February 19, 1909

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Evangelist Also Tells of His
Early Life in a No-
mad Camp.

"Not nostrums of the earth, but the blood of the Christ, and Him crucified, will cleanse the soul of its sin. Jesus walked abroad with his disciples and behold, a great multitude gathered. And there was one woman who was old and afflicted, and who had seen many doctors and no doubt had taken many drugs and patent medicines of the day, who was in that crowd listening with hope in her heart that she might be cured."

As the great crowd at Convention hall last night looked up from listening to an eloquent prayer by the Rev. S. M. Neel it was to be greeted with a tale of another multitude that had come to witness Christ when He walked and talked among men. The evangelist, Gypsy Smith, chose the same topic for his sermon as on Wednesday night. It was from Mark, fifth chapter and thirtieth verse.


"My father could not read or write, but he had faith," said he. "I say he had faith and I will add that he could pray and sing. Of a cold winter night after the humble meal was cooked and we had gathered about the campfire in the ragged tent, father would say to his family of six: 'Now let us sing His praise.' And we would sing, every one with his stout voice until the woods rang.

"I recollect that people walking past would stop a moment and listen to that hymn service and finally draw nearer and nearer until standing on the skirts of the camp. They could look within and see us at devotion."

At the conclusion of last night's meeting over 500 men and women stood up and signified their willingness to become Christians. When the last song was sung these were conducted to the inquiry room in the rear of the hall.

Labels: Convention Hall, ministers