The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-09
GIVE THE EVANGELIST A
SQUARE DEAL


The TimeS-News has not been party in
any particular to the controversy which
has ragged around the tent meeting being
conducted here by the Rev J. Harold
Smith. This newspaper is directly ignorant
of the details in regard TO services and pro-
ceedings at the tent. The editor Of The
Times-News has never heard sermon de-
livered by Mr.. Smith. However, we have
heard reports of the meetings from intelli-
gent, honest. thoroughly reliable citizens
and believe we have fairly accurate ideas
rs to what has TRANSFERRED at the meetings.
The foregoing is recited merely for the
purpose of asserting that The Times-News
is not prejudiced in one way or the other
as to this matter and is not influenced IN
any degree from any source in saying what
it proposes to say here.
And what we will say here is that while
We have not attended these services for
gooOd and sufficient personal reasons) and
have not heard Mr. Smiths preaching,
there are certain things in regard to the
man and the meetings which this news
paper has no hesitancy in asserting.
Among these things is the certainty that
good citizens whether they agree in all
particulars with the preacher and his
methods, must admit that in so far as ap-
pears at the present moment, the meetings
have done vastly more good than harm in
HenderSonyille and the surrounding cOun-
try.
This newspaper does not believe the tent
meetings have made any murderers, boot
leggers, thieves, gamblers or other classes
Of law-breakerS in the town and county.
We are confident no citizen has been IN
fluenced by Mr. Smith to become an out
law or to engage in the milder practices Of
sin suggested and encouraged by the devil.
Our view is that all who would heed and
practice the teachings of the preacher, no
matter what their lives have been in the
past, would become and remain good citi-
zeIlS for the future.
To put it in another way, the Rev. Mr..
Smith is seeking to do good and not evil in
the community and the tendency of his
campaign and efforts is altogether in that
direction.
1t is reported that around one thousand
persons have professed their religious re-
generation in the meetings. If a fraction
of the number prove to have been genuine
~ converted and hold out the remainder
of their lives in the Christian faith and in
Christian living, the meetings have been a
great and enduring success.
Another admission which must be made
is that this revival effort has reached hun
dreds of people in the community and sec
ton who were not being reached by the
churches. Undoubtedly many persons have
attended at the tent and been influenced
for good there, who would have refused
any invitation to enter one of the estab-
lished churches of the community.
The Times-News is advocating only a
square deal for the Rev. j. Harold Smith
and that he be given credit and praise for
a revival campaign which has stirred Hen
Jacksonville and Henderson county from
center to circumference.
And in conclusion, may We say that one
of the most impressive features of the
gathering at the city hall Thursday eve
ming was the fact that a majority of the
large crowd was composed of young peo-
pie who have been attending the meetings.
Clearly, the preacher has been reaching
the young people of Hendersonville and