The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-17
Richmond Ministerial Union
Bids All Virginia Participate
in Statewide Revival
SIMULTANEOUS EFFORT
TO BEGIN MARCH Is
Rev. George w. kemper In
stalled as President of Body
at Most Enthusiastic Meeting
Ever Held by City Union

Every church in the State of Vir-
ginia is TO be invited by the Minister
ial Union of Richmond to take part In
n simultaneous revival campaign to
be held in March. according to action
taken by the union here last night.
DR.. l.. T. Wilson. of Grace-Street Bap-
fist Church. explaining the plans the
local organization has made for this
annual campaign, started last year
moved that We invite all the churches
Of the State to make a Statewide cam
paiEn for the salvation of souls and
the motion received the enthusiastic
approval OF the body.
DR.. Wilson was speaking at the semi
annual banquet of the ministerial
Union held in the Central Y. NJ. c. A.
yesterday at o'clock. About seventy
five churches of the city were repre-
scented. DIR, George w. Kemper, pas
tor OF Hanover-Avenue Christian
Church. the newly elected president OF
the Union. was introduced 10 the body
and took the chair vacated by DR.. VIII
son. the retiring president.
The plan adopted last year by the
Union in this city, and which will be
followed almost entirely this spring,
consists Of series Of revival ser
vices held IN each church of the city
at the same time. The services will
be preceded by a week OF Gotta ge
Services" being devoted TO prayer
meetings held every night in great
number of homes in ali parts of the
city. Last year these services. insti-
tuted for the first time. were remark
ably successful. 1t was stated last
night on the first night loo such
prayer meeting were held. zoo were
held the second night the third night
services took place m every church OF
the city. and the fourth and fifth nights
each more than FIVE hundred meetings
were held in private homes of the
city.
Great Revival Followed.
Following this week of prayer SER
vice, a series OF revival services In
all the city churches took place. dur
ing which time $500 members were
added TO the various church rolls. 1r
addition. II is said that during 'he
services last year perhaps more thar
90 600 persons attended church every
night.
The services this year are to beCIr
March Is. and every church in Virg mic
Will be asked 70 conduct campa!gr
similar to the one that Will be inau
gurated in this city. DR.. ]. NJ. Gray
OF Chicago. a well-known Bible teach
err and authority on the Scriptures. vii
hold Bible classes each day in Rl,a
mond for a week before the regular
services begin. the noon hour eaci
day being devoted to classes for men
and lectures TO women being held 7
the afternoon. This plan Will be- &c.
to-. l.,
other cities, and leading ministers ant
church workers here state this m"an'
of impressing the gospel has proven
more effective in its way than an,
other that has ever been adopted,
E~ach to DO own Preaching.
In reviewing the work done by tn,
Union the past year. the report SIN owe,
that about ninety churches took par
In the simultaneous campaign las
year, which was said to indicate ~
even more intense interest in th'
movement this spring. 1t was r.cnm
mended by the executive COMMITTEE
that this year the pastors do their Owl
preaching in their own churches. a
this means was determined as the mos
effective in all respects.
The executive committee fixed TN
following dates for the campaign
Prayer circles. February FL TO April /
Moody Institute Bible Course. unde
Or. J. NJ Gray, March to 10: cot
tage prayer meetings. March II to II
simultaneous evangelistic meetings
beginning Sunday. March Is. and clos
ing sunday. April /.
The committee In whose hands tn
conduct of the campaign will be placed
is as follows; G. w. Kemper. chair
man; Thomas Semmes. vice7chairman
r NJ Kent Jr., treasurer: s. X. Me
Kee. secretary: l. T. Wilson. Russell
Cecil. ]. ]. Seherer. Jr.. j. r. Johnson
T. O Smoot. Jacob Umlauf r. w Miles
F. r. Chenault, w d. Duke. w, l.
Ball. c. J. Billups. l.. Howard Jenkins
j. p. Jones' II w. Jackson, q.
Craighin. r 7. McFaden. r. l.. Clark
H.. L. Valentine. J. Vernon Rice.
DIR. kemper speaks.
In taking the chair of president. Dr.
kemper spoke as follows:
Il thoroughly appreciate the higl
honor that has been conferred upoI
me by the members of the. union, ar'
fully realize it's serious and sacre'
responsibilities. | have great faith IL
the ministers of Richmond, and firinl,
believe we are entering upon one o
the best years in the entire history o
our union.
I'VE are living in a wonderful age
Things, customs and peoples have rap
idly changed In the last century Les
emphasis is being placed each day OF
"churchianity" and more on Christian
ity. Religious thinkers are becomin,
more agreed. Our churches are get
ting much closer together. The spiri
of brotherly love and mutual helpful
ness is being manifested in our mids
as never before.
The work of our organization shoul
have the loyal support and sympath.
of every minister in the city of Rich
mond. 1t should have a part of GU
time. apart of, our thought and MGR
important still our fervent prayers
We must be led and directed and guild
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