, 1892-06-21

GOSPEL IN A TENT.
First Night of the Union Revival
Services.

Evangelist Bell breaches the Ini.
tIaI Sermon From a Text Broad
Enough for All Denominations,
A Good Attendance.
In spite of the GOODNESS of the air last
night there was good attendance at the
opening of the union evangeistic services
held in the tabernacle on the corner
of Fifth and Franklin streets. Upwards OF
200 chairs had been placed in rows for the
accommodation of those who would come,
and soon after the service began there were
very few vacant chairs. An arc lamp fur
nished the light in the tent. EYange-
list Bell selected the famous sixteenth
verse Of the third chapter of st. John as a
basis for very interesting initial sermon.
"a number of years ago." said Mr.. Bell,
81 was doing some distinctive work in
Kentucky for the Young Mems Christian
Association. The people down there were
not very familiar with this work, and at
once thought it was some kind of a church.
I was asked what do you believe; what is
your ereed2' l replied that the verse lust
there is to it today: For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begOtten son
that WhOsoeYer belieYeth in Him shOnld
not perish but have everlasting life'
What more can any one want in a creed.
l am sure this verse is long and wide
enough to take in the entire world"
From this point he went on to demon
strate the wonderful love borne by God for
his erring children. He gave appropriate
illustrations and brought the matter home
by saying that the congregation before him
was divided into two classes-sinners saved
by grace and sinners who may be saved by
grace.
Observing that some of his hearers were
becoming uncomfortable on account OF the
GOODNESS of the atmosphere, Mr.. Bell
brought the main discussion to a close
shortly before the tower in the tower on
Odd Fellows building struck g. When he
called for those "whO had a consciousness
of sins forgiven" to rise, nearly every per-
son In the congregation arose. A call was
made for those who desired to lead better
lives, to arise also, but there was no re-
sponse.
While good, rousing greviVal song was be-
ing sung those who did not feel that they
were able to stay to the after service were
given an opportunity to retire. About one
third of the congregation left, among them
a number of young men who usually take
back seats and run" when the alter SER
vice comes too close.
The after service resulted in the CONVEX
sion OF two women and one young girl
They were the only unconYerted persons
who remained to the after meeting.
1t seems that there was some mistake in
the shipping of the tent, as it is not as
large by many feet as MIR. Bell had been
advised would come. This will be rene
died, however, by inserting a strip of can
vass 20 feet wide clear across the top of the
tent, thus giving an opportunity to spread
out over considerable more ground and ac-
cOmmodate a much larger number of peo-
pie. The committee on arrangements will
meet at the Presbyterian church each
morning to arrange for anything that may
come up for consideration. Public service
will be held in the tent at O'Clock each
afternoon and at O'Clock at night during
the week except Saturday night. Mr.. Bell
will remain at the tent after each afternoon
service for an hour or more for the purpose
OF conversing upon religious subjects with
those who desire personal interview.