Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-04-05
CLOSING EvANeELIsTIc SERVICE.
Series In Centre Church Has Deepened
Spiritual Life Of .ParIsh-Average At
tendance More Than 300.

Series In Centre Church Has Deepened
Spiritual Life Of .ParIsh-Averaee At.
tendance More Than 900.
An audience 3H attended the last in
| the series of evangelistic meetings in the
| Congregational church Sunday evening
| and at the close q good number met in
| the chapel, where Rev. r. M. Hough-
| ton spoke briefly on the results of the
meetings and attributed much of the
| success to the prayerfulness of the mem
| bers of the parish during the past sew
eral weeks. There is no question but
| that the meetings which have been
| wholly lacking in sensational features,
| have had a quickening influence and
have deepened the spiritual life of the
| parish. Rev. Mr.. Houghton stated in
| the chapel meeting that he had been
urged by several to continue the series
until time for him to leave on his va
cation, but that he had decided to ad-
here to the original plan and would
have a similar series next year. The
attendance throughout the series just
closed averaged largely in excess of
300, which was very gratifying, and the
reason for the large attendance is found
in the forcefulness with which the great
truths of the gospel were presented,
and in no small measure is the ability
with which the subjects were handled
responsible for the large class who will
unite with the church the coming Sum
day.
The text last, Sunday was John Z, 81:
I'm the last day, that great day of the
feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying,
If any man thirst, let him come unto
me, and drink" The theme was Who
soever will, let him come" Suppose
you were going to meet the great King
tonight, said Mr.. Houghton, what is
your greatest need? There is no one
here whose greatest need is material
things. You may want them, but you
do not need them. The need of every
one here is some deep spiritual power,
whether you want it or not, to bear
you up when you go down into the
great depths of sorrow and to keep you
safe in times of great rejoicing. If you
have decided what that need is Jesus
Christ can satisfy it, and there is
nothing else under Gods heavens that
can. Mohammed cannot satisfy it; Con-
fucius cannot satisfy 1t; the only salts
faction for every need is Jesus Christ.
That is based on the deepest facts of
the experience of the world in 1900 years.
Jesus Christ can satisfy the physical
needs. We do not emphasize that fact,
because he is a great spiritual leader,
but 1t has been proven that he is able
to satisfy the physical necessities of
life.
Many people are kept out of the king
dom of God because they think that
they must settle every question about
God and Christ and the church before
entering upon an active Christian life,
but you cannot know the deep and "a
biding truths of religion until you enter
upon life of faith. The greatest in
tellects in the world never fathomed
the depth of religious truths; they must
be laid hold of through the heart.
In time of sorrow one who has firm
hold on Christ can go through it Sc
renely and calmly; without Him it brings
agony and despair. If anything can
fill a life with a holy, noble, purpose
|. it is a vision of Christ suffering on the
cross.
whatsoever will, let him come. We
| must not place more emphasis on who
soever' than on will, for it is nee
essary for us to act if we would receive
tie blessing of eternal God. The final
message is that there is just one, Jesus
Christ, who can satisfy your deep spir-
itual needs. Will you receive Him to-
night? 1t will be the most blessed night
in your life"
The musical program included sing
ing by a chorus of 49, the organ Sc
lections, a violin solo by C. M. Dugan,
a selection by the church quartet, a ten
or solo, THE King of Love my Shop
herd is,'' Spence, by w. A. Gilbert, and
a baritone solo, THE Palms." Faure
by F. c. Adams