THE ATLANTA JOURNAL
Sunday Morning, April 19, 1914
LIKE APOSTLES OF OLD YOUNG GIRL IS PREACHING
IN NORTH GEORGIA
By Angus Perkerson
The tent was like a white cup turned down on a green cloth. The hillsides planted in grain made a carpet beneath the fruit trees. The wind breaking off petals from the trees, blew them through the opening of the tent among the waiting people. Over the hill came a group of five, one leading--a slender figure walking with raised head and clasped hands. The rows of blossoming fruit trees reached out until their branches touched and made an arbor of blossoms over the path to the tent. The people waiting read from Bibles in their laps or prayed; some looked off through the opening in the tent at the fields. The five paused, then entered; four sat down on the canvass seats, and the fifth went to the pulpit. The people leaned forward, absorbed. This intentness partly caused a strange news story last week. It was a three-inch item on an inside page. But enough to describe this meeting of plain farmers and their wives at Mt. Airy, Ga., as a queer cult, and the evangelist whose faith suggests a religious Joan of Arc as an imposter. Apostles Her Example
The girl preaching was the leader pictured as head of a religious group which worshipped her as divine. "Believing" added the story "that she is immune from bodily ills and that they can see a supernatural light play over her face." She is twenty years old, her voice is soft, her manner is simple, her belief is plain. But she has left home and friends--the real point missed by last week's story--to teach the meaning of Christianity. She takes as her example the Apostles. "They gave up everything, didn't they?" She asked this abruptly, "then, why shouldn't I? I try to live my religion. Perhaps in that I'm different." But the news item caused a religious stir in North Georgia. There was only casual comment here--a moment's wonder at the extent of credulity. But near Mr. Airy, people came eagerly to see the woman preacher worshipped as a divinity. And the evangelist, who meant to prove Christianity by simple faithful living, became to some a feminine Elijah, the second. Even the curious had a place with the believers in the small tent on the top of a green hill, circled by fruit trees bearing pink and white blossoms. The people leaned forward, in intent attitudes. None of them chatted, or looked around. Her Intent Hearers
Some leaned with elbows on the seats in front of them, both hands closed and resting against their cheeks. Some sat with their chins in their hands. Gueer how the expressions differed. One's lips would be pursed, another's would be drawn close in a straight line. One's eyes would be wide open, another's half closed. But all were absorbed in the girl who stood before them on the platform, which made a crude pulpit. She stood where the light fell on her hair and made it shimmer. The lower part of her face was in shadow, but a full light was on her eyes and forehead. And this light and shadow gave her face the expression of a religious painting. She was like a picture of youth and faith--a part of the fresh blossoms, the green plants, the blue sky, the fresh earth. The curious forgot their curiosity, and listened. The preacher came nearer to the edge of the platform, half raised her hands toward the people, then let them drop at her sides. She was a very young girl with light hair, blue eyes, and the sweetness of expression tha prayer and good deeds produce. She began to speak, but not preach. Her voice never reached above conversational tones, and she spoke of how she thought it is wisest to live. "Faith" she explained, "is best. It makes you feel best, do your best. The doubtful man is the unhappiest. I am not unhappy. I know and believe." Simple Advice
The people were quiet. No one moved or spoke. Their absorption was unbroken. And yet, they listened merely to simple advice, spoken quietly, in which there was no new religious idea. Perhaps it was her simple words. She told how she thought, how she felt, what seemed best to her. The writings most read now are personal experiences. A man or a woman tells how he reorganized his business or she remodeled her house. And, telling it truthfully, they get an attentive hearing. Here was an example of simple goodness mixed with common sense, free from rapt, told in a direct half confessional way, and given emphasis by the personality of the preacher. Billy Sunday--if you have heard him--engrosses his hearers because he has a manner that would make a text from Revelation interesting. But he also gets his effects partly from rousing music and a spirit of excitement with which he stirs his audience. The girl preaching at Mt. Airy has no such aid. She speaks in a gentle voice, she avoids themes that would provoke hysteria, and the hymns are simple, often without an organ accompaniment. It is her unusual faith that stirs her listeners. Her conversations--not sermons--on how I live, how you should live, have such earnestness that the effect gave rise to the story that she is worshipped. There Is No Cult
