Revivals 
 HovToHaveThem 
 
 GGo.PHall 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/revivalshowtohavOOhall 
 
REVIVALS 
 
 AND 
 
 HOW TO HAVE THEM. 
 
 A BRIKF MANUAI, OF EVANGELISTIC METHODS FOR AI.I. 
 EVANGEIylCAI, CHURCHES, TO WHICH IS APPENDED A 
 I<IST0F40 THEMES FOR REVIVAI. SERMONS, AND 
 THE TEXT IN FUI.I. OF A NUMBER OF SHORT 
 TRACTS SUITABI^E FOR THE BACKS OF AN- 
 NOUNCEMENT CARDS, TOGETHER 
 WITH SUGGESTIVE FORMS 
 FOR TICKETS, ETC. 
 
 BY 
 
 GKO. F. HAIvIv. 
 
 Author of Plain Points on Personal Purity,'''' " Tabernacle Talks''' 
 " The Lord's Exchequer,'" etc., etc. 
 
 [first edition-s.ooo copies.] 
 
 PRICE, SO CEINJXS. 
 
 1898. 
 
 COLUMBIAN BOOK CO., 
 DECATUR, Ilvlv. 
 
Copyrighted. 1898, by GEO. F. HALL. 
 
" Oh, it is a glorious thing to rally souls to the 
 cross!" 
 
 — Knowles Shaw' s last words. 
 
 oJ? slJ^ si^ 
 
 " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to 
 every creature." 
 
 — Mark i6:is. 
 
 s3^ oJ? 
 
 " Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the 
 work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy min- 
 istry." 
 
 PauV s words to Timothy, 
 
 3 
 
4 
 
REVIVALS 
 
 AND 
 
 HOW XO HAVB TPHBM. 
 
 A Revival is more than a "protracted meeting." 
 According to Moody, it is a briiighig; forth from 
 obscurity. In every average church there 
 
 What ^ , . , , . 
 
 tho are latent powers enough, if quickened into 
 i^anl. consecrated action, to stir a city. Hence I 
 like the word revival. It suggests an 
 awakening, a shaking up, a clarifying of spiritual 
 atmospheres; in short, vigor, enterprise, enthusiasm, 
 victory ! It is time we have done with mere 
 * * special services ' ' and * * series of meetings. ' ' This 
 sounds too insipid for wide-awake communities. 
 L,et us call our evangelistic meetings revivals^ with 
 all that the word means, and there will be less danger 
 of stagnation in the greatest of all works — soul- 
 saving. 
 
 It is the duty of every individual church to have 
 
 5 
 
6 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 its own revival, apart from all union efforts, at least 
 once a year ; that is, a season of evangel- 
 ''^^^ istic effort, continuinar from two to twelve 
 
 Duty ^ 
 
 of weeks as circumstances may demand. It is 
 
 Every 
 
 Church, useless to talk about having a * * continual 
 revival, " or " a revival all the year round, ' ' 
 as some pastors do who are fortunate enough to have 
 two or three additions every Sunday. A revival 
 necessarily implies stringing up to concert pitch, and 
 no church can keep itself in that condition all the 
 time. But the church that would not die, or fall into 
 the ruts, must have its annual revival, and the pas- 
 tors who oppose this theory today are the slow, 
 tedious fellows whose congregations are noted for 
 their sleeping qualities. 
 
 The best time for a revival is any time, if the mem- 
 bers of the church are ready for earnest, united work. 
 
 The temperature of the weather is not so 
 The important as the temperature of the people's 
 Tull hearts. Some of the most successful meet- 
 ^a** ings of my life were held in July and 
 Revival, ^^g^gt, when the thermometer was playing 
 around the 100° mark and the farmers very 
 busy besides. Again, I have seen great revivals con- 
 ducted in the midst of political campaigns, or at 
 times when the roads were almost impassable, or other 
 difficulties presented themselves. A good revival is 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 1 
 
 not a question of the weather, or of social, poHtical, 
 or financial conditions, but of careful manage- 
 ment and earnest work. A few years ago a 
 much-mentioned Eastern pastor, who never held 
 a great revival himself, and whose churches, I 
 am told, have generally decreased in mem- 
 bership during his pastorate, wrote an article 
 condemning what he termed ' ' manufactured reviv- 
 als. ' ' Many evangelists were delighted when Pres. 
 H. W. Everest, the distinguished theologian, took 
 up his pen in behalf of true evangelism, and replied 
 that all revivals were necessarily manufactured, 
 lyoyal disciples believe that God is always ready to 
 save souls, and that "the field is white unto the 
 harvest." All that is necessary is for men to bare 
 their arms and put in the sickle. 
 
