National Republican., 1876-03-31
WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD
ll9GGEI o. iHB GRsif RiViVG
TWO INTERESTING MEETINGS YESTERDAY
Eosslks SERVICE at Dr. susDtRlsRUs
CONTINUED REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
G0oD RESULTS FRea IRE BoLY LlBeRs
DR.. HammsRd's Sermen Last Night
Eornirg Meeting,

Rev. DI. Srnderland's church was eroudet
yesterday Morning with an audience who pait
undivided attention to the varied proceedings
which lasted Tor nearly three hours. Many cler
gymtn were present, and the feeling Of sympath!
and interest in these meetings eeems to intenstf.
daily.
AFTER the ususl opening exercises Mr.. H am
mond read the parable OF "The Unjust Judge
from the eighteenth chapter Of Luke. In thi
parable Jesus argues from the less to tn,
greater. The Judge was unjust, but God is mer
ciful. The WIDOW was alone; We are many; sht
met with rebutfs; we are always welcome; she has
no friends to plead with her, but We have ouewh
is continually making intercession for rs. Passing
from this he next took up the parable Of the
BREEZY, and was followed py the Rev. DR.. Irvine
of New fork, who took mp the same subject
There are Pharisees In existence to day as in
this temple to pray forgetting thsir business and
their merchs sndise, and realizing that It is an
important matter. And If we utter the prayer
sinner we viii be heard and accepted. Aud,
besides this, We must talk to others who are
anxious. We can talk to our friends as to our
cares that encompass rs, but when We are asked
to pray with the i'm penitent, and direct them to
the Saviour, then We faltsr. Persistent faith and
prayer were also urged upon sll, so that they
mig Int receive the blessings OF obedience.
Rev. DR.. Gray read about torty requests for
prayers, smepg them being: For z young man mar
band, for an inidel under conviction for Q scepti-
cal young-Dan 10 Europe, for the daughter OF a
y sns ,S r cR Rsn;s S .saa nv sSrt G
speak and sing through them to the hearts Of
the people; for ten drunksrds, for lady Who
does not wish to have her mind disturbed, for a
son and daughter who are out Of Christ, for q
vile vho was once q member Of the Church, for
a Catholic and many others.
Rev. Mr.. NJ yer said he had found 4: very pleas.
ant TO work in his section of the Congreg alton al
church during the last two nights, and spoke as
10 the Increased number OF inqulrers he had met
with. He was followed by Rev. Mr.. Domer, who
spoke Of interesting case of q very Intelligent
Young man, correspondent Of Southern news
paper, who at first was very indifferent and dis
night had talked earnestly with him, and had
promised to begin PRAYING al home.
Mr.. Weaver, Of Harrisburg, spoke Of the great
results that had been brought about in that city
through tho ministratiops of MIR. Hammond,
nearly one thousand having been added to the
various churches. God had many different ways
of reaching the hearts Of sipners, and we should
not ignore his Instruments, no matter If some of
their modes Of action did not coincide with ours.
A praise meeting followed, in which thanks
were Specially given for the many cases OF con.
version met with on the previous night, both in
the central meeting and also in the branch me et-
ing, st Georgetown.
AT the usual INQUIRY meeting the church pre-
sented a busy ard animated scene, the incidents
which occur at the evening meetings being re-
ers among the anxious and impenitent has now
become one Of love, and young converts especially
vie with each other in the enthusiasm and srdor
with which they enter into the duties assigned to
them. All Of them are now ready to admit that
work such as this fs an admirable preparatory
school, fitting them for combating popular OBJ
liarities Of those with whom they are brough
into contact. Knowing that they are apt to meet
with diertn mt grades Of intellectual belief and un-
sive, snd ind tbeir perceptions quicSsnsd and
th"ir thoughts crystalized BY the opposition de-
veloped.
remarks yesterday morning, an impression seems
TO prevail that he intimsted his belief that
young converts would not hold out. What he
that thote converted could not remain faithful,
but that he was afraid the ministers and others
engaged in carrying on the work would not con-
ing it as thoy were now. We should regret ex.
ceedipgly If the idea was to gain credence that
bis remarks were disparagtng 10 the results oil
the movement.
