The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-27
IN THE SERVICE OF CHRIST
An EVangelist's Eloquent Appeal to Men
to Heed the Call to Salvation.
The Meetings at TomlinsOn Hall Increasing
in Interest-A Number of People Ask
for Prayers in Their Behalf.

Mills last night at TomIinson Hall. both gal
lsry and auditorium being well filled The
evangelist's address had the closest attention,
and at the close of the services he stated that he
could not ask FOR better decorum than had pre-
vailed during the services. The only annoying
feature was the arrival of late-comers, but many
Of these excuse themselves on the ground that
they cannot get away from their business. and
wonld rather come late than not attend at all
The after meeting is steadily increasing in
numbers which indicates an increase of results
in the direction which is the most desired. Mr..
MiIls's method of holding these after-meetings
differs from that of any other evangelists who
have visited this city. He is very careful TO ex-
clude from them all those who have mother OBJ
iect than 10 satisfy curiosity in remaining, so
that the penitents may be entirely free from EN-
barrassment and among friends only" 'All
those are invited TO remain who are interested
in their own salvation and IN the salvation of
Others" is his manner of drawing the line,
which he further embassies by saying. I'VE
want no curiosity seekers or spectators-they
have no business here. Yet all those who are
not Christians and want to do right are invited
to remain. We will make the invitation that
broad. and see If by remaining we can't nep
another. About two hundred remained at the
after meeting last nicht-na6y of them peni-
tents With the latter the evangelist, minister's
and others spent half hour in prayer and con-
versation.
Mr. Mills for his address to the congregation
chose as his text Revelations iii. 20: ''Behold,
i stand at the door, and knock; If any man hear
my voice, and open the door, / will to
him and sup with him, and he with me-" The
address devoted to an enumeration of the
ways in which God knocked at the doors OF
mems hearts. AS a rule. he said, the prompt
ines of Gods spirit were heard even in child
hood, but there were instances in which men
had not been raised in christian homes and had
not learned of God Until they were told of
nv o5
circle. But. unfortunately. many of those who
learned of God as soon as they arrived at the
period Of intelligence Kept putting of the hour
when they should give themselves TO Him. They
always expected TO do so sometimes, but mot
now" Thus was Code spirit put of until man
hood reached. 81 believe the evangelist
continued, "that any man who wants 20 do right
will become Christian. All man needs to be-
come Christian is to yield to the promptings
of Gods spirit"
A great many, he said, sought to throw am
biguity about the word conscience. One of the
best definitions which ever given of that
word was by little girl in a Sunday school
class. The teacher had asked the class, what
is conscience2"
"PIease, ma'am. I think. know" the little
girl replied, holding up her hand. 81 think it is
Jesus pleading in the heart"
That was just what conscience was 1t was
God pleading At the door of mems hearts-plead-
ing for them to give up sin and accept righteous
moss. God had many ways of pleading with
men. He knocked the door of some mems
hearts through memory. He kept bringing be-
fore them some Of the sacred impressions of
earty life, strengthened by the ties which bound
them to early friends who had led Christian
lives and had pleaded with them in that long
ago period to become Christians. The speaker
knew OF wounded soldier battlefield in
The late war who gave himself to Christ be-
cause he could not dismiss from his mind
sermon that he had heard twenty years be-
FORE God was continually reminding the men
IN one way or another of their obligations to
him. The evan elist remembered one occasion
when he had gone to certain man whom he
ad I'D ~ 6f-p h ~xrTc To- 4
nights After pleading with him for time he
said: Come tomorrow night and I'll preach
sermon directly for you.n
r'Why, you've been doing that for a week
past. the man quickly answered. my wife
has been telling YOU about mel know she has"
Mr.. Mills said that as he entered Tomlinson
Hall last night he was accosted by o man who
said he had oeen attending the meetings in the
hope of Kidding himself of the appetite for
drink The evangelist told him he could easily
do 80 by becoming Christian man, and the
stranger said he had made up his mind to do So
Then In very graphic manner a number of in.
cidents which had come under his observation
with man were related. Some of the penitents
had needed it and given themselves to Christ;
others had put it off until unexcected death
carried them down to perdition.
Another way in which God very frequently
spoke to men was through the voice of tribula-
ton. Thank God for tribulationp said he
taHowI Aak God for the disappointments of
life. It rs these which fit Us for the joy and the
sunshine. 1t - when the heavens are clouded
ToIF6Sli02 1nQ00nCeS
down. Have you any sorrow, friend? If SO,
God is pleading with you. Confde in Him and
He will comfort you.S Many an obstinate soul
had come to Christ only after it had been
wounded by many misfortnnes and disappoint
ments, and driven to some SUI
preme power for consolation in the
hour of despair. The loss of friends
and relatives led many to Christ, for they knew
that without Him there was hope of meeting
hereafter. Mr.. Mills knew of a merchant an
Eastern city who had lost from the effects
o
separated from the rest in a bathing party, and
night coming on all hope of finding him had al
most gone, when the father heard tho boys
voice sounding family in the distance. It was
saying, "Steer this way papa; steer this way
steer straight for me" Guided in this way. the
father finally reached the lad and rescued him:
but he died in few days from the effects
of the exposure. During his last hours he had
made strenuous efforts to persuade his father,
who was not Christian. to seek conversion,
but did not live TO him do so. The father
was 80 affected, however, by the memory of the
child's pleadings that he did, In short time,
become 9 devout Christian. In explaining the
circumstances TO friend he said: From the
hour of my boys death until my conversion it
seemed to me l continually heard his voice
pleading: Steer this way, PaDs; steer this
evangelist. it with many others who had
lost friends that had been pleading with them to
become Christians-the voice Of the dead kept
Of God.
Regarding the possibility that men sometime
get beyond hope of salvation. Mr.. Mills said:
when God makes up his mind that you do not
want Him to come into your heart He is going
away. If you should go up to the door of a
friend and should ring the bell, and if there
should be no response after repeated ringings
although You knewyour friend sitting at the
window and had seen you coming you would
make up your mind that he did not want you to
come in. You would go away, and
you wou1e not be very likely to
call again on that friend Just SO |
God keeps knocking. knocking at your hearts
He does everything He can to make you heed |
Him. He knocks longer at the door than you do |
ut the door of your friend. for His pAtience 10
greater than yours-but at last, when he sees |
That you do not want Him. that You positively |
reject him, He goes away" A pathetic Incl |
dent of man who had put away Gods spirit |
until ~ finally deserted him was then told. The |
man was q brilliant young physician in /
n Western city, and his wife was
y member of Mr. hills's church. |
He went TO the services with her occasionally, |
and At last showed indications that he was un-