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All Merriment Had Ceased

In 1923, Dr. J. B. Jeter, in an article entitled Recollections of a Long Life, told the story of a man he had met in 1825. He was a Baptist Deacon named Epa Norris, whom he described as “eminently conscientious, fervently devout, and a demonstrative Christian and Baptist. No one could be with him for a few hours without learning something of his religious character and principles.”

Dr. Jeter tells that during the war of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, Deacon Norris, “hearing that the enemy had landed and were marching through the country, he saddled his horse and went forth to make observations and inquiries. He had not gone far when he fell in with a marauding party and was captured as a supposed scout and carried on one of the enemy’s vessels lying in the Chesapeake Bay.”

Norris was questioned, but refused to tell them anything, saying, “You may kill me, but you cannot make me tell you anything about our army.” Subsequently, Norris was kept a prisoner aboard the ship. Perhaps by his courage, he made a favorable impression, but for whatever reason he was invited to the flag ship of the fleet to dine with the ship’s officers. There were toasts and songs. At length, Mr. Norris was called on for a song. He modestly declined, but there was a general demonstration of a desire that he should sing. At length, he yielded. He had a fine voice and could sing the familiar hymns of the day in most plaintive tunes. He struck up in a solemn tune the beautiful Psalm of Isaac Watts:

Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing.
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truths at night.

Jeter continued, “The remembrance of his home and family and the pleasant meetings with his brethren, as contrasted with his present captive state, softened his heart and he sung with tearful eyes, the words,

Fools never raise their thoughts so high:
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die;
Like grass they flourish, till thy breath
Blast them in everlasting death.

“Before the old man had finished his Psalm, all merriment had ceased, and a deep solemnity pervaded the festal party. At the close of the singing, the commodore said, ‘Mr. Norris, you are a good man, and you shall be sent home.’ As soon as arrangements could be made, he bade adieu to the officers, was lowered into a boat, and set ashore with a liberal supply of salt, then very scarce and very valuable in Northern Neck. He soon reached his distressed family with a bosom swelling with gratitude and delight.”

Source:
Religious Herald Vol. XCVI. Richmond, VA., November 29, 1923. No. 48
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