Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Bob Jones Starts His Campaign For Saving Souls in City ot Sumter Evangelist Spoke to Two Immense Crowds at Tabernacle Sunday Afternoon and Evening. TWO VERY STRONG SERMONS LISTENED TO CLOSELY fctffflMATED TU' EN T Y - Fl VE HUNDRED PEOPLE ATTENDED NIGHT Kl lt\U ES? si t ( EhSl't L OPENING INDICATE* CAMPAIGN WILL BE GREAT bt'CCESS-^JONES PARTY ALL WELCOMED BY VAST AUDIENCE. From The Dally Item, April 26. Bob Jones has flreil his first shot In the campaign against sin In Sumter, and 'although the campaign Is only a d'ty old. hs has thoroughly convinced those who heard him twice yesterday that he la In every way capable of accomplishing tbe big results expect? ed of him. Two big sudlences which very, nearly filled the mammoth tab? ernacle at the corner of Church and Cethoun srteet. afternoon and eevnlng, paid the strictest attention to his ser? mons, snd It was easy tu see that even this early In the campaign he has made an impression that Is sure to be luting. portly before 3 o'clock yesterday the biegest audience which has as? sembled In sn sudltortum In Sumter In many a day began gathering at the tabernacle. On all sides could bo seea pleased faces and smiles of ap? probation as those entering tho door got a "first view" of the "insides" of the big temporary church, and saw how comfortable and attractively it has .been prepared for them. Bust sees Manager Melnardl and his corps of assistants hsve done a neat Job In decorating the tabernacle. National flag*, up among the rafters, and red white and blue bunting emblasened with stars, festooned all about the ?valla combine to produce an effect that Is very satisfying, to say the least. The big stage, in the front of the a*'dttifittm ?e draped with bunt? ing, alee, and on the wall, where averseite can see. Just in the rea: of th* three-hundred or so choir seats. sr? tv. ? bunting frameu mcnaa^'s of hope and encouragement: "Oet night With Clod" and 'Jesus Saves." The tabernacle Is roomy, Is fairly cool, despite tbe present hot westher. and even one Ignorant of the details of building construction can see that It was erected with an eye towards at? tractiveness combined with general comfort. The 2.000 or so people who stteaded each service yesterday were not slow to realise this fact, either.' At the night service the attendance was estimated by some to he 2,500. The choir was singing yesterday af? ternoon when the crowd began gath- 1 erlng'and kept the audience In a pleased frame of mind until the time came for officially setting the cam ? palgn In motion. Rev. J. P. Marlon, chairman of the executive committee, rsms to the front and stated that about twelve months ago the ministers of Sumter felt that the time was ripe for all of the churches of the city to unite Id an evangelistic campaign to reach tbe unsaved and unchurched and that, almost providentially, it seemed, they had boen guided to Bob Jon??s. and that his appearance here to Start a series of sermons yesterday was the culmination of the plans made nearly a year ago. He earnestly ask? ed the cooperation of all in bringing about the results sought for. Rev. .1 H. Wilson then made a fer? vent pra>er for the guidance of a di? vine hand In tin Ign now about to begin. Mr. O. II. Metnardl. tho business manager, was then introduced to the audience h, Ret. Marlon. Mr. Mein ardi any, I a number of announce? ments snd gave out a quantity of in? formation which will be found valu? able In the campaign and which can be found elsewhere In this Issue. Bev. Bob Jones was then Introduc? ed by Rev. Marlon. Mr. Jones said tftat he Is a Southern man. and he Is glad to be here, tie said that It had been a long time since he had con ducted s Southern revival campaign ns his work had somehow led him for the past several years to visit northern eitle?. .Mr. June? auU that there ??? one reason he found It eas? ier to conduct ii revival In the South, because, he said, "everybody down Mouth, that la everybody who In anv body, believes In the Mbtt The oh Ject of a revival meeting. according to Mr. Jones, in for the purpose of seeing how much good can be done for the l?rd. not for the purpose ??.' religious dissipation. Speaking of the plans made for the comfort and convenience of those tending the services Mr Jones euused i<>mi> amusement when he asked all of Ihe ladles who didn't wear a Wtsj to please remove their hat?. Most of them came off at once. "You won't like everything I do," Mr. Jones stated. ."Of course, If you look for things to criticise, you'll find them. And I'm perfectly willing to havo you