Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
THE BOZ PREACHER.
Extraordinary Scenes of Convention
Witnessed Under the Ministra.
tiOns of a Young Man.
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lPhiladAlphia Record.l

"HB Is DAMNED FOREVER"
tPhiladelphis Record.l
religious whirlwind has struck Wharton
street M. church, below Fourth. The Visible
cause OF this spiritual cOmmotion is centered in
ayouthful-looking person whom they call the
boy preacher" He is somewhat petite in fig
ure, with beardleSS face, keen, dark eye. set
In full, round head, on which his dark brown
mar Is closely cropped, and over which the
speaker nervouSly runs his fingers as he warns
up 10 MS work. His name is Rev. Thomas Har-
Tlson, but he Is more Familiarity known as the
boy preacher" though, in fact, the hoy" is
about twenty-fOur years Of age. His title was
given him about nine years ago when he left the
Wilbraham Academy, Massachusetts, where he
was then studying TO enter upon his calling TO
the ministry. Ills earneStneSS OF delivery Is that
OF man who feels that the salvation OF his au-
dience, now and hereafter, depends upon the
faithful delivery of his message of pardon and
peace. The converts under his miniStratiOn
number, ii is said over II, 900 souls. For two weeks
he has been laboring at Wharton-street church,
and previous TO the meeting OF sunday night the
converts for that time at this church numb red
ninety-six, which was Increased on Sunday night
TO 10.
vice on Sunday night was seven O'Clock, but be
fore half-paSt six O'Clock the spacious church
with its broad aisleS and galleries and vestibules
was packed 10 suuocatlon- Even the altar and
the space around IT. the stairs leading to the
pulpit and the pulpit itself were encroached
upon by the eager spectators.
he pastor OF the church, the Rev. The )dOre
Stevens, offered prayer which usually would
have Immediately preceded the sermon; bit no
lips than the ''boy preacher thanked God 70
the fragrance OF the day which would follow
them through life and perchance through
eternity.
Concluding his prayer the congregation rose
from their knees, and, for moment, a silence
which Was almost oppressive pervaded the vast
audience. If you ever bent your ear In earnest
ness to listen To the TRUTH listen to me tonight,
for have message for YOU Thus did the hoy
preacher begin his appeal. .'The Bible tells us
there is door which God Openeth and no
man shuts, and shuts and no man OPEN
eth; and when He shuts the door In the
face OF that young man"-and here he leaned
over the desk, to point out some one in the
gallery, adding: ''he is damned forever!'
Then stepping TO the front of the pulpit, he ex-
citedly cried at the top OF his voice. 'Stop! stop!
Stop." and with each word Signalled to the rash
youth with his right hand, while the great
knotted veins stood out on his forehead like whip
cords, The effect was magnetic. will you
come? VIII you come tonight? Will you come
how?' were the rapid inquiries as the preacher
pulled the sleeves OF his coat TO the elbows and
paced the narrow boundaries Of the crowded
pulpit. Il don't know anything about COILS
workings. only know that IL you ask Him to
excuse you he viii do it," continued the revival
list, and then he INTERCEPTED story concerning
young man. clerk in a counting house, VINO,
While attending service the night before, wanted
to profess ConN ersion but deferred until another
tine The young man was taken suddenly ill
With pain in the heart while at his desk and
went home and sent for his physician. Doctor,
you are a Christian man; know you will tell
me the TRUTH said the young man; and the ply
stefan answered Yes" doctor, tell me, can
get well?' and as he looked earnestly into the
doctors face the latter replied. You have not
thirty minutes to live" In tragic manner the
preacher detailed the kind words that were
spoken, the Offers to send for the mother and
relatives and friends, all OF which the young man
refused; but, clasping the doctors hand, he
gaZed with llournful look into the physicians
face and exclaimed piteously: Il have missed
being saved have missed being saved" They
laid him away under the weeping willow" added
the pre- Cher, wi, h pathoS land hight youcan
hear the autumn winds as they rust the swing
ing boughs, ailiug, i missed it; missed being
saved II en- giving out the hymn, .'To Jesus
will 60" The preacher began crying: "ComeI
come! come" In twinkl1ng, the chairs in
and around the altar were passed over the heads
OF the crowd into an ante-room, and space
cleared for the mourners Gray-haired men and
women, youths Yet in their teens, spruce young
men and blooming young misses at once pushed
their way through the crowded house, coming
from the rear and down from the galleries. and
knelt at the altar while their cries and walls and
II oanS nlled the place as II 1t had been suddenly
converted into Il place OF mourning. The altar
was hlled, and then orders were given to clear
the front pews. and soon these We're also taken
up by the mourners who knelt for the prayers of
Christian men ana Women and to seek that peace
which they were told they could obtain through
faith. An aged brother led off in prayer, and
while he was imploring pardon the hoy prea III
er' g1ded from one penitent to another to give
him counsel and encouragement Presently one
poor sinner smiling through her tears said she
had obtained the pearl OF great price, and then
the congregation joined in singing the Doxology,
and followed ii up with the words OF the hymn:
We are getting nearer and nearer,
Soldiers of the Cross
Rise, shine, give God the glory,
Ye soldiers of the Cross.
Here an aged sister who had been labOrino
with seeker jumped up and down. clapping her
hands in an ecStacy OF delight over the CONVEX
sion OF young friend she had long made SUBJ
Ject OF prayer, and exclaimed: '.Gl0ry! glOryI"
Another lady. sister of the new convert,
came and knelt by her side and the two en-
braced and swung to and fro in delirium of
bliss. The crowds standing in the gallery craned
their nackS TO get better view of the scene, and
those around the altar shouted themselves hoarSe
as one after another was "born into the King
dom.
A young man who had been kneeling by the
Silt az, lady all the evening" OccaS Onaly
leaned over andS h Sptr ID a word in her ear, and
then, claSping his hands as II in prayer, he sent
up his silent petitions for the conversion OF the
one who so eagerly engroSsed his attention. At
last the young man arose, his face glowing with
a smile. but he did not Speak-he could not; his
JOY was to- great. His mother had found peace
In belle int,.
I'm sav, d. I'm saved!" exclaimed young
man as he was locked In the arms OF his mother
saying he had found his mothers God.
Thus one after another the happy converts
arose from the altar until over twenty had pro-
feSSed conversion.
So great is the throng, that hereafter tickets Of
admission will be issued on Sunday nights Mr..
HarT1SOn's mother Will join him here this week,
and hereafter labor with him. The meetings
are to be continued every evening this week.
fEOw Lawyer Tells 1t.
TTNz&. H.