The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-12
MILLS WORK REVIEWED.
THE RESULTS OF HIS EYdNGELI-
CAL LABOR IN THIS CITY.

Invited by Thirteen Churches. and Paid
in Voluntary Contribution Envelopes
with Unbroken Seals The Pastors
to Continue His Work with the Con-
verted.
The Rev. B. Fay Mills, who has
been conducting evangelistic services
in the different churches OF the
Heights, completed his labors in this
city last evening with a double fare
well service. He preached to a large
congregation at half past seven
o'clock in the Bergen Baptist Church,
and then, hurrying around to the Ber-
gen Presbyterian Church, he addressed
a congregation which filled every
available portion of space in hat
large edifice.
1t is hardly yet the proper time to
attempt to set forth the benefit when
the city will derive from Mr.. Mills
work among our people.
Mr.. MILLS METHODS.
His manner of gathering the fruits
of his labors is radically different from
that adopted by most evangelists, and
his converts are quietly received into
the various churches without the fact
that their conversion is due to MI.
Mills efforts being made known at the
time.
At each of his meetings he invites
those who desire to have the prayers
of the congregation offered IN thelf
behalf to rise, and at the close OF the
services each n present is handed a
- sof.1. 4ho xuor6C.-
81 desire hereafter to lead q Christian
life
And beneath a blank space for the
PERSONS name and address, and the
name of the church to which the indi-
yidual signing the card wishes to join.
The card is then handed to the pastor
of the church designated, who confers
with the signer, and thereafter en-
deayors to direct his spiritual course.
Over LOO of the cards were received
filled out up to last evening, contain
ing the names of worshippers OF every
denomination, and with one or two
exceptions, those of every church in
the city.
SOMETHING ABOUT MR.. MILLS.
Mr.. Mills was born in Railway about
thirty-one years ago. He entered
Hamilton College when a young man,
but was graduated from the Lake For
rest University near Chicago. Upon
leaving college, he entered the minis
try. and has at different times been
pastor of a Presbyterian, a Reformed
and a Congregationalist church. His
relations at present are with the Con-
gregationalists. He is married, and
has four interesting children, the
Youngest of which is three years of
age. His ummer home is in Warren
county, and his permanent address is
Philadelphia.
INVITED BY REV. MR.. ELLISON.
About four years ago he left the
regular ministry and commenced his
eyangelistic work. Last summer the
Rev. Mr.. Ellison, of the Bergen Bap-
fist Church, met him, and becoming
impressed with his powers invited him
to labor in the Bergen Church at his
convenience. Mr.. Mills replied that
he made it a rule to
serve a single church, as sue
cess was promoted nor largely by
united effort, but if he received an in
vitation from the churches of several
denominations he would consider it.
A call was accordingly sent to him in
which thirteen churches Joined. Five
of these, however, subsequently with
drew for various good and sufficient
causes, and a committee was finally
formed, consisting of the pastors and
two laymen from each of the remain
ing eight congregations representing
the Methodists, Baptists, United Pres
byterian, Presbyterian and Reformed
churches.
GREETED BY GREAT AUDIENCES.
1t was at first intended to use the
edifices of the other churches joining
in the call for the afternoon meetings,
but the large congregations which
fiocked to the services soon made it
necessary to hold them in the Bergen
Baptist Church. On Sunday, March 3,
young peoples meetings were held in
the morning and afternoon and in the
evening there was a service for men
only in the Bergen Baptist Church.
All three of these meetings were
largely attended and many were I'M
able to gain admission to the church.
Seldom has there been a man in this
city who, day after day for two weeks,
could draw such crowds to religious
services as Mr.. Mills did. His congre-
cations were made up not only of the
people of the Heights, but from all
over the county throngs focked to
hear his fervent exhorting.
PAYING THE EVANGELIST.
AS Mr.. Mills did not permit public
appeals to be made in his behalf at
any of his services, considerable
curiosity was aroused as to the
manner in which he supported himself
and his work. The committee having
the meeting in charge on Sunday,
March 8, raised $3.50 by collections in
their various churches, which was
used to pay for printing, advertising
and other similar expenses, which
were by nc means light, and the sal
aries of Mr.. Greenwood, the chorister,
and Nj. Mott, the organist, who ac-
companied Mr.. Mill's. The pastors
sent a circular to the members Of their
congregations, setting forth Mr.. Mills
services and requesting that they
send Mr.. Mills such offerings as they
may feel inclined to give him. Accom-
panying these circulars were envelopes
with the indorselnent:-
For the Rev. b. Fay Mills a free
will Offering"
Together with a blank space for the
name of the donor. These envelopes
were sealed and handed to Mr.. Mills
either directly or through the pastors.
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