The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-10-08
Letter Read at A w. G. II. U
Meeting Held Here During
the Past Summer.

LuvERNE, May 9, 1861 am sorry
to say fear the Evangelistic depart
ment of our Union has not 7accompl-
ished the past year so far.
When our District President, Mrs.
M. A. Crawford, asked me to write
paper for the convention I said have
nothing to write; thought NOM
ent and then said it I should write a
paper I am afraid the Union would
not like to hear it read.
In the first place I do think the
evangelistic work is of the greatest
importance Of any part Of our work,
for without invoking the blessings OF
God upon our work we can accompl-
ish nothing.
Now will try to read an excuse for
myself which I think is reasonable
one: July l6, '95, I was chosen as
Evangelistic Supt.; Aug. l3 was not
able to meet with Union-1 think l
did not meet with the Union again
until Oct. 6, '95, when we met to OBJ
serve the day of prayer and praise to
God for the mercies bestowed upon
us in the past also the prospect in the
future--I believe the Lord was with
us.
After this I was not able to attend
the Union more than two or three
times until May l, '96, when it was
held at our house; I will here say l
told our President, Mrs. Bronson,
they had better appoint some one in
my place-it seems they did not see
fit to do so. lido think the Union
had ought to have been little more
prompt in attending this part of the
work on the day set appart for it. I
will forgive them this time, hoping
we all as Union may do better work
in the future for the Master.
As I said above; the Union met at
our house May ID, '96. L think we
had good meeting; two new mem
bers were there. 1 had not met be-
fore besides some others said they
thought they would soon join our
Union.
May 3rd under the auspices of the
w. q, T. U. we met at the court house
at 3 o'clock p. M, to hold a Gospel
Meeting; our service was held in the
sheriff's office, the sheriff invited the
prisonersto come in, four came, two
did not care to come. I handed
song book to two of them, one sang
: every time except the last, one of the
men looked over.
When the meeting closed I shook
hands with the prisoners and asked
two of them if they would like to be
Christians, they said they would, the
other two proposed to be, the Lord
knows whether they are or not.
While I was at this meeting my
mind ran back to 1890 when l was in
New York state on visit, Mr.. Or)Rs
and myself with some of our friends
went to the prison in Auburn on Sun
day morning at 9 o'clock to attend
their service; if we were one minute
late the great iron gate would be
closed. There were II hundred con-
victs and large audience of listen
ers were there seated in the gallery.
When I looked down on the great
crowd of convicts, o what sight;
there were 25 in the choir with several
different kinds of instruments and
such sweet music it seemed to me I
had never heard before. There were
a great many in the audience that
sang one with them the song "Christ
Receiveth Sinful Men," How solemn
and yet joyful. The preacher read
the 37th psalm, Fret not Thyself be-
cause of Evil Doors. Please read it.
And such sermon; when he told
them if they had all done right they