The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-25
REvIvALISTS
ENCOURAGED
Result of the First Weeks
Campaign Surprises Even
the Experienced Workers
MEETINGS ALL OVER ToWa


MEETINGS ALL OVER TOWA
THEATRES AND SALOONS INvAD-
ED BY THE ARMY OF THE
LoRD-JERsEY CITY ON THE
EVE OF RELIGIOUS AWAKEN
ING.
The first of the three weeks campaign
of religion planned for this city and
county has been more successful than
even the committee in charge anticipated
and those who are at the head of the
work are DOCKING forward to the final
results as being more than satisfactory.
The corps of evangelists and Gospel
singers, all of national reputation, and
working under the direction of the Rev.
J. Wilbur Chapman, during the past
week have aroused intense religious en-
thusiasr1, and while there have been no
wild scenes the "heart to heart" talks
of the visiting evangelists have not only
stirred up the regulars" but have also
set the non-churchgoers attracted to the
meetings a-thinking. Before the next
two weeks go by it is reasonable to be
dieve that at least so far as the Protes-
tant element is concerned, to use the
words of the Rev. j. r. Pratt in his ad-
dress at the Park Reformed Church
Thursday night, Something will happen
that will surprise this old town and set
it on fire with religious enthusiasm"
And this despite the fact that Evange-
list Pratt. in the same address criticised
the work of the local committee in
charge of the campaign. He said that
in every city the corps of eyangelists Wis
tied much very much, depends upon the
preparatory work that takes place before
we arrive on the scene
''In Jersey City" he said, mot so much
in this way has been done as should have
been. That is unfortunate, and, of
course. it is too late to remedy it salts
factorily. But jersey City is on the eve
of a religious reawakening such as it
never saw before. In all the districts
these signs are apparent and we are
happy over the prospect
The meetings are not confined to the
churches. Even the theatres have been
invaded and before the campaign is over
it is not unlikely that, as in Paterson,
the saloons will be invaded. The theatre
cal managers have been given way to the
opportunities of the managers of this re-
l;gious campaign. and have generously al
lowed the use of their theatres for re-
viyal meeting purposes. This is practic-
ally unprecedented in the history of the
city. The only occasion that can be re-
called in almost two decades is the visit
of Sam. Small, the noted evangelist,
when he made a Sunday afternoon adj
dress in the Academy of Music some six
or seven years ago. Following closely on
the big noon-day meeting at the Acade-
my of Music yesterday, when vast au-
dienee listened to a stirring address by
the Rev. Wilbur Chapman, was another
at the Bon-Ton Theatre after the regular
theatrical performance was over last
might. 1t began at eleven O'Clock. The
iservices were conducted by the Rev. r.
A. Walton. It was certainly transfor-
nation scene and many, very many, who
attended the vaudeville performance re-
mained, principally out of curiosity, to
watch the transformation. 1t was these
the evangelist wanted to talk to, A mum
Der of prominent ministers were seated
on the Stage at both the Academy and
the Bon-Ton, and Gospel singers, with
voices sweeter than the average stage
singers, who sang Gospel hymns.
Tomorrow in all the churches where
the revival services are to be held the
services will be of an especially impress
sive character and great ress.lss are an
ticiDatad.
Throughout the campaign choirs made
up Of the best singers Of various church
choirs have been and will continue te
lend their aid in making the services at
tractive and adding to the religious en-
thrsiasm.
P.H. KllR0Y's FUNERAL.