Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-04
III STIRS THEM UP
Remarkable Religious Revival
in Cincinnati.
THEY ALL WANT TO BE SAVED
Il Il ccndacted by Evangelist Mills
Bssiness Men Close Their Stores
to Attend Scrvices-

CINCINNATI. March at was . d:fd-
cult matter 70 transact an ordinary
business In Cincinnati
"Wednesday. Il. Fay Mills, the evangel-
ist and his singing com panion. Rev. Mr..
Green wood, were responsible for
il. These two young divines have been
in Cincinnati several weeks and have
awakened . religious interest such a.
the city has never experienced before.
The meetings which began in the
ore now held at the great
music hall.
Husiness ssspsadsd.
In all about 1000 conversions have
been riade thus far. Wednesday was
a grcal, day. Petitions had been cir
cuiatsa all over the city asking busi-
ness men % all classes to close dur
ing the several services Not less
than 5000 business houses responded.
aud in the neighborhood of the large
retail houses the effect produced by
the closing WAS very marked. The
"will Close" cards were conspicuous
by their number and prominent posi-
lions in the windowA At good many
places tho employees were dismissed
for the day At s p. M and few stores
remained closed all day.
A Day Of Bolsmnity.
Tho response from the Hebrews as .
class was regarded by Mr. Mills and
bis workers with great satisfaction,
and they lost no opportunity to thank
them and all classes who OBJ
served the day. In its least sig
pifcant aspect It was a noteworthy
tribute of respect to Mr.. Mills
and the members and the principles OF
the Christian church. It was, during
the closing periods. like Sunday. and
there never was such Sunday In Gin.
cinna:i as was this Wednesday. The
response to Mr.. Mills request that
it be set apart as day Of special
devotion was such rs to make the date
forever memorable in the annals Of the
Protestant evangelical churches Of this
city. Many business men in all lines
of trade and manufacture. In
GLIDING somes liquor stores. saloons
and drug stores, were closed from
$50 . m. till IL noon: from s
p N until p m. and ct 7 In the
evening. This action was 90 unoni-
nous in certain localities that the
places remaining open were conspicu-
Gus on account of their small number.
Not only was the hum of trade hushed,
but there was q widely felt feeling OF
solemnity.
spent In Devetions.
With thousands of people the day
was begun with prayer; then there
were family gatherings around the
household affairs, and at o'clock
in tho morning in many sections of
the city neighbors assembled at
some house in their midst and
united in prayer. At Q o'clock
in the morning in each one Of
the seventy churches cooperating in
this movement In Cincinnati and its
suburbs on both sides Of the river the
people met together to participate in
prayer meetings conducted by the
pastors, after which they repaired to
Music hall
Great Meetings at Music Hall
When the meeting at Music hall be-
gan about $500 people were present
A large number of ministers were upon
the platform. Before tho regular SER
vice began Mr. Mills csaied on the
ministers to speak Johnston Myers
was thankful for the spirit Of
Christian union prevailing, Mr.. Rob
bins for the absence of the spirit Of
criticism. DR.. Simpson was happy in
seeing God have the right Of way In
the middle of the week. DR. r. s.
Rust had lived In Cincirua thirty
years and never felt so conf
dent as now. ORA Warren,
Simpson, Inge, Lewis, Morris, Weeks,
Malley, Nippert, and Reva Dawson,
Patton and Elder Tyler spoke. all ex-
pressing gratitude for personal benefit
and quickencd church life Mr.. Green
wood sang the resurrection hymn,
He Arose." with great express
sion. q choir ofo3oo voices Join.
ing in the chorus. A sermon was
preached by Rev. Miller. The Music
hall meeting in the afternoon wa at
tended BY 5000 people. The seating
capacity Of the han. IL 4 so. Every
seat was occupied and the aisles and
passageways were crowded
fsn Thousand Ask rrayers.
The meeting 1t night was The crown-
ing event Of the revival Between 1000
and 1000 people crowded into the hall
and many were unabls ~ gsin Cd
mi.tance. Evangelist Mills took
for his theme: ''Can 9 man DO
spiritually dead when ply sically alive?"
He spoke for half IN hour and then
called upon all to rise who wished TO
be prayed for. Several hundred arose.
and when this cere mony was over cards
were passed among the audience
They read ~ follows: 81 de-
sire to become s'Christian." Spaces
are left for the name. residence and
name Of the church which the person
prefers to join. Full 500 of these were
signed and turned over to the ushers.
At the meetings In the morning.
afternoon and 1t night upwards Of TO-
600 people arose in the audience 70.
qresting to be prayed for and signed
the cards The days proceedings
throughout the city were the most re-
marha bic and productive Of the great
est results in the history Of eli Cincin-