Last week I mentioned about my chance encounter with a book in the South Carolina Room of the Greenville County Library. I had picked up a random book off the shelf entitled “Life Sketches and Sermons” by “Reverend N. J. Holmes and wife” and had opened it to a random page to find my grandmother’s name.
My sister, Glynda, had read about my encounter here, and over dinner last night was asking if the book were available. My reply was that unless she could find it somewhere else, she would have to read it in the SC Room. Well, guess what? I found the book.
I was searching for the title to see if the Pentecostal Holiness Church or some other organization still had the book in publication. I found that Google Books had it available online in its entirety. It can even be downloaded as a PDF file.
I’m not recommending this book for everyone. I find it interesting from a family history standpoint. Prior to entering Pentecostalism, my family had been Presbyterian. The book gives some insights into that transition and conflicts that arose. It’s also interesting to see the history and attitudes of a traveling tent evangelist in the days long before televangelism besmirched the field.