred and fifty dollars. Another man from Chattanooga, Tenn., sent a Gospel Wagon, capable of seating ten, or more. All we lacked now was a team of horses to take us from place to place where we could sing and speak to the masses.

     Finally a business man, whose wife had recently been saved, came forward publicly in the tent-meeting and told me he had two fine horses. Though he belonged to a big city church, and professed holiness, I knew he would get frightened if the Holy Ghost stirred up a commotion, so remarked, "Well, we will pray about it." Though he did not utter a word, he was stirred to the bottom, for he thought I would shout and make a big ado over him and his horses. He went home and told his wife that he never saw such an unthankful man in all his life. It seemed to take this to let him see his true condition, and the following night he felt himself hanging over hell. Early the next morning he was down at our home to pray through, and until nine o'clock that night, without any intermission, God reined him up to one thing after another as fast as he could belch it out. The solemnity of the judgment pervaded the place, so that everyone felt like prostrating himself upon his face. God got the man, his horses and entire family.

     Some time after this we were holding a street meeting and a Catholic policeman started to arrest us, taking this brother, as he was in charge of the wagon. I intercepted them saying: "You cannot take him unless you take the others, for I am his pastor and more responsible than he for this meeting." He said, "All right, I will take the whole pack," and called up the two-horse patrol. While waiting for the patrol we pitched in to get our money's worth out of the service. Presently the horses dashed up to the ring and an officer came in and took me by the arm, saying, "Come on, Cap," and crowded sixteen of us into the wagon. As the driver put the lash to the horses we started up and sang, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." There was just the right crowd on to make the springs ride easy. Sam Jones denounced the action of the mayor in one of the daily papers, saying, "There was more real piety in that old patrol that day than in any ten square acres in Atlanta." We stood a trial, won the case, and since that time have had the inside track on large and interesting street meetings which have sometimes lasted for three hours.

     The Baptist Ministerial Association had the courage to draw up a resolution taking issue against the action of the mayor. But the Methodist preachers waited until the papers and public sentiment were in our favor, then they likewise expressed themselves. "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

     Since God helped us to live down the twofold prejudice, religious and sectional, it is pitiable to see some of our former opposers. They would like to join in the interesting services, and act as though nothing had even occurred, but God and conscience will not let them. This proves that a thing is not settled at all until it is settled right.

     The Old Fire

 

      O for that flame of living fire,

     Which shone so bright in saints of old;

     Which bade their souls to Heaven aspire,

     Calm in distress, in danger bold.

 

      Where is that Spirit, Lord, which dwelt

     In Abraham's breast, and sealed him Thine?

     Which made Paul's heart with sorrow melt,

     And glow with energy divine?

 

      Is not Thy grace as mighty now

     As when Elijah felt its power;

     When glory beamed from Moses' brow,

     Or Job endured the trying hour?

 

      Remember, Lord, the ancient days;

     Renew Thy work; Thy grace restore;

     And while to Thee our hearts we raise,

     On us Thy Holy Spirit pour.

 

                                                         W H. Bathurst