 In the past few years summer ipeetings have 
 become very popular. In Iowa I was the first evan- 
 gelist of the church with which I am con- 
 
 Xents 
 
 and nected to hold a tent meeting. It was at 
 Taber- ^^^^ Qj-iswold, in 1889, whcre the 
 
 nacles. ' ' 
 
 membership of the congregation was in- 
 creased from fifteen to one hundred and forty- 
 one in thirty-five days. It was an experiment that 
 succeeded, and now our Iowa State Board keeps 
 a half dozen tents at work all the summer. I am 
 also a sort of pioneer among my people in tabernacle 
 
8 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 work, having built several, and demonstrated the 
 wonderful possibilities of such structures. At 
 Chariton, Iowa, I held the first tabernacle meeting 
 the Disciples ever held in the state; one hundred and 
 fift3"-six turned to the Lord, and an 88,000 church 
 building was immediately erected. At Emporia, 
 Kan,, while pastor, I erected a great tabernacle, 
 advertised thoroughl}^ and gave Evangelists Updike 
 and Hawes 2,000 hearers the first night. These 
 temporary structures can be erected at small expense 
 by borrowing or renting the lumber, and putting 
 together in the simplest manner without cutting. 
 Tar paper ma.y be used for the roof, or common 
 sheeting with weather strips, A tabernacle is much 
 preferable to a tent in many wa3"s. 
 
 It is not, I insist, a question of the time of year, 
 or the temperature of the weather, or the condition 
 of the times, but simply a question of gettmg ready 
 right, and then carrjdng it through to a successful 
 finish, 
 
 A few, but not many, good revivals have been 
 conducted by pastors. It is quite a fad now to decry 
 the '' professional evangelist," and let pas- 
 who tors " exchange meetings," The result is 
 
 ShoQld . . „ , , . 
 
 Conduct seen m an era of small ingatherings. Many 
 Revival. ^^^^ cvangclists havc quit the field, 
 
 and the day of great ingatherings seems 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 9 
 
 past But I am confident the churches will soon 
 tire of this, and the professional evangelist will 
 again be in demand. Why not ? Our greatest 
 preachers today are evangelistic preachers. Many 
 of them are men of learning, experience, rare con. 
 secration, and mighty spiritual power. This is an 
 age of specialists, and their specialty is the manipu- 
 lation of great revivals. Hence, by all means, 
 churches desiring a genuine awakening should 
 secure an evangelist — some pure, good man, who is 
 known to be loyal to the plea, strong in the pulpit, 
 and wise in his judgment. Such men may be rather 
 scarce, and may cost large money, but they always 
 give value received, and the people are more willing 
 to pay such a man than some * ' cheap John ' ' who 
 bungles everything he touches. 
 
 The right man once on the ground, pastor and 
 church should unhesitatingly turn everything over 
 to him, and follow his directions faithfully to the 
 letter. Then there will be no failure. It is 
 the uniform testimony of evangelists that where 
 their instructions have been carefully and 
 prayerfully carried out meetings have been 
 successful. 
 
 Every evangelist has his own way of doing things, 
 and to him it is the best way. As for myself, when 
 
10 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 I consent to conduct revivals, I desire, first 
 My of all, a positive decision on the part of 
 
 Way 
 
 of churches that they want a meeting. I do 
 ^it^^ not want any half-way engagements, only 
 to be broken at the last moment, thus dis- 
 arranging my dates for months ahead. 
 
 Once decided upon, a church should commence 
 talking and praying about the approaching revival. 
 
 The midweek meetings should be full of 
 '^^^ it, and the pastor should preach several 
 mittee preparatory sermons on Sundays. There 
 
 of 
 
 Ushers, should be several committees appointed 
 and thoroughly drilled in what they are to 
 do. A committee of ushers should embrace from 
 eight to twenty of the most popular and influential 
 men (not boys) in the church. They should meet 
 and elect a chief, who will assign two ushers to each 
 aisle, etc. , and see that they are always at their post 
 from the moment the doors open till the service 
 closes. Anything but an usher coming in late! 
 Each man should wear a badge with the word 
 ' ' Usher ' ' printed or painted on it in plain letters. 
 In my meetings, the ushers seat the people, take the 
 collections, assist in preserving order, if ever neces- 
 sary, about the halls and doors, and generally make 
 themselves useful as ' ' chief spokes in the wheel. ' ' 
 One important duty of the ushers is to see that the 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 11 
 
 members do not pre-empt all the best seats in the 
 house, but that outsiders are adroitly favored with 
 the most advantageous locations for seeing and 
 hearing. 
 
 A committee of three will meet early and select a 
 large chorus of singers, one for every ten the build- 
 ing seats, if possible; that is, if there are 
 ch^r. I'^O^ seats in the auditorium, I hke 100 
 singers on the platform. These singers 
 need not be fine musicians, for if so they never could 
 be found, but good young people and men and women 
 who can sing gospel hymns reasonably well. I do 
 not want people in the choir whose sole ambition is 
 to " show off," but singers who are willing to open 
 their mouths and do their best to praise the Lord in 
 such simple, stirring hymns as myself or musical 
 director may select. I do not insist that all shall be 
 church members, but am glad to have non-professors 
 and members of other churches in my choir, for they 
 will get to hear the gospel, and many of them will 
 be led to the truth ere the meetings close. If I have 
 a singing evangelist with me, I turn the music over 
 to him; if not, my custom has been to lead the choir 
 myself, drilling it from time to time, and singing my 
 own solos when I want one. There are not many 
 good singing evangelists, and a poor one is worse 
 than none, to say nothing of the extra expense in- 
 
12 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 volved in securing him. Each member of the choir 
 should wear a badge, and should be in his appointed 
 chair at least five minutes before every service. 
 Music of the right quality and quantity is half the 
 battle in a revival. There should always be books 
 enough in the pews for everybody to look on and 
 help. 
 
