The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-27
HAS MANY CONVERTS.
Evangelist Pearson Preach
ing to Great Crowds,
Discussed Last Nj hi The Excuses Men Make
For Not En- & Christians. A Power
ful Sermon.

ful Sermon.
The largest congregation that has
greeted Evangelist Pearson since he be.
gan preaching in Raleigh was present ir
1t was magnificent congregation, rep.
resentative of all that is best in the cap
ital city. The choir, composed of men,
bers Of the various choirs, sang with
1.-THE spirit and the understanding and
the whole congregation joined in singing
the old gospel hymns that. in spite OF
that Chicagos professors dictum, still
have power to stir and thrill the souls
of men.
Before beginning his sermon, Mr.
Pearson announced that he would preach
(Tuesday) night on The Paschal Lamb
Referring to the After Meeting on Sun
most precious gatherings he had wit
messed at the first After Meeting of a
revival. More than a dozen gave their
hand in token of conversion. He urged
all to come out to the services to stay
to the After Meeting, and seek to obtain
blessing from these services, which,
God converts and saves men anywhere
or at anytime, but He has set times to
visit Zion.
TIL SERMON LAST NIGHT.
The text was from Luke, 18th chapter
and part of the 18th verse: And they
all with one accord began to make ex-
cuses.,
The evangelist preached plain and
CT M nh
taking UP one after another of the ex-
cuses men offer for not becoming Chris
tians He said he denominated them ex-
cuses,-they are not reasons. A reason
is thing that has truth, act and right
behind it.
Mr. Pearson took up six of the most
common and most plausible excuses.
stated them plainly and then proceeded
to demolish them one by one until the
excuse maker had nothing whatever to
stand upon. The six excuses he men
toned and effectively answered were
these:
l. 81 do not believe the Bible. / do
not believe it was inspired, that it is
Gods word.
2. There are great many things in
the Bible I do not and cannot under
stand. TO accept what / do not under
stand would be to sultify myself"
g. ct is a very difficult thing to be
a Christian
T. There are SO many hypocrites in
the church"
5. God foreknows my destiny. He
knew before I was born whether would
90 to heaven or to hell AS he knows
that there is nothing I can do, and will
have nothing to do with it,"
6. There are too many churches.
Each thinks that he is right. / do not
know and therefore will not join either .
The evangelist took up each one in its
order, and when he had brought COM
mon sense and the Word to bear on these
excuses, he left only grease spot to
show where they had been. The sermon
made deep impression, and many re-
manned to the After Meeting, which was
marked by deep interest. There were a
number of conversions.
AFTERNOON MEETING.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Pearson ad-
dressed by far the largest audience yet
assembled to attend her services. AS
hitherto announced, her talk was par
ticularly directed to young women
though it's effort was deeply felt by
those more mature, since, with them
lies so largely the responsibility OF
youthful training,
Before announcing her subject she
prefaced her remarks with the thought
contained in text from the Epistle OF
James Ala, For what is your life? 1t is
even vapor that appeareth for a little
time and then vanisheth away"
She impressed upon their minds at
once it's brevity, just the short span
betwixt the cradle and the grave-your
life, my life+-yet so full of possibilities,
so fraught with opportunities for USE
fulness, and the blessing of other lives.
This preface was followed by two ques-
tions, viz: How can we make the most
of our lives? What may it's pleasures
be? Tthen the answer to the first these
questions depends our success or fail
ure.
How may life then, be made thing
of blessedness and beauty? BY simply
giving it back to God who gave it.
Recreation and amusement should
come as refreshment from useful &C.
cupatin and labor of some sort. Pleas
ure too often the sole pursuit and alb
sorbing desire of the heart. Precious
hours Of time wasted in frivolous pas
times, that must appeal only to shallow
minds, never to earnest souls.
The life once earnestly consecrated to
him will not crave sinful or doubtful
pleasures, but will be full of inward Joy
and place Gods reward to His loyal sub
jects and obedient children.
"At thy right hand, there are pleasures
for ever MORE was the text which she
dwelt upon in conclusion and which Of