The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-13
Satan Will Be Driven From
Trenches Fel;ef Of Ministers
In Campaign
SERVICES THROUGHOUT
CITY WELL ATTENDED
Intense Religious Spirit Pre-
walls AS nesuIt of Week of
Prayer-h,alf Hour Meetings
at | +. M. Daily

The battle is on 1t is not battle
which VIII mean the snearing OF
human blood upon a scene OF strife
or the making OF countless widows
and orpha ~. but this is a battle Tor
souls-war against sin and wicked
ness.
The first day of the battle was yes
terday, when all OF the ministers OF
Richmond joined forces and sent
j forth ali OF their oratory and elo-
auence in an effort To drive satan
/ from the trenches
The Simultaneous Evangeiistic
Campaign. over which a number of
the Richmond ciergymen have been
iahorfng for some time, started off
yesterday most suspicious man
ner. The evangelistic campaign
opened in more than a hundred local
churches. both white and colored. and
practically every one Of the edifices
were taxed TO their entire seating ca
pacities.
From every section Of the city the
pastors OF the various churches re-
ported that the results of the first
days work was most encouraging. to
say the least. There were a large
number Of conversions. while several
thousand rsconsecrated themselves.
Intense Religious Spirit.
As result OF the week of prayer,
which closed Saturday night an in
tense religious spirit was prevalent
in the meetings yesterday and in some
of the churches it resem bled an old
time Methodist revival, some of them
giving vent TO their feelings by ac-
tuaIly shouting. All Of the ministers
had selected appropriate themes from
which TO speak, and their oratorical
outbursts went straight to the marks
at which they were aimed. In prac-
ticaliy evsry house OF worship In
which the ssrvices were held, the ser
mons brought great results, for there
was hardly q single one in which one
or more were not converted.
When representative OF The Nir-
ginian got in touch with a large
number Of the ministers last night
they declared that the results Of the
first day was very encouraging. even
more so than could possibly have been
anticipated. and from present indl-
cations the soul saving campaign now
being carried on will he the most eff
fectWe AMI successful ever held In
this city
CoIered Folks to Participate.
These meetings are not only unde-
sHonfinationai. nut the colored churches
Of Richmond have been invited to tax ?
part in them end yesterday they held
meanings in iheir houses OF MnEshIp
simultaneous with those in the white
etisees. The colored ministers feel
very good over the fact that they
have been rendered this opportunity 10
participate In the great campaign and
last night they reported most en-
couraging results.
These meetings in the colored
churches will tend uplift the coiored
Snls,, Y-aIy ~Ir 20
standpoint. and will result in the MAX
ing of better citizens of the local col
ored populace. Several of them were
converted Yesterday and the colorea
eiergymen believe that there viii be
several thousand of them kneeling be
, fore the altar before the evangelistie
campaign will have been brought o
q close two weeks hence
Visiting ministers 20 Take Fart.
Several visiting preachers have ar.
{ rived on the scene and many of them
took part in the meetings yesterday,
while others will come 10 Richmond
as the campaign progresses aud before
the close OF this week there will he
some twenty Ave OF them hero assist
ing in the services. Some Of the most
noted divines In the South are alread :
here. and they serve as valuable as
sistants to the local preachers in mat
ing this city more religious.
Not only did these initial meetings
yesterday attract the grown-ups but
large number OF young men and
women were seen in the various CON
gregations. Throughout the week
there will be special meetings for the
young people. and many hundred II
them are expected to attend.
Half Hour Noon-day Sessions.
Beginning this afternoon at ] o'clock
In the Central Young Mems Christian
Association auditorium. and lasting for
haif-hour each day during the cam
paisn, services win be held for men
and women. These meetings win be
held largely for business men and
women and the meetings are expected
TO he largely attended.
The start made yesterday was "A
pfost suspicious one and prospects for
the most successful revival ever held
in Richmond are exceedingly bright,
!