The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-07-31

town, Mr.. GOerch Is cOnscienti-
GUS newspaper man. who althO hav-
ing literally supported the meet
inss believes in setting down. what
he absolutely believes to be the
facts.
IF / we're asked to tabulatc the
apparent results of the cOnver-
sions." says Mr.. Goerch. that took
place in the various Ham-Ramsay
reviyalS in eastern North Carolina,
the figures would be as follows:
"Sevcnty-five per cent of the con-
versions lasted less than three
months.
About fifteen per cent lasted as
long a. six months.
Eight per cent lasted as long as
year.
-Four per cent lasted slightly
more than a year.
Three per cent are still conscien'
tiously endea vorins to do their best.
There are many readers who will
find fault with those figures, but l
can't help that: I believe that they
are accurate.
Mr.. GOerch says in his article:
In various towns throughout the
Eastern and Piedmont sections of
the state. Evangelist NJ. +. Ham, of
Anchorage. Ny. one OF the most
prominent evangelical preachers in
the country today. has been holding
q series Of meetings extending over
a period Of about six years. Tens
Of thousands Of people have heard
him deliver his powerful and i'm
presSive sermons in each Of these
towns. Hundreds have been con-
vertcd at each meeting and large
numbers have reconsecrated their
lives to the church and pledged
themselves to live closer to its teach
inSS.
Whether McsSrs. Ham. Ramsay
and Rodgers have gone they have
staged revivals which from the gen
eral viewpoint. proved to be success
full. In each community spirit OF
religious fervor was aroused such
as the community probably never
before had experienced. Merchants
closed their doors during the hours
of the morning services at the tab
ernaclc and permitted members OF
the evangelistic party to hold meet
incs in their places Of business dur
ing the afternoons. People came
from a wide radius to attend the
rerivals. In every town the Ham
Ramsay work was the chief event of
interest and the principal topic OF
discussion during its progress.
Diversity Of Views
I'm going TO try, in this article,
TO give the true facts as [ have
obsereed them and as they have
been reported to me by other people,
And that probably will mean that
admirers of Mr.. Ham and his oppon-
.n,s as well will both find fault
with what Is suid. I was in New
Berp while the Hsm-Ramsay party
held its services there, and was also
in Wilson during the progress OF the
revival in that town. l attended
a number Of meetings in Hender'
son. Durham. Greenville, Washing
TON and Raleigh and ! have been
intimately associated with the mem
bcrs of the evangelistlc party for
four or more years.
Some Results
I know of men in New Bern, Will
son. Washington and other towns
that had lived in rather reckless
and wild manner prior to the com
ing of Mr.. Ham. l have seen those
same men under the influence of the
campaign and completely abandon
their former mode of living, turn
ing to the church and apparently
finding as much pleasure there as
| they formerly did at the poker
table or derived from the whiskey
hottie. I have seen men, who form
erly couldn't utter sentence with
out using profanity, get rid Of th'
habit entirely. I have seen mel
who were cruel to their families
change into kind and thoushttu
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