6. F.@F^EIGj-ITO^ 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Shelf ■_. p ..^. G >7 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD; 
 
 BlTLER AND HlS METHODS, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 REMARKABLE EVENTS ATTENDING SOME 
 
 OF THE REVIVALS IN WHICH 
 
 HE HAS LABORED. 
 
 i:y 
 
 REY. C. F. CREIGHTON, A. M. 
 
 Of the Ohio Conference. 
 
 With an Introduction, by Rev. S. A. Keen, A. M. 
 
 Now when this was kuish.I abroad tin- multitude 
 
 COLUMBUS, OHIO : 
 
 WM. G. HUBBABD, AUTHOR'S PUBLISHER. 
 
 1885. 
 
h 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1885, 
 
 KEY. C. F. CREIGHTOX. A. M., 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 
 
Whom I Owe More Than I Can Pay, and Love Better 
 
 Than I Can Tell, the Best Body of Men I Ever 
 
 Knew, the Worthy Successors of 
 
 JOHN WESLEY, 
 
 Who Are Known to All the World as 
 
 Methodist Preachers, 
 
 This Book Is Respectfully Dedicated by the Author. 
 
 " And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the 
 everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to 
 every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, — Rev. 14:16. 
 
e^c-ficui tu-| iTicit' cm cxI'chlVo f; noiufcbcjc 
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 coufo: mi l't| luit'li I'fic ^iuiuc mcl'fioo" of 
 ^ca,cftiucj I'l'ic itvaosc^, ci fvcrc&tj cu^o:>c l'l\ e 
 
 ic&ov> of sw e. w. e:oic|riiou, a. sic,, *** 
 
 ptiGfL^fu tie} I'fiLv luocf;. 
 
 ( ",|a mc: S. pilfer. 
 
Preface. 
 
 ' 'These remarkable events ought to be record- 
 ed. We are witnessing scenes that are worthy 
 to be compared with the early days of Method- 
 ism." Such was the remark of a brother who 
 was present at the Circleville meeting ; and his 
 view of the matter was abundantly seconded by 
 ministers and laymen who volunteered the same 
 suggestion. Among those advising the publica- 
 tion of an account of these meetings, one wrote, 
 expressing the opinion that "such a book would 
 have a mission, and might be a blessing to thou- 
 sands." Encouraged by these sentiments, and 
 with something of the same hope, the book was 
 begun in the midst of the scenes which it records. 
 
 The Author acknowledges that it was written 
 in great haste, and in the midst of pastoral labors 
 the most arduous and abundant of any period of 
 his ministry. But while this admission might be 
 fatal to a philosophical treatise, he humbly sub- 
 mits that in a work of this kind the same objec- 
 
 5 
 
tions cannot apply ; for, while he was in haste, 
 he was heated too, and fresh from the scenes 
 which are here described. 
 
 The title of the book, if understood in the sense 
 ' of noising abroad the fame of Rev. J. S. Bitler, 
 is a misnomer. It is our purpose to noise abroad 
 the work of God as demonstrated under his 
 labors ; and the aptness of this title can onl) be 
 appreciated, when on reading the book it is found 
 to be the key note of Mr. Bitler's method in con- 
 ducting revivals. Its warrant is seen, not only 
 in the results that crown his labors, and in the 
 practical commendation of men of business, but 
 in Scripture precedents. When on the day of 
 Pentecost the Holy Ghost fell on the disciples, 
 "this was noised abroad, the multitude came 
 together, and were confounded" — "and the 
 same day there were added unto them about three 
 thousand souls. " It was afterward noised abroad 
 through the book of The Acts, and no man can 
 number the hosts that have heard the "sound," 
 and felt the "mighty rushing wind." 
 
 Peter was preacher in charge on that day, and 
 when "standing up with the eleven he lifted up 
 his voice," his fame was destined to be forever 
 associated with the day of Pentecost, and the 
 fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost. But the mere 
 prominence of Peter's name, is so far eclipsed by 
 
PREFACE. 7 
 
 the glory that covered them all, that nobody- 
 thinks of attributing a line of the sacred record 
 to praise or panegyric. Unless the evangelist is 
 but an agent in the hands of God, he is nothing. 
 
 This book was not written at the instance of 
 Bro. Bitler ; nor to serve his purpose as a pro- 
 fessional evangelist ; nor to noise abroad his fame, 
 as a primary or secondary end ; nor yet to adver- 
 tise his meetings. It is written under the impres- 
 sion that these revival scenes ought to be pub- 
 lished for the glory of God ; and in the hope, 
 that these incidents, methods and suggestive 
 means employed by him, may contribute incen- 
 tives to revival work, by stimulating the faith of 
 the church, and becoming helpful to christian 
 workers who are aiming to secure the salvation 
 of men. If however, a more extended knowledge 
 of his meetings and methods shall add to his 
 celebrity, and widen the field of his usefulness, 
 we cannot see that objections should be raised.. 
 He is surely entitled to a just appreciation, if by 
 the results of his labors he earns the reputation 
 of being a successful evangelist 
 
 The book contains an account of at least two 
 revivals, which, it is thought, are worthy to rank 
 among the most remarkable of modern times. 
 Read in the dim light of the Author's imperfect 
 delineations, the statement may not seem to find 
 
5 ' PREFACE. 
 
 a warrant in these pages, but to those conversant 
 with these meetings and familiar with revival 
 literature, no chapter of modern revival history- 
 contains more marked manifestation of divine 
 power. 
 
 While not attempting a comprehensive "Life" 
 of Rev. J. S. Bitler, it was thought that a bio- 
 graphical account of the chief personage to which 
 it relates would be essential to the work. This is 
 made especially applicable, since the connected 
 incidents of his life form a scries of special prov- 
 idences that lead to, and eventually culminate in, 
 the labors and triumphs of these great meetings. 
 
 Some things are said that reflect a degree of 
 credit upon the evangelist which his modesty 
 might disclaim. Rut the Author is himself re- 
 sponsible, and insists upon the right to tell as 
 much of the truth as in his judgment will con- 
 tribute to a proper understanding of the theme 
 in hand. 
 
 Keeping constantly in view the end of such a 
 work, the Author has sought to utilize the various 
 phases presented, and has introduced practical 
 remarks and incidental suggestions with reference 
 to the management of revivals in detail. The 
 last part of the work, which treats of methods, 
 will be found to be liberally interlined with these 
 suggestions. While the Author is entitled to no 
 
PREFACE. 9 
 
 claim as a teacher, he assumes that evangelistic 
 workers are students, and not only anxious to 
 know the facts of revival work, but the philoso- 
 phy of its cause and effect, as observed by the 
 writer during the various stages of these meet- 
 ings. If he has transcended the limits of a be- 
 coming modesty in volunteering advice, he pleads 
 in defense an ardent desire to see revivals of 
 religion intelligently promoted. 
 
 C. F. Creighton. 
 Circleville, O, July i, 1 88 5. 
 
Contents. 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 23 
 
 Biography. 
 Birth — Parentage — Baptism — Conversion — Call to 
 Preach — Preparation for the Ministry. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 33 
 
 Biography, Continued. 
 
 Qualifications — Urbana Camp-Meeting — A Divine 
 Anointing — Partial Estimate of the Subject — First 
 Attempts at Public Speaking— Licensed to Preach. 
 First sermon. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 43 
 
 Evangelistic and Regular Work. 
 
 First Impressions — Revivals at Ostrander and Flint. 
 Remarkable Incidents — Olive Green — Appointed 
 to Carthage — Harrison, Westwood, and Westward. 
 
CONTENTS. 1 1 
 
 , CHAPTER IV. 52 
 
 Missionary to Dakota. 
 Chamberlain — Sickness — Death — Final Abandon- 
 ment of the Field — No more "Plans" — Home 
 Again — Revivals at Third street, Columbus ; and 
 Main street, Chillicothe. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 58 
 
 Fishing on the banks of the Missouri. 
 Charles H. Gilmore — The Converted Commedian In 
 A New Role. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 71 
 
 Weighing Anchor. 
 Supplying Wesley Chapel — Evangelistic Impressions. 
 Transferred to The Ohio Conference — The Climax 
 of Decision — -A Location Granted. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 82 
 
 The Vindication. 
 Revival At Corning —Obstacles — Political Excite- 
 ment — Rev. Benjamin Green — Warnings — Saved 
 From A Drunkard's Grave. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 92 
 
 Gallipolis. 
 
 Its Location — Commercial Advantages — Moral Stat- 
 us, and Methodism. 
 
1 2 CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 105 
 
 The Gallipolis Revival. 
 
 Holiday Diversions — Appliances used — A "Watch 
 flight" Meeting — Young People's Meeting — Going 
 "Up-Stairs" — Paying the Bills. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 114 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Continued. 
 The "High Water Mark." — Special Meetings — Press 
 Comment — Drunk — A Converted Catholic — Ob- 
 duracy Conquered. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 128 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Continued. 
 Six Hundred and Twenty-Five — A Sceptic Saved. 
 Backslider Reclaimed — • -Weak-Minded" — Xon- 
 Church-Goers— County Officials— FIRE ! ! ! 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 139 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Continued. 
 The Local Press, Journal, Bulletin, Tribune, and 
 District JVezvs — Twenty-six Hundred and Fifty- 
 one — "The Dipper" — River Men — All Aboard! 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 151 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Concluded. 
 Great Sinners — Deliverance from Bondage — Saloon 
 Interests — Amusing Persecutions — Testimonial 
 from the Mayor of the City — "Refugees" — Prohi- 
 bition of the Liquor Traffic. 
 
13 
 
 164 
 
 i73 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Circleville Revival. 
 Elements of Preparation — Field of Battle. 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Circleville Revival, Continued. 
 Three Hundred Conversions in Three Weeks — Young 
 Men. Noising it Abroad — "Holding Out" — Ho- 
 liness Commended — Young People's Meetings 
 — Five Hundred and Forty Conversions. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Circleville Revival, Continued. 
 
 Behind the Scenes — Private Talk to Young Men. 
 — An Altar on the Stage. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 196 
 
 An All-day Meeting — A Business Man's Stand-point. 
 
 A Dress Parade — Experiences of C. J ., Wm. 
 
 and Family — Mrs. Frame's Revival. 
 
 185 
 
 H- 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 210 
 
 No Backing — Experience of George S . — Tele- 
 graph Operators — No More Sprees. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 220 
 
 Other Denominations — Effects on the Community. 
 
 Too Many Churches ! — Conversion of a Deaf 
 
 Mute — Triumphant Death of the First Convert. 
 
 — Another Safe. 
 
14 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Day of Jubilee. 
 
 Invitations — Praise Service — Sermon — Afternoon 
 Session — Responses — Reports from Visiting Minis- 
 ters—Closing Address by Dr. Trimble — A Pente- 
 cost at Night — Fruits of the Jubilee ; and Closing 
 Service of the Revival. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Methods. 
 
 The Study of Methods— A Key to the Situation. 
 Preaching not at fault — Copyists — Questionable 
 Methods — A "Bad Box." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Bitleis Methods. 
 
 The Banner — Scripture Mottoes — Tracts— The News- 
 papers — "Done for Effect" — Reaching the Masses. 
 
 — Demonstrations. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Bitter's Methods, Continued. 
 
 Help When Needed — Sounding His Trumpet— Loose 
 Ends — Singing — Shaking Hands — Special Features 
 — Doctrines Preached — No Opposition. 
 
CONTENTS. 1 5 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Pastor and Evangelist. 
 Pastor the Commander-in-Chief — Evangelist to have 
 
 Full Scope — Not to be divorced from his Methods. 
 
 — Conspicuous Absentees — Order of Signatures. 
 
 — Falling Off — All Evangelistic Agencies One 
 Work. ' 
 

 
 
Introduction. 
 
 TJTHE subject of Evangelism is at present 
 -*■ attracting attention as never before. The 
 study is full of interest to all the friends of 
 aggressive Christianity. In view of these facts, 
 the present volume will be a welcome and 
 invaluable addition to evangelistic literature — a 
 new department in religious publication, distinct 
 from the devotional and theological. This book 
 might well be called a treatise on modern evan- 
 gelism ; for, while it embodies the biography of 
 a marvelously successful living evangelist, giving 
 its pages the fascination of personal fact and 
 incident, it also combines therewith reflections, 
 suggestions and instructions respecting revivalis- 
 tic work by the author, the Rev. C, F. Creigh- 
 ton, whose success as a pastoral evangelist is 
 parallel with that of its subject, the Rev. J. S. 
 Bitler, as a special evangelist. The book is both 
 concrete and discursive ; theoretical and prac- 
 tical. 
 
 Two forms of evangelism are taught in the 
 
1 8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 New Testament, and have characterized the 
 Church throughout its history. One is pastoral 
 evangelism, as enforced by the apostle when he 
 enjoins upon one who was to have the care of 
 the churches, " Do the work of an evangelist." 
 This form of evangelism has its representatives 
 in Timothy, of the ApostoJical times, and in his 
 successors of the pastorate in modern times, such 
 as Spurgeon, Cuyler, Pentecost, J. O. Peck, and 
 many other pastors who are winning souls to 
 Christ by the appliances of the regular pastorate. 
 The other form is special evangelism, as recog- 
 nized by the same apostle when he writes, 
 " some evangelists," represented by Philip in 
 the early church, and by Moody, Hammond, 
 Harrison, and a host of others who at the pres- 
 ent time are turning multitudes to righteousness. 
 These modes of evangelism do not divide its 
 kingdom against itself. They are correlative 
 forces ; both are indispensable to the most rapid 
 and signal extension of Christ's kingdom. The 
 present volume recognizes both of these modes 
 of evangelism, and is equally suggestive respect- 
 ing each. 
 
 The recent prominence of special evangelism ; 
 the large force, ministerial and lay, which it now 
 marshals, and the success which is attending its 
 movements in the conversion of sinners and the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 9 
 
 quickening of the churches, justly entitle it to 
 the confidence and appreciation of the church. 
 The following pages present graphically and 
 thrillingly how tributary the work of special 
 evangelism, which its subject is doing, is to the 
 improvement and advancement of the church. 
 That another new and powerful evangelist should 
 arise, or that the number of such are rapidly 
 multiplying, is not strange nor alarming, for the 
 popular demand is greater than the supply. 
 
 It is inspiring to see Moody, Hammond, 
 Harrison, and a legion like them, moving for- 
 ward under the tremendous anointing of power 
 which propels them in their soul-saving enter- 
 prises and endeavors ; but, with all these are 
 doing, and all that is being done by special 
 evangelism in its organized movements — the 
 Salvation Army, the Prayer Leagues, Associa- 
 tions for the Promotion of Holiness, the Young 
 Men's Christian Association — it fails to fully 
 supply the increasing demand there is for it. 
 The calls of the living evangelists are far in 
 excess of their time and strength. This matter 
 is not yet overdone. The Holy Spirit is neither 
 superfluous nor prodigal in his bestowments. 
 When He gives to the church ' 'some evangelists, " 
 He only sends what He knows is needed. And 
 whom He calls to the work He justifies, that is, 
 
20 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 indicates by the signs of an evangelist, following 
 in the wake of their labors. If abundant fruit 
 is proof of a divine sanction, the subject of this 
 book, as its pages will show, is liberally com- 
 mended of God. Every evangelist in a marked 
 sense is sui genetis. He has a personality 
 peculiarly his own. This is his principal capital 
 naturally. Divine wisdom no doubt chooses 
 him for this reason. It is no fault that evangel- 
 ists are peculiar. They are made so, and called 
 of God because they are so. Their peculiarity 
 adapts them to their mission. Their work par- 
 takes of their own individuality. Their methods 
 are emanations from themselves. They are a 
 law unto themselves, and must be so judged. 
 They are Spiritual Autocrats by divine appoint- 
 ment. Therefore in their meetings they are 
 leaders ; all others are followers. Pastors and 
 Churches who do not recognize and accept as 
 providential their leadership, ought not to invite 
 their presence and services. The subject of this 
 book is peculiar in his personality, in his anoint- 
 ing, and in his methods. The title of the book 
 is suggested by the most prominent feature in 
 his diversified methods, that is, "Noising it 
 Abroad" a continuous declaring by himself and 
 by others of what God has done, and is doing. 
 This is staple in all his meetings, and is obvious- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 2 1 
 
 \y effective. The greater part of the book is an 
 entertaining development of the judicious way 
 in which he uses this tactics. Having been ac- 
 quainted intimately for ten years with both the 
 author and subject of this volume, and being 
 thoroughly conversant with their gifts, graces, 
 usefulness and manner of life, it affords me un- 
 mixed pleasure to commend, to all lovers of 
 Christianity in earnest, this volume, which isalike 
 creditable to their hearts and their lives. The 
 book is aflame with the spirit of the revival scenes 
 and success which it chronicles ; it gleams with 
 live coals gathered from fresh altar fires; its 
 thoughts burn with holy fervor. The intellectual 
 and literary quality of these pages is free from 
 platitudes and insipidness. There is mental pow- 
 er, originality, and often brilliancy traceable in 
 them. The volume is in the spirit of its title ; 
 it "noises abroad" the great dealings of God,and 
 so becomes an evangel carrying cheer and inspi- 
 ration to God's workers everywhere. Were all 
 its readers as well informed of the circumstances 
 of its origination as myself, they would feel as 
 does the writer of this Introduction, that it is a 
 child of Providence, and would peruse it with 
 an interest which only such an understanding of 
 its production could inspire. Having been in- 
 dited by the same blessed Holy Spirit which in- 
 
22 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 spired the Word of God, ma) it partake in a 
 finite degree of the efficiency which is peculiar 
 to the book of Revelation. May it not return 
 void, but accomplish that whereto a Divine 
 Providence shall send it. 
 
 S. A, Keen. 
 
 Lancaster, 0. May I, 1885. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Biogiaphy. 
 
 Birth, Parentage, Baptism, Conversion, Call 
 to Preach, Preparation for the Ministry. 
 
 James Summerfield Bitler was born at Lan- 
 caster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, March 28, 1852. 
 His parents, Geo. J. and Rebecca A., were de- 
 vout Methodists. The father was for many years 
 a Local Preacher, and used frequently to get so 
 happy that he would remain in the church for 
 hours praising God and holding communion with 
 Him. Though he never entered the itinerancy 
 he was an indefatigable worker, seldom ever 
 missing a Sabbath that he did not preach or lead 
 a class. 
 
 When James was about six months old his 
 mother felt like Hannah of old that it was their 
 duty to "take him up to the house of the Lord," 
 and dedicate the child to God in holy baptism. 
 
24 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Both parents indulged the impression that he 
 was to be a preacher of the gospel, and with that 
 hope and belief they fully consecrated him to 
 God. He was baptized by Rev. Zachariah Con- 
 nel, in the old Methodist Church on the hill, at 
 Lancaster, O. 
 
 When James was three years old his parents 
 moved to Missouri, where they continued to re- 
 side until typhoid fever invaded the family circle 
 and his sister Jennie was taken. Six weeks 
 later the father died by the same disease. The 
 widowed mother was left in exceeding straight- 
 ened circumstances. The war of the Rebellion 
 was raging with unabated fur}', and surrounded 
 by elements of the struggle and evidences of 
 danger, this broken family, consisting now of the 
 mother, a daughter Clara, and James, fled from 
 these scenes of sorrow and death, removing to 
 Arcanum, Darke Co. , Ohio. An older daughter, 
 Anna, having been married, remained in Mis- 
 souri, where she continues to reside. 
 
 At the time of this removal to Ohio James 
 was thirteen years of age, and shortly after his 
 arrival at the new home he was converted to God. 
 At first he seemed to take no interest in the pro- 
 tracted meeting then in progress ; but one night, 
 having nothing else to do he strayed into the 
 church. When his sister Clara came home that 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 25 
 
 night she surprised the mother by saying, 
 "Mother, Jimmie was converted to-night," and 
 as she said this, he came in. His mother led 
 him to another room and said, "Jimmie, were 
 you converted to-night?" He replied, with 
 characteristic positiveness, "Yes mother I was." 
 She said, "My child I didin't know you were 
 seeking religion." "I wasn't seeking" said 
 James, "but when they called for mourners and 
 a good many went up, I thought, is every body 
 trying to get religion but me ? I jumped up 
 and ran to the altar, i wasn't a bit ashamed. 
 I just held my head up, and prayed with 
 all my might, and the whole house was as 
 dark as midnight, and the black clouds were all 
 above. I kept looking up and praying, and 
 mother, I saw as plain as I see you, an angel 
 come right into that darkness, and wave his 
 wings, and the clouds all rolled away, and every- 
 thing was as bright and light as day, and I'm as 
 happy as I can be. Don't you think that's re- 
 ligion." His mother thought it was, and though 
 we should hesitate to record phenomenal cases of 
 conversion like this, except from the lips of a 
 child, we concur in the opinion. The Sunday 
 after his conversion his mother took him to Class 
 with her. During the meeting she resolved to 
 talk with the leader and ask him to interest him- 
 
26 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 self in James. She timidly approached him and 
 
 said "Bro. , you know that Jimmie was 
 
 converted last week. I've brought him to Class 
 to-day, and as he has no father to advise or in- 
 struct him, I thought I would ask you to have a 
 little oversight of him." Before she had ceased 
 speaking, he turned to go away, saying in a very 
 careless manner "Ah, we have all got enough to 
 do to take care of our own." Such indifference 
 needs no comment. The only charitable con- 
 struction the case will bear, is that possibly the 
 brother belonged to that class of older persons 
 who brought their impressions over from the 
 daws when it was considered quite out of the di- 
 vine order for children to be converted. An 
 apprenticeship in the service of the devil, which 
 employed the years of youth, used to be consid- 
 ered by many as an essential factor to repentance 
 and conversion at a later period. Thank God 
 those days are passed ; except possibly with a 
 few relics that survive the ancient opinion. 
 
 For a time all went well with the young con- 
 vert, and his zeal, and efforts at praying publicly, 
 when opportunity was given, gave promise of 
 future usefulness. But with few of the helps 
 and opportunities usually afforded, and preach- 
 ing at that place only once in two weeks, 
 in spite of the influence of his godly mother, he 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 2J 
 
 soon lost the witness of his adoption and fell into 
 sin. With wild associates that led him farther 
 from Christ he soon became a leader, and came 
 near losing his soul. Many of these companions 
 turned out badly. These surroundings were 
 providentially changed by the family moving to 
 Piqua, 0. , where James was thrown into associa- 
 tions of a better kind. Visiting the Sabbath School 
 at the Second Presbyterian Church, he happened 
 to fall into a class taught by Mrs. McKinney and 
 it was through her influence, and that of the class 
 she taught, that a desire to be religious was awak- 
 ened in his heart. His teacher, the wife of 
 Hon. Frank McKinney, was a godly woman, and 
 Mr. Bitler has since regarded her with the es- 
 teem almost of a mother. Under these impres- 
 sions and while in company with an intimate 
 friend of about the same age, while they were 
 standing on the pavement under the Y. M. C. 
 A. rooms, it was mutually agreed that they go 
 up-stairs and ask the boys to pray for them. This 
 was the step that decided his heart for Christ, 
 and from that hour he dates his salvation. Not 
 only so, but he has ever since felt an undying 
 affection for the Y. M. C. A ; and in his subse- 
 quent ministry one of the prominences of his 
 pulpit and personal work has been, to urge men 
 to yield to God. Believing as he does, that once 
 
28 
 
 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 surrendered, the heart will be open to the recep- 
 tion of Christ ; if indeed an absolute yielding 
 does not necessarily include' the reception of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 This transformation occurred while he was in 
 his eighteenth year, and he very soon united with 
 the Green street Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 then under the Pastorate of Rev. W. H. Suther- 
 land, D. D. His successor in that charge was 
 Rev. W. I. Fee, under whose pastorate James 
 was licensed to exhort, and subsequently directed 
 to a course of study at the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- 
 versity. 
 
 He had long cherished a desire to support his 
 widowed mother, but even this fond ambition 
 was not to be realized. Having learned a trade, 
 chiefly with this end in view, a crisis in business 
 threw him out of work, and the young tin-smith, 
 failing to find employment had plenty of time to 
 think. 
 
 Before his conversion he had no taste whatever 
 for reading, but chancing to discover soon after 
 his conversion an old dusty copy of one of Mr. 
 Wesley's Sermons, lying on a shelf in the shop 
 of his employers, he took it down and concluded 
 to read it. It was on "Redeeming the Time." 
 It fired his heart and set him to thinking. The 
 conviction of a call to the ministry came slightly 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 29 
 
 over him, but produced no special impression ex- 
 cept to alarm him. An education was necessary, 
 but two insuperable barriers seemed to confront 
 him. The one was time, and the other money. 
 
 He was accustomed to pray three times a day, 
 and that he might be alone with God he went to 
 the cellar and made it his sanctuary. There, 
 surrounded by boxes and barrels and in the dark 
 — fully typical of the difficulties with which he 
 was surrounded — the conviction that he must 
 preach was matured, and yielding to the impres- 
 sion he said to the Lord : "If Thou wilt open 
 the way I will follow." Shortly after this an op- 
 portunity was afforded for telling his mother. 
 They had just listened to an eloquent sermon, by 
 a Presbyterian minister, on the subject of Mis- 
 sions. When on the way home, and with great 
 trepidation he said, "I believe, mother, if I had 
 an education I'd like to preach the gospel." 
 This announcement, made with so much embar- 
 assment and revealing his inmost struggles was 
 no sooner made than the rejoicing mother re- 
 plied ; "Why, Jimmie ! You don't say so ! It 
 is the answer of your father's prayers made from 
 your birth to the day of his death, that you 
 should preach the gospel." 
 
 So saying she promised to write to his uncle 
 at once, and did so that very night. The ' 'uncle" 
 
30 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 referred to, was the Rev. S. D. Clayton of the 
 Cincinnati Conference, and though not an uncle 
 he was a double cousin of Mrs. Bitler and was 
 familiarly known as "uncle" by members of the 
 family. 
 
 At this time Rev. W. I. Fee was their pastor, 
 and to him the mother went with her burdened 
 heart. Said she, "Bro. Fee, if I only had the 
 assurance that James was called of God, I would 
 feel that something must be done." To this Bro. 
 Fee replied, "I believe if there is a man that 
 can tell w hether a man is called to preach or not, 
 I can. Now you stay here this afternoon and 
 visit with Mrs. Fee, and I'll just drop into the 
 shop and have a talk with James, and I think I 
 can tell you when I come back." 
 
 When Bro. Fee returned, tea was waiting and 
 so was this anxious mother. She met the pastor 
 on the porch, and his greeting was this ; "St's~ 
 tcr Bitler, James is a chosen vessel. Start him im- 
 mediately. 
 
 The next day Mrs. Bitler received an answer 
 to the letter sent to Rev. Mr. Clayton. He 
 said, ' 'Tell him to start to school and I will give 
 him ten dollars per month for going." ' (All of 
 which, during his college course, Mr. B. was en- 
 abled to refund to his benefactor.) 
 
 Thus the problem of time and money began 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 3 I 
 
 to be solved, and the young student at once en- 
 tered the High School at Piqua. 
 
 Having but little knowledge of books it would 
 have been impossible for him to maintain a stand- 
 ing in this school, but through the extreme kind- 
 ness of Prof. Wm. Richardson, then Principal 
 of the school — but now Sup't of the Public 
 Schools at Chillicothe — he was aided by extra 
 help to sustain himself in the advanced classes. 
 He often speaks gratefully of this kindness on 
 the part of the Professor, and desires that it be 
 recorded in these pages. 
 
 Here he was prepared for the University at 
 Delaware, and in the fall of 1872 his mother 
 removed with the family to that city, where they 
 continued to reside until he graduated in 1878. 
 Hindrances were removed. Providential occur- 
 rences reversed the order of support, and he was 
 obliged to accumulate a debt of gratitude by de- 
 pending on his mother during his collegiate 
 course. The long cherished dream of being able 
 to support her had not yet been realized, and he 
 had made the same failure that we all make, when 
 we try to get even with a good mother. 
 
gt 
 
 &/ 
 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Biography Continued. 
 
 Qualifications, Urbana Camp-meeting, A Di- 
 vine Anointing, Partial Estimate of the 
 Subject, First Attempts at Public Speaking, 
 Licensed to Preach, First Sermon. 
 
 During his father's lifetime, and through all 
 that long period in which he was engaged in 
 praying that his son might become a minister of 
 the gospel, he had not seen one encouraging in- 
 dication that his desire was to be gratified. But 
 James, even before his conversion, in his associa- 
 tion with men in various employments, was 
 given to see phases of human nature that he 
 has since been able to utilize in his work. 
 While vacillating somewhat he was always busy. 
 Serving short terms at wagon-making, coopering, 
 painting, clerking, first in a grocery and then in 
 a dry goods store, and finally serving an appren- 
 ticeship as a tin-smith, he was thrown into com- 
 pany with a variety of men and made familiar 
 with their modes of life and thought. He re- 
 gards the experience of these years an important 
 
34 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 factor of his education, since it has greatly facil- 
 itated his efforts to reach the masses. Among 
 the many contributions that served to prepare 
 him for the work in which he has since been en- 
 gaged, we must mention one prominent item ot 
 experience, which next to that of his conversion, 
 has served to qualify him for it. 
 
 He was among the many, that kindled a torch 
 at the first great Urbana Camp-meeting of 1872. 
 The Green street church of Piqua had taken 
 charge of the large boarding house at that meet- 
 ing, and Bro. Bitler was among the number of 
 young people assisting in that work. The doc- 
 trines promulgated at that meeting were regarded, 
 by most of the company, with a degree of hostil- 
 ity. He was especially opposed to them, and at 
 first antagonized them bitterly. But as the meet- 
 ing went on from day to day, and the light in- 
 creased, his prejudices vanished. One evening 
 while listening to a clear, forcible presentation of 
 the theme of holiness, by Rev. Wm. McDonald, 
 he yielded fully to the truth, and walked right 
 out into the sunlight of full salvation, without a 
 struggle. This experience was something of a 
 surprise to himself, for knowing that he was pos- 
 sessed of a sanguine temperament, and somewhat 
 emotional in the various phases of past experience, 
 he had expected that when the blessing came it 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 35 
 
 would be attended with a gush of feeling com- 
 mensurate with the grace bestowed. But instead 
 of the fierce dynamics of emotional ecstacy,it was 
 more like the liberation of Peter, when on the 
 night of his deliverance, he was so quickly 
 roused from sleep, and walked out into the open 
 air, that he ' 'wist not that it was true which was 
 done by the angel," but, "when he was come to 
 himself," he knew "of a surety" that the Lord 
 had done this thing. While the Holy Spirit had 
 thus worked silently He had nevertheless worked 
 powerfully, and the peace and quiet of that hour 
 only preceded the coming of a pentecostal man- 
 ifestation an hour later. Having returned to the 
 hotel, and while seated with a group of friends, 
 the power of God was manifested in a remarka- 
 ble manner. Among the company was one of 
 the most fashionable and formal ladies of Piqua, 
 a distiller's wife ; also a lady of a very positive 
 character, who was the daughter of a very devout 
 christian. The topic of conversation was that 
 which dominated the meetings, and these ladies 
 appealing to Mr. Bitler said, "Jim what do you 
 think ?" He replied that he had gotten into the 
 light, but it was vastly different from what he had 
 imagined. It was quiet and gentle as the falling- 
 dew. Learning this, the lady last named said, 
 "Well, it would never do for me to be sanctified 
 
2)6 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 for I'd shout, and that I'll never do. " With that, 
 she fell on her knees, threw up her hands, and 
 began shouting at the top of her voice. Then 
 followed a scene that is almost indescribable. All 
 the company fell before God, and the distiller's 
 wife, glittering in jewelry, was on her knees and 
 crying for mercy with all her might. While this 
 cloud covered them, James arose and received 
 his portion ; and though the hour was late and 
 the camp had become quiet for the night, it was 
 very soon "noised abroad" and "the multitude 
 came together, " and amid the general rejoicing 
 hundreds were soon shaking hands and praising 
 God. This scene was but one of the many mar- 
 velous evidences of the presence of God at that 
 great camp-meeting. It has since become his- 
 toric, and out from its pentecostal baptisms of 
 power have gone waves of influence that have 
 rocked churches, camp-meetings, and conferences. 
 Brother Bitler, along with others of the ' 'school 
 of the prophets" was thus anointed with that in- 
 dispensable qualification of the Holy Spirit for 
 the work of the ministry ; and though not always 
 able to distinguish its exact relation to his success 
 in winning souls, as compared with the grace he 
 received at conversion, it nevertheless supple- 
 mented his former experience with greater faith, 
 warmer zeal, and a closer intimacy with God ; 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 37 
 
 and vain would be the attempt to unravel these 
 related qualifications, so as to discover the ratio 
 of the one to the other. 
 
