The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-30
REV. ]. I. GREEN STARTS
RY.Y. N. c. A. CAMPAIGN
The Dynamics Of Evangelism" Is
Subject, Happily Striking
Keynote.
CHORUS CHOIR SINGING
Holds Up Standard Set BY Saviour.
Emphasizes Value of Testimony.
importance of Prayer and Need of
Power. ..
BY WILLIAM NJ. BIcKERs.

BY WILLIAM VI. BICKERS.
The religious campaign under the
auspices Of the Railroad Mems Chris
tian Association has well begun, and
the. first public service in the audi
toraim. held yesterday afternoon, was
largely attended and great interest
manifested. A large chorus choir,
under the leadership of Fay Thomas.
rendered several of the stirring Billy
Sunday songs that were used with
such success in the Philadelphia
meeting. There was a selection by
the Association Qusrette, composed of
Messrs. Allen. Doyle. Davis and
Thomas. Mr.. Thomas also sang
solo, "Sweeter AS the Years Go BY"
All the singing was spirited and well
rendered c. H. Ashburne. Jr., was
the pianist. Secretary s. l.. Thomas
conducted the opening religious SER
vice.
Rev. James T. Green. pastor of st.
James Methodist Church. preached
the initial sermon and happily struck
splendid keynote for the protracted
services. The theme was The
Dynamics of Evangelism" and the
string discourse was built on the
Saviour's last words to His disciples:
are WttnSScS DAs
tarry We at Jerusalem until We be en-
dowed with power from on high"
An Inspiring Sermon.
Very beautifully did the speaker
picture the last scene in the life OF
Jour Saviour on earth. In fancy he
took his audience with the silent pro
Icession that moved up the slopes OF
Mount Olivet, portraying his imagin-
ings of the Saviour's thoughts as He
looked upon the scenes OF His life'
work and of the sensations that filled
1.-THE breasts of the devoted band from
whom He would now be separated:
.'will He rebuke us for our lack OF
faith, for our failure and short
lcomings?" But. no. there was no
word of reproof, but rather a crown
lof glory, for He told them that He
must needs go away. but left them as
His witnesses, promising the all-neces-
sary power for the fruitfulness OF
their testimony to flood the earth with
the knowledge of Gods truth. Then.
In an aerial chariot of royal beauty,
He was conveyed up to heaven. wniie
the band of witnesses entrancfngly
gazed until the splendid eQuipage was
lost to sight in the empyrean's blue.
Then they needed the command.
hastened to and tarried at Jerusalem,
mindful of their own weakness. but
praying for the power which came
lin such abundance, and the enects
Of which are seen today all around
and about us"
The preached deduced these points
from the incident narrated:
First-The value of testimony
second-The importance OF prayer
Third-Need Of power.
Each of these deductions was clap
Grated upon with peculiar force ana
emphasis, and the message gripped
the audience. Christianity In ever
ytrile and a mighty force where there
is compliance with the conditions i'm
posed There IL no such thing as
failure" in Christianity. There Is
sometimes, 10 be sure. failure in puny,
self-reliant efforts to propagate It. but
that is not a failure of Christianity.
The fault Is with those who imagine
that the Christian cause can be con-
served and applied without the dyna-
mic forces which its founder decreed:
Cs,ist's witnesses must rightly and
truly testify Of Him. They must be
followers Of Him In fact as well as
name and testify in their lives the
religion they profess. There must be
prayer--constant prayer--a feeling or
supreme reliance upon God-and there
must be the power Of Gods indweliing
Spirit. No amount OF culture. mo-
raIfty, forms OF worship can take the
place Of spiritual religion. Any united
church, Christian association or COM
munity that will keep faithfully in
view the value Of testimony. the i'm
portance OF prayer and the need of the
power, and will seek with all their
heart for Z religious revival. will Sc
cure Il. and II cannot be secured In
any other way. Religion is spiritual
thing and IL propelled by spiritual
power. and that power comes from
faithful witnessing and fervent pray
ing.
The speaker expressed the earnest
hope that the series of meetings just
begun would prove a great blessing to
the Railroad Y. M. C. A. and the COM
munity at large. The sermon made
profound impression and was highly
commended.
Rev John J. Wicker. pastor of
Leigh-Street Baptist Church. will de-
liver stirring evanseiistic sermon in
the associations auditorium tonight.
On Tuesday night there will be an
eid-time experience meeting
On Wednesday night Rev. DR..
Charles H. Wiegle. the Chicago evan
gelist, will preach his initial sermon.
"On the Job For Cod and he will
also preach niesntly until September
IL and Sunday afternoons at $780,
o'clock.