Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-17
THE GREAT REVIVAL.
OLD PEOPLES MEETING AT THE IL.
E. CHURCH YESTERDAY,
The Meetings at the Central Chris
tian Church---lIr. H0bbsS
Sermon Last Night.

yet lelQ since Ine great Tcsls dl SoLiilChSCd
was held in the First NJ. f. church yester-
day afternoon. Notice had been given that
this meeting was intended especially for
the old people and that no one under fifty
years of age would be allowed to give their
religious experience. The seats near the
platform were reserved and large number
of white heads were noticed on those seats,
the younger people taking seats IN the
back part and in the lecture room. The
large audience seemed alive with eX-
pectancy. Many of them seemed to think
that the meeting conducted by the old
people would differ somewhat from the
ordinary meeting, and that they would
obtain glimpse of what Meth
odist meetings were forty or fifty
years ago when such men as Peter Cart
wright did the preaching and it was the
fashion for the sisters to shout and the
brethren to shout Amen
The meeting was lead by Rev. Guthrie,
Rev. Wilson and Akin occupying seat on
the platform with him, but were ruled out
on account of not being of sufficient age to
appreciate the occasion. The meeting was
intended to be praise meeting, something
in the shape of regular old fashioned
class meeting The old hymns such as
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
was sung, the audience joining with great
enthusiasm. A large number OF the old
people gave accounts of their conversion
many years ago. There was great Interest
manifested by the audience, when these
old people commenced giving their expert
euce, but two or three Of them occupied so
much time that the audience began TO
show signs of uneaslness. Mr.. Gruthrle
was compelled to warn these people that
they must cut short their remarks, as a
great many wanted to speak. There was
desire manifested on the part of some to
resort to regular eXhortotipn. When this
was discouraged the meeting became very
interesting, and many OF the old people
told interesting stories of their conversions.
Many of these experiences brought tears
to the eyes of even the younger people
in the congregation. One good old
sister gave an account OF her
conversion in 1889 and of her subse-
quent sanctification, in such an affecting
and triumphant manner that it elected
loud shouts of ''Amenr' and Brothers
Wilson and Aiken shook hands like
couple of brothers who had met for the
first time in many years. This seemed to
have the effect of putting still more feeling
in the meeting, and when the congrega-
ton Joined in singing, son Jordan's
stormy banks l stand" one sister shouted
Justify. When the meeting was about to
adjourn notice was given that the old peo-
pie could have the privilege around the
altar and taking a good old fashionable
hand shake. The scene that followed was
one long to be remembered by those
present, and was simply Understandable.
They sung and shouted and shook hands
until the whole audience seemed to catch
the religious joy. The younger people
rushed up the aisles and Joined in the hand
shaking, some of the younger women
throwing their arms around the necks of
the good old mothers. Mr.. Wilson stood
upon the altar rail and clapped his hands
for JOY People who could not get up
near the altar climbed upon the chairs in
the aisles and on benches, and shook each
others hands while tears of joy ran down
their cheeks Rev Harmon, formerly of
the South Emporia church, came inside
about the time the meeting was closed,
and climbed upon chair
and looked with establishment
and delight upon the scene. An EAGLE
reporter climbed up beside him and asked
him what he thought of it. Perfectly
wonderful" said the divine; ''never saw
anything like it,"
During the progress Of the meeting it
was brought out that of Christian people
present five were between eighty and
ninety years old; between seventy and
eighty, seven; between sixty and seventy,
twenty-five; between fifty and sixty, forty
six; between forty and fifty, siXty-seven;
between thirty and forty, seventy; between
twenty and thirty siXty-six. Ofthis num-
Der two were converted after they Were
sixty years old; between fifty and sixty
there was one; ten were converted be-
tween forty and fifty years of age,
and twenty-one between thirty and forty;
those converted between twenty and thirty
wears of age, We're siXty-four; between ten
and twenty, there were two hundred and
twenty-five. Quite number of the older
people were included among this number.
Thirteen reported conversion before they
were ten years of age. Several old people
were among this number also.
THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
was well filled last night to hear Rev.
Hobbs. Services have been held in
this church each evening this
week and great interest is shown Quite
a number of conversions are already re-
ported. There were two last night. Mr..
Hobbs is very impressive speaker,
his Christian bearing and charity
toward other denominations wins the con-
fdence of all. He was listened To last
night with that close attention by the
large congregation that showed deep in
terest in the subject.
The text selected for consideration last
night was: "We love God because He first
loved us" He said Napoleon once re-
marked that military chieftains could
gather around them large armies because
the general and his soldiers were inspired
by common selfish motive. But all over
the world people were martialed under the
banner of Jesus, inspired by
no selfish motive of getting
an advantage over their fellowmen.
The blessings of the gospel We're not de-
sired for themselves alone. But the fol-
lowers of Christ were willing and anxious
for all the human race TO share with them
its privileges. And while the religion of
our Lord and Savior was of such vast i'm
portance, the number who desert the faith
in proportion to the whole number of be
levers is. considerable. He said the time
was when men were frightened into it by
the preaching of terrible punishment for
the wicked These men when they got
away from the church and from the preach
x.oioa he fhnnSrht of them fall
away. That was his experience with
men who had been converted that way.
He thought in these latter days the pendu-