The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-14
IN THE AFTERNOON.
Big Meeting for the Young People
DIR. MunhaII Talks.

The mathematical law of probabilities
was applied to the relation of man and
Christianity by DR.. L. w. Munhall, of
Philadelphia, yesterday afternoon, in his
address during the evangelistic service con-
Quoted in Tomlinson Hall by the delegates
to the Epworth League convention and
Methodist people generally. DR.. Munhall
put the chances of becoming a Christian in
mathematical terms
Surprising" said he, that man has
lived to be sixty years of age without ac-
cepting Christ. In that event there is only
one chance in 10000 that he will become a
Christian. If he has gone to forty without
protesting, there is only one chance in a
thousand that he will be saved If he has
got to twenty-five without entering into
the Lord there is only one chance in a
hundred for him; and If he has not pro-
fessed Christianity at twenty there is but
one chance in ten that he will be rescued
from damnation." The learned doctors fig
ures were obtained from an extensive evan
gelistic experience in almost every coun-
try of the globe. and he found ne said
that everywhere the ratio of ages remained
about the same. The great majority of
Christian people had entered upon their
new life before the age of twenty.
The big meeting yesterday afternoon was
for young people The leader-Dr Munhall
had announced that he preferred the hall
to be filled with people under twenty-five
years of age. His wishes were realized. for
three-fourths Of the audience was composed
OF children from six to eighteen years OF
age. The other fourth was made of Chris
tian people, most of them members of
NJ r. churches of the city.
Only known Christians were admitted to
the hall during the first half hour of the
meeting. They were let in first for a par
ticular purpose. Standing on a chair near
the platform DR.. Munhall made his dis
positions like a general sending his forces
into battle. Here and there the church
workers were arranged over the floor of
the hall so that near each were several va
cant chairs. No two Christians sat to-
gether Il want to arrange this meeting -
said DR.. Munhall. so that Gods people
will have beside them al least one or two
Of the unsaved: so that during the service
the Christians in the house will have an
opportunity of leaning over and addressing
words of advice and eXhortation to the ones
in doubt about their salvation" The plan
worked we'll AS the result of the doctor
earnest appeal and the juGicious distribu-
ton of church people among the ones who
had not protested Christianity there were
about forty that responded to the appeal
and declared themselves converted.
Remember thy Creator in the days OF
thy youth, said DR.. Munhall. Now is the
time TO accept Christ. II you wait until
you are old you will be making the most
grevous mistake of your lives and one
that you will sorely regret when the chill
L D
not be worse than the state of mind of a
man that has put his life on the wrong side
of the ledger and realizes ii too late.
II think il is really the intention of most
| young people to accept Christ sooner oil
| later. but they keep putting ii off unit
/ their COnScienceS get scared and hard.
| was blacksmith when a young man. anC
| l used TO pick up pieces of hot iron and
get my hands blistered. After a time my
/ hands got hard and callOused and | coulC
/ handle the iron without hurt. That's tn,
/ way with peoples cOnsciences. They get
/ just as hard and calloused a black
/ smiths hands.
| '.As to being a blacksmith" he con.
/ ton Just as honorable as being a physician
/ or a lawyer. or a preacher or a newspaper
\ reporter. l am all the better because
| served three hard years as an apprentice
/ Don't any of you ever laugh at a man be
| cause he works at hard labor
| You can take the Bibles statement:
/ about heaven and hell as the absolut,
\ truth" said DR. Munhall. impressively ="
| know from the Bible that hell must be an
awful condition of affairs and heaven q
delightful state.
! Now" he concluded. II have Travelled
| the world over. going about $4,000 mile.
| every year. l have been in the desert O
| Sahara and in the cannibal islands OF tn,
I sea In the palaces of Kings and the hut.
/ of savages, and / know from my experienc,
\ that there is nothing in the world so great
/ or so enduring, the word of God anC
\ the companiOnship of Christ. VIII you &C
/ Cept them ,"
! The song service was conducted by JohI
! u Hills and choir OF 100 persons sat OF
/ the stage and led the singing.