The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-02-19
HAMILTON LAWYER
BEARS WITNESS
c. s. WAGNER, RECENTLY CON-
VERIFIED. DELIVERS ADDRESS
BEFORE SMITHS AUDIENCE.

A crowded house greeted Evangelist
Smith and his co-workers at Elite hall
last evening. Not more than a score
or so of the great audience We're
children. It was decidedly an adult
audience, with a much larger pro
portion of men than one usually sees
in a religious gathering in Missoula.
The first a. minutes were given over
$ usual t. a 5 ng service, the special
f@ltuE IS # which were q duet by Miss
Chadwick ard Mrs. NcAllister, and a
cornet solo by Charles Poehler, state
secretary of the Young Mems Christian
association. The program which had
been proposed for the evening was
somewhat changed. The subject,
Profit and loss" which Mr.. Smith
had advertised to speak on, and the
testimony from men who had found
Christ, We're passed up till tomorrow
evening, The main feature of the
'ening was an address by Charles S.
Wagner. the Hamilton laWver who had
heen converted in the Smith meetings
in that city a few weeks ago. 1t was
n message of salvation from the lay
mans and the LAWYERS point Of view.
It was the first time in his life, he
said, that he appeared before a re-
ligious assembly. The man himself
was interesting. Slight of build. youth
full in appearance. with clear-cut fea-
lures, deep-set eyes. earnest manner.
eloquent in sneech and glowing with
new found experiences and convictions.
he thrilled the large assembly as he
~ folded +lo ,tr1rlyirr- AF hi, ,,,t,l 1rl
heart toward faith in the gospel as
the power of God into salvation. He
had been a sceptic, he said. He had
been brought UP to go to church. but
when he went to college he imbibed
sceptical and infidel views from his
college friends and thought it Smart
to be a sceptic and infidel himself. He
thought it smart to frequent saloons
and play cards and do such like
things. He quit going TO church. I'm
the 10 years in which 7 lived in the
Bitter Root" he said, Il never saw
the inside of a church. I didn't know
where a church in Missoula was, but
I knew every saloon in Missoula, and
could call every bartender by name.
/ found myself going down to destruc-
ton. I found that strong drink had
mastered me. When Mr.. Smith began
his meetings in Hamilton I decided to
examine the basis of the Christian
faith. I looked upon the resurrection
examined the evidence given in the
of Jesus Christ as it's foundation.
Gospels on that matter" Then he
showed the working of his mind. II
was the working of a lawyers mine
that he showed. The conclusion forced
itself upon him that the resurrection
was a fact, and that Jesus was the Sol
of God. Then he reached out for othe'
evidence. The conversion and life 0
Paul helped him to believe in tn
gospel. The faith of Washington an,
Lincoln and Mckinley helped him il
believing. The evidence he found con
elusive. Il am wiling he declared
ito stand upon the gospel and dis
cuss the subject with any man who de
MES the TRUTH The outcome of j
was that he gave himself to Christ
n became, as he believes, a differen
kind of a man. He closed with a grea
appeal to the men present. when,
said he, you throw off the burden 0
sin. you will find light and joy and
new life incomprehensible.'
MI. Smith followed with a short ad
dress in line with what Mr.. Wayne
had said. The burden of it was thu
Jesus Christ is a great Saviour an,
the only Saviour. When the invita-
ton was given a large company cam
forward to signify their intention t
begin the Christian life.
Announcements.
At the meeting at Elite hall thi
aft,rnOUn at 8 o'clock Evangelist Smit
Will begin the most important serie
of talks of his campaign in MISSOURI
The subject Of these is "Progressiv
Christian Life" These messages haV
been delivered at chautauquas an
Bible conferences repeatedly. Christla
people are urged to attend this serie
OF talks.
This evening there will be a %
minute season Of prayer at the hall, be