The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-04-04

WullO We I'LL dACnAloCb
willing to risk his reputation. He put
up for us the first tabernacle In amphi-
theatrical style. We liked 1t, All who
came liked it. This building followed
in the same style. We believe 1t Is ap-
prOpriate and adapted. never knew g
man that did not like 1t. An angular
church will have an angular theology.
The church of Jesus Christ ought to be
a great family circle, the pulpit only
the fireplace, around which they are
gathered in sweet and domestic COM
muniOn. But when our first tabernacle
went up, Oil the caricature and the
seoffing. They said: "It's hippOdrOmel /
It's q holy circusl It's Talmage's theat-
erp But the Lord came down with
power on that old building, and made it
the gate Of heaven to a great many, and
this building followed. That we were
right in persisting in the style of archi-
lecture is proved by the fact that there
are now some fifty or sixty churches in
the United States in the same general
style. Indeed, our first tabernacle has
revOlutiOnized church architecture in
this country. A live church must have
ed building. "HOw amiable are Thy
tabernacles, 0 Lord of Hosts. l would
rather be a dOOr-keeper in the house of
my God than to dwell In the tents of
wickedness." L remark again. the
characteristic of a live church must be
that it is a soul-saYing church. 1t must
be the old Gospel of Christ. "0h," say
some people, 1.-THE Gospel of Christ
allows but small swing for mans
faculties" and some men have left the
ministry with that idea. One such said
ministry because l don't want to hide
my talents any longer" "Well," re-
piled Rowland Hill, Il think the more
you hide your talents the better" Why,
there is no field on earth 50 grand as
that which is open before the Gospel
ministry. Have you powers Of analysis,
exhaust them here. Have you uncOn-
querable logic, let it grapple with PauPs
epistle to the Romans. Have you strong
Imagination, let it discourse on the
psalms of David or Johns apOcalyptic
version. Have you a great power of
pathOs, exhaust 1t in telling the story of
a SaviOr's love. Have you bold style
of thinking, then follow EzekiePs wheel
full of eyes, and hear through his chap
ters the rush Of the wings of the sera-
phim. All ye who want grand field in
which to work for God, come into the
Gospel ministry. At any rate, come in
to Christian circles and somewhat and
somehow declare the grace of God. Par
don for all sin. Comfort for all trouble.
Eternal life for all the dead. o my soul,
preach it fOreverl 1t has been my am
bitiOn, and believe it has been yours,
my dear people, in these years Of my
ministry, to have this a sOul-saVing
church, and we never yet threw out the
gospel net but we drew in great multi
tude. They have come hundred at a
time, and two hundred at time, and
three hundred al time, and l expect
the day will appear when, in some ser
vice, there will be three thousand souls
accepting the offer of eternal life. l
wish l could tell you some instances that
have come under my observation, prov
ing the fact that God has blessed
the prayers of these dear people
in behalf of souls immortal. l could
tell you of one night when L stood at
the end Of the platform and gentle
man passed me, his cheek brOnZed with
the sea, and as he went into the inquiry
room, he said to me: 81 am an Eng
lishman." | said: 81 am very glad to
see you; walk in" That night he gave
his heart to the Lord. 1t was clear case
of quick but thorough conversion. Pass
ing out at the close of the inquiry meet
ing said: How long have you been
in this country" He said: Il arrived
by steamer this morning at eleven
be in the cityP" He said: II leave to-
morrow for Canada, and thence go to
Halifax, and thence to Europe, and I'll
never be here again." said: 81 think
you must have come to this country to
have your soul saved" He said: 'That
certainly was the reason" In that other
room one nigh, at the close of the service,
there sat, among other persons, three
persons looking 30 cheerful that l said
to myself, "These are not anxious in
quirers." 1 said to the man, Are you a
Christianp" He said, 81 am" 1 said,
"When did you become q Christianp"
He said, Tonight" His wife sat next
him. said to her, "Are you Christian p
She said, 81 am" said, when did you
become a Christian?" She said ITO
night" remarked, els this young lady
your daughterP" They said, "Yes." /
said to her. "Are you ChristianP" She
said, Eyes" / said, "When did you be-
come a. Christian ?" She said, Tonight" !"
said to them, "FrOm whence came
yOuP" They said, eve are from Charles
ton, South Carolina" | said, when
did you Gomez" They said, 1--WE came
to remain?" 1--WE go tomorrow. We
have never been here before and shall
never be here again." have heard from
them since. They are members Of the
Church OF Jesus Christ, in good and
regular standing, eminent for eOnsis-
tency and piety. And so God has made
1t a soul-saVing church. ButI could tell
you Of tragic scene. When once at the
service during this last year found a
man in one Of these front seats wrought
upon most nightly. Il said to him
what is the matter2 ?" He replied, 81
am captive of strong drink. / came
from Illinois. 1 thought perhaps you
could do me some good. 1 find you cant
do me any good. 1 find there Is no hope
for me-" / said, Come into this side
room and we will talk together" "0h
no." he said; there's no need Of my go
ing in; l am lost man. have beau
tiful wife; l have got four beautiful
children; had fine profession; have
had a thorough education; 1 had every
opportunity a man ever had, but am 8
captive Of strong drink; God only knows
what sufferp / said, BE encouraged
come in here and Wen talk together
about it." "NO," he said; Il can't come
you can't do me any good; was on thu
Hudson River Railroad yesterday, anC
coming down resolved never again II
to touch drop of strong drink. Whili
l sat there man came Ina low crea
ture-and sat by me; He had a whisky
| flask, and he said to me: "Will you TAX
/ 81 drinkPo | said enc" hut oh how