The Palatka news and advertiser., 1903-03-20
THE CRESCENT Cry News.
The Meetings and the Result.

The Meetings and the Result.
For two weeks Crescent City has
been leading the strenuous religious
life under the direction of Rev. L. S.
Chafer and wife of Northfield, Mass.
Mr.. Chafer is an evangelistic
preacher and singer; Mrs. Chafer is
a singer and likewise gives assistance
to her husband in the heart-to-heart
talks with enquirers at the after
meetings.
For two weeks, night after night,
the Presbyterian church has been
crowded to the doors. Seats were at
a premium. People drove in from
all the country round, some coming
from distance ordinarily thought
too great for q nights drive. Nearly
every one in town attended the meet
ings regularly. Many who have not
attended church at all, and if so,
rarely, were regular attendants at
these meetings. They took an inter-
est in religion; it seemed to mean
something to them as presented by
Mr.. Chafer, and yet it was the old,
old story that has been preached
here ever since the town was organ
ized-the story of Jesus Christ and
His all embracing plan of salvation.
The man Chafer seemed to possess
strange power over his auditors.
All were affected by it. Those
who have stood aloof and criticized
what they term emotional religion
We're not exempt. Mr.. Chafer played
somewhat upon the emotions but it
was done in the simple telling of the
story: 1t is impossible to analyse Il
spiritual effect, because it is largely
an atmosphere, but the style of man,
the manner, the power of the singing,
all contributed to it. His sermons
could all be described in the Ian
guage of Ian Maclaren: "TeXts |
can never remember, nor, for that
matter, the words of sermons; but
the subject was Jesus Christ, and be-
fore he had spoken five minutes /
was convinced, who am outside dog
mas and churches, that Christ was
present. The preacher faded from
before ones eyes, and there arose the
| figure of the Nazarine, best lover of
every human soul, with a face of
tender patience such as Sarto gave the
Master in the church of the Annun-
ziata, and stretching out His hands
to old folk and little children as He
did, before His death, in Galilee.
His voice might be heard any mo-
ment, as | have imagined it in my
lonely hours by the winter fire or on
the solitary hills-soft, low, and
sweet, penetrating like music to the
secret of the heart, Come unto me,
and / will give you rest"
The music at the meetings was
grand, Mrs. Chafer presided at the
organ. She has beautiful contral-
to voice which blends il perfect har-
mony with her husbands in duet.
Their singing was a power as well as
the sermon. And then the congre-
CATION sang-sang as if the songs
meant something. No one can now
charge Crescent City with being un-
musical.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chafer are good mix
ers. Every one who came in contact
with them, whether i'll the church,
the street, or at the social dinner,
were charmed by their quiet grace
and culture. They seemed to think
this earth very charming spot for
temporary abode. Their religion
seemed to make them cheerful, and
cheerful people are a power for good
of themselves.
What are the results? Simply
these: Crescent City is going to be a
much better place to live in. There
will be more charity one for the
other among neighbors. Many
church members have been recon-
verted, and spiritual life in the
church quickened. Very many who
have never made any profession of
Christianity have signified a desire
to lead better lives, and all, whether
in or out of the churches have been
given a new view of the beauties of
holiness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chafer left for Tam
pa on Monday, and all Crescent City
was sorry to see them leave.