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CONWELL’S TEMPLE, PHILADELPHIA
N SUNDAY it was my pleasure to attend
Grace Baptist Church (more commonly
known as the Temple) and listen to one
of Dr. Bussell H. Conwell’s most inspir
ing sermons. It is said that he preaches
to the largest Protestant congregation in
America. Next to the Tabernacle, I love
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Hie Temple. To me there is a spirit of homeness
about the Temple seldom found in any other church.
There is not that stiff restraint felt in most churches,
but every one seems happy
and free. As I was ushered
into a seat, the lady next to
me, a stranger, said : ‘ ‘ Good
morning!” in a most pleas
ant tone. An act like that
helps one to praise the Lord.
The whole service was so
simple and so sincere.
Perhaps you will be sur
prised when I say that no
“collection” was taken. No
me was asked for money.
Dr. Conwell said: “The peo
ple who wish to worship God
God by giving their offering
into the trust of the church,
may place it in the baskets,
which will be passed to any
wishing to give. When one
gives is the time to pray.”
Preceding the sermon is the
baptismal service, the most
beautiful scene I have ever
witnessed, and the most sol
emn. The baptistry is a long,
narrow pool, resembling a
running stream. When Dr.
Conwell was in Palestine
some years ago, he was much
impressed with the beauty of the river Jordan at the
place where Jesus was baptized. When the Temple
was planned, he thought of this scene, and deter
mined to give the baptismal pool as much of the
beauty of nature as possible, especially the leaves
and flowers that drifted on the water. The sides
of the pool and the pulpit were banked with flow
ers, palms and moss, while at the back, banked
with mosses and flowers, was a pretty little water
fall. The candidates entered at the right and
passed out at the left, the pastor having given to
each some beautiful blossoms that floated on the
water. The room on the right, from which the appli
cant came, was dark, while a bright light shone in
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ATLANTA, GA., MARCH 1, 1906.
By Lucy Morton Zac hr y
from the left, thus signifying “out of the darkness
into the light.” During this whole service, the or
gan played softly and the choir sang.
This is a most beautiful scene, and one which I
believe can never fade from the memory of an eye
witness, and especially from those who were “buried
with Christ in baptism.”
The sermon was a simple, sweet talk, and finished
before T realized that it had fairly begun, so ear
nest and interesting it was. There was no display
The Temple Where Massive Brain and Mighty Eloquence are Humbly
Consecrated to the Spiritual Uplift of Thousands.
at oratory, and scarcely a raising of the voice
above a conversational tone, drawing one all the
closer to the speaker by his friendly, home-like
manner.
A feature of singular interest was the beginning
of the fund for building the Temple. The germ
grew in the heart of a little girl, just six years old,
who was unable to find place in the Sunday School
for lack of room. The desire to attend was so
strong that it took complete possession of the child
ish mind, and at once a small fund of her own per
sonal savings was begun. Within a few weeks, how
ever, this little one was taken ill, and was soon
called to the presence of Him of whose life she so
wished to learn. Before the end came, however, she
con tided to her mother her ambition to raise money
to enlarge the Sunday School so that all little girls
might be accommodated. The tiny purse was found
containing exactly sixty-eight cents, and this
served as the corner stone of the Temple. This ex
ample was an inspiration to the other members,
who, being poor, found contributions difficult to
make. The members being poor, the money to build
the Temple was hard earned. Walking clubs were
visiting the sick and plan
ning for socials are also appointed from among the
children.
I attended Bible School at two-thirty in the after
noon, and, with its different departments, it was
indeed interesting.
There are quite a number of Young People’s
Meetings connected with this church. It was my
privilege to speak at the Junior Endeavor one even
ing not long since.
Every Sunday half an hour before the morning
service two prayer meetings are held in the Lower
Temple. These are quite an uplift to the pastor.
(Continued on Page Five.)
Five Cents a Copy.
organized to save car tare,
women economized in dress,
boys and girls saved their
pennies, and the hard work
and self-denial of these peo
ple would put most churches
to shame.
And this labor was not in
vain. The auditorium of the
Temple has a seating capac
ity of about four thousand.
The choir with a membership
of one hundred or one hun
dred and fifty, led by Prof.
Wood, furnishes the sweetest
of music. Much that is val
uable might be gained by in
vestigating the management
of this wonderful chorus.
While services are being
conducted in the auditorium,
a Young People’s Church is
held near by, the children
performing, as far as possi
ble, all the duties of the ser
vices, such as taking the of
fering, playing the piano,
keeping a record of atten
dance etc. Committees for