The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-02-27

potent men are not wrought upon by relig-
ious influence? That shows you have not
observed what has been goihg on.
Commodore Foote, representing the navy;
General Grant and Robert E. Lee, represent
ing the Northern and Southern armies; Chief
Justice Chase, representing the Supreme
Court; the Frelinghuysens, Theodore and
Frederick, representing the United States
Senate; William Pennington and scores OF
others, representing the House OF Represent
atives, have surrendered to that gospel,
which before this winter Is out will In this
capital of the American Nation. II we are
faithful In our prayers aud exertions, turn
into the kingdom of God men OF National
aud International power, their tongues OF
another Pentecost. There are on yonder
hill those who by the grace OF God will be.
come John knoxes and Chrysostorns
and Fenelons and Bourdeleaus, when
once regenefated. = There Is an
Illusion I have heardih prayer
meetings and heard in pulpits, that a
soul Is q soul--one soul worth as much as
another. deny 1t. The soul of a man who
can bring 1000 or 10, 900 other souls into the
kingdom OF God is worth 1000 times or
10. 900 times more than the soul Of a man
who can bring no one into the kingdom. A
great outpouring Of the Holy Spirit in this
capital, reaching the chief men of America,
would be Of more value to earth and heaven
than in any other part Of the Nation BECAUSE
1t would reach ali the States, cities towns
and neighborhoods OF the continent. Oh,
for the outstretched right arm of God AL
mighty In the salvation Of this capital.
Some Of us remember 1857; when at the
close Of tho worst monetary distress this
country has ever felt, compared with which
the hard times OF the last three years were
a boom of prosperity, right on the heels OF
that complete prostitution came an awaken
ing in which 500,0J people were converted
In different States of the Union. Do you
know where one OF its chief powers was
demonstrated? In Washington. Do you
know on what street? This street. Do you
know in what church, This church. /
picked up an old book a few days ago and
was startled and thrilled and enchanted to
read some words, written at that time by the
Washington correspondent Of q New York
paper. He wrote: ''The First Presbyterian
Church can scarce contain the people: Re-
quests are daily preferred for an interest in
tho prayers offered, and the reading OF these
forms one of the tenderest and most effective
features OF the meetings. Particular pains
are taken to disclaim and exclude every
thing like sectarian feeling. General aston
ishment is felt at the unexpected rapidity
with which the work has thus far proceeded,
and we are beginning to anticipate the ne
cessity Of opening another church" Why,
my hearers, not have that again, and more
than that2 There are many thousands more
of Inhabitants now than then. Besides that,
since then are the telephone, with its SEMI
oInhipresence, and the swift cable car for as
sembling the people. I believe that the
mightiest revival of religion that this city
has ever seen is yet to come, and the earth
will tremble from Capitoline Hill to the
boundaries on all sides with the footsteps of
God as He comes to awaken and pardon and
save these great populations.
People Of Washington. lmeet US next Thurs
day night, at half past Eo'clock, to pray for
). .zrming Of the HI dhost--not for a
o az ftal 5000 that 1naye referred to, but
IAar;,,uch a fire as that would kindle q
q aoih WON'T be seen from the sledges
eAr0y Cthrough the SHOWS of Labrador to
INCH ocean Sea, where the whirlwinds are
- Let our cry be that OF Habakkuk the
Jul U verse poet of the Bible, so Lord, re-
,e Thy work in the midst of the years, in
me midst OF the years make known; in wrath
remember mercy" Let the battlecry be
Washington for God, the United States for
God, America for God, the world for God!
We are all tired OF skirnishing. Let US
bring on general engagement. We are
tired Of fishing with hook and line
With one sweep of the gospel net let US
take In many thousands. This vast work
must begin somewhere. Why not here2
Some one must give the rallying cry, why
may not I, one OF the Lords servants? By
Providential arrangement, am every week
in sermonic communication with every city,
town and neighborhood of this country, and
l now give the watchword to north and
south and east and west. Hear and see it,
all people-this call to a forward movement.
this call to repentance and faith, this call to
a continental awakening!
This generation will soon be out Of sight.
Where are the mighty men OF the past who
trod your Pennsylvania avenue and spake
in yonder National Legislature and decided
the stupendous questions OF the supreme jul
dicatory? Ask the sleepers in the Congress
sional cemetery. Ask the mausoleums all
over the land, Their tongues are speech
less, their eyes closed, their arms folded,
their opportunities gone. their destiny fixed.
How soon time prorogues parliaments and
adjourns senates and disbands cabinets and
empties pulpits and dismisses generations!
What we would do we must do quickly
or not do at all. / call upon people who
cannot come forth from their sickbeds to i'm
plore the heavens in our behalf from their
midnight pillows, and call upon the aged
who cannot, even by the help OF their staff,
enter the churches to spend their last days
on earth in supplicating the salvation of this
Nation, and 1 call upon all men and women
who have been in furnaces Of trouble, as
was Shadrach, and among lions, as was
Daniel, and in dungeons of trouble as was
jeremiah. to Join in the prayer. and let
the church OF God everywhere lay hold
of the Almighty arm that moves Ma
tions. Then Senators Of the United
States will announce to the State legislatures
that sent them here. and members Of the
House OF Representatives will report to the
Congressional districts that elected them,
and the many thousands OF men and women
now and here engaged in the many depart
ments or National service will write home,
telling all sections of the country that the
Lord is here and tina. He Is on the march'for
the redemption OF America. Halleluiah, the
Lord is coming. l hear the rumbling of His
chariot wheels. / feel on my cheeks the
breath OF the white horses that draw the
Victor! I see the flash of His lanterns
through the long night Of the worlds sin
and sorrow.
We want in this country, only on a larger
scale, that which other centuries have seen
OF Gods workings, as in the reformation Of
the sixteenth century, when Martin Luther
and Philip Melanchthon led on; as In the
awakening OF the seventeenth century, when
Bunyan and Flavel and Baxter led on; as in
the awakening of the eighteenth century.
when Tenant and Edwards and the Wesleys
led on; as Ia the awakening OF 1857. led on
by Matthew Simpson, the seraphic Methodist.
and Bishop MacIlvaine, the apostolic Epis-
copalian, and Albert Barnes, the consecrated
Presbyterian, and others Just as good In ali
denominations. Oh. will not some of
those glorious souls Of the past come