The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-01-05
TABERNACLE DEDICATED
THOUSANDS HEAR MESSAGES DAILY
GRAND music ADDS TO INTEREST
Dr. Honeywell Listened 10 by People from All Parts Of
County-,-Young and Old Stirred by Power Of
Preaching and Sacred Songs.

The campaign of special religious SER
vices at the big tabernacle erected for
the meetings on the armory grounds in
this city, was opened Sunday afternoon
by Rev. Ira Honeywell with an audi,
ence of over 800, and the purposes OF
the campaign were explained in such a
way that everyone present believed in
the final success of the undertaking and
the continued aud increasing interest
is proving this to be true. Sunday
evening a congregation of over 100
was thrilled by Rev. Honeywell's de-
fence of the revival plan of work and
hundreds became supporters.
Rev, Honeywell is aided by The finest
musical director who ever visited Owos-
so to conduct choir work, and soloists
of great ability. Rev. D. l.. Spooner
has general charge of the choir which
has steadily increased from fifty Sun
day afternoon to two hundred. Prof.
and Mrs. Roberts pianist and soprano.
and Mr.. John Genger, tenor, are pecu-
liarly fitted for the work at these meet
ings. Sunday afternoon following a
hymn and prayer by Rev. E. j. Cross
of Corunns, Rey. B. G.. Mattson intro
duced the members of the evangelist's
party, including Rev. Honeywell, Prof
and Mrs. Roberts, Rev. d. l.. Spocner
and Mrs. j. 8. Dague, women's worker
Rev Honeywell stated the conditions
under which he came to Owosso which
include union OF the churches of the
city for the meetings, the building of q
tabernacle, entertainment of the party
while in the city, the payment OF one
half of the salaries of his assistants and
a free will Offering at the close of the
meetings which is to go to him, out OF
which he pays the other half of the ex-
penses of his assistants. 1t Is hoped to
pay all expenses with the collections
during the first three weeks. no collec
tions being taken then until the last
night. He urged the avoidance of crit.
icism until the campaign was over. but
suggestions would be gladly received
any time. He announced that applause
was not forbidden as 1t was simply say.
ing amen with the hands.
Meetings are being held twice daily
at 2:30 and 7:30, except Mondays and
the afternoon meeting omitted Mon
days and Saturdays.
The tabernacle is we'll built, warm at
all times, we'll ventilated, dry and com
Portable with benches to seat 1000 per-
sons, while the choir loft seats $50.
One of the strong sermons of the wee k
was given Tuesday evening, a short
synopsis of which follows:
eff you owe your home merchant
and sent away to Sears & Roebuck to
buy goods, you are dishonest. If you
ride in an automobile that you call
your own and owe money to the mer-
chants in your town, you are dishon-
est. If you paid your debts you might
be walking while the merchant you
owe rode in an automobile. +"
The evangelist's talk had been an
-nounced as one for the business men,
1t also was full of meat for those who
deal with business men. He handled
his theme not sensationally, but in an
earnest and appealing manner. With
the greatest candor he pointed out the
besetting sins of the community iif its
everyday life.
"People ask why their ministers
don't say these things" he said in
the midst of his discourse. ''They
wonder why the home pastor does not
make his sermons as pointed and as
pithy as those of the evangelist. There
we have decided advantage. If the
home pastor talked to you as ] am
talking tonight, there would be some
. in his congregation who would take
his remarks as personal accusation
with the inward comment lie means
me,
elbow about your debts?" was ono
of the. questions that the evangelist
put most impressiyely to his hearers
"You say your conscience is clear
but how about your debts?" Then he
waited for the question to soak in.H
Business men outside the churcl
cry against some of the, members ot
the church that do not pay their debts
There are a great many church mem.
bers who have debts.on the books OF
many business men who would sci
those accounts for 20 cents on the dol
lar.