Evening Meeting.
The Congregational church was filled last night
full hour before the time advertised for the
commencement OF the services, and many were
unable to gain admittance. An auxiliary meet.
ing was held in the large social. room, up stairs
and an overflow meeting in Calvary Baptist
church, at the latter of which interesting ad.
dresses and experiences were giver. Hon. James
Phelps, Representative OF Connecticut occupied a
seat on the platform. After singing and prayer
o
tian wife, he had come to one Of these meetings,
although feeling no particular interest in them.
All hts life he had been believer, theoretically
in the Christian religion, and that wae all. After
deeply Interested In what he heard, and night
after night he came only to feel more deeply that
he needed something TO fill the void In his heart
few days ago his only son was converted, and
he felt It was necessary that he should come to a
decision at once, and he yielded his will to God.
He felt deep solemnify steal over him then
and he felt it still. He could not explain it, He
had DO marvellous story Of conversion to tell, but
SIMPLY that p. new he was sinner and felt the
htSG Mr. o' hsnms S1n s announced !: sis in. the
words, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?'
He recited the circumstance under which these
Saul prior to his Conversion and also the % manner
in which bis conversion was brought about. A
great revival was going on In Damascus, and Saul
stop It. There was nothing new in the REVEALS
we were having now; they bad been the same in
all ages, and why not? We have revivsls in
fashion, and why should we not have reviyals in
religion also? Until he 1.-THE speaker) had trav-
eled over the road that Saul travelled from Jeru-
swollen rivers without bridges under the burn.
ing Eastern sun, he could not conceive the depth
the empity and malignity that filled the heart
OF Saul as he went forth TO break up that revival.
His journey was stopped In o miraculous way,
and after three days Of intense agony and conyic-
tion he surrendered himself to God.
the question which forms the text: First. Why did
Saul, q professor Of religion, persecute Christ :?
There are hundreds Of people who are members
OF churches, and yet who are not converted, and
this is very serious thing, and fearful respon.
sibility rests upon ministers Of the Gospel who
admit people to their churches without examin-
ing them as to their profes Of religion. The
Church is composed Of men who have three RS In
their religious history-ruined by SIM redeemed
BY Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
To professors Jesus comes to night, and he comes
also to the sons OF pious parents and TO husbands
who have Christian wives, and asks the ques-
tion, why persecutsst thou me-" It seemed TO
him that, even II tbere was no hereafter, no God,
no heaven or no hell, men ought to be Ut ristians
to make their families happy, and Lift them far
beyond the cares and sins OF lie 70 the blessed
The second question 10, "Why persecutsst thou
me?" Whatever sins we commit against those
little ores who profess Christ we commit against
him, and whatever love and kindness We show
unto the poor and the needy, unto the sinfdl and
the wretched, we do II unto him who died to re-
The third question is, "why persscutsst thou
me?" Up to this point the SaYiour's words were
denunciatory, but now taey change. This Is one
sousa compisining In Plates hall When sSs Ss was Is
bltndfolded, when the soldiers butfeted him, no
"vhy" escaped his lips; as sheep before her
The cross was laid upon his shoulders, and yet no
siwhy" escaped his lips. Those hands that had
so often been laid In blessing upon the heads Of
no word Of murmur or complaint escaped him
But now he comes TO every unconyerted man,
woman and child, tells them the soul agony he
suffered, the ply sical pain under which he Ia
bored, and asks the question now, "Why perse-
cIItest thou me?"
The usual Inquiry meeting followed, and sew.
enteen signed the covenant.
Very crowded meetings are held daily and
nightly in Georgetown, and the indications are
that much good will result there.
This morning the Bible-feading meeting will
be held in the Rev. DR.. Supderlands church on
Four:and. a-half street, at 1l:3o o'clock, and the
Hammond will preach, in the Congregational
church, at Z O'Clock.