Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-31
SOUTH SIDE CITIZENS
HOLD MASS-MEET|NC
Gather In Washington Square TO
Pray for Success OF Our
Boys in France.
JUDGE WELLS MAKES ADDRESS
Urges Cheerful Giving. Self-Denial
and the Power OF Prayer as the
Greatest Factors i'm the Building
of Character.

Several hundred citizens of South
Richmond gathered yesterday evening
at O'Clock in Washington Square TO
observe Memorial Day and to pray
for the success OF our boys now fight
ing in foreign fields in order to make
the world safe for democracy"
Although threatening cloud ,hunc
overhead and few drops Of rain spat-
tered on the lawn. the large audience
was determined to see the celebration
10 an END. They refused to dispense:
furthermore, they refused to seek
cover or change the place for the com
munity gathering.
Kew. Thomas Semmcs, pastor Of the
Meade Memorial Episcopal church, had
charge of the meeting, and opcned the
ceremonies with prayer In this hour
or need he called upon the Divine
Providence for guidance and asked Him
10 instlil III the hearts of the audience
IA spirit Of sacrifice and self-abnega-
non. j. J.. Jones was then introduced
and he spoke Of the need OF PRAYER
OF universal prayer. lie emphasized
that tho prayer that he spoke about
pastor on Sunday, but ii heart humhled
to the Almighty every day by every
person In the community.
JUDGE WELLS MAKES
Address OF EVENING
with the audience standing. the
hymn. All Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" was sung. Judge Ernest n.
Wells. OF Hastings Court. Part H.. way
introduced as the speaker OF the even
ing. In an earnest and direct manner
Judge Wells spoke to the hearts OF
the citizens OF South Richmond, mos.
OF whom he knows personally "Ir
MS gathering Is fair sample OF what
is going on In every community
throughout the United States. then vic
tory is ours already" said Judge Wells.
This example of Individual and uni
Nersal prayer means "A great individual
and collective victory for humanity
Whatever YOU do. God must be first
II YOU search the Scriptures from
Genesis to the Revelation YOU will find
that He is the beginning and the end
the alpha and the omega. All good
things come from Him. and they arc
due to no secular force at all" lie
emphasized the power Of PRAYER, or
self denial and OF cheerful giving as
the creates, factor in character build
ins. Giving examples from the Bible
as TO the workings OF Providence. Of
miracles performed by His hand. Judge
Wells pointed out the necessity of
Everything we do must be permeated
by His desire and will.
SELFISHNESS WILL NOT MIN
WITH SPIRITUAL. FORCES
IF we magnify our own self and
think in terms OF self. then /, results
in sclfshncss. And scliishncss will not
mix in the same human temple with
all spiritual forces" In conclusion
Judge Wells called upon every mcm-
Der of the audience TO think of others
to give and give until it hurts.
Before the audience dispersed a coll
lection was made for the Armenian re-
lief fund, While the collection plates
passed through the audience. Rev S L.
Dumville, OF the Decatur Street Metho-
dist Church. called upon the citizens
of South Richmond to contribute to
this mcritorlous fund.
The gathering was then closed with
prayer offered by Rev. j. l.. Westfall