Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-22
GYPSY DECLARES He
FEELS INSPIRED
SAYS SOMETHING coMPELs HIM
TO GREATER WORK AND FOR
GREATER THINGS.
OVER 700 RESPOND TO
.NvlTATloN TO REFORM
Smith Preached Powerful Sermon Last
Night on the New Birth to Largest
of All Audiences and Record Of Con-
versions Was Broken-Reservation
For Churches.

Chicago, Oct. 22.-Seven hundred
converts-the greatest number to re-
epond on any night since Gypsy Smith
began his work in. the Seventh Regi-
inent armory-arose from their seats
with hymns on their lips and gath
night.
For an hour Gypsy trod the platform,
telling his hearers of the better life
and pleading with them to become
christians. Then he pasued, and the
choir of 500 voices took up an inspir-
ing hymn. AS the music ceased Gypsy
leaned { rward in tense silence,
pointed to the inquiry" room and
begged his hearers to step within for
spiritual comfort. AS the converts
marched the choir again took up it's
singing until the inquiry" room was
filled. Again a dramatic pause and the
voice of the preacher asked those who
felt the power of the Lord calling to
step forward and shake hands with
him.
The crowd soon choked the aisles.
Grayhaired men, boys in knickerbock-
ers, women with two and three infants,
young girls, some weeping, some smil-
ing, and the 700 were put on the scroll
as those who thru the evangelist had
heard His voice.
Emphasizes New Birth.
The evangelist chose as his text the
phrase of the Lord as expressed in the
third chapter of John:
Except q man be born again he
can not enter the Kingdom of God.''
eThose are the words that men have
chosen for the texts of their life" said
Gypsy Smith in one part Of his SER
mon "Wesley spoke them and the
sainted Moody.
But the were not original with these
great men. They issued from the lips Of
Christ. He spoke them to the Sinful
Nicodemus. and Nicodemus was an Of
ficer. of the church, a man high in the
religion of the day And Nicodemus.
screwed to the wall, lifted his hands
and said: aOh, Father, can a man be
born again when old!' That is the
skepticism of some of our brothers and
sisters. Some of our modern church Of
ficers feel it. How many Of you tonight,
my brothers and sisters doubt?"
He Feels inspired.
Soon after this came the dramatic
: climax that sent the hundreds to the
spiritual room. AS they went and the
choir lowered its tones, Gypsy Smith
said:
1I feel inspired. Something compals
me on to greater work tonight This
response to my pleading makes me ash
for greater things. Those of you who
wish fearlessly to show you are max
ing a stand for Jesus come to the plat
form and shake my hand. Do not como
for the mere reason of shaking my
hand, but to show you have crossed
the Rubicon in your fight for The
right"
In the midst OF the gathering abou
him Gypsy Smith delivered the bene-
diction. After 1t more focked to him.
Largest Attendance Thus Far.
Besides being the night Of the great
est number of conversions, the hal
contained the largest audience of any
night 80 far. Fully S,000-the armory's
capacity-filled the great building Ev.
cry seat on the main floor, the bal
cony, that runs along three sides, and
the choir space in back of the speaker
was filled. Special reservations hat
been made by the First Presbyterian r
church of Chicago Heights, 200 seats;
ST. James Methodist Episcopa
church of Chicago Heights, 200 seats
Berwyn Baptist church, 35 seats
Klio Club, $50 seats; Methodist Epis.
,eopal Training School, 1900 seats; the
Reformed Episcopal church, $50 seats
and the Mount Palmer Baptist church
sD seats.
Tonight the regular meeting will
sake place. Tomorrow afternoon at the
lrmory at o'clock the young people.
societies will have the day and a regu
lar meeting in the evening. Gyps.
Smith requested the newspapers to an
!. nounce that the choir is requested t.
appear tomorrow afternoon.