Southern Christian Advocate

ATHENS DISTRICT, GA.

LETTER OF REV. WILLIAM J. PARKS, P. E.

Dear brother--If you think proper you may publish this, that the friends of Zion may be informed that God is still graciously present with us in the Athens District.

I have attended three Quarterly meetings since I wrote you last. One in Clarke county, at which we held a camp-meeting, where God was truly present, and although we did not number many converts, yet I think a great deal of good was done. We held a camp-meeting at Dry Pond, in Jackson county, where the Lord poured out his spirit in an extraordinary manner. Eighty-two persons gave us their hands, thereby pledging themselves to join the church. Such was the display of power on one night of the meeting that there was no preaching, the work continuing from the afternoon service nearly all night. On the last night of the meeting, after the sacrament of the Lord's supper had been administered, penitents were invited to the altar, when about one hundred presented themselves in and around it for the prayers of the pious to be offered up for them. At the close of this meeting brother J. C. Simmons, and others, commenced a meeting at Jefferson, distant six miles; and when I had last heard from them, they had joined nineteen members, and were still going on. In Morgan county we held a meeting which we intended to close on Monday morning last; but such was the prospect on Sabbath evening that we protracted it. I left, and am not informed as to the result.

On the whole I can truly say God is with us, and his Israel are moving forward in great prosperity. Pray for us.

WM. J. Parks.

Sept 20, 1838.