Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-28
MIR. WILSON'S MEETING.
A LIVELY DISCUSSION ABOUT
DRESS.
A Great Throng at the First N. E.
Church Last Night.

l0e AFTERNOON 1IlectillS dU IHt L lISO NJ
E. church yesterd ay afternoon, was taken
up by Mr.. Wilson answering questions.
The questions were written on slips of
paper and handed in by the congregation.
Entirely too many questions were given to
attempt giving them here. 1t was, how
ever, plainly to be seen that the discus
sion which was raised had tendency
that was anything but good for the cause
of religion This was particularly
the case when a question was
asked whether church member
could consistently wear gold ornaments
Mr.. Wilson claimed that a good church
member could not raise this question with
out injury TO the cause of Christ; that peo-
pie ought to dress decently, but that it was
not essential for people to dress poorly in
order to serve God. He thought it rather
become d christian to wear good, clean
clothes if they were able to do so. He said
1t was best that each one should settle that
matter in his own mind, but not
lose sight of modesty. One broth
er read First Timothy, ninth verse,
and claimed that the passage was against
Mr.. Wilson. The evangelist claimed the
injunction was simply to array yourself in
righteousness. A lady was in the congre-
cation and said: Now brother you don't
think it is right TO wear 500 breast pin
and poor people suffering for something to
eat, do yous'
do your" Mr. Wilson asked.
The lady replied, mo"
lie then asked her why she did not buy a
10 cent feather to wear in her hat instead
of that fine one. This called forth storm
of applause. Rev. w. f. Harmon
took strong grounds in favor of plain
dressing and no iewelry. But the discus
sion brought out the fact that Brother
Harmon carried gold watch; to the great
amusement of the audience
When the reporter arrived at the church
at o'clock last night he found throng at
the door After some effort he secured a
place in the gallery, where he sandwiched
himself between grain buyer and a col
ored brother, and considered himself lucky
in securing a seat. Every part of the
large church was filled to suffocation
The center of the church was occupied
mostly by ladies and elderly gentlemen.
The picture presented consisted largely of
feathers and bald heads bordered all round
with row OF men standing around the
wall OF the room. The west room and the
space under the gallery was damned with
dense throng, mostly men. When Mr.
Wilson rose to speak there was rustic
and coughing, which made the evange-
lists words perfectly inaudiable from
where the reporter sat. In a very few
minutes the audience became perfectly
quite. Mr.. Wilson had taken for his sub
'aIs
the apostle had been told by the Lord that
he must yet present the gospel to the kings
and rulers of earth. 1t was, therefore, not
unreasonable to suppose that Paul
was anxious to meet Felix and present to
him the story of the cross. Paul presented
the gospel so powerfully that Felix
trembled. He told Paul to 90 away this
time and at a more convenient time he
would call for him. How many are there
in this audience tonight who are telling
the spirit to go away this time and at a
more convenient season you will call for
him? Felix was convinced but he never
called again, and Paul never returned. A
minister once said to me that he attended
a revival meeting and just as they wera
about to pronounce the benediction a coal
miner came and bowed at the altar The
minister went to him and said, How is it
with you, my brother The poor miner
looked. up, the tears had ran down over
his cheeks, making marks through
coal dust, and said, want
to make it right with my God. The
preacher told him to come back tomorrow
night. The miner said do not want to
wait.I must have the blessing tonight. The
preacher prayed with him and ne got the
blessing. That miner went home and the
next morning he told his wife that God had
blessed him. And when he went to his
work he kissed his wife and children. He
had not been in the habit of doing that of
late Qaughter) That day he was happy,
but there was rumbling sound in the
mine. His light went out. When that
miner was taken out from under the fallen
rubbish he opened his eyes and said, Oh.
am glad did not put it off until to-
morrow. He was dead. Oh, how many of
you will put it off until tomorrow and put
it off forever.
But many of You will say the preacher
is trying to excite us, and you laugh. You
say the preacher the old fool, wants to
scare us Ilaughterl and you laugh. Now
reason a little. Why do you suppose these
brethren come here day after day to pray
for you? Why does the preacher leave his
family to come here day after day TO pray
for you? And this choir thirty or fifty OF
them, come here night after night to sing
for you? 1t is because they want you TO
have this great salvation. They want to
save your soul. But you laugh. When a
land agent comes to you and tells YOU that
he has great bargain for you, what do
you do then? Do you laugh? No: you
consider the matter and go out and
look at the lots and YOU say this
is a good investment. Gon do not laugh
then. Oh, here is an investment greater
than any other. 1t is not for today, but
lasts forever. | beseech you do not say 20
away now and Twill call for you at more
season. This may be your last
Today is the day OF saliva
ton"
The evangelist then called for all who
had made up their minds to seek salvation
now and not put of the day to rise TO their
feet. About hundred arose, a large
number of which went forward and knelt