Abilene was much different from Hico. There was nearly always something going on with the churches in Abilene. This was in the heyday of the “gospel meetings” (called revivals in other faith communities). We usually attended gospel meetings when we could at which ever church might be having one. It was partly a desire to learn scripture, partly a means of entertainment, and partly an avenue for social interaction.
Everybody who was anybody came through Abilene at one time or another, the famous and the infamous. On one occasion my parents took me to hear J. D. Tant. I don’t remember a thing about it, but my father often reminded me that I had been in the presence of this great man.
J. D. Tant was a colorful, if somewhat crude, Texas preacher, who built quite a reputation for himself. He had a sense of humor with a bite to it. According to a story told by his son, Tant had gone to Abilene for a speaking engagement. Jesse P. Sewell, president of ACC at the time, drove him to the train station.
He said, “Brother Sewell, I’m about to do something to do something the devil wouldn’t do.”
Sewell as shocked. He asked, “What on earth could that be, Brother Tant?”
Tant’s response was, “I’m going to leave Abilene.”
Several members of my family swore by J. D. Tant. He wrote in the Firm Foundation, a periodical issued from Austin, which pretty which was widely circulated in the state of Texas.
Tant was among those who predicted a grim future for the church. He concluded every article by saying, “Brethren, we are drifting.” He was certainly an issue oriented person, but the people in my family thought he was a fine preacher. I think it would be fair to say they loved a good fight.
I also was taken to the Abilene Christian College Lectureship (probably sometime in 1938). I barely remember the event and couldn’t tell you who was preaching. However, I’m probably one of the few people alive who can boast of having attended the lectureship in the thirties.
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