make suggestions, but don't criticise, unless you know why you're doing It or if you don't mind you'll get in somebody's way. who would otherwise be saved." Mr. Jones introduced all of his party, and said that, in starting he wanted to tell the audience about the financial work to bo done in the cam? paign. Collections will be taken until the local running expenses huve been taken in. also the expenses of the workers, with the exception of Mr. Jones, who will receive nothing for his work until the last day of the campaign. The necessary expenses to be collected will bo about $1,300, and when this has been collected the plates will not be passed around any more until the last day. v After explaining the necessary de? tails of running the campaign prop? erly, and the offering of a short pray or. Mr. Jones launched into his ser? mon for the afternoon. He read from tho 16th chapter of St. Matthew, where Christ, speaking with his dis? ciples, asked the question 'Whom do men say that I am? Whom do yo say that I am?" Enlarging on Peter's reply. "Thou art the Christ," Mr. Jones showed by vivid illustration why the thinking man cannot help but know that there is a God. Na? ture Itself points to the undeniable f ic' raid Mr. .) >nt s hut even deep? er Li..*., that, m Juan inu.jol., When the rubbish of accumulated sin is brushed away, there is the image oC God. God 1? trying to reveal himself to men all tho time, In one way nnd another but, says Mr. Jones, the way to find him best is to go to the Bible, "the only book that speaks with ab? solute authority about God." Some say tho Bible Is vulgar, Mr. Jones says, but while there are some parts of it not to he read in a general aud? ience, It is all necessary, according to the evangelist. "The Bible deals with tho diseases of sin, just as valuable medical books deal with the diseases of the body, and you don't consider them vulgar," he said. God reveals himself to men as men iKJssess the ability to grasp the infinite God, btit a man must read the Bible and be taught, for said the speaker, "I be? lieve in depravity?every man left tc himself Is hopelessly lost." "I believe in God, because it takes God to con? vert a man.*' Mr. Jonos forcefully re? marked in thla connection. "The way to convert an Inlldel is to cure him," ' Do you know God," the speak? er inquired further. "Our church? es are filled with people who don't know God, but some of us know him, for we've met him. Draw? ing a telling illustration of man's con? ception of God when God had prop? erly revealed himself In a man's soul Mr. Jones said that if it were possible for God to cease his existence, the mowing ones would havo a vacant plans in their hearts, a void, and "God tills the vacant place." tlu speaker said. "You can't understand God. rust Uks ;i child can't understand the talk of its lather," said Mr. Jones, gad pel he knows and trusts in him." "Anvl",d> can start a religion*" ac Icording to Mr. Jones, and people will run on; of the church to join it be? cause they don't know God. Her? Mr. Jon< < Changed his subject matter Pi lall of just what the "chinch' at sans its not the Baptist, llethodisi lot Presbyterian "church" that tin gatM of Holl cannot prevail ?gainst, j he xuM, i nt tin- church, in Hit lull manning of ihs word, and th< t is the "called cut" people, Thoss who be long i" Ihhi gatharlng have cltlsenehlp in Heaven, the evnngellel mid, and nrs pilgrims in .1 stiariK?* land down here on earth. Men should live their rs? jllgton, is Mr. Jonas' Idea, "You talk about politics and everything slee," h?> salil, "hut mighty little about S1 a? ehuroh, ' bellevs in g lift tcstl tnony." Mpeekini of sech parson's part in tfcs nrorl "t* Christ, Mr. Jonas said that got much nhlllty Is needed just coneecretlon, No man nec<i my he H 'empty handed, the speaker said, for there was plenty of work that he could do?"your little self and God ivill do the job." "If God had a chance in this town," he said, "He'd blini heuven itself down here, but (o?d hasn't had a chnnce in a town tin Amtlich." Mr. Jones believes In tongue testimony from thoso who know God, and says it would pay a church to support some of those old time saints to advertise the Gospel. Ah an illustration of what the in? fluence of a Christian can do for oth j era Mr. Jones pointed to the fact ol his own mother, who living the busy life thut she did, crowded with num? erous housekeeping duties and the care of other children, yet had time to exercise such a guilding hand over him, that he was led to Christ. You can't be too busy to do something for Christ, is the telling moral Mr. Jones