Smyrna times., 1902-03-12
FORMAL CLOSING OF THE
BIG REVIVAL At ASBURY
SUNDAY ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE
DAYS IN HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
Seventeen Were Baptized, Seven We're Taken in
su Probation, Holy Communion Admins
tered, and All Received Welcome.

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% Probation, Holy Communion Admins
tered. and All Received Welcome.
Sunday, the ninth of March, will go
down in history as one of the most
memorable days of Asbury NJ. E.
Church. There was hardly member
of the large congregation whose heart
did not melt with fervor at the impress
sive gathering of nearly all the con-
verts of the recent revival, as around
the altar old and young, those who
had been faithful members of the
church for half century, down to the
youngest of the converts, clasped
hands and joined in ioyfully singing,
''Blest Be the Tie That Binds" The
like of it had not been seen in years.
A "harvest had been gathered" and |
Sunday morning marked the formal
close of one of the greatest revivals of
religion Asbury NJ. E. Church has
ever had.
The revival, under Rev. Vaughan S.
Collins, the pastor, began with the
Watch Night Service on New Years
Eve and at the close of last, the tenth
week of the series, there were 213 con-
versions and 164 accessions to the
church. During these protracted
meetings. the stores have been clos
ing at the ringing of the curfew at 7.15
in the evening, noon-day meetings
we're held nearly every day, prayer
meetings were held at the different
factories, and service for men only
on every Sunday afternoon. The
whole town seemed awakened and
there was joyful harvest being gath
cred in. The service on Sunday morn
ing was fitting close to the weeks of
earnest revival. In fact, the meeting
began half hour before the regular
time in order that Pastor Collins could
administer the rite of baptism to those
converts who had not been baptised
before. Seventeen responded to the ir-
vitation. Following this was the
quarterly communion service, and one
Of, the most impressive that has been
held in long time. The pastor was
assisted by the Rev. T. H. Haynes and
table after table was filled until nearly
every one in the church had COM
muned.
A Sight Long to Be Remembered.
at the close of this service Pastor
Collins took seven in on probation and
followed with few remarks in which
he thanked the official board, the chor-
lister and the choir, the Sunday
School officers and teachers, the
Ushers' Union, the business mer
of the town and the members who 81
faithfully labored for the success of th'
meetings. Then followed a remarka
BILE sight. The probatiOners wer'
asked to stand, his little daughter
Rebecca Collins, the youngest con
vert, took the stand at her father
left and Mr.. John S. Anthony at hi
right and the line formed a circl
around the chancel with a loop dow
the center aisle to the door. Tn
choir stood about the pulpit, tn
stewards, trustees, class leaders and lO
cal preachers gathered on either side @
the chancel, the members of the churc
completely occupied the side aisles, an
catching hold of hands they surround
ing the converts, and in joyful hallelu
jah all sang 'Blest Be the Tie Ths
Binds" until the very walls reverbf
ted with praise and thanksgiving
Again they sang Together Let U
Sweetly Live" and the meeting close
with the Doxology and benediction.
Church in Splendid Working Condition.
The fourth and closing Quarterl
Conference of Asbury M. E. Churc
was held on Friday afternoon, Presic
ing Elder Corkran in the chair. I'll
officials were mostly present and ii
years work closed very satisfactor
PaGtor Collins reported the work gra
flying and prosperous. The membe
ship, he said, has been responsive
every effort to push forward the wor
and it was to this unity and prom
action that he attributed the great su
cess of the church. He said that
he'd never been ct a charge chat b
given him such loyal, united and ei
cient help. There were no weak plac
In the line, and if so, he could sh
his force or change his tactics to 81
the emergency, and there was scarce
an evening that penitents were not
the altar. And the remarkable featu
was that the penitent who was me
than one evening at the altar was
exception. There was not in the
weeks of revival a sereech or 10
ejaculation such as used to charact
lze Methodist revival services, but
countenances of the penitents wol
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.