Smyrna times., 1893-03-29
Last Sunday at the Methodist
Chnrnh

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday. This
fact had little to do with the crowd
tnat bent its way to the Methodist
Church, for possibly not one in a hun
dred knew it was Palm day. There
were two things, being a beautiful
spring day, either one of which would
have filled the auditorium--the con.
tinued revival and the advent of the
new pastor, Rev. Adam Stengle.
The close of the second bell was the
signal for an organ voluntary % usual,
as the last of the congregation are
getting seated, followed by a we'll ren.
dered anthem from the choir. The
announcement of hymn and prayer
was by the Presiding Elder After the
reception of class of probationers by
Mr.. Stengle, he was appropriately in
trodueed to the congregation by Presid-
ing Elder Smith, in which he eXtolled
the economy of Methodism in pulpit
supply, viz: that one minister took up
the work where the other laid it down
without the loss of moment in the
pastorate-every preacher a church
and every congregation a preacher.
Rev. Mr.. Stengle said he felt a sense of
responsibility in entering this pastor
ate he had never felt before, because
of the large accessions that had been
and were yet being made to the church
involving an increased care and over
sight, and asked the sympathy and aid
of the members in all the duties that
pertained 20 the church work.
He said that the incidents of the
past several weeks, a part of which he
l.,
attiiction (alluding to the painful
injury he had received with one of his
hands, had in measure untitled him
for the duties before him he had
lived before and after the flood (refer.
ring to those of Port Deposit that kept
them in state of anxiety for several
weeks by the water coming up into
their hOuses) that some of his things
had got wet but that he had kent his
sermons dry, a fact they would be
assured of after hearing him a few
times. After few more remarks in
reference to the relations which he
hoped would exist between the pastor
and people, he took his text from the
gospel according to John, xvii %.
And the glory which thou gavest
me | have given them, that they NAV
be one, even as we are One." 1t was from
part OF the wonderful prayer of
Christ shortly before the crucifixiOu.
where he had especial reference to his
di' ciples, the object of the speaker
being to set forth what the Master
meant in the glory referred to. The
sermon was less than a half hour.
doubtless curtailed below the usual
length because of the accompanying
eVangellstic services. The speaker has
an easy and thoughtful way, in contra
distinction to bOisterOus or energized
manner, but with evident clearness of
perception, logical and comprehensive
grasp of his subject, and that certain
ministerial dignity and bearing that
leaves no trace of doubt of his calling
to the sacred desk.
RECEIVING THE NEW PASTOR.
Rev. Mr.. Galloway was present to
an invitation to the penitent as
well as the sOul-burdened. This
however, was not pressed, but instead
ne invited all the persons who had |
protessed conversion during the revival
to come forward and greet the new
pastor with hearty shake of the |
hand. The scene that followed is
hardly equalled in the annals of a con-
They arose from their |
seats with all the prOmptness the |
crowded condition would allow. filling |
all the open space at the head of the |
church and much of the aisles. When |
5hey mad finished the same invitation
was extended to the members, and |
-hey responded with the same prompt.
ness and apparently without an excep-
lon-an unusual thing to thus get a
crowded church to leave their seats
The process of handshaking occupied
about twenty minutes as fast as thew
could move forward in procession.
AT NIGHT.
AT night the crowd was simnlv
immense. There has been nothing
Ike 1t since the "Stubbs Revival" IL
Years ago. By the time services had
commenced every available seat. even
% the steps in the galleries and aisles
lned with chairs, were taken, some to
tand and many to go away. 1t is
'nOught there were nearly 1000 peO-
Die crowded into the church. Thew
.ame for miles around the country
The pastor preached a thoughtful dis.
course OF less than twenty minutes. n
'ery wise condensation under the cir
'umstances, and Evangelist Galloway
OoK charge OF the meeting with his
lsual success, first in invitation and
hen in massing the believers with
heir warmth aud fervor, around the
A dozen or more were at
he altar, most of whom professed con.
ersion. The meetings this week have
zen attended with the usual numbers
nd interest nor dOas on,, ,,,, ,,,,-- -.