Wichita eagle., 1888-02-07
MR.. WILSON'S ARMY.
THE EVANGELIST GIVES THE OR.
DER TO CLOSE UP THE LINE.
An Order to Clear the Field for Action
4 Woman Holds the Fort

| The great revival meeting at the NJ. Z.
church continues to attract large crowds
of people. The large house was crowded
Sunday morning and night, and hundreds
went away unable to gain admittance.
The afternoon meeting yesterday was a
most remarkable one in many respects.
| When the hour arrived for Mr.. Wilson to
commence his lecture he stepped to the
front of the platform, and stood for
several minutes looking over the audience
as if hesitating what to do He finally
told the people that he had determined to
close these meetings next Friday evening
| unless the members of the First NJ h.
church were ready to pledge him their
support. He gave them to understand
that he did not consider the church
| had given him that encouragement
| to which he was entitled. This
| unexpected statement struck the audience
| like clap of thunder from clear sky
| and brought many of the members to their
| feet to offer explanations and words Of en-
couragement for Mr., Wilson. Most of the
explanations however, resulted in con-
fession on the part of the speakers that
| they had fallen short in their support OF
Mr.. Wilson.
Professor Abbot said his heart was in
the cause, and that he was ready as
Christian to do his part. He told of his
early conversion. and urged all Christians
to come out to the work. He thought
there was great harvest here ready to be
gathered in. Rev. Guthrie thought the
trouble was that the church here lacked
organization. Rev. Akin said the meet
ings had been blessing to him. and he
was glad Messrs. Wilson and Kennedy had
come: that he felt better prepared to do
his work now than ever before, and did
not want to see the meetings discontinued.
Rev. Wood thought Mr.. Wilson had
the support to which he was entitled.
Brother Little, of Clearwater, said Brother
Wilson, should not lose faith. He thought
Mr.. Wilson ought to remember what faith
full Gideon had accomplished with small
army. Mr.. Wilson told him that he had
the faith, but he wanted to see the army.
Mr.. Wilson said, "now we want to bring
this thing to focus, and want every
one who thinks his heart is right and is
willing to take an active part in these
meetings to come and kneel at the altar"
n
at the altar and benches in the front part
of the house. He then called for ali who
were willing to help but thought they were
not prepared for the work, to come forward.
To call this quite number Joined the
kneeling throng. By this time quite a
number had gone out but left many more
seated in the back part of the house. Mr..
Wilson then said all who do
not want to join this band
will now be permitted to go home He said
they wanted to hold private prayer meet
ing Quite number did not think proper
either to go forward and kneel nor 60 out.
The evangelist commenced to point them
out and said to each one please come for
ward or 60 out. Some stood the fire for
some time, but finally went out in no very
good humor. The reporter looked in at
the door until he saw every one kneel or
leave the church except one woman, who
refused to either go out or kneel Mr..
Wilson kept up the fire at her for several
minutes, which the lady returned with
considerable warmth. When the reporter
left the evangelist showed signs of weari-
ness and the woman still held the fort.
When the hour for night service arrived
the house was well filled and the lecture
room was opened out and soon occupied.
There was an earnectness in the meeting
last night that was noticeable as compared
to any previous gathering. In the praise
service held before the preaching number
spoke of the afternoon meeting as the
greatest in their experience. 1t was evil
dent from the testimony after Mr.. Wilson
succeeded in inducing the lukewarm to
leave the house, the faithful had enjoyed
the occasion in a manner that was highly
satisfactory to them. Several of the breth
rem spoke of the great happening when Mr..
Wilson claimed that it had not happened
at all but that they had just made ready to
receiveHthe Lord and He came
Some one in the congregation asked if it
was a reception. Mr.. Wilson said yes, it
was a reception The sort of reception
that the newspapers did not care to notice.
He said the afternoon meeting demon
strated that "as many as received him
gave the power to become sons of God
The evangelist took for his text the 18th
chapter of st. Luke, 9th To 18th verses.
The sermon was one of Mr.. Wilson'S most
earnest efforts and was listened to with the
closest attention, the immense audience
preserving, during its delivery, almost per-
feet silence, so that the speaker could be
distinctly heard in all parts of the house.
At the close of the service Mr.. Wilson
called for all who had made up their mind
to come to the Lord to stand up. There
seemed to be about twenty who arose TO
their feet Quite a number were present
at the altar The music last night was
excellent. The large organ was used, with
cornet accompaniment, the audience join
ing pretty generally in the singing. A
good many people were heard to remark
last night that everything now indicated
that there is going to be one of the largest
revivals of religion ever witnessed in
Wichita.