Tent Meetings

Ohio, 1901

A Nice Audience, Excellent Song Service and the Story of the Prodigal Son.

Last evening was clear and beautiful and fine, just right for a good meeting at the big tent. And nobody was disappointed. On the platform besides the welcome group of singers, were Revs. Herron and Dennison of Troy, and Revs. Black, Weddell, and Mann of Piqua. With Judd Palmer at the organ and Prof. Weeden to direct the singing and to sing "Calvary" as a solo, the singing was most impressive. Then followed the discourse of the evening by Rev. [J. W.] VanDeVenter, of which we can only give the merest outline.

He began his address with the story of the conversion and the ministry of Harry Moorehouse whose favorite theme was the "Wonderful love of God," and whose favorite text was Jno. 3:16. He said in brief:

"I do not wish to use the text often chosen by Harry Moorehouse but I wish to speak upon the same subject — The Love of God.

"There is a story told by Jesus of Nazareth, in the l5th chapter of Luke, which tells of the wonderful love of the Father, for a poor lost soul, that I want to use as a basis of my remarks. Had Jesus lived in America, and at this time, He probably would have laid the plot of his story here and selected his characters from our midst and I beg that privilege."

The speaker then proceeded to describe a country home with all of its charms, the home of two boys, one of whom, dissatisfied with the dull routine of farm life, asked the father for his portion of the property which finally was given him, and with the same he went out into the world to seek his fortune. He was conceited, stubborn and self-willed and would not listen to the advice of a kind, loving father and went away to the great city of Chicago, to pass through the college of experience.

He described his downward course as he went, step by step, to ruin. In three years he had wasted his substance in riotous living, "comes to himself" and finds that he is without friends, money or character, in short only a tramp. He decides to return to the old home.

The speaker then described the wonderful love of the old father, the anxious waiting, the many prayers offered and the final return of the lost son and his restoration to the old home circle.

In conclusion he told some touching stories which were listened to with deep interest by the audience.

A number asked for prayers and anxious ones were conversed with and led out to freely talk of their desire and determination to lead new lives.

This evening there will be a lecture on the Passion Play, with stereopticon views, the same as are seen at Oberammergau.

—The Piqua Daily Call, Piqua, Ohio, June 4, 1901, p. 5.