Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-18
SERMONS AT ALBA TABERNACLE
RESULT IN MANY SEEKING
THE PATH OF LIGHT.
YOUNG FOLKS REPENT
Gray Haired And Youth Mlngle When
The Call Is Made To Confess Sin
And Turn Towards
The Maker.
Especial Correspondence.)


Abba, Nov. 17.--Approximately tw'
hundred confessions marked the frs
day of invitation at the Oliver uniol
meetings in this city. For one weel
the meetings have been going on ant
interest and enthusiasm is rising will
every service Already it has reached
dimensions that mark 1t as one o
the greatest REVEALS in Iowa.
The first real decisive interest start
ed on Saturday evening. Saturday II
usually considered an ION day II
evangelistic work and it often resolve:
itself into a mere "tiding over unit
Sunday but not so here. The Afternoon
meeting on Saturday was we'll attend
ed Saturday night the tabernacle wat
almost full and Evangelist Oliver de
livered a short but searching sermon
on us it nothing to you?" He made
the appeal to both Christians and sin
ners alike, putting upon the Christians
the responsibility of witnessing. and
| their lack of concern over the ron
Christians. To the sinner he raised
the standard of crucified Christ who
| died for their life and asked them II
1t was nothing to them if that sacri
/ fee had been made. At the close ne
gave the first insistent invitation OF the
campaign. Personal workers mingled
! among the audience and soon the pen
itents started to come. Old men, old
women, younger men and women to-
gether with children flocked to the
front and in few minutes there were
thirty at the place Of prayer. 1t was
a scene seldom witnessed in this city.
1t was unexpected and unlocked for
Tears were in many eyes and Joy on
other faces. There was no excitement
and no unnecessary activities.
Big Crowd Sunday.
This service somewhat prepared the
people for the meeting on Sunday
morning. The evangelist had an
nounced that he would preach on THE
blood of souls" a sermon especially
to the church The crowd began to
come early When the Sunday schools
had dismissed and their enrolment
reached the tabernacle not many seats
were left These were soon filled and
for the first time in day service the
building was packed and seats were at
a premium. The message was pow
erfui one and delivered In the evange-
lists best form. There was no mincing
Of words or temporizing with any sort
Of compromise. IF thou neglect to
warn the people and they be lost their
blood will be required of your hand"
was the slogan of the message. There
was tenseness in the atmosphere
when the sermon neared the close.
Prof Allen sang "Over the river. faces
Isee" while all heads bowed in prayer.
All eve rthe building could be heard
weeping. 1. was a new experience for
Abba. The invitation was given and
the audience. They began to come one
two and three at a time. The invi
tation was renewed and personal work
ers continued their pleadings with
friends. In a short time more than
forty had come. forward. Like the
night before gray hairs mingled with
the youth and maiden. There was Joy
on manv a face and many mothers
prayer had been answered.
s Young People Present
Sunday afternoon was especially for
the young people. A reservation was
made in the center section of the tab
ernacle for the younger folks and fully
six hundred occupied these reserved
seats. The audience was again ca
pacity one and the people came from
far and near. A delegation from Os-
kaloosa was present as well as some
Of the smaller towns of this county.
The message of the evangelist was
character culture and was especially
for the young people. At the close
10 No x1yho ho In VII of iNy, fNys
was given there was scene unprec-
edented in the religious history Of AL
bia. They came in flocks and punches
and several seats we're filled with
those who expressed a desire to unite
with the various churches Of the city.
1t was stated that there were more
decisions to unite with the churches of
Abba and vicinity Saturday night and
Sunday than in any two years in it's
previous history. If this is to be
record of two days it is hard to say
where it will stop in the remaining
four or five weeks of the meeting. 81,
r.. Attendance Mark Set. ~.
Sunday night was the record break
ing attendance. Every available seat
was taken before the time for the SER
vice to begin. Some were turned away
for want Of room. The evangelist's
sermon was warm one and dealt with
a warm subject. rs there a hell?" 1t
was complete refutation of class Of
people who are going about denying
a place of eternal punishment Oratory
and dramatic climaxes marked the ad.
dress from beginning to end. There
was scriptural quotations and incidents
and illustration to drive home the
truth. The matter of personal work,
SO well begun earlier in the day, was
carried on with renewed vigor and
many came to the place of decision.
Again, as ct the other preceding SER
vices the old mingled with the young
Middle age and youth alike struck
the trail" as it is commonly called in
parlance.
There were no meetings today, it
being a rest day with the evangelistic
party and the community. The meet
lngs will be resumed on Tuesday at
ternoon and the coming week will be
a full one. Prayer meetings are held
each morning from $3.50 to 10 o'clock
in many homes in the city. There are
special meetings with the high school