The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-05

Before an audience variously estimated
from 1000 to 5000 Gipsy Smith made his
first talk to thea Birmingham public last
night. He spoke especially to the minis
ters, personal workers and ushersS
DIR. j. s. Foster made the Introductory
speech Immediately after the song service,
which lasted about 20 minutes. The Rev.
w. A. Anderson, pastor of the F'ifty-sixth
Street Baptist church, read some verses
from the fourth chapter of John and DIR.
Foster then spoke.
Dr.. Foster said: II know / speak the
sentiments of all those who are interested
in the things of God when 1 say that this
is a glad experience in our lives. The
hour for which we have been looking in
hope and prayer has at last arrived"
The speakers voice thrilled with emo
ton as he continued: Tonight 1 am fac
ing representatives of the great religious
hosts of Birmingham united in concert
ed effort for God and his kingdom 1t
has been the prayer and is now the prayer
of all good people that this movement
may influence every life in this city.
Not a One Man Meeting
I want to say to you that thhs Is not a
one-man meeting. 1t is not the meeting
of any one church, it is meeting of
over 100 churches in this district. a meet
ing in which it is hoped the churches of
every denomination will have part un-
der the banner of our one Lord and mas
ter, that His Will be done on earth as it
is in heaven.
bo IL,
successful must have worthy, competent
leadership. We have with us as the leader
in this great religious movement man
whose labors have been world wide in
scope; a man whose most devoted friends
are the thousands OF ministers the wide
world over with whom he has worked.
This man is here within our doors and
we are exceedingly glad he is here
'.It, therefore. gives me the greatest of
pleasure to present to this audience and
TO assure him at the same time that we
are deeply appreciative. OF his presence,
a man who has the love and the prayers
and the earnest cooperation of the Pas
tors union of Birmingham-Gip SMITH
Mr. Smith caiAe forward with his ever
ready smile and hush came over the
audience. lie began speaking in his low,
pleasant voice and the vast congrega-
ton bent eagerly forward to catch his
lightest whisper. MY dear friends: Be-
fore you hear any further words from
| me / am gong to ask you to sing" said
the evangelist although we have had
song service, you haven't sung yet You
have only been looking at me; you have
stared. and that's rude. At religious
service you should sing.
Master of the Audience
Suppose / were to come to your home
as a guest and when you had sat me
down to the dinner table | only shifted
and refused to eat? Would you not con-
/ slider me an undesirable guest? Well
you are only shifting at the joy of at
tending religious services when you don
sing When my Congregation does not
sing suffer Gut loud. Some of your min
/, isters suffer nNardly when you do not
sing at the services In the church. but am
| going to tell you II | suffer. If you want
to make me feel that / am stranger,
don't sing. But if you want me to feel
that | am yours, you will sing.
Now sing the chorus again of Where
lie Leads Me l VIII Follow. I" The en-
tire aud ence sung The volume of sound
rising from the throats of nearly 5000 peo-
pie bid fair to raise the roof. And Mr..
smith was immensely pleased.
He divided the congregation into -four
sections and told them that when he
pointed at one section he wanted it to
sing, while the remainder were to be sill
(Continued ON Page Ten)