But there is no cult, no strange leader, no queer or foolish belief. Simply a girl of twenty who things she has been called like the apostles of old to preach. Yet she has no faith in visions. She says that religion must be practical, and she insists to her congregations: "Do the possible things in life. Believe the sane ones. Don't be a fool in the name-of-religion." A few years ago she was the one daughter in a well to-do family in Baltimore. Her brother was cashier in a bank. Then, both decided that preaching was the thing for which they were intended, and both left home and people to teach the truths they consider the secret of happiness. This is how she said of it: Her words to the people meeting in the tent had become faster. Her earnestness had increased, her voice had grown the least bit louder. Then, abruptly, she ended. "That is all I have to say." The Green Country
The people, by groups and twos, followed a path over which the fruit trees, reaching out their branches made an arbor of peach blossoms. Beneath the trees was the deep, perfect green of the growing plants. The path wound down a hillside and then upward. At the top, all turned to look back at the tent--the white cup turned down on the green cloth. The five, turning to the left hand separated from the worshippers. The roof of a house could be seen in the direction they walked. An old man, with plain red face, tanned until it was the color of brick, put one hand to his ear as though not understanding. "What's that?" he asked. "Oh, yes." with a nod of his head. Then pointing toward the roof showing above the trees: "They're staying there." The countryside seems covered by green plants. One hill of green rises after another and the fruit trees here where the northern peach belt begins, all blossom in pink and white. The road was like a path through a garden. But abruptly it ended at the weather-beaten, brown, age-worn house. There was nothing about the house suggesting spring except the straggling flowers in the yard. A woman who was bent and whose hair was gray opened the door. "Yes, of course." she agreed. "Come in. Sit in there. They'll be glad to see you." She added turning back from the door. "There's nothing to hide. The other chair's more comfortable." The bed spread was worked in raised circular figures, and on the walls were lithographs. The floor was bare, but there was not a spot of dust in the room. Then, again, the door opened. The preacher and the others entered. There were not chairs enough for everyone and some stood up. She sat waiting for the questions that were to be asked. Their Simple Faith
Her hands were folded, her eyes were lowered, and she seemed younger than when she had stood upon the platform. She looked up at the inquiry. "Do you know about this report?" "Why, yes." Her voice was unusually low and gentle. "I am afraid it will handicap our work. It may make some lose faith in us. To try to correct it though, would make bad matters worse. We believe by living simply and plainly and honestly we can teach our belief. It's just Christianity. Just every-day belief in the Bible. We urge people to greater faith. We are not Baptists, or Methodists, or Presbyterians: we are all of them. There's nothing unusual about us. We do try to live our religion as well as preach it. Maybe we are different in that way." "We are teaching that one should not only believe a thing, but live it." "Divine healing? No. We don't believe in such things as that. We teach only the possible things, not the foolish." "It was two years ago, when I first came here, and since then I and the others have gone from place to place, wherever the people will listen to us, and have taught what we know is the truth." She hesitated over the next question. "Why, yes, I'll tell you our names. There are five of us. George Walker is from Philadelphia: George Burge from Newfoundland: Annie Mclaughlin from Paterson, N.J., and Edgar Hawkins, who is my brother, from Baltimore. I am Ida Hawkins. That doesn't sound mystic, does it? We believe it is meant for some people today to go from place to place and preach as the apostles did. And that is all we are doing." "I and my brother came to believe this at a meeting in Baltimore. And we decided that we'd leave everything and everyone and preach. So we did. Of course, it meant sacrifices. Yes, it was hard for our people. But when a girl marries doesn't it often mean heartaches for her father and mother? Shouldn't --she leaned forward--shouldn't any sacrifice be made in the name of religion? Whoever knows the truth about anything, should feel himself bound to give that knowledge to everyone. The greater good it will do them, the greater effort he must make to spread his knowledge." "We think we know practical spiritual truths that are worth teaching--that is why I left home to teach as the apostles taught, to go from place to place, and to show, if I can, how one should live. That is all." FUNERAL SERVICES FOR IDA HAWKINS
