The Rev. John Jay Dickey was a Methodist minister traveling throughout eastern KY as a missionary for his religion and trying to 'build up' the mountains. He kept a diary every day and as he went through the mountains, whenever he could, he spoke to the people and asked them about their lineages and parentage and he wrote it all down. The accuracy can vary, it was based on the respondent's memory, but he also wrote of those he met - and this is a first person account of his impression of Rev. William Henry Bruner.
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July 29, 1899 begins on page 2860 continues to mid page of 2862
"Bro. Henry Bruner then took the floor.(begins page 2861) He is a typical mountain preacher. His address would make wonderfully interesting reading. He throws words together very fluently but usually there seems to be no clear idea communicated. His style is indescribable. His whole discourse was designed to arouse the sympathy of the hearers, especially the friends of the deceased. He described vividly the scene of Henry Johnson's joining the church, his backsliding drinking which he attributed to his being unwilling to obey God's call to him to preach the Gospel. He was intimate with him had from his own lips there acknowledgements. For several months he walked orderly but again took a drink but on his dying bed he found peace. Though he had been dead three years the speaker was able to excite a large part of the audience to tears. The whole narrative so vividly related was spoken in the "holy tone" at the top of his voice with excruciating efforts. His voice would almost faint away at times. He shook hands with me during this part of (ends page 2861) (begins page 2862) the discourse and his hand was cold and clammy. He said, "I am a quare man. It takes me half an hour to get started and half an hour to stop after I get done." He upbraided the brethren for not caring for the widows and orphans of the congregation. He warned Henry Johnson's recklessness to repent and turn to God. Henry was a son of "Greasy" Hi. His father was present and wept freely throughout these touching recitals.
Quotes and research from Gaye Johnson Hill
microfilm record
July 29, 1899 begins on page 2860 continues to mid page of 2862
"Bro. Henry Bruner then took the floor.(begins page 2861) He is a typical mountain preacher. His address would make wonderfully interesting reading. He throws words together very fluently but usually there seems to be no clear idea communicated. His style is indescribable. His whole discourse was designed to arouse the sympathy of the hearers, especially the friends of the deceased. He described vividly the scene of Henry Johnson's joining the church, his backsliding drinking which he attributed to his being unwilling to obey God's call to him to preach the Gospel. He was intimate with him had from his own lips there acknowledgements. For several months he walked orderly but again took a drink but on his dying bed he found peace. Though he had been dead three years the speaker was able to excite a large part of the audience to tears. The whole narrative so vividly related was spoken in the "holy tone" at the top of his voice with excruciating efforts. His voice would almost faint away at times. He shook hands with me during this part of (ends page 2861) (begins page 2862) the discourse and his hand was cold and clammy. He said, "I am a quare man. It takes me half an hour to get started and half an hour to stop after I get done." He upbraided the brethren for not caring for the widows and orphans of the congregation. He warned Henry Johnson's recklessness to repent and turn to God. Henry was a son of "Greasy" Hi. His father was present and wept freely throughout these touching recitals.
Quotes and research from Gaye Johnson Hill
The Rev. John Jay Dickey was a Methodist minister traveling throughout eastern KY as a missionary for his religion and trying to 'build up' the mountains. He kept a diary every day and as he went through the mountains, whenever he could, he spoke to the people and asked them about their lineages and parentage and he wrote it all down. The accuracy can vary, it was based on the respondent's memory, but he also wrote of those he met - and this is a first person account of his impression of Rev. William Henry Bruner.
microfilm record
July 29, 1899 begins on page 2860 continues to mid page of 2862
"Bro. Henry Bruner then took the floor.(begins page 2861) He is a typical mountain preacher. His address would make wonderfully interesting reading. He throws words together very fluently but usually there seems to be no clear idea communicated. His style is indescribable. His whole discourse was designed to arouse the sympathy of the hearers, especially the friends of the deceased. He described vividly the scene of Henry Johnson's joining the church, his backsliding drinking which he attributed to his being unwilling to obey God's call to him to preach the Gospel. He was intimate with him had from his own lips there acknowledgements. For several months he walked orderly but again took a drink but on his dying bed he found peace. Though he had been dead three years the speaker was able to excite a large part of the audience to tears. The whole narrative so vividly related was spoken in the "holy tone" at the top of his voice with excruciating efforts. His voice would almost faint away at times. He shook hands with me during this part of (ends page 2861) (begins page 2862) the discourse and his hand was cold and clammy. He said, "I am a quare man. It takes me half an hour to get started and half an hour to stop after I get done." He upbraided the brethren for not caring for the widows and orphans of the congregation. He warned Henry Johnson's recklessness to repent and turn to God. Henry was a son of "Greasy" Hi. His father was present and wept freely throughout these touching recitals.
Quotes and research from Gaye Johnson Hill
microfilm record
July 29, 1899 begins on page 2860 continues to mid page of 2862
"Bro. Henry Bruner then took the floor.(begins page 2861) He is a typical mountain preacher. His address would make wonderfully interesting reading. He throws words together very fluently but usually there seems to be no clear idea communicated. His style is indescribable. His whole discourse was designed to arouse the sympathy of the hearers, especially the friends of the deceased. He described vividly the scene of Henry Johnson's joining the church, his backsliding drinking which he attributed to his being unwilling to obey God's call to him to preach the Gospel. He was intimate with him had from his own lips there acknowledgements. For several months he walked orderly but again took a drink but on his dying bed he found peace. Though he had been dead three years the speaker was able to excite a large part of the audience to tears. The whole narrative so vividly related was spoken in the "holy tone" at the top of his voice with excruciating efforts. His voice would almost faint away at times. He shook hands with me during this part of (ends page 2861) (begins page 2862) the discourse and his hand was cold and clammy. He said, "I am a quare man. It takes me half an hour to get started and half an hour to stop after I get done." He upbraided the brethren for not caring for the widows and orphans of the congregation. He warned Henry Johnson's recklessness to repent and turn to God. Henry was a son of "Greasy" Hi. His father was present and wept freely throughout these touching recitals.
Quotes and research from Gaye Johnson Hill
Bio by: Edith J. Bruner
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