The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-16
Virginia Man Says Gipsy
Smith Made Lasting I'm
preston on His City
MANY MESSAGES
SENT TO PREACHER
Schoolfield Says Sermon on Closing
Night of Revival Will Be the Best
of the Series-Hopes to
Remain

Living evidence Of the fact that the
interest manifested in tho revival meet
ings of Gypsy Smith now being held in
ture, but will stand the test of time.
IL now to be had. Il. A. SchooIfieId
of DanviIIe, Va, accompanied by his
wife and daughter. arrived I'm Birming e.
ham yesterday at noon. They come for
the express purpose of hearing the
gypsy evangelist and attening his meet
ings. They proceeded from the train 10
the Empire hotel. where they will stop
while In the city and from there went
directly to the auditorium ON First
avenue, where the noon meeting was I'm
progress. MIR. Smith had them come I'M
on the platform and the audience
greeted them with a storm of applause.
Mr. schoOlffeid said that he did not
kno" exactly how long he would re-
main In Birmingham but hoped that
he would find 1t possible TO stay until
the close of the revival.
Talks of Gipsy's Visit to Danville
When seen at his hotel yesterday aft
ernoon Mr. Schoolfeld talked enthusiast
cally of the visit of Gypsy Smith to his
city and said that when he left for Bir-
mingham hundreds of people asked him
to bring messages to the evangelist Mr..
schooifeld was instrumental in bringing
Mr.. smith to Danville and said he had
been trying for six or seven years to get
the evangelist. He said that all the
churches and the Young Mems Christian
associations had worked in unison and in
perfect harmony during Danville's reyi-
val The auditorium in Danville, he said,
held between 5000 and 1000 people and
was filled to capacity every day.
Mr.. Smith made a deep impression
upon the people of Danville," said Mr.
Schoolfield His good work is now he
ing manifested in the spirit of activity
which pervades the churches. He quick
ened the life of the churches and in addi-
ton to that he was instrumental in bring
ing large number of souls to Christ.
Many of the leading ministers of my
cfty say 1T is their opinion that il there
had not been a single addition to the
churches he has done great work in Dan.
vile and It's people are all the better TO,
having had him there
l have been a resident of Danville fol-
more than 30 years and if any evangelist
or lecturer ever made so deep and lasting
an impression as Gipsy Smith il Is MOI
within my memory. He is universally
beloved in our city and before he left
Tor birmingham more than $500 people AT
one OF his meetings arose and extended
him an invitation to return. His mission
there was on the whole helpful and bene-
ficial
When the evangelist started on his
journey to Birmingham there was at the
station in Danyille a large number of
people to see him off and wish him well.
Among those present was the Gipsv
Smith praying band, an organization of
young ladies Of Danville. 80 strong. 1t
was a beautiful and touching sight to
see those charming young women wave
at the train until it vanished around the
curve, far down the track Mr.. Smith
was standing on the rear vestibule of
the last coach and when the train sta
he took his handkerchief and began to
wave at the ladies. They returned his
salute and when the train had disap-
peared on it's southwark Journey turned
sadly away. with tear-dimmed eyes. They
had sung his favorite hymn, "Where He
Leads Me | Will Follow" just before the
train left the station.
Last Sermon the Best
by far the best of Mr.. Smiths SER
mons will be that of the last night of
the revival This really is not a sermon.
1t is the story of his life and unless one
hears that, one has heard nothing. 1t is
a wonderful story, this of the. life of a
simple gypsy boy, pathos, and humor de-
lightfully intermingled in just the right
quantity and one feels better to know
that such men as he exist. If the peo-
pie of Birmingham don't hear that story
they will be sorry. 1t is worth listening
to. In Danyille some complained that
they got tired sitting on the benches.
Well, he told the story Of his life and
conversion at his last meeting there and
although he spoke for two hours or more
never heard single complaint; many
people said that they had not kept track
of time and that they would have gladly
heard him talk further
mot within my memory has there been
one in Danville who left with the love
and respect of all the people. His name
is now and will be for long time to
come in the mouths of men, women and
children ! believe that the secret of
his success and of his pleasing PERSONAL
ity is that he breaches the plain, old
fashioned gospel of regeneration through
the Holy Ghost
Mr.. Schoolheld is president of the Riv-
erside and Dan River Cotton mills, a
corporation capitalized at $500, 900.