pointed out with the telling ol this touching bit of history from his own experience. Just before concluding the services of the afternoon Mr. Jones asked: "I want to know how many of you arc willing to say: 'Hob Jones, we arv with you'. As an aillrmative answer to this question a majority of the big audience stood up. In the beginning his sermon last night, after a prayer had been made by the RaV, ltobert Phillips, rector of the Church of the Holy Comforter, R?jv. Bob Jones said that today, Tues? day and Wednesday would show, whether the people of Sumter were backing his campaign. He announced that, on account of the Chautauqua being here for these three days, no afternoon service would be held, and the night services would begin at 7.30, letting out in time to get to the Chau quata grounds before 9 o'clock, the hour of starting the entertainments. Mr. Meinardi announced at last night's service that Friday night would be ?'Church men's night," and requested that the church men of the city would assemble at the Y. M. C. A. Friday evening at 7.15 to march down to the tabernacle in a body, seats to be reserved for them for this service. A brass band would probab? ly head the parade, Mr. Meinardi stated. Taking his text for the evening from the fifth chapter of Matthew where Christ preaches his sermon on the mount, and dwelling particularly on the verse: "Blessed are the pure In ?icjtvt for they shall St Ood." Mr. Jones ihoWed ! -v. th" "blessed" nie?'. sages all have. ; general appUcatlon and apply lo no one special eadl. '?The Bible Is the fairest book that ever was written," the speaker con United. A man reared In bad sur? roundings may become pure, the evan? gelist said, but tho scars would be left, for every impure thought or deed left its touch. Or vice versa, a man who was reared in good sur? roundings might become impure, but still underneath there were the marks of the good that had been in his soul. "If I could see the pictures on your bedroom wall, I d know what you are." the speaker said with greai earnestness. And further, "you'll novcr be any higher than you aro ca? pable of thinking." Again, "If you're going to live right, you've got to think right." The most miserable sinner on earth can be saved by Christ in a single moment. Mr. Jones said, but still there ought to be the proper en? vironment to make it easier for a man to be saved. Speaking of the oft talked of "culture" of the present day Mr. Jones developed the theory for his audience that there is "nothing new under the sun." "Why in olden times they even had the hobble skirt,' he continued. The trouble with the average man, according to the evange? list, lies In the fact that he doosn't take time to think, and thereby caricatures the expression "take time to be holy." Some men, said the evangelist, think more of their stom? achs than they do of their character, and some women, more of their hair than they do of their souls. "I can look at your Bible and tell you what you arc spiritually," he continued. He said that If a man took time to think and read his Bible, he was get? ting on the light road to a close connection with Christ. "If this ?vangellatlcal campaign does nothing more than turn men's thoughts to? ward Ood for four wreks, it will be Worth the effort put behind it," tin evangelist said. Man's soul ami body are vitally re? lated, he went on tu show, and "as a man thlnketh in hli heart, so is he." However, sin doei not only ex? ist in the slums, ami similar places, according to Bob Jones view, it can exist where the environment is ap? parently good. it takes the life ami iin> heart to produce tin- environ* ment, he said. Developing this Idea farther, Mr. Jones said that it a man carried a pi ?? heart wrought by the power of Jesus he msdn the rl^iit Im? presslon, "A preacher ami las wife can go anywhere people ought to k<> he said, "i was never offered a drink j of whiskey," Mr. Janes continued, !