I attempted an approach of a simple gospel message each night, designed to meet the needs of the unconverted, some of whom we had present every night. The results were gratifying. As people left the meetinghouse there was not that smirking smile upon their faces which usually illustrates their pleasure with the harangue against a local competitive denominational group, but rather a warm word for the kind and simple presentation of the message. But I think we need a physician instead of a funeral director. The gospel meeting must either have a complete blood transfusion or it will ultimately have its blood withdrawn and undergo embalming.
Nothing has a right to exist in the church unless it has a positive purpose.
The positive purposes in the meetings of the first-generation preachers were love, union and winning the lost. The meetings provided an opportunity for different groups to come together. Although love and union were the themes, no generation of preachers hated sectarianism and its effects more than these men. Their protracted efforts had little resemblance to our present-day meetings. Now individuals from other groups are almost afraid to attend such a meeting.