The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
METHODS OF EVANGELIST
THOMAS G. HARRISON ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER HIS WORK.
He. Often Changes His Text After
Looking Over His Audience
Things That Help Him.

There is a way which seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of DEATH" This is the text from
preach a discourse to the unconverted in
his audience at Roberts Park Church to-
night, unless he should change his mind.
The hoy preacher does not always talk
on the subject on which he has prepared
himself in advance. Very often he
said, when 1 get to the edge of the
rostrum and look into the faces of my
congregation / see that the text have
chosen is not appropriate and somehow L
always find a better one on the spur of
the moment. L believe firmly in the scrip
tural statement that the Lord will put
words into the mouths of His servants in
time of need.
lone of the greatest difficulties with
which have to contend in revival work."
continued Mr.. Harrison, sis a choir that
is slow to catch on TO my peculiar man.
ner of working. The choir at Roberts Park
is the best / have ever had in any of my
series of meetings. They are a faithful
lot of young people-always on time and
never seemingly grow weary of the serv-
ices. no matter how they may be prolonged.
The organist, too, is fine. She is one of
the few young women who have been able
to learn quickly the way in which want
the hymn Praise God played. 1 believe
in the rapid movement for that song 1t
sounds more like it comes straight from
the heart. This organist played it cor
rectly from the very start.
DELIGHTED WITH MEETINGS.
H.
made in the meetings thus far the evangel-
list exclaimed: I'VE have made splendid
progress, don't you think? Why, we hsve
passed the one-hundred mark and are
we'll into the second hundred conversions.
l think that is fine record with which
to start off the third week. You know the
third week does not really begin until
Monday, as had no altar service ON
the Sunday night the meetings began"
Mr.. Harrison was informed that rumor
has it that his age is about fifty-one. 'Oh,
my, no." he CALCULATED. II am not near
that old. ] am just turned forty / be-
gan revival work when / was sixteen. i
guess 1 am about the oldest evangelist
left in active service. You know Sam
jones has had to lay aside the harness,
at least temporarily. Dwight l.. Moody is
at rest and Joseph Hulse Weber, another
one / recall just now, has been ordered by
his physicians 10 rest for at loast an en-
tire year. Poor Weber, JIG is almost a
complete wreck. Did you ever see him
pray? Why, he would nearly shake him
self to pieces"
Mr. Harrison feels very kindly towards
the Indianapolis newspapers, and says
they have treated him and his series of
meetings very handsomely. "But St Louis
is the place where I get the most space
in the papers, he said. lover there /
used to get four columns a day at the be-
ginning of my meetings. and later a col
rfv1ra cnlf
of the papers as soon as l reached the
city and asked them il they would assist
me in the work, and nearly every one OF
them said cheerfully, oh, yes. indeed we
WILL"
The evangelist is accompanied on his
peregrinations by his aged mother, Of
whom he seems to be exceptionally fond.
Employees of the hotel at which Mr.. Har-
rison and his mother are stopping fire.
Quently comment upon the solicitude the
preacher manifests for the comfort Of his
mother. Mothers greatest regret" said
the evangelist, lis that she is no longer
physically able to take an active part in
my meetings. She used to go through the
congregation after the invitation had been
given and work as earnestly as any Of the
young folks. Now, however. by the time
she has shaken hands with a hundred or
SO people at the close of the service she
is about exhausted. But she prays for the
success of each meeting. Mother is a won-
derful help TO me, can tell you. / would
not know what to do without her."
MEN WHO HELP HIM
Mr.. Harrison has been very fortunate on
many occasions in coming across men who
rendered him valuable assistance in the
conduct of his work. when held my
series of revival services at ST. James
Methodist Church in Chicago said he.
which is one of the most fashionable
churches in that city. perhaps my best
helper was the millionaire pork packer,
Mr.. Swift. After that man became con-
verted IL was really wonderful the way
he pitched in and worked to bring others
to Christ. One night he came to the
church carrying an immense bundle under
his arm. This he quietly deposited on q
chair near the door and when the service
was over he opened the package and dis
trtbuted several thousand circulars ad-
vertising the meeting. giving onn g. each
person n the aud1enco - they 1okt he