The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-20
Evangelist Crane

The News and Courier, of Saturday, has
this to say of Rev. Arthur Crane, who will
begin ten days meeting in the Baptist
Church, in this city, on the 26th Of this
month:
''Tae meeting in the historical First Baptist
Church, conducted by the English evangelist,
Arthur Crane, continues, aud at each service
there is a marked increase Of interest While
there is SO entire absence of animal excite
ment. deep under current Of spiritual feel.
ing is marked Dr.. Crane is proving himself
master in his work His sermons show
depth Of thought and scholarship aad appeal
to the reason and conscience of bis bearers
he never appeals to The emotions until be has
made 1t appear reasonable and proper thing
to submit to Christ he IS Cbristocentric
preacher, and makes the plan of salvation as
clear as crystal The attendance is large
and growing at each service, while mary are
manifestipg an interest 10 the salvation of
themselves or their friends.
Yesterday morning the evangelist brought
ont the conditions Of receiving the fulloess of
the spirls He said there must be fret con-
viction of need and Of Gods provision. he
declared that the two things which were
keeping Gods children from receiving their
birthright, l. Q, fulness of the epirit, were
ignorance and prejudice Most Christians
are ignorant of the great provision Ged had
made for them and were living in poverty,
while they were heirs of God and joipt heirs
with Jesus Christ. Others had become pre-.
JUDGED through seeing Satan's counterfeit in
those who claimed perfection and were conse-
queutly running into all kinds of fanatical
e1cesses If man claims to be sinless be
should be placed in an insane sylun said
be speak er, for be is dangerous man to be
at large. After con n7iction of need and pro-
vision there must be, Oh the part CT the
seeker, separation from known sin and sepa-
ration to God Then the fulness must be
claimed. not prayed for, for all Gods gifts
are received By faith The illustration used
made the points very clear.
ssLast night the subject was Except man
oe born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the Kingdom of Cod 1t was a
very clear exegisis of difficult text, and was
listened to with the deepest interest. He de-
clared that tie word water referred to the
Word of God, as the word wind 10 the same
chapter referred to the Spirit of God. Though
a Baptist, be declared his deep conviction
that 90 man was ever saved by baptism in
ary form. IL, SAID be, thought eaptlsm
coyld save soul would not waste my time
preaching Ifinmersion were the only mode,
as firmly believe, you would find ne at the
Isle of Palms duckiog everyone 1 could get
hold Of If believed that sprinkline we're
baptism, you would fad me running through
your streets with pail and whtewash brush,
sprnklng everyone | passed. He declared
tnat morality and culture could not give 8
man spiritual life Nor could saying prayers
or any other form of ecclesiastical exercise or
machinery Man must meet the conditions
of 'the Word leaving OF his own efforts
and accepting tie finished work Of Christ,
before God would do His part, viz Inbreatbe
the Spirit of God. He was startingly vivid
at times and the whole discourse wss 40 earn-
est and elcquen: plea for men to give up their
own ideas and accept Christ.
There will be no service today. Tonor-
row, Sunday, Evangelist Crane will speak at
II o'clock on What think ye OF Chris, 2? At
4 30 there will be Gospel rally, TO which
every one is invited, ard Mr. Craue will speak
on "A great Salvation. At 8 Is praise ser.
vice, followed by Gospel sermon. Ali are
invited