Revival meetings had never been held in Avonlea before . `` Uncle '' Jerry MacPherson , who was the supreme local authority in church matters , taking precedence of even the minister , had been uncompromisingly opposed to them . He was a stern , deeply religious Scotchman , with a horror of the emotional form of religion . As long as Uncle Jerry 's spare , ascetic form and deeply-graved square-jawed face filled his accustomed corner by the northwest window of Avonlea church no revivalist might venture therein , although the majority of the congregation , including the minister , would have welcomed one warmly . But now Uncle Jerry was sleeping peacefully under the tangled grasses and white snows of the burying ground , and , if dead people ever do turn in their graves , Uncle Jerry might well have turned in his when the revivalist came to Avonlea church , and there followed the emotional services , public testimonies , and religious excitement which the old man 's sturdy soul had always abhorred . Avonlea was a good field for an evangelist . The Rev. Geoffrey Mountain , who came to assist the Avonlea minister in revivifying the dry bones thereof , knew this and reveled in the knowledge . It was not often that such a virgin parish could be found nowadays , with scores of impressionable , unspoiled souls on which fervid oratory could play skillfully , as a master on a mighty organ , until every note in them thrilled to life and utterance . The Rev. Geoffrey Mountain was a good man ; of the earth , earthy , to be sure , but with an unquestionable sincerity of belief and purpose which went far to counterbalance the sensationalism of some of his methods . He was large and handsome , with a marvelously sweet and winning voice -- a voice that could melt into irresistible tenderness , or swell into sonorous appeal and condemnation , or ring like a trumpet calling to battle . His frequent grammatical errors , and lapses into vulgarity , counted for nothing against its charm , and the most commonplace words in the world would have borrowed much of the power of real oratory from its magic . He knew its value and used it effectively -- perhaps even ostentatiously . Geoffrey Mountain 's religion and methods , like the man himself , were showy , but , of their kind , sincere , and , though the good he accomplished might not be unmixed , it was a quantity to be reckoned with . So the Rev. Geoffrey Mountain came to Avonlea , conquering and to conquer . Night after night the church was crowded with eager listeners , who hung breathlessly on his words and wept and thrilled and exulted as he willed . Into many young souls his appeals and warnings burned their way , and each night they rose for prayer in response to his invitation . Older Christians , too , took on a new lease of intensity , and even the unregenerate and the scoffers found a certain fascination in the meetings . Threading through it all , for old and young , converted and unconverted , was an unacknowledged feeling for religious dissipation . Avonlea was a quiet place , -- and the revival meetings were lively . When David and Mary Bell reached the church the services had begun , and they heard the refrain of a hallelujah hymn as they were crossing Harmon Andrews ' field .
David Bell left his wife at the platform and drove XXXXX the horse-shed .
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