Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1910-07-25
FIRST MEETING
Of Outdoor Services By The Southern
MethOdists Worship In Open Ala


The first meeting of the Southerr
Methodists in their series of proposed
open-air services was held last nigh
on the south end of Madison street.
A stadium. by permission of the Mayor
was erected on the unused part OF
Madison street, and in il gathered
the singers and musicians.
The services began with the OPEN
ing prayer, followed by the hymns
No, Not One, ""Oh, Happy Day. -
Come, Ye Sinners Poor and Needy. -
Onward Christian Soldiers" and
God Bless the Holy Trinity Church. .
The violin, by Mr.. Daniel A. White.
and the organ, by Miss Rose White.
accompanied the singing which was
! spirited and enthusiastic, and which
rang with harmonious notes through
out the section in which the meeting
was held.
The leader of the meeting said that
of all the voluntary free help he re-
ceived in having the stadium erected,
two Catholics, one white and the other
cOlored, had given greatest aid-one
had laid the level of the floor and
the other had given two afternoon s
work, and if it had not been for the
latter's assistance, the stadium could
not have been finished for the DAYS
services. He prayed Gods blessing
upon these Catholic brothers and upon
the Holy Catholic Church. AS a
proof of the catholicity of the one.
universal Christian church, he asked.
which was done, that the congregation
repeat in unison the Apostles Creed
the common faith of all Christen-
dom.
When the pastor, Rev. James H.
Billingsley, ros e to deliver his SER
mon, he faced the largest congrega-
tion that has heard him preach here
since the Southern Methodist SER
vices were opened in this city. He
took as his subject The Unchange-
ableness of God and the Advancing
individuality of Man" God, he
said remained unchangeble but tn
fashion of this world changed. Man
to please God must not follow the
customs of the world. He must
change his course and repent of his
evil ways, and get into alignment
with the purpose of God. That was
the only way in in which man could
reach the heavenly land. -------uvH-7
He was Svn~ved Ike him whoDavid
described as a TOOL, who said in his
heart there was no God. Man make
very poor excuses for not doing their
duty as Christians One man refused
to believe the Bible because it did
not tell enough of how the world was
made. His Christian friend on leav-
ing this infidel's home at night, re-
fused to take lantern to guide him
from the pitfalls in the country
through which he had to pass, because
"it did not show him the mountains.
His infidel friend then grasped
through this reply to offered aid, the
paucity of his excuse for not believ-
ing the Bible since it was only intend
ed to guide a man on his way to
heaven and not to reveal all the Sc
crets of science.
The hymn Stand Up for Jesus"
was sung, and, before pronouncing the
benediction the pastor made an ear
nest appeal for the unconverted pres
ent to cast their lot with the Christ
ian Church. The next evening service
will be held at the same place on
Sunday next at 7:15 p. m.
A Garden Party" for the benefit of
the church finances will be held at
the stadium on Tuesday, August 2,
from z to 10 %. m