2
1st. (18th). Monday. Fair and hot.
3
Attended Bigbyville Meth. meeting at 11, with Rob and Jim Hall, two little fellows. Dined at Rev. Gabard's, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister.
4
After supper, the very tired, went with Rob and Jim to the Meth. meeting. The sermon of a young preacher wasn't very good one; but the prayer of Mr. Orr brought tears to many eyes. He is going away tomorrow. His farewell words touched all the hearts susceptible of any religious emotion. His warm grasp and words of sympathy and benediction he gave to me at our parting electrified my whole soul with love and esteem for him. O, the power of a kind act or a kind word! I sincerely prefer a word of genuine sympathy of a loving Christian to a volume of sermons.
6
2nd. (19th). Tuesday. Fair and hot.
9
3rd. (20th). Wednesday. Fair and hot.
10
At 8 a.m. with Hal his sister Janie and Miss Doakie went to the school. Thence(about 9:30) walked by myself to Bigbyville Ch. Attended the service and dined at Bro. Lee's. Spent the rest of the hot day under a big tree not far from the Church.
11
Attended the night meeting. Came home about 11:30.
12
"Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole." I am tired of being a Christian by halves.
14
4th. (21st). Thursday. Cloudy some part of the day but disagreeably warm day and night thro. A short shower in the early part of the night.
15
Attended the Bigbyville meetings as usual. This morning I told the people my difficulties that were in my way to Christ: sceptic indifference (1) , love of worldly pleasures (2) . self-confidence (3) , fear of back sliding (4) .
17
5th. (22d). Friday. Partly cloudy and hot in the a.m.
18
Attended the Bigbyville meetings as usual in the morning. Rained in the evening. Supped and slept in Hal Peoples'.
20
6th. (23rd). Saturday. Fair and hot.
21
At 2 p.m. went to McCain's Church, and at the request of Mrs. Gabard, gave a little talk on Corea to the children's missionary band.
22
Supped at Mrs. Gabard's and at 7 with Jim went to the meeting at Bigbyville. Came back to Mrs. Gabard's and slept there.
24
7th. (24th). Sunday. Fair and very hot.
25
Attended the morning service at Bigbyville. This morning the protracted meething of the Bigbyville Ch. came to an end.
26
Reflections on revival meetings:
27
1. The preachers, Bro.'s Orr and Lee, in beginning the meetings tried to revive religion in the church members. Very good.
28
2. The inconsistent life of a ch. member is a greatest stumbling block in the way of a sinner to Christ. An old man refused to become a Christian on account of the inconsistency of ch. members.
29
3. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees that they compassed sea and land to make one proselyte; and that when he was made, they made him twofold more the child of hell than themselves. Blessed be the Church which is free from mere pharisaic zeal for conversion.
31
8th. (25th). Monday. Fair and hot.
34
9th. (26th). Tuesday. Fair and very hot. Rained most of the p.m.
37
10th. (27th). Wednesday. Fair and hot. Rained from 2 till night.
38
Read Gibbon's chapter on theological controversies. My reflections on the subjects:
39
1. Theology can not make a man either wiser or better or happier.
40
2. The cruelty of Saint Cyril, the treachery of Dioscorus, the orthodox bigotry of Justinian, the monophysite heresy of Theodora disgraced the nature of man while they vainly attempted to vindicate the glory of God.
41
3. The trouble with the thinkers in early centuries was that they had nothing but theology to exercise their brains in. In this age, thanks to the advancement of science, reason and common sense, people have better things to think and talk about than a barren theology.
42
4. Thanks and praises be to the Son of God that He did not come to teach theology "teaching for doctrines the commandments of man" but to save the lost.
43
5. A minister ought to know something about theology. Not because it is essential to salvation, but because he can not afford to be ignorant of the leading doctrines or dogmas that have become a part, though an unessential part, of Christianity.
45
11th. (28th). Thursday. Cloudy all the a.m. Cleared up in the p.m.
46
Spent the greater part of a.m. in practicing singing.
48
12th. (29th). Friday. Cloudy and cool all the day, occasional sunshine.
49
Spent the evening and night at Hal's. Miss Genie was there.
51
13th. (30th). Saturday. Cloudy all day.
52
Lost sleep altogether last night. Felt bad.
54
14th. (1st of 8th Moon). Sunday. Fair and pleasant.
55
With Hal, at 10:30, went to Hopewell Ch. Attended the morning service.
56
At 3 p.m. with Hal. called on Misses Doakie and Genie to bid them farewell. Came back at 6.
58
15th. (2nd). Monday. Fair and pleasant.
59
Up early to pack up my things. At quarter to 8 a.m. bid adieu to the friends, fields, hills of Bigbyville and started for Columbia with Mr. Irvin.