 His natural qualifications for the work of an 
 evangelist, must not be lost sight of, in any at- 
 tempt to account for the results attending his 
 labors. These are by no means inconsiderable, 
 and to ignore them, is not necessary to an ade- 
 quate appreciation of the work of the Holy Spirit 
 in bringing about results. In calling some to be 
 "Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evan- 
 gelists, and some Pastors and Teachers," God 
 certainly had respect to their natural or mental 
 qualifications, and these abounding to a greater 
 or less degree -must have materially affected their 
 efficiency. We believe with Dr. j. O. Peck, 
 who very aptly says in an article on Revivals in 
 the Christian Advocate, that "God can't bless 
 nothing." The fact that God chooses "the weak 
 things of the world to confound the mighty, " 
 cannot be interpreted to mean that he chooses 
 either weak faith, or weak-minded men, to bring 
 sinners to Christ. The statement that ' 'not many 
 mighty, not many noble are called," does not re- 
 fer to a call to the ministry. True, mighty men, 
 like stars of the first magnitude, are few in num- 
 ber. But the relative number of that degree, 
 that are blazing in the galaxy of the gospel min- 
 
38 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 istry, will compare favorably with any of the 
 learned professions, and any well informed thinker 
 would resent the imputation that an ordinary in- 
 terpretation puts on this passage. If ignorance 
 and inefficiency were qualifications for successful 
 evangelism it would be strange — on such an in- 
 terpretation of the many weaklings who are called 
 — if the millennium had not come before this. 
 The history of the past is constantly repeated, 
 and among the number that yield to God and 
 accept the Savior, not many that occupy places 
 of prominence, or positions of power, are willing 
 to leave their high seats and come down to the 
 terms of salvation. But while the lofty and the 
 great are proudly rejecting the offers of heaven, 
 God is constantly calling men from the cradle, and 
 raising up now and then a genius of his own ; 
 and the ratio of the great to the small, loses noth- 
 ing when contrasted with any of the intellectual 
 forces that are making and moving the world. 
 
 The sensitive jealousy for the work of the Holy 
 Spirit, that affects to despise the natural abilities 
 of an evangelist, utterly ignores the fact that St. 
 Paul is without a peer either in the Apostolic 
 College or out of it, and that his transcendent 
 genius fitly qualified him for his cosmopolitan 
 mission. The glory of God is not compromised 
 by this admission, for God made him, and then 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 39 
 
 by the fiery baptisms of the Holy Spirit upon 
 him, and attending his ministry, he made the 
 most out of him. Men of small talents may 
 succeed beyond our expectations, but a mere 
 emotional ninny is as far from being a special 
 medium for the operation of the Holy Spirit, as 
 is a rope of sand from being a good conductor of 
 electricity. We once heard a man, who had 
 cried and laughed under the mystic wand of John 
 B. Gough for nearly two hours, say, that Gough 
 was not a great orator because he could under- 
 stand everything he said. A Finney, a Moody, 
 a Harrison or a Bitler, without special mental en- 
 dowments of a very high order would be as use- 
 less to accomplish great results in the work of 
 soul-saving, as a Wesley or a Wm. Taylor to or- 
 ganize, manage and sustain an empire of Christian 
 instrumentalities without a corresponding amount 
 of constructive genius. 
 
 It is not our purpose to furnish any comprehen- 
 sive estimate of the natural abilities, or peculiar 
 genius, of the subject of this volume. We leave 
 that to later pens, and out of deference to his 
 own request we forbear. Perhaps a post mortem 
 estimate will do justice to a subject that we are 
 forbidden fully to treat, and if so, the author is 
 quite sure that the above suggestions will find 
 abundant illustration in the subject. At all events 
 
4-0 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Mr. Bitler's educational, spiritual, and natural, 
 qualifications, combine in wonderful harmony 
 to facilitate the success which has attended his 
 labors, and both the providence and the Spirit of 
 God, seem to have been displayed in preparing 
 him for the work of an evangelist. 
 
 FIRST ATTEMPTS. 
 
 From the first he took for his models successful 
 impromptu speakers, and with an ease that was 
 natural he began to speak "off-hand," and was 
 ready on all accasions to say what was in his 
 mind, just as readily as if he had taken the pains 
 to confine himself to a written discourse, or had 
 memorized it from the beginning. Discarding 
 both these methods, the habit of extemporizing 
 became a luxury, and on going to Delaware he 
 began at once to exhort, and very soon to preach 
 and deliver addresses, in and about the city. 
 Though variously criticised for so doing, public 
 speaking had a charm for him, and the work to 
 which he felt called could not be entirely deferred 
 until his education at the University was com- 
 pleted. He spoke to the colored people, the 
 Germans, and wherever he could get an audience. 
 Made appointments at country churches and 
 school-houses. Was in the habit of holding mass 
 meetings in the country, where in company with 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 4 1 
 
 other students he sometimes enjoyed a "field 
 day." Occasionally during vacation he visited 
 camp-meetings and took part in the services. 
 
 Whether the occasion was a camp-meeting, a 
 Sunday School celebration, or a protracted meet- 
 ing, he moved in an element most agreeably 
 adapted to his temperament and genius when oc- 
 cupying the rostrum. 
 
 His first Sunday School speech was delivered 
 in Liberty Church, near Delaware, at a S. S. In- 
 stitute, under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. 
 with Prof. T. C. O'Kaneasthe manager. It was 
 there that Rev. F. A. Gould, now of the North 
 Ohio Conference and stationed at Cleveland, made 
 his maiden speech. Besides these, other students 
 that have since become efficient ministers made 
 characteristic speeches. Notably : Rev. A. Gil- 
 ruth, now a missionary in South India ; Rev. N. 
 Luccock, now a member of the Pittsburg Con- 
 ference. 
 
 Though previously licensed to exhort — which, 
 by the way, is usually interpreted by young ec- 
 clesiastics to be a license to do almost anything 
 in the line of preaching except to take a text — 
 he was licensed to preach by the Rev. S. A. 
 Keene, then Pastor of St. Paul's Church, in com- 
 pany with Rev. T. A. Turner, now of the Ohio 
 Conference, on the ioth day of February, 1875. 
 
42 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 The young men were not long in availing them- 
 selves of the privilege of taking one text, instead 
 of a part of a chapter as heretofore, and of the 
 further luxury of pronouncing the benediction. 
 
 Mr. Bitler's first sermon was preached at Wood 
 Grove Church near Delaware, where he was then 
 Superintendent of the Sunday School, and his 
 text was taken from Ps. 37:3. ' 'Trust in the Lord 
 and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land and 
 verily thou shalt be fed." A text that was to be 
 illustrated and verified in his subsequent career as 
 an evangelist. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Evangelistic and Regular Work. 
 
 First Impressions, Revivals at Ostrander 
 and Flint, Remarkable Incidents, Olive 
 Green, Appointed to Carthage, Harrison, 
 Westwood, and westward. 
 
 Bro. Bitler's first impressions concerning the 
 evangelistic field were laid in the earlier efforts of 
 his ministry, and grew more intense as the indi- 
 cations of a providential call became more marked. 
 
 His first work in that direction was during his 
 student life at Delaware. At a place called Os- 
 trander, where there were two churches, a Meth- 
 odist and a Presbyterian, both of which were idle, 
 He went to work for a revival. Saloons were 
 flourishing, drinking was very prevalent, and it 
 was a hard field. But the Lord gave him a few 
 souls, and a class was organized, and the next 
 year it was taken into a circuit as an appointment. 
 
 The next year he was invited to assist at a 
 meeting being held at an appointment called Flint. 
 Rev. A. R. Miller had conducted a meeting, with 
 some conversions, but after laboring there about 
 four weeks he was obliged to leave for another 
 
44 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 appointment. After the earnest solicitation of the 
 people, but against the wishes of the Faculty, 
 Bro. Bitler went to the meeting with the intention 
 of remaining one week. But at the end of that 
 week forty persons had united with the church, 
 and thirty-one were at the altar seeking the Lord. 
 He remained there five weeks, and at the close, 
 one hundred and sixteen had been converted and 
 joined the church. Taking into consideration all 
 the facts, this was a marvelous meeting and de- 
 serves comparison with the great revivals he has 
 since held. It was a country appointment. The 
 church was built in a low swampy distict where 
 there were no pikes, and it was in the springtime 
 when the going was miserable, and moreover 
 under the shadow of a Universalist church that 
 had poisoned the whole community. It was there 
 he received the title of the "Young Evangelist,^' 
 and his impressions were deepened concerning a 
 call to that special work. 
 
 There were many marked cases of conviction 
 and conversion at that meeting, that deserve to be 
 recorded. We give but two. 
 
 Mr. B lived on a farm near the church. 
 
 He was a large hearted generous fellow, but had 
 become very much addicted to drink. So much 
 so, that he had become involved financially, and 
 was fast bringing sorrow to his excellent family. 
 
. NOISE IT ABROAD. 45 
 
 Many of his friends had been converted but B. 
 held out against all persuasion, and it was very 
 difficult to get him to the church at all. After 
 various fruitless atttempts to reach him, it was 
 agreed among his friends and the evangelist, that 
 they make him a special subject of prayer. 
 While they were unitedly pleading with God for 
 him, Mr. B. became very uneasy, and determined 
 to leave. He went to Columbus hoping to evade 
 his convictions, but darkness covered him. He 
 went into a saloon in an obscure quarter, where 
 he had never been before, and called for whisky. 
 While talking to the bar-keeper, his voice attracted 
 the attention of an acquaintance who was a prom- 
 inent lawyer of the city, but very dissipated, and 
 who said, "My God, B., are you here? " "This 
 startled Mr. B., who replied, "Yes, I'm here, 
 why do you talk that way?" "Because," said 
 the lawyer, "I had an awful dream about you 
 last night. I dreamed that you ought to be a 
 better man, and it so worried me, that I told my 
 wife, twice during the night, that I had a notion to 
 get up and write to you." Mr. B. was so fully 
 convinced that this was of the Lord that he re- 
 plied, "They're praying for me all over the 
 country up there." His friend advised him to 
 go home at once, and join the church, and he sur- 
 rendered on the spot, saying, "I will." He sat 
 
46 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 down at a card table sobbing, and using that as 
 an altar of prayer, he gave his heart to God and 
 found Christ. The old topers gathered round 
 him, and told him to go and join the church. 
 They said, ' 'That's just what we all ought to do. " 
 With that, his friend followed him as he went 
 to the door, and said, "B., for God's sake don't 
 touch another drop." But B. replied, "The 
 Lord bless you, I wouldn't touch it if the street 
 was full of it, I don't want it." He started up 
 the main street, laughing and crying as he went, 
 passers-by staring at him as though he were crazy, 
 as doubtless they supposed he was. He soon 
 found his way to the house of a relative who was 
 religious, and went in laughing and crying. When 
 this relative met him, she said, "Why B., what's 
 the matter?" He replied, "I guess I've got re- 
 ligion." She said in response, "I know you 
 have," and then* a scene of mutual rejoicing fol- 
 lowed. From thence he went to the home of 
 his brother in the same peculiar frame of mind 
 and told him the same story. But the brother 
 said he was drunk, and as soon as he was sober 
 he would be all right. The next morning he was 
 as happy and bright as before, and so anxious 
 was he to get home and join the church that he 
 went to the depot an hour before the time. When 
 he got home he told everybody from the R. R. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 47 
 
 station to his house what had happened, and the 
 same evening, before the preaching service began, 
 he told the congregation his remarkable expe- 
 rience. This was a marvelous case in many 
 respects. The legal friend knew nothing of his 
 state of mind, nor of the meeting in progress. 
 That God should employ such remote yet pow- 
 erful means to arrest another sinner simply illus- 
 trates the mysterious operations of the Holy 
 Spirit in answering prayer. 
 
 Another case which occurred at that meeting 
 illustrates the same marvelous operations of the 
 Holy Spirit in convicting and arresting an obdu- 
 rate sinner. Jno. McR was an adept with the 
 
 violin, and fiddled for the dancing fraternity in 
 all that region. He belonged to a family that 
 were great dancers, and could have an independ- 
 ent dance at home, or load up a two horse wagon 
 and contribute a whole dance, music and all, to 
 any gathering in the neighborhood. The Lord 
 got into the family and spoiled things for his pur- 
 pose. His father, mother, brothers, sisters, neph- 
 ews and neices — in short, the whole family were 
 converted, and John was left alone. He was not 
 married, or doubtless his wife would have been 
 among the converts. Poor John ! what was he 
 to do? He cursed the church, the preacher, and 
 all his relatives, and he was so fearful that he 
 
48 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 might get caught himself, that he stayed away 
 from the church almost altogether. The Spirit 
 took hold of him however, and such was the depth 
 of his conviction, that he would frequently wake 
 up in the night and find himself praying. Then 
 he would turn over and curse awhile, as if to off- 
 set the prayer. His was one of the cases, that 
 remind us of instances in the Scriptures, where 
 the devils rent and tore the men they possessed 
 just before they were compelled to depart. One 
 night he secured a pint of whisky and went to 
 a dance at some place near Columbus, and spent 
 the night in revelry. The next evening it was 
 raining and snowing, one of the most disagreeable 
 nights that could well be imagined ; such a night 
 as would spoil anything but a revival. John con- 
 cluded that the people would be kept away, and 
 that there wouldn't be much interest, if any, and 
 he thought it would be perfectly safe for him to 
 venture, and so went to the meeting. 
 
 At that meeting Mr. B above referred to, 
 
 gave his testimony, and along with others wit- 
 nessed to the saving power of God. Presently 
 a man rose up from the back seat and said, "I'm 
 not a Christian, but I want you to pray for me." 
 
 That man was John McR . He joined the 
 
 church that night, and the next morning in a 
 speaking meeting he was converted. It is related 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 49 
 
 of him that when the collection was being taken 
 he said, "boys, here goes the fiddler's money in 
 the preacher's basket," so that he at once gave 
 evidence of that sort of genuine conversion that 
 touches the pocket. Nine years later as Bro. 
 Bitler was passing along the street at Columbus, 
 he saw a man in a wagon that seemed to wear a 
 familiar look. As the evangelist approached his 
 smiling face he said to him, "Is thisjno. McR ?" 
 — and so it proved. When he asked him if he 
 was on the road to heaven he said, "Yes, and 
 so is my wife." That meeting at Flint had not 
 only reached his relatives, but at the same time 
 secured the conversion of the lady that afterward 
 became his wife, and thus had completely wrecked 
 the old associations and created things anew. 
 Incidents peculiarly interesting characterized that 
 revival, and at its close it was found that the 
 church was altogether too small for the wants of 
 the increased family, so one end of the structure 
 was taken out and an addition built to it. There 
 it stands to this day a monument of that marvel- 
 ous revival. Closing his labors here, Bro. Bitler 
 consented to spend some time in a meeting at 
 Westerville, where some fruit was gathered. 
 Returning again to Delaware he was glad to rest 
 and spend the summer vacation recuperating. 
 His labors had been arduous and exhausting, but 
 
50 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 with relaxation and rest he was ready for work 
 again. 
 
 During his Senior year he supplied Olive Green, 
 a sort of practicing Mecca, where quite a number 
 of young men that have since become useful 
 ministers began their itinerant career. Notably, 
 Rev. S. A. Keene ; Rev. J.J. Henry — who was 
 afterward translated at the close of a great revi- 
 val in Bucyrus ; Rev. F. A. Gould of the North 
 Ohio Conference, and Rev. S. D. Hutsinpillar, 
 now stationed at Third Avenue, Columbus. 
 
 Graduating in 1878, he joined the Cincinnati 
 Conference in the fall of that year. The Con- 
 ference met at Green street church, Piqua, O., 
 his former home, so that coming back to the 
 place of beginning he was glad to renew former 
 associations and start afresh on his mission. 
 
 His first appointment was Cartilage, just out 
 of the city of Cincinnati. At the close of this 
 year, September 7, 1879, at tne Conference held 
 at Urbana, O., he was ordained Deacon by 
 Bishop Simpson. The next year he was sent 
 to Harrison, where on July I, 1880, he mar- 
 ried Miss Mina, daughter of Dr. M. L. and Susan 
 J. Thomas. Harrison was a weak charge, able 
 only to.support a single man, and this step ne- 
 cessitated a change. So the next year he was 
 appointed to Westwood. In addition to the main 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. s • 5 1 
 
 charge at Westwood was a small appointment 
 three miles out called Dent. The church at the 
 latter place had almost died out, but Bro. Bitler 
 thought he saw a chance to do some evangelistic 
 work there, and went to work accordingly. The 
 result was more than one hundred conversions, 
 and to-day it is one of the strongest country 
 charges in all that region. 
 
 At the close of his second year at Westwood 
 he was ordained Elder, September 10, 1882, at 
 Dayton, O., by Bishop Bowman. 
 
 At his own request, and by the consent of 
 his Presiding Elder, he left this appointment at 
 the end of two years and a half, and at the next 
 Conference was recorded as "Missionary to Da- 
 kota." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Missionary to Dakota. 
 
 Chamberlain - . Sickness. Death. Final Aban- 
 donment of the Field. No more "Plans." 
 Home again. Revivals at Third Street, 
 Columbus; and Main Street, Chillicothe. 
 
 In the spring of 1883 Brother Bitler went to 
 Dakota as a Missionary, under the impression 
 that the great wild West, so vast in resources, 
 and yet so illy supplied with Christian ministers 
 was the very field for him. 
 
 In correspondence with the Superintendent of 
 the Mission he was informed that the field he de- 
 sired was open to him. He was directed to go 
 to Chamberlain, an ambitious town that was rap- 
 idly rising, and where they would pay the right 
 man a salary of one thousand dollars. 
 
 This was something definite and relieved all 
 fears of being set down with a wife and child in 
 the barrenness of the wild prairies. 
 
 Believing that providence indicated the step, 
 his heart sent him, and though accredited and 
 indorsed by the church, he paid his own travel- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 53 
 
 ing expenses, and was soon en route for the great 
 northwest. 
 
 All the romance of this venture was soon to 
 be dissipated. Locating at Chamberlain he found 
 that most of the items that were to be forthcom- 
 ing if the " right man " went, were in an unde- 
 veloped state or wholly imaginary. The town 
 was only about two years old and contained 
 about one thousand inhabitants. There was no 
 church edifice, no parsonage ; just twelve mem- 
 bers of the church, and they too poor to pay a 
 hundred dollars. But the " missionary " was not 
 to be deterred. His heroic blood was stirred. 
 He found himself in the midst of a wide-awake 
 community many of whom wore a rough ex- 
 terior, but beneath all this he soon found a de- 
 gree of refinement that would grace any latitude 
 of civilization. It was the front of that great ad- 
 vancing wave that scattered warm blood and 
 active brains all through the northwest. He 
 purchased a lot, built a house, and sent for his 
 wife, who with their little daughter Grace, soon 
 joined him in the new field. But the Dakota en- 
 terprise was destined to be a series of disappoint- 
 ments. His wife was taken sick soon after and 
 for weeks lay at the threshold of death. In her 
 enfeebled condition she was placed on a feather 
 bed and brought back to Ohio. But Brother 
 
54 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Bitler was not to be defeated; so leaving her at 
 home he returned to Dakota the second time. 
 Three weeks later he attended the Conference at 
 Huron, and while there he received a telegram 
 that the baby, born in Dakota, was dead. He 
 returned at once to Ohio to comfort his sorrow- 
 ing wife and look on the grave of his dead child. 
 But the mission was not to be relinquished. His 
 wife meanwhile regained sufficient strength to re- 
 turn with him, and once more he went back to 
 Dakota. He was so bent on holding the field 
 that he determined to stay in spite of everything 
 — sickness, poverty and death, not excepted. 
 
 But at last he was obliged to succumb to the 
 inevitable lot that seemed to follow him. His 
 wife grew worse, and becoming a helpless invalid, 
 it was soon apparent that she could never recover 
 in the climate of Dakota. So with a heavy heart 
 he relinquished his cherished scheme and once 
 more turned his face to Ohio. 
 
 The mission was not altogether fruitless as we 
 shall see in another place, but it was a costly ap- 
 pointment to Brother Bitler, and must ever re- 
 main associated in his memory with some of the 
 saddest pages of the past. En route for home with 
 a heavy heart, under the conviction that he had 
 made a mistake, and that possibly the scheme 
 was not of God, but of himself, he fervently- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 55 
 
 said il P 11 never have another plan." This reso- 
 lution left him empty handed, but with a strong 
 reliance on the providence of God to furnish all 
 his future patterns. Time and eternity may re- 
 veal the Dakota mission a Divine providence, 
 even though the sequel seemed so desolate when 
 he returned. His mother resided at Columbus 
 and he came directly to her home. But he was 
 not long to be idle, for, the second day after land- 
 ing at Columbus he met Rev. A. B. Riker, then 
 stationed at Third Street charge, who informed 
 him that he was going to begin a series of meet- 
 ings with a "watch-night" service, and invited 
 him to join in the work by getting "under the 
 other end of the yoke." In response to this he 
 went, and soon becoming enthused, these brethren 
 jointly laid their plans for a great work. God 
 was with them and the revival began. Soon the 
 daily papers began to note the interest awakened 
 and spoke of Brother Bitler as an evangelist from 
 the Cincinnati Conference. He remained with 
 Brother Riker eight weeks, and with the large 
 audience room nightly crowded and hundreds 
 going away for want of room, the work went on 
 grandly, until more than two hundred souls were 
 converted. 
 
 Soon as this work began to be noised abroad 
 Brother Bitler was beseiged with invitations to 
 
56 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 assist other brethren in revival work, and among 
 them Rev. T. A. Turner, an old College friend, 
 then stationed at Main Street, Chillicothe. Ac- 
 cepting this call he joined Brother Turner without 
 losing a day. The Pastor had spent seven weeks 
 holding the meetings, with success, and pre- 
 paring the way for what was to come. The work 
 broke out afresh at once. On the first Sabbath 
 afternoon when an opportunity was given, a few 
 rose immediately for prayers, then others follow- 
 ed, until the whole congregation stood up. When 
 the altar was presented, every one in the house 
 came to it or as near to it as they could get. It 
 was a marvelous meeting. Sobs and pleas for 
 mercy soon gave way to shouts of rejoicing, and 
 before the service closed thirteen persons pro- 
 fessed conversion. Some of the older members 
 who had witnessed many meetings of power in 
 the past, testified that they had never seen any 
 to compare with that one. In anticipation 
 of the great work that followed, the pastor's faith, 
 which called for two hundred souls, was marvel- 
 ous in the eyes of the people ; but the number 
 finally reached over four hundred. 
 
 Brother Bitler had expected to stay two weeks 
 at Main Street but he remained six weeks, and 
 the revival was without a parallel in the history 
 of Chillicothe Methodism, unless we except one 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 57 
 
 that was held there forty years before, under the 
 labors of Rev. John Miley, D.D., now of Drew 
 Theological Seminary. 
 
 A brief review of Brother Bitler's career, as 
 recorded in the foregoing pages, if degrees of 
 success are to be taken as indications of Provi- 
 dence, would certainly lead any practical thinker 
 to the conclusion that his is the evangelistic field. 
 In every instance when he has stepped aside from 
 the regular work and made revivals a specialty 
 he has been greatly blessed of God and crowned 
 with success. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Fishing on the Banks of the Missouri. 
 
 Charles H. Gilmore. 
 
 The Converted Comedian in a New Role. 
 
 Of Brother Bitler's missionary labors in Dakota 
 we said but little in the previous chapter. 
 Through the gloom that covers his Dakota ex- 
 perience, at least one star shines. The mission 
 was not a failure, and the instance here given is 
 enough to vindicate his choice of that field if 
 nothing else had come of it. In looking after 
 the lost sheep of that wilderness, he visited a 
 shanty where he found a lady at the very difficult 
 task of trying to do two things at once, viz : 
 rocking the baby and ironing at the same time. 
 In reply to his inquiries she said that she was a 
 Christian and a Methodist. This agreeable sur- 
 prise led him to ask about her husband, whom she 
 said was far from being a christian, and she 
 seemed to be greatly troubled about his soul. 
 His name was Gilmore. He was the boatman, 
 and it was his business to ferry persons across the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 59 
 
 river to a place called the "Brule Agency," 
 about five miles below Chamberlain. His pass- 
 engers were landed on the other shore and then 
 returning with his skiff he was obliged to recross 
 the river and tow it back to the village, as the 
 swiftness of the current made it difficult to row 
 the boat against the stream. Mr. G. presented 
 a very rough exterior, and with coarse clothing, 
 long hair, shaggy beard, clad in over-alls and with 
 a rope — not exactly around his neck — but over 
 his shoulder tugging away at his boat, Mr. 
 Bitler had once met him on the banks ol the river. 
 Ever since the time that Peter said I go a fishing, 
 and the disciples said we also go with thee, almost 
 the whole apostolic succession have had a very 
 strong inclination to chime in with these disciples. 
 What preacher has never gone a fishing ? As a 
 class they seem to be as fond of fish as of fowl (?) 
 Mr. Bitler's first view of Gilmore was had while 
 spending a leisure hour in this sort of recreation 
 on the banks of the Missouri river. With this 
 casual meeting in mind, he was very much sur- 
 prised when Mrs. G. happened to remark that 
 her husband was very fond of reading, and it was 
 this newly discovered fact that he intended to use 
 in taking Gilmore from the slough of sin. So 
 the next time he met Mr. G. he expressed his 
 agreeable surprise that he was fond of books and 
 
60 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 offered him the use of his library. Mr. G. further 
 enlightened the preacher by saying that he had a 
 "sheep-skin" — meaning a diploma — and more- 
 over, that he had been a short-hand reporter ; had 
 reported for the District Court of Iowa, receiving 
 eight dollars per day, and also for a time had been 
 a reporter for certain newspapers in Chicago. He 
 excused his present occupation on the ground that 
 he had weak lungs and came to Dakota and began 
 to row a boat for the physical benefit he might de- 
 rive from it. This ingenious statement seemed 
 very plausible, but it was not the truth. The 
 fact was that he was in Dakota just as he had been 
 in almost every State and Territory in the Union 
 before ; running away from God. 
 
 He had traveled through all the New England 
 States except Maine, visited every other Territory 
 except Oregon and Washington Territory ; gone 
 to Mexico and Central America, and once shipped 
 for Australia, in the desperate endeavor to divert 
 his convictions of duty. But with various ex- 
 periences in steamboating, railroading, painting, 
 surveying, reporting, acting and boating, the 
 early impressions of duty haunted his life. 
 Once shipwrecked, once disabled so that the loss 
 of his voice threw him from the stage, he had gone 
 to Dakota to start a saloon and cover up the last 
 spark of this expiring flame. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 6 1 
 
 When but a lad he had dreamed that he was at 
 the bar of God and saw the right and left hand 
 throng awarded with the allotments of destiny, 
 and that an angel had conveyed him back to his 
 bed with the injunction that he should tell what he 
 had seen. 
 
 This so weighed upon his mind that he told his 
 mother, and she took him to her closet and prayed 
 very earnestly that God might make his duty 
 plain, and help him to do it. While there on his 
 knees the thought that he was called to preach 
 dawned upon him and he inwardly vowed that he 
 would never do it. Soon after this he ran away from 
 home, began a series of wanderings above describ- 
 ed. The force of his mother's prayers seemed to fol- 
 low him and on several occasions the dream of his 
 boyhood was repeated; but in the face of all 
 this, feeling that he could not be converted unless 
 he would consent to preach, he vowed that he 
 would not be converted, and that if he went to hell 
 he would abide by the consequences. Another 
 chief factor of his life was a praying wife. She never 
 deserted him, and in spite of his varied experi- 
 ences he had always been true to his marriage 
 vow, and he loved her intensely and respected 
 her piety with veneration. 
 
 When he went to Dakota with the saloon idea 
 in mind she little dreamed of his intentions. But 
 
62 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 on making the discovery, all her heroism came 
 to the front, and though she had clung to him 
 with the fondness of despair, this was too much, 
 and she told him that she did not marry a saloon- 
 keeper, that she would not live with one, and 
 that if he went into that business they were 
 henceforth not one but two. This very decided 
 stand soon put an end to the project, as he 
 thought more of his wife than of a saloon. 
 Later adventures need not be recited, except 
 that his appetite for intoxicating liquors had led 
 his wife to expostulate with him for frequenting 
 the saloon, and further to say that if he would 
 drink, to keep it in the house and drink it at 
 home. This he did and for some time kept a 
 five gallon cask in the cellar. One day, while 
 his wife had gone to church and he was at home 
 taking care of the baby, he took the child in 
 his arm and the lamp in his hand and went into 
 the cellar for some whisky, and the child unac- 
 customed to these dark surroundings quit cry- 
 ing and its very stillness attracted his attention. 
 Looking into the lace of the little one the thought 
 came to his mind "what if I knew that my little 
 boy should ever become such a man as I am." 
 The possibility of such a fate was too horrible 
 to endure, and seizing an ax that had been left 
 in the cellar, he blazed away at the cask and 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 63 
 
 knocked in the head, and with the contents run- 
 ning on the floor he took up the lamp and child 
 and ret urned to the room with the resolution to 
 drink no more. Though afterward tempted he 
 kept this resolution faithfully. So that even be- 
 fore the evangelist met him the Spirit of God 
 had began the work of reformation. His sub- 
 sequent deliverance from the desire for intoxi- 
 cants is to be dated from his conversion. When 
 Mr. Bitler proffered him the use of books he 
 very thankfully accepted the kindness and soon 
 gave proof of the fact that he was an omniver- 
 ous reader. 
 
 He never went to church and when Mr. Bit- 
 ler on one occasion urged him to go with him 
 he replied : 
 
 "Elder, you know I never go to church, and 
 you'll have to excuse me. I'll take care of the 
 baby and let my wife go." 
 
 To this they both objected, and after some 
 persuasion Gilmore said: 
 
 "Go ahead Elder, and I'll be down after 
 while," 
 
 When the service was about half through 
 Gilmore came in and surprised the preacher by 
 the fact that he sang as if he was used to it. His 
 surprise was greater when on retiring from the 
 room he found Gilmore waiting for him, and on 
 the way home he said : 
 
64 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 "Mr. Bitler, do you believe that a man is ever 
 called to do anything?" 
 
 "What do you mean, said Bitler, called to 
 preach?' ' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I certainly do, he replied, or I wouldn't be 
 out here." 
 
 "So do I," said Gilmore, "or I wouldn't be 
 out here." 
 
 This led the way to a full disclosure of much 
 that is recited above, and after accepting an in- 
 vitation to come in, and both had gone into the 
 house, as Gilmore stood there in the presence of 
 his wife who alone knew the secret of the past, 
 Mr. Bitler said: 
 
 "Gilmore, you know you ought to be a Chris- 
 tian. You must surrender now. This is the 
 supreme moment of your life, and I shall not 
 leave here till you give your heart to God." 
 
 This was ten o'clock Saturday night, and Gil- 
 more afterward said that on hearing that, he 
 thought he had a boarder. But throwing his 
 arm about his neck and crying upon his breast, 
 Mr. Bitler plead with him to say "yes." 
 
 "Say yes, and I'll have a word of prayer." 
 
 Gilmore replied : "Pray anyhow," 
 
 And they did pray. The preacher plead as 
 never before ; the wife prayed, and Mr. Bitler 
 said to Gilmore : "Are you praying?" 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 6$ 
 
 ''Yes. Pray on." 
 
 Again and again he asked: "Do you yield 
 now? 
 
 But the answer came : "No, but pray on." 
 Finally Gilmore cried out in desperation : 
 
 "By God ," and pausing just there, it 
 
 seemed like profanity, but at last he cried out : 
 "By God's help, I'll be a better man !" 
 The point was yielded. The surrender was 
 complete, the prodigal was forgiven, and the 
 next moment in the arms of his faithful wife both 
 were rejoicing in the love of God. 
 
 They sang, "Praise God from whom all bless- 
 ings flow," and Mr.-Bitler went home. 
 
