The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-01-04
THE CULPEPPER SERVICES
Were Inaugurated Last Night at the
Methodist Episcopal Church

announced lntN would nave their big
tent up on the government lot but that
ground had been engaged by Chappers
Rabbit Foot Minstrel. So the church
was occupied by a fair audience. The
Star reporter arrived late and did not
hear the prrliIninaries Of tn" meeting,
as the Rev. j. Il. Culpepper was in the
midst Of his argument showing that
revivals paid in business sense and
instanced several cases where men had
been dishonest. and coming to his re-
vival meetings, had become converted
and made restitution. InStanCed the
case of a liquor seller in Alabama who
after his conversion returned $50 to
every customer Of his and having
$500 left. gave ii to build a church
in the town in which he had been en-
gagged i'm business. That man began
life in an humble way in the service
one Of it's most faithful and respected
passenger conductors. 1t not only
made men honest, but broadened their
conceptions Of life; made them better
citizens, better husbands; frightened
their homes and made it the anchorage
Of their living. He related the effect
of such conversions by asking the con-
gregatiOn. from the first seat to the
last. for them to extend their left hand
to the rear and grasp the hand Of the
person in their rear without looking
back, then to do the same with their
right hands. This done they were to
look arouEd and see whose hands they
had graSped. In one instance it was
a woman who held the hand of another
woman to whom she had not spoken in
four years; another instance il was q
man who had grasped the hand of a
Hebrew, and they had been enemies
for years, toting pistols in their pOck-
cts with which to Kill each other The
reconciliation in cash instance was
perfect and dislike and hatred has
passed out of their hearts The Rev.
Culpepper demonstrated beyond ques-
ton that a converted heart paid; it
broadened and sweetened every rela-
ton of life and made it dOubly worth
living. Speaking Of a revival service
interest grew so great and enthusiasm
so unbounded that the largest church
in the city failed to hold those who
sought the services, and he had de-
termined to cease his meeting, the peo-
pie promptly subscribed enough money
to build tabernacle to hold $4,000
persons. At the last of these meetings,
the night previous to the closing of
same, ninety-seven joined the different
churches and the last night of the
meeting seventy-nine sent in their
names. 1t was a glorious harvest. In
closing, he referred to his previous
meetings in Ocala, the conversions
that had taken place and the fact that
he assisted the Rev. Ben Helm to ded-
icate the present Presbyterian church,
over which now the Rev. DR.. w. Ii.
Dodge presides as pastor and in this
connection mentioned the name of the
late lamented John F. Dunn, who was
one of the converts at that meeting
and became one Of the pillars Of the
Presbyterian church. He said the peO-
pie Of the Brick City had treated him
| so kindly and generously he never
could forget them and in his heart he
cherished a warm regard for them. He
hoped the meetings would prove the
most productive Of good of any that
ever had been held here and trusted
for the hearty cooperation Of all de-
nominations. He referred to the fact
| that his desire and ambition was to
become a more perfect Christian and
child of Christ, as he pursued his Ia
bors in the Masters Cause, and to be
more helpful to his fellow men and
the world. With this spirit in his
heart he had ever striven and in veri-
fcation of his earnestness and zeal he
had dedicated two sons to the minis
try. /had several brothers who were
clergymen. possessed several sisters
in law whose husbands were ministers,
had two daughters who had married
lclergymen and had q third who desir-
ed to marry another. Laughter. His
son, Rev Burk Culpepper, then took
charge of the singing. prefacing the
act by remarking that while this was
his first visit to Ocala. the people here
had so endeared themselves to his
father that in their jOurneyings over
the country, when alone in their room
his father has so frequently referred
to the dear friends he had made in
this community. that he could repeat
twenty names of persons who had be-