The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-29
W.c.T.U WOMEN SAY GooDBY.
THE CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE
STATE CONVENTION.

Mrs SMELLS sermon at Trinity Church
Last Night-The Part She Took in
the Conversion of the Man on
whose Place the suIIivan-KiIrain
Fight Took PIace-Miss keaFney's
Address at the Theater.
The closing.ex exercises Of the state con-
vention Of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union were held at Trinity
church last night. At the conclusion Of
sermon by Mrs. Smell. the unions ma
tional evangelist, the delegates TO the con-
vention and the members OF the local
union were called 10 the altar railing,
where they Joined hands and sang God
be with YOU till we meet again. Mrs.
Smell prayed for the blessing Of God upon
the work of the convention, and DR.. Cook,
pastor Of Trinity church, pronounced the
benedction.
In his remarks before the close of the
convention, DR.. Cook expressed regret
that so little interest had been taken in
its proceedings by the people Of Savannah.
and that the meetings had been as poor
~ attended. He said that when the con-
ventlon comes to Savannah agaiu, as IL
likely will come in the course of the next
few years, he was satisfied more interest
would be taken in its work.
The selection OF the place of holding the
next convention was left with the execu-
tive committee. An invitation was re-
ceived from Thomasville. but il was
thought best to select some more central
place. many unions not having sent dele
gates TO Savannah on account OF the dis
lance
Mrs Smell conducted services yesterday
morning at Grace Methodist church, in
the afternoon at the Bolton Street Chris
tian church and at night at Trinity Metho-
dist church. She is one OF the most pleas
ing speakers that ever addressed sa-
vannah audience and those who heard her
Will remember her with pleasure. She
is earnest and unaffected in her manner
and so simple and direct I'm her ideas and
applications and the relation of her own
experiences are so interesting that she
disarms the most prejudiced and secures
the sympathy of her audience at once.
Mrs Smell is a Methodist and loves to
tive, vital Christianity that proves its
faith by its works and this is the kind
of religion she advocates. Her sermon
was based upon Christ and the woman OF
Samaria whom He met at the well ard
asked for a drink of water and who nc
cepted him instantly when he revealed
himself as the Messiah Christ was a
jew and the woman a Samaritan, hut
this made no difference and she was the
first person to whom he directly stated
MS Messiahshlp. From these incidents in
the narrative the speaker drew many
Interesting conclusions directly applica-
bic TO Christian life to-day.
Mrs Smell gives many interesting Incl
dents OF her own experiences, often both
laughable and pathetic. One of the most
luAtItSLlDE was lnaI OF the conversion OF
Charles w. Rich. the widely known Mis-
sissippi lumberman. at whose place the
battle between John l.. Sullivan and Jake
kllrain was fought several years ago. II
was at the request of his wife that Mrs
Smell went to the Rich place for the espec-
iaI purpose OF converting Rich. She found
II goddess lumber town without a church
where the people had religious services
only once IN two months. She held ser
vices in the school house. The country
men came in in large numbers and brought
their dogs with them in equally large num-
Ders. As soon as the singing began the
dogs set UP a howl and threatened 10
break up the meeting. Mrs. Smell had
been warned that the countrymen were
very sensitive about their dogs, but she
saw mat either the dogs must go or the
meeting would be broken up. so she called
upon the men to put out the dogs. They
attempted to do so; but as fast
ran IN again and between he yelping OF
the dogs and the shouts of the bows pan
demonium reigned. The dogs were finally
kotten OUT, however, and a man was sta
TONED at the door with a fence rail to keep
them out. Emboldened by her success with
the dogs she then proceeded to attack the
Qeyil ana gained as complete a victory over
MIN as she had over the dogs
Rich was converted as were most of his
companions. when he came forward to
the call she made him call upon each of
his gambling associates as he had been a
great gambler, by name to come forward
and join him and they all did so. The scene
was very affecting one and there was
great rejoicing in the little village
Mrs. Smell told another story of "A Louis
lana lumberman whom she converted and
for whom she broke several hundred bot
ties of wine which he had stored in his
cellar and which he turned over to her at
called upon all who wished to be prayed
for that they might lead a new life to
come forward and give her their hands
and they did so.