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THE WORLD-WIDE REVIVAL
I.
THE REVIVAL IN JERUSALEM.
ACH week the revival tide seems to
be rising in all lands. Prayer, soul
winning and Bible study are now the
chief themes of interest throughout
Christendom. God’s Spirit is moving
mightily to the quickening of multi
tudes at home and abroad.
In Jhelum, India, a revival has arisen
which has been conducted almost en-
E
finely by the natives. Most of the missionaries
were absent from the station when the power fell,
and consequently it was largely a native awaken
ing. Rev. Robert Stewart, D.D., gives in the United
Presbyterian a vivid picture of the movement:
‘ ‘During the past three weeks Jhelum has been
affected by a great revival—great, not so much in
its extent, though it has touched perhaps all the
Christians and some others, but great in its power
and wonderful manifestations. Many were brought
doiwn to depths of repentance unexampled in their
previous lives. Many confessed their great short
comings. Some who had been gross offenders, pray
ed for forgiveness with strong crying and tears.
Women and children who had never taken part in
public meetings before called upon God in language
of earnestness, simplicity and power.
“Meetings were held at morning, noon and night.
Sometimes the noon meeting was protracted for
four hours and the night meeting until the dawn of
day. Praise was sometimes accompanied by the
cilapping of hands. Processions of Christians sing
ing divine songs and making known the way of sal
vation, passed around through the city wherever it
was supposed they could do good.
“People oif other religions wondered what had
come over our little flock. A few seem to have been
drawn with the cords of inquiry or love. Such a
time of heart-searching, soul-stirring, penitential
crying, earnest intercession, mutual forgiveness,
brotherly love and exhilarating joy has never been
known here before, and is seldom seen even in
these wonderful times in other places. A few
moreover, but perhaps mistakenly, thought they
once saw a supernatural light near the pulpit desk,
such as has been reported in other revivals. Satan,
too, was present trying to checkmate the move
ment.”
11.
An Endeavorer’s Revival Campaign.
Throughout all America Dr. F. E. Clark, the
President of the United Society of Christian En
deavor, is urging the local societies to engage in
a three months’ evangelistic campaign. Each En
deavorer is urged to take the following pledge to
remain in force until February 7, 1907:
“Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength,
I promise him that I will pray daily for a revival
in my church and society and town, that I will co
operate in any wise methods to secure such a spir
itual awakening, and that I will strive personally
to bring at least one person to a saving knowledge
of Christ.”
“Every Endeavorer, ’’ says President Clark, “ac
cording to his ability and opportunity, is, or ought
to be, an evangelist. Now is the time of all times.
The activities of the society are in full operation.
The members are in their places. Now, if ever,
we can reach our associate members and win them
and others to Christ. By faithful effort we may
have a great ingathering in the Week of Prayer or
on our Decision Day in February.
“But it will take persistent, thoughtful effort.
The society that does not pray, plan, work and
hope for a spiritual awakening will not have one.
The individual who does not resolutely resolve that
he will do his part, with God’s help, to bring about
this spiritual quickening, will do nothing.”
Th© Golden Age for December 13, 190&
Good Tidings of Gospel Victories Far and Wide
By GEORGE T. B. DAVIS.
In China not only are local revivals springing
up, but through the action of God’s Spirit the
whole empire is undergoing an almost miraculous
transformation. One writer on returning to the
country after an absence of two years, said: “More
has happened during the last two years than had
happened throughout the previous 1,000 years.”
The Christian Herald thus enumerates some of
these startling changes:
“Last month came one of the great changes of
history. A decree was issued turning the famous
examination booths at the Imperial University
into a school of military science, and the learning
of today was declared of equal importance with
the old. Candidates for office must hereafter have
some knowledge of modern subjects.
“The Empress, finding that the foot-binding was
still carried on, has declared that no man shall hold
office who allows his wife or daughter to have
their feet bound.
“Most startling of all was the order that the
Bible be studied m conjunction with the work of
the priests of Confucius in the provinces of Hupeh
and Hunan.
“ A Sunday was also established and rules made
for its observance. China in all its history has had
nothing analogous to our day of worship and rest.
“Numerous other changes were made in customs
and laws, but the above is enough to show the way
in which the Government is trying to modernize
the people. That the decree will meet with but lit
tle favor in many quarters is only to be expected,
but a new day is beginning to break in tine East,
and before it has set many of those now living
may see China one of the great powers.”
IV.
Revival in Western China.
