Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-02-22
DR.. Gordon Speaks to Big Crowd at
Congregational Church
"The Curse of the Double
Standard"
QUERIES FROM, QUESTION BOX.
Intense Interest Manifest in Answers
to Questions-Mr. Greenlaw
Sings.

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closing prayer at the Congregation.
al church last night, the Gordon
meeting was full of interest and
power. The congregation is catch
ing the Winnipeg spirit, for last
night it assembled early, and it also
taxed the capacity Of the auditor.
ium. 1t is evident that from now
on, whatever the weather, the rule
will be: Come early to secure a seat
The question drawer" last night
was unique and stimulating exper.
fence. On DR.. Gordon's question box
there hangs an instructive tale
which illustrates the man and his
method of overcoming. When he
went to Winnipeg a little more than
ten years ago, if conditions were
right, an attendance of about forty
might be expected at the prayer
meeting of Central Church. With a
membership of about 450, Christians
were content to live at that poor
dying rate But DR.. Gordon was
not content. To save the day he dis
covered the question drawer as a
means of grace and a sure stimulat-
or of attendance. Very quickly the
attendance at prayer meeting ran up
to an average of 800 people. Often
600 in attendance would force an
adjournment Of the prayer meeting
into the big auditorium of the
church. The preacher invited ques-
lions, and questions innumerable
and motley came to hand. DR.. Cor
don answered the questions in a
straight forward manner that stimu-
lated interest. The questions han
died covered all the vital concerns OF
life, and there was something doing
all the while at the prayer meeting
lof Central church. DR.. Gordon's
question box became Winnipeg in
stitution. It. was one of the lions OF
the city, and Winnipeg visitors had
not been properly entertained, unless
they had been taken to DR.. Gordon's
prayer meeting.
DR.. Gordon takes the institution
of the question drawer with him in
his campaign. 1t is card index tc
the current thou ght of the commun-
titles to which he speaks. 1t is a sort
Of common place book recording
the vital interests of his auditors. He
knows better what and how tc
preach after the question drawer has
been open awhile. 1t is sort OF
compass by which he steers his
course straight to the hearts Of men
Last night the interest was in
tense. Questions appeared about i'm
mersion as baptism, the degree OF es'
sentiality of baptism for entrance IN
to Congregational churches, enmity
lin Christian experience, and inQuir'
/ ing why ministers do not preach the
true gospel, and whether ministers
might properly belong to secret so
cieties. The line of questions were
answered with skill and very much
to the point. Many modern evange'
listic services never reach the in
tense interest of last nights prelim
mary exercise.
The aftermeeting was a totally
new experience for Webster City peo
lpIe. No traps were set, no effort
was made to force people to do any
thing. There was a strange power
manifest in this meeting, but 1t wa:
power wholly spiritual and witt
no mechanics in it. At first people
seemed to hang back, expecting thai
something would surely be sprung
upon them. But when they realized
that here was a man who depended
wholly upon New Testament spirit
ual power and one who would Meth
er bulldose nor overpersuade people
into doing anything, they responded
to the feeling of the meeting witt
evident relish. The question draw
err and an aftermeeting are promis
ed for tonight, together with a dis
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course on He'll. When DR.. Gordon
gives people He'll everybody is SURE
to want to be there to hear!
Under the title of "The Curse o.
the Double Standard" the sermon
last night was a mastery presenta
ton of the single standard. for al
walks of life. Not alone as between
men and women in relation to se1
problems, but in the pulpit, in com
merce, relative to the morals of gen
ius, and indeed, throughout the en-
tire range of human activity, DR.
Gordon pleaded for sincerity and FOL