Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-27
TIE EVENING SERVICES.


Turn to the Stronghold, We Persons OF Hope.
Get Down We Riders of the Black Horse.
Sam Jones was in dead earnest last
night.
There was no mistaking that fact, and
never a ripple broke across the vast con-
course that listened with the stiffness of
death.
1t was a sermon-not lecture, not a
discourse. There was nothing very
scholarly about it, there was no obstruse
reasoning, but it was a sermon that
carried burning appeal III every word.
Some were disappointed-there were no
Jokes or broad illusions, but more were
touched as fearful eyes amply testified.
People took a big grip in old Times
forelock last night. When they begin to
discover the connection between Sam
Jones and the front seats the old fellow
will be apt to lose his forelock entirely.
A night or two more and they will camp
on the site and stick in the seats. They
are as anxious as Cherokee boomers, but
there is this difference, that Uncle Sam
Jones says come and have it rubbed into
you, and Uncle Sam of Washington says
stay out, or you ii be fred out. How
ever, by 'clock last night the crowd
had gathered and reached far into the
thousands.
Mr.. Excel was drilling his choir and
the audience seemed to think they were
listening to first class concert. Occas-
ionally he let his big voice out over the
assemblage, but he had string tied to
it and called it in easily when he wished.
R. NJ. Tinnon was appointed exhorter
for the eXchequer and appeared to have
appropriated some of Sam s peculiar elo-
quence when he attempted to appropri-
ate little of the peoples cash. "'We've
caught little fish enough, he SAID.
eve want the big ones tonight. Now
pass the hat?'' The people seemed very
willing to pass 1.-THE majority did pass
it without a nickle. The best results
came in from the people in the rear,
while those who had sized the best seats
seemed to think they had hoed their own
row and passed the hat very rapidly.
About this time Rev. Mr.. Jones ap-
peared, and silence gradually fell on
the big audience. Zachariah tx. II:
"Turn you to the strong hold, ye prison
ers of hope; even to-day do L declare
that I will render double unto thee
That was the text, and without any pre-
limaries the preacher said:
1.-THE aIl-absorbing theme with God
and man is the salvation of living men
and women. Not the salvation of dead
men and women, for they have had
their day and generation; they have had
their chance and won or lost forever.
Not the salvation of those who
will be born a hundred years
hence, who are yet to be and yet
to enjoy the promises and powers of eter-
nal life. But the all absorbing theme
that engages the attention, the heart
and feelings of God and angels and men
is the present salvation of men and
women who live and act and feel to-day.
Ism 4 it strange that a subject that fills
the great heart of God should be put be-
fore you, and yet you go on without a
motion; and stranger still, when you are
the subject yourself that you make no
demonstration!
ga great many have the idea that re-
ligion and Christianity VIII take all the
pleasure and brightness and enjoyment
out of life, but tell You it does not rob
you of anything that is worth keeping.
An aged minister once stood in the pull
pit and declared that Christianity was
the best Investment in the world, and
when ne stepped OUT OF tine pulpit,
good brother stepped up and said,
Don't say it's the best investment in
the world! Tell them it s all dividends
That's it! It is all dividend and it comes
In answer to prayer and conservation.
What an ideal if you don t indulge your
passions life viii be failure! Hear me,
young mani It's the most manly thing
you can ever. do, TO lives Christian life.
Listen, young lady, the highest and
purest type of womanhood ever known is
developed in the narrow way. It's only
giving up sin and darkness and coming
out into the sweet sunlight of truth and
virtue.
''Listen-to-day do I declare that
render doubly unto thee! I never read
that promises but I think of the young
man who was seeking salvation but could
find no rest.
sc What is the trouble?' asked q
brother. when be saw the worried look.
'' 'I'n tell you, said. the young man.
Il work in grocery store where they
sell liquor by the quart. and I never
kneel before God but see those quart
measures.
Why don't you give it up, then?'
asks the brother.
:" 4 can't 1 could starTe, myself but