The meeting was opened as is usual, when Brother Penn arose and read a portion of the 20th chapter of John, and then talked about fifteen minutes, which seemed to awaken a very deep interest throughout the entire congregation.  At the close of this talk quite a number of wives, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters arose one after another and in great earnestness asked prayer for their loved ones.  While singing the last song, the writer asked Brother Penn to remain and conduct a service at night, which he positively refused to do, saying that he must go home.  Whereupon the writer publicly entered a protest against his leaving.  Sister Penn and others of the company from Jefferson consenting, he agreed to remain one more day.  At night the house was crowded, and great interest manifested by Christians and by many unconverted.  A prayer meeting was announced for 9 o’clock the next morning.  At this meeting the house was well filled, with a decided increase of interest.  One or two conversions-and a number of inquiries were made.

At the close of this meeting the writer said to Brother Penn, “You cannot leave this meeting, it will never do, there never has been such an interest in this town since I have been here.”  To which he replied “I am bound to go home, I have no partner and no one to attend to my business.”  The writer then arose, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ entered another solemn protest against his leaving, saying:  “I believe before God that it is Bro.  Penn’s solemn duty to remain here and carry on this meeting, and it is my firm conviction that if he leaves he will commit the great sin of his life, and I call upon every member of this church and of this congregation, who will join me in this protest, to stand up.”  The entire congregation were standing in a moment.  He then said to the writer privately:  “I tell you I am bound to go home; I promised my wife yesterday that I would be certain to go home with her to-day, and I know that she is bound to go home.”  The writer said:  “Bro.  Penn, you are mistaken; Sister Penn would not have you leave this meeting to go home with her.  She will go with the young people.”  He then went to where his wife was sitting and said to her:  “I promised you yesterday that I would go home with you to-day, and I am going to do it.”  Sister Penn looked up in his face with tearful eyes and trembling lips, and said, as only a true, noble hearted Christian woman could have said:  “I can go home with the young people, I do not think you ought to go.”  This seems to have been the last hair that broke the camel’s back.  We have seen many striking photographs of the Major as taken by artists in his travels, and in various attitudes, but a picture delineating his features on this occasion would be preferable to all others.

As he rose to respond to the protest of the pastor, Church and congregation, with his head thrown back, his eyes dilated, his lips quivering, his voice stammering and tears coursing their way down his cheeks, he tried to give expression to his astonishment and the deep emotion of his heart; he seemed to realize that it was God’s call, and that he could not resist it.