Ida Hawkins passed away at 10 minutes past 12 o'clock noon at the home of Hamby and Dulcie Coleman on March 21, 1978. Annie Stone and Ruthann Leffel had been caring for her the past 5 months, giving her tender, loving care. A service was held at 7:30 PM in Richmond, Va. on Wed., March 22. The two special meetings scheduled to be held that evening at DeJarnette and Thornburg were cancelled, and about 270 attended the services. Taylor Wood spoke, and Don Cox prayed. Ida's body was then brought to Baltimore to the McCulley Funeral Home in Brooklyn where she had lived prior to going into the work. Twenty-two workers, including most of the Virginia staff, George Walker, Andrew Abernathy, Robert Synan, and two Canadian workers... George Poole and Peter Zimmerman were present. The services at McCullhey's were held at 2 o'clock PM on Friday, March 24th. Taylor Wood read the following verses which had been selected: Luke's gospel...ch. 6:20, 38
ch. 12:22
ch. 18:28
Hymn "When Life Is Ended" was sung by Doris Crawford, Janette Graves, and Waverly Pierson. Then our brother, George Walker, who is 101 years of age spoke as follows: I don't feel equal to speak to such a large group of people, but because of the long, close fellowship I've had with the Hawkins family, I feel it's right to be here to speak at the service for our departed sister. Seventy-two years ago I first came to Brooklyn. It was just a village then. I knocked on the Hawkins' door while my companion went to another door. Mrs. Hawkins answered the door, and I invited them to some gospel meetings. She asked a few questions about the way we were preaching. They attended the meetings, and our, sister, Ida, made her decision to serve God. We told how Jesus gave the example of the way He preached... "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but I the son of man, have no place to lay my head." This touched Ida's heart, and she made her choice to serve Him. She fell in love with Him and His way. Later that same year, she made the choice to go out as He did and give her life as He gave His. She hasn't lived her life in vain. She was a young woman, teaching school, but she gave this up to follow Jesus. She never regretted the decision she made. She gave up all she could have had materially in this world. The Jews looked for the Messiah. They thought He'd be born in some high place with a great name. And when He came, they didn't recognize Him. It is said He was born in a stable, but the Bible doesn't say it was a stable. It could have been a manger in the open. Abraham was given the promise that from his seed Jesus would come. All the old prophets looked for the Messiah. The Jews didn't recognize Him when He came. He was born of poor parents without a great name. A few Jews took this in and it changed their lives, and they accepted Him. The Lord revealed to them that He was the Son of God. There were those that hated Him. Jesus took His disciples into a high mountain and taught them what we were hearing read... "Blessed be ye poor for yours is the kingdom of God." And the "blesseds" we read in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. Some of those He chose to be His disciples were not only poor in spirit but were also poor in material things. One was a publican. Zacchaeus was rich in worldly goods. He became poor in spirit. And another was sitting at the receipt of customhe also became poor in spirit. They became poor in spirit so they could receive the king dom of God. He chose 12 and told them how to go and how their needs would be met.. "Freely ye have received, freely give". . "as I have given you freely." That is why God's servants don't need to take up collections. They're giving as He did. Giving their lives and moving others to give their lives to go forth in the world trusting Him. He promised all temperal needs would be supplied, and He has not failed in any one of His promises. One sarcastic person said he would believe if he could see something come down from heaven by a parachute. After our sister passed away, I received a note from one that had heard of her death that said: "She could have been a woman among women.., a leader. She was attractive and could have been successful in any profession she had chosen." While coming from the West Indies on a banana boat, I had a man tell me of his disappointments.. .disappointment in his children and other things in life. He had much earthly riches. I told him of the riches I had. At the end of our journey, he told me I had different riches from what he had. Our