Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-09-06
IllBAP TIS1 NIGHT BRINGS BIG CROWD
EVANGELIST breaches ON LIFE OF SAMPSON
Draws Striking Lesson From the Strong Mans Various
E,xnar;ances-Excellent Music Rendered by the Big
Choir-To Night Will be Methodist Night

Last nights service attracted an
audience which comfortably filed the
big tent on King street to hear tie
second sermon in the religious cam
paign by Evangelist Gypsy Smith, Jr.,
1t was Baptist night and memcers OF
those churches turned out en- masse,
occupying pews in the central section
of the tabernacle.
The big choir did splendid work ana
was especially good in the speciai
number rendered "Glad Crowrlng
Day.. Mr.. Cole sang very effectively
"Ths Old Fashioned Faith" while
: the evangelist delighted all by singing
slow you will love Him when you
know Him." as prelude to his ser
mon. The opening prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. E. B. Jackson OF the
First Baptist Church.
Evangelist Smith chose Sampson as
his subject speaking from the text
found in Judges 16:30. Among other
thingS he said:
.sI think the deeds of some OF the
snen in the Bible were far more pc
tent than anything they said. lhe
acts of the Apostles are worth more
than anything they wrote. The words
of Paul mean more to me since l
know his life. Samson stirs me more
profoundly than any Old Testament
character. He is the type Of so many
Christians. They start well and run
for season, but are later tripped
and make horrible mess of their
lives.
"I like to view his life in four great
epochs or acts. First, his life crown
cd. with, 7;i4tr the laurcis of virtory.Second,
a fool, sneered at by a fawnlng
spirit. Third, slave, dethroned and
.demoralized. Fourth, coming forth
from darkness, crowned with victory.
"No one ever started with bright
err future than Samson. Who is not
thrilled as they read the dramatic
stories of his young manhood? Do
YOU want. to know the secret OF his
success? He surrendered to a higher
power. No Christian can ever be OF
any service if he is unwilling to
surrender. Samson never took any
excuse for defeat. Some folks say
of course I don't mean in Alexandra,
but in other places where we have
been-'You can't do anything here;'
it is such a hard old town, the peo-
nle are so conservative. What an op-
portunity to challenge Gods power
and claim. His promises! Surrender
to Him. We sing Where He leads
me, will follow but it never gets
farther than the throat. We used to
mean it, but we don't now. How is it
that we don't do something, don't ever
help save a soul? Because we are no1
willing to surrender.
s.Why did Samson fall? He could
not take care. He lost his strength,
he lost his judgeship, he lost his
freedom, all through fooling with his
weakness. Ninety-nine out of one
hundred Christians who have gone
down, have fallen through the same
process-fooling with their weak
ness. The devil knows my weak place
and he never attacks at any other
place. He always comes at the un-
guarded moment. Don't fool with
your weakness.
81 know of no worse hell than to
have once known Christ and then to
have lost Him. You say, is it posi-
BILE to lose Christ? Yes, it is possi-
BILE to be SO close as to touch Him,
and then 60 away the rich young
ruler did. 1t, is possible to eat and
drink with Him and then betray Him
Judas did. It is possible to have
Him with you in your dying hours
and then curse Him-the thief on the
cross did.
'fBut Sampson came back and
crowned his life with victory. II you
have been fool, don't stay down.
but Ieconsecrate and ,pegain your
power.
"The cheap intellectual kind of a
gospel. that does not make US right
the wrongs is no good
Announcements.