Evangelism in Tents
In many of our larger cities practically from the first of June to the first of October there is almost a complete cessation of aggressive church work. The problem of reaching the great masses of people who either may be classed among the unchurched and yet for whom we have as Christians a responsibility, or who may be members of the church and yet because of the fact that the churches are doing little aggressive work feel a sense of freedom from personal responsibility, is one of the gravest questions before the Church to-day.
The vacations in the cities are year by year increasing in length. This is easily understood when we remember the strenuous life which men must live if they are in a successful business of profession, but to neglect those who are called the “stay-at-homes,” and those who may in the summer season be more easily reached is a sin for which one day the Church will be called to a 219 strict account. Jesus’ command to his disciples was that they should go out after the lost. He was himself an illustrious example of a seeking Saviour. By day and by night he was ever going after those who were as sheep without a shepherd. Present-day evangelism is placing special emphasis upon this work.
Aggressive evangelistic campaigns may be carried on throughout the entire summer either in the city or the rural districts, but of course the line of work chosen must of necessity be adapted to the community. In the city the following services may easily be carried on:
First: Meetings in the open air in front of the Church with the choir assisting the minister and a sufficient number of his members to give him confidence and encouragement. Such a service could be conducted at least a half hour before the regular Sunday evening meeting and the crowds attending could easily be drawn into the Church service for an after-meeting or a continuance of the theme presented on the street At least four of the ministers in New York have tried this plan successfully.
Second: Meetings in the Park on Sunday afternoons. The parks are thronged with both young and old. They are out for a time of rest and recreation, and an attractive song service, a pointed, personal, persuasive appeal could not fail to interest even the passer-by, and there are many instances where such a service has resulted in complete transformation of many lives. In Pittsburg this service is a great success.
Third: Meetings on the docks if the city be a sea board town or be located on a river. It is usually a most attractive method to use the stereopticon in such services interspersing not only songs but prayers and helpful remarks. In Philadelphia this plan has been used and always with profit.
Fourth: Noonday meetings on the streets. In Philadelphia the City Hall is used and meetings are also held in front of Independence Hall. Hundreds of people are in attendance and always with the very greatest amount of respect do they listen. Following some services after-meetings have been held in the city buildings.
In the rural districts such services as the following have been profitably conducted during the summer months.
First: Meetings on the lawn of the Church, sometimes in the late afternoon and oftentimes in the early evening when the shadows begin to lengthen and impressions upon those who are in attendance are most easily made.
Second: Services in the squares in small towns with all the churches uniting, the united choirs being present and all the ministers speaking in turn from evening to evening.
Third: Meetings held on the fair grounds when the grand stand could be used as an amphitheatre. In some places a great crowd of people could thus be addressed; the novelty of the situation is not without its impression and people have been drawn from miles around to attend such a service who never would think of darkening the doors of a church. In the summer work as in the regular service of the Church, it is the unusual that attracts attention and if with this unusual service there is an interesting program of music and a helpful, brief sermon there can be only blessing attending the work.
“There is abundant endorsement of this open air work. Ezra’s pulpit of wood was erected in the open air. Christ taught more on the mountainside and the seashore than he did in the synagogue or in the upper room. Paul was an open air preacher. Whether on Mars Hill or in the market-place, he preached where the people thronged. Wickliff’s poor priests preached almost exclusively in the open air. Peter Waldo and his associates were open air preachers. John Huss began the Bohemian Reformation in open air services. John Livingston’s great sermon, which led to the conversion of five hundred Scotchmen, was preached in a storm in the open air. George Whitfield’s open air preaching at the Kingswood Colliery was attended by thousands. When he went to London he was urged to preach in some church or hall; it would be more dignified and more seemly; but he says he was controlled by an overwhelming passion to preach in the open air, and so on Moorsfield he preached the Gospel to thousands. John Wesley was at first opposed to open air preaching, fearing that it might bring the movement which he led into disrepute, but when he realized the results which attended such services he became an open air preacher.”
Perhaps, however, the most popular service both in the city and in the country during the past three years has been the tent service. This has been tried in many of our cities and towns and has been found to be not only attractive but an effective way of doing good. Summer tent services have been held in many of our large cities, notably Philadelphia and St. Louis, and the Rumber of cities planning for this work in the future is largely on the increase each year. Multitudes who would never enter a church attend such meetings.
The following is the estimate of the cost per week of a tent service based on the experience of the workers in Philadelphia.
Rent of one tent, per week for the season.. |(ioxx>
Janitor, per week gjoo
Rental of chairs, per week 10.00
Lights, per week 5.00
Moving tent 5.00
Printing, advertising, etc 10.00
Evangelistic and musical services (average)
per week 70.00.”
Mr. John H. Converse suggests that the money necessary for such evangelistic services be secured by contributions from those willing to aid in the work, and not from church collections. It is also suggested, that, if possible, no collections be taken in the tents. Committees should be organized of ministers and laymen from the churches in the vicinity of the proposed work, and the selection of preachers, the location of tents, and the management of the work generally, should be committed to the charge of such committees.
The tents should always be located at some central point in the city or town, a place easily reached by the street railway or by those who might desire to attend from a distance. I know of no more effective way of extending the bounds of the Kingdom of God than by the adoption of the plan which for three years has been in operation in the city of Philadelphia. Concerning this work, the secretary, Mr. James B. Ely has written, “During last summer there was an average of fifty meetings held each week. Ten children’s meetings were held weekly. About fifteen thousand was the aggregate attendance every week. An aggregate of fully one hundred and fifty thousand people was brought under the influence of the Gospel directly during the summer. Christian workers have testified to the stimulus they themselves have received through the work. Fully six hundred of those who professed conversion were visited personally by helpers. Many, in addition to these, accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. In certain sections, policemen joined with many others in testifying to the good effect of the meetings on the community as a whole.” The chairman of the Philadelphia committee has said, “The tent services for the past three years have been instrwnental in founding new churches. Undoubtedly much may be accomplished in this direction,”