 Third, Hike a ''Committee of Seventy," made up 
 of the best male and female workers in the church, 
 old and young, whose business it is to go 
 
 c^m- twos, and distribute tracts and 
 
 mittee pi;inted iuvitatious throughout every portion 
 Seventy of the city. Supplementing the same with 
 Workers, a felicitous personal invitation to the 
 meetings. This committee will meet me 
 occasionally for prayer and consultation. It will 
 district the city before my arrival, and make regu- 
 lar weekly visits to every house, store and shop, 
 throughout the revival. Each member of this com- 
 mittee will have a reserved seat in the body of the 
 house, at an equable distance from each other, so 
 quiet observations may be taken during the sermon, 
 and judicious personal effort made during the invi- 
 tation. This is a very important committee, and its 
 work is doubly efficacious — first, upon the unsaved, 
 and secondly, upon the workers themselves. 
 
 Fourth, a committee on finances. It costs some- 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 13 
 
 thing to have a great meeting, and it is always worth 
 infinitely more than it costs; hence churches 
 Tiie should prepare to be liberal in their outlay 
 
 Money 
 
 Phase during the revival. The preachers should 
 receive their salary every Monday. All 
 Meeting, light, coal, jauitors', etc., bills should be 
 paid up promptly. Nothing should lag 
 behind in this department of the work, for the busi- 
 ness world is very quick to appreciate a religion that 
 pays as it goes. I always teach a church that it is 
 as much a part of its duty to pay as it is to pray. 
 I have little sympathy with those evangelists who 
 are too timid about mentioning money matters. 
 They usually get a small salary, but they get all 
 they are worth. We owe it to ourselves and 
 families ; we owe it to the pastor we are assisting ; 
 we owe it to the churches ; we owe it to new con- 
 verts ; we owe it to God, to teach the people the 
 importance of giving. 
 
 The committee on finance should prepare a little 
 pledge card and have printed several thousand special 
 .envelopes of a color different from that used 
 
 The 
 
 Daily iti the regular church work. This pledge 
 ^ pil^n.^^ should obligate the signer to pay so much 
 per day during ihe meetmg, and the amount 
 should be deposited in the special envelopes nightly. 
 Under this plan giving becomes contagious, and it 
 
14 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 is remarkable what can be accomplished. In my 
 West Side Chicago meeting a few years ago the re- 
 ceipts averaged nearly 1200 per week. It is si77iply 
 the weekly eiroelope system reduced to daily practice^ 
 and the result is nearlj^ always that the meeting can 
 be carried on as long as necessary without any 
 further pledge-taking, and the revival closes with 
 all bills paid and money left. Ever}^ member, young 
 and old, should have an opportunity to fill out one 
 of the pledges, and the pastor should urge the mat- 
 ter from the pulpit until a sufficient sum is promised 
 to cover all expenses. In almost any average church 
 ten persons can be found who will give fift}^ cents a 
 a day; that's 85. Fifty who will give twenty-five 
 cents a da}^; that's $12.50. One hundred who will 
 give ten cents a daj- ; that's 110 more, or a grand 
 total of 822.50 per day, to say nothing of the small 
 change that will be thrown in every night by sym- 
 pathizers. Many evangelists, especially those who 
 conduct only union revivals, where a number of the 
 strongest churches go in together, will not contract 
 to hold a meeting for any stated salary. It is easy, 
 from the above figures, to understand why they 
 prefer the collections. I for one have always pre- 
 ferred to contract for a reasonable amount per week, 
 in addition to expenses, and then I feel free to urge 
 the people to contribute liberall}^, not to myself^ but 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 15 
 
 TO THE CHURCH. And then, again, if the matter is 
 managed rightly, the church will come out consider- 
 ably ahead financially, and everybody feeling good. 
 It is a sin to ask an evangelist to leave his family, 
 home and books nine-tenths of the year and 
 
 Salary . , . , , , - , 
 
 of give his labor to the churches tor a mere 
 ^^^tf.^^" pittance, especially when his best days are 
 usually embraced within a short period of 
 years. Churches should willingly pay a first-class 
 evangelist $50 or $75 a week, and count each Sun- 
 day spent one week, just as they do with pastors. 
 This is not an exorbitant salary at all when it is 
 considered that most evangelists cannot stand con- 
 tinuous work, but must rest from one to four months 
 in the year without salary. 
 
