The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-19
EVANcELIa's WORK BEGUN
Schiverea Starts His Tent Campaign
on the South Side.
SANGUINE or GREAT SUCCESS
Three Services Yesterday In tho Tent ot
brook Street and Cedar Avenue.
Tells Of Experiences in Home.
stead and Chicago.

Schiverea, one of this country's IA
nous evangelists, yesterday began
tent campaign on the South Side tnat
will last at least ten days and possibly
several weeks. While he is no stranger
to the city at large. having conducted
revival meetings last year in the North
End, West Side and central city, both
he and his work are practically an IN
novation on the South Side, where no
similar movement has been put Tor
ward in many years,
The tent has been located at the cor
ner of Brook street and Cedar avenue,
where the meetings can be convenient
ly reached by cars running on Pittston
avenue Services will be held each
night. and the evangelist will each noon
preach to workingmen or factory girls
In the tent or will go to them at their
place OF work in cases where permis-
sion Is secured. The first of these noon
meetings will be held in the tent to-
morrow, when the services Will be es-
perially for factory girls, although ev-
erybody is invited to attend.
Services We're held morning, after
noon and evening yesterday, and. while
the attendance was not large. the
gatherings represented as many per-
sons as usually come on the first day.
-
netism and practical Christianity that
draws the people, and within two days
each meeting will probably be attended
by a throng that will tax to the utmost
the capacity of the tent, which seats
LOO persons. This has been true of ev-
cry meeting Schiverea has held. He
governs himself and his uttermces ac-
cording TO the needs of the class among
whom he is working. calls things by
their simple and right names, does not
theoriZe and Is merciless in lashing
away the sham of milk-and-water
Christianity.
In q Dcprnvcd Community.
Near Haymarket square, Chicago. a
district abounding with thieves and the
lowest possible element of humanity
and where occurred the memorable riot
of the anarchists, Schiverea began a
campaign several years ago. Hundreds
of the degraded inhabitants of that
region nightly congregated about the
tent but would not enter, nor would
they permit others to participate in the
services.
1t was characteristic of the evangelist
that he announced that baby rattles.
each with a whistle attached. would be
given the next night to each child
word. and, as was expected. a bedlam
followed but he began preaching about
the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus,
and the mothers present Stilled the
noise. and thereafter the meetings were
a success. He related this incident
yesterday and at the same time told of
how he gave away a wagon load OF
watermelons and another of bananas in
order to get newsboys and bootblacks
to a meeting especially arranged for
their benefit.
1t was during the afternoon session
that he remarked upon the hundreds
of young girls he had seen walking
Lackawanna avenue the night before.
He said he had observed the same
thing in other cities, but never on so
large a scale as in Scranton. accom-
panying his observation with some
and forceful remarks to the parents
among the auditory.
A feature of the services Is the sing
Ing. The songs are selected gospel
hymns. copies OF which are distributed
through the audience. The leader is
II. A. Wolfsohn, baritone of consid-
erable merit, who is ably assisted by a
choir of South Side voices, and yester-
day they sang with a swing and spirit
which argues much for the attractive
ness of the meetings.
LabOrcd in Homestead.
Schiverea remarked yesterday upon
the fact that the workingmen Of the
South Side and their labors might be
compared to the working population
and the industries in Homestead, where
a short time ago he conducted similar
services He had received disoOura ge-
ments while arranging to go to that
great iron and steel manufacturing
town, but went, nevertheless. and when
he finished his work he left with the
knowledge that Christian lived in
nine of every ten houses of the town.
He hoped to do as well. he said. on the
South Side of Scranton. Judging from
the interest shown in the first days
services, the evangelist's hopes will be
realized.
The meetings are undertaken under
an arrangement made between gener-
Gus individuals of the Central City
and n few of the South Side churches;
the former supply the incidental funds
necessary to the work. while the latter
furnish the singers and workers.
WHISTLER success Will follow Is a ques-
tion upon which Evangelist Schiverea
himself has no doubts. lie has never
had a failure, and perhaps the reason
may be found in a course pursued by
him yesterday. He explained how
hard 1t was to create enthusiasm among
an element that did not walk with
Christ. and urged all Christians within
reach of his voice to pray earnestly
and long for assistance from the Mas
ter. He argued that humility and
prayer IL. earnest and honest, would