 A family altar was erected, and at the week 
 day meeting that followed, Gilmore told of his 
 conversion to God. The following Sunday night, 
 by Mr. Bitler's appointment, Gilmore was an- 
 nounced to speak in the Opera House. But on 
 the Friday before the time appointed his aged 
 father, and mother who had not seen him for a 
 long time, very unexpectedly came to see him, 
 and when he told his mother of the salvation he 
 had found, the glad tidings nearly overcame her. 
 Religion had worked a transformation, and when 
 Sunday night came, with newly shaven face, 
 and hair cut, and dressed in a new suit which his 
 father had brought with him as a present for his 
 
66 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 son, he looked like a gentleman. But best of 
 all, there sat the father and mother in that au- 
 dience to hear the story from the lips of their 
 wandering boy. He began by saying that he 
 little thought in all the past that he should ever 
 stand where he stood that night and speak for 
 Christ in an Opera House. His travels in many 
 lands and his efforts to escape conscience and 
 duty were recited. He said that he had tried to 
 bean infidel, but added "I could never silence 
 the voice in my soul." In concluding he said: 
 
 "If there were no future, the smile on my old 
 mother's face when she heard the story of my 
 conversion, would more than repay me for the 
 consecration I have made. " 
 
 Shortly after this Mr. Bitler was compelled to 
 return to Ohio. More than a year had elapsed 
 and he knew nothing more of Gilmore. While 
 engaged in a revival at Corning, Ohio, he 
 chanced to narrate these facts to Rev. Benjamin 
 Green, then in charge of the church at that place, 
 and suggested that Gilmore, who could handle a 
 banjo to perfection, might, if he was in one of our 
 large cities, sing up a crowd of thousands and 
 preach the gospel to vast multitudes of people. 
 Bro. Green said, send for him. But now came 
 the serious and awful question that confronts 
 every young convert, viz. : has he been faithful 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 67 
 
 to the heavenly calling? Bro. Green had faith 
 in him and said : 
 
 "Write and tell him to come. I'll pay his ex- 
 penses from Dakota." 
 
 The letter was sent and an answer written the 
 day it was received. Gilmore said : 
 
 ' 'Tell Mr. Green to send the money, I will re- 
 ceive it as a loan, and I will be with you as 
 soon as the will of God and steam will bring 
 me." 
 
 The next day after sending this letter, Gilmore 
 received one from the National Tube Works con- 
 taining two Palace Car tickets to New Orleans 
 and the request that he take his banjo and thus 
 represent that firm at the Exposition. The 
 compensation was to be three dollars and a half 
 per day from date of his leaving until his return 
 to Dakota. 
 
 This offer had many attractions, but none equal 
 to the sense of a divine mission, so returning the 
 tickets he politely declined the offer, and turned 
 his face to Ohio. 
 
 On reaching his mother's home in Iowa he 
 tarried a short time, and taking both her advice, 
 and his own view of propriety, he hung the 
 banjo up on the wall in his mother's kitchen and 
 pursued his journey. 
 
 Arriving at Corning, he found that Mr. Bitler 
 
68 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 had gone to Gallipolis. Weary from travel and 
 loss of sleep, with no time or opportunity to 
 allay his hunger, he was taken to the church 
 where it was expected that he would preach. 
 Here was a dilemma. He had never been in a 
 revival. He had never preached. To begin 
 where Bitler left oft, and conduct a series of meet- 
 ings was out of the question. It was a dreary, 
 rainy night, and everything contributed to his 
 discomfiture. He was in for it, and there was 
 no train out of Corning that night. Tempted 
 to retreat he remembered the text that ' 'No 
 man having put his hand to the plow and looking 
 back is fit for the kingdom of God." This 
 fixed his purpose to do the best he could and he 
 went at it. During his brief- stay here the Lord 
 gave him some seals to his ministry. Tramping 
 through the mud he began by personal labor to 
 pursuade men, and was happy in seeing some 
 fruit. Visiting the mines he saw souls converted 
 to God under ground. From Corning he went 
 
 to Rehobeth , from there to Gallipolis, 
 
 where he joined Brother Bitler in that marvel- 
 ous revival, and spent a week, doing effective 
 service and learning something about revival 
 methods. Accepting an invitation to go to 
 Huntington, West Virginia, he began a series 
 of meetings under difficulties and embarass- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 69 
 
 ments that very soon discovered themselves, 
 both in the church and out of it. But implicit 
 faith in God, and untiring zeal both in the pul- 
 pit and among the people, soon began to be re- 
 warded with fruit. Thirty-eight church letters 
 were gathered in and one hundred and sixty-one 
 professed conversion. Since he left Huntington 
 the meeting has continued and the whole num- 
 ber now reported is two hundred and fifty. Bro. 
 Gilmore came to Circleville by invitation during 
 our great revival, and by his testimony and labors 
 gave proof of his ministry by contributing to its 
 results. 
 
 A previous account of his surroundings and 
 tragic conversion had led us to expect that his 
 personal appearance and general demeanor would 
 not be very commendable to refined tastes. In 
 this we were agreeably disappointed. Strange 
 to say he seemed a perfect gentleman of some 
 refinement, and his deliberation and ease in pub- 
 lic address, together with his modest and manly 
 bearing in smaller circles, made us almost to feel 
 like apologizing for our previous impressions. 
 
 From Circleville he went to Cuyahoga Falls to 
 assist the Pastor, Rev. J. R. Keys. The meet- 
 ing resulted in fifty conversions and forty-three 
 accessions to the church. In response to a let- 
 ter addressed to Bro. Keys, he writes : 
 
JO NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 "Bro. Gilmore did good work in this place. 
 Its value cannot be measured by the number of 
 conversions and accessions. Bro. G. went away 
 with the good will of all, both saints and sin- 
 ners, so far as I know." 
 
 This testimony was not written with a view 
 to its publication, but as a private letter to the 
 author, but we append it as an indication that 
 the Actor is on the right Stage and in the right 
 role. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Weighing Anchor. 
 
 Supplying "Wesley Chapel'' — Evangelistic Im- 
 pressions — Transferred to the Ohio Confer- 
 ence — The Climax of Decision — A Location 
 Granted. 
 
 While at Main Street, Chillicothe, Bro. Bitler 
 received an invitation from the Presiding Elder of 
 the Columbus District to supply an unexpired 
 pastorate at Wesley Chapel. This invitation was 
 extended at the unanimous request of the 
 Official Board. The former Pastor, Rev. H. C 
 Sexton having been tranferred to the Troy, a 
 Spring Conference, the charge was left to be 
 supplied until the next session of the Ohio Confer- 
 ence which met in September. Bro. Bitler ac- 
 cepted the invitation, and entering at once upon 
 the duties of a Pastor, he very soon became al- 
 most as much engrossed as during the work of 
 revival. Besides preaching, visiting, and looking 
 after the details of the regular work, he gave 
 some time to extra evangelistic labor at the Ohio 
 Conference Camp Meeting. It was during his 
 
72 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 brief pastorate of five months at Wesley Chapel 
 that a series of mental struggles concerning his 
 future work was carried on, that only culmina- 
 ted with the close of the year. The location of 
 that church on High street, in the very business 
 heart of the city, gave it a familiar prominence 
 that few others enjoyed ; and though its long 
 and useful history was crowded with the splendid 
 triumphs of the Gospel within its walls, yet to 
 Bro. Bitler's stirring spirit, the tramping multi- 
 tudes that filed by each day and night appealed 
 for radical evangelistic methods other than those 
 usually employed. Surveying the whole field 
 he was profoundly impressed with the fact that 
 the churches were not reaching the masses, and 
 his heart yearned for some method of attract- 
 ing their attention and pressing upon them the 
 privileges and claims of the Gospel. The meas- 
 ure of success that has since attended his efforts 
 in that direction will appear as we proceed, but 
 it is enough to say in this place that these im- 
 pressions led him, more than ever before, to con- 
 clude that his usefulness might be greatly aug- 
 mented if he were wholly given to the evangel- 
 istic work. When the Cincinnati Conference 
 met he had not yet fully decided the question 
 of duty, and the measure of uncertainty that still 
 overshadowed his mind, led him to wish that the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 73 
 
 time might be extended for a final solution of the 
 problem. 
 
 His recent work having been done in the 
 bounds of the Ohio Conference, which was to 
 hold its session three weeks later, he requested 
 a transfer to that Conference. The question of 
 Conference relation weighed but little in that re- 
 quest. The transfer gave more time to think 
 and pray, and thus settle the real question which 
 was between the regular or the evangelistic work. 
 
 In the interim between the sessions of the 
 Cincinnati and Ohio Conferences the burden be- 
 came more and more pressing, but a solution of 
 the great problem was soon to be reached. Tak- 
 ing advice from all sources only perplexed it, as 
 all sorts of advice was freely tendered, and though 
 thankfully received, it was only plain that some- 
 body was very greatly mistaken. Mr. Bitler's 
 inclination in no way effected the issue, for the 
 reason that he was not inclined either way, ex- 
 cept to do the will of God, and that was the very 
 question to be solved. Men of age and experi- 
 ence, representing a conservative element in the 
 Conference, expressed very grave doubts as to 
 the wisdom of what seemed to them to be an 
 erratic course. Others whose judgment was 
 equally respected, and representing the more 
 radical and aggressive, and perhaps the more 
 
74 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 evangelistic, were equally confident that an ec- 
 centric orbit was as safe, and perhaps the more 
 direct way to reach and save the people. 
 
 The various phases in which evangelistic work, 
 in its relation to the regular Pastorate, had been 
 viewed, was bound to come to the front in open con- 
 ference. It may interest the reader to know that 
 two very marked and distinct views are held by 
 the ministry on the subject of evangelists. It 
 would be a gross misrepresentation of the truth 
 to intimate that even a small minority of the 
 Methodist ministry are opposed to the revivals. 
 Such is not the case ; but some difference of 
 opinion prevails with reference to the utility of 
 evangelists, other than, and distinct from, the 
 regular pastorate. One class looking with a 
 good degree of solicitude upon the tendency to- 
 ward an irregular ministry, and another rejoicing 
 in the multiplication of agencies, whether regu- 
 lar or not. It cannot be overlooked, that in 
 some cases, irregularities and unfortunate occur- 
 rences have attended the efforts of unauthorized 
 evangelists. A class of men whose eccentrici- 
 ties of doctrine and method have blighted the 
 healthy growth of religious life. The field is 
 large, and there is nothing to prevent any self- 
 constituted champion of vagaries and error to 
 set up his banners and kindle a wild fire in the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 75 
 
 name of Christianity. No ecclesiastical tribunal 
 holds him responsible, and none can call him to 
 account. This fact admitted, has had a tendency 
 to beget very diverse opinions. It has to some 
 extent thrown a shadow, very unjustly we think, 
 upon the evangelists as a class ; and there are 
 not wanting men in the regular pastorate, who 
 taking an indiscriminate view freely avow their 
 animosity toward evangelists. Others again, re- 
 garding the abuse as a mere exception, are fer- 
 vently in favor of and ready discriminately to 
 defend them. It may be remarked however, that 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church there has been 
 a growing tendency toward a recognition of these 
 abuses, and a demand for some adequate protec- 
 tion against independent and self-constituted 
 evangelists. This prevailing sentiment has led 
 many to seek a remedy that would protect the 
 church, at least, and do no violence to the re- 
 vival spirit. 
 
 But this very agreement has been the ground 
 prior of a difference that showed itself just 
 to the last General Conference. A very 
 large representation of the ministry of the more 
 aggressive type, regarding the work of special 
 evangelists as of divine order and appointment, 
 sought to enlist the General Conference in a 
 plan by which special evangelists might be ap- 
 
y6 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 pointed from year to year as are regular pastors, 
 thus endorsing their work, and at the same time 
 rendering them amenable to an Annual Confer- 
 ence. In this way it was supposed that the 
 spirit of evangelism might be utilized, the field 
 of aggressiveness enlarged, the evangelist accred- 
 ited and endorsed, and the church protected 
 from irregular and irresponsible men. On the 
 other hand, all that is urged against evangelists as 
 a class was urged against any step looking to- 
 ward an innovation in favor of irregular work. 
 The whole controversy seems still to slumber. 
 It does not appear to have been brought to a 
 definite issue at the General Conference. 
 
 Whatever the future may have in store, we 
 only know that this question of polity is a rest- 
 less one, and at the last session of the Ohio An- 
 nual Conference, representatives of the various 
 views above indicated, were ready to interpret 
 Bro. Bitler's attitude concerning his proposed 
 step, in the light of his own convictions on the 
 general subject. Exactly at twelve o'clock on 
 Monday, September 29, it was announced that 
 Bro. J. S. Bitler requested a location, and it was 
 further stated that this request was made that he 
 might enter the evangelistic work. 
 
 The request for a location was in no way extra- 
 ordinary, but the purpose made known, brought 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. J J 
 
 several questions to the front. The same request 
 had been granted in another case during the ses- 
 sion, and in this instance, if it had been made on 
 the ground of a simple desire to retire from the 
 regular work from inadaptability, or want of 
 success, or bodily affliction, it would doubtless 
 have been accepted as a judicious way to let the 
 brother down easy. But to spoil a preacher 
 that gave promise of usefulness in the regular 
 pastorate for the sake of a venture, was to many 
 a very injudicious step, hence it was opposed. 
 He had not asked to be appointed Conference 
 Evangelist, but rather to return to the local ranks, 
 expecting and intending that local, with him, was 
 to refer to the broadest field he could find. The 
 Bishop took occasion to canvas the subject of 
 evangelistic appointment at some length, and 
 though disavowing any intention to reflect unfa- 
 vorable upon Bro. Bitler's case, it cannot be de- 
 nied that his remarks were open to such an in- 
 terpretation by the more conservative element, 
 and they were Avell prepared to antagonize the 
 request on the ground of its unwisdom. One 
 brother said very emphatically, "I know Bro. 
 Bitler, and I know that he is mistaken." This 
 was an unexpected shaft ; and if human agency 
 could add anything to the almost intolerable cross 
 that was resting upon him by having so recently 
 
78 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 decided to take that step, it was made more 
 heavy by such a declaration and others of a sim- 
 ilar character from the same source, 
 
 Bro. Bitler was summoned to appear at the 
 bar of the Conference, and in response to in- 
 quiries, he replied that his request had not been 
 made without a long and earnest struggle ; that 
 it was the heaviest cross he had ever been obliged 
 to take up, but that the conviction of duty had 
 been forced upon him that he must enter the 
 evangelistic field, which he felt willing to do for 
 the glory of God. 
 
 Rev. Dr. , discovering in these re- 
 marks a degree of deference to the wisdom of 
 the Conference, asked the direct question whether 
 or not he would be willing to abide by the de- 
 cision of the Conference. Bro. Bitler replied 
 that he would cheerfully do so, for he would 
 gladly be relieved of the responsibility of that 
 decision, if the Conference was willing to assume 
 it. 
 
 The writer at this point enquired of Bro. Bitler 
 whether he was willing to allow that body to de- 
 cide a question of conscience for him. To this 
 he replied that he was willing to be relieved from 
 deciding a question of so great importance, and 
 if the Conference chose to assume it he would 
 feel relieved from the obligation and consider it 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. JQ 
 
 a Providential indication. A Presiding Elder 
 rose and ironically offered the brother a big cir- 
 cuit as a wide field for his evangelical genius. 
 At this point Rev. John T. Miller came to the 
 rescue as his Presiding Elder, and said ; ■' Broth- 
 er Bitler is not hunting a place to preach. Be it 
 known to this Conference that a committee from 
 , Wesley Chapel waited on him and invited him 
 to become their Pastor for the ensuing year, and 
 moreover, there are plenty of charges that would 
 be glad to have him as Pastor." The Bishop 
 said there was nothing against him in the Cin- 
 cinnati Conference, and if he had remained, a 
 good appointment would have been given him. 
 One brother wanted to know where he was to 
 get his support — and, perhaps it would have 
 been a pleasure to Bro. Bitler, if just at that 
 time, he could have given the desired information. 
 
 Another suggested that he would get in the 
 way of the preachers — but since we have no re- 
 cord of any preacher that has since been run 
 over or jostled out of his pastorate, we may sup- 
 pose that said brother was prematurely alarmed. 
 
 Rev, S. A. Keene, Presiding Elder of the 
 Lancaster District, and under whose pastorate at 
 St. Paul's, Delaware, Bro. Bitler had been licensed 
 to preach, was ready with an enthusiastic endorse- 
 ment of the man and the proposed departure. 
 
8o NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 He referred to his work at Third street church, 
 Columbus ; and at Main street, Chillicothe ; and 
 said, that these revivals had become historic ; 
 and moreover, ended with the prophecy, that he 
 verily believed that Bro. Bitler in the evangelistic 
 field would see thousands converted to God. 
 
 When the question came to a vote of the Con- 
 ference it was carried by a very large majority, 
 so much so, that the most sanguine friends of 
 the evangelistic idea construed it as not only a 
 vindication of Bro. Bitler's course, but an en- 
 dorsement of special evangelistic work itself. 
 
 With absolute unity on the subject of revivals, 
 their utility and necessity, the question of polity 
 that relates to special evangelists, other than the 
 regularly stationed ministry, has in it some ele- 
 ments that give rise to a difference of sentiment 
 among us ; but is it not clearly manifest in the 
 multiplicity of agencies that are increasing with 
 every year, that God Himself is preparing an 
 ultimate solution that will of necessity identify 
 the church more fully with an itinerancy that com- 
 bines the advantages of the regular pastorate with 
 what is now known as the evangelistic work? We 
 cannot refrain from making the suggestion, that 
 many conservative ministers, who are doing the 
 regular work of pastors with a precision and in- 
 dustry that moves as orderly as well poised ma- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 8 I 
 
 chinery, are not calculated to secure and conduct 
 revivals. Sometimes with abilities that adorn 
 the pulpit, and pastoral gifts that superintend all 
 the details of church work, they not only fail to 
 secure much revival fruit, but their natural con- 
 servatism of taste and temperament leads them 
 to discredit and reject the help of an evangelist. 
 These are the very men that need such help. 
 With the coming of a fiery spirit, old methods 
 are laid aside, formalism is melted, and perfunc- 
 tory ecclesiasticism is jostled out of the pulpit. 
 The field is swept by a storm that purifies the 
 musty air, waters the earth, and leaves new ma- 
 terial in its track, out of which the patient pastor 
 may build and beautify to his heart's content. 
 People who are running off after ritualism are on 
 the wrong track. We have plenty of form ; we 
 want more fire. Many a man could mould, if 
 only the material were melted ; and if after em- 
 ploying the lense of old forms and methods we 
 have failed to secure a revival, we should welcome 
 the zig zag of an irregular bolt of lightning. 
 
 ^^k^^^ 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The J 'indication. 
 
 Revival at Corning— Obstacles— Political Ex- 
 citement—Rev. Benjamin Green— Warnings. 
 Saved from a Drunkard's Crave. 
 
 The Ohio Conference had adjourned. The 
 last opportunity to secure a settlement and a sal- 
 ary, for one year at least, had been declined. 
 The young evangelist stood facing all the proba- 
 bilities of a venture— if indeed to follow an indi- 
 cation of Providence can be called a venture. 
 An uncertain venture it seemed to some who 
 had less faith in his wisdom than in his conscien- 
 tiousness. But words of cheer were not wanting, 
 and fervent prayers for his success in saving souls 
 were offered by others who indulged the hope 
 that God would vindicate his choice in the con- 
 version of thousands. Besides the number of 
 invitations which he then held to assist the pas- 
 tors, others were added to the list, and it became 
 evident at once that more doors were open than 
 
 82 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 83 
 
 he could possibly enter. The field was open be- 
 fore him. Failure would prove him mistaken, 
 and success would vindicate the step he had 
 taken. 
 
 The mere personal vindication of any man's 
 choice of a field of labor amounts to nothing. 
 If he is mistaken he is to be pitied, and if he suc- 
 ceeds he will be congratulated. 
 
 But there are principles involved in a discus- 
 sion of the relative methods of soul saving that 
 vitally concern the church, and a vindication 
 of evangelistic agencies may be a proof that 
 Providence most emphatically endorses measures 
 that even good men are frequently found to op- 
 pose. The proof of any man's call to a special 
 work must be sought in the results attending his 
 labors. The world cares nothing for convictions, 
 and judges of men and measures on the basis of 
 success. It has no epitaph formen that follow 
 theirc onvictions even to the stake, except that 
 lone word, failure. 
 
 Even should Bishop Taylor and his heroic 
 band die in the wilds of Africa, his continenta 
 purpose for the redemption of that land, would 
 be branded as a failure ; though by their death 
 they might inspire the heroism of the church 
 for a thousand years. The standard therefore 
 by which the choice of our evangelist is to be 
 
84 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 adjudged, is the measure of visable success that 
 is found to attend his labors, over and above the 
 ordinary results of the regular pastorate. Mak- 
 ing due allowance for a small skepticism concern- 
 ing the permanence of his work, after it is duly 
 forgotten that revivals under the regular pastor- 
 ate are subject to a degree of shrinkage that de- 
 pends more on the weakness of human nature 
 than the genuineness of gospel methods employ- 
 ed in securing their conversion, this demand for 
 commensurate results in vindication of his choice 
 is very rigid. But, in this case we accept the 
 challenge even on that basis, and proceed to the 
 record of two of the most marvelous revivals that 
 ever graced the history of methodism in the 
 regions where they were held. We first preface 
 these two by a brief reference to the revival at 
 Coming, which, though not directly connected with 
 them, deserves mention in this account, if on!)- for 
 the reason that the number saved there so far ex- 
 ceeds the general average of revival results in the 
 regular pastorate that we might almost base a vind- 
 ication of Bro. Bitler's choice on that meeting alone, 
 and fully meet the radical demands intimated 
 above. Corning is a mining town of about three 
 thousand inhabitants, and the fact that it had 
 reached that size without having a methodist 
 church, serves to indicate the low state of morals 
 in that community. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 85 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Green, a local preacher, had 
 just built and finished a church at his own ex- 
 pense, and was then supplying the charge as 
 pastor. It was on his invitation that the evange- 
 list went to Corning. This was his first field 
 after Conference, and it proved in many ways, a 
 great trial to his faith. From Wesley Chapel to 
 Corning, into a church that had no sexton, and 
 an occasional turn at building his own fires, was 
 something of a contrast. With very few singers 
 to depend upon, especially at first, and only oc- 
 casionally an organist, and many other disadvant- 
 ages, the outlook seemed very unpromising. 
 But he tramped through muddy streets and over 
 the hills in the face of every difficulty, trusting 
 in God for a great revival. To add to his dis- 
 comfiture he was taken sick on the first Sunday 
 night and verily thought he would die before 
 morning. It is indeed surprising that he suc- 
 ceeded at all, for in addition to the ordinary dif- 
 ficulties referred to, he met with one that seemed 
 almost insurmountable. Having begun on the 
 7th day of November, he struck a wave of po- 
 litical excitement that was engrossing the atten- 
 tion of every man, woman and child. The in- 
 tense suspense that followed the election, when 
 everything was in doubt, and both parties were 
 wild with expectancy, was such a barrier to re- 
 
86 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 ligious interests that people very naturally joined 
 in the cry that nothing could be done. 
 
 Drunken revelings disgraced the streets, and 
 partisan bellowings rent the air. But the evan- 
 gelist believed in God, and blowing the gospel 
 trumpet against the wind, he soon saw results. 
 Before the close of the first week quite a num- 
 ber had been converted, and among them one 
 that had been rescued almost from the pit. Bro. 
 Green was a worthy co-laborer. An indefatig- 
 able worker, a vehement exhorter, and a man of 
 God, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, he ren- 
 dered invaluable service. His excellent wife, 
 full of'the same spirit, ami working with the same 
 faith, deserves equal mention with him. Both 
 over seventy years of age, they seem to have 
 been so much with the Savior, that they work 
 and pray with the ardor of youth. 
 
 When "Uncle Ben," as he is sometimes famil- 
 iarly called, gets a special baptism of the Holy 
 Spirit, he calls it a "Benjamin's mess," and judg- 
 ing from the frequency with which that happens, 
 he must live sumptuously. As the meeting at 
 Corning progressed, marked evidences of the 
 Divine presence increased, and conversions mul- 
 tiplied. One sad feature has hitherto been a 
 marked accompaniment of all Bro. Bitler's meet- 
 ings, and though we are not able to prove any 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 87 
 
 providential connection between them, the fact 
 remains that wherever his meetings are held there 
 have been cases of sudden death that have had 
 the effect of arresting attention and emphasizing 
 conviction among the ungodly. It was the case 
 at Third street, Columbus ; at Main street, Chil- 
 licothe ; at Gallipolis ; and at Circleville. At 
 Corning, a miner was crushed to death in the 
 mines; a young man was accidentally shot through 
 the heart, by a gun in the hands of a friend ; a 
 child was run over by a passing train. All this 
 within ten days, and during the revival. We 
 leave the reader to explain these unwelcome co- 
 incidences, and merely record them as matters of 
 fact. 
 
 Individual cases of conviction attended this 
 meeting that illustrate the power of the Spirit on 
 the hearts of the unregenerate. One man, a 
 Rail Road engineer, became very much troubled. 
 He dreamed that he was dead, and would wake 
 up at night with a start, as though some terrible 
 impression was preying on his mind. At one of 
 the meetings Bro. Bitler took occasion to refer to 
 the manner in which the Holy Spirit strives with 
 men to get them saved, and this engineer was so 
 vividly portrayed that he went home and accused 
 his wife of telling the preacher all about him. 
 
 One case of marvelous rescue that deserves a 
 
bb NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 place here was that of a Mr. L. M. A . He 
 
 was an Attorney, a man of fine education, and 
 one of the most able and successful lawyers in 
 Perry county. But he had become very dissipa- 
 ted and was fast hastening his end. For months 
 past he had been drinking from twenty to thirty 
 glasses of whisky each day, and indeed it had 
 become so much of a necessity with him, that he 
 was obliged to get pretty full to be himself and 
 do his work. One evening at the close of the 
 service, as Bro's. Green and Hitler were on the 
 way home, they met Mr. A. He was drunk 
 then, but talked rationally and seemed to realize 
 the embarassment of the situation. He told 
 Bro. Hitler that he was not in a condition to con- 
 verse with him, but he would be glad to see him 
 at his home in the morning, if he was alive and 
 not in hell ! Anticipating a horrible experience, 
 too disgusting to be described, he warned the 
 evangelist not to come before nine o'clock in the 
 morning. Promptly at that hour Bro. Bitler 
 called at his residence, and found him alone — his 
 wife being away from home at the time. The 
 wretched night he had passed had left him almost 
 dead, and his sufferings were not yet ended. He 
 said, "Elder, I thought I was going to die awhile 
 ago. I thought you had forgotten me, and I 
 would not get to see you. I have sinned in the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 89 
 
 face of light. My father was a minister. Is 
 there any salvation tor me?" He seemed very 
 much afraid that there was no hope, and that the 
 Lord would not hear him, but Bro, Bitler en- 
 couraged him to look to Christ and hope for sal- 
 vation. There was no fire in the room and the 
 day was bitter cold, but in spite of Bro. Bitler's 
 caution, he insisted that if the evangelist thought 
 there was any hope for him he would get out of . 
 bed and pray. It was of no use to urge him to 
 pray in bed, for he said if he died he would die 
 on his knees, so he crawled out in his night-dress 
 and went at it. Both plead with God, and as 
 Bro. Bitler encouraged him, hope began to spring 
 up and he said, "Elder, I believe the Lord is go- 
 ing to have mercy on me." "Yes," replied Bit- 
 ler, "7 know He is." 
 
 Both continued to pray until Mr. A. said, 
 "Elder, I believe the Lord has had mercy on 
 me." Bitler replied again, "I know he has." 
 And there in that attitude of helpless penitence 
 the light broke in and he went back to bed, say- 
 ing that he was ready, and if he died now he 
 would die a sober man. The vow was made 
 never again to taste a drop of liquor, and so des- 
 perate was his determination, that he said he 
 would refuse it if it was a necessity in order to 
 save his life. Accordingly he requested Bro. 
 
gO NOISE IT ABROAP. 
 
 Bitler to so inform the Doctor, which he prompt- 
 ly did, with the admonition that it would be bet- 
 ter for the patient to die than recover by the aid 
 of whiskey. The physician, who was a Christian, 
 said he would undertake his case, and he thought 
 he could get him through. In view of the des- 
 perate depth to which this poor inebriate had 
 gone, it was a matter of general opinion that in 
 e whiskey was a necessity to his living; 
 but with all that, in less than an hour afl 
 conversion he got up, dressed himself, drank a 
 cup af coffee, and Bro. Bitler, who had just been 
 telling of his conversion, was surprised to see him 
 walk into the church, in company with a : 
 Though so weak that he was obliged to hold on 
 to the seat before him while standing up, I 
 the people what lied had done for him, arid the 
 story took such a hold on the mind of the friend 
 that he had brought with him, th 
 too was down on his knees seeking- for salvation. 
 The next day was a day of physical suffering as 
 usual, but not attended with the arming 
 
 symptoms, and within a week' he was apparently 
 as sound as ever. Both himself and the e\ 
 ist believe thatin his case the I [oly Spirit v. 
 a special work of deliverance and actually re- 
 moved the desire for intoxicating liquors. I lis 
 faith was very soon after put to the test, for in 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 9 1 
 
 about two weeks after his conversion, Mr. A . 
 
 was employed in a case where he was obliged to 
 go into a saloon and make an inventory of all 
 the liquors it contained. He looked at them, 
 measured them, but neither tasted nor felt any 
 desire for them whatever. Such are the wonders 
 of grace ! In the course of several months that 
 followed, he was thrown into associations that 
 ordinarily were irresistable temptations, but a 
 firm reliance on God kept him faithful. At our 
 "Jubilee" held at Circleville, he was present by 
 invitation, and his address is referred to in the ac- 
 count of that meeting. 
 
 The meeting at Corning, in view therefore of 
 all these manifestations of the Divine presence, 
 after so many hindrances were overcome, and in 
 the face of so much political diversion, was sim- 
 ply marvelous, and it deserves to rank propor- 
 tionately with other great revivals that have since 
 followed. Ero. Bitler remained three weeks, and 
 one hundred and twenty-seven were converted and 
 united with the church. The work was hard, 
 the remuneration slight, and the evangelist left 
 for Gallipolis after contracting a cold that almost 
 ruined his voice ; but was not the vindication of 
 his choice thus far most emphatic and decided? 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 GALLIPOLIS. 
 
 Its Location — Commercial Advantages — Moral 
 Status, and Methodism. 
 
 Gallipolis is a city of about 7,000 inhabitants, 
 situated on the Ohio river midway between Pitts- 
 burgh and -Cincinnati, and just below the mouth 
 of the Kanawha River. Its advantages in a com- 
 mercial way are peculiar. With a river trade 
 that contributes largely to its interests and no 
 competing city of equal size and equal commer- 
 cial advantages nearer than Parkersburgh above, 
 and Ironton below, it is also the base of sup- 
 plies for the great Kanawha valley which drains 
 a vast section of West Virginia, including Charles- 
 ton the capitol of the State, and the mountain 
 regions beyond. Apparently cut off from access 
 to the Ohio trade by the hills on the north it is 
 one of the termini of the C. H. V. & T. R. R. 
 which affords an inland outlet to the rest of the 
 world, and commands the trade of towns, villag- 
 es and country, in all that section of the State. 
 When the great floods of 1883-84 spread dev- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 93 
 
 astation and ruin through all the Ohio Valley, and 
 other cities were submerged, Gallipolis stood safe 
 and dry above the highest water mark. While 
 built on a beautiful plane at the base of the hills 
 it was really the Ararat of the times, and the 
 centre of supplies to the suffering multitudes of 
 the towns above and below, and while indus- 
 triously distributing relief, the Board of Trade 
 could invite the attention of manufacturers to 
 one dry spot and solicit investments of capital 
 where floods are seen but scarcely felt. 
 
 The wholesale feature of its trade is vastly more 
 than the size of its population would seem to in- 
 dicate, and its diversity of advantages has made 
 it a sort of commercial Mecca. 
 
 RELIGIOUSLY. 
 
 Religiously, Gallipolis was about as high and 
 dry above the floods of salvation. 
 
 Subject of course to the ordinary quickenings 
 that often visited the churches, but not remarka- 
 ble as a religious Mecca. On the contrary the 
 prevalent standard of morals was very low. There 
 is a tendency to underrate and disparage the moral 
 condition of things among the people where we 
 happen to live. 
 
 The writer is a methodist preacher, and moves 
 regularly with the turn of the itinerant wheel, 
 
94 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 and he has found in each instance that current 
 opinion makes every town the worst town in the 
 state. We have no sympathy with that sort of 
 pessimism that makes outs the worst city, the 
 most indifferent community, and the most diffi- 
 cult church in the world to revive. Every city 
 is a Sodom, if the righteous are counted out, and 
 human nature is alike the world over. The Holy 
 Spirit is competent to rain down baptisms of fire 
 in one place as another. Gallipolis was a wicked 
 city. It had its quoto of saloons and as many 
 houses of ill-fame. While resident there we as- 
 sured ourselves of this truth, and with abundant 
 proofs ready for our defense, we published this 
 fact in the Gallipolis Bulletin. The statement 
 was never challenged, and if the reader lives in a 
 county seat, and feels surprised at the proportion, 
 let him look at home, and count the apartments of 
 of Jezebel near at hand. The single feature of 
 gambling that has always characterized the great 
 steamboat lines was largely prevalent at Galli- 
 polis, and it was to some extent a peculiar seat 
 of this vice. The following ' 'straw" copied from 
 the Ironton Irontonian by the Gallipolis Bulletin, 
 and inserted without note or comment, serves to 
 indicate a state of things commonly confessed to 
 be the truth : 
 
 "Gallipolis has borne the reputation for many 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 95 
 
 years of being the wickedest town on the Ohio 
 River. It has educated many gamblers and con- 
 fidence men, and the Courts of Lawrence Co., 
 have transacted considerable business with the 
 graduates of its slums. "Hell's Half Acre " 
 situated near it, has been but a patching to it in 
 comparison." 
 
