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* 11 v 111 ot o ii 11 v *«i im- uuii^i i»c*-came too large to he accommodated in tlu* chureh, ami a pulpit ami hooches had been put up tn tin grove for the use of preacher and people The fore-noon service was about halt over, one of the ablest of the United Brethern Ministers was addressing the assembled multitude. The preacher warming up as he proceeded, had grown very animated in Ills discourse, and the people were giving deep and profound attention to the sermon—a silence and stillness—solemn as the quietude of the grave pervaded the audience, whena tremendous voice shouted out, “Salvation!” followed instantly by astrange sound, likened by all who heard it, to the snort of a horse much frightened. The Minister was taken by surprise and stopped preaching,and all eyes were, in a moment, turnedto the spot from whence the sound seemed to proceed and were fixed up on a stangcr of odd appcarence seated about midway in the congregation, liesat steadfast in his seat, eyes on theclergyman, with a countenance of marked solemnity, and totolly unmoved by the many faces turned upon him by the shock of his queer interruption, That stranger was Joseph C. Dylks, the noted Leatherwood God. The shout and snort of Dylks are described by every one who heard them as imparting to all within their sound, both awe and fear. One who had heard them' often, said of them : “That they carried with them right through you a thrill like that when greatly scared in the dark, accompanied by ii dread similar to that experience when we think of dying instantly.” Their effects upon tlie congregation at tho oldLeathorwood Church, were singular indeed. Some of the men jumped to their feet; others bounced in theirseats; women shrieked aloud; and every cheek blanched. It was several minutes before the minister could proceed with the sermon ; but the people gave no further heed to it, they were too much ahsoibed in scrutinizing the odd stranger fur that.The strangest circumstance however,Connected with his advent is, that noI:iuidiquity, could disappear and reappear at pleasure; that he could perform miracles and was the true Me-siah, come to set up a Kingdom ot rinhtinfflsness never to cud , that he d never die, and that all who bo lieved on him, should live forever in their natural bodies and hold the earthIias an everlasting heritage; that hisTiPPrkingdom should spread over the whole earth and universal holiness prevail among men ; that his corporeal body could be touched only by his pertnis sion, and that no one could by anv means, take a single hair from his head, and that he could sweep the uni-Vtttlt;cttIverse into naught by one shout andsnort.PROMINENT CON VERTS.vCelt;tlt;Conspicuous among the number who were converted bv the secret teach* ings of Dylks, were Michael Brill and Robert McCormick.- As they played a leading part in tho establishment and propagation of the Dylk’s dispen satiou, will give each ol them a brie! notice.IIIiI:itMICHAEL MULL.IO 4Mr. Brill was a woll to do farmer, owning a largo farm, situated a little northwest of the present village olHo was at that time verging sixty years of age, and had a charactor eminent tor Christian piety, andpossessed a wide iutlueuce. Althoiml ”uuedueato 1. Such had been his lib that he held high ollieial relations t« the church of his choice and was greatly respected by all who knew him.atIIROllERT m'CORMICK.fMr. McCormick was, also, a farmer owned a farm and resided on it aboutwo and half miles northeast of Sale ville. He was about forty years old and in tne full bloom of great intellertual, real and physical powers. 11 had been a member of the Unite* Brethren Church for many years, am held the ollieial position of loca preacher when Dylks made his appeal anoo in tho neighborhood. MiMcCormick had a tine education, wa-Ii
Newspaper Details
Cambridge Guernsey Jeffersonian
Cambridge, Ohio, US
Thu, Dec 09, 1869
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Muskingum C.
OH, USA 29 Oct 2021
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