The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-04
THE GREAT WORK
OF EVANGELISTS
.AnInteresting Statement That
IS Made by Rev. ]. vii
bur Chapman,
N-Ilbur Chapman, .. d., S,

s5 Rev. +. Wilbur Chapman, 2. d., secre-
tarvI or the Evangelistlc Committee Of
a he General Assembly of tho PRESBYTERIAN
Church, Is now conducting q series Of
Frervices in Toledo, = Ohio In the course
spf;this address to a large &nssembage of
men Sunday afternoon, he declared that
the spirit OF evangelism was not dead
nlnong the men Of the great cities Of
North a merica, and cited the remarkable
y work that has been developed IN the last
few years by the Young Men Christian
Association in Its special eYans'ellstlc
meetings for men, He said
isl5i.I have been connected with the Young
8&Men,s Christian Association from my
youth up and intimately associated with
then, in their work for young mon. They
have always been intensely earnest In
their cvangclistic effort, and have con-
Y stantly studied the needs as well as the
temptations of men. With enterprise and
persistence they have adapted their SER
I Vices to reach the largest number OF men
\ OF the cities railroads and colleges OF
the country. Since the appointment Of
specialists TO conduct these meetings
four years ago, immense mems meetings
@Inatheatres have been developed and sls-
8tained Sunday after Sunday crowdlng
1.-The largest theatres IN the cities. i am
Indeed surprised myself that even IN the
Lefty of Washington, a place which has
4 aoeen supposed to be the least responsive
ito evangelistic effort, to find that for
4 two years q great service has been held
with an attendance often exceeding $500
flmen, and averaging for the winter over
Il 1850. The most notable mon in WASH
Iington are found in constant attendance,
4 participating iii the actual service with
1.-THE enthusiasm which characterized the
4tOld Moody meetings. Since January LIST
s 800 men have In these meetings declared
4 .heir purposes OF leading Christian lives.
\ In the old city of Baltimore q series OF
mems meetings has been averaging over
u 200 men each week. Here over GOO men
have signed cards expressing tho purpose
A OF lending a Christian life since Novem-
a5ber LIST, and pastors report constant. ac-
] cessions to their churches through these
.Bervices. Conservative old Springfield.
4 Massachusetts. often gathers over 1.5o0
;men at n theatre service, Kansas City
.khas averaged 1900 men Il week for three
/ months, and In New York, Carnegie Hall
lis often packed with Great audiences Of
linen, who listen to the discussions OF
i grcat moral questions, Indeed. the asso-
1 relations spare no expense OF effort or
tmoney for these audiences. engaging the
j fbest musical talent, and often circulating
lao o0D invitations for a single service. be-
ito attract the attention and attendance
Etof men.
I'm come places at least 200 men are
Sangaged on different committees working
up thess meetings. The addresses for
I 1.-the most part are straightforward, virile.
t7nanly appeals to the brains and con-
Nsciences OF men, and without waverins
Tor apology men are urged to take IN
+ immediate stand for what Is clean, manly
land Christian. Probably the man who Is
most successful In this work for mel,
An this country Is Fred 3. Smith. For a,
fleast forty-five Sundays in the year lie Is
Undressing audiences OF 800 to 5000 men
tRpd last year over LOO men expressed
tthelr purpose to lead n Christian life a
& meetings conducted By him. No smal
proportion OF these men are leaders II
THE social intellectual and business lll'
f Iof their communities. This IS one Of III.
AZ most encouraging demonstrations OF tn
fact that the old gospel has not lost 1t
tpower, and where mon unite with c6ur
age and power in undertakings Of larg
.purpose. large results follow. What tn
b ltYoung MEMS Christian Association ha
e demonstrated Is possible in every cit
md town in this country"