Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1915 — Christian Church Revival. [ARTICLE]

Christian Church Revival.

The largest audience thus flar gathered at the Christian church last evening and the service was pronounced the very best of the •week. The large auditorium was filled to its capacity and it would •not be surprising if the entire church plant will soon have to be brought into use. It is remarkable the number of men and young men who are in attendance every night, and they seem to manifest a very deep interest in the meeting. The singing last evening was a special feature and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A splendid duet was rendered by Prof. Altheide and Wilda Littlefield. The solo by the director was also impressive. Greater things in the music here are promised beginning with Sunday. The chorus and audience ro sponded in a way that made everybody glad. The sermon theme was ‘The Sweetest Story Jesus Ever Told,” and was a treatise on the Prodigal Son. The pastor said: Were I gifted with the spirit and power of a Raphael there is one picture I would paint as my masterpiece. It would not be the beauty and wonder of Niagara, nor the golden sunset of Gate; but it would be thfc wandering prodigal finding his W'ay hack to the Father’s home. We love this story of Jesus because it so wonderfully illustrates human nature. Man is a prodigal, and often wan ders away from his God, hut love and affection on the Father’s part yearns for us and welcomes us home. The young man grew tired of the restraints of home, and desired the far „off country. How many young men and sometimes young women,- who possess the same spirit as this young man of the Story. We get so impatient under the influence of the home parents and the church, and we long for the “far country with its music and gaiety.” God pity the one who feels that home has no charms for him, and that parents are too slow. There would not be so many ship-wrecks upon the ocean of life if we would stick a little closer to the old home and mother’s and father’s influence. Sometimes we grow tired of the ehucrh and not always is the blame to be placed upon the shoulders of the back-slider. I think we have driven a good many redMooded men out of the church because we have tried to make it a weak-kneed and back-boneless affair. Borne of us are afraid to crack a good smile for fear we will displease God. The religion that I •preach and will ever preach is that of life, manhood, courage and principle. To live for Christ is to ..do a man’s job, and it is a man’s -task. The prodigal son had his -way and soon he Is mingling with his boon companions in that far country. Pleasures come thick and fast upon him and friends gather to his side. He thinks he has made the right choice. Finally a famine breaks oUtXand he S is in want. Rags, want and starvation now take -the place of his gold. Sln always brings its famine. One may indulge for a season and as the young man would say, “hit the high spots,” tout how uickly it vanishes. The sure things in this life are God and character. The young man began to think. Some say that thought has no place in the church. Friends, if we could get men and women to think as the church wants them to, there would toe one of the mightiest revivals in this qld city that was ever known. Men* add women stay away from Christ because they do not think. Finally the young man came back to his father, and oh, how welcome he was. You rday wander far away from God and you may spentd many*a day in the far off, but you cannot be too far away from God’s love.

♦The service tonight will be one etf the best yet. It will not conflict ■with the basketball game, as Mr. Sharp promised to atart the game after thfr service. The . theme..'od3i, be “The Unknown God”,