At every street corner and place of business, in the saloons, offices and homes throughout Tyler, Maj. Penn and the services were discussed, while his Satanic Majesty and his allies were busy in trying to cripple and crush the good effects. A mighty and irresistable attraction drew crowds to the house of God.
At times it was apparent that the leader was embarrassed; now and then fretted and and chafed; then at a loss what to say or do; and more than once was he tempted to say he would leave the meeting; and that he had not remained there to be slandered and persecuted. But he was reminded that the best of men had thus suffered, that God had furnaces through which we must pass, to burn up the dross, and that in the midst of this state of things the Church was being revived, wanderers brought back, souls awakened and converted from day to day, and that he had the sympathy, prayers and co-operation of many pious, devoted hearts. Again the new leader, after wrestling in prayer for grace and direction, took courage and was renewed by the spirit of God to go on in pulling down the strong-holds of iniquity. But Satan was not yet overcome, he made another powerful assault upon him.
When the meeting had been in progress about ten days, abuse, misrepresentation, lying, together with the basest and most contemptible slanders, were hurled at him with unmeasured severity. It was a new ordeal, and he was tempted stronger than ever to lay off his armor and leave the meeting. He decided to go home, and so stated to the pastor, saying: "You have already kept me here longer than any man on earth could have done, and now I am determined to go." "Well," said the pastor, "I am sorry to hear it, and believe you will commit a great wrong, and will incur the displeasure of Almighty God in leaving here at this time, and still further, I beg you to bear in mind this truth, that duty never points in two ways. If it is your duty to be in Jefferson practicing law, then it is not your duty to remain here and carry on this meeting. God only can guide you aright." This conversation occurred in the afternoon. At night the Major was in his place, and said to the large congregation: "My friends, I have heard to-day of so many slanderous reports about me that I determined to go home, but remembering that so persecuted they the prophets, which were before me, and that they persecuted my Master even unto death, I have only to say: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?' I shall go on with the meeting, 'looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith,' to sustain, protect and guide me in all things." It was, perhaps, the drinking of this cup of persecution that passed our brother across the Rubicon, that burned all the bridges behind him and caused him to bow in humble submission to the will of Almighty God.
"'Tis ever so thy faithful love
Does all thy children's graces prove;
'Tis thus our pride and self must fall
That Jesus may be all in all."
As the meeting continued, and as the scores and hundreds came together "at the sound of the church-going bell," from day to day the leader seemed to develop in power from God to move, melt and sway the hearts of the listening crowds, as he sung and prayed and talked "of Jesus and his dying love." After more than five weeks' continuance, the services closed. Scores were converted, many valuable additions were made to the Church, Christians were renewed and developed in piety of heart and life, and the leavening and saving power of the Gospel was extended through the town and surrounding country.
This meeting was the beginning and earnest of the blessings and success that has attended Bro. Penn's labors for more than nine years past, while in his life we see that,
"Defects thro' nature's best productions run.
The saints have spots, and spots are in the sun,
And that he, with all of Adam's race,
Are only 'sinners' saved by grace."
Yet we rejoice and praise God for what has been manifested in his growth and development in his work mentally and spiritually, for the life, power and efficiency infused into our churches by his ministrations—for his rebukes, exposures and denunciations of sin, in and out of the Church; for holding up Christ at all times, as the only hope of lost sinners; for tearing away the mask of a heartless formality in the profession and practice of religion; for the thousands of all classes and ages in the forests and prairies of Texas, where he has pitched his great gospel tent, and in the cities of Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Mobile, Memphis, Louisville, St. Louis, and in the cities of California, in scores of crowded places of worship; in smaller towns and in the country, who have been brought to Christ as lost sinners through his instrumentality; and that at all times and through his whole ministry he has declared "the whole counsel of God," and made no compromises with error and heresy.
As to the disquisition of Maj. Penn, which frowns on the modern dance, we ask for it a careful reading and an honest and practical application of its facts, arguments and illustration, as the prize, practical essay of the age on this subject, so far as is known. That it is clear, pointed and overwhelming in its exposures of the evils and crimes, the corruptions and abominations of the modern dance is confirmed by experience and observation.
Let every lover of the dance, every friend of morals and of religion, and each professing Christian, read and circulate this production among all classes of men and women.