Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1912 — REVIVAL MEETINGS START WITH CHURCH CROW HER. [ARTICLE]

REVIVAL MEETINGS START WITH CHURCH CROW HER.

Union Evangelistic Meetings Drew Six Hundred or More to Service at _ M. E. Church. Union revival meetings have never started more favorably than they did in Rensselaer Sunday evening. If the beginning is indicative of results " the meeting will prove of vast good to the community and the brightest hopes of the pastors of the three churches will be realized. The first week’s meetings will be held at the Methodist church, the second week at the Presbyterian and the third at the Christian church. The three pastors, Rev. C. L. Harper, of the /Methodist; Rev. J. C. Parrett, of the Presbyterian, and Rev. W. G Winn, of the Christian, will conduct the services' They will be ssisted by Horace J. Kurtz, a singing evangelist from Chicago, who came Saturday evening and conducted the first service that evening, meeting members of the three church choirs. .

The meeting at the Methodist church Sunday evening brought out a crowd of from six hundred to seven hundred, possibly more. It was a much larger crowd than had been expected. The main auditorium soon filled and the Sunday school and class rooms of the enlarged and remodeled church were thrown open and the people kept coming until aE rooms were filled and chairs were placed about in available places. It was not only a large but an encouraging audience and furnished the ministers the inspiration to work nd plan for a great revival. Rev. Parrett filled the pulpit- and held the closest attention of the large audience. He plead for the earnest support of all Christians during the meetings, asked for their prayers, their thought, their aid in every manner. He asked that business and social affairs be especially kept out of the mind during the hours of service in order that all might , get the full benefit of the service and thus be able to accomplish the most good. He asked that the feeling be unselfish .and said that the meetings would fail if effort was made to secure advantage for either church. The aim is to brlngjsinners to Christ through united nonsectarian effort and it matters nob which church they may become identified with. The central thought of the sermon was that a spirit of devotion and prayer shall prevail during the three weeks. Mr. Kurtz, the song leader, accomplished a good deal for she first night. He appears resourceful, full of life and energy, and with these qualities, to be thoroughly able. Onqe he turned to four little boys, front seats, and asked them to sing the chorus of a popular hymn. They responded with so much vim and carried the tune so well that It proved very interesting to the audience. He found whole sections of the church unable to do as well. The choir consisted of about thirty from the three churches. There are many more singers, however, and it is hoped to have a choir of fifty or more every night New song books were brought here by the song leader and in them are many new as well as many old hymns. The new songs should prove very popular. Mr. Kurtz will sing a solo each evening. ' ’ I During the week the services will begin at 7:15, each service being started with a song service, lasting 15 minutes or longer. All business houses will close at 7 oiclock. The min-isters-have appealed to the public to do their shopping early in the day so as to give the merchants no reason to regret their pledge to close as an aid to the meetings. It will not be announced ahead who will preach. All the ministers will be on hand and all will aid. in the services and any one will be prepared” to preach if called upon. Rev. T. F. Drake remained over from’Winamac to witness the opening of the union service. He pronounced the benediction Sunday evening. Tonight’s meeting begins at 7:15 o'clock. The ministers hope to be greeted by another crowded house and hope that all who can sing will join the choir and assure the song leader the encouragement so necessary in making the success complete. Let. everybody come out every night