The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-08-25

ing and insist on
] If holding all our re-
-.MsAs.. xH&# ligious servi ces
indoors simply be-
cause we always have done it?
Many church would double its au-
dience by holding an occasional sery-
Ice out of doors, under the trees or I'm
some adjacent park. If chairs can be
provided, so much the better. If not.
let the people sit on the grass as they
did when Jesus preached. If the church
has no convenient place for outdoor
meetings, hold an open air service on
the porch before the evening meeting.
Have plenty of good singing with two
or three-minute addresses sandwiched
between, and in little while the chill
uren viii gather, the passers will stop.
the carriages will drive UP and you
VIII have large company of people,
many Of whom would never think of
entering church. If you have never
tried it, begin this season.
Every church ought to- have a band
of open air workers to hold meetings
regularly all summer, at such points as
may seem most strategic. Some
churches gain from fifty to n hundred
new members each year by their OPEN
air work in the summer. And even if
they did not add single convert, they
would be well repaid for the effort
in the benefit obtained 0y the work.
ers. Then too it affords an outlet for
the zeal and faith and energy of the
church.
Open-air workers should be careful
ly trained, for no work requires more
tact. and wisdom, and holy boldness.
The following suggestions are taken
from a book written by very dear
friend of mine, Henry B. Gibbud. The
book is called, "Under the Blue Can
opy of Heaven" and can be had for
30 cents of Mrs. III. Il. Gibbud, Spring
field, Mass.
'Permit.-In towns and cities Ii is
necessary to obtain permit for street
services. Have someone of influence
apply for the permit. A politician Is
better for this work than preacher.
"Place of meeting.-Go where the
people are. 1t may be noisy place,
but you have the people. If you want
quiet, go to the cemetery.
Select place where you have a
building mt your back. 1t will act as
a sounding board, throwing out the
voice. If possible arrange the meeting
so that you may also have building
in front of you. Ii is very hard to
speak in the open air, and n building
In front of you to throw the voice back
aill make it much easier.
Talk with the wind always and
never against 1t.
"Select a place where the audience
will be comfortable. Give them the
shadc even If you have to stand in
the sun.
Have bright, new. catchy songs
The audience as rule do not join
in the singing, so that there is less
need of familiar hymns.
"Speakers.-Let them stand on
chair, or box or platform. Then your
voice sounds out and over the crowd.
All can see you, and you can see them.
If any disturbance occurs. such as
dog fight, always give out a hymn.
The song will put n new thought into
the dogs mind and often break up the
fight.
preach the Word.-This old world
is hungry for the plain Gospel made
fresh and vivid by actual experience.
Use plenty of illustrations but see that
you have something TO illustrate.
Nothing grips an audience or holds at
tention like the simple Gospel story
told out of warm heart.
1--WE do not have the Bible in sight.
nor generally read from IL for the fol-
lowing reason; Catholics will be preju-
diced mt once. and will not come up.
We quote from II and refer to IL but
tlo not keep IL in sight.
"Call for decision nt ths-Slose of the
service. or invite into n church IL an
other service is to follow. Let each
worker select someone for personal eff
fort when the meeting closes"
BY Offering to give away Gospel
cards or Little Preachers" at the
close Of the service you can often hold
the entire crowd to the very end.
show them the cards and read some
Of the titles. such as The Working
mans Trust. Are you In itf" The
Three Cheers Of Jesus" -Four Things
Which One Ought TO Know" Tho
Unanswerable Question Coffin
Nails" "Morbus Sabbaticus. or Sun
day Sickness" Get Right With God
God Wants the Boys" "Only Three