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GREAT VICTORY AT NORTOLK
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“The most profound spiritual impression I have
ever seen made on any community anywhere, has
come to Norfolk through these meetings. Words
fail to express my estimate and appreciation of the
personality and consecration of the men —preachers,
musicians and personal workers; the spirituality
and magnetism of the great leaders, Chapman and
Alexander; the quickening of God’s people, and the
salvation of souls. Marvelous blessings have come
to our city through these good people and their la
bors of love.”
Dr. W. M. Vines, one of the most prominent min
isters of Norfolk, who has just received a call to the
Hanson Place Baptist Church of Brooklyn, says:
“The evangelistic campaign conducted by Dr.
Chapman and his efficient co-workers in Norfolk
has been a glorious success. The music under the
leadership of Mr. Alexander is superb beyond de
scription. The organization is the most magnifi
cent and perfect in all the history of evangelism.
Dr. Chapman is an example of the sanest and sound
est type of an evangelist, and when the whole plan
of organization is taken into consideration, he is
the most effective preacher in the world today. The
results of the campaign in Norfolk surpass all ex
pectations and the best of all is that the pastors and
the churches are left stronger and more spiritual
and in a better relation and condition in every
way. ’ ’
Last Sunday was a great day in the history of
the city. In the afternoon, in spite of bad weather
and of several other simultaneous meetings, nearly
three thousand men gathered in the Armory Hall
to hear the Gospel. At night the big auditorium
was quickly filled and many hundreds were turned
away, unable to secure admission. At the close of
Dr. Chapman’s powerful sermon, among those who
came forward were thirty-three sailors from the
U. S. training ship “Franklin.” Twenty-four ’£
them made a definite surrender to the Lord as
their Savior, while the others stated that they were
members of churches elsewhere, but would unite
with some church in Norfolk. Six of those who ac
cepted Christ will sail shortly on the new 7 est and
largest armored cruiser, the “North Carolina,”
which is now anchored in the harbor. Will not the
readers of this journal pray earnestly that these
young men may stand fast in the faith, and may
• faithfully witness for Christ as the cruiser goes
here and there throughout the world?
During the service on Sunday evening Miss Ber
tha Irene Chapman, daughter of the evangelist,
sang three times, as she was leaving the following
day. Her sweet singing has been one of the most
helpful features of the Philadelphia and Norfolk
Missions. Thousands have been drawn nearer to
God by her rendering of the old and new gospel
melodies. It will be of interest to know that Miss
Chapman has been engaged for some time to Rev.
P. C. Goodson, pastor of the Kingshighway
Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mo. They ex
pect to be married on June 2 at the home of Dr.
Chapman at Winona Lake, Indiana. Mr. Goodson
has recently received a call to become pastor of the
Highland Park Presbyterian Church near Chicago,
which he will probably accept.
No feature of the work here in Norfolk aroused
the city to greater enthusiasm than the children’s
parade last Monday. Successful children’s meet
ings have been conducted throughout the mission
by Rev. C. T. Schaeffer, evangelist, and Mr. W.
H. Collison, singer. Nearly four hundred children
ODAY marks the close of the two
weeks’ Mission in Norfolk, Virginia,
which has been -one of the most suc
cessful evangelistic campaigns of th?
year. Dr. Chapman and Mr. Alexander
are both delighted with the results
achieved, while Dr. J. Ernest Thacker,
Chairman of the Norfolk Committee,
says:
The End of the Chapman-Alexander Mission in the Southern City —
Notable Features of the Mobement.
The Golden Age for May 21, 1908.
By GEORGE T. B. DAVIS
accepted Christ, and of these, 150 did definite per
sonal work in soul winning. The parade was ar
ranged as a fitting climax to the work among the
children. Nearly seven thousand teachers and
scholars met together and marched through the
leading streets of the city to the square in front of
the court house. There, in the presence of a throng,
estimated by the police at about tw’elve thousand,
brief addresses were delivered by Dr. Chapman,
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Mr. Schaeffer. A
large children’s chorus, arrayed in capes to give the
appearance of the United States flag, stood on the
court house steps, and sang a number of selections
under the direction of Mr. Collison. The event
aroused the city to fresh enthusiasm.
Last night the audience at the Armory was
thrilled by the experience of a prominent actor who
was converted a few weeks ago. At the conclu
sion of his sermon Dr. Chapman called upon Rob
ert Downing, who was in the audience, to tell the
story of how he had found Christ, after playing
leading Shakespearean and other roles for many
years. In an impressive and affecting manner, Mr.
Downing told how he had gone on in his profession
for many years but had never found real peace and
joy until he had accepted Christ as his personal Sa
vior on the sth day of March, 1908. Fie told how
the night after his conversion he had the joy of
leading three persons to Christ, and he was thrilled
by the experience. As he stopped at one point in
his story, Mr. Alexander said to him: “Are you
going back on the stage, brother?” The former
actor repeated the question for emphasis, and then
declared in the most emphatic manner that he would
never go back to his profession, for he now had
Christ in his heart, and Christ was not present at
theatrical performances. The audience burst into
applause as the actor, whose name has been long fa
mous throughout the land, gave this beautiful and
definite solution of the question of theater going.
