Professor Payson E. Little, of McIntosh, Ga., reports an interesting work of grace in connection with the church and school at McIntosh.  This is the place where the pretended Christ last summer appealed to the superstitions of the Negroes advanced in age and ignorant.  It is pleasant to know that nearly all of those who were brought under the influence of this crazy fanatic, have now returned to their churches thoroughly ashamed of their experience.

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A WATCH-NIGHT MEETING.

The very interesting sketch given below shows that the “old-time religion” in the South has not passed away, for this scene took place in one of the large cities and where schools have been sustained for years.  The picture of the honored and worthy old preacher stands out conspicuously in the midst of this confused worship.

After the New Year’s entertainment in our own church, we thought it would be interesting to some of the new teachers on our force to attend a watch-meeting at one of the churches near, so we started for a large barn-like structure bearing the imposing name of ——.  We found the building filled to its utmost, and instead of slipping into some seats in the rear unnoticed, as we had hoped, we found ourselves forced to the front bench where the stewards held posts of honor, which were immediately vacated for the “teachers.”  Many of these men then went behind the railing and stood in solemn state around the pastor as he exhorted the people in most earnest words to get their records clean before the opening of the new year.

I wish I could picture him to you as he stood before us that night, his hair just turning gray, indicating in one of this race extreme old age; a real “Uncle Tom” in appearance, and in character, I think; his history taking in much of slavery and of life as Presiding Elder.  Many times has he stood on guard between Northern teachers and Ku Klux Klans.  He told us that night that the grace of God in a man’s heart would make him shine all over; he had seen it make a man who had not combed his hair for a year, grease his boots and his hair too, and then what a shining!  And so on through his talk were the most earnest exhortations with his striking illustrations.

One of the members there once in praising a sister to me spoke of her having the ability to “groan so beautifully,” and that night it seemed a special gift bestowed upon all.  All through the pastor’s exhortation the audience were keeping up a sort of rhythmic accompaniment with both body and intonations.  Their responses during the prayers certainly have the virtue of fervency, if not of intelligence.  At some times so great was the noise it was almost impossible to distinguish any leader whatever.  One old “Father in Israel” seemed to be specially delegated to encourage the praying ones by calling out above all the din, “Come on, son, come on,” right in the midst of the prayer.