Those who attended this year's Chariton Cemetery Heritage Tour will remember Jayden Allen-Winston's portrayal of John Kay (left). Among the hats John wore in Chariton was that of principal fund-raiser for Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, then working toward construction of a building on one of the lots along Court Avenue where Carpenters Hall now is located.
This involved Sunday travels to worship gatherings across the county to speak briefly and then pass the hat on behalf of his congregation.
As it happened both Brother John and S.S. King, editor of The Chariton Leader, were present on Oct. 7, 1889, for the second of three day-long Sunday sessions of the Norwood Holiness Camp Meeting, which opened on Saturday, Sept. 28, and concluded on Monday, Oct. 14.
So I was happy to find a brief report of John's successful outing in King's somewhat tongue-in-cheek report of his visit, published in The Leader of October 10.
The meeting was held in a grove on the farm of the recently widowed Lydia Eaton about a mile west of Norwood in Otter Creek Township. It was conducted by the Rev. J.T. Arnold, a Baptist evangelist, assisted by other preachers from the immediate area. Here's Brother King's report:
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On Sunday morning last, your reporter visited the "Holiness Camp Meeting" west of Norwood. He was much pleased with the general appearance of the crops and land of that vicinity, and has as yet failed to see a more productive and beautiful tract of land than that around Norwood in Lucas County.
When within two miles of his destination he was surprised to see vehicles of almost every description well filled with people wending their way to the camp meeting. On arriving he found a large tent pitched in a beautiful wood, and at least five hundred people present. He could not find room for his nag within a radius of 100 yards of the tent, it all being filled with teams and conveyances. It made us feel as though we were at one of those good old fashioned camp meetings of "just 40 years ago, dear Tom."
After meandering around the grounds for half an hour, waiting for the collection to be taken up before entering the sanctuary, we went in just in time to hear the good shepherd cry out, "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver --- will Brother Jones please pass the hat?" Ill fate seems to be against us in this respect, for if we go to church early intending to leave in ample time to avoid the collection it always comes first; if we enter late, it comes last.
We saw Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Sanctificationists and the Salvation Army all represented at this meeting.
The good shepherd poured hot shot into us thick and fast for a little less than three hours. We stood it well until 2 p.m. when we felt a weakness in the flesh in the vicinity of the stomach in spite of the sanctimonious look we tried hard to keep on our face.
The minister went on in a strain of loud eloquence, but stopped short presently, dropped from upper C to lower C and softly said, "Children you have been fed on mush and milk long enough; ye now need a little meat." We noticed many said "amen!" loud and long about then. As we had had neither mush and milk nor meat that day we heartily endorsed it all.
It was announced at the close of the morning service that there would be an old fashioned Methodist-Presbyterian-Baptist-Holiness-shoutin' meeting in the evening, and from the noise we heard we were led to believe they predicted rightly. We saw ladies at that meeting dance higher than cowboys and shout for glory who would not dance at a private parlor dance for recreation and pleasure.
We heard the minister say he would rather be there than in glory. We admire his fidelity in behalf of his sinful flock, but we would prefer the glory in ours.
We saw honest John (colored) from Chariton get up after all were done asking for alms and asked the brethren to help him out on his church a little at Chariton. He made as good a five minute speech as we heard and got more money than them all.
We heard the young Mr. Ledford sing several beautiful songs, one entitled "Sighting the Golden Gate," composed by a gentleman on first seeing that beautiful harbor. It is only just to say that Rev. Ledford has but few superiors in the art of singing and his beautiful songs will be highly appreciated wherever he may go, and be very instrumental in his work. Everybody seemed happy and hallelujahs could be heard for a quarter of a mile around.
Though a little cool, the day was most beautiful and as we wended our way slowly homeward, we said, "Truly that was the biggest old fashioned Methodist-Presbyterian-Baptist-Salvation Army-Holiness, rip-roarin' camp meeting we had seen and enjoyed for many a day. We thank the brethren for their kind hospitality and wish them a grand success in their good work.
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