The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-13
CHURCH PLANNING TOHOLD REVIVAL
 NOW TILLEASTER
Services To Start Monday At Church Of The
 Advent Here

Under the direction of E. c. .(Ted) Mercer and Henry. H. Hadley, mission services will bA c0aducted every night this week, except Saturday, at 8 o'clock at the Church of the Advent, corner of Sixth avenue and Twentieth, north. The final service will be held Easter day. Mission will open Sunday morn ing at the II o'clock service, when Mir. Mercer will deliver his first address here. His subject will be "A Twentieth Century Miracle; My Personal Expert ence." At the Sunday night servcie cnce.' At the Sunday night service Heart of Christianity"
 The mission was formally launched at luncheon held at the Parish house Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, when the purpose of the mission was out lined in talks made by Mir. Mercer, Bishop W. M. Mcdowell, Dr. NJ. s. Barnwell, w. J. Dodge, and others. The point stressed was the fact that the mission had had for its sole pur- pose the furtherapce of Gods kingdom, and tho message was directed to all the people of the community. The mission is being held under the auspices of the Mems club of the church, of which John McCieary, Jr., is, chairman.
 Attend Luncheon
 Attending the luncheon were Bishop Mcdowell, Rev. M. s. Barnwell, E. e. Mercer, Dr. Carl. Henckell, Rev J. T. Ware, Rev. Oscar DeWolf Randolph, Dr. Edmond Bennett Dr. M. Newfield. Dr. |. M. Broadly, William J. Dodge, J. ". Mcqueen, Col. T. 0. Smith. A. A. Adams, Sr.. John McCleary, IT,, s. F. Thompson, F. M.l lMcNeill, John Coe: Frank D. Feltus, W. H. Neyins, 0. ID, Cotton and O.. H. Mandy. ' Laymen Missioners
 The niissioners, D. C.. Mercer and Henry H. Hadley, are laymen, but they have had wide experience in public speaking and in all cities where they lave appeared great success has at- tended their efforts. They come to Bir- mingham' from All Saints church, Mo. bile, where the capacity of the church vas taxed at every meeting, and it was necessary to hold overflow meetings in the parish house. In addition, they ad- dressed numerous civic bodies on prob lens of public concern and also high schools and colleges.
 Accompanying the evangeiists will be William J. Dodge, Chattanooga,. Tenn. who is travelling with them for a few weeks, giving his time~and efforts and testimony entirely free. He is a promi- nent business, man and head of the Dodge Foundry company of his city. Mir. Dodge will make an address at St. Marys- -otizthe- Highlands Sunday, morn ing. ,s.a. sx s.s5. Had Experiences
 Ity-isE the custom in the Episcoual church to have regularly ordained clergymen hold Missions as the Lenteii season approaches, or is present, but it is unique for two laymen to perform the same service. The two evangelists have had some remarkable experiences and these. told with compelling earnest: ness and dramatic power, have carried conviction and brought conversions wherever the, speakers have addressed meetings. They have had equal success m factories, in great public gatherings, before college and high school audiences and prisons. and rescue missions. a.',... ''' MT. Mercer is the nephew of former President Arthur sand the son of 4 a wealthy lawyer and vice president of -tlie American Bar association.
 CoAAy AilC WAS OHC or luXury.' Mir. Mercer said. q had all the money I wanted. When I reached college age l started out to. be a good fellow and began drinking moderately. I gradual ly became worse, until in 15 years I was drunkard, gambler, a beggar and the associate of bad women,
 Began Forging Checks
 "I, became so worthless that even began forging checks and my father or dered me to either leave town OF 20 to the penitentiary. left and kept on the downward path, until one night in New York I was about to commit suicide when a policeman prevented the deed and turned me over to a good Christian huncle of mine, who lived in New York. He sent me to the McAuley Water Street mission, where, by the grace of God, I became Christian.
 "I saw there many men of college education who testified that, they had lived lives similar to mine, but that they had, found peace and happiness with God. became one of the heads. of the McAuley mission and served there for several years. Then one day it oc- cured to me that I should prevent others from making buns of themselves as 1 had done, and began my series 'of lectures.& During the seven years I have been doing this have addressed more than 5000, 900 people. A .. Appeals To Youths
 My work is similar to that of those two wonderful men, Billy Sunday and Gypsy Smith, but where they specialize in outdoor meetings and bringing, back 10 God those who, have fallen, I am visit ing churches and schools to start out young men and women on the right road to save them from the terrible fate that befell me as a result of trying to be a good fellow"