>?? <;ius?i I am respected, and l doh'1 need tu beg tor respect for I ran command lit, "You ought to paint tin- picture of Jesus Chriet in everything you do," was the way Mr. Jones characterized how a man should put religion into his daily tasks. Telling further of what a pure heart would do .the evangelist said "Take the man in the town of Sumter (or anywhere) who wont trust anybody, and he's a thief." "The hardest job you ever had is to try to convince a good woman, that another woman isn't good." No heart can be happy without God the speaker continued, and no matter if all else were possessed, that feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction prevailed until God had entered into the hu? man heart in all his consoling power. As in the afternoon, Mr. Jones clos? ed his night's sermon with a question. He saW: "All of you folks who, if there is anything in your heart that keeps you from knowing Jesus as you ought, if He will let you know what it is, will take it out, just hold up your hands." A good number of hands Wont up in answer. The Choir. Edward McKenzie is a born choir director. Going out of the tabernacle with the rest of the big crowd last night, a young fellow was heard to make the remark: "That man who looks after the music certainly is a Jolly fellow," and whether or not he hit upon the reason for Mr. McKen zie's success in bringing out the mu? sic, where any music whatever exists, it is a fact that the way in which Mr. McKenzie has whipped his choir into shupe (literally speaking of course) on such short notice, is extr tordinary, to say the least. The singing yester? day afternoon and night was one of the big features of the services, and even if the rules of the tabernacle didn't require it, everybody would have to take 'hats off to McKenzie." And not alone does he get his choir to produce, but he picks out songs to sing that it does one good just to hear. As McKenzie said when he started the choir to singing "Jesus In? cluded Me," "you folks are going to he whistling that tune before you know it," and after hearing the song, no one can say it hasn't a catchy melody that's worth whistling just for the good cheer it radiates. Mi\ McKenzie is a singer himself, too, and vastly pleased his audience by rendering two vocal solos, one each afternoon and night. The music makers, who sit just ai the left of Mrs. McK?-rt*1e nt the p, ano, :;iu! Who ate ?-'um; poop ? ; ferlmv'fbcir talent to h ikm tire meet-, ins a "ess, arc deserving of praise,} also. Their work a/an the subject of] numerous compliments at both ser? vices, and these compliments were well deserved. Mrs. McKenzie hat. them well in hand, and the harmony created by piano, violins, and cornets, is fine. When Mr. McKenzie asked for ap? plause for the choir last night, tell ing the audience, "if you like the songs nnd music, applaud, they're your folks," some amusement was created by the barking of several dogs which intermingled with the vigorous hand clapping of the audience. ?That's all right," said Mr. McKenzie "let- 'em applaud, they like good mu? sic too."' Already, as stated, the choir is do? ing valuable work, and is making is Influence felt, but Mr. McKenzie wants more singers. Ho has told the ushers to refuse to scat anybody who can sing well, and they are doing their duty. If tbe development of the Hob Jones choir continues as fast during the next few days as it has up to the present time. Sumter people are go? ing to he surprised at just what can be done by "home folks" when they try hard. Mr. McKenzie sang at the Trinity Methodist church yesterday morning to the delight of the big audience. In the pastor of the church, the Rev. K. S. Truesdale, lie found an old classmate of Yanderbilt University, and was only too pleased to accept the invitation to ? ing for his old class ! mate's congregation. TEDDY AGAINST HUGHES. He and Boss Harnes Were Not in I'avor of Reform Government. Syracuse, April 26.?The great anti? pathy of W, H. Barnei to Charleu Hughes end the fact that Roosevelt was not strong for Hughes for gov? ernor "but knew no stronger man to nominate" was brought out today in ! letters that passed between Rouse-1 veil and Barnes when the $50,000 li bel suit was resumed. Roosexelt Tired of Examination. Uoosevelt on the stand admitted. i hat ho had consulted Platt freely and recognised him as "boss." Roosevelt was pettish today, answering some I nnes sullenly. (?KOlltilA MEMORIAL DAY. Atlanta, April 2?.?Public buildings, hanks and Bchoola were generally closed today iu observance of me? morial day, Many business houses closed at noon. CHILDREN'S NIGHT A SUCCESS TAI IKK, MAGICIAN, PLEASES YOUNG AND OLD FOLK* SAT? URDAY EVENING. Delightful Concert* by Orchestral Clnb ami Interesting Address by Dr. Clnrk From The Daily Item, April 26. The Saturday program was a most delightful one. Following a delight? ful variety musical concert by the Or? chestral Club, Dr. Henry Clark made a strong address on making the most of life in the afternoon and in the evening a second time the Orchestral Club pleased a large audience of chil? dren and grown folks and Tabei, the Miracle Man, kept everyone in a state of the most exciting suspense while he performed the various tricks of legerdemain which seemed miracul? ous to the