The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-18
THREE PREACHERS
One Was COlOred Man in
Charge of Revival.
Tried to Get ReVS. Gordon and
LOveIand to MOurners' Bench.

1t was a colored revival service in
the East Side bottoms. Excitement was
waxing high. There was a group
around the mourners' bench. In the
rear of the room were seated two prom
inent Topeka ministers and a news
paper reporter.
The colored parson recognized DIR. F.
L. .Loveland among the group of visit
ors, but the question uppermost in the
mind of the reverend gentleman" was
whether or not the other fellows had
been sanctified
The Rev. Robert Gordon was ap-
preached by the man officiating at the
meeting.
/ Brother, have you been sanctified? ~
| he asked.
understanding of the term was the
| reply
when were you sanctified?" was a
second direct question put to the pastor
of the First Baptist church of Topeka
"At the time 1 was converted"
Then for five minutes the visiting
clergyman who was not recognized by
the coIored divine" listened to dis
course on how was an impossibilfty
to be sanctified at the time of CONVEX
sion. The latte held that sanctifica-
ton must necessarily come at a later
stage of Christian experience. His at
tempt to bring Rev. Mr.. Gordon to the
mourner's bench was without avail.
Then the reporter was questioned in
the same manner by the negro
preacher. He didn't have particularly
clear idea of what the term "sancti-
fled" meant as used by the colored
man, and as he was not prepared to go
up front to the mourners' bench, he in
timated that he believed that he had
gone through the process of sanctifica-
ton. The minister looked aggrieved be-
cause the newspaper nan in question
would not go to the mourners' bench
to pray for the unsanctified.
Then the revivalist went up to the
other member of the party, and said:
I'm glad to see you DR.. Loveland. Pm
glad you brought these men here, and
1 hope you'll drop in again.
Thank you," said DR.. Loveland.
Brother, you have a great work here.
Here's a dollar to help you," and at that
moment an animatedly benign express |
sion came over the face of the colored
parson. The three visitors left the
room.
This is the way it all came about.
The party of three were returning home
via Crane street from a visit to the
of the Santa Fe shops,
when wall that made might hideous"
was heard. 1t was evid>--tly a woman
who was shouting, and it sounded as
though she were saying Historically
He's killing me: he's killing me-" The
Rev. Mr.. Gordon remarked subsequent
v that he had visions about that time
Of being called to the police court as
l witness to a tragedy.
When the party approached the small
rame building from which the sounds
we're issuing forth it was evident
enough that the woman was crying out
'HaIlelujah, haHelujah." and that after
LII no crime was being committed. Then
some one in a deep bass voice shouted
tut, amen It was plain that re-
'ival was in progress-and that's the
A number of those present in the
audience possessed voices of unusual
IuaIity. The singing of typical negro
evivaI chants was carried on with en-
husiasm.
The preacher ecame eloquent. He
ad no use for theology, but advocated
kneeology?'' He then dropped to his
nees to illustrate the point He ex-
rted his lung power to the utmost.
hen about this time a woman filled
18th the enthusiasm of the revival re-
gion tripped 1.-The light fantastic"
cross the floor jumping high, and cry
1g out in a manner to be heard for
everaI blocks. HalleluJah, halle
lob