The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-31


wood be read the Scriptures and
expounded their meaning. Christ
preached his great sermon IN the open
air and proclaimed the gospel to
the woman by Jacobs we'll in the open
air Most Of his miracles and teach.
ing took place In the open air His
disciples we're chosen Ia the open air.
The Apostle Paul was converted in
the open air. and no wonder he be.
came all through life an open-alr
preacher, proclaiming from Mars Hin
Jesus and the resurrection, and press.
ing into the market places where the
people thronged. Jesus was cruclfed
In the open air, and from the top
OF Oliyet he assembled in the open air.
lts History.
The first mention OF church houses
is found in the writings OF Tertullian
al the end Of the second century. JUS
tin Martyr was converted by the testi.
mony Of an old man preaching in the
open air. Augustine preached to King
Ethelbert Of England in the open air.
Wycliffe's poor priests carried on their
ministry almost exclusively in the open
air. Peter Of Bruys would not preach
under a roof. Arnold OF Brescia stood
among the people In the open air and
preached until he was thrown into a
dungeon, from which he went to a
martyrs glory Peter Waldo and the
Poor Men OF Lyons" were open-air
preachers. The Franciscan. the DO.
mlnican ard the Cisterclan monks
preached to the people constantly IN
the open air. In 1882 there was pre-.
sented to the parliament OF England
by the clergy a complaint against
street preaching. John Huss, driven
from his pulpit, began the Bohemian
reformation in the open air. Luther
preached in the open air at Zwickau
to $4,000 people At Goslar a student
from Wittemberg gathered the people
under lime tree and expounded to
them the Scriptures, founding thus d
society known as the "Lmetree Broth.
rem"
The Methodist Revival.
The preaching of Whitehead at
Kngswood colllery Is familiar to every
student OF the great Methodist revival
Wesley believed that everything should
De done decently aud in order and
he first thought that preaching in the
open air might bring the movement
into disrepute; but when he saw the
power Of the gospel upon these col
liery people he yielded and began him.
self to preach in the open air When
Whitefeld left Kingswood for Lon
don his brethren urged nim not to
carry this innovation with him into
the city He knelt down and asked
God to keep him from doing anything
rash or unwise; but when he reached
London he could not restrain the fire
that burned in his soul, and he was
soon standing among the thousands
at Moorsheld, preaching to them in
voice Of thunder.
Better Than Policemen.
The burgomaster of The Hague is
reported to have said: One street
is worth ten policemen. st.
Mary's church, in Whitechapel, Lon.
don, has pulpit built in the corner
of the outside, from which the preach
er reaches more people than he can
induce to come within. The open-air
known as Carubber's Close.
in Edinburgh, has resulted in the con
version Of thousands. The pastor Of
the Somerstown church, in London, de.
clares that two-thirds Of his l.O0C
members were converted in the
streets. One Of the presbyteries OF
Great Britain requires that all its
ministers shall preach several times
during the year in the open air. Bishop
Aldheim, Of the seventh century find
ing that he could not draw the peo.
pie to his church. took his harp. and.
on the corner, played sweetly
enough to draw the crowd and then
preached to them the sweeter message
Of grace. If his spirit should seize
the pastors OF our city churches and
send them out in pleasant weather to
their front doOrsteps or to an adjoin.
ing vacant lot they might Increase
thoir audiences ten.fold.
II Is evident that the Holy Spirit
who came at Pentecost as a rushing
mighty wind would lead us into the
open air with the message OF salvation
for lost sinners. Yield to his drawing
and let your voice be heard this sum.
mer IN song and testimony In the
open air
II our churches, Sunday schools and
missions should organize for an omen.
air evangelistic campaign covering
Chicago this summer, might we not
preach the gospel to every person ia
this great city?
Nott.ens,.aat L.l-. e--...