Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-15
Al kvening - the second Rspsast
Church,

Sv0sD - taO 0uu n0pUbM
| Church.
, For the RsPuRLIcAH.
! In company with friend we attend
cd Thursday evening the meeting ut tn
Second Baptist church. This meetinI
was one of . series OF revival charac
tor which is being held by the church
and which has beon In progress for twt
or three weeks past. During the pas
week this service has been mainly
conducted by the Rev. H. M. Wharton,
IN evangelist Of Baltimore
The large lecture room Of the church
was crowded TO its utmost capacity
BY congregation which not onlj
embraced the membership Of th'
church but many prominent member
OF other churches and we'll known citi
zens.
The meeting WAS very remarkable In
Its character. A deep, quiet spirit Of
earDestness pervaded, and all present
seemed impressed with the power ol
the meeting.
Previous TO the sermon Q half houI
was spent in devotional exercises, under
the direction Of the Rev. DR.. Cook, pas.
tor, the singing being led:by W. G. Lob.
dell, Esq. At eight O'Clock, Mr.. Whar.
ton preached from the text Jeremiah,
18th chap. and 9Th verso. !" II thou hast
run with the foOtmen, and they have
wearied thee, then how canst thou con.
tend with horses"
We will not attempt . synopsis OF
the sermon. Suffice It TO say, that sci.
dom has 1t been our privilege to listen
to such an eloquent appeal from the
pulpit.
Mr.. Wharton carries into his work
the courage and spirit OF his convio-
tions. With quiet an earnest man
ner, utterly devoid Of an approach to
the sensational, he i'm presses his hear
ers with his honesty Of purpose. With
the simplicity Of Moody, and with =
tenderness OF manper which, even when
enforcing tho most terrible truths Of
the judgments Of God, does net repel,
and with pathos and . power of rheto.
ric, he possesses the ability to move
the hearts Of his hearers, to persuade,
and convince which Is rarely eQualed.
Many telling points are made by him
through the agency Of anecdote and
incident illustrations, most Of which
are drawn from his own experiences.
A few minutes after nine O'Clock
the congregation was formally dis
missed, o most cordial invitation how.
ever being extended to all who could
do 30 10 remain TO an after meet
ing, and but few retired. We wish We
could convey some proper conception
OF the power Of this meeting. 1t was
most remarkable in its character. In
response TO AN appeal by Mr.. Wharton,
numbers Of men and women rose for
prayer. The meeting then took an in
formal character, led by the pastor
the Rev. Mr.. Wharton, Rev. Mr.. Heath,
and the Rev. John T. Craig. Many OF
the members Of the church moved
around among the congregation talking
with and encouraging those who had
expressed, by rising, their desire for sal.
walton, and dropping. here and there
word Of exhOrtation TO others, who by
their presence showed that they were
not uhinterested, yet who had not the
courage to act decisively.
While some were 30 engaged, hymns
and prayers followed each other in an
entirely impromptu manner.
The former were mostly the grand old
time spiritual songs, which brought to
the minds and hearts of many chris
tian present the days when "tirst they
knew the Lord, and which carried JOY
and gladness, and All up-life to every
believer present, and conviction to tho
heart of many an unrepentant one.
At frequent intervals, announcements
were made Of the confession Of Christ
on the part of some inquirer, and at such
announcements in tho spirit of praise
and thankfulness, the grand old do1-
olOgy Praise God from whom all
blessings flow," would swell up from
the congregation, whose hearts could
thus give vent " the feelings which
p OssesSed them.
A marked feature Of the hour WAS an
exhortation, bya lay member
Of the church, one of our most promi- |
nent and respected citizens, ono whose
life, public and private, and uuosten-
tatious piety 10 well backed Up his testi
mouy.
In burning words Of eloquence and
power, he besought those present to
accept pr offered mercy in this mercy's
hour
Never has 1t been our privilege to lis.
ten to more timely, effective appeal
oven from the pulpit.
We were informed that Mr.. Wharton
will continue with the church, preach
ing every night next week and morn
ng and evening next Sunday. The Or
finance of baptism will be administered
70 q largo number Of converts Sunday
Mr.. Wharton will also nd.
lress . gospel temperance meeting in
he church on Sunday afternoon at g.
,'clock. OBSERVER.