In the writers first recollection, Tom Jones's big meeting was on every tongue; it was a great event on Knotts Island. It was the first great religious entering-wedge ever driven home on the place, and its tendency was to change the whole religious aspect of the Island. I was too young to recollect the details of this meeting, yet, I am sure I was in the world when this meeting was going on, and I am also sure that the material effect of this religious wave was the building of the first church just mentioned.

Tom Jones "came, and saw, and conquered." He was a war-horse, with plenty of the fearless courage and tenacity that characterized the frontier preacher of that day. He assaulted the vices of the sinner, and laid siege to their rendezvous; they surrendered, he conquered. In that meeting many were converted and joined the church; the mark of division between the past and the future was now visibly drawn. It is not to be said that Tom Jones demolished all the tendency to sin on the Island, but he did clear away a good deal of sinful rubbish; he fenced his religious lot for the production of future fruit, to be cultivated by other Tom Jones's to follow; and follow they soon did.

ANDERSON'S GREAT MEETING

The summer of 1842, was, and always has been, called the wet summer." I am sure that no crop, since that summer, has suffered so much as did the one of '42; fortunately though, this wet did not extend far inland--perhaps fifteen or twenty counties in Eastern North Carolina, and about the same longitudinal distance in Virginia.

There was barely one-fourth of a crop of corn raised in this wet territory; yet there were bountiful crops raised elsewhere in the United States. The reason for the fear of starvation the following year was very apparent, and this worked the people into "the blues." It was very natural in such calamity for the mind of the people to revert to The One Who rules the rain and the storm. There is nothing more efficient in bringing the carnal mind of the masses to spiritual meditation than present or expected sorrow, trouble, disaster and adversity. So during and after this calamitous flood, everything looked propitious for making additions to Preacher Jones' former work; and no one saw this clearer than Preacher Anderson of Princess Anne Circuit.

The flood being abated, a protracted meeting was at once commenced which lasted a month or more. I was a ten-year-old youngster and am satisfied I attended every meeting during this revival. Bench upon bench would often be filled with "mourners". I can hear even now these mourners praying aloud, if it were but yesterday. These mourners could be heard not only in church, but they could be found in the fields, woods, and the Dry Swamp--everywhere in the vicinity of the church. They didn't get religion in those days, as they do now, by shaking the preacher's hand; nor were they taught such methods; but they prayed in a loud, earnest and beseeching voice, that they might receive the faith that dislodged the Devil and admits the Nazarene.

All the mourners didn't "get through" at this meeting, for they were taught that the change from nature to grace was as instantaneous as a flash of electricity; which would prostrate some as in a trance and produce in others amazing activity.

I heard from some who were converted in this meeting that at the moment of conversion they felt as if they could jump over the joist of the church connecting its high walls. Therefore' some, seriously seeking religion and looking for this sudden outburst or Paul-like prostration failed to "get through", and mourned on from year to year disconsolate; for they were told that if not converted in the prescribed way, and death should find them though on their knees, begging for mercy, they would likely inherit their part in the lake of fire and brimstone.

To show the influence of such notions and beliefs had on the times; During a revival about ten years or less after is meeting at the Reform Church, a nice and refined lady, who had just become a resident of the Island, sought and professed conversion at the mourners bench; but because she didn't exhibit her conversion by great activities, it was said. to her great discomfort, that she had no religion. That gentle, small voice was not heeded in those days. Anderson's meeting was one long to be remembered.

The marsh road was sunk under mud and water and could not be used in safety; so during this big meeting Anderson had to be boated to Morse's Point, and back again if perchance he had to fill an appointment in Princess Anne. This meeting made radical changes in the customs and manners of the Island people, and better discipline was observable thereafter; it might be said now that the church in a great measure had its way, and the reformation was complete.

The writer lived near the church, and it did appear in his neighborhood that Christianity had rivited itself upon all; even the worldly were solemnized and calmed; well-attended prayer-meetings were held nightly in neighboring houses; sin had taken a back seat, and nothing but the roll of the mighty Christian sea was to be heard, or seen, or felt. It did seem that bickerings would never appear again. But this reckoning was premature: There was still left however a set of mischievous chaps who later on would sit in the gallery or back of the "blue posts" thereunder and disturb the congregation. Colonel Jones and other leaders of the church would often remonstrate with them in a persuasive way, to little purpose; but a good old churchman named Dennis Simmons had seen a great deal of the deviltry of these boys, and determined to stop it. This old man led in prayer, and always prayed with open eyes, and always repeated the same prayer. These bad youngsters knew the old brother's prayer by heart and would pray in unison with him. The old man took his time in praying and these boys would often get through before the old man did, and one by one of them, when through, would hold his head up with a saucy smile, as much as to say, I've beaten the old man. This old man had often seen their mischief, even while praying, and he considered their conduct ripe for plucking.

One Monday-morning this good man had some four or five warrants issued against the leaders of these church disturbers; there is no doubt but that he could have had as many against each one of them, for they were repeaters. They were arrested, brought to trial, found guilty, fined stiffly, and I believe to suffer imprisonment. I cannot call to mind why this imprisonment was imposed; it may have been in default of paying the fines and costs; however, they were marched down to the South End landing to be conveyed to jail. When the boat to convey them to jail was ready, these disturbers and their friends came suddenly to their senses and begged for mercy.

This old man Dennis Simmons in former days had been a sailor; his demeanor was, to all appearances, coarse, severe and unfeeling; in fact, when he undertook a task he meant business.

The friends and relations of the prisoners besought the old brother to lighten upon the culprits, as it would be a disgrace to fill our jail with Knotts Island church disturbers; especially so, after the great revivals of recent dates; and that now, they were all repentant and would promise never to so offend again. This had some effect on the blunt old man and he had the crowd, and prisoners among them, drawn up before him. "Now," said the old man, "if each of you disturbers will pay a fine of two dollars and the costs of this action, I will carry this no further, upon your promise to behave well in church ever hereafter." This was gladly agreed and the compromise completed.

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