The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-18
A WONDERFUL NIGHT
FifIy-three Conversions al One
Service.
MORE THAN 100 IN ALL


Sunday was a day long to be remem
bered by hundreds OF our citizens. Their,
have been great religious revivals IN tbs
past, but those who witnessed the scene.
OF Sunday night at the Baptist church
testify that they never saw any thing like
IL. lt was q veritable Pentecost Mors
than a half hundred people came to ths
front consessing their sins and acknovl
edged Jesus Christ as Lord. Boys and
girls came. strong men and women came
moved by the mighty presence OF the
Spirit OF God Mr.. Gsrlands appeals
have almost altogether BEEN to the CON-
mon sense OF the people aud last night
was simply tbs will Of the pe ope howing
to their intelligence, their ssnse of duty
aud sin, and obligation to God, and
therefore causing them to come to a de.
cisiOn for the Lord aud Saviour. Jesus
Christ
Two hours before the service the peo-
pie were banked outside the doors and
By O'Clock the house was filed. Never
has such a crowd gathered there. Fully
900 or q 1000 people crowded into every
available niche and space. Fifty boys
filed the platform until the speaker had
only enough room to stand. IL was e.
timated that between $50 and 300 were
turned away.
The singing was magnificent When
| that crowd took up the song, THE Old
Time Religion is Good Enough for Ne, -
IL seemed as II II would shake the build.
ing. Mr.. Garland made different groups
sing the chorus, first the men, then the
boys, then the girls, then the gallery
then altogether AMI IL was wonderful
Mr.. Bullock sang a fine baritone solo
Mrs Mary Quinn Hirks has done splen.
did service as pianist aud she led that
mig hty crowd with the piano with per.
feet ease and with real power. A piano
is q remarkable Instrument wkea tbs
right person gets hold OF It,
IL is the opinion OF the people that the
mems meeting In the afternoon prepared
the way for the nights service. Thai
mems meeting was meeting OF remark
able power. The church was filed with
men. Mr. Adams was asked by Capt
Quinn TO lead the singing. and be did Il
with great effect. He has many gifts fol
this kind OF service A male Quartette
composed OF Messrs. Wright, Adams
Sweetzer and Bullock, sang What viii
you do with Jesus?" and IL thrilled tn,
crowd.
Mr.. Garland spoke to the men on Re
sponsibility. There were men present a
that service who will never forget tina
message of the preacher. he rung tn
charges on a mans responsibility. witt
consummate ease he led bis audience I,
the very Judgment bar OF God and ther
unfolded the panorama OF their life, unit
every man was standing face to fac
with bis past. IL was an intense mo
ment. Where was any hope? II ever,
man was responsible FOR his part. whs
hope did he have? And then the preach
er told the story OF the Christ. OF how II
came to help a man to face bis pas,
How He never forsook q man VIII
would trust Him and how amid all cor
ditions OF lie the love 81 Christ neve
changed. Six men came forward TO cor
Tess Christ.
At night Mr.. Garland took as hi
theme. Christ. the All aud In AL" an
then put Christ forward first as man
Saviour, then as bis leader and guild,
then as bis helper. He talked as plainl
aud as simply as a mau could talk II
held mp Christ before all that people III
Ill IL seemed that Christ was LITERAL
present
He cited illustrations to show tina
Christ could save a man and could kee
him saved II the man would give him
chance. and when the preacher called ic
men and women IN accept the Chris
they began to come, not hurriedly, bu
calmly and deliberately until IL SCENE
that every uDsaved person there wa
coming. Mr. Garland tried to get II
psople TO go away, but not many LEI
The people fingered until 1890 and the
went to their homes.
: Sunday night before Mr.. G. preacl
ed, the pastor. Mr.. Williams asked ths
all who desired to do so would contr
butte for a purse, which they desired I
present to Mr.. Garland, not as compei
! satiou but as q testimonial OF their sffe
ton Tor his work among them. The
responded with will aud from the lool
OF the plates II seemed to be large. Aft.
the Offering was received, Mr.. Garlau
stood up and thanked the people for Il
2 purse and then said, Friends, not oil
cent will go into Gsrland's pocket 70
give IL to me. but give it to the dest
tute sections OF Virginia 10 order thu
: we may build churches where now the
do not exist" IL was a noble act, but q
one was surprised, because Mr.. Gsrlar
has made the impression, without inten
i Ing It, OF complete conservation to Il
J, cause for which he has given his life.