The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-13

They Begin a Vigorous Revival at
the First Baptist Church


The Crane and Wolfsohn revival
meetings at the First Baptist church
opened very auspiciously yesterday
morning. Despite the cold, there was
a good congregation, and a very favor
able impression was made by both
evangelist and soloist
Rev. Arthur Crane, the evangelist is
an Englishman of about forty-five
heavy growth of black hair, which at
times falls over his forehead so as to
almost obscure his features
His theme yesterday morning was
Fundamental Truths his text being
taken from the question asked by Je-
sus of the Jews: What think We of
CHRISTI" This, he claimed was the
most important of all questions that
could engage the human mind, and in
a graphic and energetic way he sought
to impress it home upon the attent GA
OF his hearers. While at times his man
ner and gestures are vigorous they are
always in keeping with his words;
when presenting the argumentative
side of his subject he is calm and dis
passionate, although at other times al
most dramatic in the vividness both of
his speech and motions. He spoke fiji ST
Of this question as relating to the per-
son of Christ. Whose Son is Hep"
And with intense earnestness he in
sisted that Christ was the Divine Son
of God. After calling for the testimony
of the prophets. Moses, David. Isaiah
and John the Baptist, he took up the
claims put forth by Christ Himself,
and contended that He must be divine
or else He deserved to be put to death
by the Jews for making Himself equal
with God. Next he propounded the
same question in regard to the death
of the Savior. If any, he said. did
not like the preaching of atonement
through the sacrificial death of Christ
they need not come to hear him. for
that was the only plan of salvation he
knew or preached. The scarlet thread
OF redemption through the blood ran
all through the Bible. After this he
asked: What think We of Christ. In
relation to His resurrection 2" Quoting
Dr.. Fairburn, of Oxford, as authority
for the statement that without the res
direction of Christ the whole fabric of
Christianity would fall to the ground
the preacher stated that he liked the
way the matter was put by the Apostle
Paul, when he spoke of Jesus as "de-
livered for our offenses. but raised
again for our Justification" and in a
most realistic manner he described the
SufferingS of Christ as having been en-
dured by Him when the Savior stood
in the relation of substitute for Him.
Mr.. Crane repudiated the theory eX-
pressed by some hymn writers that
Jesus had burst the bands of death. as
though he were a prison breaker liable
to be rearrested, and urged that in
stead of this he had fully satisfied the
claims of divine justice and rose free of
every obligation on behalf of the gull
ty soul who put its trust in him. In
conclusion, he impressed upon the con-
gregation the Importance of settling
their personal attitude to Jesus It was
not enough to believe that He was the
Son of God and the Savior of men, they
must take Him as their own Savior;
He would not force them to do this
against their WILL but in dying for
mankind He had shown His desire for
their salvation, and it now remained
for them to accept and confess Him.
Mr. Wolfshon, who, despite his name,
is also an Englishman, sang various
selections in very pleasing manner
He is possessed of a rich and powerful
baritone voice and his enunciation Is
remarkably distinct. 1t is easy to see
that he will prove very able assistant
to Mr.. Crane.
The meetings will be continued every
day this week, except Saturday, at
and 7:45 p. m.