 This "reputation" it seems was not confined to 
 the Ohio River, for in 1864 it had been noised 
 abroad as far as Northern Alabama, and was sta- 
 ple in some quarters of the "Army oi the Tennes- 
 see." They had gone into camp at Larkinsville, 
 near Huntsville, Ala. ; and while the Second Divis- 
 ion, and other troops of the 1 5 th Army Corps were 
 encamped there, drinking and gambling was very 
 prevalent. Col. J. L. Vance, now editing the 
 Gallipolis Bulletin, was invited among others, to 
 visit the quarters of Gen, Giles A. Smith. Here 
 were present quite a number of general and field 
 officers, and among the number Gen. Morgan 
 L. Smith. After indulging in what the frater- 
 nity might call "modest little games" such as 
 Whist, Cubbage, &c, Gen. Morgan L. proposed 
 a little game of poker. (It is said that nobody 
 ever proposes a big game of poker.) To this in- 
 vitation the party all acceded except the Col., 
 who excused himself, telling them to go ahead. 
 
 Gen. Morgan L. looked around at the Col., as 
 if in utter astonishment. 
 
g6 XOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 "What ! " said he, "aint you from Gallipolis ?" 
 
 "Yes," 
 
 "I don't believe it. I've seen a great many 
 men from Gallipolis, and I never knew one that 
 couldn't and wouldn't play poker ; and I don't 
 believe it. You never came from Gallipolis." 
 
 Thus "from Dan to Beersheba, " common re- 
 pute made, the city famous. 
 
 Later developments turned up, when, during 
 the revival, men were converted who confessed 
 their connection with it, and astonished the good 
 people with revelations of its powerful prevalence. 
 Without implicating others by name we were 
 given to understand that gambling was chief 
 among the ruling vices that cursed the city, and 
 that it was practiced on a large scale. 
 
 Further comment on the truth of the above is 
 seen in the fact that at the close of the revival 
 a number of suits have been instituted to recover 
 lost stakes in various sums. "Squealing" be- 
 came prevalent, and the gambler's code of honor 
 failed to stay the reactionary tide that spread 
 consternation among the gentlemen of that fra- 
 ternity. 
 
 The Gallipolis Journal of February 3rd., says : 
 "The trials before the Justice have been inter- 
 esting from the fact that a number of prominent 
 business men have been on the stand. The poker 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. gj 
 
 rooms are quiet as charnel houses." The article 
 referred to concludes by saying, "Another player 
 in this game testified in court that he couldn't 
 swear that he had not lost $10,000 in this game. " 
 The fact that ' 'there is now only one poker room 
 in the town, and this is a small game with a two 
 dollar limit," contrasts marvelously with the mass 
 of this particular vice of gambling which was 
 brought to light and finally buried by the great 
 revival. And again we say to astonished readers 
 look at home for an antidote to your surprise. 
 
 The Indians walked over mines of gold in 
 their native wilds totally ignorant of its existence, 
 and civilized innocents are constantly treading the 
 thoroughfares of social life in blissful ignorance 
 of underlying dross made up of vast conglome- 
 rate masses of vice. 
 
 It is seldom that a city gets a reputation for 
 vice and sin that is not deserved. The only lack 
 of justice is in the fact that other cities equally 
 corrupt are not as prominently named in the same 
 category. For where one vice is hidden or sup- 
 pressed others take precedence, and universal 
 depravity reeks in other forms and under other 
 names. "The whole world lieth in wickedness. ' ' 
 1 John, 5:19. 
 
 Gallipolis enjoyed (?) the just reputation of its 
 depravity. Some poor fellow got aboard a steam- 
 
oS noise it abroad. 
 
 boat at some point on the river, and too drunk to 
 care what became of him, he refused to give the 
 Clerk his destination. In response to the ques- 
 tion, "where are you going? he replied, "I'm 
 going to hell." "Well," replied the Clerk, "we 
 don't run there, but the nearest place at which 
 we land is Gallipolis." 
 
 This was accepted as perfectly satisfactory and 
 on that mutual ground of agreement he got off 
 at Gallipolis. 
 
 THE OTHER SIDE. 
 
 It has been said that where the devil has a 
 Babylon the Lord has a Jerusalem. This was 
 true of that city and section of country. Meth- 
 odism had not been asleep. Other churches were 
 there and their influence was not lost. A picture 
 of the better side would take in the educational 
 features of that city, which, with an Academy 
 whose influence has been like a fountain wafting 
 its spray through all the regions round about ; 
 a public school system as complete, effective and 
 brilliant,as any in the state. Forty-five metho- 
 dist church edifices in the county ; and the one at 
 Gallipolis itself, comparing favorably with the 
 best edifice in the bounds of the Ohio Conference, 
 outside the city of Columbus. With a member- 
 ship of four or five hundred, and the church out 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 99 
 
 of debt, it occupied a place of influence that con- 
 trasted marvelously with the early days of its 
 heroic struggle. But up through fiery trials and 
 cruel opposition it had come, facing a tide of old 
 French infidelity until it had almost died out, and 
 ecclesiastical prejudices that its conquering tread 
 had compelled to recognize and respect it, The 
 history and past triumphs of Methodism on that 
 ground were simply marvelous. The author 
 served that church for three years, and wrote its 
 history up to the date of a day of jubilee, that 
 celebrated the payment of the last dollar of its 
 indebtedness, and he knows something of the 
 toils and tears and triumphs, that preceded the 
 great revival of 1885, and prepared the way for 
 its immortal victories. The world will look at 
 the wicked city and then at the revival, but the 
 candid historian will not forget the long line of 
 regulars that started with a feeble band away 
 back in 18 17, and marched the banners of Meth- 
 odism up to the battle of 1885. True there were 
 worldly minds in the church. There were indif- 
 ferent hearts that sat Sabbath after Sabbath be- 
 neath that pulpit and were not stirred by sainted 
 names that graced each memorial window, There 
 was much to discourage any faithful pastor. 
 There were many things to militate against a 
 great revival, but with all that, let it never be for- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 gotten that the old guard of praying saints that 
 had stood by successive pastors, were there, A 
 Tuesday night meeting for the promotion of ho- 
 liness kept vestal fires burning, and the long, long 
 cry of hungry hearts had gone up as a memorial 
 before God. It is not essential to the glory of 
 God that we ignore his children, and cover up 
 their just relation to his work by raising a cloud 
 out of the wickedness of a city or the worldliness 
 of some men in the church. 
 
 The true leaven of Methodism permeated the 
 meal, and the writer, perhaps more familiar with 
 all its local phases than anybody else, well re- 
 members the earnest pleas that long ascended to 
 God for such a revival as we are now pleased to 
 record. Gallipolis methodists have reminded us 
 that in the midst of that period, when the last of 
 financial indebtedness was canceled and the out- 
 look was clear, we "ventured the prophecy that 
 the day was not far distant when some evangelist 
 would be sent of God to sound the trumpet that 
 would call the multitude, and secure the conver- 
 sion of hundreds on that hallowed ground." It 
 was but a prayer, and yet an utterance of pro- 
 phetic faith that took its bearings from the pre- 
 vailing spirit of expectancy and the white waving 
 fields of preparation. Since the days of Father 
 Battelle's pastorate, a Tuesday night holiness 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 10 1 
 
 meeting had continued to fan these vestal fires. 
 It was not a "strange fire" either, but the very 
 same that kindled the torch of Methodism in the 
 days of its dawn at Gallipolis, and flamed afresh 
 when the saintly Bishop Hamline preached the 
 unsearchable riches of grace on that same ground. 
 Were it not that local features are uninteresting 
 to the outside world, we could name other aspects 
 that worked for or against the success of this 
 great revival, but let it suffice that revivals of 
 various interest had graced the Methodism of 
 Gallipolis almost yearly in its past history. The 
 winter of 1884, under the pastorate of the present 
 incumbent, Rev. W. H. Lewis, was not without 
 fruit ; but the terrible flood that devastated the 
 Ohio Valley in the February of that year, swept 
 away the increasing interest of many revivals 
 along its course, and that of Gallipolis among the 
 rest. 
 
yk ¥ 
 
 
 ^W*. 
 
 % 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Gallipolis Revival. 
 
 Holiday Diversions — Appliances Used — A 
 "Watch Night J Meeting " — Young People's 
 Meeting — Going "Up Stairs" — Paying the 
 Bills. 
 
 The time for beginning a revival series, has by 
 many ministers and churches, come to be fixed 
 with the beginning of the "Week of Prayer." 
 This ordinarily dates from the first or second 
 Sabbath of the New Year, and escapes the di- 
 verting festivities of the holidays. 
 
 The Gallipolis meeting was begun by the pastor. 
 The initial work of the revival Avas done long 
 before it was recognized by the public. It be- 
 gan immediately after Conference in pastoral 
 visiting from house to house, in which the indi- 
 vidual members of the church were pledged to 
 pray for a revival ; many entered into this cove- 
 nant with the Pastor. This led to increased at- 
 tendance at the prayer meetings, and at once 
 the spiritual tide began to rise. The burden of 
 
 105 
 
106 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 all prayers seemed to be, "O Lord revive thy 
 work." Prayer meetings increased to three a 
 week, at which several persons were converted. 
 On the first Sabbath in December special revival 
 services began. There were two conversions the 
 first week. The Evangelist came during the 
 second week. 
 
 The visible prospect of success was beset with 
 innumerable difficulties. Great preparations 
 were being made in social and business circles 
 for a revival of another sort, and the announce- 
 ments for the season filled the programme with 
 parties, balls, and various attractions that made 
 a revival of religion seem an unwelcome intru- 
 sion. 
 
 Ordinary policy might have deferred the issue, 
 but the battle begun, it went right on with in- 
 creasing interest from the beginning. The sec- 
 ond night after the arrival of the Evangelist, 
 there were two conversions, and from that time 
 on, with a single exception, there were conver- 
 sions every night of the nine weeks. At first the 
 numbers were few, and confined chiefly to the 
 younger people. At the end of the month 
 there were about seventy-five, chiefly young 
 people, converted. 
 
 The local press was freely used at the begin- 
 ning of the meetings. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. lO"J 
 
 Notices of the revival services were posted in 
 conspicuous places. A large banner with a 
 printed invitation to attend, was unfurled neanthe 
 public square. The city was literally sown with 
 religious tracts and gospel invitations, and the 
 walls of the church were adorned with banners 
 covered with Scripture quotations. These ap- 
 pliances are fully explained in the chapter devo- 
 ted to Methods, and need only a brief reference 
 in this place. Aside from these, nothing unusual 
 or sensational was practiced to attract the crowds. 
 The first half hour of every service was devoted to 
 singing. Everybody sang. Many of the songs 
 were new and full of melody, and this feature of 
 the meeting was one of the most attractive and 
 inspiring of any that characterized that great re- 
 vival. Many were attracted to the house by a 
 volume of song that rolled out like the sound of 
 a Niagara, and could be distinctly heard for two 
 squares from the building. In spite of amuse- 
 ments and diversions of every sort, the meeting 
 grew steadily in power, and all the elements of 
 preparation, until the closing night of the Old 
 Year. Always ready to seize an opportunity, 
 the Evangelist saw one in the advent of a New 
 Year. 
 
 A Watch Night Meeting was announced, in the 
 hope that it would culminate in a favorable crisis, 
 
IOS NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 and give the revival a new impetus: and so it 
 proved. Conversions had characterized almost 
 every service, but nothing remarkable had trans- 
 pired. The " Watch Night" meeting proved 
 to be a Pentecost. It was a time of great power, 
 and those present continue to speak of it as 
 a marvelous meeting. 
 
 Just as the bell struck the closing hour of the 
 Old Year, and heralded the coming of the New, 
 two souls were clearly and powerfully converted 
 to God. A few who had doubted the propriety 
 of reviving an old fashioned Methodist custom 
 of sitting up all night, and yet could not resist 
 the novelty of being present, were soundly con- 
 verted to the idea before morning, and it is likely 
 that their impressions will find them awake on 
 the morning of January I, 1886. The novelty 
 of a midnight meeting, preceded as this was with 
 some noise of the revival, attracted a few straggling 
 sinners that had spent the previous hours of the 
 night in revelry; and such was the power of the 
 meeting that they went away under conviction, 
 and were subsequently converted. 
 
 On the first Saturday night of the New Year 
 a Young People s Meeting was held, at which the 
 first great "break" occurred, and twenty four 
 young persons were converted. It may be 
 worthy of notice, that Bro. Bitler never succeeds 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. IO9 
 
 in reaching the climax of a revival, or rather 
 that elevated plane of remarkable results that so 
 often characterises his meetings, until he succeeds 
 in capturing the young people. After the way 
 is prepared in general, and the propitious ele- 
 ments begin to be seen and felt, this is his first 
 strategic point. It is usually carried when the 
 older church people are absent, and Saturday 
 night is selected as a time most auspicious. 
 Then the forces are scattered, the older people 
 are less likely to attend, and a whole evening 
 can be devoted exclusively to the young people. 
 
 During the next ten days, and including the 
 results of this young people's meeting, there 
 were two hundred and fifty persons converted. 
 They were chiefly older persons, from all classes 
 of society. This is a most marvelous record, 
 and will find few parallels in the history of evan- 
 gelistic results in modern times. 
 
 With the new year, the regular night service 
 was transferred to the large audience room up 
 stairs. The usual objections were urged against 
 the change, both on the score of its militating 
 against the interests of the meeting, and a reluc- 
 tance on the part of the Board to throw open 
 the upper room to the" backseat fraternity, " who 
 leave evidences of their defilement where they 
 happen to be seated for any length of time. 
 
110 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Moreover it was said that the lower room — 
 which, by the way, is so arranged that its seat- 
 ing capacity is nearly equal to the upper room, 
 except the gallery — was not yet crowded, and 
 that until then there was no occasion for the 
 transfer. We refer to this for the reason that 
 doubtless many evangelistic pastors have found 
 the same difficulty when attempting larger things. 
 Ordinarily, a lecture room is the scene of all the 
 revivals in a given church, and the devoted peo- 
 ple of the church become so accustomed to its 
 sacred surroundings and homelike presence, that 
 they lose their valor, and let their zeal be dissi- 
 pated, when with the coming of the Sabbath and 
 its larger attendance, the services are held in the 
 audience room. Besides, there are in all our 
 Boards and churches, those who look upon this 
 room as forbidden to the tramping masses. The 
 carpets are too costly, and the furniture too fine, 
 for the commonplace use of what they regard as 
 the lower classes. Revivals of religion are coarse 
 and- vulgar, as compared with the ordinary, and 
 almost ritualistic dress parade of a fashionable 
 Sunday service ; and the vandalism of marching 
 the masses into this "dim religious light" of the 
 main audience room, is simply shocking. The 
 cost of lighting and heating is much greater, and 
 the expense of wear and tear, refitting and fur- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I I I 
 
 nishing, is too intolerable for their unbelief in the 
 grand results that may follow. We aver that 
 when our Methodist churches are too fine for the 
 admission of the masses, and the practical work 
 of saving men by revival methods, Ave might as well 
 withdraw from the evangeistlic field altogether, 
 and make way for a Salvation Army that can 
 march into theaters and saloons and capture men 
 in their every day clothes. 
 
 At Gallipolis, they are fond of referring to 
 some of the arguments used against occupying the. 
 upper room, at the expense of one good brother, 
 who will forgive the allusion, if we modify the 
 story by saying that we have not had opportunity 
 to hear his version of it. It is said that he very 
 earnestly opposed the change, and when the multi- 
 tude thronged the place he insisted that it was 
 unsafe. Having remained away from the meet- 
 ings for a few days, he ventured to return, but 
 instead of going into the upper room where the 
 congregation was assembled, he went into the 
 lecture-room below, and spent a greater part of 
 the evening. Doubtless as he sat beneath that 
 vast audience, he was musing on the probabilities 
 of a terrible catastrophe, and willing to become a 
 martyr to his faith. 
 
 In the matter of occupying the larger room a 
 principle is involved. It looks like an announce- 
 
I I 2 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 ment of proportionate attendance and results. 
 It is an exhibition of faith that is measured by 
 the enlarged seating capacity. In brief, it looks 
 like business. It is business. It takes some 
 heroism to attempt it, and commits the pastor 
 and the church to a siege of life or death, sink 
 or swim, survive or perish, and they must have a 
 revival. It is seldom that a great revival comes 
 to the man that feels his way along from meeting 
 to meeting, and method to method, and only ad- 
 vances as his confidence increases. In the work 
 of God we must plunge into the sea, and trust 
 the Holy Ghost to help us to the shore. Here 
 is the faith, 
 
 "Which laughs at impossibilities, 
 And cries it shall be done." 
 
 The wear and tear is considerable, and the ex- 
 pense is proportionate, but so is the wear and 
 tear on the preacher and the people, and the 
 cost of a great revival could only be justified by 
 the salvation of souls. Great efforts have their 
 compensations however. At Gallipolis the col- 
 lections defrayed the incidental expenses ; the 
 evangelist, who had trusted the voluntary support 
 of the people, was remunerated ; a new library 
 was founded, and six hundred dollars contrib- 
 uted for this purpose ; and about eight hundred 
 dollars was raised for repairing and refitting the 
 church. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. II3 
 
 The same readiness was manifested at Circle- 
 ville. One Sabbath morning, several weeks after 
 the revival, the pastor began the service at half 
 past ten, the usual hour ; baptized a number of 
 children, using the disciplinary form of ritual, 
 preached a sermon on the subject, called for con- 
 tributions to make repairs and purchase new fur- 
 niture and a carpet, and before twelve o'clock 
 the amount subscribed was a little more than one 
 thousand dollars. Any genuine revival, if judic- 
 iously managed, will pay its way, meeting current 
 expenses as they accrue, and making the church 
 look like a new convert — regenerated. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Continued. 
 
 The "High Water Mark" — Special Meetings. 
 Press Comment — Drunk — A Converted Cath- 
 olic — Obduracy Conquered. 
 
 The work in the main audience room began 
 at once to assume large proportions. Gallery, 
 aisles, and every available space was crowded, and 
 it soon became necessary to open the lower room, 
 and run two meetings at the same time. Even 
 then, at times, many were turned away for want 
 of room. By this time the great point of attrac- 
 tion did not centre in the mottoes, and other 
 appliances used to arrest attention ; nor yet in 
 the Evangelist ; nor wholly in his preaching. 
 The preaching w r as not of the sensational kind, 
 but was direct, pointed and practical — the old- 
 fashioned Methodist kind — gospel preaching. 
 Hearers were urged to a definite committal, an 
 unconditional surrender to God, and sinners were 
 taught to look for a present salvation by faith. 
 The great attraction had come to be salvation it- 
 
 114 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I I 5 
 
 self. The number of conversions at the altar, or 
 near it, during ten successive nights, averaging 
 twenty-five souls a night, gave the meeting such 
 prominence that every-thing fell before it, or rose 
 with the tide. At one meeting the number 
 reached thirty-five, and the evangelist, contrary 
 to his wonted custom, violated good taste(?) and 
 ran the risk of unfriendly criticism. Ke was not 
 guilty of standing on his head, nor of any other 
 outlandish proceeding; but he did stand on the 
 pulpit, long enough to make an extraordinary 
 announcement ; and, in ordinary times, long 
 enough to wreck the reputation of any preacher 
 in the world. But it will be seen that the extra- 
 ordinary circumstances of the time fully warranted 
 the proceeding. From the beginning, the meet- 
 ing increased in power, until conversions began 
 to exceed former meetings. They were announced 
 near the close more rapidly than the doxology 
 could be sung. The standing multitude covered 
 the platform and surrounded the pulpit. The 
 evangelist conducted the battle standing on a 
 chair. As the numbers ra» up to 30-31-32-33 
 34-35 ! ! — having neither wings, nor a chariot 
 with which to rise, he wanted a higher peak, and 
 stepped up on the pulpit beside the Bible, with 
 this declaration, "I just want to say that this is 
 an extraordinary occasion, and I'm responding 
 
I 1 6 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 to an extraordinary impulse. It is only once in 
 a lifetime that a man can afford to stand here, but 
 I desire to have it known as the high water mark 
 of this meeting, when the preacher stood on the 
 pulpit." At various points on the Ohio River 
 are marks of the highest rise of the great flood 
 Some of these water marks are cut in 
 stone and revered as memorials of disaster ; but 
 here was a flood of salvation, worthy to compare 
 with the swelling currents of that great river, and 
 if the evangelist had not caught the idea of util- 
 izing the parallel, it would have been a noted 
 omission very uncommon with him. Lest the 
 reader, from his dim and distant view of the 
 whole scene, incline to criticise the proceeding, 
 
 ust remind him that in not one instance 
 have we heard it mentioned with disapproval by 
 
 .vho were present. Such was the intense 
 interest of the occasion, and the naturalness of 
 the step, that several persons of excellent taste 
 and good sense have assured the writer that it was 
 a climax, only to be approved and appreciated 
 by these who witnessed the heavenly pentecost 
 that seemed to rest on all the people. Perhaps 
 others have stood on the same "sacred desk" to 
 hang up a horse-shoe as an appropriate symbol 
 for a wedding, but never before did the preacher 
 mount the cushion to chronicle the high water 
 mark of a great revival. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. l\J 
 
 The marked and special features of that meet- 
 ing, would make a chapter of thrilling interest. 
 The scenes attendant on the conversion of thirty- 
 five souls, of every shade of previous life and 
 experience, together with such manifestations of 
 joy and triumph as will characterize a great church 
 when formalism melts down, and stiffness lets go, 
 'can hardly be described, and we forbear the at- 
 tempt. 
 
 In addition to the frequent use of both rooms 
 for public service, special meetings were held at 
 various hours ; for children, for young men, for 
 seekers, for women, and for men only. Some of 
 the greatest victories of the revival were secured 
 at these special meetings. In the meetings for 
 men only, an opportunity w r as afforded for direct 
 and personal appeal, that was not only employed 
 by the preacher in public address, but by a hand 
 to hand method of personal persuasion in which 
 christian men engaged in every part of the house. 
 
 During the period of the greatest interest in 
 the general meeting, and on to its close, it was 
 found necessary to exclude all children under 
 twelve years of age from the night meetings. 
 Since they were abundantly provided for during 
 the day, it was not a total neglect of the children, 
 and they were prevented from occupying seats 
 that were needed to accommodate older persons. 
 
I 1 8 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 With all that could be done, a multitude were 
 continually blocking the aisles, lining the wails, 
 and thronging the doorway to the pavement, pa- 
 tiently standing by the hour, to witness the work 
 of salvation at the altar and in the congregation. 
 During this intensely interesting period the work 
 was not confined to the altar, but conversions 
 occurred all over the house. 
 
 Meetings were held daily at 2:30, 6 and 7 p. 
 m. The evangelist preached almost every night, 
 and on the Sabbath ; led much of the singing ; 
 visited among the people, and labored incessantly ; 
 while the pastor, and during a large part of the 
 time, the Presiding Elder, were abundant in labors 
 and untiring in efforts to save the people. To a 
 looker on, it seemed that everybody was at 
 work, and that sort of apology which disapproves 
 of personal work in the congregation, seemed to 
 have but a slim following. 
 
 Chief among these laborers was the pastor 
 himself, heading the forces and gleaning in every 
 quarter of the congregation. Not only in the 
 church, but everywhere — on the streets, in shop, 
 and store, and office, the people were at work, 
 and salvation was the theme. Every temporal 
 interest became subordinate. 
 
 The whole city, not only felt the influence of 
 the revival, but was intensely effected by it in 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 19 
 
 every department. No opposition seemed to be 
 manifest to any degree. Hardened sinners were 
 amazed and trembled as before the Lord. Many 
 who ordinarily oppose revival efforts were either 
 silenced by the popular current of approval, or 
 won to the side of praise and congratulation by 
 the conversion of their friends. The most hos- 
 tile foes of the church were either disarmed by 
 the spirit of the meeting, or left so completely 
 alone, that their very presence was not noticed. 
 An article which appeared in the Gallipohs 
 Journal 'of January 21, 1885, so fairly represents 
 the work at that stage that we insert it, in part. 
 
 A MARVELOUS REVIVAL. 
 
 The Town Torn Asunder by the Most Re- 
 markable Religious Work in the His- 
 tory of Ohio. 
 
 The great revival at the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in this city, has assumed the proportions ot 
 a sensation. The very by-ways of the city are fra- 
 grant with the incense of a new-born life. * * * 
 The Upheaval. 
 
 Mr. Bitler's manner in the pulpitis impassioned to 
 a high degree. His presence puts spirit into a con- 
 gregation and his audience throbs with his every mo- 
 
120 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 tion, and become lost if he but disappears for a 
 moment. He is gifted with remarkable executive 
 ability. So earnest is he that his work is reflected in 
 his face, at which one never tires of looking. 
 Through it all there is a strain of wit so charming as 
 to blend the large crowd into one happy whole. 
 Nothing disconcerts him. He is irrepressible and 
 untiring. 
 
 The M. E. Church is the largest and costliest 
 church edifice in this city, and probably as '. 
 any in Southeastern Ohio. 
 
 Meetings began in the basement, but the increased 
 interest compelled the use of the up-stairs. This 
 room, too, was soon found to be not adequ 
 overflow meetings were held below, and frequently 
 both rooms were full and people were standii 
 
 The work of conversion progressed in every seat 
 of the large edifice. Throughout the whole, the plan 
 cf work has included the simple means of invitation 
 to the altar. No special aim was made to -pulverize 
 the rum power," or break the spell of the gambling 
 hell, so in consequence no special animosity was met 
 in the fight. The first converts were ladies and young 
 people, then followed others from the ranks of that 
 large class of young men just entered on a business 
 career. Soon the conquests took a more astonishing 
 turn and here finds its marvelous character. The 
 next grade of converts were men oi fixed habits. 
 Men who had turned the cold shoulder to the church 
 portals for years, entered and melted as snow before 
 fire. From every quarter of the city ; from every 
 class of business ; men of every nativity ; rich and 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 12 1 
 
 poor alike ; the drunkard and the incipient gambler, 
 came and bowed their lowly heads, seeking for a 
 better life than they had had. The spirit ran as wild- 
 fire through entire families. The cherub of ten, and 
 the hoary frosts of seventy-five were given to God. 
 
 It is in the air ; in the faces of the people you 
 meet ; it whirls up the by-ways, like the driven snow, 
 and finds lodgment everywhere. 
 
 Day and night the work has gone on. Through 
 snow and sleet and rain and cold, the people have 
 flocked to church and been reluctantly driven at night 
 from the portals. Every convert has been a worker 
 and brought lambs to the fold. The experience of 
 those converted as related in general meeting, have 
 made strong men shed tears. 
 
 Within six weeks, up to and not including Monday 
 last, 410 persons were converted, and 257 names 
 were added to the church rolls. During that time 
 the Presbyterian Church has added fifteen members, 
 the most of them undoubtedly receiving grace at the 
 M. E. Church. 
 
 The "incipient gambler" was doubtless among 
 the seekers, but so was the gambler of maturer 
 experience ; and as to the drunkard, he was there, 
 drunk. Three cases we could name came to 
 the altar in an intoxicated condition. One of 
 them we witnessed while visiting the revival. He 
 seemed almost too helpless to kneel, and we 
 doubted the outcome. Hope and sympathy was 
 given the right of way however, and he was en- 
 
122 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 couraged to pray. At a later meeting he came 
 to the altar sober, and was soundly converted. 
 More than four months later while visiting at 
 Gallipolis we made special inquiry as to the out- 
 come, of which we had before doubted, and it 
 was a joy to discover that the transformation was 
 complete, and he was numbered among the most 
 reliable converts of the meeting. Of fine per- 
 sonal appearance, and worthy to rank among men 
 of ability, he seemed to deserve the confidence 
 and esteem of those who had labored so earnestly 
 to secure his salvation. 
 
 Another, whose case equally illustrates the 
 power of grace, is reported still faithful. He 
 was a printer by trade. Entered the army in 
 md came out of the service a drunkard. 
 Descending at every turn lie became a "tramp." 
 Was kicked out of one office after another, and 
 became so utterly abandoned, that his friends 
 gave up all hopes of his rescue. Divorced from 
 his wife, and supreme'}" devoted to drink, he 
 • sacrificed everything, and was willing to risk any- 
 for Lis abominable god. Once he swam 
 the Ohio river for a drink, and at another time 
 he undertook to walk across the railroad suspen- 
 sion bridge at Point Pleasant for the same price. 
 The bridge hangs high enough above the river to 
 admit the passage of steamers, and at the time 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 23 
 
 the attempt was made the ties were covered with 
 about eight inches of snow. In the absence of 
 the watchman, whom he had induced to be ab- 
 sent on some deceptive pretense, he undertook 
 the perilous trip, and when near the opposite 
 side, missed his footing, and fell about thirty feet 
 into a drift of snow. His experience, as it ap- 
 proached the end of this folly, was of the same 
 sort. On the 7th of January he sold his overcoat 
 for two dollars, and spent the money for drink. 
 On the 8th he traded his clothes for a poorer suit 
 and fifty cents. On the 10th he traded his shoes 
 for an older pair and fifty cents, and of course 
 the '-boot" went for drink. Passing the church 
 on that day, he was attracted by the singing, and 
 just as a multitude of others had done, he paused 
 to hear it, and ventured at last inside the church. 
 He was not a promising candidate for church 
 membership and when he gave his name to the 
 i it was written in the back of the book. 
 But coffee and kindness, with all that usually ac- 
 companies both, was administered by a brother 
 who believes in the salvation of a drunkard ; and 
 the next day he went to the meeting sober, and 
 was converted. 
 
 We <nice heard an eminent evangelist say, that 
 
 I could save any sinner out of hell," and in 
 
 f the many illustrations which might 
 
124 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 be given, from the actual results of this great 
 revival, and others we have recent!}' witnessed, 
 the truth of the statement is strongly reinforced. 
 
 When it is said that all classes were reached 
 revival, it is meant to be underst 
 literally true Every conquest gave new . 
 the meeting, and sustained public interest at the 
 
 iiiy were the high b 
 down and the lowly exalted, but such as were 
 separated from the church by social and eccle- 
 siastical barriers, were attracted to tl 
 and converted to God. 
 
 A young man who was a Catholic, of 
 a third generation of Catholics, and knew abso- 
 lutely nothing of Protestant worship, whil 
 ing the church was attracted by the singing. He 
 asked the boys about the door what was 
 on. When told that it was a Methodist revival, 
 lie added his ignorant prejudices to this informa- 
 tion, and said he would go inand "seethe Meth- 
 odists hop/' The singing was divine, the meth- 
 ods were strange, but his heart was all broken 
 up, and he scarcely knew why. The next day 
 while canvassing for some article that he was 
 selling, he chanced to call at the residence of a 
 
 brother M ., and very soon began to inquire 
 
 about the revival. It was all a mystery to him. 
 The family gave him all the information they 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 25 
 
 could, and a son of brother M . took an es- 
 pecial interest in him and encouraged him in every 
 possible way. In a day or two the young man 
 secured a bible, and spent the most of that night 
 reading it, and trying to "pray as the Methodists 
 do." He went to bed with a heavy heart, but 
 could not sleep. Toward morning, however, 
 he went to sleep, and when he awoke everything 
 was bright. His heart was light, and he was 
 very happy. Instead of darkness and gloom the 
 mystery was solved, and all was "brilliant as an 
 electric light " He went to the church and told 
 his experience, and the unaffected simplicity of 
 his story gave weight to his testimony, and won 
 the sympathy of all that heard it. His business 
 makes him a wanderer, but his letters continue 
 to assure his Methodist friends that the Savior is 
 with him. 
 
