The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-16

to forgive you?" This is not fiction.
The leaders generally we're not min
listers. Red cards were issued to nom
church members. The evangelist con-
Quoted the meeting to suit himself,
the clergy in the meantime sinking
their individuality. This at the first
was understood. About one-third of
the adult converts were men. The
card plan was used, the converts
signing their names, attested by a
witness, indicating also which church
they would unite with. The cards
were turned over to the pastors of
the churches. Quite a number of
children are considered too young to
understand the nature of what they
are doing.
1t is evident new methods are OBJ
tanning in revival meetings. What
was once considered to be a tedious
and elaborate experience is now made
easy. Said little girl to her teach
er, Are you Christians | am; /
have signed card" The evangelist
in one sense is power. He told us
several times "When / was in college,"
He told the people he was once an
infdel and alluded to a certain great
infdel whom he would not name, SO
che would not have to disinfect his
mouth" He characterized him as
"brainless." This raised burst of
laughter. He had frequent express
sions to excite merriment. Many
thought this was Objectionable from
the apparent good he was doing.
Most all admitted it drew the crowds
and they were kept in good humor
and more under the control of the
managing spirit.
At meeting for children-densely
crowded-the Evangelist made use of
the "two roads," the house built on
the rock and the one built on the
sand, and of the parable of the goats
and sheep. The parable of the sheep
and goats, the account of the two
roads and of the two houses were
read in concert. Then the speaker
told how one day a number of boys
like himself were visiting him and he
proposed playing railroading, SO got
number of chairs, placing one be-
fore another, pushing them along.
His mother coming in stopped, their
fun. He then took two chairs and
said he would play chairs little
while. One chairrepfesented the strait
way, the house built on the rock,
heaven where the sheep went to; the
other represented the broadway; the
house ON the sand, and hell where
the goats went to. He first sat down
in the hell chair, and asked the chill
dren what chair he was sitting in.
They answered the hell chair. Where
do tho go to who walk the broad
road, build on the sand and the goats
go to? The children replied they go
to hell.
He changed chairs, asking in which
chair he was now sitting7 In the
heaven chair came from hundreds of
children's voices. Where do those go
to who build on the rock, walk the
strait gate and are on the right hand
of the Judge at the last day? They
go to heaven came the response.
Where do the others go to, and what
does Jesus say to them? He says
"Depart from me ye cursed into ever
lasting fire prepared for the devil and
his angels" This was about all the
Gospel he gave one evening.
To those who believe the goodness
of God leadeth to repentance, that he
never loses his fatherhood and never
Furnishes without good end in view,
such a presentation, of the Gospel
message is exceptionable. But it will
not do to say that of the 1,200 said
to have been converted good many
from henceforth will not be better
men, women and children. If God
can cause the wrath of man to praise
and restrain the remainder it will not
do to affirm that he is not fulfilling
his purpose in raising up religious
dramatists, who by action and
faculty to bring people into merry
and satisfactory state of mind, even
if it be by frequently rousing to
laughter when handling subjects of
solemn import. There are some
churches that do not make salvation
almost impossible. They increase in
numbers without protracted efforts.
Lately / have heard God thanked
that he made salvation possible. The
work of announcing free, full and
certain salvation from sin has not yet
come to close. l am of the impress
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