Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1908-05-06
The GREAT new ORLEANS REVIVAL.
The Whiskey Forces Break Up a Revival
and Destroy the Building.
Christian Observer, April 2sth, 'os.

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Christian Observer, April 29th, 'Os.
The most remarkable religious
movement of it's character, in
the history of New Orleans
was begun February 23, 1908
whenin response to an invi'
tation ,extended by seventeen
Protestant Churches, Evangelist
NJ. F. Ham, of Bowling Green,
KY, entered upon his labors in
the. .LafayetteP Presbyterian church.
Thorough preparation for the
work had previously been made
in prayer meetings, which had
been held from church to church
during months preceding Mr..
Hams arrival. From the begin
ming, the campaign assumed large
proportions. The first night La
fayette church overfowed. The
following Sunday night, the larger
auditorium of the First Presbyte-
rian church was packed with
people. Later the Athenaeum,
the largest nall in the city was
hired, and it's capacity was also
overtaxad. Finally, with the
consent of the local United States
authorities, a temporary Taber-
nacle with a seating capacity of
over four thousand, was erected on
the new postofice site, on Lafayette
Square, and occupied on Sunday
20.
AS the meeting progressed, it
developed the most striking fea-
lures. One of those was the sing
ing of the Junior Choir-a chorus
of four hundred children's voices.
Another, was the observance Of
days of fasting and prayer-three
of which were kept. The obser-
vance of these days was accom-
panied by the most wonderful out
pourings of the Holy Spirit.
They were in turn days of the JOY
of surrender and of instruction
in Gods Word.
Another feature of the revival
was it's attractiveness to men.
Special services for men we're held
Sunday afternoons beginning
March 8. At the first Of these 900
mer came together. Each Sun
day the numbers increased until
they reached $500.
Again, the revival stirred the
most unbounded enthusiasm, the
best expression of which was the
building, and paying for in a few
days, of the immense Tabernacle.
Also the conduct of the meet
ing aroused the bl5terest antago-
nism. Mr.. Ham denounced III
unmeasured terms the most heavy
sins Of our people. His attack
on the Carnival brought down
upon him and the revival the con-
demnation Of some of those high
IN the councils of our Protestant
Churches, who, heretofore, have
favored with their presence and
support the various Mardi Gras
organizations Of our city. Then,
too, Mr.. Ham was merciless IN his
condemnation of theatre going,
card-playing and dancing. But
the storm Of opposition broke
when he attacked the liquor in.
terests. Every one who knows
anything about New Orleans
knows that liquor controls her
politics, dominates her society
and has some Of her churches
bound hand and foot.
The combined liquor interests
were not slow in striking back
First, they tried to have the
Tabernacle condemned on the
ground that it was unsafe. Fail
ing in this ridiculous contention.
they raised the point that it was
a fire trap, and sought to have the
Mayor revoke his permit for its
construction. Foiled again, they
told monstrous fa]sehoods about
thu evangelist, and filled the pub.
lie press with vicious attacks upon
him. One night during public
worship the Tabernacle was
stoned.
Finally, as master, appeal wal
made to Washington to have ths
Tabernacle removed from tht
postofice site. The contention
was false one, that tent hat
been erected on Government