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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Aug 22, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 34.

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Chicago, Ill.

By K. C. Russell

It has been previously announced in the columns of this paper that the writer has been released from the secretaryship of the Religious Liberty Department of the General Conference for the purpose of engaging in evangelistic work in some of the large cities of this country. Owing to the need of more evangelistic work being done in the city of Chicago, it was recommended by the General Conference Committee that I begin my work here.
In harmony with this recommendation I reached Chicago June 11, and proceeded at once, in company with others, to find a site upon which to locate the tent. Much time and effort were consumed in getting a desirable lot, but one was obtained in Austin, one of the finest suburbs on the western side of Chicago. For many years previous to the time that Austin became a part of the city of Chicago, it maintained strong prohibitory laws against the liquor traffic; and when it was finally made a part of the city, it was upon the condition that its prohibition ordinances would be continued.
Our location is on Chicago and Laurel Avenues, Chicago Avenue being one of the principal thoroughfares of the city, where thousands of persons daily pass on the street-cars. As we are some distance from any of our churches, but few of our people attend; hence our audiences are almost wholly composed of those not of our faith. We have not had any overflow congregations, but have had a good, substantial attendance of an intelligent class of people. When we introduced the Sabbath question last Sunday night, we had a congregation of between three hundred and four hundred, notwithstanding the fact that the evening was uncomfortably cool. Two began the observance of the Sabbath before we had presented it from the pulpit; and we found another person, who had previously been a Roman Catholic, observing the Sabbath, a knowledge of which she had obtained from her personal study of the question. There are a number of deeply interested persons in attendance who, we have faith to believe, will take their stand for the truth.
Whatever success may attend our work here must be at least partially attributed to the earnest prayers of the consecrated members of our churches. For in harmony with the instructions given in "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. VI, pages 80, 81, we have appealed to our churches in Chicago to unite in prayer between the hours of twelve and one each day for the success of the tent efforts in this city. This instruction is as follows:—
"It is by no casual, accidental touch that wealthy, world-loving, world-worshiping souls can be drawn to Christ. . . . We should hold convocations for prayer, asking the Lord to open the way for the truth to enter the strongholds where Satan has set up his throne, and dispel the shadow he has cast athwart the pathway of those whom he is seeking to deceive and destroy. We have the assurance, 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' James 5:16. Solicit prayers for the souls for whom you labor; present them before the church as subjects for their supplication. It will be just what the members of the church need, to have their minds called from their petty difficulties. . . . Select another and still another soul. . . . As you do this, God will give you the Holy Spirit to convict and convert the soul."
We have endeavored to follow the most approved and up-to-date methods in conducting our meetings. We have aimed to advertise in a dignified and attractive way, using folders and cards neatly printed on good material, but not copiously illustrated. Besides, we have two large printed signs giving the location of our tent and the time of our services. One of these is displayed near the center of this section of the city, adjacent to a park where thousands of persons assemble from time to time, and where multitudes of others can see it as they go to and from the steam railroad, the elevated and the surface street-car station.
Our meetings are also advertised by means of large bulletin-boards, upon which the subjects for each day are painted in large letters. In addition to these means we have access to three weekly papers, in which our weekly programs have been published, so far, free of charge.
Our daily program is as follows: Breakfast at 7:30 A. M.; workers' meeting at 9, at which every worker is expected to be present, and which consists of a study of the Bible and the Testimonies, methods of labor, and planning for the work of the day; house-to-house visitation from 10 to 12; dinner at 12:30; house-to-house visitation from 2 to 5 P. M.; prayer for the evening service, and brief reports of the work for the day at 7.
The weekly program of public meetings consists of preaching every evening, except Saturday, and on Sunday at 3 P. M. Besides these services we have children's meeting at 5 P. M., Sunday; school of health, Monday, at 3:30 P. M., conducted by Lauretta Kress, M. D.; public Bible readings, Wednesday and Sabbath at 3:30 P. M.
The school of health conducted each Monday afternoon, and the gospel of health lecture delivered each evening of the same day by Dr. D. H. Kress, are of more than ordinary interest to the people. We are confident that this feature of the work should constitute a part of every series of tent-meetings.
Our company is of good courage, and we most earnestly desire the prayers of our people in behalf of the work in this great city. K. C. RUSSELL.