Practical Bible Training School - Theologue Yearbook (Johnson City, NY)

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22 He Lived For OtlJerJ ' of the time when the great fair was held in Seattle, Washington. Evangelist Davis had been informed that no religious meeting could be held on the fair grounds. But he was a man who never stopped at oddssif he couldn't do things in an ordinary way he was bound to do them in an extraordinary one. After praying much about it and getting God's ap- proval, he consulted the people of the church where he was holding his campaign. All plans were in readiness for a service. The time chosen was a pe- riod when everyone was interested in looking at the side-shows and other attractions always presented the sole purpose of studying the Welsli Revival which was at that time sweeping, not only the entire Brit- ish Isles but was reaching into the adjacent countries of Europe. Evangelist Davis always tried to get his congre- gation to participate in the services. He firmly be- lieved that if he could break down the flesh and get the minds of the people from themselves, that the Spirit of God would have a greater right-of-way in their lives. One of the methods effectively used, most enthus- AN AUDITORIUM DURING ONE OF EVANGELIST DAVIS' CAMPAIGNS at a fair of this sort, and the problem was to draw the people so that they could preach to them. Evan- gelist Davis walked down the main street and, jump- ing upon a platform erected for some side-show, he began shouting at the top of his voice. Mr. Mills came running from another direction, Mr. Carr from still another, and the people of the congregation came pouring in from all around. In just no time at all a huge crowd congregated in front of the plat- form and a wonderful service followed in which God marvelously owned and blessed His W'ord. One may wonder how it was that after attracting the crowd by parades and in other unusual ways, that Dr. Davis could hold their attention-even more, promote a greater interest night after night throughout a campaign. The fact was Mr. Davis through his search and study of the many and varied methods of great and mightily used men of God had developed a style and method entirely original, distinct and unique. The instance has been brought to mind when Evangelist Davis crossed the Atlantic to Wales, for iastically received, and perhaps with the greatest re- sults was his popcorn meeting. Mr. Davis first explained how corn could not be popped over a re- frigerator, but over a fire. Now warm-up was a characteristic expression, and the people always heart- ily responded. Quickly and from all over the house, the main auditorium and the galleries, people arose and in a short concise manner they earnestly told of the blessings that the meetings had been to their own lives and of their love and devotion for the Lord jesus Christ. As many as 225 have taken part in these meetings in eighteen minutes, while applause, laughter and tears punctuated the different testi- monies. His after-meetings were unexcelled for variety of program and results. One of the evangelist's plans was to have what he called a line-up of Christians. He asked for all those who were not ashamed of Christ to raise their hands. Upon response to this question he requested those who professed the Name of Christ to step out into the aisle, form a line and march down to the front of the church auditorium. There they gave a clear and forceful witness of the When two quarrel, there are two in the wrong.

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He Lived For Oll2er.r 21 heart hunger was in each soul, and not only that, but in the souls of many of their people. On their return one of the pastors went to the other neigh- boring pastor only to find that God had given to him the same burden. This led to a meeting for conference and prayer by the pastors of the three churches, and from the first it was decided to ad- vise our people to unite in the early fall in a union evangelistic campaign, if we could find the right man to lead us. After a few weeks a committee .of laymen from each church was invited to join with the pastors in conference and to advise in regard to the selection of an evangelist. With the increased numbers the interest broadened and the desire to have the united work deepened. Gradually but surely we came to the conclusion that we wanted Brothers Davis, Mills and Carr, whom we so well knew and loved, to be our leaders. Therefore our brethren were invited to come with us early in Oc- tober. Believing that our invitations expressed to them the will of God, they accepted, and we com- menced to plan for the work. Besides these campaigns already mentioned, Mr. Davis labored in many other cities and towns. Some of the better known cities in which he worked dur- ing the early years of his evangelistic career are: Elmira, N. Y., Reading, Pa., Birmingham, Pa., Kal- ' bln 4, nviif, 's MR. DAVIS AT HAZLETON, PA., SEATED AS HE WAS VVHEN THE VIS- ION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BIBLE SCHOOL CAME TO HIM amazoo, Mich., Hancock, N. Y., and at Hazleton, Pa., where he received the vision of a Bible training school, out of which grew the present Practical Bible Training School. Other cities include Clyde, Ohio, Cambridge Springs, Uniontown, Wfellsboro, Phoenix- ville, and Wyalusing, Pa., Baltimore, Md., Afton, N. Y., his boyhood home, Worcester, Sidney, Mas- sena, Oneonta, Illion, Governeur, Albany, Sherburne, Cortland, Ithaca, N. Y., and back to his home sec- tion, Lestershire and Binghamton, N. Y. He also held campaigns in New England cities and in the West. Why were the campaigns of Evangelist Davis so different from all others and why were they readily recalled many years after the evangelist had left the field? Because Evangelist Davis thoroughly believed in using all legitimate methods to God's glory. He did not propose that the children of the world should be wiser than the children of Light. Therefore, he employed the most unique methods of procedure, not only in the conducting of the services, but also in getting the attention of the crowds. His methods were different, startling and attractive. One of the methods commonly employed was his parades. In some of his parades as many as 500 horses have been used. It took two hours for some of his larger parades to pass a given point. He solicited the co- operation of the Mayor and leading officials of the town and often the Mayor of the town led the pa- rade. Some of his parades were said to have cost as much as 35,000 for a single town. He spared neither money nor effort in order to make each pa- rade a success. One of the interesting features of the parade was the white brigade, which was a company of girls whom the Evangelist had trained in military tactics. This brigade never failed to win the heartiest ap- plause from the enthusiastic on-lookers. Interest ran high-people from every walk of life offered their heartiest co-operation. Business men closed their ofiices, stores were closed, and it seemed that the central theme for the day was the great Davis and Mills parade. Every vantage point was filled with eager, enthusiastic spectators. Roofs of houses, hre escapes, windows and sidewalks were crowded with people who had come to see the sights, Many times Evangelist Davis has been criticized for conducting these parades. Many people have said that it was a waste of money and that such methods should never be employed in the service of the King. But the parades had their psycholog- ical effect. For a whole day the eyes of an entire town were focused upon the Davis and Mills evan- gelistic party, and after one of these parades Evan- gelist Davis uowned the town by the popular vote of the people themselves. The support and the en- thusiasm of the towns-people never waned at the end of a parade, but extended far into the campaign, where many hundreds, and often thousands, looked upon the crucified Christ and believed. He held meetings where no one else would ever think of holding them, The incident has been told Holding fast the faillijiul Wrivd as he liazli been Lauglic, than he may he able by .wound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayersf Titus l:9.

