The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-03
FIFE MEETINGS CLOSED.
A Great Work in Henderson-An In
fluencc Set in Motion the Effects OF
Which Nav Never be Known.

|
After two weeks of earnest, conse
| Grated work here Evangelist w. L.
| Fife closed his meetings Sunday night.
Words fail US in doing justice to the
power and influence of his preaching.
He had large crowds to hear him at
every service Burwell Hall being taxed
to its utmost seating capacity. People
came in large numbers from long dis
tances in the country aud these added
| to those in town made up such crowds
as Henderson has never known before
to attend upon the preaching of the
Gospel excepting only the Pearson
| meeting few years ago.
Most Of The business places, includ-
iug warehouses aud saloons were closed
during the morning service, TACT
| which Mr.. Fife and those who were in
sympathy with and aiding him i'll his
work appreciate fully. And this was
all the more remarked upon because
| the closing up was not unanimous,
| some few keeping open.
Taken as whole perhaps such pow
erful and effective sermons were never
| heard in Henderson as Evangelist Fife
preached for two weeks. He seemed
| to surpass himself at each succeeding
| effort. But there was no attempt at
display-no straining after effect save
| to convict and to convert. Mr.. Fife
dealt not in metaphors nor wasted
time in vague theorlzing. He
| went to the Bible for his author
ity and preached the Word in its
purity and simplicity. His sermons
were characterized by an earnestness
of manner, directness of speech, power
of JUNCTION and sincerity Of purpose sell
dom equalled. They were not only
strong but powerful. Powerful in con-
ception, powerful in delivery, powerful
in convincing argument. People hung
upon his words and heard him gladly.
Saint and sinner praised alike while
others criticised. Nor would it have
been natural had it been otherwise.
But the Evangelist did great work
| in Henderson and the town is better
| for his coming. 1t is estimated that
counting the number Of backsliders and
new converts together the number who
openly made profession was between
|
| posed it was so large as that. Most OF
these were persons from the country,
some of them living at il considerable
distance. SO it will be seen how wide
| spread the influence of these meetings
has been.
The attendance at night being so
great that the Hall could not accom-
modate them, Mr.. L. II. Leavitt, Cos
pei Worker, from Wilmington, who
had aided Mr.. Fife i'll previous meet
ings, held special services for the col
ored people at the Colored College. He
had large crowds to hear him and we
are told that his work was highly sue
cessful, the colored people taking
fully as much interest in his preaching
as the whites did in Mr.. Flies.
Thursday morning Mr.. Fife pre- lched
a special Thanksgiving sermon taking
for his subject ''Joyousness. His
talk was BETTING The occasion and his
appeals in behalf of the contribution
for the different orphan asylums of the
State resulted i'll about 500 being
raised for that purpose, which was
properly distributed and promptly for
warded by the committee having the
matter in charge.
Saturday night Mr.. Fife preached tc
men only in the Methodist Protestant
church. At the Baptist church wo.
mans prayer meeting was in progress:
at the same hour. Both services were
we'll attended and the meetings were O.
a refreshing and enjoyable character
MI. Fife closed the series Of meet
ings proper Sunday night. The occa-
sion was one never to be forgotten. Il
was the most solemn one we ever wit.
messed. Instead of closing with bis
Notification and praise service as ht
intended it was turned completely
around and partook more of the nature
OF funeral after some terrible catas
trophe had overtaken the community
1t was awful for its very solemnity
such time as many in the congrega
ton hope never to experience again
The causes therefor need not be men
toned here.
1t has been Mr.. Flies custom il
closing his meetings to thank his help
ers-the choir, organists, ushers, ant
other workers--for their assistance
but Sunday night he was in no hui
NOR for speaking about such things
and we take this opportunity to ex
press to each and every one his CRATE
full appreciation Of the aid given il
Whatever capacity.
Monday morning MI. Fife made {
talk especially to Christians. His sub
ject was 1.-The Bible and How to Stud,
IT, He made liberal quotations from
the Scriptures and asked his hearers tC
Jot down the passages as aids to thu
study OF Gods Word, grouping his re
marks under two headings-first
why" second, "How" to study i
intelligently and helpfully.
Special mention must be made of the
choir. This was composed of some Of
the best voices in town and under the
direction OF MI. II. A. Wolfsohn they
had been well trained in singing the
songs used On this occasion. Miss Kate
Dean was organist at the morning ser
vices while Miss Fannie Burton played
tor the night meetings. Both young
ladies performed their duties well ant
faithfully. MI. Wolfsohn s solos wer,
greatly enjoyed. His selections were
always time.", each number being rem
dered with Il warmth of feeling an(
sweetness of voice which made him a
tavorlte at all times. The ushers were
alert and accommodating and their
offices will be long remembered b,
those who shared their kind attentions
Beside $500 raised for the expens,
account handsome purse was presen.
ted to Mr.. Fife as ''free will offering. ;
This was the work Of the finance com
mlttee subscriptions and a congrega
! tional collection being taken up for the
purpose before the meeting closed.
Mr.. Fife goes from here to Louisburs
where he will begin two weeks meet
ing next Sunday. May his work be as