 Fifth, there should be an advertising committee 
 large enough to furnish one reporter for each news- 
 paper in the city. Do not depend upon the 
 
 Con- 
 cerning papers to send men around every night; 
 
 ^^iiik!^^ the}^ will not do it. But as a rule they will 
 cheerfully publish any reports carried to 
 them, especiall}^ if they are brief and to the point. 
 In addition to supplying the papers with data con- 
 cerning the meeting, this committee will attend to 
 all the printing and general advertising. Churches 
 must expect to spend quite a little sum in this way. 
 It pays, and pays big, to advertise judiciously. 
 
16 
 
 l^EVIVALS. 
 
 Hang a portrait of the evangelist in all the principal 
 store windows, and run his cut on all announce- 
 ment cards, not because he is the handsomest 
 man in the world, but because pictures always attract 
 attention, and it is the duty of this committee to get 
 the whole city to talking about the meet- 
 Make jj^g jsTor does it pay to make a spurt at 
 Whole the beginning of the work, and then stop 
 
 City 
 
 Talk, under the pretext that ' * everybody knows 
 about it now;" but keep it right up till 
 the last day. Tens of thousands of bills, cards, 
 tickets, etc., should be carefully put out through the 
 committee of seventy (never through boy peddlers). 
 The "Royal Baking Powder," "Quaker Oats," 
 and ' ' Battle Axe ' ' people advertise their wares in 
 season and out of season, and churches should profit 
 by the example of successful business firms. We 
 have something infinitely more valuable to adver- 
 tise than they, and we should not be slow in getting 
 about it. The people are just as quick to read an 
 attractive religious advertisement as any other kind, 
 and I have known one little card to lead a soul to 
 Christ. Advertising a revival is one of the fine arts, 
 and I urge a serious study of the matter on the 
 art of pastors and church oflBcers. 
 
 Sixth, the pastor should select a committee of sen- 
 sible ladies and gentlemen to assist candidates at 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 17 
 
 baptism. There should also be a commit- 
 sundry ^^^^ platform is constantly 
 
 Sugges- 
 tions, decorated with flowers. And the members of 
 
 the Official Board of the church should dis- 
 tribute themselves nightly about the entrances, and 
 see to it that all are made welcome, especially stran- 
 gers. I commence my service on time, and rush 
 things from start to finish. A revival service that 
 drags fails to revive. The sermon may sometimes 
 be lengthy without dragging, but the introductory 
 and closing exercises never. The successful revival- 
 ist will not allow his heart to soften toward visiting 
 preachers, and turn them loose for a half-hour's ex- 
 ordium, but he will keep the reins in his own grip, 
 and drive like a Jehu ! 
 
 Generally I hold no day services, and none on 
 Saturday nights. Day services consume energy that 
 had far better be reserved for the more 
 Special important evening meeting; and as to Sat- 
 ^Tor°^^ urday night, everybody will feel fresher for 
 Sunday's work if they can rest that one 
 
 Women, 
 
 Etc. night in seven. Sundays i speak three times, 
 usually giving a lecture to men only, or to 
 women only, or to lodge people, or to laboring men, 
 at the 3 o'clock service. Sunday is worth all the 
 rest of the week in making good impressions. At 
 the afternoon service admission is by ticket, several 
 
18 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 thousand having been distributed through the pre- 
 vious week. In addition to announcing the subject, 
 etc. , the ticket calls for a free-will offering, and the 
 result is usually very gratifying. At Johnstown, 
 Pa. , I remember, the collection from my audience of 
 1,000 men amounted to $44, mostly in dimes and 
 nickels. At Eureka, 111., the ladies in their special 
 meeting contributed $25 at the close of my address. 
 My men's meetings are usually held in an opera- 
 house or other large hall, and not in the church 
 building. In this way I reach a new set of hearers, 
 and the meetings accomplish untold good. 
 
 I alwaj's commence a meeting on Sunday morn- 
 ing and close on Sunday evening. I allow no 
 outside lectures, concerts, or socials to 
 The interfere with the work during the meet- 
 
 Revival . . . - , 
 
 Must mg. The attention of the people must not 
 ^hl* be divided if the best results are to be 
 Right obtained. Under my financial plan no 
 Way. lectures or elocutionary entertainments are 
 necessary at the close to help make up 
 expenses, but the last service is one long to be 
 remembered for its spiritual power. 
 
 The pastor of the church should always be chair- 
 man ex-officio of each committee, and he should be 
 the last to criticise the evangelist. Much depends 
 on the pastor's conduct during the meeting. He 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 19 
 
 should earnestly second every suggestion made by 
 the evangelist, for it will give him a firmer hold 
 upon the people. The pastor need never fear the 
 faithful evangelist. He is not "seeking his job," 
 nor trying to alienate the affections of his people, 
 but to strengthen him if he be a good, true man, and 
 to make his influence more powerful in the commu- 
 nity. In my meetings I always insist on the pastor's 
 baptizing the converts, for this gives him a better 
 hold on them for future work. 
 
