The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1898-1913, 1901-10-09
The Tent Meeting.

Rev. j. y. Holmes closed the tent
meeting Sunday night. He had in
;ended 10 close week earlier, that
hs might fill another engagement,
but so great was the interest mani
tested that he was constrained to
sluy, During the whole meeting the
audiences were large, attentive, we'll
>chaved and deeply interested.
Hanv who do not go to the town or
suburban churches went out to the
lent meeting. Sunday morning there
were perhaps as many or more atten-
tive, interested people at the tent
than there were in the five churches
in the town. Sunday night
there must have been $500 in
and around the tent. At the close OF
the service Mr.. Holmes asked for all
who felt that they had been saved to
stand up. A large number arose.
He earnestly begged them TO unite
with the church of their choice at
once and get into active Christian
work and fellowship. He begged
them to attend the prayer meetings
Of the churches and do all in their
power to save others. He simply
preached the good news Of sal
vation as he believed and under
stood it. His daily life harmonizas
with his preaching. He conducted
1.-THE meeting in his own way, the pas
tors of the city neither aiding nor op-
posing him. Towards the close Of
the meeting some Of them looking,
perhaps, after the gleanings, may
have gone about the tent. In looking
over the faces of that deeply inter
ested audience Sunday night, packed
as thick as could be under that tent,
an impression came over one that they
we're after what they needed there
and what they could not get at the
churches as the churches in town are
now organized and conducted. With
rough seats, rude pulpit and half
dozen smoked kerosene lamps and
such singing as the people would not
endure Jne day in ary church Of the
city, the people sat there for hours.
tney listened. They were interested.
They were saved, if their own state
ments and confessions were worth
anything. The churches Sunday
aight had their usual audiences, YET
mere were enough people in and
about the tent to fill all the churches.
There were no highly emotional de-
nonstrations, no eXtravagant as=er-
tions from the preacher. He simply,
earnestly preached salvation and
aoly life. Another impression comes
70 one. 1t is this: The churches,
with the paid or unpaid choirs, fine
organs, stated and stately services,
cut -and dried 4O-minutes sermons,
stained glass, eminent respectability
INC all that sort OF thing, do not
meet the wants Of the three thou
sand who attended the tent meetings.
We are not censuring the churclle
Ne are stating facts as they appear
,r the surface. Churches as con
iurt"G suit the regular attendants;
.Inv do .Ot attract and help u save
he three thousand who do not go to
.hurch regularly in this city. People
who like such music as organs ana
raincd or unframed choirS give, who
tesire 30 minute sermons with cut
Il at the 2O-minute poinC, and
rhp take no part in the ser
ice except the filing Of pew in Il
most decent and dignitied way, will
not take to tent meetings. The three
nouSaud Will not take to such
:Iurch services. What are you 60
,ng to do about it? Will you let the
uree thousand 60 on in their way
md will you proceed in your emf
I.ntIy respectable highway?