St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-22
IN The LARGE HALL.
Opening Of the General Mills
Meetings in the EXPOSE
tion Building.
Chapman Speaks to an Audi
enee From Which 1000
We're Barred.
Something About the Report
Of the Fire Department
Investigation.
Elks Preparing a Big Enter
tainment--Deteetive to
Be Sued.

The so-called Christian convention
began in earnest last night at the expo
stion building, and over 5000 people
listened to the sermon preached by DIR.
Chapman. The crowd began to gather
as early as o'clock, and at half-past
the door tenders were forced to turn the
people away. 1t was impossible to effect
an entrance after that time,and it is eSti-
mated that fully 1000 people went away
disappointed. The hall of the eXposi-
ton, just remodeled, was well lighted
and heated. 1t presented picturesque
sight, with the thousands Of faces turned
eXpectantly toward the platform where
on were seated the two evangelisIs and
the grand chorus. The meeting was
conducted in the most busineSS-like and
matter-Of-fact way imaginable. Evan
gelist Mills announced in a bruSqIe
manner that no one would be permitted
to leave the hall until the services were
concluded. Those who could not re-
main until the meeting was over would
better have remained away entirely.
For all that. however, several people
did leave the hall before the meeting
was over. Mr.. Mills announced
that hereafter the ministers and
ministers wives who desired to
occupy seats on the platform must be
provided with tickets and come into the
hall by way OF the side door. Those
having no tickets would not ue per-
mitted to enter. There seemed to be
no dissatisfaction at this apparently
hgh-handed way of handling the people
who came TO listen to the preaching Of
the gospel. Everything was taken in
good part. A GLOBE reporter was at
first refused admission to the building
because he had no ticket.
Previous to the sermon by DR.. Chap
man, it was ANNOUNCED that usherS
wOuld pass through the audience with
small envelopes, and those who desired
could return them, after having
incloSed what money they could spare.
The money was to 90 to DIR. Chap
man for the valuable services he had
rendered the community and to pay the
expenses he had incurred in coming
here. Then Mir. and Mrs. Lowe sang a
song entitled Changing Bells of Time"
after which DR.. Chapman began his dis
course. He took his text from Jere-
miah's prophecy, ", 81, what will you
do in the end >"
There were two reasons why men
should become Christians, he said. The
first and the weaker was that all men
must die, and they should not die with
out first having lived in the Sa-
vior. The second reason was that
the chances we're that all men
were going to live. There was
than no better reason that the Savior
should be accepted. He would grant
all the human heart could desire. The
one thing lacking in peoples lives was
Jesus. In Him could be secured hap
pinesS, love and salvation. 1t was
time to look to eternity, said the
speaker. Many people mad never given it
a thought, and it was the speakers de-
sire that he could say the word which
would startle them into thinking 1t.
Eternity began where computation
ended, and it was dreadful thing TO
think Of spending it in TIE wrong place.
Eternity! Eternity! Where will
you 90 to spend it?'' shouted DR.. Chap
man.
He was answered by signs from the
audience. Then the evangelist cOntin-
ued:
"Some one will say that it is a terrible
thing to think of place where there is
no end. | say it depends upon which
way you are going. One way
means danger The other way
is heavenward, where the word
eternity is as sweet as the song of the
angels. l stand on the brink of an
awful precipice and cry out to you.
Hearken to the words: The bliss of
the righteous is everlasting. The
doom of the wicked is without end.'
Think of eternity and now you
will spend it, l say. The reason you
do not think is because of your sin. 1t
blinds your eyes, stops your ears and
makes you inSensible to your danger;
makes you stand on the brink of eter-
nifty. Eternity-where? In the air,
everywhere. May you never get away
from the question until you answer it,"
AT the conclusion of his sermon the
evangelist called upon all those who
desired to have him pray for their rela-
tives and friends, ana for themselves, 10
stand up in the audience. A form rose
here and there in the big audience;
then the vast gathering bowed their
heads ana listened to the evangelist call
upon the Deity to bless them.