 Wherever convenient I use the " After-meeting," 
 and consider it one of the most powerful adjuncts to 
 a successful revival. This service is held 
 
 '^^^ in an adioinino^ room or basement, and is ^ 
 
 After- J & , * 
 
 Meeting, intended to gather up the fragments from 
 the general service. It is a brief, hearty, 
 spiritual meeting, and often concludes with a number 
 of confessions. It gives the members a better oppor- 
 tunity for close personal work, and develops new 
 converts in the art of testimony. 
 
 A real revival is a " season of refreshing from the 
 presence of the Lord. ' ' No church can afford to do 
 without such experiences. Those who would be 
 true to New Testament example, must be an evan- 
 gelistic people. God pity those who are not. 
 
 I have said nothing about the style of preaching. 
 That is the evangelist's own business, and he should 
 
20 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 Preaching. 
 
 The 
 Style 
 of 
 
 not be burdened with suggestions and ham- 
 pered by criticism. Let him alone and you 
 will have nothing to regret when he is 
 through. Depend upon it, the faithful 
 
 evangelist will preach the pure, unadulterated gospel; 
 for, after all, that is God's power unto salvation, 
 human methods and plans being simply auxiliary. 
 No two evangelists are alike in their style of preach- 
 ing, but they are generally a unit in their determina- 
 tion to lift up Christ before the gaze of a dying race, 
 and to remove all whitewash from sin, whether in 
 high places or low. So hold your tongues, and back 
 up the evangelist with prayer and sympathy, and 
 you will have nothing to be sorry for at the farewell 
 service. The evangelist does not claim perfection, 
 but he does claim to know more about his own work 
 than the average pastor, elder, deacon, or oflQcious 
 old maid in the corner. Therefore give him the 
 reins. 
 
 O for more revivalists and more revivals ! Such 
 work quickens every department of religious enter- 
 prise — missions, education, social reform, everything! 
 At least one- tenth of every year should be sacredly 
 devoted to local evangelism by ever}' church among 
 us. Our Bible colleges should make more of a 
 specialty of the training of evangelistic preachers and 
 singers. They are pre-eminently the recruiting 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 21 
 
 sergeants in the army of our Lord, and without them 
 in ever-increasing numbers and efficiency we will 
 never be able to "take the world." A message 
 without method is the height of imprudence. Given 
 both, and the people of God are invincible. 
 
22 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 ERE THE SUN GOES DOWN. 
 
 " I have work enough to do, 
 
 Kre the sun goes down, 
 For myself and kindred, too, 
 
 Ere the sun goes down: 
 Ever 3^ idle whisper stilling, 
 With a purpose firm and willing, 
 All my daily task fulfilling, 
 
 Ere the sun goes down. 
 
 " I must let my voice be heard, 
 
 Ere the sun goes down; 
 I must speak the loving word. 
 
 Ere the sun goes down: 
 Every cry of pit}^ heeding. 
 For the injured interceding, 
 To the light the lost one leading. 
 
 Ere the sun goes down. 
 
 " As I journey on my way. 
 
 Ere the sun goes down, 
 God's commands I must obey, 
 
 Ere the sun goes down. 
 There are wrongs that need redressing; 
 There are sins that need confessing, 
 If I would obtain the blessing, 
 Ere the sun goes down." 
 
 —Josephine Pollard. 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 23 
 
 SUBJECTS FOR FIVE WEEKS. 
 
 FOLLOWING ARE A FEW THEMES I HAVE USED 
 SUCCESSFULLY. 
 
 ' 'Jacob's Ladder; or, The Royal Road to Glory" (bl'kb'd talk). 
 "Faith: What Is It? How to Get It, and What to do with It." 
 "Halting Where the Road Forks" (blackboard sermon). 
 What a Woman Can Do" (a lecture to ladies only), 
 "Four Great Conversions" (blackboard sermon). 
 " When Will the World Come to an End?" 
 " The Five Kingdoms" (chart sermon). 
 "Where Shall I Spend Eternity?" 
 *' How to Hold Out Faithful." 
 "The Conversion of Crispus." 
 "The Unspeakable Gift." 
 * ' What Is Conversion ? " 
 " Repentance." 
 " Prayer." 
 
 "Acknowledgement of Sin Not the Whole of Repentance." 
 " The Greatest Book in the World" (chart sermon). 
 " What a Good Man Had to Do to Be Saved." 
 "Prompt Obedience the Test of Love." 
 "Advantages of Being a Christian." 
 ".Storming the Strongholds of Sin." 
 "Christian Baptism (chart sermon). 
 " Does It Pay to Be a Christian ? " 
 " King Solomon's Conclusion." 
 "Three Precious Invitations." 
 " The Universal Invitation." 
 "Getting Right with God." 
 " Confession." 
 
 " Plain Points on Personal Purity" (a lecture to men only). 
 " Lessons from a Lead Pencil " (children's talk). 
 "The Great Salvation" (chart sermon). 
 "Necessary Adjuncts in Soul-Saving." 
 " On the Fence, and How to Get Off." 
 " Is Christ a Principle or a Person?" 
 "Trials and Crucifixion of Christ." 
 " How to Be a Happy Christian." 
 " Jesus of Nazareth Passeth Bv." 
 " What and Where Is Heaven?" 
 "Resisting Mother's Prayers." 
 "Prepare to Meet Thy God." 
 " Excuses." 
 
