The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-12
THE BOY PREACHER HERE
THOMAS G.. HARRISON COMES RACK
AFTER NINETEEN YEARS.
The First Revival Meeting Held at
Roberts Park Church-At Hall
Place Church.


gelist. began a series of revival meetings
in Roberts Park Church last night. The
large auditorium was filed in every part.
and much interest was manifested in the
service. In his opening prayer Mr. Harri-
son recalled the interesting fact that on the
18th of March nineteen years previous he
began his first indianapolis revival meeting
under unfavorable auspices, the weather
being bitterly cold and excessively dis
agreeable. He also stated in the same con-
nection that he has been an evangelist
twenty-fv years.
Recalling the former meeting, the evan
gelist declared that it was so successful
that before il closed over twelve churches
in this city were conducting revivals stimuli
taneously. The older people in last nights
congregation who recalled that when Mr..
Harrison appeared in indianapolis before
he was given the sobriquet of THE Boy
Preacher" noted with pleasure that the
passage of years has done but little to de-
prive him of the right TO still use that
designation. He seems as young-looking,
as nervous and as ceaselessly active as he
was nineteen years ago. His personal pc
culiarities are many. Those most notice
able are a habit of running one hand
through his pompadoured hair frequently
and with nervous energy, restlessness
while praying that prompts him TO alter
nately kneel or stand, and an inclination
at times 10 leap TO the seat of a chair in
his excitement. Prior to the sermon last
night DR.. Bacon. pastor of the church, an
nounced that practically all OF the custom
for ~ ha
continued in order to yield precedence to
the revival services
EvANGELIsT'S TEXT.
Mr.. Harrison took az his text the fifth
verse of the twenty-ninth chapter of First
Corinthians: "who then is willing this
day to consecrate his service to God?" By
way of preface to the series of meetings
just commenced, the speaker devoted the
greater part of his talk to a discussion of
the value of revival meetings. and told Of
many conspicuously successful meetings
conducted by himself. He said that to him
nothing is so pleasant a study as the great
REVEALS of history. He talked OF the nature
of such meetings, saying that no two are
alike and that in his opinion no TWO con-
versions TO Christianity are alike. He said
that the formative period of a revival Is
usually in the calling together by the pas
tor of the official board and agreeing 10
employ the services OF an evangelist.
Months ago, he declared, Dr. Bacon heio
such a consultation, the official board
agreed with him as to the wisdom or mold
| ing revival, and a letter was written TO
Mr.. Harrison asking him TO come.
"Dr Bacon began planning a half year
| ago for this very meeting" said Mr.. Har-
rison The speaker emphasized the I'M
| portance of attendants at these meetings
acting messengers TO convey TO their
&C hair INN n N "A
value. He said he once went TO Philadei-
phia TO remain three weeks, and STAYED
| twenty-six. Another time he went to Kan
| kakee, H., to stay two weeks and re-
manned seventeen. ''Arevival, said the evan
| gelist, lis great deal like the yellow
! fever-it is contagious it is catching.
| think "A revival is a great zeal like the
gathering of q storm-first there Is mist
| and then there is a shower and then comes
the deluge." The evangelist referred to the
| queers questions which he said people
often ask about heaven, Christ and God
Sometimes" he said. I'VE ask questions
| about God. We sometimes sing that hymn
! about Gods province, and then sometimes
| we will ask this question about His leading
| us or about our standing up there. YOU
weigh yourself and you say oh, believe
| / going to heaven but you must re-
member you weigh yourself in Imperfect
scales There are only one pair of scales
| from the throne of God Almighty and never
| lose their justice. Men and women hers
| hear me preach tonight and you say !
think by and by God will save me,
| ''Will He? You weigh yourself in the
| scale of your own estimation and by and
| by God will weigh you in the scale of His
| Justice"
| CONVERSION OF MILLIONAIRE.
| Mr.. Harrison told graphically of the con
version of a millionaire pork-packer Of
| Chicago Mr. Swift, who he said possessed
twenty millions of dollars and employed
| eighteen thousand men. Without any
| warning. the evangelist broke off his tall
and began singing the hymn rs My Name
| Written There?" in which the older people
in the congregation Joined at once withou
| betraying any surprise, being familiar will
his habits. At the close of the song Mr.
| Harrison said 81 tell you we are on the
| eve OF a great awakening Why. 1t is 81
| still here that you can almost hear tn,
| heartbeat of your own conscience.
| He said that IL a newspaper reporter
! were to ask him what was the greatest re
| vival he had ever conducted he would an
| swer the one at Springfield, H., in which
2.240 people went to the altar to seek con
| version: If asked where was his creates
| meeting for a city, he would answer tn
one in indianapolis nineteen years ag
| was the greatest for a city; If asked wha
| was the most remarkable meeting he eve
held, he would say the one in Brooklyn
n. Y, was the most remarkable, for nearl,
/ HNe tHouSdHu people came every nlSn
| while the thermometer stood at So TIL
| evangelist paid his respects to his brethren
| in the profession who employ the "car
method" showing that he does not at al
| approve of their plan. ~ like the old wa,
| of the Holy Ghost coming down." he said
| You come to some of these revivals an
you rise for prayer and they come TO yo
with card with this question Do you be
lieve that Jesus loves you? Yes. Do yo
believe that He died for you? Yes Yo
| love Hin? Yes. You trust him, don't you
| Yes. Then put your name right there
where you live, and especially what churc
you wish TO join. Well, you all RICH
now. That is going TO heaven on a caro-
tell you belong to the old type and TIA
old school"
At the conclusion of his talk Mr.. Harr1
son asked all who were willing to conse
crate themselves to the success of tn
series or meetings 10 rise In their seats an
several hundred responded to the Invitation
For fear some of his congregation NIGH
be impatient he said II don't believe /
having clock in a revival like they do 1
| Boston. Stop the clock The meetin
was brought 10 close with prayer by Re,
| DR.. Quayle, pastor of Meridian-stree
Methodist Church. The announcement wa
made that the meetings will continue eac
evening. beginning at 1880 promptly. N
| limit has been placed on the duration c
the series of services.