The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-12
HUGE TABERNACLE
FILLED TO DOORS
Throngs People Attended
Revivals Yesterday
BIG CHORUS SANG
hinges Company On Job Every
Minute; Wonderful Sermon
Last Night.

Just one week ago this morning
one passing the First Church OF
Christ at the corner of Second and
Grove streets could have seen huge
piles of rough lumber and other
building material piled UP on the
parking; today those piles have
been converted into a fine, big
steam heated and electric lighted
tabernacle capable of seating one
thousand people. Folks said it
could not be done, but the group of
loyal men and women who make up
the blood, bone and sinew OF this
plucky little church blckled in,
working night and day and they did
1t. When the big structure was com
plete some thought 1t had been built
too large. They said: You can
never fiji it." Others said: Wei:
see."
The Minges Evangelistic company
arrived on the job last Friday and
two preliminary services were held
in tie auditorium of the church
building Friday and Saturday nights
an plans were laid for a great Sun
ay. No special effort was made to
boost the attendance at the morning
service, yet the room was we'll filled
when Mr.. Minges delivered a pow
erful sermon on Clear Heavenly
Guidance" At three o'clock in the
afternoon an informal meeting was
Held for all church members at
vhich the evangelist discussed his
pans and methods of conducting
rsvival.
Building Was Crowded
The evening meeting was an
nolnced to open in the tabernacle
at seven forty five. At seven
o'dock the people began to arrive,
at Seven thirty they were crowding
the doors and when the first note
strusk hundreds of people had filed
into the big builing. A chorus of
forty voices, supported by Miss Lu-
cflle Minges at the piano and a
four piece orchestra, led the great
audience in a wonderful song serv-
ice that made the rafters vibrate.
Mrs. Minges, playing her own &C.
compartment on her splendid Ital-
ian grand concert harp, sang her
messages in her own inimitable
way.
In his great sermon on who Was
Christi" the evangelist pictured a
court scene where Jesus was tried.
The witnesses were marched in one
by one and required to give their
testimony as 20 who Jesus was IN
most dramltic way. II was "a
masterful argument for the divinity
of Christ and closed with tremen-
dous appeal fpr all to accept Jesus
of Nazareth.
Spoke To Students
This mxrveious opening service
left absolutely no doubt in the
minds of any person as to the wis
dom of providing ample room for
those who attend the meetings from
night to hight Already plans are
being worked out to provide for
over flow meetings.
+ This morning Mr.. Minges spoke
before the student body of the high
school, proving himself a most YER
satile speaker capable of putting
over a big message on any occasion.
The Minges Evangelistic company
comes to Mankato not alone for the
good Of the First Church of Christ,
but to boost any and every good
cause. A most happy feeling Of CO.
operation is manifest between this
church and the other churches of
the city and last night a test made
by the evangelist revealed quite
sprinkling of other church people.
The party will be at the Belgrade
Methodist church this, Monday
nigh, this being their rest night,
and they will give to this church
wonderful lift.
Chiidren's Booster Club
Miss Lucille Minges begins a
great booster club among the child,
rem of the city Tuesday afternoon
al four O'Clock. Every child under
the age of fourteen years IS invited
to be at the tabernacle as soon af
fer school as is possible for great
time.
The meeting continues every
night except Monday for a period of
weeks. Cottage. prayermeerin will
be held in various parts Of the city
at ten o'clock each forenoon begin
ming Tuesday morning. The even
ing services at the tabernacle will
open at seven forty FIVE each night.
ELKs CONDUCTED RITES