 The following case is given as an illustration of 
 the power of grace, the mercy and providence 
 of God, in spite of obdurate rebellion J — C. 
 was regarded in early life as a youth of good 
 morals, and took some pride in the reputation it 
 gave him ; but subsequent life developed a very 
 different course. At the age of sixteen he had not 
 tasted liquor. One winter, during a revival at 
 some place in Virginia, four young men with 
 whom he associated, came to him and urged him 
 
126 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 to go with them and join the church. This 
 "moral young man" persuaded them that they 
 could be christians out of the church as well as 
 in it, and the whole part}- went to the theatre 
 The four led dissipated and vicious 
 lives. One was killed by a mob in the Black 
 Hills. One fills a felon's grave in Missouri. One 
 was Ellis, of "Ashland murder" fame. The 
 fourth is serving a life sentence in the Tennessee 
 penitentiary. 
 
 J — C. married a christian woman, who plead 
 with him daily to "come to Jesus," but to no 
 effect. The loss of a little child stirred him, but 
 he became rebellious. The sickness and death 
 of his wife was attended with powerful incentives 
 to repentance, but proved unavailing. Rallying 
 for a moment when dying, his wife gave him a 
 final invitation and said, "will you come to Jesus 
 now ? " with her last breath. He became a wan- 
 >ut wherever he went, above the din of 
 machinery, the noise of the train, or the roar of 
 the wind, "come to Jesus" rang in his ears. 
 
 In the wilds of Texas, among the "cow boys," 
 he was taken sick. Gradually sinking, he be- 
 came so ill that his companions supposed him 
 to be dead, and selected a place to bury him. 
 During all this time the admonition was constantly 
 in his mind, but though great'y alarmed he refused 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 12/ 
 
 to pray, and when he began to rally so that he 
 could speak, he uttered a terrible oath. After 
 that his convictions wore away, and he spent four 
 years in vice and dissipation. He went to the 
 revival with no other motive than to ridicule the 
 young- converts, and when approached by them, 
 responded ^with an oath. When an invitation 
 was given to seekers to repair to the lower room, 
 he went down with a friend to see what v/as done, 
 and took a seat near the altar with no thought of 
 repentance. Bro. Bitler soon found him, and 
 after ignoring his defpnses, began to ply the truth. 
 Finally he said to him, ' 'will you come to Jesus 
 now?" This was the same arrow that had 
 pierced his heart before. The struggle v/as des- 
 perate, but he soon replied, "I will," and kneel- 
 ing at the altar, he cried for mercy and was saved. 
 He has since been faithful, and feels that God 
 has a mission for him. If to his natural abilities, 
 which are considerable, is added a course of men- 
 tal training, he may yet be instrumental in doing 
 great good. 
 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Galhpolis Revival, Continued. 
 
 Six Hundred and Twenty-five — A Skeptig 
 Saved — Backslider Reclaimed — "Weak- 
 Minded." — Non-Church-Goer~, — County Of- 
 ficials. — FIRE : ! 1 
 
 The whole number that professed conversion, 
 from the beginning to the close of the revival at 
 Gallipolis, was six hundred and twenty-five. This 
 
 includes the child of 10 and the old man of 70. 
 It include-; all grades and classes in society, the 
 lowest and the highest. Among the number are 
 river men, railroad men, mechanics, merchants, 
 teachers, drummers, physicians, lawyers and 
 county officers. 426 joined the M. E. Church, 
 some joined other churches in the city, others 
 joined in the country. A large number of these 
 converted were already church-members ; not 
 only Methodists, but Presbyterians, Episcopalians, 
 Baptists, Lutherans and Catholics. 
 
 At the close of a Sunday night service prior 
 to the coming of Brother Bitler, a stranger tarried 
 
 128 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 29 
 
 after the congregation was dismissed. The pas- 
 tor found him weeping, and in response to his 
 request Bro. Lewis promised to pray for him. 
 He was a "drummer," and appeared to be deep- 
 ly convicted. Obliged soon to leave the city he 
 agreed to write and inform the pastor when he 
 was converted. It was but a short time, however, 
 till he was found in an evening meeting with a 
 smiling face that seemed to indicate a change in 
 his experience. When opportunity offered, he 
 came forward and told the congregation that he 
 had been converted on the train. He was a man 
 of good address and excellent appearance, and 
 his testimony added materially to the interest of 
 the meeting. He had been a Superintendent of 
 Public Schools, and gave evidence of some cul- 
 ture. A skeptic, he had wasted some time in 
 the study of the New Testament in the original, 
 and endeavored to utilize his knowledge of the 
 Greek in criticising the text, but his conversion 
 had put a new phase on his interpretations, and 
 revealed the power and wisdom of some passages 
 that were stumbling blocks before. Returning 
 to his home in Indiana, he told his wife of the 
 great transformation, and she at once became in- 
 terested. Formerly a christian, she had back- 
 slidden and given up attendance at the church, 
 but this induced her to £0 aerain. She was soon 
 
I30 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 after reclaimed,' and w rote Bro, Lewis telling him 
 of it, and how happy they were at home. 
 
 Three or four persons were converted before 
 the coming of the evangelist, but a much larger 
 number date their conviction to a period before 
 any special meetings were held. Either some 
 special providence, or the direct operation of the 
 Holy Spirit, preceded the influence of the meet- 
 ing, and prepared the hearts of many for its com- 
 ing. It is doubtless true oi all great revivals, 
 that the Holy Spirit pioneers the way, and does 
 a great work among the people, before any visi- 
 ble signs are discovered. Numerous instances 
 attest the truth of this remark, and both at Gal- 
 lipolis and Circleville, it was no uncommon thing, 
 to hear the newly converted refer to a time long 
 before the meetings when their convictions began. 
 
 Another instance of this is found in the case 
 
 of John L . He had been a christian at one 
 
 time, and for a period of about seven years he 
 was faithful. But little by little the light went 
 out, and ever since the war he had been in a 
 backslidden state. For five years he had not at- 
 tended the church, but while receiving the "Tem- 
 plar" degree in the Ohio Valley Commandery, 
 he determined to join the church. This was six 
 weeks prior to his final surrender at the meetings, 
 and prepared the way for it. He declined going 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 29 
 
 to the altar for some time, and prayed a good deal 
 at home, and elsewhere, believing that he could 
 be converted there, as well as at the altar. His 
 was not a solitary case in this respect; for many 
 resisted this step during the meetings, but were 
 finally obliged to surrender. Indeed we never 
 knew, either in this revival or any other, a single 
 person, to stand on this refusal and be converted. 
 It involves a principle. Submission must be 
 complete. Fortunately for him, after some time 
 lost on his method, he yielded the point, and 
 coming to the altar, he fell on his knees like a 
 man letting go of a rope. He was a large, mus- 
 cular man, and his coming down was tremendous. 
 In a few minutes he was saved. A brief sequel 
 to his conversion is worthy of a place in this 
 account, and we give it as an illustration of the 
 power of grace. He was a man of quick tem- 
 per, and when angry, very profane. He was 
 employed by a large wholesale house in draying, 
 and sometimes resorted to a dray pin to conquer 
 his mules. His cruelty when very angry was 
 proverbial, and though a man of excellent parts, 
 and highly esteemed for many good qualities, he 
 had no mercy on an obstreperous mule. One 
 rainy day, soon after his conversion, he was 
 greatly tried on his weakest point. He was put- 
 ting up his team, expecting to get ready in time 
 
130 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 to go to the evening meeting. The mules sud- 
 denly took it into their heads to run away, and 
 off they went to the hills, with John after them. 
 Tired, hungry, and wet, he climbed the hill, oc- 
 casionally tumbling down on the way. He said 
 the devil wanted him to swear, but he wouldn't. 
 Once he fell down and struck his head against a 
 post, and the devil was sure he would swear, but 
 he didn't. Finally he drove the mules back to 
 the stable, and then as if they had not forgotten 
 the last runaway scrape, when they had been 
 pounded with a hickory broom handle, they 
 scampered away again, and this time took a trip 
 down the river. This was a hard trial, but after 
 some difficulty they were returned to the stable, 
 and as John went in, he saw the hickory broom 
 standing by, and he avers, that the devil and the 
 mules were sure that he would use it, but he dis- 
 appointed both. Instead of the old programme 
 he gave them a good supper and a better bed 
 than usual, and repaired to the house. When 
 he went in he sat down to supper, and putting 
 his face in his hands began to pray. His wife 
 said, "John, what's the matter with you? " He 
 replied, "I've got a victory over the devil and 
 the mules, that's what's the matter. ' ' He became 
 very happy while recounting the triumph. The 
 joy of that victory more than repaid his enforced 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I3I 
 
 absence from the church, and the escapade with 
 the mules proved a means of grace not soon to 
 be forgotten. 
 
 When Bro. Bitler went to Gallipolis the visible 
 cloud was but the size of a man's hand. Worn 
 and jaded from excessive labors at Corning, he 
 went to work with all the energy he possessed, 
 and in the firmest faith that a great revival was 
 at hand. He did not succeed, in one instance at 
 least, in making a very favorable impression as 
 to his ability. A gentleman whose intelligence 
 and social standing ranked with the best, and who 
 came so near being a "brother" that he was al- 
 ways counted on for his sympathy and support 
 in almost every enterprise of a philanthropic 
 character, and of whose position and influence we 
 forbear to speak lest it seem to be flattery, was 
 in attendance early in the meeting. Having 
 "sampled" the evangelist, he said to his friends 
 that Mr, Bitler would likely succeed in getting 
 some "weak-minded and emotional people, but 
 that he would never reach the thinking class." 
 
 However, before the meeting had progressed 
 
 very far, Mr. . was himself among the 
 
 "weak-minded." Soundly converted to God he 
 threw his soul into the meeting, and worked 
 hard and faithfully to the end for the salvation 
 of others. 
 
!32 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 There were very many persons converted who 
 had not been inside of a church for years. 
 It was no uncommon thing to hear them say that 
 they had not been at any church for five, ten, and 
 even a longer period of years. One had not at- 
 tended divine service for about twenty-seven 
 years. He was converted the first night he 
 attended the revival. The number of men con- 
 verted in the various revivals conducted by Bro. 
 Bitler, who have not been inside of any church 
 for years, is hard to estimate ; but in every in- 
 stance, the proportionate count is large, and very 
 conspicuous as a feature of each meeting. 
 
 Sometimes their very mistakes of mannerism, 
 and the difficulty with which they seem to adapt 
 themselves to the new order of things, gives 
 novelty to their testimonies, and abundant proof 
 of their former absence. One would hardly 
 think that the simple forms of expression and 
 methods of service, so common among all wor- 
 shipers, would be a new world to many that daily 
 pass our doors ; but such is the case, and while 
 denominational polity ranges our forces into 
 companies and regiments, there is a mass outside 
 that know no difference between Methodist, 
 Presbyterian, etc. , except that they are located 
 differently, and go by different names, "With 
 what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 33 
 
 again;" and, to use their own terms, while we 
 are looking down on them they are looking up at 
 us, as "tony" and "goody" people, that are "gone 
 from" them. 
 
 The conversion of such men includes not only 
 regeneration, but a voyage of discovery, and 
 they come to the shores of a continent that was 
 an unknown world before, Their conversion 
 may be regarded as remarkable, but the methods 
 that secure their attendance, must be credited 
 with the largest share in the victory. Even more 
 remarkable is the conversion of men with whom 
 the harvest is nearly past and the summer almost 
 ended. Old men, who have run the gauntlet for 
 many years and Aveathered the influences of many 
 revivals, are the most improbable subjects of 
 conviction and conversion on earth. Business 
 men are usually too much engrossed to give a 
 revival any attention. County officials are too 
 closely identified with their constituents, and too 
 conspicuously observed, to think of bowing at 
 the feet of the Saviour. And yet the Gallipolis 
 revival numbered among its converts representa- 
 tives of all these classes. 
 
 The Sheriff was arrested. Under the great 
 seal of the Holy Spirit he surrendered to a writ 
 that took possession of his heart. The Prosecu- 
 ting Attorney pressed his suit at the bar of the 
 
134 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Highest Tribunal and secured a decision in his 
 favor. It would seem that a man who had loved 
 the church and labored for its advancement for 
 years ; who had served two terms as Probate Judge 
 of the county, would long ago have obtained the 
 witness of his adoption as an heir of God. It 
 was not till this great revival, however, that 
 
 Judge C , was satisfied with this item of his 
 
 Father's Will, but then and there it was admitted 
 to probate and put beyond question. 
 
 FIRE!!! 
 
 The Gallipolis fire department was not called 
 out to extinguish the pentecostal flames, but as 
 they began to assume the proportions of a con- 
 flagration, the company were among the interested 
 spectators. They were a stalwart set of men, 
 full of heroic blood, and in the prime and strength 
 of young manhood. On the score of prompt- 
 ness and efficiency, the late Chief Bunker, of 
 Cincinnati, awarded them the praise of being the 
 best volunteer fire company in the State. 
 
 Their Chief was a worthy representative. 
 Physically a good specimen of the typical police- 
 man, he was of a generous and companionable 
 nature, and wielded an uncommon influence 
 among his associates. His experience, afterward 
 recited, proves that he could hold his own with 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 35 
 
 any of them in dissipation. On the eve of the 
 New Year he spent the closing hours of the year 
 in drinking and gambling. Having drank till 
 i a. m., and played thirteen games of "freeze 
 out," he went home and told his wife that he 
 had been at the 'watch night' meeting at the 
 Methodist church. Profanity was ■ among his 
 chief vices, and it had become so much of a 
 habit that he could scarcely drive a nail without 
 swearing. Doubtless his experience in all these 
 things, is so frequently duplicated, that it is in 
 no sense remarkable, but the grace that arrests a 
 man of his habits, and works a thorough trans- 
 formation, must be regarded as marvellous. 
 Along with others of the fire company he 
 went to the altar and was soundly converted. 
 These were soon transformed into workers, and 
 before long one half of the whole department 
 were won over to the side of Christ. 
 
 On one occasion, and while a member of the 
 department was on the floor speaking, an alarm of 
 fire was sounded. They fled at once from the 
 church, but discovering it to have been a ' 'false 
 alarm," they returned and resumed their places 
 as before. During their absence the time was 
 spent in singing, and when they came back the 
 brother who had been interrupted took the floor 
 again, and beginning where he left off, he con- 
 
I36 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 eluded his remarks as if nothing had happened. 
 
 We are not able to give the whole number 
 converted, but the victory was so far complete 
 that the old programme was revolutionized, and 
 a new order of things established. On the last 
 evening of Rro. Bitler's labor at Gallipolis, the 
 "amen corner" was reserved for the firemen. 
 Headed by the chief, they made their way 
 through the crowded aisle and filed into their 
 seats. After they were seated the chief rose up, 
 and addressing the pastor, said, "Bro. Lewis, if 
 you'll allow me, I'd like to make an announce- 
 ment." Permission given, he proceeded to say: 
 "Down at our hall awhile ago we passed a reso- 
 lution, the substance of which is, that we would 
 dispense with our annual ball on the 22nd of 
 February, and have a prayer-meeting instead ; 
 and we want all you good people to come and 
 pray for us." 
 
 The resolution was passed on the 6th of Feb- 
 ruary, and reads as follows — 
 
 "Resolved, That instead of our annual ball on 
 the twenty-second of February, we hold a Union 
 Prayer-meeting, and that an invitation be ex- 
 tended to all the churches and the public in gen- 
 eral." 
 
 The prayer meeting was held on that date, ac- 
 cording to announcement. It is estimated that 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 37 
 
 five hundred persons were present. The time 
 was devoted to prayer, testimony, and brief ad- 
 dresses, and the meeting was said to be one of 
 the most spiritual and profitable of any of the 
 day meetings of the revival series. It began at 
 half-past two, and closed at four o'clock. Bro. 
 Lewis proposed a thank offering for the benefit 
 of the department, and with true methodistic 
 spirit, a collection was taken which amounted to 
 twenty-eight dollars. Later on the firemen recip- 
 rocated the favor, and held a festival for the pur- 
 chase of a carpet for the Methodist church, and 
 the proceeds netted ninety-two dollars. The 
 general reformation which took place in the hearts 
 of these men is further evidenced by the fact, 
 that prior to the revival, it was customary at 
 almost every meeting, to purchase a keg of beer 
 and drink the liquor in their hall, but since then 
 not a word has been said about a keg of beer. 
 During a brief visit at Gallipolis, just four months 
 after the resolution referred to was adopted, we 
 were present when an alarm of fire called out 
 the force. The fire was near a saloon ; but the 
 chief called attention to the fact, that such was 
 the good effect of the revival on the whole de- 
 partment, that none of the men were seen to 
 enter the saloon. We congratulate him on the 
 fact, that five members of his own family are 
 
133 
 
 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 expecting to be admitted into "full connection" 
 with the church, and that so many of his asso- 
 ciates will stand by him on that day. May the 
 Gallipolis fire department always have grace in 
 proportion to their grit, and meet at last where 
 "alarms" are never sounded. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Continued. 
 
 The Local Press. — Journal, Bulletin, Tribune, 
 and District News. — Twenty Six Hundred 
 and Fifty One. — The Dipper. — River Men. — 
 All Aboard ! 
 
 With files of the Gallipolis papers before us, 
 we gratefully acknowledge the ample notices and 
 abundant reports which they record. From the 
 beginning to the close of the meetings, they 
 kept up with the growing interest, and devoted 
 many columns to the revival. They were loyal 
 to the interests of the work, and contributed 
 immensely to its success. They kept the people 
 informed, and recited the details of every advance. 
 They attracted the attention of multitudes, who 
 came from the country, and distant points, to 
 witness the marvellous results and carry the 
 tidings home. Other papers throughout the 
 State took up the story, and "noised abroad" the 
 work of God. Friendly editorials, flaming head- 
 lines, and abundant space devoted to the revival, 
 gave it a prominence that inspired the workers at 
 
I4O NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 home, and kindled faith and zeal in many revivals 
 remote from Gallipolis. The number of papers 
 throughout the State that made friendly allusion 
 to the meeting, was so great, that after investi- 
 gating the matter, we abandoned the intention of 
 publishing a list of them. The news was printed 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in many 
 places doxologies were sung in grateful appre- 
 ciation. If ever we doubted the wisdom of 
 ' 'noising abroad" the work of God, by publishing 
 revival accounts, this recent illustration of its in- 
 fluence in quickening the struggling forces in 
 other places, would suffice to dispel all misgiv- 
 ings. 
 
 The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette though 
 furnished with a full and correct account, ignored 
 the revival altogether, provoking another paper 
 of opposite political faith, to say, ' 'Is it possible 
 that that paper has no sympathy for, and 
 takes no stock in great reformations!" We 
 cannot hope always to enlist the secular press, 
 but in this case doubtless, a Gallipolis social 
 scandal, or political fight, would have been 
 fully reported ; and it could hardly be said 
 to be of more general interest to the mass of its 
 readers, than a wholesale reformation like that of 
 the great revival. Ordinarily the press recognized 
 the value of the work being done, and the demand 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 141 
 
 for extra numbers gave proof that it was abund- 
 antly appreciated. Articles from the Gallipolis 
 Journal, Bulletin and Tribune, would include a 
 splendid account of the revival from the begin- 
 ning to the close, and worthily detail the chief 
 features of the meeting. The spirit and tone of 
 these papers, as well as an index of the true state 
 of the meeting, is seen in the following : 
 
 "The revival at the M. E. Church is the most 
 wonderful exhibition of religious feeling and fervor 
 ever seen in this city. Its influence permeates the 
 whole city. It is the topic of conversation every- 
 where — in the household, in the store, in the shop, 
 and even in the saloons. We trust the good seed 
 thus sown, will bear fruit an hundred fold, and prove 
 the reformation of the city. Religion is the purifier 
 of human character. It destroys the dross in the 
 soul and leaves it a pearl of beauty. The more the 
 world has of it, the better is its condition." — Journal, 
 Jan. 14, 1885. 
 
 "The converts and accessions to the church, are 
 not only now counted by scores, but by hundreds, 
 and the tide is still rolling in. Daily and nightly 
 the church, upstairs and down, is a jam, and many 
 cannot be seated. Moody and Sankey's great meet- 
 ings in Brooklyn and New York in 1876 did not ex- 
 ceed in interest, in proportion to the population, the 
 meetings here. In February of that year they opened 
 their meetings under the auspices of the Young 
 
142 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Men's Christian Association in the two halls of the 
 great hippodrome, the largest accommodation in 
 that city, and which when filled contained n,oco 
 people. One thousand persons have been accommo- 
 dated in the audience room of the church here, and 
 nearly, if not quite as many more in the lecture room 
 and gallery, and while thousands could not obtain 
 entrance to Moody and Sankey's meetings in New 
 York, hundreds could not be accommodated here. 
 No inclemency of weather, no rush of business, no 
 private matters, no nothing keeps away the people, 
 as is often the case in the Summer season. 
 
 Is this not wonderful for a city of 7,000 or 8,000 
 inhabitants ? No man, however differing in views 
 from the Methodists, can find it in his heart to 
 condemn it. When hundreds of persons for the first 
 time in their lives offer testimony to a neAv heart, we 
 must believe there is reality in it. And there can be 
 no sin in inviting people to serve God and forsake 
 evil. Many may fail and fall back after a time ; but 
 men fail at everything they undertake. It is only the 
 few who are successful at anything they go at, but 
 generally all are better for having tried, and many 
 recuperate and succeed after many failures. Those 
 who get the real, genuine religion, in our opinion do 
 not fail. It is only those who are deceived by a false 
 excitement, that discover after a time that they have 
 no religion. If religion saves it saves. We all know 
 excitement and scare do not change the average con- 
 dition of a man ; but that men can and do reform 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 43 
 
 until they are not the same is beyond all controversy 
 and question." — Bulletin, Jan. 13, 1885. 
 
 "The revival at the M. E. Church is the most won- 
 derful meeting ever held in this part of Ohio. ' It 
 has reached all parts of the city and all classes of 
 people. It started with Sunday School scholars and 
 has reached out until now business men, professional 
 men, county officials,' firemen, saloonists, gamblers, 
 drinkers, in short, the whole community is wrought 
 up to a high state of excitement, and we presume 
 more religious talking has been done in Gallipolis in 
 the last six weeks than in six years before. Even 
 church people look on in amazement, while all ex- 
 claim "It is the Lord." Every citizen who loves 
 order and decorum in the community should lend 
 all the aid he can to promote the religious awaken- 
 ing." — Tribune, Jan. 20, 1885. 
 
 These papers were at times literally crowded 
 with revival news — the Journal and Bulletin, 
 sometimes devoting two columns and a half to 
 the meetings. The Bulletin exceeded in headlines, 
 of which the following, printed at the head of an 
 article of two and a third columns in the issue of 
 Feb. 3rd, is given as a sample: 
 
144 
 
 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 THE SW0R.D OF THE LOUD 
 
 and of mn 
 
 " Saw ye not the clouds arise, 
 Little as a human hand? 
 
 Now it spreads along the skies, 
 Hangs o'er all the thirsty 
 land." 
 
 BEAM S 
 
 From Heaven Still 
 Descending ! 
 
 CLOUDS OF WITNESSES TES- 
 TIFY THEIR SINS 
 FORGIVEN. 
 
 And Join the Ransomed 
 Heirs of Heaven ! 
 
 YOUNG MEN AND MAIDENS 
 RAISE THEIR THANK- 
 FUL VOICES HIGH. 
 
 Old Men and Children, Praise 
 the Lord of Earth and Sky ! 
 
 From every stormy wind that 
 
 blows, 
 From every swelling tide of 
 
 woes, 
 There is a calm, a sure retreat— 
 'Tis fouud beneath the Mercy 
 
 Seat. 
 
 THE GREAT METHODIST RE- 
 VIVAL STILL BOOMING. 
 
 i Bow to the Prince of Peace, 
 Eternal Truth and Love ! 
 
 362 Connect Themselves 
 With the Church. 
 
 The Membership Doubled »nd the Tide 
 Still Boiling in. 
 
 " All glory be to God on high, 
 And to the earth be peace. 
 
 Good - will henceforth from 
 Heaven to men 
 Begin and never cease." 
 
 The Gallipolis District News literally gleamed 
 with good news; not only with reference to the 
 work being done in the city, but throughout the 
 District. Between the alternatives of deciding 
 whether the revival at Gallipolis was largely in- 
 strumental in inspiring the results, or whether 
 the descent of the Holy Spirit throughout the 
 District was independently co-incident, we leave 
 the reader to judge. In either view of the case, 
 God is glorified in the triumphs achieved. Re- 
 
GALLIPOLIS MEMORIAL M. E. CHURCH. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 4/ 
 
 vivals were had in almost every charge, and the 
 total number of conversions reported by the pre- 
 siding Elder to May'i, is twenty-six hundred and 
 fifty-one. 
 
 A few of the pastors on the District received 
 assistance directly from Gallipolis. Rev. L. C. 
 Haddox, at Wellston, was favored with the help 
 of Rev. P. P. Hamilton, a special evangelist, formerly 
 a pastor in the Ohio Conference, but of recent 
 years on the Supernumerary list, for the same 
 reason that Bro. Bitler is in the local ranks, viz., 
 to be an evangelist without appointment. The 
 number of conversions at Wellston is reported 
 at more than five hundred. Most of the pastors 
 of the District labored without ministerial help, 
 and the wide spread results affirm the fact that 
 the revival was general. It would be impossible 
 to estimate the amount of influence exerted upon 
 the general aggregate of these marvellous results 
 by the Gallipolis meeting. Noised abroad by 
 the press ; witnessed by some of the preachers 
 who went away imbued with its spirit ; wafted 
 by the winds or heralded by common report, it 
 became the centre of an attraction, and the source 
 of an inspiration, that was felt far and wide. 
 When the Holy Spirit condescends to employ 
 every avenue of influence, and the work of revi- 
 val is general, it is impossible to dissect and 
 analyze primary causes. Here is a poetic view 
 
I48 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 oi the subject that discovers a vein of eloquence. 
 At a jubilee meeting held at Proctorville, in the 
 same District, one brother, in giving in his ex- 
 perience said, as he was going home one evening 
 he fell to gazing on the face of the Heavens. It 
 seemed as if the moon never shone so beautifully, 
 the stars never twinkled so brightly, and the sky- 
 never seemed so deep and blue. And as he be- 
 held, he saw the seven stars, and he thought of 
 the seven spirits of God and the seven golden 
 candlesticks. Then his eye caught the great 
 dipper, and it came to him all at once, that the 
 Lord had been using that dipper to pour out sal- 
 vation on this people for the last six weeks. 
 Without doubt the whole District was refreshed 
 from the same "dipper," and salvation flooded 
 the churches as never before. 
 
 RIVER MEN. 
 
 One very characteristic feature of the Gallipo- 
 lis revival, was, that men were converted in 
 schools or groups. A local paper gave the names 
 of twenty-seven river men that had joined the 
 Methodist church. There were represented 
 master and pilot, mates, engineers, stewards, 
 cooks, striker engineer, pantry-men, cabin watch- 
 men, cabin boys, firemen and deck hands. 
 Among the instances of unconscious influence 
 was one that occurred on board the steamer Boone, 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 49 
 
 plying between Charleston and Cincinnati. The 
 Pilot, a gentleman well advanced in years and ex- 
 perience, in looking down from the pilot house 
 upon a boy of about fifteen years of age, noticed 
 something strange in his demeanor. The boy 
 had been very profane, but on this trip he was 
 quiet and serious, and spent some of his time in 
 reading a pocket testament. This roused the 
 pilot to enquire of the captain, "What's the 
 matter with that boy." The captain replied that 
 the boy had been to the Methodist church and 
 got converted. They both agreed that it was 
 a good thing for the boy, and that he ought to 
 be encouraged in it. On the down trip to Cin- 
 cinnati and all the way back, the pilot watched 
 the boy, and did some thinking besides. He 
 came to the conclusion, that ' 'if there was some 
 Divine power which could do that for a boy, why 
 not for a man?" On his return to Gallipolis, 
 though not in the habit of going to church, he 
 thought he would go and see for himself. During 
 the service he stood up and said, "Christians pray 
 for me. " His wife had been converted sitting by 
 his side in the church, and he afterward went to 
 the altar and was saved. 
 
 Our sources of information will not justify an 
 exact estimate of the number of river men saved, 
 but there were others besides those already enu- 
 merated ; and their number, habits, and inaccessi- 
 
5o 
 
 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 bility, taken into account, makes a marvellous 
 record, and serves to illustrate the power and 
 extent of the Gallipolis revival. It even justifies 
 the display headlines of the Gallipolis Bulletin of 
 Feb. 9th, which we append in fac simile. It may 
 serve as a sample, for it is well to remember, that 
 chief among Bro. Bitler's methods is the employ- 
 ment of all friendly agencies to "noise abroad" 
 the work of God. In this case the press of the 
 city was not only friendly, but it may be said to 
 have flamed with revival news, and was made the 
 subject of special comment on several different 
 occasions by both ministers in charge. 
 
 609! 
 
 Are You All 
 Aboard ? 
 
 J SLOWING WE OF THE 
 
 smpiEHiu 
 
 Yet the Good Old Ship 
 
 of Zion lingers in 
 
 the Harbor, 
 
 WAITING FOR THE LAST 
 
 BELATED STRAGGLER 
 
 TO COME IN. 
 
 Sweel Farewells and Waving 
 Signals iVafted to the Hap- 
 py Crew, and Borne 
 Along Like 
 
 8PICI BREEZES, 'NEATB ( KV- 
 LON'SSKI OK BLUE. 
 
 Jacob, With All His Tribes, Shall 
 Sing, and Judah Weep No More, 
 
 When Every :oul On Ssird thit Ship 
 Shail Beach lbs Chining Shore I 
 
 Pb»re everlasting *(jrlni? ahi' 
 
 Acd u-ver-with 1 
 l>- ath. like a narrow sea, di 
 
 This heavenly lai.d from 
 
 i is bevond the swelling fiool 
 .Stand dressed In lit ir.g green : 
 Sn to the Jews old Canaan llo "1, 
 While Jordan rolled between.. 
 
 ouIJ we bui climb where Moses stood, 
 
 And view the land-cape o'jr, 
 !«t Jordan's stream, nor death's cold Mood 
 
 Should Wight os from ih<? abort,. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Gallipolis Revival, Concluded. 
 
 Great Sinners — Deliverance from Bondage — 
 Saloon Interests — Amusing Persecutions — 
 Testimonial from the Mayor of the City — 
 "Refugees" — Prohibition of the Liquor 
 Traffic. 
 
 Experiences that dwell on previous wickedness 
 are to be discouraged. The tendency to boast of 
 former badness savors of pride, and seems like 
 glorying in shame. But we must not forget that 
 the salvation of a great sinner is a better illustra- 
 tration of the power of grace, than an ordinary 
 case of conversion. The grace that comes to 
 the heart of a child, saves it from the commission 
 of sin, and terminates the life in piety, is greater 
 than an abrupt transformation from vice to virtue, 
 and more to be desired. But it seems less a mar- 
 vel. That "Jesus came to save sinners," has a 
 better illustration in the rescue of the profligate 
 and abandoned, than the conversion of youth, 
 where the possibilities of future sin are hidden 
 from view, and grace interposes a barrier that 
 
 151 
 
152 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 turns the current of years to a better life. The 
 testimony of a saved man, whose life has not vio- 
 lated the social standards of morality, has ^posi- 
 tive worth. That of one whose record has been 
 one of flagrant violations may have a negative, as 
 well as a positive value, as an exhibition of the 
 power of grace. If it be given with any motive, 
 other than that of glorifying God, it is justly 
 subject to criticism, and ought to be discouraged. 
 With this end in view, we have ventured a few 
 glimpses into the pit whence some of these con- 
 verts were taken. It must not be supposed that 
 such cases were so numerous as to give caste and 
 color to the revival. Naturally more stress was 
 laid upon them by the people and the press, but 
 the great majority of converts were from families 
 usually represented in the church or congregation. 
 First among the "hard cases," we think it 
 just to rank the moralist. That the revival reached 
 some of this class who had been too good to re- 
 pent, and too hardened to yield, and who had 
 passed through former revivals without any ma- 
 terial change, must be accepted as proof of its 
 power, scarcely paralleled by the conversion of 
 the most abandoned sinner. If the reader doubts 
 the propriety of classing these with hard cases, 
 we reply that St. Paul had the same class in view 
 when he said, "they being ignorant of God's 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1: 5 3 
 
 righteousness, and going about to establish their 
 own righteousness, have not submitted themselves 
 to the righteousness of God. " They are hard to 
 reach, and many of them stood the fire of all 
 that marvellous pentecost without a sign of sur- 
 render. Past revivals, personal appeals, visible 
 demonstrations of the power of God, and more 
 than six hundred conversions about them, left 
 them more firmly intrenched than ever before. 
 True, their ranks were broken and depleted, but 
 it seemed to take them longer to yield to God and 
 receive the Savior, after bowing at the altar, than 
 others who came all the way from flagrant sin. 
 