24 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 A GOOD TRACT FOR THE BACK OF AN 
 ANNOUNCEMENT CARD. 
 
 The reader is at libeny to reproduce this or any of the following tracts 
 whenever and wherever he finds opF-ortunit>- to use them. 
 
 ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? 
 
 By GEO. F. HALL. 
 
 If not, you are in a lost state. No matter who vou 
 are, nor where you hail from, you have no hope'out 
 of Christ. Distinguished bi^h cannot avail in your 
 salvation; nor wealth, nor honor, nor learning. ' All 
 these things are good if consecrated to the Lord, but 
 otherwise they are worse than filthy rags, for of them- 
 selves they can do naught but intensify eternal pun- 
 ishment. Why depend upon human gifts for re- 
 demption? Christ aloyie coji sai e. 
 
 Why not become a Christian to-day ? To-morrow 
 may be too late. God has nowhere promised us an- 
 other day in which to repent. He says: *'Now is the 
 accepted time. To-day is the day of salvation Life 
 is uncertain. Death is certain, and ''after death the 
 judgment.'' Every time we breathe two persons die 
 somewhere. Your time may come soon. Are you 
 ready? At the great Lisbon earthquake it is estimated 
 that 60.CKX) persons perished in six minutes. Few of 
 the number were ready to die. We ought to live 
 every hour as though it were-biir last upon earth. 
 
 The terms of salvation are very simple. No miracle 
 is necessary in conversion. It is a shame that many 
 theologians have thrown a cloud of mysticism about 
 the Christian religion. But be assured, dear unsaved 
 reader, that the way to God is clear and eas}-. 1st, 
 hear the Word {^l^n. 17:5.; 2nd, believe (John 3:16\ 
 3d, repent lActs 17:30 ; 4th, confess Christ (Matt. 
 10:32i: 5th, be dapiized( Acts2:SS). Take these five steps 
 prayerfully and sincerely, and your sins will be for- 
 given: you will be a member of the Church of Christ, 
 a Christian, and an heir to eternal glory. A faithful 
 life will then insure you an unfading crown at God's 
 right hand. Will you not accept the- blessed invita- 
 tation to come right now ? Say YES. "Thou, God, 
 seest me !" 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 25 
 
 Another good tract, 
 
 especially effective in a community seriously tinctured 
 with infidelity. In a town of 25,000 inliabitants not less 
 than 5,000 Announcement Cards, with a short, pointed 
 tract on back, should be carefully distributed each week 
 by the "Committee of 70." 
 
 IS CHRISTIANITY DYING? 
 
 Not if statistics prove anything, and they certainly 
 do. The January 2 (1896) number of the New York 
 Independent (one of the leading religious journals of 
 the world) contained a symposium on church pro- 
 gress in America, from which the following interest- 
 ing statistics have been deduced: 
 
 Disciples of Christ, increase in U.S. since 1890, 229,966—35 % 
 Catholics, 7 kinds, " " " 1,243,568—19 % 
 
 Congregatioualists, 1 kind, " " " 67,229—13 % 
 
 Presbyterians, 12 kinds, " " " 137 872—11 % 
 
 Episcopals, 2 kinds, " " " 60,255—11 % 
 
 Methodists, 17 kinds, " " " 3.52,245— 7 % 
 
 I^utherans, 18 kinds, " " " 78,06i- 6 % 
 
 Baptists, 13 kinds, " " " 67,771— 2 % 
 
 Unitarians, " " " 501, less than 1% 
 
 Universalists, decrease " '* 3,0136 
 
 At this rate, it will take infidelity a long, long 
 time to stamp out the religion of Jesus. Never since 
 the early days of the Christian era were the followers 
 of the meek and lowly Nazarene so active as at the 
 present time. The gospel has girdled the earth with 
 a thousand chains of love, and the old, old story of a 
 Saviour's sacrifice is transforming the lives of mil- 
 lions in every clime; and when all professing Chris 
 tians shall get closer to their Divine Master, and 
 closer to each other, in the ' ' unity of the Spirit and 
 the bond of peace," the complete triumph of Chris- 
 tianity over skepticism, paganism, indifferentism, 
 and all kindred evils will be the more quickly and 
 surely achieved. 
 
26 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 Here is a Tract 
 
 I have used for years with great effect, especially in 
 communities where there are many unconverted thinks 
 ing men. 
 
 Interesting Facts* 
 
 Our lamented president, James A. Garfield, Tvho 
 lived and died a member of, and was for some 
 years a preacher in, the Christian Church, was once 
 requested by a lady to formulate a statement which 
 would give her a more definite idea as to our doc- 
 trinal position. The following is a copy of Mr. Gar- 
 field's statement: 
 
 "1. We call ourselves Christians or Disciples. 
 
