The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-17

The Rev1va1.
It has been q long time since
MaSyville has enjoyed such a wave
Of spiritual blessing as has been
witnessed in connection with the
series Of meetings just concluded
10 the Friends Church. Incalcula-
bic rejoicing for time and eternity
hinges upon the fact that over 80 Of
our people, younger and older, have
witnessed to conversion or the re-
newM of their faith during this
meeting.
Had each one Of these who shall
hold out faithful, received, instead
OF this blessing, or In exchange for
their present hope in Christ, ONE
MILLION DOLLARS, all Christians
the world over know that it would
have been q miserable exchange.
What an awful thing would It have
been had the faithful workers been
able and willing to urge upon the
acceptance of al, either such a sum
OF money or salvation, and some
had sold their opportunity for the
lucre!
This wonderful work has. been
accomplished, by the grace of God,
In seventeen days; the meeting
being under the leadership of Ell.
wood g. Siler, of Bloomingdale, Ind,
He was accompanied by his wife
and Mrs. 8. NJ. Woodland. 1t IL well
known that the Friends greatly en-.
courage and open the way for their
women to engage in gospel work.
In this meeting, indeed, the ladies
did much the larger part of bring
ing out seekers and labOring with
them at the altar. The pastors of
all our churches, who were In town,
were fraternally engaged with Bro.
Siler, and Bro. Joseph Potts, the
pastor of the Friends Church, in
the good work, and sectarianism
was unknown.
There has been a notable absence
Of preaching; indeed, only On the
Sabbath mornings could Il have
been said there were sermons
preached. The frequent short "tes-
tlmonies" Of the ChristiAnA young
and old, were . powerful influence
for good. On one occasion these
numbered 1O5.
On last Sabbath Bro. Siler preach
ed an excellent practical discourse
~ Christian living; In the after
noon was a meeting to recommend
organization of the young people
for Christian work; and at night a
praise service, In which III voices
were heard in personal testimony,
and 1873 witnessed by rising to hav-
ing received some especial blessing
from the services. The labOrs Of
the evangelist here closed with
Mondays meeting, on the "Sancti.
fication by faith"
1t was a matter Of great satisfac-
ton to the Friends, In which we re-
joice with them, that their own
young people were the first to come
forward; and that but two or three
of those connected with them re-
main uncOnverted. Almost a
clean sweep was made, also, of the
pupils in their excellent school.
Beside the "birth-right members"
brought to Christ, there will be a
few additions to their church.
1t is very pleasant TO see the en-.
tire harmony which reigns among
them. John F. Stanton, a minister
from Indianapolis, arrived in time
to take part in some ofthe meetings.
a Birds Wing View.
would like to make some fur
ther remarks concerning what a
Maryville lady wrote a week or so
back, about the cruelty to animals,
which brought forth q hearty re.
Spouse from a lady at Gallipoiis, o.,
who formerly lived at this place.
I attended the revival meeting at
the Friends Church last Saturday
night, when there was a large
crowd in the church. It's happen
ed that there were a dozen ladies in
front of me, who had their hats or
namented with the wings and tails
of birds. As q Christian nation, /
think it our duty not to slaughter
the birds unthoughtfully, neither
for their meat, or feathers to Orna.
ment our bodies.
would like to see an article In
the TIMES from one of these ladies
in behalf of the birds.
A noted minister of the gospel In
New York said this to the ladies In
his congregation recently: snow
| it has become a fashion to adOrr
bonnets and dresses with the feath
ers Of birds; and as color Is in de
! mand, the most beautiful of then
all are selected for that purpose
And to such an extent is it carried
that there IL really great danger
that many kinds Of birds will b
exterminated in many portions o
our country. They keep nObod!
warm, they are not necessary, the!
serve no end except that of taste
and only taste in fashionable cir
cles. I admit the charm that Their
is connected with them, whethe
upon the fan, or upon the bonnet, o
upon the breast, or upon the skirt
There can be no question of that
nevertheless 1t is inhuman. Tn
slaughter of birds that is going OF
is such a. ought to arrest the at
ton of every Christian woman
For they are bOugh
by the hundreds and thousands ant
hundreds of thousands in the mar
ket, year by year, and it will in
crease just so long as the fashions Q
our women demand them"
RODERICK ROLKER.