Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-17
OUR LOCAL AFFAIRS.
THE RELIGT0Us RErIvALS.
Record or the services orsuaday aud OF Last
Niaht.

|
The meeting on Sunday night was
conducted by Rev. Mr.. Riddick, Of
Clay-Street church. That of last night
was conducted by Rev. Mr.. Wright, Of
l.aurel-Street church.
The numbers attending these meet
incs. the number asking for the prayers
Of the church at each service, and many
conversions occurring almost every
night. attest the continuance of wide
spread and deep religious awakening.
The pastors, choirs, and congrega-
tions Of Centenary, Clay-Street, Broad
Street, and Laurel-Street churches are
working together. The singing by the
four choirs combined is an interesting
an impressive part Of the services. Ser
vices are held from 1880 TO 9:30 each
night.
DIR. HOGE AT oLD-MARKET HALL.
In spite of the wTetched state Of the
streets, especially in the lower part Of
the city. the sidewalks being covered
with snow and slush, there was scarce
ly any diminution in the size of the
congregation at 0ld-Market Hall Sun
day night. An interesting feature Of
the audience was the large proportion Of
those who have not been in the habit of
attending religious worship. This was
largely the result of the efforts of an
excellent Committee of Visitation re-
Gently organized by DR.. IIoge, who
were busy last week in seeking out
those who hitherto had no church rcla-
tions Of any kind, but who were found
willing enough to come to the meetings
held at the hall.
DIR. Hoge took for his subject the
Gospel call, founded on Proverbs, viii,
4" [ OntO you, . men. | call, and my
voice is to the sons Of men. and on
the text. THE Master is Come and
Calleth for Thee" He said he would
not give the reference Of the second text
further than to say 1t was in the New
| Testament, as he wanted the children
of whom he saw large number pres
ent-to find It during the week and
write it down and hand it to him next
Sunday night.
After explaining by apt and very IN
tercsting illustrations what a "call -
was. he said the Gospel call had two
phases. The one expressed in his first
text was general and showed the miyer-
salty Of the call. by "men = was
meant men. women, and childrcn-the
whole human family. None were cX-
cludcd. This call was enforced through
ont the Bible by being more
particularly addressed to classes,
As to the young. for instance. " Re
member now thy Creator in the
days Of thy youth" They that
seek me early shall find me-" The
call came to the busy; to men of
leisure; to the rich; to the poor; to
the learned to the ignorant. WHO
hath ears TO hear let him hear
His other text showed a special call.
1t comes to each and every individual.
The Master calleth for thee. This part
of his sermon was richly interspcrSed
with illustrations, showing the various
and frequently unexpected ways in
which the call comes to the individual
sinner. Some sermon preached. some
stray word from the hpS of the preacher,
the reading of some good book. a kind
word from some Christian friend, the
last injunction of dying parent, some
good example. some providence of
God-in these and many other WAYS
Christ calls men unto Him. Most men
at some period of their life must have
heard the g.ntl, knocking at the door
of their heart by the Master for admlS-
sion.
The sermon abounded in feeling and
effective passages. and commanded the
most marked attention. strong men
weeping like little children.
After speaking for some little time
the Doctor said he would stop for few
moments and ash Captain Frank Gun
ulngham to sing some appropriate hymn.
Cunningham then sang in his own sweet.
pathetic voice, the touching little hymn.
Calling Now for Thee adding great
" to the effect already produced by the
sermon.
DR.. lloge then resumed. gracefully
alluding to the hymn as one of the
many voices by which the call comes
the call of music.
The choir. though not 50 large a.
usual. was present in sufficient force to
do honor to their zeal, when the
weather and the long distance many Of
them have To come is considered.
That the enterprise Is taking practical |
and permanent shape appears from the
announcement made last Sunday night !
by DR.. lloge that all arrangements had |
been made for the establishment of a
Sunday school, Teachers had been OBJ
tanned, and more were needed TO accom-
modatc all the scholars who had cN-
pressed to the committee their desire to |
attend \ number of the good people |
living in the vicinity offered themselves |
for the work, and the school will begin |
next sunday evening at half-pa>t 3
o'clock.
REV. MIR. NEEDHAM'S MEETINGS.
Mr.. Necdham had day full of work |
on Sunday, and the satisfaction of see
ing an evcr-increasing interest in his |
meetings.
At IL O'Clock he preached to a fine
congregation at the Second Baptist
church, despite the weather, and the
meeting was one Of deep interest.
At p. NJ. he conducted mass
meeting for boys at the Grace-Street |
Baptist church, at which there were
about 800 boys present and great deal
of interest manifested by them.
At I O'Clock he held a meeting for
men only at the Pine-Street Baptist
church. The spacious room was packed |
with deeply-intereSted congregation of |
men. to whom MIR. Ncedham preached /
very effective sermon on the penitent
thief. At the close Of the sermon thirty
five or forty came forward 10 ask for |,
special prayer, and number profeSsed
faith in Christ.
At 7:30 he preached to packed
house at the Grace-Strcet Baptist