The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-27
MEN AND WOMEN SHOUT
THRILLING SCENES OF RELIGIOUS
FERyOR AT a TENT MEETING.
Great Crowd of CoIored People
Aroused by the Words of an
Evangelist.

of the prodigal son. Last Friday night
the '.prodigaI' left home, illustrated by a
young man leaving the audience. dressed
we'll and with plenty of money. Last night
he was to return in rags. repentant, asking
forgiveness and to be restored to his IA
theirs household. He was to be received.
the fatted calf was to have been killed,
new clothing was to have been given him
and the ring was to have been placed
upon his finger. The meeting progressed
almost to this point last night when the
rain became so heavy that it beat through
| the tent and the descriptive portion of the
| biblical allegory was not carried out.
The meeting began yesterday morning
| at 10 o'clock, in the tent. Rev. James Nor
| ton, pastor of Antioch Church, preaching
the sermon. The congregation spread be-
yond the walls of the tent. and in the
| crowd around the pulpit were fifteen local
| preachers. The audience was well s~prinkled
| with white people. many of whom have
| attended Rev. Grifin's meetings ever since
he has been in the city. After service
there was free dinner to everyone in the
| church. All through the noon hour crowd
| remained in the tent, and at 2 o'clock liz
| the afternoon, when Mr.. Griffin mounted
NAC
the rostrum, he faced a congregation ever
| larger than had attended the morning meet
ing. Mr.. Griffin breaches what he terms
"old style religion" and what followed
after he had fairly begun was evidence
that he gave the people what they wanted,
or was needed.
Enthusiasm soon ran high, and there was
shouting on all sides. One man, a large
muscular fellow, could not restrain him.
self. and bounded over the seats and all
the men that could get around him were
unable to hold him fast. After the service
the congregation adjourned to the Four
teenth-street canal bridge where baptismal
services were held. A white woman was
the first immersed by Mr.. Griffin, and then
a rain came and the crowd, perhaps 1000,
that had gathered upon the banks of the
canal, dispersed in all directions, seeking
shelter in neighboring houses. AS the rain
ceased the people began to gather in the
tent again and the contents of well-flled
baskets were distributed for supper. So
bounteous was the supply of food that
| this second requisition failed TO exhaust the
store on hands.
THE TENT AGAIN FILLED.
When night came the tent was filled,
and by the time the evening service be-
gan people were packed a dozen deep all
around the sides. Mr.. Griffin occupied the
pulpit and preached on the "Prodigal
Son." Before he began he stated that the
meeting was for everybody TO take part
in and when anyone felt like shouting to
shout with all their might. The prelim-
mary services to the sermon was a "ju-
bilee meeting and song service" To say
that the audience was moved is beyond
question. Mr.. Griffin 'iined out old hymns
| Familiar 70 tho Orax-hofrnH m M paioS'
and 'uncles" hat were conspicuous in the
audience, which seemed to fairly touch
their souls. Such songs as I've Got the
Love of Jesus in my Heart 'We1l Walk
the Streets of the New Jerusalem "Old
Tim Religion" etc. were sung.
Louder and louder grew the tones,
stronger and stronger were the words
lined out and with increased fervor were
they sung. "'Tis the old time religion"
sounded hundreds of voices in chorus. ut
makes me feel so happy sang the min
lister, and the audience would repeat it
with renewed vigor, swelling on each sue
. cessive chorus with intensified earnestness.
Some were so deeply moved that they
broke forth in shouts. shook hands with
those around them and clapped their hands
together. Following this Mr.. Griffin sang
a Psalm i'm a chanting tone to time kept
by the feet of good brothers on the ros-
trum. AT intervals the congregation
joined in on a chorus in long meter"
This was even more of. an incentive than
any previous part of the service and
brought a woman who sat near the front
to her feet with a loud exclamation of
Joy as she threw her hands wildly about
over her head. IT'S religion sure
enough" came from many in the audience.
An effort was made TO control her, while
others said, LET her shout" Mr.. Grit
fin himself took up the spirit of enthusiasm
and marched back and forth across the
pulpit, stepping in time to his song. A
colored brother sitting on the rostrum
could not retain his seat longer. and with
long strides and shouts went back and
forth in front of the minister. A white
man in the audience then got up and began
to preach. His voice was audible above the
others shouting. and encouragement was
lent him by others proclaiming in tones
that sounded above his own, Preach it
brother" Then a woman on the front
seat became possessed of the spirit, and.
jumping up, seized the minister by the
hand and nearly dragged him from the
platform, crying that she was so happy
she could do nothing but shout. AS the
jubilee meeting closed the ardor subsidized
and a collection was taken.
SHOUTS OF EMULATION.
After the collection Mr.. Griffin took up
his subject, and in fifteen minutes what
had been considered inspiration before was
merely nothing to what was then taking
place.. The minister quoted passage after
passage of Scripture, first in reference to
some Biblical patriarch and then in refer
ence to salvation of souls. What had been
occasional utterances of approval were now
unanimous shouts of exultation. Men We're
shouting Come on brother You're
preaching the gospel now Look at him.
and above the strong masculine voices and
sonorous tones of the minister proclaiming
the gospel rose shrill screams and feminine
crys of 'Hallejuah.' Women were Jump
ing up and down, gesticulating with their
arms, and men were trying 10 hold them.
Suddenly there would be a mmot in
an apparently quiet part of the audience.
1t was the signal for a renewed demon
seat enthused with the religion that had
already taken complete possession of her
sisters.
1t was not long until this became general.
Everybody was standing ON their feet.
Now and then a woman with a man vainly
trying TO hold her. would drag him several
feet through the crowd. Those who could
remain quiet tried TO fan the enthused.
Through physical exhaustion some began
TO sink down on the benches in rapture,
but the ranks were at once filled up two
for one by converts and penetent back
sliders. The tent was by this time a mass
of shouting humanity and presently in the
midst of the crowd came the big form of
the minister. walking on the seats. He
stopped i'm the middle of the tent. still
his voice quivering from intense strain and
perspiration rolling over his face.
While this excitement was going on the
rain began to pour upon the canvas, but
it was UNDECIDED by the religiously inspired
within. Then the water began TO leak
through the shelter. coming down in
streams in places, and yet the ardor was