Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-09-15
EVANGELIST PLEADS WITH UNSAVED
ELEVEN f PERSONS RESPOND ON FIRST NIGHT
Rig Audience Listens tently to First Sermon Directed
Esneciay to the Unconyerted- Present From
Washington and Various Other Places 81.

Eleven people left their seats IN
+ha audience walked down the aisles
to the platform, shook the hand Of the
evangelist and thus publicly protessed
Christ when the invitation was given
at the tent for the first time last
night. The sermon was the first one
that had been directed especially to
the unsaved and was forceful and
effective.
Because Jericho was asleep all
we know of it was that Jesus passed
through" said Evangelist Smith
in the opening of his sermon
on the story of the calling and con-
version of Zaccheus the tax gather
er. He spoke from the text found in
St. John, 9th chapter and first verse
"And Jesus entered and passed
through. "
sIt was wonderful day for Jeri-
cho, but because the people were
asleep all we know of it was that He
passed through. Think of what a
meeting it was when Christ met
Zaccheus. Christ, the great Saviour
and Zaccheus the great sinner! But
old Jericho was asleep; if she had
not been there would have been diff
ferent story told of. her. She didn't
know it. was great moment for her
- that the Christ was passing
through.
eff President Wilson should come
and stop in Alexandria the people
would flock to see him. The Asso-
ciated Press would have represen-
tative with him. the man would fol
low him wherever he went, record all |
he said and did and tomorrw morn !
ing my friends way out in San Fran
cisco and up in Maine would read a
column or more about what the Presi--
dent did in Alexandria. But Christ
went through Jericho and all the rec i
ords we have is that he passed
through. Old Jericho was asleep,
We might have heard that he was
shown the walls which fell down
when the Israelite hosts walked
around them, also the window from
which the two spies were let down.
But we read nothing about it be-
cause Jericho was asleep!
Jesus visits cities today as he did
in olden times. Oh, that We had eyes
to see Him as he sweeps through old
Alexandria! We pastors had but lit !
tie to do with the interest that has
been awakened in these meetings. 1t
is Gods work. Christ is visiting AL
exandria, and if you don't see the
result of his spirit here there is
something wrong with your relig-
ion-your vision has been blinded.
"Zaccheus was tax collector, hated
bv all the people. There wasn't
a home in which he was welcome.
But he wanted to see Jesus. He was
small of stature, so climbed tree.
Most sermons say ne was prompted
by curiosity. But don't know that
he wasn't conversant with the re-
ports about Christ. l do know that
when the opportunity came he was
ready to accept Christ. / wonder If
you will be as wise? The very fact
that you are here is because of his
great love. He longs that he might
come into your life. Don't play the
fool! Don't frustrate Gods purposes!
But, you say, haven't the oppor-
tunitv Zaccheus had. can't see
Christ as he did. I could show that
the things which couldn't stop Fac
cheus stopped you.
There's many woman in this tent
who expects to take her stand for
Christ some day, but she's afraid of
the crowd-and men, too, they can't
stand the laughs of the bunch, the
crowd. Any fool can lean up against a
bar and drink or go to Washington
and spend the night with some pros
titute and say he had a good time.
but it takes real manhood and real
womanhood to resist temptation. But
there'll come time when you will
have to stand alone.
':The evangelist related person
al experience Of his own in resist
ing temptation when he told a bunch
of his fellows over in New York City
one night that he had given his heart
to God. Said he: "Never will for
get their sneers and horse laughs!
They pierced my heart! Oh, the
L.