The Van Buren press., 1896-04-18
An Earnest Appeal.

That minister should make the fol-
lowing appeal in secular press may be
strange thing in some, but l make it
in the name of the Christian religion
and the good Of our town and people.
AS pastor of one of our churches de-
sire to see all our people Christians, and
having this desire the church of which
l am pastor began series of special
meetings April 5. These meetings will
continue for several weeks yet, and
now take this opportunity to give all
persons cordial, urgent invitation to
attend these services.
First-It is the desire of my church
and myself that all the ministers in the
town attend the meetings and help in
the good work. We don't ask any
minister to neglect his own work to at
convictions will allow him-we wish him
to co operate with US.
Second. We desire the attendance
and CO operation Of all Christians in
| the town. Come and help us, Chris
tians. We need you to sing, pray, ex-
hort and counsel with us. We need
your influence. We want you to get
all the good out of the meeting you can,
and then we want you to do us good.
Third. We invite every unconverted
person in this town, whether old or
young, rich or poor, to attend these
meetings. But seeing we have so many
fathers and mothers who are not Christ
ians, we urge these to attend the meet
ing. Also seeing the great number of
business men that are not Christians
and who are not regular attendants at
| church and knowing as we do that these
men are men of great influence, we urge
upon them in them in the name of God
the Christian religion, eternity, their
| families, the young men of our town,
and their own personal, eternal and
spiritual interest to attend these meet
ings. AS soon as Mr.. Black, who is to
help us in these meetings, arrives we
will have two daily services, one at
10 Am. and the other at s Pm. Then
| will wait on every business and pro-
fessional man and ask that they attend
these services.
We would not forget to urge our
young men to attend the meetings. We
have many young men and but few of
them are Christians. No tongue can
tell or pen write my anxiety for these
young men. / know the temptations
that are common to young men Many
are the pitfalls in the pathway Of the
young man. No young man is safe in
Van Buren, who does not walk in the
Christian path. My daily prayer to
God is, that the young men of this city
may become Christians, and that right
early.
All our young ladies are specially in.
vited to come and worship with us.
Many of them are not converted, and
for these we are praying.
There are great number of boys and
girls in the town that are old enough to
come to Christ, and these are asked and
urged to be among our hearers. May
many Of them be converted.
Last, but not least, we extend a most
cordial invitation to all railroad men
and other hardy sons of toll to come and
worship with US. l am glad that so
many of these men are attending our
meeting and some are seeking a better
way. But we want all of them to at
tend, and / pray God that they all who
are not Christians may be soundly con
verted to God and holy life ere this
meeting closes.
This is my appeal. l make it as a
minister and citizen. am not ashamed
to make it. / try to be Christian
gentleman and believe firmly in the re-
ligion of Jesus Christ, and intend as
long as live in Van Buren, to try, by a
goodly life, prayer, personal appeal and
preaching the gospel of Christ to get all
uncovered persons to forsake sin and
live holy lives.
Yours in Christian love,
| r. G. MEDARIs,
Pastor Baptist Church.