The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-28
Christiansburg. Va. Feb. %. 1897


10 the Editor of The Times Last night
one of the most wonderful religious
meetings ever held in this country
closed Brother J, w. Oakley, ,Jr, of
Salem, preached the closing sermon to a
crowded house God works in II mystic
rious way. Several citizens, none of
whom were professors of religion if they
were they were of the kind known ms
worldly Christians, prevailed upon Brother
ID. Is. Strouse to hold II meeting ut this
place; the Brother, believing that God
directed him here, came, aud assisted by
Brothers Oakley and Marshall. COM
mcnced revival meeting here in the
town hall on Friday night, February >
and closed rs above stated, the night of
the 18th. Truly Gods Holy Spirit was
with these men, rs evidenced by the in
tense interest manifested and the result
From 10 to POO Openly ''professed sancti-
fication men and women, who before they
heard the Word as explained by these
men, had made all manner of fun of the
idea of IL sinless life boldly and withou:
trcmor testified daily before all the peo-
pie assembled, that they rejoiccd in II
cIeanscd heart and thanked God that
they were sanctitied. In addition to this
many more than II hundred professed the
religion of Jesus Christ and turned from
their sinful life and signlied their inten.
ton Of joining the church .of Cod; and
last but not least, very many luke warm
Christians had their hearts warmed uD
and are now happy in the love that they
felt when they first believed, and God be
| praised this is not all; bitterness, strife
envy and malice no longer exist among
these who have been blessed in this meet
| ing; men who hated each .other and re-
| fused to speak now shake hands when
| they meet and call each other brother:
men and women who heretofore avoided
religious talk, and always remember sud-
denly That they had business elsewhere
| when the subject of the salvation of
| souls was mentioned, now assemble
themselves together and talk freely and
lovingly of their experiences.
y mems nooE'day prayer-meeting has
been established and there is no lack of
leaders, or men to pray in public At
the commencement of this great Holiness
meeting Brother Strousc ascertained that
in the crowded house that there were
four families represented that had FAM
lily affairs. Just before he left here he
again called on all who had family wor-
ship daily, to hold up their hands tonly
one from each family to respond), and it
was asccrtained that more than fifty
families represented in the audience had
family altars-wonderful increase
The good work done here is not confn-
eel to the town; we regret to say that''all
the town people did not attend the meet
ings, but people came from many miles
away and from every direction and many
could not get in the hall. Last Tuesday
night 1t became necessary to divide the
crowd the hall and courthouse were both
crowded, Brother Watkins, Baptist
minister, preaching for Brother ST, ouse
in the tDwn hall, and Brother Oakley in
the courthouse. by the way this Brother
watkins won the hearts Of all who heard
him; he processes sanctitication, and he
| certainly breaches like ne WAS inspired
lie is earnest and eloquent beyond de
scrintion Brother Strouse has held
several of these meetings indifferent parts
OF the country. and many who had pro-
fessed sanctiiication at the other places,
came To assist in the meeting here They
really testified To the grea; good done ut
other points. Peace and good will pre-
vail all over the community" We have
all made friends OF and with our neigh
bors; creedS and doctrina! points are not
discussed. We are one in Christ Jesus. is
the message brought to us from other
points in the country where these Holt
ness meetings have been held. These
brethren who conducted this meeting do
50 differently from any heretofore had
here. They don't even call their dis
courses sermons, but Bi>le readings, ana