In The Master's Service

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"MEETING TIME"

Elder R. K. Blackshear ... From "Good Will" Dec. 1956

I am going to take it for granted while writing this article that all Primitive Baptists, together with their many good friends, feel about like I do in regard to "meeting time" at the old church in the neighborhood.

I well remember how anxious I was for this time to come around, even before I united with the church, and how I seldom failed to find comfort, peace and joy that couldn't be found elsewhere. Our home was an Old Baptist home, Mother and Father both being members, (Mother passed away when I was nine years old) and Father was a deacon. I can remember yet how glad I was when company came to our house from church, and especially preachers. We children were taught not to talk much when company was around, but I enjoyed hearing Bible discussions, even before I could understand very much about what these discussions meant.

Afterward, when I had grown to manhood and had married, I looked forward to meeting time at Mars Hill, near Edison, Ga., and I experienced a great thrill in making preparations to go to meeting. I can still remember with joy the glad hand of welcome those old fathers and mothers in Israel extended me when I arrived at the church, and how good it make me feel inside to be found in company with such godly people. All seemed so peaceful, so sacred, so solemn and happy that my soul sang in exultation. I would have no more thought of hunting an excuse to keep from going to church than I would have thought of trying to get sick or break a limb; I WANTED to go, and in the going I found a peace and joy that thrills my soul until this day.

Many of these precious ones who received me into the church have gone the way of all the earth, including my father, but their going away did not lessen my love for the church even though I loved them and shall miss them continually, but I am greatly encouraged today when I remember that they held out faithful to the end. Life brought them many hardships and sore trials, but their love for God and His sacred truths supported them through every heartache and disappointment. The songs of grace, the prayers of faith and earnest supplication, and the gospel of mercy, truth and love seemed to be their food and drink, and in these things they were enabled to give vent to their deepest and truest feelings. These truths of God, revealed in their hearts and lives by His Blessed Spirit, were the foundation of their faith and trust, the very embodiment of all they hoped for when they reached the journey's end, and brought them joy and peace instead of sorrow when they thought of death.

I was not a member of the church when I married, and my wife was a member of another order, but was a very noble and good woman. I went with her to her church and she went with me to mine, and there was never a moment's unpleasantness in the arrangement. And even before I united with the church I could scarcely wait with patience for meeting time to come around, for there was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere there that was soothing to tired and weary nerves. If I had any work to do on the farm on third Saturday morning I found a job right around the house, for I didn't want to be late to church, and I have often wished that I could convey to others of God's children just what it meant to me to be privileged to go to meeting.

On the third Saturday in March, 1923, wife and I and baby went to meeting on a buggy, our usual way of travel then, and that day I offered to the church. I couldn't remember one word the preacher preached about, but I well remember leaving my seat and making my way to the moderator's bench to ask for a home in the church. I can also remember, after having mumbled a few words, hearing the moderator ask the church what would they do with the case, and with great joy I remember their reply. Someone made a move to receive me and two (I well remember) brethren said at once, "I second the motion." And then the greatest joy of my soul came when those old mothers and fathers folded me in their arms, and with tears streaming down their faces, gave me the right hand of fellowship. You may talk about joy and happiness, but my gladness knew no bounds! I felt to be so poor and unworthy, but I couldn't have told that they thought of me that way by the manner in which they treated me.

Nowhere is one of the mysteries of life that I can't understand. Remember, my wife at that time was a member of another order (though I believe she was a child of God), and on the way home she cried most of the way. I thought she was hurt because she belonged to one church and me another, and I tried to comfort her by telling her that this would make no difference in our lives, that I loved her just the same and would take her to her meetings. She answered with trembling voice, "I am not worried about that part of it, but I am worried about those lonesome nights I'll have to spend." I said, "What do you mean?" And she replied, "You will have to preach for those people." Bless her dear memory! That conviction remained with her as long as she lived, and she was a constant encouragement to me.

Now, that I was in the church, my desire to go to meeting was greater than ever, if possible, and for a few months I was entirely without a burden. As I remember it today, my great joy and happiness found in the meetings did not depend entirely upon the liberty with which the preacher preached. At times he preached better than he did at other times, but the great pleasure found in mixing and mingling with the brethren and sisters in fellowship was the same. Here was my meat and my drink and in their kindness and love my soul soared above every care on earth.

The brethren soon began to call on me to exercise in public, and though I dreaded this great ordeal, I still wanted to go to meeting. I won't go into my experiences in this matter at this time, but sufficient to say that I have never learned how to preach.

My wife became disturbed in her feelings about the church, and I learned that she loved it and wanted to join but was afraid to offer for fear someone would say she joined because I did. I tried to encourage her, but failed to remove that feeling. I didn't mention the matter to others, and neither did she, but one third Saturday as we went into Mars Hill Church house Deacon B. D. Jones met us in the middle of the floor and said, after greeting us, "Now, Johnny Bee, if you want to do something today, just do it." Neither of us had told him, yet he knew, and this word of encouragement gave her strength to go to the church that day. She was received amid tears of joy, and she was always ready when "meeting time" came. She passed away in 1935, and I won't go into that sad experience now, but I lost one of the sweetest, truest wives who ever lived.

After months of loneliness I married again, this time a lady who was already a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and we still find our greatest joy in meeting at the house of God. There have been many trials, many temptations, and many unpleasant events since I found a home in the dear old church, but I have also many precious things to remember. I feel to love the church better today than when I first came into it, and I still can't wait with patience the time to go to church. It still thrills me to think of meeting the saints of God in service, and even though I dread making an effort to preach, I am glad when "meeting time" rolls around again at the old church in the neighborhood. One day I, as thousands of others have done, will cease to go to meeting because I will reach the end of the way, but I would like to beg God's children to let me walk with you while I live, and if you can be charitable I would like to feel that I have your fellowship and love. So let me encourage all God's children to look forward eagerly to "Meeting time" at the church in the neighborhood.