Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-21
A GREAT GATHERING.
THE FIRST REGIMENT ARMORY FILLED
WITH SEEKERS OF RELIGION.
Rev. Mr.. Wharton breaches with Wonder
ful Effect 10 an Immense
Audience.

Rev. hr. Wharton breaches with wonder
ful Effect 10 an Immense
Audience.
The union meeting OF the Baptist churches
OF the city was begun at the First Regi-
ment Armory last night. About three
thousand chairs had been put In the build
Ing and platform capable OF holding two
hundred and fifty or three hundred singers
bad been erected.
The leader OF this movement is tne noted
evangelist, Rev. II. NJ. Wharton. MIR.
Wharton is a Virgniau, though at present
pastor Of a church in Baltimore. He was
born In Cuipeper county, but passed his
early manhood at Amherst Courthouse.
PROM THE BAR TO THE PULPIT.
Originally a lawyer. be combines In his
public speeches and sermons the easy free
DON Of the hustiugs with the solemn earnest"
ness OF minister Of the Gospel. MIR.
Wharton is remarkably happy in his use
OF Incident. illustration, and anecdoie.
Every now aud then he diuses wave OF
delicious humor over his audience. His
type OF pieiv is sunny and Joyous. one
can easily believe him when he says he
would rather be n preacher than President.
Dir. WhariOn's physical appearance is i'm
mensely to his advantage, and his voice is
sweet. musical, and powerful. He IS, more
over, a natural leader OF men. as his easy
control OF the immense crowds who hear
him clearly prove.
NR. wuARTON's ASSISTANTS.
The Baptist pastors as a body have put
themselves at the disposal OF the leader.
They will be present at all the services. aud
at the inquiry meetings will do individual
work and will give themselves to pastoral
work during the day. They we're busy yes,
terdaY distributing tickets OF invitation and
circulars announcing tie meetings. In all
this they are heartily seconded by many
private members OF their churches, who en-
ter into this great work with marked enthu'
sissm.
SINGING.
Special pains will be taken to have spirited
congregational singing, and in order to ac-
complisb this the various church chOirs VIII
be seated on the platform.
UNITED EFFORT.
A determined effort will he made to induce
every Christian who attends to contribute
in some way 10 the success OF the meeting.
GALL HAIL TIE POWER or JESUS NAME"
The attendance was very large, nearly
filling the spacious hall, when at 1870 the vast
audience sang 90 the opening hymn "All
Hail the Power OF Jesus Name"
DR.. Cooper opened the services with a
preliminary statement to the effect that the
movement was really the Outgr0wth OF
the special services held with the individual
churches. He said the Droyldential indlca-
iions were so perfectly plain that the
churches could not afford TO disregard
them. And so they had come to this
larger room sincerely trusting that God
would come with them.
WHAT A FRIEND VIZ HAVE.
Or. Cooper then read a Scripture selection
and after the hymn "What Friend We
Have in Jesus " was sung DR.. Hatcher led
in ferYent prayer.
By this time it was evident that the great
seating capacity Of the Hall would be taxed
10 its utmost to accommodate the crowd
that kept pressing in.
BEAM OF SUNSHINE.
Alta few minutes past Rev. Mr.. Wharton
TOOK charge OF the exercises. After some
preliminary services be read the 4th chap
ter OF the Gospel according to Luke, ac-
comDanying the reading with pithy and
punqeut comment, and then Mr.. Douglas
I.eitwich sang very sweetly "Ouly a Beam
OF Sunshine
THE PREACHERS POINTS.
Mr.. Wharton announced as his text the
18th and 18th verses Of the Gospel OF Luke.
He made the following points:
1. Jesus gave HIS authority for HIS work.
He claimed to have been king, and so be
bad been anointed by Jehovah for hls royal
work. Christians have the same authority
for their work.
.. Jesus spoke Of the nature OF His work.
"Tho Spirit Of the Lord is upon me. The
Father sent me, the spirit IS with me-" said
Christ. This is true also OF Christian work
ers and this Is blessed truth. 4" II you feel
called upon to enter upon some special work
obey the call"
3. Christ told them the nature OF His
work. "T0 preach the Gospel TO the poor
was an important part OF that work. The
poor receive the Gospel. The poor spread
the Gospel. The early pioneer preachers
were poor.
THE POOR.
Mr. Wharton said Jesus came to heal the
broken-hearted, 10 give sight to the blind,
liberty 10 the captlyes, and the opening OF
the prison to them that are bound, and TO
preach the acceptable year Of the Lord.
go, glorious mission" said the speaker,
"let us all share in it,"
PROCESSING THE FAITH
At the conclusion Of the sermon n large
number OF persons arose. protesting their
faith 10 Christ and asking for the sympathy
and PRAYERS OF Christian people. HaddOn
watkins. Esq, sang with great power in the
aiter~meeting.
TO-DAY
II was announced that the pastors Of the
various Baptist churches would have q
prayer.meeting at II NJ. to-day at the Armo'
~ Hall
The opening services will begin at 1880
and will be conducted By Rev. 5. c. Clop-
ton.
THE PLATFORM
It 10 earnestly requested by the committee
| that tonight singers, ministers and theiI
wives, deacOns and their wives, and Sunday.
school superntendeDts and their wives viii
occupy the platform. Each one is requested
to bring a copy OF Gospel Hymns.
TIE ATTENDANCE.
The great crowd present last night wa,
thought by those who were on the Commit
tee OF Reception for Mr. Moody TO have sur
passed the attendance on that occasion.
TONIGHT.
n tonight is fair 1t will probably be me-
cessary TO get there early in order TO secure
seat.
DIR. HoGE's CH"RCH.
Dr. Hoge last night introduced to bis con-
gregation Rev. Mr.. Fleming, pastor OF The
Second Presbyterian church Of Lynchburg,
who preached for him. delivering delight
| fut sermon on the subject OF trusting Jesus.
In the Jury's Hands.
The City Circuit Court was engaged yes
terday in the trial oi the case Of Dravper VS..
| W. l.. Carneal for $4,000 damages. The ar
gument was concluded abou; 3 o'clock lasl
night aud the case is now IN the hands OF the
! jury.
The circumstances leading TO the bringing
| Of the suit are these: On the night OF the ltr
| OF January last Nr. Drayper, who IS cabl-
net maker by trade, and also violinist, had
an engagement to play at a ball 10 Ashland
/ He went to Elba station, and while waiting
for the train = cart belonging to MIR. Carnea
was driven up and the driver went on TO sec
about something and left the mule standing
During the drivers absence an engine passed
by. at which the mule took fright and
dashed eli. running against Dir. Drayper