The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-01-07

Of Christians or week day, in Jayne's
Hall, Philadelphia, telegraphed to
Fulton street prayer meeting, in
New York, saying. What hath
God wrought?" and a telegram went
back, saying: 1.-TWO hundred souls
saved at our meeting to-day" A ship
came through the Narrows into our
harbor, the captain reporting that him
self and all the crew had been converted
to God between New Orleans and New
York. In the busiest marts Of our busi-
est American cities, where the worship
ers of Mammon had been counting their
golden beads, men began to calculate:
"What shall It profit man II he gain
the whole world and lose his soul"
The walters in restaurants after the
closing of their days work knelt among
the tables where they had served.
Policemen asked consent of the Com
missioner of Police to be permitted to
attend religious meetings. At Albany
members Of the New York Legislature
assembled in the room Of the Court OF
Appeals at half-past eight o'clock in the
morning for prayer and praise. Printed
invitations were sent out to the firemen
Of New York saying; "Come as suits
your convenience best, whether in fire
or citizens dress, but come! come"
Quarrymen knelt among the rocks.
Fishermen lnelt In their boats. Weav-
ers knelt among the looms. Sailors
knelt among the hammoclss. School
masters knelt among their classes. A
gentleman travelling said there was
line of prayer meetings from Omaha to
Washington City, and, he might have
added, line of prayer meetings from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific Coast, and
from the st. Lawrence TO the Gulf Of
Mexico.
In those days, what songs, what SER
mons, what turnings TO God, what re-
cital of thrilling experiences, what prod
igals brought home, what burning It'd
ings 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
1857, which, though the year Of worst
financial calamity, was the year Of
Americas most glorious blessing. How
do you account for 1857, its spiritual
triumphs on the heels of its worldly
misfortune? It 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
Ghost, there has been no general
awakening. Does 1t not seem to you
that we ought to have and may have
the scenes of power in 1857 eclipsed by
the SCIENCES Of power in 1891? The cir
cumstances are somewhat similar.
While we have not had a national panic
and UNIVERSAL prostration as in 1857,
there has been stringency in the
money market that has put many
of the families Of the earth TO their wits
end. Large commercial interests col
lapsing have left multitudes of EN-
ployes without means Of support. The
racl1ed brains Of business men have al.
most or entirely given way. New Illus
trations all over the land Of the fact
that riches have not only feet, on which
they walk slowly as they come, but
wings on which they speed when they
90. Eternal Godl Thou knowest how
cramped, and severe and solemn tim'
Il is with many. And, as the business
ruin of 1857 was followed by the glori
Gus triumphs of grace, let the awfu
struggles OF 1890 be followed by the hal
leluiahs of nation saved in 1891.
Brethren in the gospel ministry! IL W.
spent half as much time in prayer as w
do in the preparation of our sermon
nothing could stand before us. w
would have the power from on high a
we never have hadit. Private member
ship of all Christendom! IL we spen
half as much time in positive prayer TO
this influence as we do in thinking abou
IL and talking about, there would not b.
secretaries enough to take down tn
names of those who would want to Civ,
in their names for enlistment. We woul'
have hundreds Of cases like those re
Gently reported when man said to al
evangelist: ~ am lost sinner, pray TO
me. MY wife has been n professo
OF religion for years, but knew she di'
not enjoy religion, and | said II tha
was all there was in religion did no
want it. But for the last few day
she has looked and acted in such al
elevated and glorious spirit that cal
not stand II away from God. / wan
the same religion that inspires her.
Comel Comel all through the Unite
States, and all through Christendom
and all around the world, let us joi
hands in holy pledge that we will cal
upon God for the power. o, for tn
power from on high, the power tina
came on Pentecost, yes, for ten thou
sand Pentecosts Such times will come
and they will come in our day II W
have the faith and the prayer and tn
conservation.
As the power from on high in 1856
was more remarkable In academies
: music, and lyceum halls, and theater
than In churches, why not this winte
r Of 1891 in these two academies Of music
places of secular entertainment wher
we are, during the rebuilding OF ou
Brooklyn Tabernacle, so grandly an
: graciously treated by the owners an
, lessons and lessees; why not expect an
why not have the power from on higi
/ comforting power, arousing power, cor
) victing power, converting power, savin
: power, omnipotent power? My opinio
/ Is that in this cluster Of cities by tn
/ Atlantic coast, there are five hundre
! thousand people now ready to acceI
IA a