The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1916-03-16
REC0RD-BRfAk|NC
REVIVAL IS CLOSED
CONVERSIONS REACH 500
REMARKABLE MEETING BY
REV. CULPEPPER COMES
TO END

From Tuesdays Daily
The most successful and the most
universally supported religious re-
vival ever held in Conway came 20 g
close last night, when Rev. Burke
Culpepper Of Memphis delivered the
final of his series of evangelistic ser
mons at the First Methodist church
4 congregation equal in numbers
10 any of the packed audiences that
have attended practically every one
of the services was present az the
final meeting. Such crowds have
never before been known 20 attend q
series of meetings in this city. At
very few of the services was there
even standing room left and al most
Of them many had to be turned away.
The brilliant and forceful young
evangelist seems to nave captured
and captivated Conway as no other
preacher has ever been able 20 DO.
1t is believed to be the first revival
at whjcn not only every other Frotes-
tant church co-operated, but which
also had the support O. the Catholic
denomination, the pastor OF st. jos
ephs church. Rev. Peter Zell, and
many of his members attending the
services. Another unusual feature
which proved the meeting 10 be de
void Of sectarianism was that when
Rev. Culpepper exhorted converts to
unite with the church, he urged that
they Join the church Of their choice,
whether it be Catholic or Protestant.
The visible result Of the series OF
meetings, DR.. F. S. H. Johnston, pas
tor of the church, said today, was the
profession of faith by about 500 per-
sons and Of these at least $50 had
signifed the definite intention Of unit
ing Immediately with some Christian
church In addition to this, the moral
and spiritual uplift of the community
is declared by those who have watch
ed the progress Of the meeting to be
Of incalculable value. Dozens of men
who have been regarded for years as
hardened sinners have been brought
to their knees during the revival and
with tears coursing down their cheeks
have professed faith in Christ Young
people and students by the hundreds
have been converted and hundreds of
others already in the church have
been strengthened in their faith and
led to become more active as mem
bers of the church.
Last nights services were a fitting
climax to the revival. No set ser
mon was delivered. At the beginning
DR.. Johnston made short talk in
which he expressed his thanks to Rev.
Culpepper and to all who aided in
the remarkable revival. He said,
however, that the revival, great as it
was, was not greater than he had an
ticipated, and was but a natural cul-
mination Of the long work of COM
pleting the magnificent new church in
which the meetings were held. The
meeting, ne declared, means more to
the town than any other one thing
that has been done in its history.
Rev. Culpepper declared that the
meeting was the most successful in
every way that he had ever held. Il
don't say this everywhere l go, eth
err he declared. >"At some places
| rate the results of our meetings as
75 per cent good; at others, 80 per
cent; at few 85 per cent. But here
| am going to say what l have never
said before, that I regard the work
that has been done here as 95 per
cent perfect. l have never seen such
strength, such culture, such refine
ment in any other town at which /
have preached" He paid high trib-
ute to DR.. Johnston, whom he called
"a prince among men, He said he
did not believe the people of Conway
fully appreciated the splendid char
acter of the Methodist pastor, and to
him he gave much of the credit for
the success of the meeting. Rev.
Culpepper also heartily thanked the
business men, the women of the
church, the colleges and others for
their cooperation and the newspa-
pers for their stories of the services.
He predicted that the effects of the
revival would continue and that
many who had not professed relig-
ion would do so in the near future.
In concluding his talk, he extended
his final call for converts and 25 or
80 went forward and gave him their
hands.