The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05

Christ or the doctrine of original sin. They are for the greater part believers In Christianity. It is the personal ap- nronriation of these truths that they lack. They love sin so much that they 1,ilI ot come to the desired decision. In other words they be1eive but they do not v,ish to give up sin. It is not informa- lion about Christ nor explanation of the truths of Christianity that men need rhev understand these things already. Tt is the will that must be captured They do not realize their danger nor tbat they must themselves seek salva- lion through Christ. The sermons nreaeheo by the evangelist proved that fact.
 Methods of EVangelsts.
 The city was mapped out into sections. Then the different Protestant churches, irresneetive of creed. united In one cen tral church of their respective districts Thus the rich and the poor the educated and uneducated pas ors as well as peo- nle. had the bread of life broken unto tbem. And how did these evangelists break the bread of life? They gave their gospel message in the simplest language. first taking 1t for granted that all men believed in the divine personality of Jesus. And when the invitation was given to come to Christ men and women
 
 and came. Ministerial friends. Christian friends. we as a clas. spend too much time in proving that Christ Is rather than that Christ should be accepted. It is to bring them to public decision for Christ which men already know they ought to make that the chief work of the Christian messengers. Hear it ye Christian laborers.
 Men believe in and know enough about how r.rfc1 to ha saved, I learn this fact from all the evangelists, but especially from one, Rev. c. T. Shaeffer, commonly called the .the ehildren's evangelist" oh said I. If I am going to get any benefit from these gospel meetings l must get bless ing for my children and my children's friends" So I went about the neigh borhood and gathered in about ten little ones. l was father, mother, nursegirl, companion, all boiled down into one for the afternoon. I alone took the children. left all the moth CTS home and we. the children and my self went to hear the evangelists mes sage We'll, the children got blessing from that children's service, but the old folks got just as great blessing. First, Dr. Shaeffer got all the little ones sing ing. Then he commenced his address from the text My cup runneth over. on, he maue IL so Slinple. I1e Sttlu pfdS- tically this: Now, children, here Is bottle half filled with water. That water represents a mothers love. Now, my boys and girls. that bottle Is not running oyer, Is it?' "No, mo-" came back ready answer. Well, children, here Is a cup full of water We will call this cup food Here is another cup full of water we call raiment Here Is another cup we will call life
 Then Dr. Shaeffer. after expatiating on the benefits of all the cups. poured their contents into the bottle and said. My children, the bottle is not overhowing yet. is it?" NO mo-" came back the united answer. Then Dr. Shaeffer took up another cup filled with what looked like blood "This cup, children" said he, Represents the blood of Jesus Christ. Let me pour 1t into the bottle. Yes. with that cup the bottle is running over. All these gifts God has given to you, children"
 While Dr. Shaeffer was talking the children were learning the sweet gospel message They were being led to trust in Christ and to give their young lives to him. I said to myself: why is 1t that we ministers cannot preach like that? Why do we not talk in the simple, earnest straightforward language of these evan gelists? They take for granted that most people in this Christian land believe in Christ Their great and sole purpose seems to be to lead people to decision to give themselves to him. Cannot we, as gospel ministers. do the same?''
 Lords Work a Business.
 But another weig'hty lesson is pressed upon our hearts by this series of meetings. That is this: The Lords work Is a busi- ness It is not a hysteria. It Is not few holy ejaculations. 1t is not lifting your head above the clouds so that the mists bind your eyes and chill your en- thusasm for practical duty on earth. It is not few spasms and a few temporary gospel gymnastics. It is a business-a business which we should study carefully and plan systematically and press stren- uously with all our faith and energy.
 When these evangelsts began their work, as far as human agency was con cerned they had almost a perfect system of machinery. Dr. R. A. Walton was the advance agent, who taught us how to perfect this machinery. First, the meet