INTRODUCTION.
IT is with no small amount of pleasure that I comply with the request of my precious friend, brother, and co-laborer in the evangelistic field to write a few introductory lines to this valuable biography of his life.
Brother Compton has written this sketch of his life in acquiescence to the earnest solicitation of his many friends and spiritual children, who desire such a biography as this volume affords of the life of the one who led them to God.
I am aware, owing to the natural distaste for anything eulogistic that characterizes our brother, that some things I shall say will not seem palatable to him; but when I say that my object is alone to state the plain facts, and thus more largely glorify the blessed Christ who has made him what he is, I know that he will allow his friend to speak candidly.
In the providence of God it became my good fortune, when a young man just out of my teens, to win the love and confidence of this man of God. The call of the Lord had been ringing through my soul until it had become imperative that I should launch out into the evangelistic field and spend all my energies for God and souls. The field looked so large, and the boy so small, that I needed just such an offer as an experienced warrior like the subject of this sketch gave me. Consequently we "harnessed double," and bade farewell to my own Northern clime, and plunged into the North Carolina mountains. Here God, through the example and companionship of Brother Compton, taught me lessons of endurance, boldness, humility, and contentment under all circumstances, favorable or otherwise, and mostly the latter, which have largely determined what present usefulness I may possess.
