The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-17

stepped to tho platform every foot of
available space had been utilized
No. lG3 and other hymns were rem
dered by the choir and the audience,
led by Prof. Excel. Tho choir sang
unusually we'll and the addition OF
number of fine voices was perceptiblc
TO every lover OF good music. Prof.
Excel declared that he mover heard
better singing in his life.
The several pastors Of the city
churches announced to fully 5000 poo-
pie that they would begin revival SER
vices in their OWE churches Monday
ments were made in view of the fact
that no morning paper was published
on Monday.
When Mr.. Jones rose to speak people
had crowded to tho openings made for
ventilation in the sides and ends OF the
tabernacle. and 4 number had perched
about on the studding. Mr.. Jones then
offered very pathetic and beautiful
prayer, after which he spoke as fol lows:
81 shall carry with me till my Ia test
hour the memories of this meeting. 1t
has been pleasant 70 me in thousand
ways | want to say to you that no
thirteen days of my life have been spent
more delightfully."- than these / have
spent in Roanoke. Va. Your kindness,
your association and thousand other
things that might mention could con-
tribute largely to myself personally.
Brother Excel was sitting in my room
this morning and he said TO me: Il am
in no hurry to leave Roanoke. | be-
grudge what we have enjoyed ourselves
and would carry such enjoyment with
me to another place brethren, it has
been pleasant; there has not been any
thing TO mar the pleasant memories OF
those thirteen days.
81 am glad we came. And in nv
hear: of hearts am sorry that we have
TO go. bid you God speed both in this
world and in the world to como and l
would hear good things of you In the
future and every message | hear from
Roanoke may but more and more add
JOY to my heart and TO my estimation of
you as people.
"Virginians arc hard to beat on any
line. | will say that l worked in
nearly forty States in this Union and
in Canada. In Virginia l have worked
in Danvilic, Richmond, Lynchburg,
Norfolk and then Stanton and now at
Roanoke. | want to say to you that
always have met with Virginia VOL
como and with Virginia co-opera ton
and carry the most pleasant mono
ries from Virginia.
81 believe this is Gods country, but a
good many of the DEVILS crowd have
got over on it, but L think this is Gods
country and | have written so to our
papers in Georgia. 1 have said that
Shenandoah Valley from one end to the
other is surely Gods country. This
beautiful valley, your beautiful noun
tains and your rich soil invites tho
world, and the man whose eye has seen
this country from Maine to California
looks up and down this valley and says
that you ought to be the best people on
this continent because l believe that
God has given you the best soil on the
American .Contlnent-the Shenandoah
Valley, and God will take care of you
in the days &c como.
Now, brethren, this aervice Tonight
will be informal. little different from
the other services, and the first thing
we want to do here to-night-weIl, first
let me tell what someone said to me.
Brother Jones, how did you happen to
come to Roanoke?' We'll, little man
in this town-he is not seven feet high,
nor does he weigh 200 pounds. The first
letter of his forgiven name is Brother
johnson, secretary Of the Y. NJ. c. A.
Iou know him, and | want to say to
you people, do not know whether he
is present or not, as he is very timid;
you know all old bachelors are timid-a
moro helpful young man to mo person
ally and more helpful young man to
the city have not met than Brother
Johnson What do you say, Brother
Excel, about that?
'tNOu lxnOw w0Il npounb +Lo. -.
not man to hatter. have battered
you all coed deal. Fam not. how
ever, in the habit of that and it's not
customary for me to do 50, but will
say this about Brother Johnson, that
young mans influence has done more
for this town in proportion to what it
costs, than anything you have got in
Roanoke. Brother Johnson is to blame
for my coming here. He may take all
the blame on himself You don't know
how many letters have got from that
boy, how earnestly he wrote me and
now we have come,
lie wrote me that all these pastors
are in hearty cooperation. I'm glad Of
that, for say there is no angel in
heaven who can come to city and do
much without the hearty cooperation
OF the preachers. will say this much
have heard louder amens than you all
get off, but have never met a crowd
that would stick closer to me than you
have done, and l like you, brethren:
do. just like you, naturally nke-I
like everybody in this town. If you
will show me the man in this town do
not like l will hug him till he hollows
out, and il you show me the woman
do not like will send for my wife and
let her hug her.
Now this is what want to say:
This work Of the Y M. C. A. is import
ant work. and tonight, at the last SER
vice, want you to make up list for
the support Of this work another wear.