The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-01-09


the world John Newton had it Bish-
op Latimer had it: Isabella Graham
had it. Andrew Fuller had it. The
great evangelists, Daniel Baker and
Doctor NettIeton and Truman Osborn
and Charles g. Finney had it.
Several times in the history of the
church and the world has tksis power
from on high been demonstrated In
the seventeenth century, after great
season of moral depression, this power
from on high came down upon TinOt-
son and Owen and F1avel and Baxter
and Bunyan, and there was deluge of
mercy higher than the top of the highest
mountains of sin. In the eighteenth
century, in England and America, re-
ligiOn was at low water mark. VIII
liam Cowper, writing of the clergy OF
those days, said:
Except few with ElPs spirit blest
HOphai and Phineas may describe the rest
The infidel writings of Staftesbury
and Hobbies and Chubb had done their
work. But power from on high came
upon both the Wesleys and Lady Hunt
ington, on the other side of the Atlantic,
and upon William Tenant and Gilbert
Tenant and David Brainerd on this
side of the Atlantic, and both hemis-
phere felt the tread of a pardOning God
Coming to a later date there may be
here and there in this audience an aged
man or woman who can remem Der New
York in 1881, when this power from on
high descended most wondrOusly. 1t
came upon pastors and congregations
and theaters and commercial establish
ments. Chatham Street Theater was
the scene of most tremendous re-
igious awakening.
The bar room of the theater was
turned into a prayer room, and 500 per
sons were present at the first meeting.
For seventy successive nights religious
services were held in that theater, and
such scenes of mercy and salvation as
will be subjects of conversation and
cOngratulation among the ransOmed in
glory as long as Heaven lasts But I
come to a later time-1S57-r
by many who are here. I remember it
especially as I had just entered the
office of the ministry. 1t was year of
hard times. A great panic had flung
hundreds of thousands of people penni-
less. Starvation entered habitatiOns
that had never before known a want.
This nation in it's extremity fell help
less before the Lord and cried for par
don and peace, and upon ministers and
laymen the power from on high de-
scended. Engine houses, wareroOms,
hotel parlOrS, museums, factories from
IL to l o'clock while the operatives were
resting, were opened for prayers and
sermons, and inquiry rooms and Bur
tons old theater on Chambers street
where our ancestors used to assemble
to laugh at the comedies, and all up and
down the streets, and out on the docks
and on the decks of ships lying at the
wharf, people sang ''All hail the power
of Jesus name, - while others cried for
mercy. A great mass meeting of
Christians on a week day, in Jayne's
Hall, Philadelphia, telegraphed to Full
ton street prayer meeting, in New York,
saying: ''WhaU hath God wrought?''
and a telegram went back saying: Two
hundred souls saved at our meeting to-
day"
In those days, what songs, what ser
mons, what turnings to God, what re-
citals of thrilling experiences, what
prOdigals brought home, what burning
tidings of souls saved, what serfdOm of
sin emancipated, what wild rout of the
forces of darkness, what victories for
the truth! What millions on earth and
in Heaven are now thanking God for
1887, which, though the year of worse
financial calamity, was the year of
Americas most glorious blessing. How
do you account for 1857, its spiritual
| triumphs on the heels of it's worldly
misfortune? 1t was what my text calls
the power from on high.
That was thirty-three years ago, and
though there have been in various parts
of the land many STRINGS of the Holy
dhOSU, there mas Deen no general aWStk-
ening. Does it not seem to you that we
ought to have and may have the scenes
of power in 1857 ecliPsed by the scenes
of power in 1891? The circumstances
are somewhat similar. While we have
not had National panic and universal
| prostratiOn, as in 1857, there has been
a stringency in the money market that
has put many families of the earth to
their wits end. Large commercial in
terests collapsing have left multitudes
| of employees without means of support.
Brethren in the gospel ministry il
we spent half as much time in prayer as
we do in the preparation of our ser
mons nothing could stand before US.
/ We would have the power from on high
as we never have had it. Private mem
bership of all ChristendOm! if we spent
| half as much time in positive prayer for
this influence as we do in thinking
about it and talking about it, there
would not be secretaries enough to take
I i IL