The prompt and emphatic reply was: ‘My comfort has nothing in the world to do with it, sir; you, as my pastor, think that it is my duty to lead in public prayer—I think so too—and by God's grace I mean to do it. I wish you would please be so good as to call on me more frequently.’ Dr. White says that he saw from Jackson's reply and manner that he meant to succeed—that he did call on him more frequently—and that he gradually improved until he became one of the most gifted men in prayer whom he had in his church. It was my privilege to hear him pray several times in the army, and if I ever heard a ‘fervent, effectual prayer,’ it was offered by this stern soldier.
He was a ‘deacon’ (not an ‘elder,’ as has been frequently asserted) in the church, and was untiring in the discharge of all the duties of the position. On one occasion he went at the appointed hour to attend a ‘deacons' meeting’ at which there was important business to be transacted, and after waiting five minutes for several absentees (pacing back and forth, watch in hand), he asked to be excused for awhile, and darted off to the residence of one of them. Ringing the door-bell violently the gentleman came out, and Jackson accosted him with ‘Mr.——, it is eight minutes after 8 o'clock’ (the hour appointed for the meeting). ‘Yes, major, I am aware of that, but I didn't have time to go out to-night.’ ‘Didn't have time?’ retorted the deacon; ‘why, sir, I should not suppose that you had time for anything else. Did we not set apart this hour (only one in the month) for the service of the church? How then can you put aside your obligations in the matter?’ With this he abruptly started back to the meeting, and his brother deacon felt so keenly his rebuke that he immediately followed. There was no
