The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-24
PARKERSBURG.
Hammond and His Ways-The Child
ren's Northumberland ana In'
spring Music.
PARKERsBURG, December %.

PARKERsBURG, December 22.
Last night a most novel scene ives pre-
sented in front of Hills Hotel on Court
square. The newly fitted up balustrsde
extending along the two sides OF the
hotel fronting Court street and square,
was crowded with singers, from whose
trained voices and instruments rich
strains OF sacred music swelled up and
rang out most beautifully on the mild,
balmy air, and waited away in harmonies
SO full and clear that all on the streets
could distinctly hear. A large crowd
gathered as if by magic, and were with
silent wonderment drinking In the music
when suddenly, mounted on a spirited
horse came prsncing right into the
crowd, General Hammond (tor that Is
what he is now-commaEding the Chris
tian forces in Parkersburg). Hating un-
der the corner gas lamp, and pleasantly
bowipg, with hat IN hand, he proceeded
briefly to address this improvised assem-
bage, made up from every class IN the
city, including large sprinkiing OF
saloonis.s aud their hangers-oD. de
said: My friends, we have come here TO
sing to you, and l came to talk to you
few minutes, because we love your souls
and want you all to be saved. There
was once Universalist preached from
the text: ale that belIeveth and Is
baptized shall be saved and he that
beileyeth not" Therefore, argued the
Uniyersalist, "a IL shall be saved, whether
they believe or not" The speaker then
went on to assure his hearers that the
Universslist was trihing with the eternal
truth OF the Bible, and begged that they
might now take INTO their hearts the
awful truth of the full text: "He that
believetL and Is bapnz3d shall be saved,
and be that believeth not shall be damned
After short speech Of sharp, pointed,
piercing words OF exhortstlon and warn
ing that rang out sharp and clear
throughout the square, he earnestly IN
vited all up to the mass meeting AZ the
Baptist Church-"Our new Tabernacle
I'D street" as he called it-and galloped
away as he had come, leaving the choir
singing a closing hymn, after which the
crowd dissolved, some to business, some
TO get drink, but maay to the meeting
NJ the church, which at an early hour
WAS crowded as usual, and which at hall
past ten o'clock wss yet pretty well hlied,
Mr.. Hammond's manner OF conducting
a meeting Is certain y his own exclusively
and 1t is plain that some of the ministers
and many of the working Christians,
would by no means adopt it as their plan,
but, say they, if God owns and blesses
this plan it is not for us TO say nayi we
will work as we may that sin
ners may be saved. Though
there are evidently some good Christians
who feel that they cannot work IN hearty
accord with the meetings rs conducted
They are chafed and CALLED by the new
harness thrown upon them, and while
they are of too docle spirit 10 kick In
the traces, yet they will not pull up the
desired hill at the crack of the leaders
whip.
The grand rally of children this after
noon was decided success, many COM
ing from Belpre, o., and other places
roundabout. The body of the large
church was well filled with little folks al
most exclusively, and during the three
hours of moral drill, which Mr.. Ham.
mond subjected them to, or rather de-
lighted them with, there was
no abatement of interest, and
it must have been very
encouraging to the friends OF the work t.
see the large number OF happy faces on
the platform and hear so many child
voices, coming evidently from happy
hearts.
For some days past it has been the
plan for the workers among the children
during the after or inquiry part OF the
meeting to send all that gave evidence OF
coversion to the platform, and this alter
noon the room there was pretty well
filed up. l have not been able to get
An approximation of the number OF con-
versions.
A platform has been erected IN front
OF the Court House for an outdoor meet
ing on Sunday.
Judge 0key johnson personally
assisted and superintendent this prepsra-
ton, which occasioned him many joculsr
sslutstiOns, which we're received pleas
antly with invitations to come out TO The
meeting.
OF one thing am sure at least, the
meetings will result in vast improve
nent IN the singing in our different
churches. Singing constitutes very
large part OF Mr.. Hammond's services,
and with drilling and additional singers
and instruments the music is getting to
be grand and inspiring. Altogether l
see nothing discoursging and still con-
tinue TO HOPE.