Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-10-29
REVIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE

assembled at the big tent on the Smith
lot on South Congress street Wednes-
day evening to hear the farewell SER
mon Of Rev. John W. Ham Of Atlanta,
Ca, who since October 8, has preach
ed twice daily in Yorkville to au-
diences larger than those which have
been assembled at any religious or
other exercise in this town in many
years. 1t Is estimated that in the time
which Rev. Mr.. Ham has been here,
he has addressed $4,000 hearers. More
than three-fourths Of the people OF
Yorkville have heard the evangelist
on one or more occasions and the peo-
pie of the country for miles around
can safely be reckoned with in the
same proportion.
1t was impossible to seat them all
Wednesday evening. In an effort to ac-
commodate all, the little children were
requested to sit on the sawdust In
front Of the rosIrum and though they
complied with the request and ad-
ultlonal room for grown-ups was made
III InaI way, 1t was not enough. At the
conclusion or the sermon, hundreds OF
Mr. HAMS auditors surged toward the
pulpit to bid him, his wife and Prof
Lyon the singing director, farewell,
and to express the hope that they
would come back to Yorkville at some
Ilme in the future.
scores Of people told the preacher
that they had been greatly benefited
NY his sermons and that they believed
Yorkville was q better town from a
moral standpoint since his coming.
Numbers Of men assisted the evange-
list in taking down and bundling up
the big tent for shipping Wednesday
night, and yesterday morning 1t was
on its way to Charlotte, N. g., where
it win be stored until next spring. Mr.
Ham and his co-workers left Wednes-
day night for Elizabeth City, N. c.,
where he was due to commence anoth-
er meeting last night.
hundreds OF negroes attended the
final service Wednesday evening and
the several songs which they were
requested to sing was one Of the most
notable features Of the last gathering
under the evangelist's tent. AS the
negroes sang Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot" the white people in the au-
dlence listened with wondrous amaze
ment. 1t was a song that was new to
many and 1t was sung as only negroes
can sing it. They sang others too,
which were just as interesting.
Owing to the fact that there were
many in the audience Wednesday even-
ing who were anxious to contribute
something to the support of the
evangelist and his co-workers and who
had not heretofore had an opportu-
nifty. an offering which totaled tidy
sum was taken.
It was announced at the meeting
that there have been between 800 and
400 conversions as a result Of the meet
ing and it Is understood that 1t Is the
intention of the converts to unite with
the several churches Of Yorkville at an
early date.
Rev. Mr.. Ham said Wednesday even
ing that he much appreciated the
hearty cooperation and sympathy
which had been given him during his
stay In Yorkville and that he was going
away with a feeling Of love and kind
ness toward all. The meeting, he said,
had not been conducted in accordance
with everybody's ideas. "On that
point, however" he said, II have a
clear conscience between God and my
self. The meeting has not been a fall
ure. There have been 400 or more con-
versions. Many Of those who have an
nounced their intention to live right
before God and man in the future are
now church members, although there
are more than 100 who have never
before made a profession Of faith, have
announced their intention to unite
with some church in the near future
If you and differ about some things,
reiterated Mr.. Ham, don't let that be
responsible for lack Of cordially. I've
got to deliver my conscience, even II
it doesn't agree with the other mans
conscience. We are all laboring for the
same God and the same Jesus.
Rev. Mr.. Ham said he desired to
teach rather than preach in his last
sermon. The greater part Of his dis
course was a defense Of the Baptist
doctrines concerning Baptism and the
Ordinance Of the Lords supper. 1t was
said that the Baptists practice the
doctrine of close communion and ne
wanted to correct that impression In
that Baptist practise close baptism and
not close communion. He believed In
immersion he said, because Jesus was
immersed and because he found in
four places in the Scriptures authority
and direction for the administrator
of the ordinance Of baptism by i'm
mersion.
Regeneration was the subject of
Rev. Hams final sermon. Adopting
the text: Titus 3-5: mot by works OF
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved US,
by the washing Of regeneration and re-
newing Of the Holy Ghost" Rev. Ham
said that the doctrine Of regeneration
is laid down so plainly In the New
Testament that 1t was easy for all to
see that the man who isn't regenerat-
ed Is going to hell no matter how out
wardly clean he may be.
Regeneration is not church member
ship he said. That can not regenerate
a man and can't keep him out OF hell.
Ananias and Sapphira were church
members who are in hell. Judas, one
of the twelve apostles, is in hell be-
cause his heart was as black as hell.
No man, declared Mr.. Ham, has a
right to apply for church membership
until he has experienced a change of