The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-02-13
NATIONAL LEWTEN SERVICES.

NATIONAL LEWT.EN SERVICES.
The Central Committee of the
Twentieth Century National Gospel
Campaign, of which Mr.. William
Phillips Hall, is chairman, has Just
issued an appeal for a National
Lenten Gospel Campaign, addressed
to the Christian ministers and lead
ers of America. The Committee in
this appeal says:
Pursuant to an avowed purpose
of work of this Committee of pro.
noting 4 national gospel awakening
through existing organizations and
agencies for the spiritual, moral and
social rescue of the unsaved millions
of our beloved country, we send you
in the name of our Divine Lord this
our fourth appeal for your prayerful,
practical and simultaneous co-opera-
ton with us, and with all others who
may be likewise engaged in the great
movement for which this Committee
stands
"The Lenten season has oflate years
owing to the special emphasis
placed upon it by some branches of
the church, and the resulting tenn
porary staying of the tide ofworldli-
ness and frivolity-proved peculiarly
favorable to the promotion of re-
hgious interests. Its connection with
the death and the resurrection of our
Lord increasingly recognized in all
branches ofthe churches would seem
to make it most opportune time
for the quickening of Christians for
spiritual life and service. We, there
fore, respectfully suggest plan for
making the most Of the Lenten OPP
portunity this year for the further
ance of the spiritual advance for
which the present crisis so urgently
calls.
"Would not every minister or leader
receiving this appeal do we'll to pre-
pare for and initiate this movment by
making February 25th, known as
Ash Wednesday, a special day of
humiliation and prayer: Let him
invite his people to join i'll confession,
and in humiliation in view of past
sins and shortcomings, and in sup
plication and intercession before God,
on the basis OF Luke Nib, for the
blessings of which the churches stand
in such perishing need" That the
order of prayer may not be Of an in
definite nature the committe outlines
five general heads.
Owe think it would be we'll that
On that day, the church doors should
be thrown open from morning until
the close Of the evening service, and
that the Christian community be
urged to come in silence to the House
ofGod at any convenient hour and
there in genuine travail of soul pray
for national universal revival of
the religion of Christ.
eve beg to suggest that following
the day of prayer and continuing
until April 10th every Christian min
lister in his own church, or in CO.
operation with the ministers ofneigh-
boring sister churches, undertake the
work of positive evangelism among
the unsaved. Let evangelistic
sermons be preached, let special
gospel music be sung, let there be
discreet and enterprising advertising
done through the public press, so that
the attention of the entire Church
shall be focused upon the supreme
work of winning men to Christ. Let
the Gospel work be carried out into
the cottages, shops and halls of the
community until every soul shall re-
ceive the hearty effort Of Christ as
personal Saviour
1--WE suggest that during a part of
the whole of this period, Sundays
and week nights evangclistic services
be held in the individual churches, in
theatres, music halls, opera houses
and other public meeting places where
non-church going people may be
reached by the gospel of Christ. 1t
is also suggested that church build
ings be open to tic public each day
or morning until the close of service
at night, during the Lcnten season;
and every possible effort be made to
prove to the non-Christian public
that extraordinary sacrifice ofelTort,
time and money is being made by
Christians everywhere to lead men
to a saving knowledge Of God in
Christ Jesus"
AMENDED BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The amended bankruptcy bill has
been signed by President Roosevelt.
The new law modifes the existing
statute in several important particu-
lars-the principal one being a pro-
vision in regard to preferred creditors.