60
Reached Columbia about 10:30. Dined at Mrs. Payne's and had a sweet evening with her little, sweet girl 7 or 8 years old. Simmiethe girl's name-gave me a nice handkerchief.
61
Left Columbia by 5:30 train. Reached Nashville 7:30. My old room, with flowers in the window, made me feel happily "at home".
63
16th. (3rd). Tuesday. Fair and warm.
64
Ran about all day attending to sundry business. One greatest event of the day was the purchase of an Oxford Bible at5. This money I got by selling Pope (3 vol.) to Bruce for4.50.
65
Received Kong Chee Yu's letter and also Rawling's. Hal came. Was glad to see him and to share my room with him.
67
17th. (4th). Wednesday. Fair and pleasant.
68
The school entered upon its new year today. The venerable Chancellor Garland being unwell, Dr. Tillet welcomed the students and gave notices. Wrote to Mr. Irvin and to Mr. Orr.
70
18th. (5th). Thursday. Fair and very hot. F. 100° in the sun.
72
Called on Mrs. Hoss at 5 p.m. and asked for the pecuniary help she once promised to buy books and make deposits.
73
Wrote to Miss Genie Craig. Sent her a copy of "Goldsmith's Plays and Poems". Among other things I said:
74
"I wish you could see my room with your pincushion on the mantlepiece. It illuminates everything in the room. No wonder it does."
76
19th. (6th). Friday. Cloudy and windy great part of the a.m.
78
"Delightful were the evenings I spent in your family circle and pleasant is the remembrance of them. I thank you, your mother and sisters to whose kindness and hospitality I owe so much of the pleasant times I enjoyed out there."
79
Wrote to Kong: told him how the Chinese laborers have soiled the name of China in this country.
80
Rained in the evening.
81
The University Y.M.C.A. gave a welcome reception to the students. The songs, addresses and icercream were all good.
83
20th. (7th). Saturday. Cloudy all day with occasional sprinkling.
84
Translated a Chinese article on the A.C.C for the Miss. Reporter.
86
21st. (8th). Sunday. Cloudy and cool most of the day.
87
Attended W.E. S.S. in the morning. Dr. Kirkland gave a very fine welcoming remarks to the S.S. Class.
88
Dr. Garland preached the opening sermon for the students in W.E. Ch.
89
Read missionary papers.
91
22nd. (9th). Monday. Raind all the a.m.
92
Suffered from headache all the p.m. till late in the night.
94
23rd. (10th). Tuesday. Cloudy most of the a.m. Rained some in the p.m.
97
24th. (11th). Wednesday. Rained hard all the a.m. and part of the p.m.
100
25th. (12th). Thursday. Rained early part of the morning. Cloudy and cool all the p.m. except late in the evening when the sun showed his face.
101
Was perplexed this morning about matriculation fee. I had no money to pay it. Dr. Tillet looks too icy to approach for help. Had to consult Wilson. Through his efforts, so far as I know, Dr. Garland consented to remit the matriculation fee provided the Executive Committee would give in.
102
For the first time in my Christian life, I have today felt a personal love to Christ. The experience is very sweet. O, for more of this love!
103
Short rain and shy moon.
105
26th. (13th). Friday. Cloudy and cool all day with showers at intervals.
108
27th. (14ht). Saturday. Cloudy and cool and rainy all day.
109
Received a letter from Miss Genie Craig, the sweet G.C. This morning wrote to Mrs. Irvin. The first part of the letter ran thus:
110
"As I take up the pen to write you a few lines, imagination once more carries me back to your happy home. I can almost see everything in and about your house: you with needle and thread near the window; Mr. Irvin with paper, Miss Minerva (now it is 8:30 a.m.) milking the cow; Judie with basket in the orchard; Tommy sleeping in the corner of the room; the cows and horses on the meadow; the Spring ever fresh and never failing-an emblem of God's mercy; the hills with venerable woods-all these are vivid in my mind as if they were present to the eyes."
111
Had very good class meeting. Missed Rawlings and Bruce and Brown very much.
112
Cold enough to make fire (in the grate) necessary.
114
28th. (15th). Sunday. Cloudy and cold all the day and night.
115
Attended the W.E. Ch. services both in the morning and in the night.
116
At 2 p.m. resumed the S.S. class work in the Pen. Practiced some hymns with Jacob in the University Y.M.C.A. room.
118
29th. (16th). Monday. Cloudy all the morning. Rained from 2 till late evening.
120
Received a letter from Miss Jennie Peoples.
122
30th. (17th). Tuesday. Cloudy with sunshine and sprinkling at intervals.
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