Good news continues to come of awakenings in
the various provinces of China. Writing of the
revival among the Hwa Miao people in Yunnan,
Western China, S. Pollard says:
“Since my last letter there has been a great ad
vance in many ways. The number of baptized
members now exceeds twelve hundred. In three
centers three strong churches have been established.
.At Long Sea, three days from the mission center at
C'hlaotong, a beautiful chapel has been built, seating
nearly 400 people. This is full every Sunday and
sometimes there are as many at the open-air service
as there are in the chapel. On June 10 last, 1,000
people of five different races were gathered to
gether. In ti e morning forty-nine were baptized and
admitted into the church. The Lord’s Supper which
followed the baptismal service was a time of'wonder
ful blessing. At half past nine we finished by pray
ing with a poor young woman who had been a
witch. She knelt before Jesus and longed for Him
to deliver her from the power of the demon pos
sessing her. Jesus heard her prayers.”
V.
An Illinois Town Stirred.
Stirring scenes are being witnessed at Kewanee,
Illinois, under the fervid preaching of Evangelist
W. A. Sunday, who was once a famous baseball
player. During the first ten days over 500 signified
their desire to become Christians. The entire town
is stirred with revival enthusiasm, and thousands
flock daily to hear the fiery evangelist.
Mr. Sunday’s revival sermons sometimes bristle
with slang, but they are strong, homely, orthodox,
and reach the hearts of the people. In a talk on
prayer, Mr. Sunday recently said.
“Someone once asked Spurgeon why he got ev
erything he prayed for. He said the reason was he
took a verse of Scripture for a foundation and
built up on that, finally putting on the cap sheaf
of another verse of Scripture and he got what he
asked because the Lord always kept his promise.
“Some people pray as though they don’t expect
HI.
The Chinese Awakening.
anything and they are not disappointed. I am sur
prised that God is doing as well as ,he is with the
material he has to work on. The Lord bias nothing
but condemnation for you if you try to dress the
thing up and tell him how good you are; but con
fess to him you are a poor- sinner and nothing in
heaven is too good for you.
‘ ‘ The Lord doesii’t always give us what we want,
but what we need. My children like candy and
oranges and soothing syrup, but they often need the
slipper and the shingle—and they get it.”
Mr. Sunday told how when he was a boy he was
paid sls too much in a transaction. He was going
to return it, but a chum told him not to do it.
When he was converted he got down on his knees
to pray but the sls got on his conscience. “I
seemed to feel the hand of God,” he said, “and
to hear his voice saying, ‘Remember that sls and
interest for all these years which you owe the bank
at Nevada, lowa.’ 1 said, ‘Lord, they don’t know
I’ve got it.’ God said, ‘I know it, now dig up.’
Then after a struggle for a year 1 sent it back.
Make your wrongs right and God will bless you.
If some people would pay back what they have
cheated others out of they would not have so much
tax money to pay. Will you pull out your check
book and pay back that money you won by cheating
your neighbor in that last horse trade? Aou can
never keep a dishonest dollar down. You can
pile a bank on it or a business block, or thousands,
but that dirty dollar will overturn everything you
pile on it and it will come to the top.”
Turning the Wine Glass Down.
(It is said of William Jennings Bryan that “he
turns the wine glass down.”)
Many a drunkard began
His dark and downward career
At a table about which sat
(Strong men and maidens fair.
What though a bright maiden smile?
What though a proud hostess frown?
He who is brave will not flinch—•
He will turn his wine-glass down.
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“Wine is a mocker,” .they say,
Today it is pleasant to sup;
Tomorrow the serpent that stings
Will uncoil and strike from the cup.
One drink but to others leads on
The thirst thus acquired to drown,
And who would the danger avoid
Will turn his wine-glass down.
Men are demanded who have
The courage to dare and do,
Nerves that are steady and strong—
Hearts that are brave and true.
Whoso would retain all these
To worthily win life’s crown,
Has too much at stake to risk—
He will turn the wine-glass down.
Think not that you are too strong
To go beyond the first glass;
Many have thought the same thing
Who filled drunkards’ graves, alas;
Many who else might have won
Nobly a high renown,
Because at first they had failed
To turn the wine-glass down.
And many more strong than you,
Brave as the bravest are,
Keep ever the gleaming cup
Os wine from their lips afar.
Having no fear for self
(Worthy of heaven’s crown!)
They turn, for their brothers’ sake,
The dangerous wine-glass down.
Margaret A. Richard.
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