Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Hezekiah Smith – The prayer that shut down a dance in colonial Maine

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 4 hrs April 13, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Hezekiah Smith – The prayer that shut down a dance in colonial Maine

On August 19, 1770 Rev. Hezekiah Smith climaxed several months of itinerant preaching in New Hampshire with the formation of a Baptist church in Stratham, N.H. He had a continually exciting and fruitful ministry.

On one of his evangelistic-missionary trips into Maine, a noteworthy event took place. Late one night he arrived at a hotel where he sought lodging.

It was made known to him, by a gathering crowd that a ball was to take place that evening. As he was warming himself by the parlor fireside, to his surprise, a delegation invited him to join in the mirth of the evening. He politely declined; but they urged his acceptance. Again he begged to be excused, but they insisted on having his company. Finally he accompanied them to the ball, where the assembly was waiting to commence the dance.

His appearance being that of a gentleman, they showed him respect and insisted on him taking the most prominent part in the performance. Finding himself in this predicament he resolved to make the best of it. He said that he had always made it a practice in life to first ask the blessing of God before he engaged in any act of duty. Upon this he immediately commenced a prayer. The commanding tones of his voice; his impressive style of his supplicatory address; the fervour of his prayer, and the solemn allusions made in it, caused many hearts to be touched and before he closed, many were dissolved in tears.

There was no dance that evening and many resolved to “break off their sins by righteousness.”

When Rev. Smith returned the following year he found many of this same party, who had been raised…to a new life…of Christian character.”

Thomas E. Kresal from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/Thompson, pp.341-42