 In the preparation of this volume we have 
 found it difficult to secure the various phases of 
 personal testimony as they were presented at the 
 meeting, and it has been made a delicate task to 
 treat the subject, because a number whose cases 
 were so remarkable as to justify special mention, 
 are desirous that the past be forgotten and its 
 record omitted. In deference to this request we 
 make no mention of some experiences that be- 
 long to this chapter. On one occasion Bro. Bit- 
 ler desired to know how many persons were 
 present that could testify to the following, viz., 
 That they had been addicted to strong drink ; 
 that they had experienced a change while at the 
 altar ; and since that time, they were either de- 
 
154 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 livered from the appetite entirely, or could now 
 deny themselves without inconvenience. Twenty- 
 seven men stood up in response to that inquiry. 
 The same question was put with regard to pro- 
 fanity, and it was desired to know how many 
 persons could testify that heretofore they swore 
 almost unconscious]}-, as ifithad become a "second 
 nature ;" and who had experienced the same 
 change at the altar, and now were free from either 
 the desire or tendency to swear. Eighty-six 
 persons arose in response to this. Bro. Bitlcr 
 then inquired for a lawyer if any were present, 
 
 when some one said that Judge H , was in 
 
 the house. Addressing him, Bro. Bitler wanted 
 to know if this testimony would be taken in court. 
 The Judge replied in the affirmative, and the wit- 
 nesses were seated. 
 
 We give the facts without attempting an ex- 
 planation of the philosophy of this change. 
 That it may prove but temporary, in some cases, 
 we have no doubt. That temptation may assail 
 them, is proved by the fact, that "the servant is 
 not above his master." Whether deliverance 
 from an appetite, or an appetency, is more than 
 a mental change, arising from a moral transfor- 
 mation, we leave the reader to surmise. It can- 
 not be doubted, however, that men are delivered 
 from what are usually termed appetites for stim- 
 
 L 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 5 J 
 
 ulates, narcotics, etc., in many instances. 
 Whether it be simply the triumph of moral 
 forces over the physical nature, or whether it be 
 noetic — originating in the mind — is a question 
 that does not trouble the helpless inebriate, or 
 inveterate sinner. The fact of deliverance is be- 
 yond doubt, and any sinner may be saved. 
 
 The saloon interests of Gallipolis were very 
 materially effected by the revival. Aside from 
 the direct influence of the meeting, there was an 
 indirect influence, that seemed to pervade the 
 whole community, and saioonists suffered most. 
 Receipts fell off in a few instances, from the 
 usual Saturday night income, of from seventy- 
 five and one hundred dollars, to the meagre sums 
 of three and four dollars. Among smaller con- 
 cerns the tills were sorely destitute of change. 
 This statement is verified by competent men, 
 and the fraternity is reported as "grumbling now, 
 and holding on for better times." An article 
 from Rev. F. R. Crooks, to the Western Christian 
 Advocate, has the following on ''Gallipolis Saloon- 
 keepers and the Revival." 
 
 ' 'The Gallipolis saloon-keepers are as mad as 
 "March hares, " and are cursing the preachers 
 andthe Church. Their "biases of peesncss" look 
 as lonesome as our churches formerly did. These 
 human vultures have had it all their own way for 
 
15^ NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 a long time. Steadily they have moved up from 
 the lowest quarters of the city until they occupy 
 the finest locations, and as steadily have they 
 raked into their bloody tills the money of the city 
 and country on both sides of the river until, like 
 "Jeshurun, " "they waxed fat and kicked." But 
 the day of retribution has come. Saloons, which 
 before the revival took in from S75 to $100, re- 
 ceive now from $2 to S3. The leading saloonist 
 was so fearful that the others were getting his 
 trade that he sent spies to all he saloons in the 
 city, but alas, not a sound broke the awful silence. 
 "Gone to the revival. " It is amusing to see them 
 out on the Street drumming up custom. As a 
 converted toper was passing a saloon the bar- 
 tender stepped to the door and said: "Come in, 
 come in." "Not now." "Come in and drink 
 atmy expense." "No, sir." "Bin up gittin' 
 some of Bitler's religion, have ye ! I have just 
 taken two drinks, and that's the religion that 
 suits me." "I have tried your religion for four 
 years; have given you all my money, and a mort- 
 gage on my body and soul, and I believe I like 
 Bitler's best. " I submit this question, Can the 
 Church defend these young converts against the 
 human ghouls?" 
 
 The convert referred to is reported, at this 
 writing (June 4), to be of the same mind he 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 57 
 
 was in the winter, and prefers the Bitler religion 
 still. 
 
 We find among the revival notes, in a Gallipo- 
 lis paper, a brief statement that seems to indicate 
 that the author of the above article is not held in 
 very high esteem by the " Sons of Belial," It 
 reads as follows : 
 
 ' ' During protracted meeting services at Cham- 
 bersburg, last week, some miscreant shaved the 
 tail of Rev. Crooks' horse, cut the bridle to 
 pieces, and cut and carried away the side pieces 
 to his saddle to sole their ' ornery ' shoes with. 
 If Rev. Crooks comes up with him he'll be 
 apt to convert him by the old patent plan, which 
 is next thing to sudden death." 
 
 Once, on a previous occasion, the writer gave 
 offense to the liquor fraternity in Gallipolis, and 
 " some miscreant "retaliated with his knife. But 
 nothing was hurt but the harness, and we drove 
 away from the vicinity of a leading saloon proud 
 as a martyr. 
 
 Observing in one of the Gallipolis papers a very 
 remarkable statement with reference to the effect 
 of the meeting on the morals of the city, we wrote 
 to the Mayor to ascertain its truth, and received 
 the following document in reply : 
 
 March 17, A. D. 1885. 
 C. F. Creighton, Circleville, O.: 
 
 My Dear Brother — Your kind and I assure 
 
158 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 you welcome letter of yesterday came to-day, 
 and I take pleasure in answering your question. 
 I will give you a short statement from my crim- 
 inal docket, and you will see a vast difference in 
 the amount of crime being committed in Gal- 
 lipolis: 
 
 During the month of Dec, 1883, arrests, - 50 
 
 Jan./ 1884, " - 31 
 
 Feb., " " - 30 
 
 Up to March 17. 1884, arrests, - - - - 17 
 
 128 
 
 During the month of Dec, 1884, arrests, - 29 
 
 " * " " Jan., 1885, " - 16 
 
 ' ' Feb. not one arrest, - OO 
 
 Up to March 17, number of arrests, - - 10 
 
 55 
 I think you can see by this that the coming of 
 Bro. Bitler and the Spirit of the Lord has done 
 wonders for Gallipolis, and it is not only for to- 
 day, but I am fully satisfied that it is for all time 
 to come. You will notice that no arrests were 
 made during the month of February. When I 
 made my monthly report to- the City Council at 
 the end of that month, no arrests, it was ordered 
 spread upon the minutes as something unheard 
 of. I hope you may have as good, if not bet- 
 ter, results in your city as we have had in this, 
 place, and may the Lord be with you. 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Jno. M. Alexander, Mayor. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 59 
 
 This paper, under his official seal, and signed 
 by the Mayor of the city, is a contribution to 
 revivalistic literature that commends itself to the 
 practical sense of all lovers of law and order. It 
 was presented among the responses at our Jubi- 
 lee meeting held at Circleville, and its reading 
 evoked a thundering doxology. 
 
 REFUGEES. 
 
 Among the "Refugees" that fled from the 
 great revival was a saloonist, that "found no rest 
 for the sole of his foot" when last heard from. 
 The Pastor of West Rushville Charge, Rev. Ira 
 M. Brashares, contributes the following : 
 
 About the last of February, 1885, there ap- 
 peared at Bremen, Ohio — a village more than one 
 hundred miles from Gallipolis — a stranger whose 
 habit was somewhat neglected. Though once 
 fine, it was much worn, and indicated a declension 
 in worldly prosperity. In conversation with a 
 citizen of the place, he said he was from Gallipo- 
 lis, that for years past he had had a prosperous 
 business, and all went well until recently. Bit- 
 ler's revival had depressed his trade, and he was 
 looking for a better location. When asked as to 
 what he was engaged in, he replied that he was 
 a saloon keeper, but there was no trade in that 
 line. His property and stock were depreciated, 
 
J 6o NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 and he was willing to sell at fifty cents on the 
 dollar, and he wanted a town without a Metho- 
 dist church. The Bremen citizen pointed to the 
 spire of the Methodist church near by, and pre- 
 sumed that he wouldn't be suited there. The 
 saloonist then inquired about the next town up 
 the Ohio Central R. R; when informed that 
 Rushville, and West Rushville, were but four 
 and a half miles distant, he wanted to know if 
 they had live preachers over there. The citizen 
 informed him that Rushville had just closed a re- 
 vival with one hundred conversions, and West 
 Rushville was then in the midst of one in which 
 sixty had been converted, and the work just 
 fairly begun. Muttering something about revi- 
 vals he turned his back on Bremen, and like 
 Dryden's bird of passage, "northward he took 
 his way." 
 
 The following from the Ross County Register of 
 February 28, 1885, is an editorial that serves a 
 double purpose, and we reproduce it entire. 
 
 Not long since we remember to have published an 
 account, from the Gallipolis Journal, of a remarkable 
 religious revival then in progress in that town, in 
 which it was mentioned as if it were a singular fea- 
 ture of the occasion, that no "special effort was made 
 to pulverize the rum power." And yet we read that 
 the habitues of saloons and saloon-keepers were 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. l6l 
 
 among those drawn into the meetings, and that not a 
 feAv of the first class, and some of the latter, had be- 
 come converts to religion and had started out to lead 
 a new life. We are reminded of this matter at this 
 time on reading an account in a Waverly paper of 
 the recent coming to that town of a Gallipolis saloon- 
 keeper, in search of a new location, because, as he 
 said, his business in that town had been ruined by 
 the religious uprising referred to, and he had found 
 it necessary to go elsewhere. Can not ministers 
 draw from this a suggestion worthy of their serious 
 attention in the matter of conducting religious reviv- 
 als? It has often occurred to us that if more 
 work had been given to the preaching of old-fash- 
 ioned gospel sermons, and less to special efforts to 
 "crush the rum power," that both temperance and 
 religion would be far in advance of what they are 
 to-day. For after all is said and done, the most 
 effectual way ever devised to put down the liquor 
 business is to persuade people not to drink. A relig- 
 ious revival like the one lately occurring in Gallipo- 
 lis is worth more to the cause of temperance than a 
 dozen Maine laws. The one draws liquor drinkers 
 and sellers into the churches — makes friends of 
 them, as it were ; while the other, in antagonizing 
 and treating them as outcasts and criminals, drives 
 them away from the churches and often makes them 
 hate the very name of religion. There is good reas- 
 on for the Church to change its methods in this 
 regard. 
 
 That weekly papers at a distance published 
 accounts of that great revival, not only serves to 
 
162 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 indicate its marvelous character, but also the im- 
 mense advantage of securing the favor of the 
 local press. The incident quoted from a Waver - 
 ly paper is but another flying spark, and if we 
 could but survey the whole field, scintillations of 
 various sorts, would doubtless appear in many 
 places. The lesson drawn from the facts stated, 
 is hardly legitimate. We have heard others de- 
 clare, in the light of the Gallipolis and Circle- 
 ville revivals, that prohibition was not the thing ; 
 but while viewing the work from its centre, and 
 from every side, we were of a different opinion. 
 If legal prohibition had been in vogue at the time 
 of these revivals, the number of conversions 
 would have been increased by hundreds. Had 
 law closed the pit, gospel would have captured 
 the whole concern, and kept it captured too. The 
 one unanimous answer given by saloon-keepers 
 when urged to become christians, was, "I can't 
 give up my business." With no "law" to help 
 them to let go, they clung to it in hope of better 
 times. With a Maine law, prohibiting the saloon 
 under adequate penalties, the road in that direc- 
 tion would not have been the brilliant financial 
 temptation it was, and the number saved would 
 have been proportionately augmented. A ftw 
 men that sold liquor were converted, but the whole 
 number in both revivals did not exceed seven or 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 63 
 
 eight ; and if the after influence of the saloons 
 is counted, we paid dear for them, by the loss of 
 a greater number that were recaptured by the 
 arts of the liquor fraternity. The few that were 
 saved are splendid trophies, but they were excep- 
 tional men, and naturally out of place in a saloon. 
 
 We needed prohibition after the revival more 
 than before. For, with a horde of hungry fel- 
 lows waiting for their old customers, and many 
 of them using every device to secure them ; 
 sluicing the pavements with beer wash, and load- 
 ing the very atmosphere with its fumes, it was 
 an awful gauntlet for reformed men to run, and 
 required sleepless vigilence on the part of the 
 church to protect and encourage them. It was 
 a defensive war the writer can never forget. Any 
 pastor, that has tried to conserve the fruits of a 
 great revival, will be a firm advocate of Consti- 
 tutional and Statutory prohibition. Let it come 
 as it may, but close the grog shops, and give the 
 boys an even chance. 
 
 For the aggressive work of soul-saving, and 
 for the defense of the church in keeping them 
 saved, we want prohibition, and, by the grace of 
 
 God WE ARE GOING TO HAVE fT. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 CIRCLEVILLE REVIVAL. 
 Elements of Preparation — Field of Battle. 
 
 Heralded by the news of the great revival at 
 Gallipolis, Bro. Bitler came to Circleville with 
 a degree of prestige that made his coming a 
 matter of popular interest. His fame had been 
 so thoroughly " noised abroad " that he was not 
 only expected to do great things, but became at 
 once an object of curiosity. It was at times 
 amusing to see the inquisitive crowds that gazed 
 upon him as he passed by, and hear the various 
 remarks expressive of all sorts of opinion as to 
 what he would do. Not only the results at 
 Gallipolis, but the fact that at the session of the 
 Ohio Conference held in Circleville his deter- 
 mination to become an evangelist was made pub- 
 lic and officially acted upon, gave unusual inter- 
 est to his work in this place. Some of the 
 brethren of this charge had taken up the dis- 
 cussion where the Conference left it, and were 
 very decidedly of the opinion that the young 
 man had made a mistake in locating in order to 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 65 
 
 enter the evangelistic work. This state of things 
 might ordinarily embarrass any christian minister, 
 but if Bro. Bitler ever felt it, he never showed it, 
 and dashed into his work as if totally oblivious to 
 surroundings. The general interest which had 
 been awakened was greatly to his advantage, 
 and as a result no time was lost in securing the 
 attention of the people. 
 
 In anticipation of a great revival, and without 
 regard to the coming of an evangelist, one no- 
 ticeable feature deserves to be remarked, viz., 
 that the faithful christian workers of the church 
 had from the first expressed implicit faith in the 
 coming of a remarkable revival. The announce- 
 ment of his coming increased their expectation 
 and stimulated faith, but aside from this their 
 belief in what was in store for them was remarka- 
 ble. This found abundant proof when, near the 
 close of the Gallipolis meeting, it was announced 
 that his coming was very uncertain and that they 
 must prepare themselves to be finally disap- 
 pointed. The result was such an expression of 
 continued faith as the pastor never before wit- 
 nessed, and, since he shared in it himself, there 
 was no temptation to doubt the final result. 
 The following circular, written by the pastor and 
 addressed to every member of the church, may 
 serve to indicate the spirit of expectancy that 
 
1 66 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 prevailed, as well as one of the items of general 
 preparation resorted to in enlisting the church 
 for effective work : 
 
 "A Serious Call to the Members and Friends 
 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 
 of Circleville, Ohio. 
 
 "Members of the Official Hoard [Stewards, Trus- 
 tees and Leaders) ; Office/s and Teachers of the 
 Sabbath School; Members of the Church and 
 Congregation : 
 
 " Dear Brothers and Sisters — As your ser- 
 vant in the Gospel of Christ, permit me to sound 
 the trumpet call for a grand rally of all our f< trees. 
 Believing that the time has come for a general 
 advance all along the line, and that God will 
 lead us on to one of the greatest moral victories 
 we have ever witnessed, I hereby appeal to 
 every one of you, both old and young, to be 
 present at all our services during the present v. tek, 
 so that it shall be the grand 7 a Hying week of what 
 shall be known in the future as the great revival 
 of 1885." 
 
 We began the meetings on the fourth day of 
 January, and labored incessantly until reinforced 
 by Bro. Bitler. During about two weeks of that 
 time Mrs. E. A. Whitridge, of Cincinnati, ren- 
 dered valuable service, and the work of holiness 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. \6j 
 
 was greatly revived under her efficient labors. 
 We were not rewarded with a great number of 
 conversions, but felt that the way was being 
 prepared for future results. 
 
 On the evening before the coming" of the 
 evangelist we enjoyed a season of Pentecost, 
 and five souls were happily converted. We 
 speak of this season of preparation for a double 
 purpose. First, to encourage those who may 
 anticipate the coming of an evangelist in the 
 work of preparing the way. Unless the pre- 
 liminary work is protracted too long, so as to 
 weary the people, its importance can hardly be 
 over-estimated. Second, Bro. Bitler desires that 
 mention be made of the fact that in this meeting 
 he found the elements so ready to his hand that 
 no time was lost in getting into the heart of the 
 revival, and that this peculiar ripeness was ex- 
 ceptional. Most of the converts of the pre- 
 ceding revival had kept " in the spirit " during 
 the year, and the young people were eager for 
 conquest. The "old guard" of regulars, that 
 are always at their post, were ' ' full of faith 
 and of the Holy Ghost," and wounded sin- 
 ners were beginning to show symptoms of con- 
 viction. 
 
 Thoroughly acquainted with the altar and its 
 surroundings, a multitude of christian workers 
 
IOb NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 were ready to kneel there or gather about it at 
 the first call, while quite a number were becom- 
 ing familiar with the work of personal solicita- 
 tion, both in the congregation and out of it. 
 Every church has a band of saints, and however 
 few in number, or great the hindrances that 
 stand in the way, if they will get such a conse- 
 cration to the work of God that they stand ready 
 to go to work when the word is given, a revival 
 is not far distant. Alas, for many, they seem to 
 think that when fully consecrated they have only 
 to sit down and let the Lord use them. But the 
 Lord can't use sitting soldiers. They must get 
 up and go at it in a hand to hand conflict; and if 
 timid and fearful they must keep at it until they 
 conquer themselves, and then they will begin to 
 conquer for God. In the great Circleville re- 
 vival the multitudes were "hand picked," 
 chiefly b) personal persuasion in the audience. 
 The few that came without individual solicita- 
 tion owe their coming largely to the influence of 
 currents that were kept moving by this constant 
 work of "compelling" others to come in. 
 When the workers wearied, and the attack was 
 delayed, the work lagged, and but for the ex- 
 haustion that compelled us to rest, we have no 
 doubt that five hundred other souls could have 
 been reached and saved. If we were asked for 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 69 
 
 the chief factor of influence that characterized 
 this revival, other than the divine influence and 
 the personal power of the evangelist, we should 
 reply, with emphasis, that it depended almost 
 wholly on personal solicitation in the congregation. 
 Starting with the old soldiers — many of them a 
 year old — each new convert became a mission- 
 ary, and our ranks filled up as the battle went 
 on. Instead of spiking the guns as they were 
 taken, they were turned on the enemy and 
 made to do execution from the first. No defer- 
 ence was paid to the tastes of that class of sin- 
 ners that resent personal appeals in the congre- 
 gation. Their threats of staying away from the 
 meetings were seldom executed, and the work- 
 ers were given to understand that an occasional 
 haughty rebel had better be kept at home, than 
 that a multitude perish for want of friendly 
 hands to pull them out of the fire. 
 
 Sometimes the congregation was dismissed 
 with the benediction for the purpose of excusing 
 any that were not willing to be subjected to the 
 annoyance of personal appeals, but, so far as we 
 could see, nobody went away. A hundred or 
 two could have been easily spared, and their 
 room utilized in getting about among the mass 
 that remained, for, during the whole series, the 
 immense throng crowded to the very pulpit as 
 if hungering for the bread of life. 
 
IfO NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 It is a part of Bro. Bitler's plan to spend no 
 time with dead church members, and if the 
 church will not go to work at once he must do 
 a vast amount of personal work himself, and 
 when a few are saved he sets them to work. 
 In several instances he has been obliged to 
 reach his hand beyond the old members and get 
 hold of fresh material to begin with, but precious- 
 time was lost in getting started. Unless the 
 church wakes up, at some time, and becomes 
 ntified with the conversion of sinners 
 in this way, it is almost certain that the young- 
 converts will be left in bad hands when the 
 revival is over. 
 
 THE FIELD OF BATTLE. 
 
 On the ninth da)- of February the "man of 
 
 God " whom we had been anxiously awaiting, 
 came to our relief and took the forces in hand at 
 our request. On the first day the ' ' banner " was 
 flung to the breeze, and the scripture mottoes 
 were hung up on the walls of the church. The 
 multitude in attendance, the first half hour of 
 spirited singing, and the presence of the evan- 
 gelist himself, combined to make the impression 
 universal that a revival is coming. 
 
 The very first prayer cries for five hundred 
 souls, and it is doubtful if even the devil has 
 
CIKCLEVILLE M. E. CHURCH. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1/ I 
 
 any doubts about the revival. We have previ- 
 ously intimated that very characteristic policy 
 that runs through Bro. Bitler's methods from 
 the beginning, viz. , to make the 'most of adver- 
 tisement. He utilizes every favorable indication 
 and brings it immediately to notice. Hence, in 
 perfect accord with this method the first service 
 is wholly given to an account of the marvelous 
 revival at Gallipolis. No more thrilling sermon 
 can be delivered than an account of what God is 
 doing. It will strengthen believers, attract sin- 
 ners, and lead all to anticipate a repetition of the 
 same results. So it proved, and though no effort 
 was made to secure seekers that night, the meet- 
 ing was an immense contribution of every ele- 
 ment of power for future aggressive work. In 
 this connection it may be well to remark that 
 the evangelist continued to utilize the impressive 
 scenes witnessed at Gallipolis from time to time, 
 until we had a sufficient amount of the same ma- 
 terial for which to praise God at home. In re- 
 counting that work he informed the audience 
 that he might in the future become somewhat 
 liable to criticism for so frequent reference to 
 Gallipolis, and illustrated his danger by the 
 story o\ a pastor who had formerly resided 
 at Jamestozvn. On moving to another place he 
 carried his attachments with him, and kept up 
 
1/2 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 an incessant reference to Jamestown. What 
 happened at Jamestown, and how things were 
 done at Jamestown, were so frequently referred 
 to, that one dear sister had inadvertantly con- 
 ceived the idea that Jamestown wasn't far from 
 heaven. So on one occasion, while narrating 
 her experience, she said that she was striving 
 very hard to get to heaven. Sometimes she 
 felt sure she would get there, but at other times 
 she had grave doubts ; but, on the whole, she 
 believed that even if she failed at last to get to 
 heaven, she was sure that she would get as far 
 as Jamestown. Tt was very evident that hea- 
 venly influences had visited Gallipolis, but with 
 a repetition of the same precious manifestations 
 at Circleville the temptation to revisit the former 
 place very soon disposed of itself, and Bro. Hitler 
 gracefully transferred his references to the latter. 
 We can furnish no adequate description of the 
 force and thrilling pathos with which the evan- 
 gelist reviewed the scenes and incidents of the 
 Gallipolis revival. It was, so far as eloquent 
 and vivid description could make it, a repetition 
 of the revival itself, and the audience were moved, 
 melted and fired, to a degree beyond anything we 
 had ever before witnessed. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Circleville Revival, Continued. 
 
 Three Hundred Conversions in Three Weeks. 
 Young Men — Noising it Abroad—" Holding 
 Out" — Holiness Commended — Young People's 
 Meetings — Five Hundred and Forty Con- 
 versions. 
 
 Reserving the minutia of Mr. Bitler's methods 
 for another place, we omit them from their proper 
 order in this chapter, and proceed with a general 
 account of what transpired. 
 
 From the date of presenting the altar for pen • 
 itents — about the third night of the meeting — 
 the number of seekers steadily increased, and in 
 three weeks the number of conversions had 
 reached three hundred. An average of one hun- 
 dred conversions per week must be regarded as 
 phenomenal, especially in view of the fact that 
 they were chiefly adults. 
 
 There had been very few religious young men 
 in the city. An effort to organize a Y.M.C A. 
 had failed for want of timber. It was reported 
 that just prior to the great revival, only nine 
 
174 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 christian young men could be found in all the 
 churches. This was an understatement, for the 
 Methodist church could show a greater number 
 as the fruit of the previous year, together with 
 others formerly converted. It is true, however, 
 that devoted young men were scarce in all the 
 churches. Among those converted was a large 
 number of young men, and during the first three 
 weeks of the meeting their numbers exceeded 
 that of the young ladies. A daily service at 10 
 a. m., was given to them, and conducted almost 
 wholly by themselves, at which a number were 
 led to seek the Lord ; and the reports of conver- 
 sions in their meetings became a factor of daily 
 interest to the meetings at large. The afternoon 
 service was devoted to the same controlling idea 
 of getting sinners converted. The altar was 
 presented, and almost every occasion was marked 
 with results. While these afternoon meetings 
 were run on this line, and the whole trend of 
 thought, conversation, and work, sought the con- 
 version of sinners, they were by no means de- 
 void of variety, and the evangelist was especially 
 happy in presenting something new for each ser- 
 vice. For instance, on one occasion after read- 
 ing a part of the second chapter of Acts, and 
 briefly commenting on the wisdom of noising 
 abroad the work of the Holy Spirit, he asked 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 75 
 
 the congregation to report the evidences of God's 
 presence in this city. He called out testimony 
 from perhaps fifty persons, by urging the people 
 to speak of cases of awakening, conversations 
 had with sinners, promises made to attend the 
 meetings or seek the Lord, and such other indi- 
 cations of the presence of the Holy Spirit as 
 had come under their observation. This was 
 early in the series of meetings and before many 
 signs of general awakening were observed ; but 
 on bringing in all this testimony, the congrega- 
 tion were led to see that God was working in 
 every part of the city, and among all classes of 
 the community. Bro. Bitler and a few others 
 believed that such was the case before these re- 
 ports were made, but after such testimony the 
 whole church believed it and marvelled. This 
 was another method of noising- it abroad, and its 
 result was an inspiration to the church that set 
 them to work with renewed courage, and it made 
 sinners feel like guilty men with somt body watch- 
 ing them. 
 
 At one stage of the meeting, the chief reply- 
 that workers met was, "I'm afraid if I start I 
 can't hold out." This went to such a pitch that 
 an impression began to prevail that backsliders 
 made up the mass of sinners ; and indeed their 
 numbers in every community is alarming. In 
 
T 76 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 this case, the fact of their numbers began to be 
 used against the revival, and it was said that in 
 the future the whole list of converts would go 
 the same way. This impression against revivals 
 was becoming a stumbling block to very many. 
 The devil sought to array an army of backsliders 
 against us, and not only block the way for the 
 coming of raw sinners, but vitiate and capture 
 the whole meeting. This was met in the after- 
 noon service, by the evangelist raising the ques- 
 tion of "holding out." Beginning with those 
 converted at the previous meeting he asked them 
 to stand up. Then proceeded with those of last 
 week, and so on back to more than fifty years 
 until all the christians in the house were on their 
 feet. As each class, representing a week or a 
 year, stood up, they were asked to testify as to 
 God's ability to keep them during that length of 
 time, and as they did so the whole ground was 
 covered and the host of saved people were arrayed 
 against an army of backsliders. Thus God's 
 ability to keep men saved was made as prominent 
 as the matter of blacksliding had been before, 
 and the impression was made that guilty deser- 
 tions were inexcusable and wholly unnecessary. 
 These are but samples of the means employed 
 to awaken interest and keep things fresh and new. 
 It may be doubted whether or not the subject 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 77 
 
 of personal holiness ought to have been more 
 frequently presented. These large afternoon 
 meetings were made up chiefly of young con- 
 verts and older christians, and it seemed specially 
 propitious that the "riches of grace" be presented, 
 and the privilege of believers to enjoy "the full- 
 ness of the blessing of the gospel of peace," 
 urged upon their acceptance. This was not done 
 to any great extent, except as the pastor occa- 
 sionally introduced it. We are firmly of the 
 opinion that if the Circleville meeting had been 
 run on the "double track" of full salvation and 
 the conversion of sinners, from the beginning, with 
 the general mass meetings conducted just as they 
 were, and the afternoons devoted more specifically 
 to the subject of christian holiness, that the re- 
 sults would have been greater in the aggregate, 
 and the whole mass would have been pervaded 
 with a spirit of grace and power beyond that 
 which characterizes the ordinary revival. Sin- 
 ners in attendance at the day meetings would 
 have been reached just as surely, and the baptism 
 of the Holy Ghost on the young converts and 
 older workers, would have toned up the night 
 meetings to a spiritual level far beyond that al- 
 ready enjoyed. Experience with both methods 
 has forced this conviction, both as to successful 
 work in bringing 1 sinners to Christ, and in secur- 
 
173 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 ing permanence and stability in the after results. 
 This brief criticism must not be misunderstood. 
 There was much of real spiritual food, and the 
 evangelist was not wanting in applying the ele- 
 ments of divine promise and provision. It was 
 a good place to grow in grace, and many were 
 spiritually quickened. The lack we urge is largely 
 one of method. We insist, that the only char- 
 acteristic improvement, that it seems to us, would 
 have greatly added to the splendid success of 
 this great meeting, would have been, a vein of 
 deep spiritual power that is known to character- 
 ize the work of christian holiness when it is spe- 
 cifically presented. A wave of this sort, begin- 
 ning early in the revival, and sweeping across the 
 entire series of day meetings, would have added 
 to their effectiveness by making them a mighty 
 factor of spiritual power, and an abiding force 
 after the transient excitement was over and the 
 personal power of the evangelist ceased to be 
 felt. This suggestion has grown out of a degree 
 of familiarity with this work, and a candid view 
 of all its details and after labors, and will be ap- 
 preciated by those whose experience in permanent 
 and powerful revivals has made them competent 
 to judge. Bro. Bitler himself acknowledges the 
 force of this suggestion. While heartily endors- 
 ing the specific work of entire sanctification, and 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 79 
 
 as he trusts, in the enjoyment of the same grace 
 he received at Urbana, he has received a com- 
 mission especially addressed to the conversion of 
 sinners. As in the case of Rev. Thomas ^Harri- 
 son, whose testimony on this subject rings out 
 clear and strong, and yet whose efforts are wholly 
 exerted and powerfully blessed to the conversion 
 of sinners, so Bro. Bitler's gifts are peculiarly 
 adapted to the same specific work. It would not 
 be wise in his case perhaps, to attempt to supply 
 the demand we have referred to. Let the focus 
 be held on the consciences of the unregenerate, 
 but the ideal of a great revival, in all its apostolic 
 fullness, is more nearly reached, and most pow- 
 erfully realized, when the Baptism of the Holy 
 Ghost 'as the special privilege of believers is clearly 
 presented and tremendously experienced. All 
 the fruits of the Spirit were visible at this meet- 
 ing, and in general the power and presence of 
 the Holy Ghost was felt. Its outward manifes- 
 tation however, was chiefly seen in the awakening 
 and conversion of sinners. We urge the impor- 
 tance of pressing the work of holiness among 
 believers, as simply an additional element of re- 
 vival power, which the pastor may see fit to urge 
 "clearly, strongly, and explicitly," in perfect 
 harmony" with the work and methods of the evan- 
 gelist. 
 
l80 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 YOUNG PEOPLE'S MEETING. 
 
 Each evening a service for young people was 
 held, beginning an hour before the main service 
 in the audience room. Besides about a hundred 
 who were christians, others attended who were 
 not, but the meeting was not intended so much 
 to secure immediate results as to prepare for 
 work. The hour was spent in prayer and testi- 
 mony, and in securing volunteers for the field of 
 battle. The necessity and advantages of person- 
 al appeals in the congregation, was clearly pre- 
 sented and urged ; and as many as were willing 
 to go out on this mission as soon as the invitation 
 was given, were requested to rise. Then those 
 who felt unable to take the field, but desired 
 strength to do so, were invited to rise, and the 
 remaining moments were spent kneeling about 
 the altar, and pleading with God for grace and 
 power to do this work. Thus prepared for duty 
 the whole band of young people were marched 
 right into the main congregation. 
 
 This method was very effective, both in devel- 
 oping a company of workers, and in securing 
 results. If it had not been so prematurely dis- 
 continued it doubtless would have become the 
 chief factor of the series of meetings, but it was 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. l8l 
 
 destined to be crushed to death very soon after 
 its inauguration. The crowds that filled the upper 
 room long before the time of service, made it 
 difficult to reserve places for the young people, 
 and finally we were compelled to abandon the 
 idea of a separate meeting. 
 
