The Golden age. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1906-1915, March 01, 1906, Image 1

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. TH F < '" 1 " 1111 " 11 ITTTT ™s 11 ====a=ca3ra z/ x'""' = <ll* ( LIB B^ RY > ■ / - I \i vbfJ\ \ „ „=*>/ / SfS 1 r V F / Warr / 1 U B 1 • ■ l-i-v aiivk I •' k '- c -«iw Bbß 9 Z 4 £■ " flr >*K -- A a I W \| z^ 'X. / > I— |\ I—/ irw X- r B —~r > I A- 1 _ZLI\ Cfe < J I I 88/ B WB* —r> V B ] y B B \ v IV v J ■ ‘ -< sl hte bA V7 LZ ,”WX' i >lwj I I <s> $j SBrnhalsZY..a: the stat£> f|S® I! 1 B; ||^JSIP^’ 4 BB| Two Dollars a Year. 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 *nl 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 X MB - t 31 ’ l . life: WOt |.I liK' ®W 11*SHt ShhSkßl |E| m - H. 4 'Olfcl 1 ; UHt ® : i|| ® --wt l&B'ttlHI • ■' -AI- ; ~' 1 ~ ~ iw " ii<ii * ■ _ . t , ■ A. '•- *-.' - i 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