The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-04-23
IS KENosHA AN EXCEPTION
is She Bound to Take a Back Seat in
Eyangelistic Work?

~
crowded house last night and in relat-
ing his experience, preached a most
powerful sermon. He abused no one,
but told the story Of how from blindly
following with prayer and an anxious
heart the life of an ardent Catholic,
he found the answer to the cry OF his
soul while listening to the preaching OF
" hereto" on the streets of Cincinnati
He held his audience spell bound for
an hour and will finish the story to-
night.FIt is evident to those who are at
tending the meetings that Mr.. Weber
is a master hand and would lead the
host of christian forces to a great vic
tory if they would avoid criticism and
rally to the standard. Other cities are
awakened and stirred. Will KenOsha
be the exception? The following clip
ping is from the leading New England
christian paper, ZiOn's Herald, concern
ing Mr.. Weber's last field Of labor be-
fore coming to Kenosha:
The series of evangelistic meetings
held under the leadership OF Rev.
Joseph 81. Weber closed by a special
Jubilee service at the Maiden Centre
church, Sunday evening, March 20.
When it was announced that Mr.
Weber was to hold special meetings in
Maiden it was said that this evangel-
lists success elsewhere could not be
considered a criterion for Maiden.
Maiden is an exception it was urged,
Eand men who create a tatrOre else
where scarcely make ripple here
Maiden is too large, too near Boston,
and lacks the solidarity necessary to
the success of any outside person or
movement But the MaplewoOd church,
where Mr.. Weber opened his series of
meetings, was crowded to the doors
the very first night. In one week the
largest auditorium of the city (that OF
Centre M. E. church, with a seating
capacity of l ,200) was needed and filled.
Thereafter this audience room was al
ways we'll filled in spite of the terrific
storms that prevailed-one of which
proved to be blizzard. Whether the
meeting was for men only, for women
only. or for young people only, the
ushers had regularly TO bring in extra
settees and chairs to accommodate the
overfowing congregations.
" AS had been predicted by those
who knew whereof they spoke, the
Weber meetings became the chief
topic of interest even in Maiden. Peo-
pie we're to be heard in the street, on
the trains, in the neWs-rOOms every
where, quoting or misquoting Bro.
Weber's latest utterances. One news
paper attacked him violently, appear
inc with its daily diatribe against the
evangelist. The rival daily, with bet
ter tact and judgment, increased It's
own popularity and prosperity by
championing Mr.. Weber's and the peo-
pies cause. But the subject and OBJ
iect of this newspaper squabble re-
manned serenely obliviOus of it all
caring little whether he received praise
or blame from the press. Conscious Of
Almighty power behind him aiding anG
approving, he kept right on saying
what he considered his duty to say,
calling a spade spade and making
false modesty shudder and cry out
against some Of his scathing denuncia-
tions. AS usual, there were some who
would fain have him, if he must roar at
all, roar gently like dove But
Evangelist Weber's wonderful success
is due to the utter absence of the man
fearing spirit from his make up. Some
times ministers and other friends are
inclined to carefully collaborate a
course for him to pursue, but they soon
find out that he does not order his line
of march by others prescriptions, how
ever elaborate they may be.
I" AS a result, the city of Maiden has
been shaken to its foundations, and
over 800 people have left their lives of
sin and Aocked to the various church
folds. Former Roman Catholics, blatant
skeptics, hardened reprobates; and
many seekers not so extraordinary,
have come by hundreds to the affairs of
five Methodist churches of Maiden (be
side the two already named there are
the Belmont, Faulkner and Linden
churches that have been greatly in
creased in number during these special
meetings). Churches of other demon
nations have been quickened and en-
larged also. So the unexpected has
happened in Maiden"