Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-04-11
TOLD The STORY OF LEVI.
EVANGELIST WHARTON MOVES HIS
HEARERS TO PRAYERS AND TEARS.
How n Louisville Gambler aud n virginia
Rowdy Were Brought to Confess Their
Sins aud Forsakc Their Evil
Ways-Many Converts.

Upwards of twenty-five conversions were
made al Rev. Mr.. Wharton's meeting at
the Calvary Baptist church last night.
The church was again crowded, showing
that the interest in the revival Is undated.
Mr.. Wharton preached sermon for men.
The middle block of seats in the body of
the church had been reserved for men. and
by the time the evangelist was ready to
read his text it was filled, He had before
him about 400 men. while there were a
great many of them in the gallery. Nor
We're the ladies lacking. There were many
Of them there, too. Rev. MIR. Wharton's
theme was "A Conversation With Busi-
ness Men at the Place of Business During
Business Hours" He took as his text,
And after these things he went forth and
saw a publican named Levi, sitting al the
receipt of custom; and he said unto him.
Follow me. and he left all, rose up and fol
lowed him'-Luke v:2i-2S.
He laid stress on the. fact that Levi was
a publican. one of class of extortioners
all to follow Christ. Mr.. Wharton took
this as a means of showing his hearers
est hG yes ana o 6rs M
was about Steve" MaIcom, the louisville
u Christian who told him that God loved
him. Malcom laughed and replied. Why,
l guess you don't know who you're talking
to. I'm steve Malcom, the worst gambler
in Louisville, The man persisted in, his
attempt to influence him. and finally Nal
Version. @ p Then Mr. : i Whdrtqn toia Of u" from
torIous for his drinking and gambling
He. too. Mr.. Wharton said was converted
TO Christ ,i,rou through circumstances of
MIR wharton took the opportunity to
criticise politicians in his sermon. He said
that. Ike Levi before he was called by
Christ. they have no aims higher than
those or money. He went 20 say that
conversion does not necessarily mean a
% n In n nOSifiOp the who
becomes Christian becomes the possessor
Of higher gifts and Is infinitely oer 6eneti'ea cd
j, Just before the close of his sermon Mr..
Nnety and s?9E the GGp Tas well Sung do
told by him with all the large elqeutiona,ry
had ended It he was himself crying and
many In his audience We're wiping their
eyes with their handkerehIefs. ,.u ,o
1t was the story of young Fellow VINO
lay dying in Providence Il, l.. HIS wlsn
was that he might see his mother - before lore
10 see her, for she would not arrive until
the DAY Then o h "a askfa ba MTs eaT
the experience, to hold his face between
her hands as his mother was acGlstoinea is !, 20
70 for 0S his "ig mother ere She aid SO So and the day
after his mother took his dead face be, be
her 3sHds and sisef
words. Joe, Joe, i love YOU" the sound
of the hearers sObS could be plainly heard
geist was acting the story as well as tell
ing IT, aud in that lay its effectiveness;
The after meeting was the most StlrrlnS
one which Mr., Wharton has yet led. fS
is of the opinion that the best test and
He nut this opinion into practice last night:
When the galleries had been cleared ana
all who wished to stay had been congre-
gated downstairs, he said: Now, ! want
some Of you Christians here to answer me
this: Isn't 1t the best thing to confess
live a secret Christian life?"
This was the signal for a number of tes-
timonies. Several men and women rose in
their places and spoke of the value of an
open Christian life. When this was over
Mr. Wharton caused all IN the audience
4 number did this Next the evangelist
had all the people say so that they Gon!i
Christ" In the meantime the large choir
and the congregation had been singing
hymns. Mr, Wharton, sang, too, and
Sing" Then he had all those who had
risen at any time during the prayers o., at
his entreatics gather in front of the punt,
Presently he was occupied in shaking
fore the platform was crowded with men
and women, all intent on shaking the evan
gelst's hand and shaking each others
hands Mr. Wharton was assisted by Reys.
tween the bars of the songs which were
being sung Mr. Wharton would say, Il
just had a wife put a mans hand in mine
ana say, My husband, Mr. Wharton"
pressions Altogether the sight was quite
a thrilling one. The last thing was requests
for prayers for relatives and friends.