Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-09-18

4 ~. d. 3. y . ! /.
-Four thousand people attended the
revival meeting last night and it is
estimated that at least 1000 more
were turned away because they could
not find room in the big tent. That
tbe meetings are the chief topic Of con-
versation throughout the city is but
stating an evident fact. AS early as
six o'clock yesterday evening people
we're to be seen vending their
way toward the tabernacle on King
street in order that they might be
sure to secure seat at the service
which was to open at 7:45.
Since the revival began 22O persons
have started in the better life, and
interest in the meetings is growing
daily. The evangelist chose as his
topic for the evening "But he was a
leper," and 20 persons responded to
the invitation he gave at the close OF
the sermon.
The preacher referred to Lew Wal
lace's book, "Ben Hur," when Ben
Hur, after long years away from his
native land came back home and
found his parents gone and his home
closed; how he lay down to sleep on
the front steps and his mother and
sister, who had been condemned to
leper colony came by and saw their
SON and brother; how they longed to
welcome him but dared not, because
they were lepers, and how they had
to steal away in the night and not
awaken their loved one.
"They could not awaken him be-
cause they knew that leprosy was
contagious and that he would catch
the disease from them. Sin, like lep-
rosy, is infectious, but the moral lep-
ers are not separated from those who
are not wise zn the way Of the world.
They are left to tempt him, to put bad
examples before him and to lead him
to destruction. I have not seen man
yet who liked the first drink OF
whisky, but he took it to keep up
with the rest of the bunch and to be
what he thought was a man.
"Again, sin is like leprosy in the be-
ginning. Leprosy begins with maybe a
small sore on the hand or face, but
it grows day by day until the whole
body is a mass of sores. So it is with
sin, it keeps growing until it is the
master of your soul. But society takes
no notice of the beginning of sin.
It is not thought improper for the
Young girl to firt with man, but
once she takes the false step she is
forever barred from the homes of
every respectable person"
The preacher told story of how
show man bought a snake.
ssWhen he first got the snake it was
only about a foot long and the man
could have easily crushed it in the
palm of his hand" he said. 'But he
fed the snake and nourished it until
it was a monster. The actor would go
through an act every night, letting the
snake coil itself about his body,
until the eyes Of the man and the
beast met. And those of the latter
wavered, for he knew the man was
the master!
seBut one night there was a hitch in
the program. The huge monster, while
coiled about the body of the man,
suddenly tightened his hold and held
the struggling, helpless man in the
grip of death. The man struggled, but
all in vain, until he dropped lifeless
crushed mass on the floor
$50 it is with SIM, said the preach
er. "First it is only small thing and
can easily be crushed by the man.
But if we let it run on and on until
before we know it sin is the master
and we are the slaves.
ga man can go out and drink wine
and play cards all night long, and So
ciety endorses it as the proper thing.
/. But let him go step farther. Let
people know that he is a drunkard,
and what is the result? People shun
him, they have nothing to do with
3 him; he is branded for life and is
thrown out from decent society. Be-
cause he is a leper!
.'With some it is a matter of pride
that they will not submit themselves
to God. Just as the rich man Naaman
was too proud to do as the prophet
told him and battle himself seven
times in the river. Jordan, if he would