Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-02
RAINY WEATHER IS
DAMPER To CROWD
ATTENDANCE At ALBA REVIVAL
MEETINGS CUT DOWN BUT
ENTHUSIASM REMAINS.
Especial Correspondence.)

Abba, Dec. Rain played havoc
with the program at the tabernacle
yesterday but did not dissipate the
deep interest Of the meetings but rath-
| err increased it. While the city needs
water badly and the reservoir has
been practically dry for several weeks,
the rain came as blessing and was
not wholly unwelcome. So while the
people who are most directly interest
ed in the union meetings prayed for
showers of blessing" they were in
frame of mind to take the rain as
part Of the answer to their supplica-
lions.
Considering the weather, the attend
ance was good, The forenoon service
with the rain pouring down during the
greater part of the meeting time, was
we'll attended. The afternoon crowd
was not what it would have been had
it been fair but it was unusual for the
kind of weather. The interest was the
the number of decisions was uneXpect.
gest Of the day.
Changes His Topics.
Evangelist Oliver changed all of his
announced subjects because Of the di-
minished attendance. The afternoon
mems meeting was changed to mixed
meeting. The morning subject was
especially to the church on Restoring
the weak" The afternoon address
was Courage VS.. cowardice.' The
evening sermon was Sudden DEATH
The coming week will be full one
Specials services being arranged for
every night. Delegations from sur
rounding towns will be the order Of
the meetings all week. The first half
Of the meetings have passed and the
last half is on the way. Great things
are expected in the final days.
The Sunday night sermon in part
follows:
Ny text is found in the gospel of
Luke, the 18th chapter, the 9Th and
9tn verses.
"Whomsoever shall confess me be-
fore men him shall the Son Of Man
also confess before the angels Of God
but he that denieth me before men
shall be denied before the angels OF
God"
When we consider the tremendous
amount Of wickedness in high places.
the giddy, silly, wasp-shaped women.
the clammy-handed, half baked, neu'
rotic, cigarette smoking, picture show
devctees amongst the men OF the ma
ton, we can't help but feel that the
race is degenerating. Policy puppets
are numerous in all walks OF life.
When l was in Kansas conducting
meeting two or three years ago,
business man told friends of mine
that he had been under such convic-
ton that he could not sleep and that
he had well-nigh lost his appetite for
food, and he said, 81 would settle this
question in a minute but you know
how my partner in business feels to-
wards this religious proposlt1on.'
said in the meeting that whenever
man degenerates and becomes so COW
ardlv that he will sell his soul for the
opinions Of a back-boneless reprobate
who may be his partner, that such
man is too cowardly to merit respect
or mercy. The question in these days
is not what will they say?' but
what will God say?" I love to see
a man who will not sell out for the
sake of opinion or the applause OF a
wicked world. There Is not man IN
this city or county who can measure
character with a scurvy ape, but who
will say to you when you give your
heart to Jesus Christ you have done
the manifest thing that any man can
ever do, and any man who will dis
courage you or scott at you or ridi-
Guile you when you are honestly trying
to serve God cannot measure charac-
ter with the ape or the yellow dog.
Young woman, If your mpanions are
trying to keep you from becoming a
child of God in this campaign, advise
YOU to change your company as soon
as possible. People who have no
respect for God are absolutely IN
worthy Of your friendship or conf
dence. John Wesley made a wise de-
cision when he determined to keep
comnanv with no one who would not
help him on his way to heaven.