The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-01-19
.EvANeELISTIc SERVICES
SERIES OF MEETINGS CON-
MENcED At PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH LAST NIGHT.
An Earnest and Eloquent Address
to Large Audience.

Last night. the Brick" church was
the scene of the opening of a series of
Evangelistic services under the lead
evangelists, the Rev. Thomas H. At
kinson. He had summoned the relig-
at this opening service and made a
very earnest and eloquent address to
church members.
The service was opened with devo-
tional exercises led by the pastor
Rev. Albert Dale Gantz. Evangelist
Atkinson then seated himself at a lit
tie organ placed beside the pulpit and
gave evidence in a solo sang in ten
der musical and yet powerful voice of
the secret OF the power by which he
sways his hearers. After the solo, and
few kindly words of greeting, which
established bond of sympathy be-
tween himself and his hearers, he pro-
ceeded to his address. Opening the
Bible he took as his text from John
5:17, MY Father worketh hitherto,
and l work" He said in part:
Il wish to speak to you tonight on
Jesus the Worker The life of Christ
presents many sides as seen in such
scriptures as John 1887. For this
cause came l into the world that
should bear witness to the truth; John
3:S. For this purpose the Son of man
was manifested that he might destroy
the works of the devil; Luke 9:56,
For the Son of man is not come to
destroy mems lives but to save them"
Consultations.
He then spoke of the consultations of
the work as seen in the life of Christ.
He had a Fathers example. My
Father worketh hitherto and 1 work"
He had the conviction of divine call
ing. He had the realization of
Fathers approval. Here the evange-
list paused and related an incident of
a fathers approval of his boy at school.
How unhappy the parents were when
that approval could not be given, and
how happy all were when through the
obedience and diligence of the boy the
approval could finally be bestowed.
80 it is with our Heavenly Father"
he said, Very often our work as his
children does not meet his approval
and all is dark. But how light and
joyful when as church members we so
work and SO pray and so live as to
draw down the unqualified approval of
Him whose favor is life. Jesus had
also the assurance of victory
In speaking of the achievements of
the Christ, the evangelist said: He
opened the windows of heaven and
revealed the loving and merciful ma
ture of the Father. He drew aside
the veil and revealed the state Of the
lost as we'll as the saved soul IN the
next life. He shattered the shakes
of sin and set a captive world free"
In closing Mr.. Atkinson dwelt upon
the spirit in which Christ worked, say
ing, he was attentive to his Fathers
business he was Jealous, he was
compassionate, he was fearless.
Adequately to report the speaker and
give the full text of his address is al
most impossible. He must be seen and
heard to be appreciated. His address
is interspersed with anecdotes and
bright sayings and is enforced by pow
erful arguments from scripture.
The meeting closed with a prayer
service in which the church workers
took an active part.
The meeting tonight will be open to
the public and evangelist Atkinson will
sing. Preparations are under way for
a mass meeting on Sunday afternoon
at o'clock, when the evangelist will
deliver burning message to men only.