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CHAPTER XV.CHURCHES AND RELIGION. (CONT'D)From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
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SUNDAY MEETINGS."BIG CROWDS AT THE TABERNACLE."The principal and, we might say, the only subject among all classes of people is the meetings now being held in the tabernacle in the park, and the marvelous results that have been achieved and the potent influences for good that have been accomplished. * * * "The men's meeting, Sunday afternoon, presented a scene that words cannot express and the seed sown at the meeting will, in years to come, show itself in the lives of those present. Twenty-nine men, in the prime of youth and noble manhood, went forward and turned their backs upon sin and worldly amusements. * * * "Sunday evening closed the meetings that have been in progress for the past three weeks in the tabernacle in the park, and Rev. W. A. Sunday departed for his home in Chicago on the Monday noon train. "As a result of the meetings, two hundred and sixty people were converted and will at once unite with the church of their choice. The greater part of the work has been accomplished during the past week. No one predicted such a complete and overwhelming victory for the united efforts of the various churches of the town. "At the closing service, Sunday night, over one thousand people were present to listen with marked attention to the matchless eloquence, and his fearless and forceful, logical and consistent argument. At the close of the last service, when the invitation to come forward was given, forty-eight people went forward. "A free will offering was taken at the Sunday service, to remunerate Mr. Sunday for his tireless efforts, which amounted to eight hundred and seventy-three dollars, being one of the largest collections ever taken to support him in his laudable and commendable work. "No one who has listened to his burning words of truth has any fault to find with his methods, and heartily endorse his work; and no one can tell the appreciation as expressed by the general public for the valuable services he has rendered this community by teaching the higher and noble virtues in the various walks of life's duties. "At least two hundred were at the depot. Monday noon, to bid Mr. Sunday and his singer, Mr. Fisher, goodbye. A chorus of voices sang song after song, and as the train pulled out the crowd sang, 'God be With You Till We Meet Again.' Mr. Sunday will ever be held dear to the people of Exira and the many warm friends here will fondly cherish the memory of him who worked so hard for their joy and comfort, and for the eternal peace and happiness of their homes." While the meetings were in progress in Exira, a committee went from Audubon to Exira and arranged with Mr. Sunday for a series of meetings in Audubon. Satisfactory arrangements having been made, on January 21, 1902, Mr. Sunday and helpers arrived and began what proved to be the greatest meeting ever held in the town, four churches, the Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Evangelical, uniting and becoming responsible for the financial part of the meetings. The following quotations from The Audubon Advocate express the sentiment of the community with reference to the meetings. "THE REVIVAL."The Union gospel meetings, which have interested the people of Audubon for the past two months, are now closed, and a matter of history. They began on January 21 and closed on February 16. From the very start, they were largely attended, filling the large Methodist Episcopal church, and later, when they were removed, the larger Presbyterian church was crowded. The men's meetings were the marvel of the series. There were three of them, and the attendance was about seven hundred at the first to nine hundred at the last. Such a concourse of men was something new" to Audubon. A sight such as many a person never saw before. All this is evidence of the power of the subject of religion on the hearts and minds of men. "There is no other subject that the greatest men might discuss, with the best skill of modern learning and oratory, that would have drawn and held one-tenth of the people one-half so long as the subject of religion. * * * "The last Sabbath services were interesting throughout, when one thousand five hundred and forty-one dollars were given as a free-will offering to Mr. Sunday. Also a purse of thirty-four dollars to Fred Fisher, his singer, from the choir. "The total number of conversions was four hundred and thirty-four. The attendance Sabbath evening was fully one thousand three hundred and many were turned away for want of room." Thus, by these meetings were all of the churches strengthened, their membership increased, the moral tone of the whole county elevated, and among the strong and active workers and supporters of the churches today, many date their interest and consecration to the work from the time of the Sunday meetings. |
