Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-06
SONGS THAT THRILL
SUNGBY GYPSY Smith
EvANeELlsr's MUSICAL VOICE
IN GOSPEL SONG sTIRs
VAST THRoNG.
Plous PEOPLE URGED
TO DO CHRISTIAN WORK
Can Not 30 Saints Unless They Bring
Souls to chri.t-Romany Evangelist
Tells Of Converting His Uncle
Lead. Parade of 1000 Men to tho
Armonx

Leads Parade of 1000 Men to the
Armonx
Chicago, Oct e.-"Listen, men and
women-listen!"
Gypsy Smith stretched out his hands
toward the thousands crowded into the
Seventh regiment armory last evening.
The great choir banked tier on tier be-
hind him, had taken up the melody OIL
will break"
The Romany evangelist stilled the
sudience as a, mother might quiet a
child. There had been changing of
seats, stirring of ushers, movements
to and fro in the big hall, but when the
song witch Gypsy Smith loves among
the best began to echo thru the vast
auditorium he drew attention to it, and
held his auditors as if in the hollow Of
his hand.
The choir reached the end of the
stanza. Harmonies in which 5000
voices had Joined died to a faint pian-
issimo, leaving only the tinkling of the
piano. Then the preacher nodded in the
direction of the chorus, and members
began to hum the chorus.
Gypsy's Singing Stirs Throng.
With his eyes fixed on the steel
girders Of the arrnory, apparently OBJ
livious of everything save a prayer
full appeal to powers on high, the gypsy
preacher sang the refrain:
And l shall see him face to face
And tell the story saved by grace;
Yes. shall see him face to face
And tell the story saved by grace.
AS il filled with emotion almost too
great to control the evangelist sang. A
clear tenor voice of exceptional beauty
carried the melody to the fanthest
corner. The singer seemed lifted out Of
himself by his absorption in the wor-.
shipful sentiment OF the song, and the
effect on his hearers was striking.
From floor and galleries men and wo-
men leaned forward; some of them
placed their hands ito their ears, seek
ing to catch every shade and coloring
Of the song.
Ended once, Gypsy Smith began
again, and the refrain fell where thou
sands were listening with breathless
interest. A sympathy reaching to the
farthest corners of the hall seemer to
radiate from the platform where stood
the evangelist. and when he finally
ended the song there, were tears in the
eyes of many.
Tells Of Converting Uncle.
Such was Gypsy Smiths introduce
ton to the third meeting of the pres
ent mission. It established an intimate
relation between him and his admirers,
which extended to the close He
preached from the theme, Bring Him
to Me-" and centered his story sermon
about the instructions Jesus gave to
the father of the demented boy, say
ing the boy should be brought to him
to be healed.
"It is hard to bring men to Christ"
he said. "The road Of soul saving new
er was an easy one. My uncle was not
christian at the time I was convert
ed. wanted him to be, but could not
go to him and ask him why he was
not a christian. Gypsy children never
dare address their elders in such FASH
ion, In gypsy tents the parents raise
the children; in America the children
raise their parents. But at last / went
to him and showed him the holes in
the knees of my trousers. One was
worn larger than the other. He asked
me how 1t happened, putting his arm
about me. They came while prayed
that you might love the Jesus l do
L told him. Tears filled his eyes, and he
drew me close to him. 1t was the be-
ginning, and his confession of Christ
came soon."
Simplicity In the Discourse.
The sermon was characterized by
simplicity. Some of the expressions
the evangelist used to drive home his
arguments were:
The last place you take sin cursed
folk to is to Jesus. You follow every
other fad and .nostrum first
Jesus didn't say to build beauti-
full house and put in 1T stained glass
windows and o;i It q his!. tower and a
bell; he said to go out into the high
ways and the hedges.
Some of us go to the pershing with
a tract in one hand and a scent bottle
in the other.
There are those right besides us
every day whom a hand shake would
nave saved for this world and the next
The world is dying for a little bit
of love. fe
What are YOU doing to convert your
servant-for servants have souls?
II may blunder, but If l do I'll blum
der with my face toward what 1 want
to do.
Listen! Hands are cropping in the
dark for yours: little feet are CRYING to
you for guidance; hearts are hungry
for the. love you can bring them.
God can make sapphires out Of mud
and saints out of a gypsys tent.
You can't be .redhot saint thirty
hours without bringing some one tc
Christ"
Gypsy Smith led parade Of 1000
men from Twenty third street ant
Michigan avenue to the armory. 1t was
made up OF Representatives of the vari.
GUS mems brotherhoods Of the city. The
Moody Bible Institute band preceded
the parade down Michigan avenue.
z Anoon meeting is to be held at Or.
chestM hall tomorrow. The Rev. Johr
Timothy Stone, pastor Of the Fourth
Presbyterian church, will speak at 1:
o'clock and Gypsy Smith at 1880 p. m