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Editor's Note:
Readers of The Kentucky Explorer have been introduced to the
Rev. John J. Dickey in past issues. Remember that he was a traveling
preacher throughout the eastern part of the state during the
years between 1880 and 1925. He helped to establish numerous
churches and at least two colleges. He was also a teacher and
a newspaper editor. However, his most enduring gift to us today
may well be his diary that he kept faithfully during some 50
years of his later life beginning in the 1880s. In all, over
6,000 pages written in his own hand make up this interesting
digest.
In this journal of his, Dickey often wrote down accounts of events
daily. Much of the material concerns his day to day life. However,
during the late 1890s he began to gather family history on various
families he met in his travels. Beginning in this issue we are
offering these interviews to our readers in the hope that they
will be appreciated in the sense that Rev. Dickey intended. These
interviews were written word for word as they were given to Rev.
Dickey. Nothing has been changed.
December 16,
1897
Manchester, Kentucky
Bro. Pickett is preaching some wonderful sermons. Monday night
he preached on "Influence" and Tuesday night on "Indifference."
"Woe to them that are at ease on Zion." I have never
heard him or any other man surpass them, for pungency, cogency,
power of illustrations, lucidly, and gospel truth. He is a mighty
man. He hailed fire and brimstone on dancing. To effect this,
I suppose the dancers met en masse at James Reed's, three miles
from town, at the old Judge Reed place last night.
As we came from Dr. Burchell's to church we met buggies, equestrians,
and a two-horse wagon load going. Praise God. Misses Lucretia
and Gertrude Reed, who live with their mother in a house in the
yard of the "old place," were at church testifying
and praying. A few weeks ago they were leaders in the dance.
Tuesday night, the 14th, Miss Evans, the teacher at Dr. Burchell's
schoolhouse, professed sanctification at church. She is a Presbyterian
from Kingston, Green County, Indiana, a most elegant young lady;
very devout and consistent. She has been very greatly exercised
about sanctification ever since we began our meetings here and
after a long struggle she has come out into the light. It is
my honest opinion that she has only gotten regeneration and when
she is convinced of that, as she will be by her experience, she
will be anxious to go on to sanctification.
Bro. Pickett's sermons will tell on this community. He is breaking
up the fallow ground from which will come a great harvest.
I received a letter last night from Bro. B. S. Taylor, pastor
of our church at Jackson, urging me to join Bro. Harvey and himself
at that place on January 15th in a meeting. I am anxious to go.
I think I will write to Bro. Harvey inviting him to Hyden from
Jackson and offering to help him there if he will help me at
Hyden. My work is so great that I must get all the help that
I can. Bro. May could take care of things here while I am at
Jackson, so that both of us need not be absent but a short time
during the Hyden meeting.
December 17,
1897
Manchester, Kentucky
The dancers are raging over Bro. Pickett's terrible onslaught.
He read his attack Tuesday night, and Wednesday night they had
a dance. They are muttering over it still. The surgeon evidently
pressed the place where the splinter had struck. O that they
may be let to repentance.
Last night Bro. Pickett presented his plan for forming a library
association. It is to make membership fee $3 to be paid in 12
monthly installments. This money is to be invested in books for
a library, to be used only by the members. I hope to get 15 or
20 members. This will give us $45 to $60 worth of books, a good
library to begin with.
There have been several professions of sanctification this week.
The meeting is doing good. Bro. Pickett is preaching wonderful
sermons. They are so strong, clear, and pungent. Glory to God!
I want to be like Him and see Him as He is.
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