 " 2. We believe in God, the Father. 
 
 " .3. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of 
 the living God, and our Saviour. We regard the 
 divinity of Christ as the fundamental truth of the 
 Christian system. 
 
 " 4. We believe in the Holy Spirit, both as to His 
 agency in conversion and as a dweller in the heart of 
 the Christian. 
 
 "5. We accept both the Old and the New Testa- 
 ment Scriptures as the inspired Word of God. 
 
 "6. We believe in the future punishment of the 
 wicked and the future reward of the righteous. 
 
 '* 7. We believe that Deit}- is a prayer-hearing and 
 prayer-answering God. 
 
 "8. We observe the institution of the Lord's Sup- 
 per on every Lord's Day. To this table we neither 
 invite nor debar. We say it is the Lord's Supper for 
 all the Lord's children. 
 
 "9. We plead for the union of all God's people on 
 the Bible and the Bible alone. 
 " 10. The Bible is our only creed, 
 "11. We maintain that all the ordinances should be 
 observed as they were in the days of the apostles." 
 
 Do you not heartily endorse these expressions ? If 
 so, " come thou with us, and we will do thee good." 
 
REVIVALS, 
 
 27 
 
 Mu Favorite Tract for covers the ground- 
 
 What Shall I Do to be Saved ? 
 
 
 1. — Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Read Jno. 3:16; Acts 10:43, also 16:31. 
 
 2. — Repent — Turn away from Sin. 
 
 I.uke 24:47; Acts 3: 19; Acts 17:30. 
 
 3 Confess. Christ before the World. 
 
 Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9-10. 
 
 4. — Be Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son 
 and Holy Spirit. 
 
 Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Rora. 6:3-4. 
 
 5. — Do all this Sincerely, Calling on the Name 
 of the Lord. 
 
 Acts 22:16; Rom. 10:13; Joel 2:32. 
 
 6. — Lead a Faithful, Prayerful Christian Life. 
 
 2 Peter 1 :5 11 ; 1 Thess. 5:16-23; Rev. 22:14. 
 
 Dear reader, the above scriptures clearly explain to 
 you your duty. Remember, they'set forth God's re- 
 quirements, not man's. This matter should be taken 
 seriousl}', therefore, and you should not rest until 
 you have complied with every condition of salvation. 
 
 In becoming a Christian you have everything to 
 gain, nothing to lose. Then why hesitate ? ♦'To=day 
 if you will hear His voice harden not your heart.'* 
 Decide promptly, for your eternal destiny hinges 
 upon what you do with Christ. Life is short and 
 very uncertain. Death is on your track. Get ready 
 for the Judgment ! "Blessed are they who do His 
 commandments. 
 
 Please study our Lord's requirements as set forth 
 in the above references, and then ask your conscience 
 if you have complied therewith. If lacking in any- 
 thing, delay not to arise and obey, that you may 
 have peace from Above. 
 
 the whole thing in 
 a nutshell. 
 
 THE BIBLE PLAN. 
 
28 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 Forms I Have Used for 
 Choir and Subscriptions. 
 
 CHOIR PLEDGE. 
 
 I HEREBY VOLUNTARILY PLEDGE MYSELF a member of 
 the CHORUS CHOIR for the HALL HUTTO REVIVAL MEET- 
 INGS to be held in our city, commencing 
 
 Unless unavoidably hindered, I promise 
 
 to be present at every service, and in my place on the platform 
 promptly on time, and to be subject entirely to the direction of the 
 leader, PROF. Ed. M. Hutto, in all matters pertaining to the work of 
 the Choir. 
 
 {Name) 
 
 (Pari) {Residence) 
 
 IMPORTANT.— First— Each member will fill out two cards; retain 
 one and return the other to the pastor, who will turn them over to 
 Prof. Hutto. Second— Wear your badge at every service. Third- 
 Spend a few moments in earnest prayer for God's blessing before 
 coming to each meeting. Fourth— If late, remain in audience and 
 report to leader at close of service. 
 
 A FREE WILL OFFERING. 
 
 I hereby pledge cents per day toward 
 
 the expenses of the Gospel Meetings to be conducted 
 by Hall and Easton at the Christian Tabernacle, De^ 
 catur, III., beginning January 6, 1895. 
 
 Name 
 
 Address. 
 
 ♦♦The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." 
 
REVIVALS. 
 
 29 
 
 The ushers estimated that i,6oo men were present 
 at this service, 5,000 tickets having 
 been distributed. 
 
 ADMIT ONE. FREE TICKET 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Zeetare for /T\ei) Oply 
 
 (boys under 13 NOT ADMITTED.) 
 
 Ht Powers' Grand Opera House, Decatur, ill. 
 
 Sunday Afternoon, Feb. 4, 1894, 3 O'clock. 
 
 (If willing-hearted bring a dime to help pay expenses of revival.) 
 
 Evangelist Geo. F. Hall will I Prof. Hackleman will sing 
 deliver his celebrated lecture \ "Put on the Brakes, My 
 on ''Personal Purity." Brother." 
 
