The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-20

NJ NJ. T.. williams Tells a Times Reporter
His Experience.

-"
Tho great Bible-study meeting following
,bo late Young Mems Christian Association
convention having attracted large crowds 10
d. Second Baptist church during the ins'
~ a TIMES reporter called on MI Sl.p
Williams. of Atlanta. Ga. who Is condus'.hs
,bam 10 get the facts. The following II e"e
resnlt of the interview: tina
Al williams. please let us know no" eno
meetings YOU are conducting came ua,tend
Same months ago | consented 10 me-
tho VIRGINIA Young Mems Christian Assve,a
tian convention and conduct Bible reau,nE
tvice a day. ] came out of "A large meetins 80
Wisconsin. expecting to return 10 thal 20
when the convention was over. oh ou.bss
morning Of last week ! was assigned ~ w
cowmittee TO speak in Rev. Or. LanuIuu :
cbrrcb Manifested blessing Of COO Wa ~
great on the service that pastor anu for
rose ND urging and insisting that IenH.a ,be
a saries OF services. promising 10 n.y. orJ
co-oreration Of all other pastors a"'
churches. | did not see my way clena o. ~
but Al last. after much prayer con, Loi1 q
Then II WAS not your purpose u ~
series Of meetings when you o"'"0
city, 7 said TO a
friend. on my arrival. that IL "oulu ,ba,
nossible. No announcement was naIo III
would hold a meeting III tne g.
service of the Young Men oH'4o'"
citation last Sunday night. ovan
How long have you been engageu '
%gelistic work." wos q
Three years. Previous 10 that was d
socratarv of the Young Mems Christian A7so-
citation. being for three years state secIo.aly
- Eeoryia- was converted when nineteen
wears of age and soon married anu se'.ou
down rom living the lite OK a VIA gounE
man - that of q Christian worker. III was
tLen that tho \ Dung Mems Christian Assocla,,
ton of Rochester. y. l., got hold OF me ana
nushed me out into lines OF usefulness. !,
wsrt from Rochester to Elmira, y. l.. ana
from there 10 Lacrosse, WIS, where l re-
NAMED three years. resignlng to accept tno
State secretaryship OF Georsia. Inree yoal'
ago. at tie Danyille tNaJ convention, ! 80
sipned that position TO 90 into eVanSellsuo
work and had my first experience III 0HS
TO what denomination do you belong Mr..
Williams -olo
Il never travel on my denominational reia-
tons. Ny work is always union or ln'eI"e-
nominati0nal work. At the last place III
which I worked. although nearly SIX huHutsu
persons protested conversion and many Oh ene
churches doubled their membership. no one
ever knew nv den0minatlonal relations l
insist. however. on every one who processes
conversion joining some church, ana u'9-
count any ones profession ~seFenty-HNe per
cent. VINO REFUSES 10 COnAtbk AAAA'N Vs." 49,
church"
Are 0 pleased with the prospect OF your
work in Richmond? Are you reaching the
neglected masses.' -,
Il find the neglected masses in cities Ike
Richmond are often in the aristocratlc, hIlgh-
toned churches. They have neglected 20
study their Bibles. neglected 70 pray. neg
lected TO do aggressive work for the salNhOlOh
of souls. but have satisfied their consclehces
by stirring lemonade amt freezing ice
cream at pIcnics and sociables and manlpu-
lating church fairs with grab-Oa@s ana otuef
devices of the devil"
well. are you reaching these people Z!
Every afternoon and night you may see q
rauidlv increasing crowd of the most rehne1
and intelligent people OF Richmond d. al
churches with open Bibles and rapidly Tying
pencils as they study the Word OF God with
me and take notes on the readings. Clergy
men and pastors of all denominations have
been with me.
Are you having many conversions anu ac-
cessiOns 70 the churches
II never ask people TO Join the churches TIL
the churches warm up and yedrn tor the sal
walton of souls. You might as well puta new
born baby In the refrigerator and expect HIM
10 live as expect som new born souls 10 1--we
in some aristocratlc. refrigerator churches:
There have. however, been conversions all
along. mostly men.
How long Will your meetings probably
continue
Il don't know. ! try to follow divine guild
ance. Invitations are coming IN from pastors
all over the city. II I continue after this
week 10 will probably be in some other part of
the city. would like 70 see this whole city
saturated with the spirit Of Bible study ~
this invariably indicates and promotes a reyl-
val Of religion"