Pentecostal Possibilities or "The Story of My Life"
by Milton Lorenzo (M. L.) Haney
CHAPTER 28
In Lewistown Again
In 1860 we were sent to Lewistown again, and found ourselves midst the excitements of the coming war. I had been known since 1847 as a pronounced abolitionist and known as such by the brethren at Lewistown. They were of Southern blood, and prejudices, but had especially asked for us that year. Mr. Buchanan was the President of the United States, and the whole Nation as reaching a state of fermentation. Bro. McCandlish was pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and a blessed minister. The President had issued a proclamation for a fast day to consider our National and personal sins asking all the churches to come together and humble themselves before God. Bro. McCandlish came over to counsel and request that I should preach the sermon, which I did.
I read the 58th chapter of Isaiah, and took the President's proclamation as my text. So the theme was, "Our Personal and National Sins." Bro. McCandlish had suggested that I needed the "wisdom of Daniel and the faithfulness of Jeremiah." In the sermon I aimed strongly at the latter, but gave less attention to the former. On coming to the National sin of slavery, the war opened. Directly my most influential man arose and left the house, having a dreadful cough as he went down the aisle. Dear Sister_____ followed, and on reaching the door proposed to some wild young men "If they would ride me on a rail, tonight, she would furnish the lights!"
The sermon was finished in good order, and we retired to our peaceful home. Shortly the "printer's devil" thrust a poster in at the parsonage door, calling an indignation meeting that night in the Court House, "to take into account the way in which the pulpit had been desecrated." I answered the call and was present in due time, but some hours for reflection had intervened, and these dear souls waked to see where they were drifting.
There was also a remarkable number of Republicans in attendance. Mr. Lincoln had been elected, the South was in open rebellion and war was in the air. The leaders of the indignation movement wisely proposed to discuss some other theme and made no reference to the pulpit outrage of the morning! The more thoughtful of the Democratic brethren were disgusted with the procedure, and five of their number issued a call to meet at the Court House to take into account the propriety of sending a company from Lewistown to help put down the rebellion.
This generation can hardly realize the condition of things then prevailing. May it never be repeated! Men who were loyal to the Government were wrought up to a tremendous tension. Those who were in heart sympathy with slavery could hardly restrain their wrath, nor keep from pouring it out against defending the Government. We met, and the Court House was filled with excited men, many of them armed. Mr. Shope, a lawyer, made a speech full of rebellion, making fearful and vile charges against Lincoln, as a despot, and his soldiers as hirelings, till suddenly from at least fifty voices came the command: "Sit down, sir! Sit down, sir!" and the gallant lawyer was seated and quiet as a lamb. I have never doubted that had he continued another minute a fearful scene would have been before us.
Leonard Ross, a born Democrat and one of nature's noblemen, arose and moved that all who favored the Government and the raising of a company to help put down the rebellion, should come to the north side of the building and those opposed go to the south side! The stampede northward which followed was overwhelming! That sent Leonard Ross to the war as Captain of a hundred men made him Colonel of the 16th Regt. Ill. Vols., and afterwards a Brigadier General. The old General yet lives and is a beautiful specimen of manhood in old age.
The war cloud was heavy, but God broke through it here and there, and saved souls. We had a camp east of the city, where many were brought into the light. The religious people nearly all took sides with the Government, and that greatly increased the prejudices of the opposite party, bringing a condition of rowdyism in that locality which would have been less culpable fifty years before. But the Lord managed it and brought us victory; and afterwards the very leaders of antagonism to the camp were converted and became good men So we did rejoice, and do rejoice.
The meeting in town that winter was circumscribed, but souls were saved, some of whom are now in heaven and others yet living. I was so moved after the battle of Bull Run, that I enlisted in a cavalry company, as a private, but was elected First Lieutenant. Our company was ordered to Governor Yates, but we were one day too late and not accepted. Some preachers who loved me took me out at camp meeting and greatly pressed me not to enlist again unless I went as chaplain, and I promised them unless I felt plainly that God called that way I would not, but the war was on my soul both day and night. Such was my interest in the life of the Government, that my life seemed a small offering to preserve it.