 Indeed, the audience room was so crowded 
 that it was impossible to make room for peni- 
 tents to kneel at the altar. When the lower 
 room was thrown open it was also filled, and as 
 a result two meetings were held at the same 
 time, with an altar at each meeting, and conver- 
 sions constantly occurring. Subsequent meth- 
 ods of employing the lower room as a place of 
 inquiry for seekers, and of appointing occa- 
 sional hours in which to meet and converse with 
 them, will be recited elsewhere. The young- 
 people, though interrupted in their plan of 
 work, were not left entirely without special 
 meetings. Occasional hours were devoted to 
 them, and after their numbers had been greatly 
 increased by new recruits, some of their meet- 
 ings were immense gatherings. Their meetings 
 on Saturday evenings, and on the Sabbath, were 
 always attended with splendid results and marked 
 manifestations of power. On one occasion Bro. 
 Bitler spent a Saturday evening assisting at a 
 meeting out of town, and left the pastor to con- 
 
1 82 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 duct the young peoples' meeting alone. It was 
 the first one of the kind announced, and we 
 went to the church expecting possibly a good 
 attendance. On approaching the door we saw 
 by the numbers standing about, that the door 
 had not been unlocked, and it was nearly time 
 for service. Possibly some had gone away, and 
 we were greatly hurt at this apparent careless- 
 ness on the part of the sexton. What was our 
 surprise to find, on coming near, that the doors 
 were wide open ! The aisles were crowded, and 
 nobody else could get in but the preacher. 
 What an audience ! The following brief refer- 
 ence is clipped from the Circleville Daily Herald 
 of March 2 : 
 
 "The pastor had charge of the service. Mr. 
 Bitler having gone to Kingston to spend the 
 evening and to assist in the great revival now in 
 progress at that place. It was one of the most 
 remarkable services of the series. The meet- 
 ing was for the young people only, and 
 was held in the lecture room of the church. 
 It was thought that this room was suffi- 
 ciently large to accommodate all, but before the 
 service began the room was packed. The aisles 
 and the rostrum were crowded with young peo- 
 ple, and many were accommodated in the class 
 rooms joining the lecture room. It is said that 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD, 1 83 
 
 two hundred young people were turned away, 
 being unable to get into the church. Mr. 
 Mr. Creighton talked about the ' rich young 
 man who came to Jesus. ' After the sermon the 
 congregation was dismissed by the benediction, 
 and all anxious ones were invited to remain. 
 The meeting was attended with great results. 
 One of the most remarkable features of the meet- 
 ings, at this stage, is that most of the subjects of 
 prayers mentioned are father or mother ! It is 
 not a strange or uncommon thing to hear 
 a father or mother mention a wayward son 
 or daughter as a subject of prayer, but now the 
 opposite is heard." 
 
 During the whole progress of this revival the 
 young people were the most prominent figures 
 in it. Whether as workers in the congregation, 
 or kneeling at the altar, or crowding the plat- 
 form, or composing the "chorus" that led the 
 singing, they were always in the majority, and 
 must be counted in, just as they were counted 
 on, to do a vast amount of good. What is a 
 church without young people? Since a very- 
 large majority of all that enter the kingdom 
 of grace do so in their youth, the church, 
 pastor, evangelist or camp-meeting, that does 
 not make large provision for them cannot be 
 more than half successful in winning souls for 
 
1 84 
 
 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Christ. Their meetings at Circlevilie, whether 
 at the church or colosseum, continued to be 
 a centre of interest and a source of power, and 
 Bro. Bitler's peculiar adaptation to lead them, 
 and consummate management of them as a 
 working force, deserves to be mentioned as one 
 of the prime causes that brought about the con- 
 version of five hundred and forty souls. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Circleville Revival, continued. 
 BEHIND THE SCENES. 
 
 PRIVATE TALK TO YOUNG MEN AN ALTAR ON THE 
 
 STAGE. 
 
 It is remarkable to what extent Bro. Bitler is 
 able to reach and rouse young men. His per- 
 sonal tact appears at best advantage while work- 
 ing among them. Naturally buoyant, of a san- 
 guine temperament, and possessed of a degree 
 of suavity that introduces him without the faint- 
 est trace of embarrassment, he enters their pres- 
 ence as a personal genius, and finds a cordial 
 reception at once. 
 
 Whether in groups on the street, or massed 
 together in the rear of the audience, or associated 
 as employees at some special industry, Bro. Bit- 
 ler's coming is the signal for something of special 
 interest to them, and his influence is as pervasive 
 as a sun-beam. Somehow he wins them to him- 
 self, and then he wins them to Christ. It is not 
 "animal magnetism." There is about as little 
 of the animal in his make-up as belongs to chris- 
 
 185 
 
1 86 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 tian genius. It would better be called angelic 
 magnetism. Or, if the term be too celestial, we 
 might call it mental magnetism. The first is too 
 coarse and materialistic ; the second is too fine 
 and super-terrestrial ; the third is too cold and 
 mathematical. The fact is that he is born with 
 certain natural qualifications that are in part men- 
 tal and in part emotional, which, supplemented 
 by an intense love for their salvation, adapts him 
 at once to become a leader and an associate of 
 young men. 
 
 He enters into their feelings, hopes, fears, am- 
 bitions, and tastes, with a naturalness and warmth 
 that charms, and for the time controls them. 
 
 We are willing to compromise the terms em- 
 ployed in the above definitions by admitting that 
 it is personal magnetism. This comprehensive, 
 indefinable something, which is but another name 
 for genius, Bro. Bitler possesses in a very marked 
 degree. Unconsciously he attracts by nature, 
 and when anointed as he is by the Spirit of Christ, 
 his work with young men is singularly owned of 
 God in their salvation. 
 
 Very early in the meetings, both at Gallipolis 
 and Circleville, he announced 
 
 " A PRIVATE TALK TO YOUNG MEN." 
 
 It was more than intimated that a degree of em- 
 phasis on the word private, would render the talk 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 8/ 
 
 something out of the common order ; and in view 
 of the curiosity excited by the announcement, a 
 fair representation of the young men, if hot a 
 large audience, was expected. None were to be 
 admitted under thirteen years of age, and none 
 over thirty- five. The older people were given 
 to understand that the meeting concerned them 
 by about as much as they were interested in the 
 welfare of "the boys;" and fathers and mothers 
 were requested to stay at home and spend the 
 hour in earnest prayer for their salvation. To 
 what extent this was heeded we cannot tell, but 
 we know that it was sufficiently urged to make it 
 impressive. Admission in both instances was by 
 ticket. We give the following as a sample: 
 
 TO YOUNG MEN ONLY, 
 
 COLOSSEUM 
 
 SUNDA Y, FEB. 22, 1885, Sr T 2 > 
 
 C H 
 
 ' i I " 
 
 AT 2:30 P. M. 
 
 j&JDlsKTT OUSTS. 
 
 The attendance at Gallipolis was reported as 
 very large. ' ' There was a general out-pouring 
 of young men, and we believe it safe to say that 
 it was one of the largest, if not the largest, gath- 
 ering of young men ever assembled in the city." 
 
1 88 NOJSK IT ABROAD. 
 
 The attendance at Circleville was simply im- 
 mense. There were about nine hundred present. 
 Such an audience ! We wondered where they 
 all came from. It was an inspiration. Here, 
 thought we, is the "flower of the army." Sa- 
 loons against the church ! God help the evan- 
 gelist ! Expectation was at a high pitch, and 
 the occasion was one that comes but seldom 
 in a life-time. The singing was grand. The 
 opening prayer by Rev. S. A. Keen seemed 
 indited from above. Hut the 
 
 ADDRESS ! 
 
 How shall we report it ? We dare not lift the 
 veil and disclose the delicate truths, the awful 
 secrets, the terrible sins it depicted. Would to 
 God our readers were, for the present, all young 
 men. Then we might noise abroad, in terrorem, 
 the substance of this marvelous delineation. It 
 was intet nos, and it must live only in memory 
 as a spectral shadow of secret vice and moral 
 degeneracy that curses and corrupts a majority 
 of young men to the everlasting shame of our 
 race, and as an argument of moral depravity that 
 can never be answered. Perhaps the reader may 
 want to know the ground of this assertion. The 
 following may assist him. The topic was taken 
 from Ecc. xi.o, "Rejoice, O young man in thy 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I 89 
 
 youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days 
 of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine 
 heart, and in the sight of thine eyes ; but know 
 thou, that for all these tilings God will bring thee 
 into judgment." As a companion text, Gal. v:ic/ 
 was read, and "such like" "works of the flesh" 
 were unearthed, and every man's memory and 
 conscience was submitted to the ordeal of a 
 trying test. The "talk" was introduced by a 
 modest statement of his purpose, and a disclaim- 
 er of any intention to deliver a sermon or exhor- 
 tation on the duties ol chastity and the future 
 retributions awaiting the violations of moral pu- 
 rity. It was the intention rather to produce 
 facts and testimony from competent authorities 
 in proof that the judgments of God were exe- 
 cuted on offenders here as well as hereafter ; and 
 in the hope of warning them of present danger, 
 he attempted a duty that few persons could con- 
 sistently perform. Preachers' lips were sealed. 
 Fathers and Mothers were too confiding and too 
 loving to fear that such truth was needed. The 
 knowledge of medical practitioners was too 
 largely confined to their own circles, and some- 
 body must lift the veil who can get a hearing 
 without offending the professional proprieties. 
 Religious sentiments seemed to be studiously 
 avoided throughout the main body of the address, 
 
I9O NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 but the awful conviction of guilt was being en- 
 forced by a recital of facts that went home to 
 the hearts of a multitude. 
 
 At times the applause was immense, and in 
 spite of the delicateness of the subject and its 
 direct application to many of the class addressed, 
 the speaker had the sympathy of his audience 
 from the beginning. It was brother talking to 
 brothers with a terrible and tearful earnestness 
 that sent the truth home to tingling ears. The 
 contrast that closed the address and offered the 
 purity of a christian life as an ideal of moral 
 beauty, was charged with fervid exhortations to 
 accept the Savior and cast off the "garments 
 spotted by the flesh." At its close, young men 
 willing to become christians were invited to re- 
 main for an inquiry meeting. The curtain was 
 lowered, and the stage back of it was utilized for 
 an inquiry room. An altar of prayer was im- 
 provised, and soon filled with young men. 
 Twelve souls were ftappily converted to God. 
 Among them were some that have since proved 
 among the brightest of any that were rescued 
 during the revival. Hetween the "acts" of the 
 Holy Spirit in regenerating their souls, we sang, 
 "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, " and 
 the band that sang and prayed were perhaps 
 among the happiest that ever stood on any stage. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. IQI 
 
 Among those converted was a young man who 
 had been previously addicted to drink. On his 
 way to the Colosseum that afternoon, he remarked 
 to a friend, that he was ' 'going to see the side 
 show." He was soon among the most serious, 
 and behind the scenes he was most powerfully 
 converted ; and hastening home he told all he 
 met of his wonderful deliverence. 
 
 The result of the meeting as a whole was sal- 
 utary in every respect. The young men went 
 away instructed, carrying impressions that 
 were new, and stimulated to a better life. Fruit 
 was gathered in later services as the product of 
 this one, and the whole series received an impe- 
 tus here that was felt through all its successive 
 stages. 
 
 THE MASS MEETING 
 
 held at the Colosseum the same night was a sig- 
 nal victory. 
 
 Every available seat was taken, a hundred 
 chairs were added from the church, many crowded 
 the aisles, and yet a multitude were compelled 
 to go away for want of room. Bro. Keen 
 preached from the text, "Give me thy heart," 
 and the service in every item was well adapted 
 to seal the convictions of the afternoon and se- 
 cure the conversion of young men. The curtain 
 
I92 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 was dropped, many ascended the stage and more 
 than a score were converted. A revival that can 
 be transferred from the hallowed surroundings of 
 a Church and carried into a theatre without en- 
 dangering its life must indeed be a vigorous 
 meeting. Yet in this case, while many of the 
 devoted ones feared the result, and a few became 
 alarmed lest the new associations would dissipate 
 every element of devotion, the revival went right 
 on. Not only so, but it gained in depth and 
 power and rolled a wave of salvation more than 
 four feet high over the stage itself; where be- 
 hind a gaudy curtain, surrounded by the scenery, 
 and under the glare of electric lights, was re- 
 peated the tragedy of a methodist altar — weep-: 
 ing penitents, earnest prayers, powerful conver- 
 sions, and jubilant doxologies. 
 
 The extremes of thought and feeling that 
 characterized this day's work at the Colosseum, 
 beginning with the searching "talk," which 
 breathed the spirit and penalty of law, both 
 natural and divine, and closing with the triumphs 
 of gospel grace, made it a day unique, and typ- 
 ical of every genuine revival. We must unearth 
 the hidden secrets of human depravity and alarm 
 the conscience before we can hope to see a cor-, 
 responding work of grace that will consummate 
 the triumph of regeneration. Bro. Bitler's chief 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 93 
 
 element of power is along the line of persuasion. 
 He never scolds ; never accuses ; seldom de- 
 nounces particular vices ; and indeed with the 
 exception of this private talk, we never knew 
 him to single out a sin to denounce it. In this 
 case however, the whole ground of physical, 
 moral and mental uncleanness, received such a 
 disclosure as made men blush and guilt tremble 
 as before the Lord. He has little of the judicial 
 severity and keen fulmination that we suppose 
 to have characterized the ministry of President 
 Finney. Perhaps a little more of this element 
 might be salutary, but it is not often that we find 
 a union of the elements of denunciation and 
 persuasion so combined in the same man as that 
 one is made to help the other. Most men stand 
 between these extremes and have just enough of 
 both to cancel results, and not enough of either 
 to force their way through to a complete victory. 
 They need a baptism of the Holy Ghost that 
 will either kindle their intensity, or melt down 
 their severity into the spirit of a loving persua- 
 sion. We have heard sermons on hell that were 
 cold, and others on judgment that would drive 
 a sinner into a corner and set him to justifying 
 himself; and the element of persuasion so utterly 
 abandoned that instead of exciting a desire to 
 "flee from the wrath to come," the sinner was 
 
194 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 made to feel that it had come. Under such 
 ministrations meetings are killed, and christian 
 workers if they get into the spirit of the sermon, 
 instead of becoming anxious to rescue the per- 
 ishing, begin to feel that sinners deserve to be 
 lampooned, and about the best thing to be done 
 would be to get a cudgel and cut the work short 
 in righteousness. Alas ! for such preaching. It 
 is not necessary to a truthful presentation of sin, 
 righteousness and judgment. Paul said, "know- 
 ing the terror of the Lord we petsuade men." 
 Others knowing the terror of the Lord attempt 
 to terrorize men ; not by giving them the facts 
 of moral depravity and the heinousness of sin, 
 but by a system of denunciation that makes a 
 breach between them and the altar, and then 
 orders them to tumble into it. Under such a 
 method, a sinner will sometimes strut and boast, 
 and defiantly display his morality as equivalent 
 in every sense to the ordinary christian life. 
 Something is needed to penetrate his secret sins. 
 If he can be made to "see his feet his feathers 
 will fall." A vein of revelation like that which 
 runs through the first chapter of Romans, if 
 presented in brotherly sympathy, is sure to be 
 effective. It is but natural that spiritual unclean- 
 ness is covered up and hidden from view. If it 
 can be brought to light it will beget a sense of 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 95 
 
 shame ; and the simple intimation of being ush- 
 ered into the presence of God, will do more to 
 alarm the guilty soul than all the fulminations of 
 pulpit eloquence can do without such a previous 
 disclosure. It may seem that such work requires 
 great courage. We reply that it requires more 
 grace than grit, and that if the former is lacking 
 the ends of courage will be defeated. It used 
 to be said that "a successful surgeon must have 
 the heart of a lion and the hand of a lady. " 
 The same is true of this sort of work. If the 
 order is reversed, the lion may roar in vain, while 
 his intended prey scampers off into the woods. 
 "He that winneth souls is wise." When Jesus 
 accused a guilty crowd with adultery he did not 
 even look them square in the face, but wrote in 
 th£ sand while they filed out of the temple — the 
 oldest first and the youngest last ; an order and 
 degree of guilt which obtains to this day ! ! 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 An All-Day Meeting — A Business Man's Stand- 
 p OINT _A Dress-Parade— Experiences of 
 
 q ( j ,and wm. h ,and family— 
 
 Mrs. Frame's Revival. 
 
 Special features characterize all the revivals in 
 which Bro. Bitler labors. When it becomes 
 necessary to vary the programme, either to sus- 
 tain or increase the general interest, something 
 is devised that will enlist the church or awaken 
 the community afresh. At Circleville, Friday, 
 Feb. 27, was devoted to an all-day meeting. 
 Previously announced as a day of fasting and 
 prayer, the services began at the church at 10 
 a. m. and continued without recess till 3 o'clock. 
 Each hour the bell was rung' and the order 
 of exercises varied. The first was devoted to 
 prayer. The second to responsive Bible reading. 
 The third hour was devoted to consecration 
 for service, and the workers crowded to the 
 front and bowed as near the altar as they 
 could get. The fourth hour was devoted to 
 the theme of scriptural holiness and led by 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. I Q'J 
 
 the pastor. The last hour was something of a 
 culmination of all these features in testimony, 
 prayer, and requests for prayer. Parents pre- 
 sented their children, and relatives and friends 
 spoke of dear ones amid tears and sobs ; and 
 such a scene of mingled joy and sympathy sel- 
 dom meets the eye or touches the heart. At- 
 tendance increased as the day advanced, and at 
 its close, the audience instead of being worn out, 
 were manifestly happy and jubilant, with expec- 
 tation of greater things to come. The day was 
 characterized by deep and permanent results. 
 Some who were not quite clear in their experi- 
 ence were definitely blessed, and others experi- 
 enced the blessing of a clean heart and were 
 filled with the Holy Spirit. In the mass of con- 
 versions attending the onward march of a great 
 revival, there are always cases that are but 
 slightly healed, and an occasional service, de- 
 voted more especially to the church, and par- 
 taking less of the noise and rush of the regular 
 battle, is best calculated to bring them out into 
 a definite experience. Besides, there are always 
 a mass of hungry people that cannot be fully fed 
 when the whole trend of a meeting deals with the 
 first principles of repentance towards God 
 and incipient faith in Christ. They have laid 
 the foundation and learned the first principles of 
 
I98 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 the doctrine of Christ again and again, and they 
 long to be filled. A meeting that does not, in 
 some degree, afford facilities for believers to seek 
 and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a 
 special gift of God, is sure to lack one of the 
 most prominent features of apostolic revivals. 
 We should tremble for the safety of the mass of 
 converts, if chosen agents to secure their con- 
 version, were not at the same time lifted to a 
 higher plane of experience by some special 
 anointing of the Holy Ghost that would abide 
 with them when the meetings are closed. If 
 the hungry hearts in the church were fed and 
 filled, a perpetual revival spirit would as surely 
 prevail, as that day lasts while the sun shines. 
 The following article, published in the Western 
 Christian Advocate, affords a glimpse at the usual 
 night meetings and their attendant results from 
 
 A BUSINESS MAN'S STAND-POINT. 
 
 To the Editor of the Western Christian Advocate : 
 
 The writer being in Circleville on Wednesday (the 
 28th ultimo) was invited by an old parishioner (Jas. 
 Clark) to spend the night with him, and go to the 
 revival meeting at the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 At 7 o'clock p. m. the church was crowded — seats 
 being placed against the wall and chairs in the aisles 
 — and even the standing room was all occupied. On 
 Tuesday night 25 were converted, and on Wednesday 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 1 99 
 
 1 8. The exercises are conducted by Rev. J. S. Bitler, 
 assisted by the pastor. The singing is vigorous and 
 harmonious, and is given with the spirit and the un- 
 derstanding. The doxology is sung whenever a con- 
 version is announced, and during our evening's visit 
 it must have been sung twenty-five times. The eigh- 
 teen who professed a change of heart were brought 
 within the chancel at i o o'clock p. m., as the exer- 
 cises and instructions for penitents take place in the 
 basement after the invitation is given to seekers of 
 religion. Brother Bitler announced the number and 
 proposed they sing the doxology, which being sung, 
 he asked all who could possibly do so to come and 
 shake hands with those just converted. While hun- 
 dreds were thus engaged the vast audience sang — 
 
 "When the general roll is called, 
 I'll be there." 
 Nearly every person who could sing sang this hymn ; 
 and while there was little or no noise, save the sing- 
 ing, there was a general jubilee. There was no seem- 
 ing frivolity manifested by any one, but on the con- 
 trary, all seemed in earnest; among whom were found 
 the rich and poor, the learned and the ignorant, from 
 the very worst as well as from the very best society in 
 the city. Brief experiences being called for, one of the 
 recently converted men, who was known as the most 
 profane character in the city, said : ' 'The Lord has 
 blessed me, and I am the happiest man in town. 
 Some people say there is nothing in this religion ; but 
 I say there is, there's millions in it." The effect was 
 
200 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 electrical, as all had confidence in the man, and the 
 doxology was again sung. The revival is the talk at 
 the hotels, in the stores, and on the streets. A large 
 placard stretched across the main street, announces 
 revival services at the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Gamblers are reclaimed, drunkards are reformed, and 
 prostitutes are gathered into the fold of the Church, 
 as. taught by the words and example of the Great 
 Teacher. Let the time never come in the history of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, when one is too low, 
 too vile or too poor to be received into the Church, 
 when fighting temptation to reach a better life. This 
 is the work the Church is intended to do. 
 
 Geo. Pakrott. 
 
 a "dress parade." 
 The happy faculty of getting everybody to do 
 something, and of making young converts 
 conspicuous, especially if they have here- 
 tofore been prominent in the service of the devil, 
 is one of Bro. Bitler's elements of success. Up 
 to March 2, about three hundred had been con- 
 verted. Though remarkable cases had all along 
 been coming to the front, it was thought that by 
 this time a sufficient amount of this sort of ma- 
 terial had accumulated for a "Dress Parade." 
 Dear reader, don't be alarmed. We mean just 
 what we say. A regular exhibition of what God 
 had been doing, was the outcome of it ; though 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 2QI 
 
 we do not affirm that to have, been the end 
 sought. It was rather intended as a means of 
 noising abroad the gracious results of the revi- 
 val. The meeting was announced for young 
 men, at the Colosseum. Admission was general, 
 and as a matter of course, older men were there 
 that might have stayed at home if it had not 
 been announced for young men. Seated on the 
 stage, and scattered through the audience, were 
 the trophies to be exhibited. They were, some 
 of them, just previously notified that a brief ac- 
 count of what they had been, and what they had 
 been saved from, was expected from the stage. 
 One by one they took the floor, and to an eager 
 audience described the "pit from whence they 
 were digged, " and the rock on which they stood. 
 We have never witnessed such an array. The 
 interest of personal history was blended with the 
 wonders of grace, and the naturalness and pathos 
 with which their story was told, moved every 
 heart and melted every eye. The order in which 
 these recitals were given is forgotten, and it may 
 be that we have not preserved much of that 
 which was most thrilling. We give below, the 
 experience of some of our young men, and it 
 will correspond as largely as may be to the testi- 
 monies of that day. The report of the meeting 
 by the Daily Hetald says — 
 
202 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 "At 3 P. M. the Colosseum was filled with 
 young men who listened attentively to the thrill- 
 ing experience of those who but recently gave 
 themselves to God. Among these witnesses 
 were several married men whose narration of 
 what their home life was, and of what it now is, 
 caused the tears to glisten in all eyes. 
 
 "The remarks of Mr. C , J , were pe- 
 culiarly interesting, and revealed not only the 
 fact that he had been a great sinner and had re- 
 ceived a great Savior, but also that there is a 
 good deal of oratorical fire in the young man, 
 and that a bright future awaits him if he will 
 apply himself in securing an education. 
 
 •'Considering the fact that all were but 'babes 
 in Christ,' they did exceedingly well. Their 
 testimony was clearly given and will doubtless 
 do great good." 
 
 We give these experiences in our own terms, 
 and supplemented by facts since gathered. 
 
 C — J — . , though but twenty-two years of age, 
 and born and raised in the city of Circleville, had 
 not been inside of a church for fourteen years. 
 Two ignoble exceptions occurred. Once he 
 attended the colored church to make sport of 
 the preacher; and once he entered a crowded 
 church in the country, where, in company with 
 evil companions, he engaged in a brief game of 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 203 
 
 cards, being almost hid from view by the dense 
 throng that stood in front of them. When 
 about sixteen years of age he began a wild 
 career that earned for him the reputation of 
 being the most abandoned young man in town. 
 He went by the name of "Scratch," and de- 
 scended to such depths that very few persons 
 had any anticipation of his future, except that 
 he would end in the penitentiary. His par- 
 ticular sins need not be mentioned, except to 
 say that he seemed to abandon himself to the 
 extent of his ability. He would not work, and 
 it was his boast that he wanted nothing but 
 whisky, and he was not fool enough to work 
 for whisky money. He was the tool of poli- 
 ticians and gamblers, enjoyed a fight, and could 
 easily swindle his way through on small rations 
 and plenty of liquor. At eighteen years of age 
 he began to work on the railroad, and in the 
 course of time received several recommenda- 
 tions. They ran about thus : ' ' First-class 
 switchman, but can't be depended on — whisky I" 
 While in the employ of the S. V. R. R. , at the 
 yards in Columbus, he lay down on the track 
 and went to sleep. An engine knocked him 
 from the track and cut off three fingers of his 
 left hand. A comrade gave him a bottle of 
 whisky out of sympathy for his condition (?) 
 
204 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 which he duly drank, and got as drunk as 
 he could well be immediately. Three times 
 he took an oath to quit drinking .in order to 
 secure a place, but broke each of them forth- 
 with. With the whole trend of his life in the 
 wrong direction, his strong physical and mental 
 powers neglected and abused, and under no re- 
 straint whatever, it is marvelous that he escaped 
 utter destruction. On going to the theatre one 
 night he paused at the door to look in, and the 
 small audience disappointed his hope of having 
 a good time. While hesitating he heard them 
 singing "There is a fountain filled with blood," 
 just a square away at the Methodist church. 
 Having heard of the revival, he concluded that 
 that would be • the cheapest show, and so went 
 to the church. The writer was speaking when 
 he entered, and happening to narrate an inci- 
 dent that arrested his attention he became in- 
 terested, and before the service concluded 
 he was set to thinking. A brother in the 
 church went to him and urged him to seek 
 the Lord, which he promised to do, but with- 
 out the slightest intention of fulfilling the prom- 
 ise. However, the invitation was not lost. On 
 retiring that night he could not sleep. Though he 
 had nothing to lose, he "felt that he had lost 
 something," and the night was spent in rolling 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 205 
 
 about and cursing his mother " for not making 
 up the bed better." It was a horrible night, 
 and she attributed his ill temper to bad whisky ; 
 but he had gone to bed sober, and the trouble 
 had another cause. The next evening he went 
 to the church again, and when the opportunity 
 was offered he stood up for prayers. Very 
 soon after he threw his cap in a corner 
 and started for the altar, and there the struggle 
 began. He says, " the first thing I was willing 
 to quit was whisky. The next thing I was will- 
 ing to quit, was swindling people out of their 
 money. The last man I let down was an 
 enemy. I had sworn to kill him, and I was 
 willing to serve a term in the penitentiary or 
 put out my tongue for some sheriff, to get even 
 with him, and I was about fifteen minutes trying 
 to make up my mind to let him go. " However, 
 the victory was gained and Christ accepted, and, 
 to use his own language, ' ' I felt a great change 
 come over me. I felt happy and light, and felt 
 like laughing and shaking hands with my worst 
 enemy." The next morning an opportunity was 
 afforded him, and on meeting his former enemy 
 he shook hands with him, and told of his con- 
 version. On hearing this the young man re- 
 plied that if that was settled he would now take 
 his revolver out of his pocket and put it in his 
 
206 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 trunk. Here ended what might have been a 
 tragedy, but, by the blessing of God, became a 
 reconciliation. 
 
 This young man's conversion was of such a 
 startling nature that it moved the whole com- 
 munity, and as he took right hold of the work and 
 became efficient in leading others to Christ, he 
 was given many opportunities to speak in public 
 and exercise his gifts, which, if properly trained 
 and controlled, would make him a useful and 
 successful man. Nothing but divine grace could 
 have wrought the change, and the same great 
 grace can consummate the transformation. 
 
 The case of Wm. H , in view of its sequel, 
 
 was one of the most remarkable of any that at- 
 tended the revival. He was an associate of the 
 young man whose experience is referred to 
 above. Not so abandoned, but intemperate, 
 profane, and, when intoxicated, quarrelsome. 
 Once, in company with J., he spent sixty-three 
 days in the county jail for assault and battery. 
 This embroglio commenced over a few cents' 
 worth of candy, and when the trouble began he 
 sailed in to assist his friend J., and the two to- 
 gether brutally whipped their opponents, and 
 were severely punished by their confinement. 
 Like the former, he had worked on the railroad, 
 and met with a terrible affliction in the loss of a 
 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 207 
 
 limb. This came near ending his life; and 
 at one time, when he supposed the end was 
 near, he expressed a desire to see a minister, and 
 told his mother that if God spared his life he 
 would try to be a better man. The minister 
 was not sent for however, lest the excitement 
 of a pastoral visit might prove fatal to the pa- 
 tient. When he was recovered, instead of keep- 
 ing his promise, he spent the next two years in 
 sin and folly, and grew worse instead of better. 
 He was not in the habit of going to church, and 
 had seldom been present for five years past. 
 When the revival was in progress he received 
 an invitation to go and hear Bro. Bitler. After 
 some time he went, but at first was not seriously 
 impressed, and did not continue to come with 
 any regularity. He became interested in the 
 Young Men's meetings, and it was there that 
 conviction matured into seriousness. He per- 
 sisted in declining to go to the altar for some 
 time, and the reason assigned, after his conver- 
 sion, was that he felt embarrassed by the loss of 
 his limb and doubted whether he could kneel as 
 others did. Conviction increased, however, and 
 one day he tried the experiment at home, and 
 found that, though encumbered with an artificial 
 appliance, he could manage to kneel very com- 
 fortably. Soon after he came to the altar and 
 was converted. 
 
208 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 He then prevailed on his mother to come to 
 the meetings, which she did, and was converted 
 in about a week after. Then three of his sisters 
 followed, and were saved. Last of all, his father, 
 who was sore pressed by all hands at home, 
 "couldn't stand the pressure any longer," and 
 consented to come to the church. 
 
 The night after Wm. was converted his 
 mother suggested that christians had family 
 prayers and asked a blessing at the table, and 
 the young convert proceeded forthwith to attend 
 to these duties. This he continued to do until 
 re-inforced by others of the family, who took 
 their turn as fast as they were converted. Thus 
 the old gentleman was living in a christian family, 
 and beset with prayers and entreaties from all 
 sides. He had once been very intemperate, but 
 during a revival held in Circleville, in 1877, 
 under Mrs. Frame, an evangelist, he reformed. 
 Though scarcely ever at any church during the 
 intervening period of eight years, except on the 
 occasion of a funeral, his reformation proved to 
 be permanent. When at last he was induced to 
 come, the Holy Spirit took hold of him mightily, 
 and he was soon converted. He then took the 
 lead in religious service at home, and the whole 
 family are living in the experience of salvation. 
 
 The revival referred to above, conducted by 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 209 
 
 Mrs. Frame, under the Pastorate of Rev. Jas, 
 Mitchell, we have often heard disparaged. It 
 has been asserted that scarcely any fruit remained, 
 and that the revival did no permanent good. The 
 charge is false. That great revival never died. 
 Precious fruit remains to this day, as the church 
 records will show. Ignorance or carelessness 
 may assert the contrary, but we aver that since 
 our pastorate began in this charge, instances of 
 conversion, and cases of reformation, that date 
 from that meeting, have been constantly coming 
 to light. Moreover, the revival conducted by 
 Mrs. Frame was frequently referred to in our re- 
 cent meetings, and names were added to the 
 church that had been converted then. Not 
 simply backsliders, but persons who had lived 
 consistent christians ever since. It was a gen- 
 uine work of God. It added to the church, 
 and strengthened it in every respect, and the de- 
 fections were no more, proportionately, than the 
 average number that fall away, after revivals con- 
 ducted by the regular pastors. The church re- 
 cord indicates this, and a thorough knowledge 
 of the field puts it beyond question. If to the 
 actual fruit of that revival, be added the numbers 
 that were reached in consequence of it, by this 
 revival, it will be regarded as a splendid soul 
 saving work of grace. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 No Backing — Experience of Geo. S , — Tele- 
 graph Operators — No More Sprees. 
 
