The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-15
GOD PREPARING PEOPLE
FOR PtR|l0US TIMES
Some Great Crisis Is Impending. Says
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Awakenings
Prcccie Great Calamitics.

Large and attentive crowds continue
to attend the night evangelistic meet
ings in the big tent on jefferson Park.
and many persons go to the altar at
every service Mrs. Bessie Iarkin, the
woman evangelist whose ministry was
secured for these meetings by Mr.. w.
p. Longworth and his laymen CO.
workers, is preaching with great
power. The absence OF any sensa.
| tional vein in her message and their
freedom fro.1 a condemnatory spirit
has commanded reverance and given
added evidence that nothing is so at
tractive to the human heart as the
simple. sweet old gospel.
Tuesday night Mrs. LarKin preached
from the text, Genesis, 18th chapter
and LIST verse: And the Lord said
unto Noah, come thou and all thy
house unto the ark ." Graphic
ally picturing the scene of the ark's
building and the jeers Noah had to
undergo. the entrance of Noah and
his family and the animals into the
place of refuge and the deluEe after
the door was closed. the speaker used
the incident as figure of the ark Of
Gods mercy with its present open
door, which entrance will some time
be closed, and pleaded earnestly that
her hearers would heed the loving
come" of the Saviour and be saved.
Said she. Somehow feel we are near
ing great crisis In the history OF the
world. There are wars and conten-
lions and omnibus mutterings every
where. Something portentious 10 Just
| ahead of us. Great crises and calami-
ties are generally prefaoed by a spirit
ual awakening. God warns and pre-
pares the people You remember the
great spiritual revival that swept over
this country In 1919, and how In a
few years the land was drenched in
blood of fratricidal strife. / feel
too. that the great end is not far off
when the Lord will come. am not
so foolish as to prophesy date, but
somehow feel 1t is near. Religious
activity Ia increasing. Great revivals
are being held in churches, camp
meetings, tents--the Bible is in greater
demand than ever before. Yes. God Is
preparing His people as we'll as warn
ing them. Take We heed"
The speaker stressed the Importance
OF parental duty to children. Come
thou and thy house into the ark" was
Gods command. Christian mothers
and fathers are too largely neglectins
to bid their own children come unto
the ark of Gods mercy and delegat-
ans tHeiI OWN TeSpOnSl Dlllty TO CnuTCn-
es and Sunday Schools Tho parental
| come is not strong when the chill
dren never hear the voice of father
or mother In prayer or in pleadings
with them to be saved"
Mrs. Larkin says religion and SAL
walton are by no means synonymous
we frequently hear the question
asked. has he or she got religion?
The more important thing is. have
they salvation. Outward forms are
all right in their place. but can never
take the place of inward spiritual
grace"
Mr. Longworth and his co-workers
have certainly done a splendid service
in providing for these spiritual meet
ings, and the excellent accommoda-
tons of the large crowds. perfect or
der and nice platform arrangements
reflect additional credit upon them.
1t Is an evidence OF the power OF
consecrated service on the part Of un-
ostentation and quiet spirit-filled men.
W. NJ. B.