 Mr. Hall may be seen at his residence. 832 \V. Wood St., from 8 to 10 
 a. m., or at his onice in Syndicate Block trom 2 to 4 p. m., every day 
 except Sunday. 
 
 The manager of the building said there were 2,000 
 ladies present at this service, and several 
 hundred were unable to gain admission. 
 
 ADMIT ONE. FREE TICKET 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Lecture for Ladies Only 
 
 Poweis' Grand Opera puse, Decator, ill. 
 
 Sunday Afternoon, Feb. 11, 1894, 3 O'clock. 
 
 Evangelist Geo. F.Hall will ( Prof. W. E. M. Hackleman will 
 deliver his popular lecture en- sing "Saved by Mother's Pray- 
 titled "What a Woman Can Do." | er," an original composition. 
 
 (If willing-hearted bring five cents for the collection basket.) 
 Special Music by Ladies* Choir and Ladies' Quartette. 
 
 lyittle readies under 5 must stay at home with Papa. 
 
30 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 Form for special collection envelope. An abundant supply of these 
 should be found in the racks at every service. 
 
 "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." 
 
 A Free Will Offering 
 
 to help bear the expenses of the HALL-HUTTO 
 REVIVAL MEETINGS. Seal and drop in Col- 
 lection Basket. Always hll out the following 
 blanks : 
 
 Name 
 
 Am't Date. 
 
 "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 
 
 Sample Announcement Card. This cut can be secured from any 
 engraver at small cost. 
 
 Christian Church Revival 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, ILL. 
 
 welcome! ^rly 
 
 ^'^"^"'"'j' '^^^^^^^^^lI want a 
 
 Services every night at 7:30. Big Chorus Choir— Sociable People— and 
 Stirring Gospel Sermons by 
 
 EVANGELIST GEO. F. HALL. 
 
 Although but 30 years of age this earnest man has a national reputation 
 as an Author, Pastor, Revivalist and all-around Gospel Worker. 
 
 SERMON SUBJECTS FOR THIRD WEEK. 
 
 Sunday morning, March 17th, 1895, - "Christian Watchfulness." 
 Sunday, 3 o'clock, at Christian Church, I^ecture— ''Personal Purity." 
 (To Men Only ) 
 
 Sunday evening, - - "Down and Up.'" (Chart Sermon.) 
 
 Monday evening, 18th, - - "The Roman Governor's Question." 
 Tuesday evening, 19th, "I^ost ! A Soul." (On popular amusements.) 
 Wednesday evening, 20th, - "Where Shall I vSpend Kternity?" 
 
 Thursday evening, 21st, - - "Four Great Conversions " 
 
 (Blackboard Sermon.) 
 Friday evening, 22nd, - - "Halting Where the Road Forks." 
 Saturday evening, 23rd, - - "Resisting Mother's Prayers." 
 
 Lecture to Ladies only, Sunday Afternoon, March 24th. 
 
REVIVALS, 
 
 31 
 
 ,000 of the following tickets brought out an immense audience 
 of first/class citizens, and gave us an opportunity to extol 
 the church above all human organizations. 
 
 ADHITONE! FREE TICKET! 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LECTURE TO LODGE PEOPLE 
 
 pt Powers' liraqd Opera House, Decatur. 
 
 Sunday Afternoon, Feb. i8, 1894, at 3 O'clock. 
 
 Evangelist Geo. F. Hall will 
 deliver his I^ecture entitled 
 "The Best Lodge on Earth." 
 
 Prof. W. E M. Hackleman 
 will siug "This Way, Papa," 
 
 an original composition. 
 
 Special Selections by The Large Chorus. 
 
 4^If kindly disposed, bring a dime for the Collection Basket. 
 
 Use special tickets on every big occasion. It is human nature 
 to scramble for free tickets, and evangelists should take 
 advantage of this disposition for the people's own good. 
 
 At the following service we had nearly 2,000 present, 
 fifteen persons responded to the gospel call, and nearly 
 $3,000 was pledged towards a new church building. 
 
 ADMIT ONE FREE TICKET. 
 
 FAREWELL SERVICE 
 
 At the Christian Tabernacle, Chariton, Iowa. 
 
 Sunday Eveqing, Sept. 20, 189i, at 7:30 o'ciocK. 
 
 Evangelist Geo. F. Hall will close his Revival work in this 
 city with an address on "What Chariton Needs." Prof. Ed. 
 M. HUTTO will sing the favorite solo entitled "That Old, Old 
 Story is True."' 
 
 If willing-hearted, bring a silver dime or quarter for the col- 
 lection basket. B. H. LINGENFELTER, I 
 
 O. E. PAYNE, \^°^- 
 
OtT In FORMATION 
 
 GEOHBENEDlcr 
 
 - /^r% /73-7 CLAfiH^T. 
 
 §:CV Ctt/c/ico. 
 ENGRAVERS n^rr^oSS 
 SELECTROTYPERS.