Evening star., 1899-03-02
DECISION DAY OBSERVANCE
Sunday Next Selected for Special Feature
Of Chapman Services.
Large Crowd Last Evening to Hear
the Evangelist Discuss the
PrOdixal Son.

The most conspicuous result of the evan
gelistic meetings now being conducted in
this city by Rev. DrJ Chapman of Philadel-
phia will probably be the observance of
Decision day in all Sunday schools of the
District next Sunday. At that time all
Sunday school teachers will give their pu-
pills an invitation to decide to become Chris
tians. The plan was suggested by DR..
Chapman, and unanimously accepted, at
recent conference of Sunday school work.
ers. The committee then appointed, of
which Mr.. Miles NJ shand is chairman, has
prepared the necessary printed matter and
distributed it to the various superintend-
ents Plans are being made for a public
| meeting for young people Sunday afternoon
In connection with this work.
Overflow services have become the rule in
the Chapman meetings, and last night was
no exception So unanimous seemed to be
the desire to hear the pastor-evangelst
that people began to gather about the doors
as early as half-past o'clock, and when
they were admitted half an hour later all
aValiabie space was occupied Immediately.
An amusing but not unique spectacle was
the sisht of people sitting on the lodges of
the small tower windows and on the slim
rails of the organ gallery. 1t is not
much the personality of DR.. Chapman nor
the novelty of the meetings that seems to
| draw the crowds. 1t is rather that same
Siihplitlty VI statement Oh d pain Idct. IN
Whlch there is universal interest, that made
Moody famous. Dr. Chapman has mes
sage to deliver, is convinced that he is
commissioned a messenger, and impresses
the people that his words are individually
personal. That seemed to be the secret of
his success, which has been remarkable
during the past five, days.
The song service last night was led by
DIR. Chapmans musical director, Mr.. Har-
per Garcia smyth assisted by Misses Smith
and kimball at the pianos and Percy S.
Foster at the organ. There have been many
requests for Mr.. Foster to act director,
and he may conduct the singing tomorrow
night On the platform representing the
various churches the following pas
tors: Revs. S. H. Greene. Charles o. War
ren, Wallace Radcliffe, w. C. Alexander,
George Luccock, Hez Sven, Thomas {.
Easton, J. G. Butler, Charles A. Stakely
and E. G. Shaver. DR.. Hez Sven offered
the opening prayer, and Mr.. Smyth sang
Looking This Way" as d baritone solo,
preceding the sermon.
The PrOdigars Return.
Dr. Chapman's text was: But when he
was yet q great way off his father saw
him. Luke 15:2O The story of the Prodi-
gal Son is one of the sweetest stories of
the New Testament, said the preacher. He
compared it TO the beautiful little stream
that rippled down through the royal gorge
of the Rockies, one of the most fascinating
sights in all that mountain scenery. This
is the story for every man who wants to
know about God he said. 1t is not especially
for the younger or the elder son. but for
every son who wanderS from home. 1t
gives the story of the fathers love for his
lost children.
God can save the man that's the farthest
away in sim" said DIR. Chapman. "and
every man that fs between him and that
man. Three things only are necessary for
a man to have eternal salvation, a willing
mind, a desire to know the truth and an
honest confession of an intention to live
a Christian life .-.'-
THE cid father met the prodigal away
off and greeted him with kiss. He did
but kissed him with all his rags, and after
all his wanderings. That was a good rep
| resentatCn of the grace of God"
In closing DR.. Chapman made most
powerful appeal to the wanderers to re-
turn, and there were thirty requests for
prayer. .Toyt5r', -
The afternoon meeting in the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church was of the
nature of the quiet bour' made famous
| by the English evangelist, Rev. L. b. Meyer.
The text was chosen from Joshua, Is, 10:
who answered, give me a blessing; for
thou hast given me southland; give me
also springs of water. And he gave her
the upper springs and the neither springs"
Taking the figure from the words of the
text, DR.. Chapman said many Christians
have crossed the border line between the
wilderness of their half-hearted lives and
come into the southland Of a new expert
ence. There were four kinds of Christians
the speaker held up examples not to be
| followed. Calvary Christians live always
at the foot of the cross and never get any
further. Resurrection Christians get as far
as the tomb and live continually in dark
ness. The class of Christians who are
active during special times of revival but
become victims of reaction when the re-
vival closes, he called Forty Day Christians
while those who never go beyond the ac-
ceptance of the promises of God are ascen-
sion Christians In contrast to these Is the
DentecDStal Christian. who believes that
what belongs to Christ belongs to him. He
| possesses the Spirit and Is possessed by
the Spirit. That, according to DIR. Chap
man, was the ideal condition OF the Chris
tian life and one which he claimed all Chris
An Extra Meeting.
Owing to the fact that so many people are
| unable TO hear DR.. Chapman afternoon or
evening, an extra meeting will be held to-
| morrow morning at 10:3O o'clock in the
Luther Place Memorial Church, Vermont
avenue and 14th street, when the subject
will be Something About Winning
Crowns There will be services this after
noon and evening, as usual the present
series closing tomorrow night at the Cal
| vary Baptist Church.
1t is understood efforts are being made to
persuade DIR. Chapman to return for an
other series of services in a few weeks. If
| he decides TO come back, it is said Conven-
| ton Hall will be engaged as a meeting
place.
Sl.25 to- Baltimore and Return