Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-31
Dr.. Porter Aroused Intense Inter.
est in Huntington. W. Va.
MANY ADDITIONS TO CHURCH
When Meetings Closed Sunday Night
One Hundred and Fifteen Persons
Had Been Ccnvertcd.-Fine conpli-
ment to Local Pastor.

Rev. j. w. Porter. ID. D.. pastor Of
til" Newport News Baptist church, re
turned yesterday from Huntington. w.
Va, whore he has been conducting ii
wonderful revival al the Fifth Avenue
church. When the meetings closed
Sunday night there had been ono hun
drcd and iiltce" additions to the
church and the interest was Just al its
height. "m
The Baptist Banner. uf Huntington
one Of the leading religious papers Of
the Stale. had the following 10 say
about, DIR, Porter and the revival:
Tho nth Avenue church is in the
midst OF such a revival as has not
b2cn seen i" Huntington since the
great Schoolticld meetings Of 1894.
Doctor Porter. OF Newport News
came two weeks ago and from the first
night it has been difficult To find room
for the people that crowded to the
church. Tho weather has been all
that it should not be for a good meet.
ing, the gas has been so low 1ha, pee
Pic have been shivcrinS around the
house over half the time. other meet
inGS in nci2hboring churches have at
tractcd some. brt with all the FIFTH
Avenue church has never seer any
thing like the present meeting.
There is everything in Portcr's ser.
mons to awaken a sleeping church or
a dead sinner. lie is gifted with tho
power OF pcrspicunus thought. and
such a flow Of ready language a.; is
the possession Of but few men.
He always takes practical themes
never spends any time in provin. that
Jesus is thr Christ, that Moses lead
# tbh III ron tf ICr,.1 n,,t ~ J1y,.,,+
that men n" sinners. or any OF those
themes upon which good men waste
so much time before sleepy coEGrega.
tons. he chooses such Il topic as
To-day is the Day of ~Salvation." Oh
the Return Of the Prodigal.'' ana he
forces fundamental gospel facts upon
men and women, in such a way they
cannot get around a personal answer
to his questions.
Then he has a fund of APT ~illustra
tions that is little short of marvellous
Ills are Illuminated with hits
OF personal experience. timely histor.
lcal illustrations. stories with a point
and beside all this. he brings togcth
or the fullest wealth Of the English
language. all its most virilc and strik.
ing words. and polishes all with the
most forceful ANA beautiful smiles and
hgures Of speech that it has ever been
our privilege to hear from any
preacher.
"Snnda-Mas the great day of the
feast. It began With a sermon to iii
Sunday school. simple. touching
STRAIGHTFORWARD. effective. Fourteen
or fifteen Of the bows and girls. and
some OF II older ones expressed a de.
sire to walk the new life.
I nIorn, ',I,,l -, :. L,,,.. No..
filled the house almost to suffocation.
he spoke from the words Of the
Greeks. We Would See Jesus Four
professions were made at the close of
the service.
Nh AT three o'clocn he spoke TO a
crowd OF perhaps six hundred men at
the Opera House. and whiia it was SC
cold in the building that they had tc
sit with hats and nvcrcua1s on, vet
all heard him through. A number
stood for prayers.
night h house was not ONLY
1'lll. but running over and every aisle
was full OF men standing. They stood
Win hardly a movement for nearly
two hours. Eight came forward tt
Join the church, among them Il man
nearly sixty Years old. and one who
has rarely been seen before in a
church service. .
Monday night the most touching
and delightful service OF all was had
~ the close OF the rmo when ff-
teen persons presented themselves ro,
membership, the ilOod2atGs OF tears
were opened and from pastor lc
stranger in thc vcstibule there was
har;:ly a person in the house that was
not affected. -
We cannot tell how long ,hc meet
lnSs VIII last. nor where the end of
Mhat seems a mighty wave Of revival
WI rnu, but We do know that IT. is
sweeping men and in all parts
81 thc town as they have not sren il
before" ."".