Friends of the Restoration
Chronicling the lives of those who have impacted the Restoration Movement
Poor Mississippi Preacher
July/31/2009 12:37 Filed in: Recent Finds
The photo shows Al Price next to the grave of Mary Fuqua, mother of E. C. Fuqua. Birth: March 3, 1838; Death: November 26, 1900. Inscription: Wife of Nathan Fuqua & mother of Edward C. Fuqua. For more info, go to http://freed-hardeman.com/buriedinms/page177/page177.html The following letter was written to Walter Howell of Middleton, TN. His daughter, Mrs. Gerald (Gail) Mills, gave me a copy of the letter.
E. C. Fuqua, 5404 Dartmouth, Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Brother Howell:
Your interesting letter and check for $5.00 just received, with sincere thanks for both. Especially my remembrance to Bro. Gus Dunn and his one visit to my Negro Cabin Home in Mississippi. Bro. Dunn and I were both preaching the Gospel around Water Valley, Miss and so far as I knew I was alone--until Gus knocked on my cabin door.
A typical Negro cabin had just one small room, one door, no window, and a "stick and dirt" chimney that we could never warm by--it would catch fire easily. My mother and my Wife tried to live in such a cabin. We had only one bed and Mother had to have that. Wife and I slept on the floor. Mother died a short time before Bro. Dunn visited us.
The cemetery was about 200 yards from my cabin door. I had no horse and no buggy. I preached at Hatton, Miss. 6 months, to the small bunch that attended. From my cabin it was 11 miles to Hatton. I walked the distance (22) miles never failing to show up for services. Some times it was raining. One time I remember I became so sleepy that I pulled high broom sage and made me a bed and never waked up until the sun was up (my Wife was frantic when I did not get home as I never failed before). So far as I can now remember I never received one penny for that 6 months preaching, but a Bro. Hughes came to see me and brought a dozen eggs; and I was given credit at a store to the extent of a small "side of bacon." The eggs and bacon were assembled just a few hours before Gus Dunn knocked on my door. (Was that Providential?) Anyhow, that is how Gus got dinner that day! Bro. Dunn stayed till most night, and we counted our blessings and went to bed (and the floor). The bacon left from supper we put away carefully. But that night, while we were sleeping a mountain Lion came in and tried to carry our bacon to his lair. He got the piece but could not get it through the half-door; the rest he left for us, A couple of neighborhood boys the next day went hunting for that Lion and treed it in a tall sweet-gum. From head to tail that Lion measured 9 feet. In my walks 6 months I feared contact with other beasts but was never actually attacked.
In "sticability" it cost a lot to hold a meeting under such circumstances. No money was exchanged, for there wasn't any; it was dire suffering most of the time. Before moving to this Negro cabin we rented (?) another Negro cabin, at Paris, Miss. It was, to be accurate, a cow shed.
Mother was then living but in very poor health. She was given our only bed and Wife and I slept on the floor, or shreds of corn stalks for a Mattress. Hunger again stalked us until I remembered a Sister some 10 miles away had asked if we needed any food. I kissed my Wife and Mother and marched into the darkness. It was raining. After midnight I reached that Sister home and knocked on the door. When she and her husband heard my voice they dressed and came out. I told my story and they took me to the smokehouse and took down a small sideĀ of bacon to take home to a hungry wife and mother in the cow-shed, But when I got home with the bacon there was nothing in the way of food to go with it. So we three ate bacon (minus). I was preaching every night, some 5 or 6 miles from my cow-shed home, and walking as usual.
This account of some of my struggles haunted me for 3 whole years; and I suspect that Bro. Dunn had like success-- if that word truly expresses the situation. I baptized many people and I am quite sure it was not without suffering that attended those baptisms. God knows.
Brother Howell. I'm thankful that you are not suffering so much, and that you will soon be well again. Your checks are deeply appreciated; and while I am not preaching any more, I am all the more appreciate the spirit of your letter. I would like to hear from Br. Dunn.
Yours in Christ Jesus.
E. C. Fuqua
P. S.-I may miss in figures to a small extent, but of facts I am sure and I daily pray for those who, in face of adversity, have sacrificed for Christ and His wonderful Gospel. Utterly unworthy of praise or even thanks, I look forward in love. E. C. F.
Bro Dunn, please return this as I would like to keep it. Thank you. W. H.
Let us be faithful to the end. G. A. D.
