The Washington times., 1917-01-28

doers. -
Preaching Only Four Years.
I'm going to tell Washington that |
to caricature Christ is an awful sin, |
and is worse than making no pre-
lenses OF being a Christian"
Tonights services will begin at
1880 o'clock. There will be no meet
ings tomorrow. I'VE never hold serv-
ioes on Mondays" the evangelist said. |
Gypsy Smith, jr4, is not living on
the reputation of his father, Gypsy
Smith, who came to Washington
about eight years ago. and for weeks
conducted sermons at Convention
Hall. when crowds fought with each
other to gain admission to the limited
space in even that big building.
He has been preaching less than
four years, and most of this was
while working his way through col
lege.
ORered Services In Wnr.
The elder Gypsy Smith is now in
the trenches, somewhere in France"
where he is preaching to the soldiers
of the allies, who compose the army
which his age prohibits him froSl JOIN
ing as a regular soldier. The young
at the outbreak of the war, but was
pronounced physically unfit for active
duty.
Many of the best years of the
younger mans life were spent in the
British marine service, and there is
scarcely a section of the civillzeo
world over which the English Rag
flies that Gypsy Smith, jr., has not
visited or been stationed. An explo-
sion of chAmicals some years ago.
however, came perilously near blind
ing him, and. he was discharged from
the service as a result.
About the eyes traces of the burns
still are discernible, end large, horn
trimmed glasses which he wears the
greater part of the time. fail to hide
the red scars.
Looks Like Military Man.
The evangelist is thirty-six years
old. He looks to be thirty. He does
not talk like the average evangelist.
He has the manner and appearance
of a naval or military man. He dis
cueses religion much as the profes-
sional man talks OF his business
Religion Is as much of a persons
life as his own profession he says.
There is no distinction, so far as
do Is to convince the unsayed of this,
and then our work will be easy"
He worked his way through Gro
zier seminary ~ preaching, having
been in charge of scores of services
while there A year ago he gradu-
ated, and since that time. has been
constantly conducting revivals
throughout the country.
His home is near New London,
conn, but he expects to remain
there only a small part OF each
summer.
whole o6 Year Engaged.
My entire time forsI9i7,- he said,
lis now engaged am receiving
invitations every day to go here and
there for meetings, but am forced to
decline them. The latest invitation
has just been received from Emporia,
Va.
81 might get there some time next
year. but ] don't know" Il
The evangelist is an admirer OF
nature, and of animals. three-year-
old Boston bull pup of Mr.. Burke's.
which was christened three years ago
when the evangelist was here az
Gypsy" is taking up much of Mr..
Smiths time, today, as be is resting
from the services which he has just
concluded at State College, Pa
big Tabernacle Dedicated.
The big Sixteenth and V streets
tabernacle is now officially "in the
hands of the Lord
The dedicatory services held last
night, which drew scores to the new
building. were simple and brief. The
ritual OF the church prepared for
such occasions. was followed to the
. letter. After the ceremonies another
rehearsal OF the choir was held.
The services were begun at T:30
o'clock. Many persons. laboring un-
der the impression that the revival
proper was to have begun at that
hour, went to the tabernacle, step
ped in for a moment, and then de-
parted. The building was fairly well
filled, however.
Choir of 800 Sings.
The Rev. Henry E. Brundage. pas
tor OF the EGlxington Presbyterian
Church, opened the services with
prayer, after the Rev. DR.. John Car
penter Palmer. pastor of the Wash
ington Heights Presbyterion Church,
and chairman Of the executive com
mittee ip charge of the meetings, had
taken the chair.
The Scriptural passages used by
the church in dedicatory services then
were read by the Rev. Joseph T. 'Kel-
ly. pastor Of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church; following which DIR. Palmer
formally dedicated the building to
the service OF the Lord, and gave the
closing prayer.
Under the direction of John Rey-
nolds, of the Eastern Presbyterian
Church, the choir OF 300 voices rem
dered several selections.
Tabernacle Well Heated.
Following the reading of Scripture
lessons from Second Chronicles. the
twenty-fourth Psalm. and the Ephe-
SLAMS, by DR.. Kelly. the building WIS
received by DIR. Palmer. chairman Of
the committee, the Rev. Charles
Wood, the Rev. Wallace Radcliffe. the
Rev. J. Harvey Durham, the Rev. {.
r. Granger, !. Il. Linton, Frank NJ.
Middleton, and Robert b. Handy, the
other members.
The large frame tabernacle was
well heated last night, and none of
the chill OF the snowy outdoors was
evident within. Ten big stoves have
been erected, although IL was neces
-nr ,urA-nrn nEn4n-