The Washington times., 1901-07-15
OUTDOOR CHURCH SERVICES.
Seventh Day AdventIsts Holding
Meetings in n Big Tent.

Gospel Services Every Evening, Sat
urday Excepted-All Are Welcome" This
sign. painted on a large canvas, is to be
seen at the corner of r and Sixteenth
Streets northwest, on an open lot, Occu-
pied only by a large tent, and invites at
tendance at the nightly meetings held
there under the auspices of the Seventh
LAY Baptists. The tent is called the
Seventh Day Baptists' Church. About 800
wooden folding chairs represent the seat
ing capacity of the open air church.
Every night the melody of sacred hymns
is borne on the air. and with the light
and sonorous tifnbre of the voices of the
evangelist speaking the word of God
as he believes it, attracts large congrega-
tions within the canvas shelter. A small
organ provides the accompaniment for the
sacred songs at times. or else the music
is led from the pulpit without instrument.
Deep and fervent prayers are delivered
from the pulpit by the evangelist Oh his
knees on the bare floor, followed by the
other few devotees kneeling in the grass,
with heads buried in hands which rest
on the seats from which they have arisen.
The tent is commodious, high-roofed.
and weather proof and ornamented with
flowers and plants which swing in baskets
from the sides of the tent or are arrayed
on table near the pulpit. The pulpit,
a small wooden platform, on which stands
a Bible rest, with the Holy Scriptures
thereon, is at ore end of the long tent.
One evangelist, a young man of blonde
complexion, conducts the services. He is
w. a. Westworth, of Buffalo, n. Y. 1t
is he that procured the tent. and it's fur
nishing. and inaugurated the evangelistic
movement in this city. The later conner.
John A. Brunson, is an evangelist who
is native of North Carolina. Mr.. Brun-
son is tall, black bearded. fragile in ap-
pearance, and earnest. He has evidently
but one rule of simple faith-the Bible as
it is written literally in all its parts.
If we are TO believe that God has direct
ed US to follow the teachings of the BIZ
ble-and he has" are his own words that
epitomize his understanding of righteous
ness. 1t is MIR. Brunson who delivers the
sermons in well intonated voice which
reaches plainly the ears of his audience.
At night the place is lit with gasoline
torches which shed brilliant radiance
within the tent and a fiickering glare
which finds its way without as beacon
light to passersby. 1t is church, and the
male members of the congregation recog-
nlze the fact by doffing their hats, de-
spite the coolness of some of the nights.
The services are brief, opening with song,
followed by prayer. and then again a sa-
cred hymn The sermon is then read,
with prayer at the close, ana closing
hymn to complete the services.
Yesterday afternoon the usual Sunday
afternoon service was held at O'Clock.
Rain, Immediately preceding the service
hour. chilled the ardor of the regular at
tendants, and the congregation was small.
About twenty-five persons had gathered
when the opening hymn was sung. A few
ers tresl. rod h.. ~t.lc
ceeded. Hymn books, Christ in Song,
We're passed to those present Mr.. West
worth led the song and prayer. Mr.. Brun-
son explained the beliefs of the Seventh
pie and impressive. Among the state
ments he made We're the following:
The Seventh Day Adventist, then. be-
lieves that the Sc zenith day of the week
was appointed by God as the Sabbath
Day. day of rest, blessed and conse-
Grated by God. He also believes that the
second advent of Christ is near.
The Sabbath was established by God.
He made the universe in six days. rested
the seventh, blessed and hallowed it.
There is no other authority for the Sab
bath in the Bible.
The Sabbath was not made for the
Jews. 1t was made for the universe thou
sands of years before the Jews or the
Christian existed. Adam. Noah, even
Abraham. was not a Jew.
Taking the word of God as the guide
of practice and the rule of faith, we find
that he established the seventh day as
the Sabbath. and that the advent of
Christ is promised.
God did not establish the Sabbath or
the commandments for unbelievers. If
a man could keep the commandments and
make himself righteous, without faith, he
would be his own savior. 1t cannot be-
The preacher was followed attentively.
There Is no attempt to excite religious
mania in the hearers. nothing but calm
dissertations on the subjects of the be-
lief of the sect. No contribution was
asked during the service.
The Seventh Day Adventists have their
headquarters in Battle Creek, Mich. All
over the country several hundred evan
gelists. during the spring. summer and
fail. while the weather permits, are con-
Quoting open air services. Canada. South
America. Europe. Asia, Africa, Australia.
the whole world. has been invaded, and
evangelists are preaching to those who
will listeu the doctrines Of seventh day
sabbath and of the near adYent of Christ