other things said at this time by the writer, as he now remembers them one was:  That the Spirit of God leads and teaches us in strange ways, often, as to what God would have us do, and that our methods of holding meetings seemed to the writer as being deficient in some things, and that the good of the cause required a change from the ruts and grooves in which these meetings had been run, and that we were making our services monotonous and chilling out spirituality by common methods of conducting divine service, in protracted meetings.  Another thought was:  That he and men like himself, as lawyers, that were given to talking and that knew much of men and the world, if the love of Christ was burning in their souls, might do a great work in going out and helping in such meetings, even if they never engaged regularly in the ministry.

But it was in Tyler, Texas, at a Sunday School Institute, in July, 1875, that a new era was to dawn on Major Penn.

It was a fixed impression in the mind of the pastor that there ought to be a change in our manner of conducting revival services; that the time had come to begin the work, and that Bro.  Penn was the man to inaugurate such a change.  In prayer this matter was carried to the Lord for His direction.  It was a settled impression in the heart of the writer, as pastor of the Baptist Church, that the Church and community needed a series of meetings at this time.  There were preachers present of experience, piety and ability, and he had no doubt they would remain and aid in such services if invited to do so.  But contrary to what was a common practice at the close of such meetings, and after imploring the Lord to direct him, he could not, from his heart, ask any of these preachers to stay and aid in a meeting.

While singing the last song, at the close of the service on Sunday night, the writer approached Major Penn, who had been aiding in the singing, and said to him:  “Bro.  Penn, I am going to appoint a prayer meeting at 9 o’clock in the morning, and as your train does not leave until 2 o’clock to-morrow evening, I shall expect to see you at the meeting; will you come?” To which he replied.  “I have some business with the clerk of the Federal Court, and if I get through in time, I will try and be here.”  A prayer meeting was announced for 9 o’clock the next morning.  At the appointed hour a fair congregation had assembled, and a few minutes after 9 o’clock Maj.  Penn came in and took a seat not far from the door.  The writer approached him and said:  “I want you to conduct this meeting.”  He replied:  “You must excuse me, I am a lawyer, and do not believe in mixing things in this way.  You conduct the meeting or get one of those preachers sitting there to do it, and I will help in singing or lead in prayer, if desired.”  To which the writer replied:  “If all the preachers in the world were here I could not permit one of them to conduct this meeting, and I am not physically able.  You must do it.”  To which he answered.  “Very well, I will conduct a prayer meeting.”