The Portland daily press., 1895-08-12
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l

| Old Orchard, August 11-This has been
wonderful day, the greatest in the
history of the Christian Alliance, the
meeting, greatest in one respect, ever held
| in the world, for more money was raised
| for missions today than was ever pledged
before at any one meeting. 1t was great
meeting too, because a great orator
stirred the people as only great orator
could.
"I hope I may be able to scatter brands
of divine fire among this audience" said
DR.. Simpson, and he did set the zeal of
hundreds on fire.
All day Saturday was season of fast
ing and prayer, and when the others
went to their rest, DR.. Simpson continued
in prayer. This morning he felt i'm
pressed that the answer was to come, and
that at least $75, 900 was to be contributed
to the funds of the Alliance
He had borne for many days burden.
for China, a field he believes God is about
to open up to the proclamation of the
religion of Christ, and he must have
money. With this morning the burden
had rolled away, the trouble was all gone.
God was about to seal with manifest
mark of his own approval the work of the
Alliance, and the marvellous preacher was
more that satisfied. His was to be the
work of scattering the gospel fire." God
would fan it into flame. So he believed,
and others felt the power of his faith.
1t was wonderful sight looking down
from the platform. A great audience was
present, an audience estimated at from
5000 to 5000. All the noted workers were
there, and they had come from great
prayer and praise meeting held in the
morning.
DR.. Simpson, erect, nervous, with a
face that showed the leader. sat back from
the desk. Rev. Stephen Merritt sat at
earnest, able and eloquent Canadian
evangelist, Rev. Walter Russell. Back
of Dr.. Simpson was the strong face and
figure of DR.. Wilson, and back of both
the massed group of workers. Miss
Louise Shepard led the singing, and her
voice was never sweeter, and she never
sang with greater effect.
L.
prayer, and Miss Shepard led in singin g
"Glorious Lord, and coming King"
Under the circumstances it was a wonder
full wave of music.
Then DR.. Simpson began what was the
crowning sermon of the convention. The
great preacher was at his best. He took
for his text the story OF the feeding of the
multitude. He gave a vivid word picture
of the scene by the lake, the multitude
setting there on the ground, the few
small loaves and fishes, and the rapt race
of the Master as He lifted up His eyes to
Heaven, gave thank and distributed the
loaves and fishes to his disciples.
There was pathetic side to the sermon
when the eloquent speaker told of the
efforts some had made to save money for
The mission cause. A tear stained letter
reached him containing all that
precious child of God had to give, little
store of money saved up for another pur-
pose, but given to Christ. When he read
the letter he could not venture to refuse
the money, but he did pray that such love
for Christ, such zeal for souls might
make him still stronger, still more will
ing to work ior God.
The conclusion of the sermon was
worthy tof the occasion and of the
preacher. 1t was description of the call
ing of soul into the chamber of God,
and of the crowning with glory the
nu1nDlGSU WHO utttl UEl6u 10 GO HIS Will.
'ELord what have | done that this should
be given me?" the soul will cry, and then
the Lord will say, mind you not how
you gave me your treasure. 1t has become
for you a colony of souls" ''God help us
to be like Andrew, and to go further than
we can see, and to believe that God can
invest our money for us better than we
can do it ourselves
Louise Shepard sang ''All for Jesus, +"
and then the work of taking I'D the
annual collection began.
THE COLLECTION. #T
DR.. Simpson gave $500 personally, and
said he had promised God that he would
try to raise &c., 900 by special oontribu-
tions apart from public meetings like
this This started the list of the day with
$500, and call was made for more. Dr.
Simpson said that $500 would paw for a
missionary, and all station expenses, $500
for missionary alone, s75 for a native
worker one year and SO on.
Rev. DR.. Wilson said he wanted to
have one voice in a foreign field and
pledged to support two missionaries this