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He Lived 1: or Otlaerru 25 power of Christ to save, to keep and to satisfy. Hun- dreds of people have often taken part in this man- ner and it has been frequently found that men and women who had not spoken for years in public opened their mouths in confession of Christ. Often men and women have made their first profession of Christ as Saviour in just such moments as these. This indeed is a favorite method of Mr. Davis of curing what he called a Christian's heart trouble, and experience has shown that it is an excellent method for developing Christians for active service. One of the most inspiring incidents in the after- meetings was his means of a voluntary choir. At these times hundreds of men, who knew the Lord, were called from the audience and massed on the platform where they were led by Singer Mills in singing such old favorites as Nearer My God to Thee' 'and Rock of Agesf' Such services were al- ways impressive and many great audiences have been thrilled. A deep spirit of devotion always pervaded these services. Among the singers oftimes there was a gray-haired saint of God and as he sang these hymns of praise tears coursed down his cheeks and his face bespoke his devotion to his Lord. On many of these occasions the audience sat spell-bound, only to break out into enthusiastic applause as the sound of the hymn died away. A service in which marked interest has been shown and a service that Mr. Davis has made famous throughout the country is the tenderly beautiful Pink Rose Service. Much space could be devoted to a de- scription of this, but instead we will read what the reporter had to say about it as it was given in the city of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The afternoon service was such as no one ever witnessed in this place. Long before two o'clock the people crowded around the door of the rink waiting for the opening. Hundreds and hundreds were there and how they sang while waiting for the doors to be thrown open. The hundreds of voices rang out with the re- vival hymns as the crowd patiently waited for the opening, and when the doors were opened, such a crush resulted that it took the combined efforts of Evangelist Harrington and an enlarged corps of ushers to preserve any kind of order. Inside the rink, in a short time every space in the gallery, on the floor, the platform and every conceivable place was utilized for seats. On the platform sat the choir with the ladies dressed in white and the men in black, while each member of the choir wore a beautiful pink rose. The scene was one of beauty, seldom witnessed. It was a remark- able service and much interest was displayed. Mr. Davis read the story of Delia and the choir sang with spirit and in harmony. The story was of the rescue of a fallen woman named Delia, through the efforts of Mrs. E. M. Whit- temore, and the music was especially written for the story. The service will always be remembered as one of the greatest ever held in this city. THE CLOSING SERVICE AT THE RINK l'With the song of beautiful sentiment, God Be With You Till We Meet Again, poured forth from about two thousand throats with such volume that the words could be distinctly heard several blocks away, while the very rafters of the building seemed to tremble, the great series of evangelistic meetings which had been under way for five weeks past were brought to a close at eleven o'clock last evening, evangelists and people joining together in the song which assumed special significance in view of the near departure of the former. Davis and Mills were untiring and ceaseless in their efforts to promote the cause of Christ. No matter where they went they endeavored to leave a testimony with those with whom they came in con- tact. The incident has been recalled where the whole party was visiting a coal mine in Pennsylvania and when they had penetrated far into the bowels of the earth, Mr. Davis conceived the idea of holding a short religious service. Can you imagine the effect that this service had upon the miners? It was so different that the newspaper reporter the next day sent dispatches all over the country telling of this unique service. Below is an excerpt from one of the write-ups concerning it. Echoing and re-echoing through the headings, rounding the ribs into the rooms, breaking through the impenetrable darkness of the Atlantic Crushed Coke Company's mine at Bradenville, yesterday, there was wafted the sweet refrain of the now familiar hymn, fGod Will Take Care of You.' Miners wielding their picks against the walls of coal stilled their blows and with picks poised over head listened for the words which reverberated through the mine, striking the inky-black walls and glancing off into new corners and sections of the mine. Drivers halted their mules and stood silent, upon the tracks, while men driving headings, about to shoot the solid, held the electric spark from the squibs so that there might be no deafening intona- tion of a dynamite explosion to interrupt the refrain which met their ears. The characteristic principle of Dr. Davis' entire life of living for others was greatly manifested in his evangelistic efforts. During his campaign in Altoona, Pennsylvania, because of adverse business conditions, hundreds of men were deprived of posi- tions and as a result, many families were in great need. Their circumstances appealed strongly to Mr. Davis and upon his suggestion the executive com- mittee of the campaign set aside one night, during which supplies of flour, sugar, canned goods, pota- So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure. Il Thess. 1:4.