National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-30
Z GROWTH OF HOLINESS. "
TIE MINIATURE CAAIP-1LEEFLNG
ON SIXTH STREET.

Row IT LOOKED TO A REPUBLICAN RE-
PoRTER-wHO WERE THERE AND HOW
THEY AcTED-sKETcHEs OF A SESSION
AS 1T ocCURRED-A MOST UNCHRTsTIAN
AUDIENCE.
Located on the reservation between Four-and-s-
half and Sixth streets, known Is circus lot, Is
large oblong tent, with 4 seating capacity Of
thirty-hye hundred. 1t is called the "Taberna-
ele. !" owned by religious association, and isused
by them for religious services the only objects Of
which are hthe promotion or growth OF holiness"
1t Is not sectarian but labors for its object among
those Of all Protestant denominations. The ser
vices have been held there for several days, anu
the one in the evening Is largely attended. On
"Wednesday evening reporter Of The REPUBLT-
CAN, while walking down the Avenue, near Sixth
street, was aeeosted by g stranger, who had Just
noticed the Illuminated tent and the crowds 90
ing towards It, with the remark, "Whoso clrcusi Is
that, sir9" He was informed that It was not q
circus. but q religious meeting, when he contin-
ued the conversation by saying: SWELL think
III 20 over, there must be some fun there, any
how;" and he started down, the reporter follow
ing slowly in the wake Of the irreverent stranger
among the other pedestrians who lined the side
walk upon the same errand. The stranger was
partly right, for among the large crowd within
the tent walls fully three fourths went as simple
lOokers-on, and took every opportunity, and many
were presented, to laugh. Most Of them "Went to
scot, and but few remained to pray;n and yet Il
was good Looking audience.
The tent is illuminated by gas arranged to give
ample light there are four entrances, the ground
is covered with straw and the seats are low
modern ones Of rough board, on which during the
me people Tefe packed "a S IKE neSTSgS n
which is covered with carpet, aud In addition to
the desk contains number Of chairs; to the rear
Of the stand are q number OF notices printed on
q canvass screen, such as i'Holiness to the Lord'
and "ChEist is mighty to save" On the east and
west sides the fiy Of the tent was raised to admit
air, and standing BY II, taking the advantage OF 9
peep,Were q number Of persons who did not care to
enter, Notwithstanding the repeated invitation 20
do so from the solemn-looking, black Whiskered
gentleman who acted as usher.
The audience comprised persons Of all ages and
all sects, but majority Of them were young and
meeting without the woods aud tents and the
other accessories which go so far toward making
camp for them pleasant place Of soiourn for .
In this estimate they were about right It is
an ttlnerant camp meeting with the advantage Of
locating in cities, and thus attracting larger at
tendance than those In the country. 1t Is STROLL
ing band Of righteous men, intent upon the self
imposed task Of educating or converting all up 10
the higher plane Of holiness upon which they
stand: the especial objects Of their prayers being
the ministers Of the Evangelical churches, who,
TO use the words Of Dr; lnskip, the leader Of the
As we entered, this gentleman was speaking
from the platform, and his action, as he threw his
q stump speaker. His voice at the time could not
be heard, as q train Of the Baltimore and Poto-
mac Company was coming in; As that noise
ceased the sonorous voice Of the speaker broke
upon the audience.
He was appealing for aid, and doing it in legiti-
mate stump-speaker style. Even the holy must
have funds, and these gentlemen, by their ap-
pearance, clearly indicated that they got their
share Of this worlds comforts. Several subscrip-
headed gentlemen passed baskets through the
audience and gathered in currency. II just cost
twenty-five cents TO this office.
That over, hymn was sung, and during the
pauses between the verses the crowd were urged
70 join in. Then came q short sermon from DR..
Mcdonald, Of Boston, and then the event OF the
evening the special services for the promotion Of
holiness.
DR.. Inskip took the stand, and started an ex-
hortation, in which, he frankly said, he talked
plainly. He went for ministers, deacons, trustees
and members, males aud females, and he went
for them good. They all needed the higher holt
ness which could only be obtained within the
Tabernacle" and they were towards II they did
not 'cOme to the front and get IT." He related
numerous instances o. me good done and tod Of
would divide the Church.
He wanted them to understand that he was Of
needed it-TOuid divide he Methodist, Lutheran,
Episcopal, or any other Church, It should be
swept away entirely. In all these Churches there
was too much profession and too little religion.
He did not think much Of the man who belonged
TO Church and played billiards, or Of the woman
who belonged 10 Church and went 70 theatres and
Church was better without them. There were
several OF the audience near by who expressed .
different optimism, but he did not hear them. He
then advertised the organ OF the association, the
ChTfsttGH Advocate and Home Journal Is q paper
into which no opinion adverse to the aims Of the
society were admitted, and modestly suggested
that was the best family paper IN the country.
Then he returned to his legitimate business,
and, AFTER short exhortation, Invited any and all
who wished 10 secure the blessings Of perfect no.
Illness 70 come in front Of the stand. In response
several ladies and gentlemen started and forced
their way through the audience, and while they
were seated near the stand, telling them that
they did not belong there; that they only came 70
look on; that for all the good they were doing,
either for themselves or others, they might as
we'll be outside.
They did not, however, scare at this; they had
reserved seats, and they proposed 70 hold them
until the services closed.
After considerable persuasion about ten were
In front OF the stand, and after devOtlng two min
utes to scol6ing those who did not come prayer
was INDUCED in, and then followed hymn. As
the sound Of the singers voices died away after
women mourners echoed through the tent, and
almost every one arose and stood upon the seats.
The second verse was started, but above the
tones Of the singers could be heard the cries,
difculty the ushers succeeded In getting the vast
audience seated, but as the sob and cry was
renewed at the next interval, they again arose.
The proceeding was most unseemly one. In
was the victim, and surrounding her were fully
three thousand persons clamberlng on seats,
stretching their necks and strainlng their eyes to
witness II, and at the same time making all man
ner Of unnecessary and impertinent comments.
They were again compelled TO be seated, and then
the hymn was concluded. A brief acknowledge
ment from each Of the seekers y was then made,
prayer offered, and the assemblage dismissed.