Newspaper Page Text
February 19, 1913]
Three Vital Suf
Evangelistic
Suggest!
How To Copduct the Meeting:
It is assumed that the preparation as
outlined in "Suggestion No. 1," has
been thoroughly made and that minis*
crs, office-bearers and people are in the
spirit of prayer, organized for the work,
iree from all avoidable social and business
engagements, ready to concentrate
every effort and energy on winning
men and women and children to Jesus.
It is assumed, further, that the Evangelistic
speakers, both preachers and
singers, who are to take charge of the
meeting as helpers of the pastors, are
on the ground and roady to begin, and
they, as well as the local Christians,
are abandoned to the one great work
of eagerly pressing "The King's Business
"
]. General Suggestions Affecting the
Whole Enterprise.
(1) Duration: Usually such a meeting
should last about three w ecks.
Some times it may be wise to continue
through another week. If the preparation
work has been very thoroughly
and effectively done, the meeting need
not in many communities last for more
than two weeks. But much depends
as to this on how much prayer and
effort has been put into the preparation.
(2) Conferences: Besides Presby
lenan or oiner conierences neia aurIng
the prolonged period of preparation,
it is important, often vital, to have
a special conference Just before the
meeting begins, of all the pastors,
speakers, singers or directors of song,
and if possible, the Chairman of the
Committees on Executive, Finance, Advertising.
Music, Prayer and Personal
Work. This Conference may well last
for a day. Much of it should be given
to prayer, special prayer, prayer for
definite objects, and especially for
emntylne of self and filling with, the
Spirit of God.
Then every plan for the meeting
should be carefully agreed upon. No
detail should be overlooked.
Some representative" of the Assembly's
Committee, or other experienced
evanfhlist. should attend and direct
this Conference.
Whero possible, it is wise for those
workers to meet again, say on a Saturday,
during the meeting, to pray together,
exchange experiences, compare
notes, solve perplexing problems, and
v v/noiuvi uuit yimiD| o^/oviai mwwuftii)
etc.
(8) DIrectort it la of great value to
have one speaker, a representative of
the Assembly's Committee, or the
Synodlcal or Presbyterlal Committee,,
or some other chosen because of his
fitness for the work, to vial: the various
fields during the campaign, observe,
suggest, help, cheer, report good news
from other fields etc. He should not be
?wncu iu picauu.
(4) Hews Bulletin: Some dally, or at
least semi-weekly, medium of news
should be sent to each field, containing
all lte.ne of cheering news, and requests
for epeclal prayer, gathered from all
over the territory Involved. To make
this possible, dally reports should be
sent by the pastor or evangelist from
eadh field to the man who Is to make
tin t<m?l ?."<1 ?
? f i quv i.j pvu nuu uioii WiO VUIIOUQ.
The director might do thle, unless the
fact of hti moving dally make this difficult.
His dally Itinerary would need to
be known to all. Or some other person
mlg*ht do the reporting, a consecrated
newspaper man, for Instance,. If
the campaign covers a large area. It
may be necessary to print the bulletin.
Tn that case the expense might be partly
borne br advertJaementa. The
tHE PKEBBYIEHlj
jgestions on the
: Campaign
on ISo. 2.
people issued dally "The King's Business,"
paid most of it by advertisements
and felt that it was well worth
while.
One great advantage in the Simultaneous
Campaign is that it creates an
atmosphere in the whole district, in
which it Is easy to win people to Christ
The director and the bulletin contribute
largely toward this end.
2. Suggestions for Each Individual
Field.
(1) The riace of Meeting: Choose the
best, the most suitable place, where
me people are most likely to attend, regardless
of other lees Important considerations.
Usually it will toe a
church. Sometimes it Is 'better to
choose a hall, rink, or opera house, in
a community where there are many
non-church goers, or many prejudiced
against the church.
The same place should be used for all
the meetings. It is rarely wise to
change the place during the meeting.
It is of prime importance to have the
place comfortable. It must be well
heated, well lighted, and well ventilated.
This should be insisted on at any
cost of trouble or money. It seldom
happens that souls are saved if the
feet are aching with cold, or the knees
cramped as often happens in country
school houses. Let nothing stand in
the way of the comfort of the audience.
The devil can, and often does, use a
janitor to hinder the work of God.
Hflr Ta ? 1 ~ *
\ ? / ?'wmj MtVVIIH^O * JL t III(tV QUI ftl*
ways be wise or possible to have regular
meetings during the day In a campaign,
but It usually is. These will be
specially for the benefit of the Christian
people. (Many such, who, because
of domestic duty cannot attend the
evening meetings, will greatly appreciate
an afternoon meeting. The aim
at these meetings should be Bible in
errucuon and spiritual quickening. They
will also afford an opportunity for united
prayer for the speakers, the workers,
and the unconverted.
In rural communities a genera/1 day
meeting may not be feasible. Hn that
case neighborhood meetings In the
homes may be substituted, and the pastoral
visitation and personal work may
then each day be given to the neighborhoods
where the meetings for that.
day are to be held.
/?\ Tl.. W ? w ? ?
v?; . Mr' riinuii^ jitTiui^i in? evening
meeting? will always t>e distinctively
evangelistic. Not all or them need
aim at winning the unconverted to a decision
for Christ. The opening ones
may Indeed often more wisely aim to
nwaken sleeping or Indifferent or backslidden
Christians, though this ought to
be done In the period of preparation
preceding the meeting. But In any case
every meeting will aim at definite and
Immediate results.
