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Below is a copy of a letter written by Vincent
Tanner Malone. I have typed it as I received it from Preston Malone, grandson of Vincent
Malone.
.....Ann Glasgow
Experience elder C. H. Cayce Dear brother. I was borned in
franklin county Alabama on December 15 1827. when I was quite young a bright light shown
around me I was sitting on a throne and saw the bottomless pit below me but oh the light
was so lovely I felt happy. my parents belong to the primitive babtists but were called
hardshells of ironjackets so they found out what I had seen and wanted me to join the
church but I didnot think I was fit so I didnt join. it worked on me from year to year I
maried Nancy Jane Rikard January the 6 1847 I lived there till the war came up. I was a
union man. I did not get it up and I didnot aim to fight on either side unless compelled
to
in 1863 my family and I went to Illinoes for reffuge so I stayed out. did not fight on
either side, times would come on me when it looked like I could not live. my wife father
Joined the church in the year 1851 wife and prepared to go to see him babtised. and to my
surprise my wife took other clothing with her and gave her experince at the water and was
babtized. she Joined the missionaries. oh you dont know what a feelin I caint express it.
it appeard like I could not live but i did not think I was worthy to belong to a church I
was such a sinner we came back home in the fall of 1866 my wife was taken sick and died
september 16, 1867 and then i was left with 9 children, one maried 5 girls and 4 boys it
seemed that I could not live nits. my pillow would be wet with tears:
I went on that way for about 2 months. I saw I could not get along that way in living
& thought if I could get a wife & a mother for my children it would be the best
for me & them so I picked one out. on sunday I went to my neighbors wher I could see
her the neighbor talked about the church aske me why I didnot go. I told them I was not
worthy. but I was full & runing over at times I got to say a few words to girl &
left for home & as I went ringing my my hands I was all at once on my kness &
hands. I dont no how long I stayed there or what I said, but when I got up something spoke
to me & said get behind me satan. I went on trying to sing & prase the lord.
everything was lovily & I loved everyboddy & everything, even the trees looked
lovily; thats my expierence if one at all & it is by grace if I am saved at all not of
works least any should bost. I maried my second wife mary roberson January 12 1868.
I went on doubting till I was whiped in to it in 1872. I told the preacher on saturday if
they would meet me at the water sunday I would tell what I had to tell & brother Gober
said who forbid water noboddy forbid it & I took the water: my feloship is at liberty
church Franklin county ala my second wife died March 7, 1908 she had 5 boys & 2 girls
& 9 by my first wife 16 in all lived to be grown & maried I have 95 grand children
borned to me & that maney great grand children or more I dont no how many they are for
certin for some are in ala & some in tenn & some in miss & some in texas I
lived with my first wife 20 years 8 months & 10 days, & with my second wife 40
years 1 month & 25 days: here I am yet 80 years 9 months & 4 days old with 1 foot
in the grave & the other close by sept 19 1908 I am a lay member dear brother &
sisters if you read this pray for me if I am saved it by grace
Vincent Malone Jan 9, 1909 |
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