The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.


ners in their meetings have signed the cards pledging themselves to Christ's strength to lead a Christian life. The picture of J. Wilbur Chapman and Henry ostrum and W. E. Blederwolf and others have been scattered broadcast in hun dreds of homes. But I am sure I voice their convictios when I tell you that this great ingathering of souls Is not due to their efforts They have been merely the instruments used of God to reap the har- vest which comes primarily from the Holy Spirits operations. It is the work of God in answer to the pleading or Christian men and women who spent night after night in prayer before the welcome train brough- our beloved brethren from their Pittsburg. Birming- ham, Atlanta and Denver Armageddons. They meet night after night and week after week until at last the spirit came as 1t did on the little company in the upper chamber at Jerusalem.
 The marvellous sights we have wit messed in Los Angeles during the last few weeks are not the work of any hu- man agency. but of God. Those were the results of faith-the faith that moves mountains When Gods people pleaded with him for this blessing they put their trust in one who never fails. The pre- paration in the heart of man Is with the Lord, and when these believing men and women begged him to touch the hearts of the people he heard and answered them. The earnest appeals of Dr. Chap man and MT. Biederwolf would have found no response in the hearts of these men whom we saw arise in the mems meeting in Hazards pavilion if 1t had not been that a mi 5htier power than mans had been at work in them. If we want a revival to move city we must get that revival by the golden tongue" of earnest prayer. We shall never get 1t simply by the silver tongue" of brill iant speech. Prayer. prayer agonizing prayer prayer which come from hund- reds and thousands of axious fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters and husbands and wives, was the cause. the chief cause, of the Los Angeles revival
 Secret of Ills Success.
 The same lesson was taught by the movement led by Campbell Morgan a year ago. After the great English preacher had left the Pacific coast the ministerial union of this city met to dis cuss the results of those meetings. One clergyman after aother discussed the causes of that awakening, but no solu- ton was found. I confessed my own inability to understand 1t, for I had heard Campbell Morgan in the east. when he did not seem to have any such influence over men. Yet the sermons which were powerless there were prac- tically the same sermons that were practically the same sermons that were fruitful here With that the Nestor of the congregational ministers arose, good old loving Dr. Warren F. Day. He said: Brethren, you have omitted to state ihe chief reason of Campbell Morgan's suc- cess in Los Angeles. It was due to the fact that hundreds of thousands of Christians paved the way for his suc- cess by weeks of earnest prayer. The Christians prayed Tn their churches; they prayed in their cottage prayer meet ings; they prayed everywhere" Amen" said l. 'Dr Day is right" Campbell Morgans revival was due chiefly to the fact that those meetings were lifted up to heaven by thousands of pleading, praying Christians J. Wilbur Chapman when he reaches heaven will see there many saved during this Los Angeles re- yival But the old mother In Israel. the old Christian elder and deacon, the old Christian church member. will rejoice with him in this harvest. Christ from his throne will recognize their services. ''You wondered.' he will say to the evangelists, why 1t was that just you- words so moved the sinner to seek sal vation. It was in answer to the prayers of these humble Christians that the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of your hear CTS so that the good seed fell into good ground" Let us thank God for such prayers
 The Los Angeles revival teaches an- other great lesson. The vast number of people do not have to be taught who Christ is. They know enough about the gospel of salvation to be saved if they will. They must be led by the power of the Holy Spirit simply to make stand to come to a decision. to do what they know they ought to do. They do not need to hear sermons on the authenti- city of the Scriptures, tho divinity of