The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-26

Two or three benches in the rear OF thu
gallery were the only seats unoccupied a
the Odeon last night, where the Reverend
G. Campbell Morgan. evangelist. he'd hi!
first meeting since moving from the Pilgrim
Congregational Church.
The parquet. boxes and stage were Allied
save that on the first row OF stage chair:
only one minister sat with Mr.. Morgan II
seemed that others preferred TO listen from
behind the scenes rather than face the big
audience. which was estimated at about
2,5o0.
Instead Of the usual ffteen-minute aftel
meeting taking place in the auditorium, q
new plan for reaching the unconverted was
instituted last night A large room on the
north side OF the main hallway was opened
and as the throng passed out workers at the
door repeated the invitation Mr.. Morgan
had made from the platform, that all who
would turn their backs upon sin should
come IN.
Cpon the door q blackboard bore the
words: 'Tnquiry-room: wait and pray"
About seventy-five persons entered the
room. many Of whom were workers chosen
to plead and pray with the others. and
give them counsel. The after meeting lasted
about ten minutes. and after the prayer
and praise the evangelist personally talked
to several who had asked for spiritual
guidance.
Mr.. Morgan was at his best last night.
The great crowd, the spacious hall. the
very atmosphere seemed to vitalize him to
an exceptional degree. When the congrega-
ton sang Rock OF Ages" a Tremendous
volume of sound was swelled and softened
by excellent acoustics. A nervous twitch-
ing of his mouth, the play OF his restless
fingers, and frequent glances over the mass
of people indicated the preachers eager
ness to bring into action all his energy and
eloquence in the sermon that followed.
Window Ordered Opened.
The warm night and large crowd made
the building uncomfortable for awhile. and
when the first hymn was sung Mr.. Morgan
requested that all the windows be opened.
'And II you can't open them. break them'
he said I'VE must have air."
He looked feverish under the stronger
lights of the Odeon stage The strong lines
of his face appeared deeper than usual
while the tinge OF gray IN MS haif WAS
Mr. MorEan's text was the seventh verse
of the fifty-fifth chapter OF Isaiah; Let
the wicked forsake his way. and the un-
righteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the Lord. and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God. Tor ne
will abundantly pardon"
The minister pointed out the fact that by
a coincidence OF arrangement this verse Is
in the center Of the chapter.
IF you compare the conditions OF lie
described in the early part Of the chapter
with those described In the closing part
you will see a startling contrast In the
come We to the waters. and he that hath
no money, and wherefore do ye spend
money for that which is not bread? And
with joy, and be led forth with peace. The
mountains and the hills shall break forth
before you into singing, and all the trees
OF the field shall clap their hands.
How can we pass through the one into
the other condition? Through the text. II
q man shall fulfill these conditions he will
leave behind him hunger and labor and
heart unrest, and hnd a place where there
is Joy and peace, and the mountains and
the hills sing for him.
trees clap their hands? II you go back to
your childhood you win remember when
nature made music in your heart. You
Babylon in the midst Of its commerce, its
materialism. And you are making money.
but 1t does not buy the waters that
Quencheth thirst. And you spend money for
that which is not bread.
Urges Men to Exercise Reason.
You descend to the dead dusty level of
do it-and I am glad II is not-I would
divide this congregation into two parts as
the chapter Is divided. Some of us are liv-
Ing IN Babylon and some with God. There
Is a way back to rest, peace and music.
to the garden Of God. and the way is
through the text. one of the oldest I know
But God cannot fulfill the second part
until you have fulfilled the first part, Let
the wicked forsake his way and tho I'M
righteous man his thoughts The Hebrew
word for way means a beaten track And
the prophet passed from the external to tho
internal. Man must rid himself Of outer
wrong by correcting the inner mistake
Thought is underlying your purpose in
life. Please think it out for, one half min
ute. There is a reason for everything you
do: make an honest attempt to find that
reason. I know some of you will say I
know man who lives next door'-he always
lives next door-'who never had a thought
never had an underlying motive in his life
He is shiftlessiy drifting But you are mis-
taken: THAT mans purpose is to do nothing
and 1t is astonishing how hard some men
Will work to do nothing"
This speech caused a ripple OF laughter
to run over the audience. an unusual oc-
currence at these meetings. since Mr.. Nor
gan seldom uses humor in illustrating a
point. He became serious again in q mo-
ment.