The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-26
Over 81 400 Given Evangelist at Morning
Service, Besides Afternoon and Evening
Offerings Not Yet Counted.
JONES' PARTY AND SUMTER PEOPLE EXCHANGE FlREWElLs
Tabernacle Was Packed and TANNED With Three Immense
Audiences Sunday-Bob Jones at His Best That Night
Special Delegations From Nearby Towns J. B. Will
son Speaks for Ministerial Association Mayor Jennings
Extends Thanks of City.

The taking of the Offering for the
evangelist began at the morning SER
vice and the arrangements for receiv-
ing 1t had been so systematized by
Business Manager G. ii. Meinardi that
the work was all done in a wonderful
ly short space OF time, and without
any undue furry or confusion. Rev.
X. s. Truesdale. of Trinity Methodist
church, presided. In telling of the
purpose Of the Offering Mr.. Truesdale
spoke of the spirit of perfect unity
which had characterized the thirty
day campaign for saving souls and
of the blessings the meetings had al
ready brought about, and of the. fur
ther gfood which was bound to come
because of the campaign. "we have
learned to love each other more" said
Mr.. Truesdale. 'and / am extremely
pleased to announce that the Satur-
day night open air meetings are to
continue. as well as the business
mems prayer meetings once week,
and the cottage prayer meetings once
"a week." Mr.. Truesdale stated, in
concluding his little talk, that the city
of Sumter ana this community gener-
ally could not hope to pay Mr.. Jones
for the good he had accomplished,
but that the most that could be done
would be to give him a substantial
free Will Offering as an expression Of
appreciation for his untiring efforts.
He then called for subscriptions. AS
Mr.. Truesdale would name an amount.
those who cared to subscribe that
sum put up their hands and were
quickly furnished with pledge cards,
these to be handed the ushers who in
turn handed them in to Mr.. Meinardi,
who called the donor and amount
from the platform. except in cases
where the request was made to not
read the names. After all subscrip.
tions had been taken, the pans were
passed for a general Offering. The
same method was followed at the af-
ternoon and evening services.
AT night the biggest crowd of the
campaign assembled TO hear Mr..
Jones. and he preached what was
without doubt the ablest sermon of
the 90 or so sermons he had de!iv-
cred here. Fifty-eight converts came
to the Mercy Seat when the invitation
was given at night. Forty-five came
at the afternoon service and ten at
the morning service, making a grand
total of 1,O55 who accepted Jesus as
their savior and who signed cards to
that effect. during the campaign. Be,
sides these there were large number
to accept Christ at the open air meet
Ing OH Saturday night, of which no ex-
act record was kept. Altogether, the
results achieved in the way of con-
verts made. were wonderful, consider
ing what, in the evangelists' text book
IS known as available material"
from which to make converts. Beside.
the actual work done in saving souls
there is of course the general work of
uplift and strengthening of character
TO be considered and this cannot be-
gin to be estimated.
Mr.. Jones sermon at the night SER
vice was necessarily short as the fare
wells of the party and the people of
sumter were to be exchanged, and Mr.
Jones mad to leave in time to catch q
$3.50 train, fact for which he apol-
ogized explaining that he was worn
out from the campaign Just closed
and that by leaving last night he
could be home Monday to get some
much needed rest and attend to some
pressing personal matters.
KEY. j. Z: Marion, chairman of the
executive committee, and the man to
whose untiring efforts is largely due
the success Of the campaign. came to
the front to make q few brief re-
marks in behalf of the CITY. at the con-
ciusioh OF the sermon. Mr.. Marion
said that he thanked God for sending
the Bob Jones party to Sumter and for
the great work they had accomplished
In the way Of saving souls and gener-
ally upliftinS the community; that he
did not come forward, however. to
make long speech hut would let the
ReN j. Is. Wilson. senior member OF
the Sumter Ministerial Association OK
press the sentiments of the association
IN regard to the work accomplished
by Bob Jones and his party.
Mr.. Wilson stated that il was u
pleasing but difiicult task he had been
honorcd with pcrforming for it would
indeed be difficult to express what is