The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13
REVIVAL SEASON ENDS
REV. MR.. OsTROM CONCLUDES HIS
SERVICES AT ROBERTS PARK.
An Immense Audience Hears the Last
sermon-Moravians Have n
New Chapel.

his farewell meeting last night. The crowd
that attended was a good testimony of the
appreciation OF the people OF his work. AT
8 o'clock a perfect stream of people was
leaving the church because 1t was already
crowded to its uttermost. Extra seats had
been placed along the rear and I'm the eisles,
and all standing room within the main au-
ditorium and gallery was occupied. The
crowd that fingered about the doors blocked
the way for ten or fifteen feet. 1t was a
crowd such as has been seen at meetings
here only when conducted by such evan
gelists Moody or Sam Jones. Several
hundred disappointed people wended their
way homeward after finding that they could
get no nearer than ten or fifteen feet of
the doors.
This has been one OF the most thorough
and remarkable revivals ever held in this
city, and its results seem to reach farther
and deeper than most meetings of the kind.
The object throughout has been to appeal
to the intellect rather than the sympathies
and emotions of the people. Every meeting
has been well attended. and during the last
week the large auditorium CT the church
has been crowded. Four meetings were
held yesterday and were attended by enthn>
siastic muititudes. Over one hundred per-
sons have professed conversion and have
signified their desire TO unite with some
church. Their names have been given to
the pastors of the churches for which they
expressed a preference.
At the evening service last night Mr.. Os-
from. the evangelist. spoke in very warm
praise of the help so cordially rendered by
DR.. Coultas. the pastor of the church, the
organist and choir, and ushers and COM
mittee of Christian workers. He said they
would never know until the day of judgment
how much good they did at these meetings.
He also said there was one man who was
not seen much in the meetings to whom
much credit was due-a man who had
worked all night during the cold weather in
order that the church might be made COM
Portable.
The evangelist took for his text part of
ali things are now ready" ,Cod has always
been ready" he said. He made the grass
before he made the cattle. he made the air
before he made man, and he made a beautiful
world before he made you and me. All
things are ready, come. Jesus represents
three excuses for not being ready. think
these three arguments were given by Jesus
to show what foolish things men will say
as excuses for not being ready. The day of
that excuse making is not done. There is
why you are not a Christian. except that
you will not come. Don't offer apologies,
just say I'm stubborn. Lord, cure me- and
you will get Christ before you leave here
tonight. Because people have different es-
Inmates Of things does not excuse you and
me from being Christians. Don't say, oh,
know what to believe Christ's love should
be your creed, His mercy your blessed sub
ject of hope and object OF realization. A
great many people tell us to-day they are
just as good as the church members and
they are not going to come. Now, that is
the devils old. chestnut, and l want you
to bury 1t and put a tombstone over It,
are just as good. My brother, it is perfectly
foolish to talk that way. II a church men,
seF aoss not 10 e Te g 1t Il stsns
off and say, That man Is in the church
and he doesn't live right. I am sinner
a dna vow help Sms ns That is only human
not to say Christian. You say church mem
bers are hypocrites. Well, suppose there
Ss there tns are ia tbs
world. Well. then hypocrites are COINS to
hell; where are you going? You say, 1 am
no Christian. but live better . tnan T. the n,
nonsense You are poor sinner If there
are inperfections in the church you ought
to relieve them as much as possible. Come
make IL right il you possibly can. o! the
utter heartlessness Of standing off and say
ing, I am as good as they are Come to
the supper, all things are now ready, come.
Think OF a man drowning and one standing
on the bank, saying. Just see that man,
IT, couldn't swim yin better than ant that would
Jump in and help him before he sinks for
the last time?
"a tailor met on the street one day told
cause he had to tell lies every day In his
business and said no man could be mer-
chant tailor and not tell lies. That is the
prevailing danger signal Of America, and
we are in danger of becoming a race of
liars. Think of man saying he could not
succeed in an honest business without tell
ing lies! When man has lost his grip. on
truth he has lost his grip on reliability.
Now. / want you to bear in mind that you
can be godly man and succeed in business
pursuits. Surely amid all the occupations
OF to-day there Is somewhere you can get
an honest living. See to IL that you get your
business consecrated by God. III you cam
not take Christ into your business. change
the business. I would rather be slave
chained with chains than be business man
and say, i am in this thing and / can't get
Better go to Africa and get few feet of
ground and live In mud hut and be able
to say, My Father is pleased with me.
/ think the average man ought to go to
church oftener than he does The man who
cannot go TO church twice on Sunday is
over the danger line. Jesus is concerned
over your daily undertaking. Let him in
there and see that you get your business
consecrated."
In speaking Of REVEALS. Mr. Ostrom said:
Zone OF the most splendid opportunities
that ever opened it's gates to man is that
which now offers to business men the prvi-
lege Of proving the very abundant grace Of
our Lord sufficient to sanctify them wholly
and preserve them bameless in the midst
OF a crooked and perverse Nation. among
whom they shine as lights in the world. If
i were perfectly free TO choose my calling,
this OF being holy business man would ap-
peal to me with special emphasis to-day.
II would not be member OF a church
which did not need much of my time.
strength and money. A business of that
kind would not be likely to be healthy
business. The world Is suffering from the
influence Of church sponges.
I've are to be godly. A person who is
brotherly carries with him the very flavor
of a brother. and a godly person carries
with him the very SAVIOR of Cod
There will be special meetings Monday
ard Wednesday evenings at Roberts Park
Church to continue the work already be-
gun. These will be conducted by DR.. Coul-
tas and the committe of workers.