Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-09
THE REVIVAL MEETINGS.
'.Let Us Reason Together''-The Afternoon
Meeting.


Mr.. Wilson selected a number of scrip
tural passages which were read in the af-
ternoon meeting, bearing on the subject of
holiness. Mr.. Wilson would designate the
questions and some one in the audience
would read them when explanations were
given. Numerous questions We're asked
by individuals in the audience, which &C.
cupied much time and caused some con-
siderable controversy.
The EAGLE has, on several occasions, ex-
pressed belief that these discussions were
and actual hinderance to the cause. They
are instances in which the letter is allow
ed to suppress the spirit. The religious
thermometer at the night meetings indi-
Gates ID high temperature of fervor, but
runs down in some of the afternoon meet
ings to the extent that warns of the near
approach of cold wave. There can be no
doubt that these meetings would result in
good if people would ask such questions as
are obstacles in their way to salvation.
There is room for suspecting that great
many people load themselves up with
questions to be fired at Mr.. Wilson
during these meetings merely to crafty d
| disposition for controversy, and TO show
that their feelings are not in harmony
with the work. OF course it would be a
different matter TO tell what motives
would prompt any one to interfere with a
revival Of religion. Any one not in SYM
pathy with the cause should not object to
other people getting enjoyment in this
way. We therefore conclude that no one
really intends injury, but this love of con-
troversy is too often the only object sought
to be gratified.
There was one question sprung in the
afternoon meeting yesterday and much
time occupied by a gentleman in continued
questioning that involved intricate the
illogical problems upon which good sized
book might be written and still leave some
people in doubt. The question was in re-
gard to confession, and the extent to which
| penitent is required to go in correcting
injuries done to his fellow men before he
can obtain absolution.
A great throng attended the meeting
last night. At Z O'Clock every seat in the
great church seemed to be occupied, but
the stream kept coming and chairs were
brought from the class rooms and placed
an the aisles and in the open space around
the altar. The lecture room was opened
and the sliding doors raised and in very
short time it too was filled, and men
pushed their way through the throng
with chairs elevated above their heads and
! deposited them in every vacant space in
lecture room and in the space under the
gallery. People came in streams long
after the house seemed to be
filed, and ladies filed down the
narrow aisles and around the altar when
there seemed to be no possible chance of
their getting seats. But the people kept
pushing and moving and place always
was secured. When the time for preach
ing arrived the whole house seemed a solid
mas of humanity, and row of little boy S
heads looked out over the railing of the
gallery of the lecture room room and back
of them were seated another crowd No
one seemed willing to go away and the
people seemed to get inside of the house
last night.
When the great evangelist arose to ad-
dress the immense assemblage, and leaned
his arm on the pulpit there was nothing in
his appearance to indicate that the last
weeks of toll had weakened his powers
Mr.. Wilson's power to hold an audience
is something remarkable. The sermon
last evening was from the words Come
now, let us reason together" and in many
respects was one of the most impressive
OF any preached by Mr.. Wilson during
these meetings. The strictest attention
was given to the sermon. Every one
seemed to have come to church to hear Mr.
Wilson preach. At times there was a
shout of amens. and then burst of laugh
ter followed by complete silence.
There is an earnestness in Mr.. Wilson's
manner that always insures him the
strictest attention There is always one
noticeable effect at the close of each ser
mon; somebody is converted.