Tho Ushers can do much by cordially
welcoming the people on arriving.
Tf this Is done lovingly in the name and
spirit of Jnsus, It will open many ears
and hearts to receive the gospel message.
The meeting vrlll open with a Song
Sertfce In connection with which the
Scripture lesson will be read and prayer
he offered and announcements made,
and the offering taken. The singer or
oirector of song win, or course, have
charge of the stngtng. The minister
and evangelist -will take the other
Items. The Hymn Book recommended
by the Assembly's Committee or some
other agreed upon, will be used. Some
n?w hymns should be learned, hymns
thsrt appeal and will be remembered
?W1<J sun* after the nesting la over. The
LB or T B K SOUTH
Service of Song can be made a great
power. The mind, heart and conscience
will bo stirred and prepared for the
message of the evening. It seldom occurs
that too much is made of the sine
ing tf capably directed and led. Solos,
choruses, ete^ are good and have their
place, but the congregational singing Is
of greatest consequence.
A Junior choir orgnnlzed, trained and
occupying seats In front of the adult
choir, may add strength and variety to
the song service.
The Sermon will deal with the great
fundamental and practical truths, all
centering about Christ and God's love
In him.
Rvorv atinh Bormon will elnoa wt#t* an
m m w m j ?uv??| ??-iuw|| nil| V.1VOO " 1VU ait
if]>l>cal to the heart, and through the
heart to the will for Immediate surrender
to Christ, or to obedience to the
truth proclaimed. It Is in this ap>peal
that most failures occur. The preacher
must be living in the atmosphere of
heaven, filled with tender yearning for
men, aglow with the love of God, if he
is to bring his hearers to the crisis and
win them then and there to decision. It
<s here that the reality of his faith and
the genuineness of his own religion will
be tested. Nothing but pure gold will
stand that Are. He must know the
truth. He must make it clear and
simple. He is God's ambassador. Eternal
destiny for many hangs on hcrw he
does his work. If God is speaking
through him men will hear. It should
be his aim to get a vordlct for JesuB
Christ, and got it there and then.
Tests may be used. But they must be
used with discrimination. Usually at
the (beginning of the meeting they
should not be used at all, or only the
simplest. Many are prejudiced against
all tests?unreasonably so. But even
prejudices should be respected in such
delicate work where the whole course
of life and the eternal destiny of souls
are or may be determined. In a meeting
where God is mightily moving men
they will accept any test. Unless God
ir manifestly present all tests will fail.
But God-approved tests resulting in
manifestly transformed lives will-lead
ns of old to this, "Seeing the man that
wnh healed standing among them they
could say nothing."
The Assembly's Committee supiplies
cards for use, of which this is a copy:
"The Master Is Come and Calleth for
Thee."
I am a memfoer of the Church elsewhere
It is my purpose to unite with
the church in this place.
Name
Address
Church preferred,
"Choose You This Dmjr Whom Ye Will
Serve."
1 am not now a member of the
church. I accept Christ as my personal
Saviour and hereby confess Him.
Name
Address
Chrurch preferred
These should be distributed when
called for, by the Personal Workers
or Ushers to whom this work Is delegated.
Every person present should be
handed a card lest those singled out be
embarrassed. This should be done
promptly, quickly, quietly. Pencils
should also be circulated. The speaker
will make his explanations with clearness
and emphasis. Each is asked to
sign the card that expresses his or ber
attitude or to return it unused. When
sufficient time is given, the workers will
collect the cards and give them at once
to the Chairman of the Committee. He
will at the close of the meeting assort
the slgnod cards according to denominational
or church preference and at
once, after making a copy of the names
nnd addresses and church preference,
will distribute the cards to the pastors
of the churches prsferred.
The work of the ushers or person*!
(1G1) 17
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workers is very important Very
definite instruction should be given
them night after night until by drill
they know exactly what to do and when
and how.
After meetings may be neld when
thought wise, for prater, or singing, or
instruction, or individual dealing with
inquirers.
But a great deal of care should be
taken (a) to begin on time, and (b) to
close the public service in reasonable
time-. There is more danger of making
the meeting too '.ong than too short.
The service, either song or preaching,
may not be allrwed to drag. Time is
lost. Harm is done. Send the peoplo
away hungry 'ather than sated, not to
say bored.
(4) Specla'i Meetings: There arc
many kinds of special meetings that
may be used to advantage, though manifestly
not all of them could be held In
every campaign.
(a) For Children: One of the most
effective means of advertising a meeting
is for the speakers to visit the
public and high schools while in session,
have the children sing some familiar
hymn or chorus, briefly address
thorn and announce the meetings.
men, in cities, towns, or villages,
meetings for children may lie held as
often as thought wise, at 4:15. The use
of the stereoptlcon illustrating the Life
of Christ and other Bible stories or Incidents
may bo made most effective. Of
course not every evangelist can have
or use this method. The children will
appreciate an ordinary gospel song service
quite as much as adults. But make
special effort to reach and win the children
for Christ
(b) For Women or for Men, separately,
or foi Parents: Meetings for special
classes are Always well attended and
afford an opportunity of pressing certain
truths of special Interest and concern
to the special audience. Delicate
subjects, such as purity, can be discussed,
too, with the greater frankness
In such meetinva
(c) ]n places where there are many
non-church goers, meetings on the
streets In the porks or in largo shops
or factories, or for bnslness men (at
noon and not longer than thirty minutes),
nre of great value. Hospitals
jails and other Institutions should he
visited also. One of the most remark(Continued
on page 20)
- ...
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