Pittsburgh Pitt Theater Meetings by F. H. Robbins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

Pittsburgh Pitt Theater Meetings

By F. H. Robbins

The interest has deepened among the people since the beginning of the meetings in the Pitt Theater. Many were stirred by the first two lectures on the war, which were delivered by Elder A. G. Daniells. The first meeting was held March 12, during the union conference session, and a lecture has been given every Sunday night, except one, since that time.

Owing to Elder Daniells's many duties, he could speak only on March 12 and 19. The lecture committee, seeing the situation, and realizing that there was an unusual interest, extended a very pressing call to Prof. B. G. Wilkinson to do the speaking on Sunday nights. Brother Wilkinson at first declined to accept our invitation, as his union conference work is very heavy, and he feared that he would not have time. But finally he consented, and has been giving very stirring lectures.

In spite of the big strike in the mills, and the thirty-one hundred street car men who came out on a strike, last Sunday night, April 30, we had an attendance of about thirteen hundred, who were deeply interested. Many lingered in the building at the close of the service, and asked questions concerning the things which had been presented in the lectures. On the same day in this building there had been a debate on preparedness and an announcement was made that a lecture on that subject would be given that evening in a near-by theater. There was also a large mass meeting held by railroad men about two squares from the Pitt Theater at the same time as our meeting. These meetings of course drew some from our evening service. We thanked God that amid the great unrest of humanity and the clash between capital and labor, a large audience, calm and composed, was listening to a lecture on the second coming of Christ.

As our workers go among the people, they have many interesting experiences. One man gave up the use of tobacco, and kept his first Sabbath, April 29. I heard him say, “Well, Dr. Wilkinson, your lecture last Sunday night settled the question and did the work for me. I am convinced that your teachings are right, and I have quit using tobacco, and am keeping my first Sabbath today.” This is a clean-cut, intelligent, and well-to-do business man, and he will be a real help when fully established in the truth. Brother Wilkinson and I spent one night in his home since he began to keep the Sabbath, and we were entertained most royally.

Our Bible workers have been bringing their readers to the meetings, besides holding studies with them in their homes. Since the meetings began, nineteen have taken their stand for the Sabbath, and are now keeping it. Although some of these were studying the truth before the meetings in the Pitt Theater began, yet these lectures helped very much in getting them to make their decision. We have about twenty-five hundred names of persons who want reading matter.

Elders D. A. Parsons, J. P. Gaede, W. F. Schwartz, Dr. D. H. Kress, Prof. B. G. Wilkinson, and five Bible workers, two colporteurs, some members of the churches, and the writer have been visiting the people, and have had many good talks and Bible studies with them.

We rented a large auditorium in the heart of the city. Last Sabbath we had two hundred and fifty persons present, forty of them not of our faith. Some of them had never been to a Sabbath service before, but they had been attending the Sunday night meetings in the theater.

After Sabbath school and preaching service in this auditorium, Prof. C. L. Stone, who was here for two or three days, and Sister Minnie Dauphinee held a young people's meeting in the Century Building, which is about two squares away. There was a good attendance also at this meeting. The Lord came very near in all the services of the day.

We realize that it will take much prayer and visiting to bring these interested ones into the truth. We need the prayers of God's people, and our hearts have been made glad to hear that our brethren and sisters in various parts of the United States have been praying for the work in Pittsburgh. It is very helpful to us to know this, and we beg them to continue praying until Pittsburgh has heard the message. F. H. ROBBINS.