The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-03-21
GYPSY SMITH
IS HEARD IN
EARNEST PLEA
Story of Zaccheus Applied
to Present Day
Conditions
AUDIENCE PACKED
THE TABERNACLE
No Afternoon Service This
Week With Exception of
That On Saturday

Gypsy Smith told a large congre-
cation last night the story of how
Zaccheus climbed into a tree to
watch for and see Jesus, because of
the crowd" and drew therefrom les
sons of everyday life which he ap-
piled with much effect. The text was
the first verse of the nineteenth chap
ter of 50. Luke.
Rev. M. H. Holt, formerly pastor
of the First Methodist church, and
now presiding elder of the Selma
district, attended the meeting last
night, offering prayer at the request
of Mr.. Smith. After the services
were over, Mr.. Holt was sought out
and greeted warmly by large num-
Der of his Pensacola friends.
Several new songs were introduced
and sung by the choir and congrega-
A---~---->os-Ar---lLaAlA E--~--s----s-
Mr.. Smith were heard in songs, 'I
Walk With the King" by Prof. Cole,
and 'I Would Be Like Jesus" by Mr..
Smith.
There will be no afternoon services
this week at the tabernacle, Mr..
Smith announced last night, with the
exception of the one Saturday, when
the children will have charge of the
program under the direction of Prof.
Cole. On Saturday night it is planned
for the children's choir to again be
heard.
There will be fourteen more serv-
ices in the tabernacle, it was an
nounced last night, unless the pro-
gram is changed the last week to
include day services.
Mr.. Smith said last night that he
would be pleased to see as many sail
ors from the naval vessels as posi-
BILE in the tabernacle. A number of
| seamen were on hand last night, and
several could not resist the chance to
go up and shake hands with the evan
gelist. The sailors will be especially
welcomed, for many of them are not
free to attend such a series of meet
ings when they visit any port.
Last night a call for converts was
made by the evangelist, and twenty
three went to the front of the taber-
nacle. The evangelist probably never
evinced as much earnestness in his
series of sermons here as he did last
night, and he said upon learning the
population of the city, that he
felt really honored at the large num-
Der crowding in the tabernacle each
night. The audience last night as
usual taxed the large building, and
when the story of "The Conversion
of Zaccheus" was told, they listened
intently. At one time a disturbances
at one of the doors on the west side
occurred, causing the speaker to stop
abruptly, and requested ushers to
close the door and open the nortsl
, door. While this was being looked
after the minister asked the choir TO
sing, "Where He Leads Me l Will
Follow" Immediately taking up the
I thread of his talk when disturbed
At no time, it might be truthfully
said, during the present campaign
a were the gestures of the evangelist
: more significant of his dramatic way
of reaching his audience, and at nc
previous meeting here has he made
a more vigorous plea for stand FOL
Christ. Just before he issued the ap-
peal and as he leaned over from the
E platform pulpit to issue his call fol-
j penitents he said in a voice that
gripped the audience:
e "God doesn't care what name YOU
e mother gave you, for He knows you
: for what you are. Listen: Many 1
d woman would be a Christian but fol
f that God-forsaken crowd that give!
i her the horse laugh when she at
g tempts to take a stand for Christ"
e A little later he attacked the rich
q the meddler, the careless, who have
/ scoffed at religion, or who would re
t fuse to recognize it in any way. 'eYot
(Continued on Pare Two