brother read what Jesus said of those that had left all. Peter asked, "What shall we have.. .we have forsaken all and followed Thee?" Jesus told him that everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life....life eternal. One of the richest men of the world, when he came to the end of his life, said if he had his life to live over, he wouldn't live for riches of the world but would live to make friends. Today is called Good Friday. I don't know why because it was a dark day. Even the elements co-operated. The sun didn't shine for 3 hours... from 12 to 3. It was a dark day for Jesus' mother, Mary, and for the disciples. It was a dark day for those two disciples who were walking along and talking after Jesus was crucified. They trusted that He would be the one to redeem Israel. It was a dark day for Peter. He believed Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus told him, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed this to you but my father in heaven." He thanked His father that He had hidden these things from the wise and prudent and had revealed them unto babes. I'm glad there was an Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, Jesus conquered that old devil, the serpent. Before He left heaven, Jesus was rich, but He gave up those riches to come to earth to live. It was an awful battle in the garden of Gethsemane. He didn't get the victory easily. It is not a bed of roses.. .many experiences to face.. .but it is satisfying. It is something in the heart. The fool said in his heart, "There is no God." If all the fools in the world said aloud that there is no God, it wouldn't change the facts. The verse I love to quote... "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The millionaires and multi-millionaires in the world are trying to get rest. They'd part with their millions to get rest of heart. He said, "Learn of me what it means." At this time of year 80 years ago, I made my choice. I was in the business world.. . even thought of being a preacher... took steps in that direction but not like what I read in the Bible of James, Peter, arid John. On an Easter Monday, I met a man that told me of his desire to go as the disciples did. I could see that was the right way. I've had no great things in this life, but I have satisfaction. A friend in the hospital that we were visiting was lonely. His relatives were not able to help him. He kept asking about Ida Hawkins. The nurse wanted to know who this Ida Hawkins was that he was always asking about. I took her aside and explained to her how he had received joy in his life from listening to her preaching and seeing her life. She had given him the words that meant life, and now he was coming to the end of the journey. When Jesus was born, there were the angels coming down from heaven, the shepherds coming. A few days later, a servant was speaking of him: "Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign that shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." When she (Mary) was standing at the cross, she knew what that sword meant. Jesus... sweat dropping as blood. . .agreed to drink the cup His Father gave Him. Before the world began they had talked it over, and He had agreed that He would come to earth to live and die. It was for the joy that was set before Him. It was what helped Him when they spit in His face.. .what helped Him when He was on the cross... the joy that was set before Him. We wonder how people can be so blind. Herod washed his hands. . .he saw an innocent man... the wonderful life He lived.., could see no wrong in Him worthy of death... "I am innocent of the blood of this just person." The Jews said, "His blood be on us and on our children." We should have sympathy for Israel because of the prophets of old, but don't forget that the experiences they are going through now are caused by their forefathers' disobedience. We read of it lit the last chapters of Deutronomy. The Book of Deuteronomy is in their Bible also. Jesus spoke the parable of the vineyard.., how the servants that the householder sent to receive the fruits were all killed by the hus bandmen. Last he sent his son saying, "They will reverence my Son." When they saw the son, they said, "Let us kill him." The high priests said, "We'll put Him to death." God heard what they said. When on the cross, Jesus asked His father to forgive them, but God had heard their prayer also, and He can't deny Himself. Peter tells who will be in New Jerusalem. Not the Jews, but a nation of those born again. This is a House of Mourning because it is a parting with a loved one, but it's also a House of Rejoicing because of all our sister lived for in this life. Taylor prayed before the body was taken to Cedar Hill Cemetery for burial followed by a procession of about 60 cars. Robert Synan prayed at the cemetery. This concluded the funeral service.. 