Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1907-02-23
REV. BIRCH'S
FIRST SERMON.
Good House Attended Ser
vice and Were Pleased
Thursday Night.
TO STAY TEN DAYS.
He Has Improved In Power
and Penetration Since
Here.

The evangelistic services at the
first Presbyterian church were in
augurated last Thursday night. Rev.
Chester Birch preached his first SER
mon at that time, coming one day
behind time, owing to the i'll
ness Of his wife.
Mr.. Birch has a pleasing personal
ity and is man of intense earnest
ness, without any of the sensational
methods of some evangelists. His
main idea is to emphasize the fact
that men are sinners. He has much
more power. and having been in
active work since he was here about
six years ago, knows better how to
get at the better nature of men. He,
judging from his previous labors
here. though he sometimes touches
the emotions, does not play upon
them to the extent of causing men
to rush pell-mell into the church
through fear of punishment. His
desire is first to cause a man to real
ize the fact that he is sinner and
then look to God for mercy and for
giveness and salvation through the
atoning sacrifice Of Christ.
The pastor, Rev. E. H. Bull, has
been anticipating Mr.. Birch's COM
ing for two months or more. The
officers Of the church have given
the pastor every assistance in his eff
forts to arouse enthusiasm prepara-
tory to the evangelistic services to
continue for ten days, and both pas
tor and people believe that a great
blessing is to be the result of Mr..
Birch's preaching.
preparatory services were held for
a week before the arrival of Mr..
Birch, Mr.. Bull having the assist
ance of some of the pastors of the
city. The music to be furnished by
the choir of the church will be up
to its usual high standard. In ad-
dition to this, the congregations will
again have the opportunity of hear
ing the sweet tones of Mr.. Birch's
gold cornet. Our people will re-
member his renditions when he was
here the first time. Those who did
not fall in love with him personally
were greatly attracted by his music.
So taking all things together, the
indications all point to a most glo-
rious meeting.
The pastor and officers of the
church had made several unsuccess-
full attempts to make a date with
Mr.. Birch and are now rejoicing
over their final success. For three
years or more they have been trying
to secure an evangelist up to the
standard of their ideas and they are
to be commended for their persist
ency, and our people generally hope
that they may see the results ex-
pected.
The audience room of the church
has greater seating capacity than
most people would estimate. 425
persons having been accommodated
with seats when Mr.. Birch was here
the last time.
Everybody is most cordially invit-
ed to all the services and the ushers
request those who attend to allow
them to seat them, rather than scat
ter themselves promiscuously over
the house. The ushers, of course,
will consult the people as to what
part of the audience room they |
would prefer to be in.
The order of services so far is 2:30 |
and 7:30 p. m.
SERMON TO MEN.
Mr.. Birch will preach to men only |
at the church Sunday afternoon, at
2:90, Mr. Birch is very anxious to
havo the men meet him at that hour,
as he has message that will help
some Of them.