Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-03-15
THE SPECIAL mEhriNGs Avn akLfSa
Gus kNTRLfaRNcR.

OW ioPVtt IHst Weeh cDseu WIN Ihufb-
day noon. The meeting that evening was
much larger Than any preceding night since
the Sabbath, ahd lbe close And solemn A.
teniion Indicated On Increasing Interest In
the precious truth presented that, "all things
are now ready" The subject on Friday eve
ming was tlic exient uf the atonement or 10
what practical sense II Is designed fof all
men, There were no services on Saturday
evening. Mr.. Wells, With delegation from
the Churches, visited the Unlon Church
In The East Village. and spoke for few min.
utcs, others following In short addresses. -
Considerable interest was manifested, some
twenty rising TO ask for prayer.
The several Churches held separate sefyi.
ces on Sabbath morning, and the conQreRa.
tions we're large and solemn. Befofe evening
a heavy snow storm set 10 accompanied with
high wind. Many anticipated a small con.
gsega,ion, but late comers were surprised to
find the Church packed, and 10 We Obliged 10
finda place in the vestibule. Every prepa.
fitlon had been made for seating n large au-
dlcnce. The pulpit had been removed into
the orchestra and the platform and chanc, |
were packed closely with benches and chairs.
ell of which were occupied The discourse
was especially 10 Moraiisis, and was logical
and convincing argument on the insufsicieney
ofgood works 10 Salvation. The eongrega-
tion was made up largely of men, who listen
ed with the closest attention.
| The audience room was well filed on
Monday and Tuesday evenings the number
being about double that of the corresponding
evenings last week. Tie sermon on Monday
evening was the cosnplehheat of that on the
Babbalh presenting Gods plan Of salvation
through faith In the atonement of Christ
That ON Tuesday evening was, in some re-
speets, the strongest and most solid OF oil the
sefmohs that Mr.. Wells has preached. The
subject was Gods Relation to Sin. 1t pre-
seBted, fofciBiy, the two great facts, that God
is not the author or approver of Sin, yet
thai he has fOfeseen and provided for Il In
his eternal plant that the sinner is wholly
against God, but is ueed by Him to His
I glory Never have we heard mans personal
responsibility more forcibly pressed home,
and all excuse, based on Gods knowledge
or purpose, more completely removed
The theme on Wednesday carried forward
the same thought of personal responsibility I;
showing that men are acco htabie for their
tviief and for the state of their hearts, as tru-
~ as fof their actions.
The morning meetings have increased
steadily in interest The children were large.
iy Represented On Saturday.
| The first meeting Of The Young Converts
was held last Friday. They are now held rv.
cry afternoon in the Presbyterian Chapel
Besides the converts, young christians, and all
seeking saiyati6h, are invited. At these meet
ings more titan at any Others, we realize what
God is doing for us. At the Grst meeting
some forty, fer the frst time, expressed a
hope in Christ and the number increases ev-
cry day. The services are of very Informal
character, the principal object being the in
struction and development of the converts
One after another takes part in brief prayer.
or d confession Of Christ and no true christian
can he present at one of these meetings with
ott feeling that he has spent one Of the happi:
est hours of his life
In these and in all the meetings, Mr.. Wells
makes mitch use of the power of sacred song
The little book-"Tac New Praisce OF Jesus
is well adapted for this pu rpose; and, led
by the Organist and Mr.. Wells strong voice
the congregation have manifested readiness
and power in general singing, which, we did
not suppose. was possessed by the Ashiabuiu
Churches.
Another Y, arked feature cf the Services ii
the stress which is laid on Gods word. The
people are urged to bring their Bibles ahc
to follow the reading. Quite a portion o1
the morning services is devoted 10 the recita,
tion of Scripture Verses and thIa pat Of The
exercises instead of proving tedious, has
been very interesting. The texts srgges
thought, and often seem to come, as GodT
direct message, to the heart. Mr.. Wells, In
his preaching, adheres very closely to his text
and bases every doctrine directly on th'
word of God. Human metaphysics are kep
ont of sight. The Bible is llonored; and Goo
is blessing his own truth.
Notices for hett aaeek: