Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-19
DONOT 0FFENDTHeM
Evangelist Mills Tells How to Win
tho Little Ones
IN The NURSERY OF The LORD


Il said the other day that thsre are
some p@ersoos who. II they taught your
class Tor one day. would convert every
meraoer.% said b Fay Mills 10 the Sun.
das school workers Of the city in the
Division Street methodist church last
night -foa have been teaching them
for weeks aud months and years. and
have not brought one 10 God. Get your
sef right You can't bring others 10
Christ unless you are near TO Christ
yourself" add the evsngelist's glowing
exhortation brought tears Of repsntant
sorrou from the eyes Of the conscious
stricken teachers
When the meeting began there we're
more than loo persons In the church.
Chairs were placed In every possible
place aud simost every foot OF standing
room was utilized.
The song service opened with congre
gational singing: what Friend We
Have IN JesusL- This was followed by
other hymns The service was conduct.
ed by John p. HilliA Before IL was
time for the sermon, Mr.. Hills had de-
stroyed all the apathy in the audience.
and everybody was enthusiastically
ready To receive tho lesson which the
evangelist was 10 bring. The Rev.
Ralph Gillian. Dir. Mills assistant made
the opening prayer. he prayed that
tue lives oil his hearers might be made
pure even "a the life OF TIE Master.
Jesus Christ was pure. he asked that
the spirit Of the Christ might descend
upon them. and that they might win
souls TO Christ 70 the honor and glory
Of God.
Only Teachers Could Stay.
Mr.. Mills asked that those Who we're
not teachers or superintendent Of Sun
day schools leave the church. as the
room was already densely crowded. and
the meeting was designed solely for the
workers 10 Sunday schools Two or
three persons left, but the others re-
NAMED 10 the service.
Mr.. Mills said be regarded the meet.
ing as the most important that would
be held, owing TO the influence that il
would have on others The object Of
the meeting was stated TO be how 10
utilize best the hour 10 the Sunday
school today. The speaker had no cast
iron program; but via he'd 10 relate some
OF The n,fthods that had been used in
other Sunday schoolA lie asked that
the ordinary routine be laid aside for
the day, and wished the session given
up 10 the entire conservation unto
Christ Methods and means were sug-
gested. For instance a class OF young
women might 60 out aud each bring 10
one who was not q christian He told
OF the conversion Of an entire Sunday
school through the flood OF the spirit
that came to the superintendent heart
when he suddenly discovered that be
had been performing his duties in
merely perfunctory way. He acknowl-
edged bis error; the. teachers one after
another confessed that they had not
asked their pupils to come to Christ,
and finally the pupils began to ask for
prayers Before the close III the session
they had all come to Christ
Other Illustrations
Other examples were related 10 show
the powerful influence for Christ which
the Sunday school can exert IL properly
managed He told the story Of a man
who was not christian. but who went
10 Sunday school with his children one
morning. and became converted. In six
months he was the most spiritual mem
Der OF the congregation. He organized
band 81 eight new converts, and dur
ing the winter they converted GOO per-
sons who lived in the suburban villages
The revivalist urged the teachers to
use their personal influence with their
pupils to the greatest degree possible.
If you were TO have Mr.. Moody conduct
your Sunday school tomorrow, much as
love MIR. Moody. | would advise you
not TO do it, said the speaker. The
spirit Of Christ must be manifested
through you. and by your own example
you must bring them face TO face with
the truth"
He related several stories 10 prove the
potent effect OF earnest work-lnstances
OF teachers who had become discouraged,
but suddenly being tiled with a new
light. they converted members OF their
whom they had re-
garded &c hopeless
Friends. you may do wonderful
things tomorrow" said Mr.. Mills "Who
can tell what lives you may touch by
the touch OF Jesus Christ BE careful
OF the little things. Be careful OF your
hymns There aren't twenty live hymns
10 the English language fit 10 siLg to-
morrow. Sing something soft. reyerent
and penitential. Almost Persuaded
Jesus Died for Me- and the like.
Mr.. Moody's Conversion
The evangelist told the story % Mr..
conversion he vas a
ragged. ignorant boy who had never
heard 81 Christ. Edward kimball
found the boy and decided be would
bring him To God. lie worked with the
ad aud IN two or three weeks had con
'erted him. The man that has con.
Verted more souls than any other man
that ever lived might never have done
bis grand work had u not been for the !
sfoits of MIR. kimball that sunday |
afternoon IN Boston.
lie urged the teachers 30 get up early I
ibis morning. 90 call ON every member 10 1
their classes and get them to promise 20 4