Mr. Downing went on to tell how in his profession
he had worked for self alone, and had never pos
sessed real genuine peace and happiness until he
found Christ. Although he has been converted only
two months, Mr. Downing is going out every
where witnessing for Christ. Dr. Chapman is ar
ranging to have the former actor accompany the
party in some of their missions next year.
This last day of the mission is being observed as
Mothers’ Day. This afternoon a meeting for moth
ers is being held when aged mothers will be carried
to the church in carriages and automobiles. Every
man in the city is being requested to wear today a
white carnation as a tribute to his mother. He is
also asked to write a love letter to his own mother
if she is living, or to somebody else’s mother, if
she has passed away. This is the first time that
Mothers’ Day has ever been observed; and Dr.
Chapman, with other leaders in the East, is en
deavoring to make Mothers’ Day a national event.
The close of the Norfolk Mission marks the close
of the season’s work of the evangelists. It has
been the most strenuous year in Dr. Chapman’s
experience. In speaking of his work during the
past months, Dr. Chapman says:
“The campaign in Norfolk closes the most stren
uous evangelistic year I have ever known. Begin
ning with the first of October and closing with the
6th of May I have had not to exceed two weeks
of rest, and yet the year has told in a great way, I
think, and I consider this the best season I have
ever known. The conviction has been deeper; con
versions have been more genuine; communities have
been more thoroughly aroused; the ministers have
been more sympathetic, and the outlook is greater
than ever before. The Norfolk campaign is one of
the best.”
Mr. Alexander in speaking of the Philadelphia
and Norfolk Missions says:
“These last two months have been the first meet
ings I have held with Dr. Chapman, and they have
been full of interest and blessing throughout. The
simultaneous plan has been a new work to me. The
saloon work of Mr. and Mrs. Asher is an indispen
sable and strong feature of the movement. The
children’s work by Mr. Schaeffer and Mr. Collison
reaches hundreds of homes that would never be
touched by the ordinary methods. Dr. Chapman’s
skillful hand keeps the whole plan moving quietly
but effectively. I am looking forward enthusias
tically to our work in the future, both in this coun
try and abroad.”
Although the Norfolk Mission concludes the sea
son’s revival work, yet Dr. Chapman and Mr. Al
exander expect to conduct a large mass meeting at
Kansas City, Missouri, on the evening of May 23,
in connection with the meeting of the Presbyterian
General Assembly in that city. Following this,
Mr. Alexander and his wife will return to England
where he will finish the new gospel song book upon
which he has been working for months, and which
will be published in a short time in New York and
London. In July Mr. Alexander expects to return
to this country accompanied by his wife, to take
part in the Christian Workers’ Conference at
Northfield, Mass., and the Bible Conference con
ducted by Dr. Chapman at Winona Lake, Indiana.
Next fall it is probable that Dr. Chapman and Mr.
Alexander will conduct missions in English cities
for several months.
H It
"Bessie Tift College Notes.
After a most successful term the school year
1907-08 of Bessie Tift College is drawing to a close.
The classes are finishing their work, and beginning
to review for the final examinations which begin
a week before Commencement.
The College sends out this year one of the largest
graduating classes in its history —there are thirty
three graduates in the Literary department, eight
in Oratory, five in Piano, one in Voice, and two in
Art, making a total of forty-nine.
For the last several weeks the Monday evenings
have been devoted to the recitals given by the
graduates in the special departments.
On Tuesday evening, May 5, a most delightful
recital in Piano was given by Prof. Mayer, Director
of Music. On Saturday evening following, a
Violin recital was given in the College audi
torium. The Shakespearean play, “As You Like
It,” was presented by the Oratory class on
Thursday evening, May 14, and the Cantata, “The
Lady of Shalot, ” by the Choral Union will be given
on Wednesday evening before Commencement.
Bessie V. Noles.
Greenbille Female College.
Greenville Female College observed “College
Day” May 15, when there were exercises with
a view to stimulating interest in the College and
in the Educational Campaign now on. The princi
pal address was delivered by Professor R. E.
Gaines of Richmond College, And there were other
addresses by Dr. C. C. Brown of Sumter, Judge
J. J. Gentry of Spartanburg, and Hon. B. M.
Shuman of Greenville, President of the Board of
Trustees. There were an Academic Procession
of trustees, faculty, alumnae, and students on the
ground; a trolley ride in the afternoon; and a
recital in the evening, followed by an informal
reception.
H I?
Six state legislatures out of the forty-six in the
country have petitioned Congress to call a Con
stitutional Convention in order to secure an amend
ment providing for the election of United States
Senators directly by the people. A petition from
the legislatures of two-thirds of the states is
necessary before Congress is required to call such
a convention.
