Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-30


The largest crowd in the memory Of the
Oldest church members greeted Rev.
George r. Stuart at Broad-Street church
last night. Those who came after s
o'clock were unable to get within the
DOORS The aisles were crowded and the
stairs leading to the galleries were pack
ed with people who were out OF vision
range of the minister. but who waited
until the regular service was over in or
der to share in the prayer and special
service that followed.
There was great manifestation of
the Spirit at last nights meeting.
The revivalist spoke with force and
earnestness, and the power of his appeal
and the active work done by his coad-
tutors brought conviction to many hearts
and minds. There were a large number
of conversions. The chancel was crowd
ed with those who came forward to tes-
tify to their desire to lead new life.
Even after the dismissal of the i'm
mense congregation, when the galleries
were cleared, the lower portion Of the
church was packed by those who re-
NAMED to the close of the exercises.
ALL TO GIVE ACCOUNT.
Rev. Mr.. Stuart spoke last night on the
topic, Every man shall give an account
of himself to God" He dwelt with par
ticular force upon the power Of Christian
influence. His burning words upon this
subject struck deep into the hearts OF his
hearers
There was a noticeable lack of any,
thing bordering upon the humorous In
his talk last nigha. His splendid appeal
for the purity of the home life and its
beneficent influence upon children was a
master-stroke Of sentiment.
No address that the revivalist has made
since his coming to this city has been
so effective as that delivered last night
He did not depart from-nIs usual resort
to apt and homely illustration
He referred to his first experience in a
city home where gas was used. THE
gas inspector came to our home. He
asked to see the meter. I didn't know
where it was. and had never seer one
read The man went behind the door
and found 1t, and when he opened the
little door and examined the little wheels
and pointers, I said, DO you mean to
tell me that you can tell how much gas
has been used in this house, where we've
been burning it night after night for a
month";? And then he measured it and
told me just how much the dials showed
had been used. If man can measure
that invisible vapor with accuracy, how
much more can God above measure the
unseen. intangible power and amount of
Christian influence that a family can ex-
ercise?''
His Illustrations to show the value of
influence were we'll chosen. They were
real. taken from his experiences dur
ing his ministerial career, and were re-
lated with the same appropriateness and
pith that has characterized his illus
trations in all of his previous talks.
DIVIDE THE SEXES
There will be a special service to-day at
$3.50 p. M. 1t is for women only, but is
intended only to relieve the pressure Of
the crowds at the night service. A large
number of men who have not been able
to reach the church before o'clock have
been turned away, and by the division
of the services to-day the night service
will be given up to men exclusively, SO
that all may be comfortably seated in
the church.
The ministers present and many of the
members of the congregation united with
Mr.. Stuart in the special prayer service
last night in personal work among the
unconverted, and great good resulted
from their efforts.
The Academy Meeting.
The meeting at the Academy of Music
Sunday afternoon was remarkable in
many respects. When Mr.. Stuart called
on those who would signify their inten-
ton to join in a movement to suppress
the liquor lIdillC, the immense audience
of 1000 men stood up in a body and
loudly cheered the speaker. A thousand
men could not secure entrance to the
packed building. which was taxed to its
capacity long before the appointed time
for the meeting to begin.
The illustrations that the minister used
to show the fallacy of alleged prosperity
from the liquor business were unique and
striking.
A man in the gallery called out in the
meeting. ''Give us your opinion of gam
bling in Richmond" His reply was
searching. Speaking of saloon-keepers
he said "a man who sells liquor is not
as good citizen as highway robber'
Turning to the men on the stage, he
said: "Have any of you got any .boys?'
! About twenty men stood up. '.All right
Now tell me. which would you rather
| find in your boys pocket. nothing or a
bottle of whiskey? Nothing said the
men. If your boy goes out with a dolla,
in his pocket and a highwayman goe.
| through his clothes, he will come back
| with nothing, but if he goes out with a
dollar and a saloon-keeper takes the
dollar out of his pocket and puts bot.
tie of whiskey in its place, you admit hi
| has done the greater wrong"
The big crowd took up the illustration
and cheered the speaker for several sec