spectators. This morning Dr. Clark delivored an address on the subject "Our Daily Dread." while Miss Mahelle Conquist charmed and entertained hundreds of children on the school green with her Russian folk tales and folk dance? This afternoon Pallaria and his band will give a concert and this evening they will again .entertain the Chautauqua audience. This jand has made a hit everywhere it has appear? ed and is expected to be exceptionally pleasing to a Sumter audience. Tuesday morning Dr. Clark will have for his subject "Marriage and j After," and Miss Conquist will tell thS children German folk tales and show them German folk dnaces. In the afternoon Christine Gilc<>-Binghmi company will give a concert and Gov. Ashton C. Shallenberger of Nebras? ka will lecture, his subject being "Political Patriotism." At night joy will be drowned, for then it is "Joy Night," Ralph Blnghaih being the en? tertainer, assisted by his company. Dr. Clarke's lecture Saturday after? noon was on the subject "Play Rail," and taking a game of ball as an illus? tration, he spoke for one hour on the making the most of life, "Be pre? pared," he said, "for anything that comes and make the most of your op? portunities." He stated that it SAW by practice that one could become prepared for his present duties and succeed to the place "higher up." The Orchestral Club proved a de? light. The young ladles in the organ? ization and their male assistants prov? ed capable ; jslclans and entertain? ers. The muiwas of a popular na? ture ;md th< audience sh iwed Its ap? preciation ;'\ ropeetod encores at both performs nces, Taber, the magician, had a wide repertoire of tricks, all of which de? lighted the children. His seance "stunts" were mostly new to a Sum? ter audience. MURDER AM) SUICIDE. Lexington, Ga., April 26.?M. It. Aaron shoe and killed F. L. Ware, while returning from church last night. Aaron's son recently eloped with Ware's daughter. Aaron after? ward committed suicide. Roth were prosperous farmers. CHINESE VICTIMS OF FAMINE. Protracted Drought Causes Torrihh* Shortage of I-'oori in Szechuan Province. Washington, April 24.?Many are starving to death, others are commit? ting suicide to escape the terrors of hunger, and thousands are on the verge of starvation in the province of Bsechaun, china, because of famine, according to mail advice* to the St*.te department received today from E. Carleton Baker, American consul at Chung-King. The famine is due to a protracted drought, particularly in the region of Puchow and Chung Chow. Conditions probably will not Im? prove until the next harvest in the late summer. Consul Baker stated. President Yuan Shi Kai is said to have authorized an expenditure of $100,000 for relief of the sufferers. The letter to the department was dated March 10. A IK EX DISPENSARIES CLOSED. Three Branches of G. M. I. Do No Business After Eailure to Obey Or? ders. Aiken, April 24 ?Following the re? fusal of the old officials of the Aiken dispensary to recognize the commis? sions of their duly appointed success sors signed by Gov. Manning, and tho open defiance of the governor late yes? terday afternoon the three dispensa? ries in Aiken were closed this morn? ing by the chief of police, Jesse * George, acting on orders from Mayor W. J. Moseley, a few minutes afte/ they opened. Mayor Moseley stated this afternoon that he wanted to keep the dispensaries in his jurisdiction closed tight until the governor's or? ders can be obeyed. Other dispensa? ries throughout the county have re? mained open today, but the action of Gov. Manning is being awaited with unusual interest, for it is believed here that he will act decisively in the matter the first of next week. SI* ARTAX BURG MAN INJURED. Spartanburg, April 24.?Fred Tuck of Boiling Springs, in the upper part of Spartanburg county, ?was fatally in? jured here late today when his mules became frightened and caused his wagon, loaded' with cotton, to collide with a railway trestle on Elm street, throwing I bale o? cotton from the vehicle on top <If him, crushing Ids '.:b*? rupturing ow lung and break? ing his back. At the local hospital where he was taken his InJurieg aro said to be fatal. He has a wife and seven children. ???qg Geo H. Hurst, Undertaker and Ewbalner. Prompt Attention to Day or Night Calls, AT I. 0. Cralg Old Stand. % Main Phones Bisam; Check Payments Are Safe ? Money payments are risky. Start a Checking Account with this bank to-day, and pay with check?this brings accuracy and convenience to your business, and shuts out risk of loss. The National Bank of Sumter ESTABLISHED 1889 "SAFEST FOR YOUR SAVINGS"