 We venture a continuation of personal exper- 
 iences, well aware that, in view of the fact that 
 these converts are of so recent date, we may meet 
 the objection that such publication is premature. 
 Their term of probation in the church has but 
 scarcely expired, and they may fall. But we are 
 sure that readers of this volume have not yet 
 come to the end of a probation that ensures them 
 against falling ; and if we must submit to their 
 criticism we will try to bear it gracefully. 
 
 Whatever the subsequent history of any in this 
 record, their salvation thus far serves to illustrate 
 the work of the Holy Spirit. Adam fell, David 
 fell, Solomon fell, Peter fell. "Let him that 
 thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." If, 
 however, we are to wait till we know certainly 
 who will be finally saved, we must defer revival 
 accounts till we meet the recording angel. In- 
 deed, we suppose it possible, to discover conserva- 
 tive theologians who would forbid a convert's 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 211 
 
 name on the Lamb's Book of Life, till an absolute 
 fore-knowledge endorsed his calling and election 
 as eternally sure. We are not of that school. 
 We prefer the arminian chances or rather con- 
 tingencies ; and if we must take either alternative, 
 of a Book of Life written and sealed before the 
 foundation of the world with every name stereo- 
 typed beyond erasure, or the extreme of Divine 
 Nescience, we prefer the latter. Whatever awaits 
 us we can now sing 
 
 Yes, my name's written there, 
 On the page white and fair ; 
 In the Book of thy Kingdom 
 Yes, my name's written there. 
 
 Some people are always waiting for something 
 to drop, and on the first rumor are ready to say 
 "I told you so ;" when if they had manifested 
 more faith and less suspicion, they might have 
 been useful in preventing it. It has been our 
 experience that at the close of revivals, just as 
 the regular prayer meeting gets fairly under way, 
 somebody gives the clue and away go the prayers 
 after the young converts that are "going back." 
 We learned long ago to stop that sort of backing 
 right at the start. We insist that a prayer- 
 meeting that takes up the mournful monody of 
 backsliding converts, is a curse, both to the older 
 members and the struggling beginners, that are 
 
212 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 obliged to hear the dead march every time they 
 come to the house of God. The first attempt to 
 put the prayer-meeting flag at half-mast ought to 
 be kindly admonished, and later attempts deserve 
 to be dealt with as a species of treason. Unless 
 the petitioner is able to name the persons meant, 
 and willing to serve as a committee to hunt them 
 up, he has no right to vend his complaint in the 
 public prayer-meeting. If kindly admonitions 
 will not secure acquiescence to this measure, let 
 the test be applied, and it will very soon disap- 
 pear from the programme. The fact is, a large 
 number of christians assume a regular stampede 
 after the revival, and then seek to ease their con- 
 sciences for not doing something to prevent it, 
 by unloading at the prayer-meeting. Let con 
 verts stand committed by profession, and, after a 
 reasonable probation, even in print ; and let the 
 church stand committed to them. Their chances 
 of success are then made a hundred fold more 
 probable. If, after all that can be done, any 
 are found willing to cancel their charter of 
 eternal life, erase their names, and let the dead 
 bury their dead, while we go marching on. 
 
 Geo. S , was a man of quick temper and 
 
 strong impulses, but withal of a generous turn, 
 and many excellent qualities. He was a carriage 
 manufacturer, and by hard work and good man- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 213 
 
 agement he had built up a large trade in a very 
 few years. He carried his industry over the six 
 days allotted for business, and usually spent the 
 Sabbath in riding about the country in quest of 
 work, and having "a good time." The habit of 
 drinking, which he had indulged for about three 
 years, was becoming a costly luxury, and not only 
 so, but it had been growing on him during the 
 last half of that time to such an extent that it 
 was rapidly getting the best of him. His chief 
 sin however, was profanity. His temper was al- 
 most beyond control, and when enraged he swore 
 at everything and everybody. He enjoyed the 
 unenviable reputation of being the most profane 
 man in town. Nobody wanted to swear like 
 
 S , and it was the better part of wisdom to 
 
 keep out of range when he was provoked to pour 
 out his invectives of wrath. During the revival 
 his younger brother — a telegraph operator — was 
 converted, and shortly after, at an evening meet- 
 ing, Bro. Bitler called the young man to the plat- 
 form to narrate his experience. This was in 
 keeping with the evangelist's method of "noising 
 it abroad" and keeping every trophy visible. 
 The young convert mounted the platform, and 
 not only told his blissful experience, but in re- 
 ferring to his companions and their habits, he 
 gave some offence. It was quite a lengthy speech 
 
214 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 for a novice, and he closed up with an exhorta- 
 tion that some of his former companions did not 
 accept with the best grace. Taking advantage 
 of some of his statements, a rival operator at- 
 tacked him through the columns of a daily paper ; 
 and this unfortunate occurrence made even the 
 evangelist sorry that he had thus inadvertently 
 subjected the young man to so great an annoy- 
 ance. We feared for his safety, but were rejoiced 
 to find that he had the grace of endurance. That 
 
 very night, however, G , S , was present, 
 
 and the speech of his younger brother was reach- 
 ing his heart with an eloquence that made him 
 weep like a child. It was just the sermon for 
 him and he went away convicted. His convic- 
 tions grew more intense, and a few evenings after 
 he came to the service at a late hour, but when 
 urged to seek Christ he thought of his old friends 
 and customers, many of whom were irreligious, 
 and concluded that he could not get along in busi- 
 ness and be a christian. His wife was a devoted 
 christian and regularly knelt in prayer before re- 
 tiring, and that night he surprised and rejoiced 
 her by kneeling at her side. He spent a sleep- 
 less night, however. The next day he failed to 
 attend the meetings, but the Spirit of God was 
 pressing him hard, and at night he again knelt 
 beside his wife in prayer. Conviction increased,. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 21 5 
 
 and he finally concluded to go to the afternoon 
 meeting and ask for prayers, and follow that step 
 by going to the altar at night. Going to the shop, 
 he gave the boys their time to attend the meet- 
 ing, and started for the church. Meanwhile, the 
 enemy was at work. His christian wife and 
 mother had been informed that he was about to 
 go to the church under the influence of liquor, and 
 hastening toward the shop they met him on the 
 way, and upset all his good resolutions by urging 
 him to return, which he did. To give vent to 
 to the storm that was brewing, he went to work 
 again. Meanwhile his temper got the best of 
 him, and thus foiled, disappointed and enraged, 
 he gave them an exhibition of it. Just then, a 
 stranger, who lived in the country, came in to 
 see about some repairs. He proved to be a man 
 
 of God, and very soon began to reprove S , 
 
 and to point him to the Savior. Poor S , 
 
 then told of his recent determinations, and the 
 
 •stranger urged him to seek Christ right there. 
 
 He told him he could find salvation in his shop. 
 
 S , replied that he wouldn't be converted in his 
 
 s/iop, and that night declined to kneel again as 
 before. But the Spirit of God was urging the 
 surrender, and he began at last to think that his 
 shop would be the proper place for him to give 
 his heart to God. He spent the next day in 
 
2l6 NOIS3 IT ABROAD. 
 
 praying most of the time, and in response to a 
 brother who called to urge him to seek the Lord, 
 he said he would, and returned a polite note re- 
 questing Bro. Bitler to bring a few christians 
 with him and pray for him there. 
 
 When they went they found him ready to 
 yield. Only one thing stood in his way. His 
 hatred for a relative that was specially obnoxious 
 to him was so great that he was unwilling to for- 
 give. At last, however, he yielded the point, 
 and while kneeling with these christian friends 
 his load was lifted and he was clearly converted 
 to God. Anger, wrath, malice, and the whole 
 catalogue of these fruits, gave way to peace and 
 love, and the next day the pleasure of meeting 
 the former object of his hatred was a new luxury 
 that he had not dreamed of before. He went 
 immediately home and there erected a family 
 altar, and came to the church at night to tell 
 what God had done for him, and of the happiest 
 home in all the country. 
 
 N S , the young man referred to 
 
 above, was one of six telegraph operators con- 
 verted at this meeting. While Bro. Bitler was 
 at Gallipolis, several messages passed between 
 him and the writer, and N. chanced to send 
 and receive some of them. One urged Bro. 
 Bitler to come to Circleville, "now or never.'" 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 21J 
 
 Another wound up with "glory to God." N. 
 made some trifling remark to the operator at the 
 other end of the line, who replied by telling him 
 that he needed a little of it himself. Soon a tele- 
 gram came saying that 527 had been converted, 
 and the meeting still growing. The ejaculations 
 that followed this statement will hardly bear re- 
 porting, but N. made up his mind that if Bitler 
 came he would go and hear him. When he 
 came to the church the convicting Spirit took 
 hold on him as soon as he entered the door, and 
 in a few days he surrendered to God and was 
 soundly converted. 
 
 Curiosity, doubtless, was the primary motive 
 that led him to the house of God, but if the 
 numbers who attend divine service were con- 
 fined to those that come from pious motives, we 
 would preach to small congregations. If noising 
 abroad the results of revival would excite the 
 curiosity of telegraph operators, and secure their 
 attention to the claims of the gospel, it would 
 pay to keep them busy reporting revival news. 
 
 J. A. C ., when but twelve years of age, 
 
 began work in a bowling-alley, which was con- 
 nected with a saloon. For a period of perhaps 
 fifteen years he was in the employ of some 
 saloon, and during that time the habit of drink- 
 ing was frequently getting the best of him. Re- 
 
2l8 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 peated efforts to reform made his life a struggle, 
 and he would sometimes straighten up and ab- 
 stain for so long a time that he would congratu- 
 late himself on having gained the victory. But 
 the saloon element were his associates, and 
 sometimes, after declining a hundred invita- 
 tions to drink, he would break down and fall to 
 the same depths as before. These sprees would 
 last from one to four weeks, or as long as his 
 money held out, and he could manage to bor- 
 row or get credit. Not of a vicious tempera- 
 ment, but naturally kind and considerate, his' 
 wages ranging from seven to twelve dollars per 
 week, he could have supported his family easily. 
 But these frequent sprees made it a precarious 
 matter. Though his excellent wife continued 
 to plead, and dying words of a little son were 
 fresh in his memory, all was of no avail. From 
 the time that his little boy died, and during the 
 two years that followed, he had no rest of mind, 
 and would often look at the church, while pass- 
 ing, and wish that he was a christian. But he 
 did not reform, and about the beginning of the 
 revival he was drinking hard, got into trouble, 
 and was locked up in the station-house. When 
 released, he told a friend that helped him out, that 
 he was going to join the church and be a chris- 
 tian on the first opportunity. He came to the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 2lp 
 
 meetings under conviction. Sought and found 
 salvation. Brought happiness to his wife and 
 four little children. Broke the spell of demon 
 drink, and has "lived in all good conscience" 
 until this day. Good sense, rare mental ability, 
 industry, and, above all, the grace of God, is 
 doing wonders for him. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Other Denominations — Effects on the Com- 
 munity — Too Many Churches! — Conversion 
 of a Deaf Mute — Triumphant Death of the 
 First Convert — Another Safe. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that the various evan- 
 gelical denominations of the city treated the 
 revival with uniform favor, and some of them 
 gathered fruit that was to some extent the 
 product of this meeting. We do not mean 
 this remark to be construed in any sense dis- 
 creditable to them. For, during the progress 
 of the meeting, it was frequently urged by the 
 pastor that persons converted here should unite 
 with any of the churches deemed preferable. 
 To what extent this advice was taken we are 
 not informed. Perhaps we received as many 
 persons from sister churches as they did from 
 us. Quite a number, whose former affiliations 
 were with them, were either converted, re- 
 claimed, or so thoroughly baptized into Metho- 
 dist usages and Methodist spirit, that they 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 221 
 
 afterward united with us, either on probation 
 or by letter. 
 
 So far as we know none of them were solic- 
 ited or invited to do so ; nevertheless they were 
 cordially received. Several of the churches 
 drank deeply of the spirit of the revival, and either 
 protracted their meetings, or began sevices again, 
 after having rested from special meetings pre- 
 viously held. The spirit of awakening pervaded 
 the entire city, and instead of indulging a spirit 
 of criticism, we felt that the times were propi- 
 tious for all the churches to save souls, and if 
 they had not made some effort to utilize these 
 favorable conditions, we doubt whether they 
 would have been free from the guilt of neglect. 
 At least fifty, perhaps twice as many, united with 
 the different denominations as a result of these 
 extra meetings. 
 
 The general spirit of revival, and the amount 
 of public interest awakened, is indicated by the 
 fact that there were four churches holding meet- 
 ings day and night as the second series of the 
 winter, and all of them were well attended. 
 Churches in the adjacent country caught the 
 flame and were making the second effort at revi- 
 val ; and in some instances the last was more 
 fruitful of results than the first. 
 
 Not only were religious people effected, but 
 
.222 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 there was a very perceptible falling off in all that 
 contributes to the liquor traffic. Customers were 
 less numerous, beer kegs were less prominent, 
 and even inmates of houses of ill-fame com- 
 plained that "unless the revival was stopped they 
 would starve to death." 
 
 A "drummer," whose stock consisted of fine 
 wines and other liquors, paid the city a visit 
 about this time, and returning to Columbus, O., 
 he reported his success to the lady with whom 
 he was boarding. 
 
 He said that Circleville was the worst town he 
 had ever struck. ' 'They have so many churches 
 there. There are churches in other towns, to be 
 sure, but they seem to have such a hold on the 
 people. When you ask if they want anything, 
 they just look at you. I didn't make my expen- 
 ses, &c. " He assured his landlady that he 
 would never visit the town again ; but possibly, 
 under the reign of "free whisky, " and no law 
 that liquor men are bound to respect, he may be 
 induced to come at a later period and "try his 
 luck again." 
 
 Among those converted at the meetings were 
 at least five persons that had formerly been en- 
 gaged in the sale of liquor. They were not all 
 of them regular saloon keepers, but they are reg- 
 ular attendants on the various services of the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 223 
 
 church, and we could wish that all the converts 
 of revival meetings were as uniformly full of faith 
 and zeal. 
 
 DEAF MUTE. 
 
 Standing on the platform one evening, and just 
 before the meeting in the inquiry room had ad- 
 journed to come up stairs, we noticed a young 
 man passing in front of the pulpit, whose smiling 
 face indicated a perfect rapture. Such an ex- 
 pression of mingled astonishment and delight we 
 had never seen. The impression was at once 
 made that the young man had just been converted. 
 We followed him to his seat in the audience, and 
 inquired if it were not so. The answer was 
 nothing but a look, and a smile. Repeating the 
 question, he said nothing, but seemed greatly 
 excited and very happy. We left him not know- 
 ing what to make of it. Presently we went to 
 him again, and insisted on knowing what was the 
 matter. After some time he seemed to under- 
 stand what was wanted, and first putting his hand 
 on his heart he lifted it up, as much as to say that 
 something sacred had transpired between him and 
 God. When we discovered that he was deaf, 
 the matter was made plain ; but how he came to 
 get enough gospel to go to the altar and seek and 
 find the Savior, is still a mystery. He had learned 
 
224 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 the carpenter's trade, was an intelligent and ex- 
 cellent workman, and withal, his infirmity had 
 not been a complete defense against evil associa- 
 tions and some bad habits. Before his conver- 
 sion he was cross and peevish in the family, and 
 there was plenty of room for reformation. Since 
 that time he has attended faithfully all the ser- 
 vices of the church, and testified at almost every 
 opportunity — by the same sign of laying his 
 hand on his heart and then lifting it above his 
 head. His temper has sweetened, and his whole 
 demeanor is that of a happy, consistent christian. 
 If "by their fruits" we are to know them, then 
 the Holy Spirit has done a great work in the 
 heart of Bro. Wm, F . 
 
 Multitudes of cases worthy of record must be 
 passed by without notice. Of all that have been 
 given, not one is recorded here that has not given 
 every evidence of genuine transformation, and 
 subsequent faithfulness. Should any of them 
 fall we may regret the publication of their expe- 
 riences, but we venture our faith in their fidelity, 
 and noise abroad the grace that saved them, 
 knowing that they will be ' 'kept by the power of 
 God, through faith, unto everlasting life, " unless 
 they abandon the Savior by a criminal desertion. 
 
 We have often remarked that revival efforts 
 are usually followed, or attended, by two very 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 225 
 
 different phases of death. In calling to mind 
 former revivals we find no exception to this 
 statement, and we could verify it by marked in- 
 stances in almost every case. Indeed it is no 
 matter of wonder in view of the multitudes that 
 usually attend revival meetings, some of whom 
 accept the Savior, and others, under deep con- 
 viction persistently reject salvation for the last 
 time. It very frequently occurs that converts are 
 translated while yet in the joy of their "first 
 love," and others, who have rejected Christ, die in 
 darkness, "having no hope and without God." 
 
 An instance of the latter, almost parallel to 
 many we have known, occurred during the meet- 
 ings here. Prior to the coming of Bro. Bitler, 
 a woman whose hostility to the church was 
 evinced by her repeated utterances, was visited 
 by kind friends and neighbors who urged her to 
 come to the meetings. She persistently refused, 
 and on learning that the evangelist was expected, 
 she declared that she would like to see him ; she 
 was going to hell anyway, and she wanted to 
 give him a piece of her mind before she went. 
 Shortly after his coming, at a time when the 
 meetings were at their best stage, a brother, whom 
 we prefer not to name, while exhorting the peo- 
 ple quoted the text, "He that being often re- 
 proved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be 
 
226 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 destroyed, and that without remedy." He not 
 only urged it with vehemence, but went so far 
 as to assert a powerful impression that it was 
 soon to be verified in our midst. The next day, 
 the woman referred to above, fell from her chair 
 — dead. It created something of an impression 
 at the time, and the remarks of the evening be- 
 fore were brought vividly to mind. 
 
 We tried to preach a faithful sermon to the 
 large company assembled at the house, from the 
 text, ' ' Therefore be ye also ready : for in such 
 an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. " 
 The occasion and its impressions were not lost, 
 for very soon after some of the hearers were 
 among the seekers and found the Savior. 
 
 DEATH OF THE FIRST CONVERT. 
 
 Very different was the case of Carrie M . 
 
 At the first meeting of the series she yielded to 
 an invitation to give her heart to Christ and 
 began at once to seek him. For some time she 
 was in great distress of mind. In a few days 
 she was taken sick and deprived of the privilege 
 of attending the services. She seemed for a 
 time to vacillate between light and darkness, 
 but soon received the witness of her acceptance, 
 and began to be greatly concerned for others. 
 When her illness became serious she spent 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 227 
 
 most of her time praying for the salvation of 
 others, and would not rest until she seemed 
 assured of their conversion. After that, glory ! 
 glory! glory! were her frequent exclamations. 
 When the end drew near she called the family 
 to her bedside and talked as one looking into 
 Heaven. The gates, she said, were open. 
 Jesus was visible. Angelic hosts were above 
 and about her. Called to her bedside just be- 
 fore the light went out, the last words we could 
 distinctly hear were, ' ' trusting Jesus. " Though 
 but fifteen years of age, her repentance was at- 
 tended with genuine grief, her conversion 
 marked and clear, and her death triumphant. 
 We devoted a regular hour of service to the 
 funeral at the church, and made it a part of the 
 programme of the meetings to exhibit her tri- 
 umph among the results of the revival. 
 
 Later on, and after the close of the meetings, 
 another young lady who had been converted 
 during the revival was taken suddenly ill and 
 died. Not, however, until she had left a clear 
 testimony that all was well. Strongly tempted 
 to stay away from the "Band" meeting one 
 Tuesday night, she passed the church three 
 times debating the question. But finally she 
 went in. The meeting proved to be one most 
 precious to her soul, and she testified to an evi- 
 
228 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 dence of her acceptance with God with more 
 emphasis than usual for her. That night she 
 was very ill, and in a few days was dead — 
 but numbered among those who "die in the 
 Lord." Doubtless every pastor can call to 
 mind similar cases whose conversion and death 
 came so near together, that we not only saw 
 them saved, but safe. We know that our min- 
 istry is not barren, and heaven is sweeter when 
 we have children there. 
 
 With two converts in heaven, and hundreds 
 on the way thither, the real record of this great 
 revival will only be known when the last of 
 them has ended the race and received the crown 
 of everlasting life. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 DAY OF JUBILEE. 
 
 Invitations — Praise Service — Sermon — After- 
 noon Session — Responses — Reports from Vis- 
 iting Ministers — Closing Address by Dr. 
 Trimble — A Pentecost at Night — Fruits of 
 the Jubilee • and Closing Service of the 
 Revival. 
 
 Friday, March 20, 1885, was a memorable 
 day in the history of Circleville. Nearly a 
 thousand cards of invitation had been addressed 
 to ministers and others, and they served not 
 only as invitations, but to noise abroad the work 
 of grace. The day announced for the jubilee 
 proved to be a stormy one, and with the ther- 
 mometer down to a low degree, many were de- 
 terred from coming. Nevertheless, a large num- 
 ber came by train, and from the surrounding 
 country, and ministerial brethren were well rep- 
 resented. Some of the latter were engaged in 
 revivals, but had left the battle in the hands of 
 their people and come to the jubilee for its in- 
 spiration. The Colosseum is a large frame build- 
 
 229 
 
23 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 ing, capable of seating about twelve hundred peo- 
 ple' and before the service had proceeded far it 
 was comfortably filled; while at night an over- 
 flow meeting was held at the church. 
 
 The meeting began with a praise service; 
 opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. J. M. Trimble, 
 and consisting of songs of jubilee, and fervent 
 prayers by visiting ministers. The first hour 
 closed with a report from the pastor, in which 
 various features of the work were reviewed, and 
 the sum of all that had been accomplished re- 
 ported. There had been four hundred and 
 sixty conversions directly, the result of the 
 meeting, and about forty in other churches of 
 the city. So that, making no account of the 
 incidental fruits of the revival in the incentives 
 given to other meetings in the country, we were 
 warranted in rejoicing over the conversion of 
 five hundred souls. 
 
 SERMON BY REV. S. A. KEEN. 
 
 Following the praise service came the sermon 
 of Rev. S. A. Keen, Presiding Elder of the Lan- 
 caster District. Having labored most effectively 
 in the meeting during part of the time, and per- 
 fectly conversant with all its details, he took 
 hold of the work at the right place. 
 
 The text was Zech., 4:6. "Not by might nor 
 by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 23 1 
 
 A brief outline of the sermon deserves a place here, 
 more especially as it sounds the key-note of genuine 
 evangelistic work. We reproduce it from memory, 
 and we owe the recollection of it to the fact that the 
 truth affirmed profoundly impressed us at the time as 
 of the utmost importance to all religious workers. He 
 began by saying that 
 
 There are two methods of work. — The one 
 always results in failure ; the other always insures 
 success. The first uses all the natural and provi- 
 dential resources of the church, and depends on 
 them. The second uses the same natural and provi- 
 dential means, and depends on the Holy Spirit. 
 The result is, that the first fails to accomplish any- 
 thing, and the second succeeds. The case of Asa 
 was used in illustration of this difference. Asa's 
 capital was threatened by Zerah. Asa marshaled 
 his forces, called upon God, and won a glorious 
 victory. We might suppose that this method of 
 warfare would have been continued ; but when 
 another emergency came, and shortly after this 
 Baasha, King of Israel, threatened Jerusalem, Asa 
 made alliance with Benhadad, King of Syria ; de- 
 pended on his army, did not call on God, and 
 ignominiously failed. The resources of the church, 
 consisting in architecture, an educated ministry, 
 Sunday School appliances, etc. , are invaluable. But 
 to use them and depend on them is to fail ; while to 
 use them and depend on God is to succeed. They 
 are great, but not great enough to be depended on. 
 They are of God, but if we base our faith on their 
 efficiency, we are sure to fail in the end. If we use 
 
232 N0IS3 IT ABROAD. 
 
 them, and supplement our work by judicious meth- 
 ods, depending solely on the Holy Spirit, we are sure 
 to succeed. The second part of the sermon raised 
 the question, 
 
 What can we depend on the Holy Spirit 
 for ? First, in reply, we can depend on Him for 
 convicting power. In proof, we have the promise that 
 " He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteous- 
 ness, and of judgment." Second, for converting 
 power. There are times in a revival when the 
 work of conversion seems to lag. Souls at the 
 altar of prayer, but none being converted. Then, 
 frequently, every other dependence fails and we 
 are driven to depend on Him alone, when Lo ! the 
 power of God comes suddenly upon them and they 
 are converted, and the work goes on. 
 
 Third, for revival power. Such power as controls 
 the attention of a community ; sets them to thinking 
 and talking about religion. Politics is laid aside. 
 Business becomes secondary. The spirit of a gen- 
 eral awakening is seen and felt, and times of re- 
 freshing come to the church of God. We must 
 come to recognize the fact that the Holy Spirit is 
 the great, and the only great, Revivalist. 
 Finally, why may we depend on the Holy 
 Spirit? 
 
 First— Because he came to do this work. He has 
 nothing else in hand at this time. Creation was 
 finished long ago. The worlds are made. "He 
 garnished the heavens," and His work in that 
 sphere has been consummated. The work of in- 
 diting and inspiring a revelation is completed. The 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 233 
 
 bible is made. The atoning work of redemption is 
 finished. All things are now ready, and the Holy 
 Spirit has nothing else to do. 
 
 Second — He is able to do all things. Nothing is too 
 hard for him. 
 
 Third — He is ready. We have but to ask him. 
 " More willing to give good things to them that 
 ask." &c. (Luke xi. , 13). If we succeed in the 
 work of God we must depend on God. May we 
 learn the lesson that it is " not by might, nor by 
 power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." 
 
 We refrain from any estimate of the sermon 
 as to its merit or acceptability, and only produce 
 the above sketch to give prominence, and if pos- 
 sible emphasis, to its evangelistic trend. No 
 mind can magnify the importance of entire de- 
 pendence on the Holy Spirit. Our acquaintance 
 with Bro. Bitler's meetings and unique methods, 
 has not lessened our appreciation of this truth, 
 but greatly increased it ; and if the reader by ob- 
 serving in this account the various combinations 
 of machinery and method, has lost sight of the 
 cloud that covered and the glory that filled the 
 temple, he has been strangely misled. In many 
 cases we could cite, brethren from abroad came 
 to our meeting who were as conscious of a divine 
 presence before they witnessed the apparent re- 
 sults as afterward. Many persons who were 
 spiritually susceptible, entered our meetings 
 
234 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 under such a sense of the power of the Holy- 
 Ghost that it was indeed an ' 'inward persuasion, " 
 a sacred assurance, and a feeling akin to that 
 which Moses must have had when he stood by 
 the burning bush. 
 
 A man of God whose ministry covers a period 
 of man) years in the Ohio Conference, and whose 
 intense love for the practical and experimental, 
 has made him familiar with all the branches of 
 natural philosophy ; whose sensibilities are not 
 moved by the ordinarily emotional, and whose 
 intellectual standards of taste have made him to 
 be regarded as a severe critic, volunteered this 
 testimony to the writer; "I could not be any 
 more conscious of the presence of the Holy 
 Spirit. As I come near the church I realize it. 
 If the atmosphere was colored with some sub- 
 stance it would not render the fact any more ap- 
 parent to my sensorium commune, than it is." 
 
 Said a layman, who came from a distance, and 
 whom we met a few minutes after he was seated 
 in the congregation ; "I knew the Holy Spirit 
 was here as soon as I entered the door." Nu- 
 merous testimonies might be given in addition to 
 these ; and as Dr. Trimble said in his address, 
 cited later in this account, ' 'anybody could see 
 that God is here." 
 
 The sermon quoted above needed no exhorta- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 235 
 
 tion such as we have seen fit to append. The 
 people that heard it had ample proof of its 
 truthfulness. A consecration service followed. 
 Ten persons rose for prayers, and several came 
 forward and were converted. 
 
 Afternoon Session. 
 
 This meeting was introduced by prayer and 
 song, the ministers present being called on to 
 pray. Responses, of which a large number were 
 received, were then read by the pastor. 
 
 An hour or more was devoted to reports from 
 visiting ministers. This part of the programme 
 was in keeping with Bro. Bitler's method of 
 keeping revival results at the front, and noising 
 abroad everything relating to the work of God. 
 No minister ever comes into the congregation 
 with good news in his heart, that does not have 
 an opportunity to declare it. On this occasion 
 the preachers were fresh from the field and flush 
 with victory, and their testimonies celebrated the 
 triumphs of more than a hundred battles. 
 
 The Lancaster District was first reported. The 
 District comprises a large part of four counties 
 and a small part of two others, and the revival 
 had been general. Of twenty-one charges, all 
 had been blessed with marked revivals except 
 three. Of seventy-five societies, sixty-five had 
 revivals. 
 
236 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 The spirit of awakening had been intense. 
 The meetings were characterized by powerful 
 convictions, and clear conversions ; while the 
 churches had been elevated to a higher plane of 
 christian experience. It was specially empha- 
 sized that the spirit of this meeting at Circleville 
 had spread, and incited the preachers and people 
 all over the District. In places where revivals 
 had closed the pastors had renewed the battle, 
 and were now having greater victories than at 
 first. The number of conversions was reported 
 at nineteen hundred since the first of January, 
 1885. The whole number, since reported, has 
 reached 2, 500. 
 
 Other preachers, of the district and elsewhere, 
 took up the work in detail ; and he is a cold 
 preacher who could have heard the story of so 
 many battles without having his soul stirred. It 
 was like the prelibation of coming millennium. 
 
 We have read the accounts of early Methodist 
 victories, and longed to see the like in modern 
 times, and right here the story was being repeated, 
 amid the tears and hallelujahs of a multitude. 
 When Methodist preachers get together, and 
 recount their experiences of conquest and 
 victory, if the hearer has any war metal in him, 
 it is sure to ring when the key is struck. 
 
 Rev. Z. W. Fagan, Presiding Elder of the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 237 
 
 Gallipolis District came in with the "cap sheaf," 
 and reported the great revival at Gallipolis, and 
 the work in general on that district. The sum 
 of it he described as wonderful ! wonderful ! ! 
 wonderful ! ! ! Of twenty-three charges, twenty 
 had been blessed with revivals, and the whole 
 number of converts in the district had reached 
 twenty-three hundred, and in many places the 
 work still going on.* His account of the revival 
 at Gallipolis, together with marked manifestations 
 of the same power throughout the district, fully 
 justified the oft repeated "wonderful" of his 
 characteristic speech. '"Tis wonderful grace," 
 was never sung with more heartfelt gladness than 
 at the close of his remarks. 
 
 The prevailing sentiment was that of thanks- 
 giving, and while the jubilee was held in honor 
 of the fact that 500 souls had been converted at 
 Circleville, it took on the broader cast of celebra- 
 ting the triumphs of more than a hundred revi- 
 vals. The closing address was made by Rev. Dr. 
 J. M. Trimble. 
 
 Without attempting to report it in full, we 
 may recall some of its allusions as eminently ap- 
 propriate to this account. It was worth much to 
 hear it, and more to feel it, for it was in many 
 
 Our latest report from Bro. Fagan puts the number at 
 2,651. 
 
238 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 respects the climax of a wonderful meeting. He 
 began by saying that while something of a stick- 
 ler for Methodist hymns, he could often express 
 himself in the language of another, viz.: I'm glad 
 I'm in this army. " His former labors, extending 
 through many years, and many revivals, were 
 briefly referred to. The great revival at Circle- 
 ville in 1842, under the pastorate of Rev. Bon- 
 tique, in which 400 were converted, and another 
 in 1857 under the 'pastorate of Dr. Cyrus Fel- 
 ton, in which 350 were brought in, both occurred 
 at the time when he was Presiding Elder, and in 
 which he labored. He said that this was the 
 same spirit that prevailed in those great revivals ; 
 that anybody could see that God is here ; that God 
 is in this movement as he was in that years ago, 
 He stated that he had been converted5 8 years ago, 
 that he had been in the ministry 57 years; the 
 first year 500 souls were converted. The fruit of 
 later revivals he had found everywhere. They 
 were scattered through the years, and over a wide 
 district, and even in the congregation before him. 
 Pointing to the writer he said, "I prayed with 
 the father of this pastor." (He might have 
 added that Joseph H. Creighton first went to the 
 altar of prayer at Circleville in 1842, while Dr. 
 Trimble was preaching. The former referred to 
 this fact at the session of the Conference recently 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 239 
 
 convened here, and declared that in later years 
 he had heard many sermons, but none that 
 stormed his heart as that one did.) In referring 
 to the question that had been raised, asking why 
 our church had no quarrels on the subject of doc- 
 .trines, he replied, that we had no time for that, 
 we were a revival church, and when we ceased to 
 be that, we were nothing. His reference to the 
 present revival, associated as it was with past 
 labors and precious memories, was so eminently 
 fitting that it seemed to bind the fathers and the 
 children together, and blend the whole vast revi- 
 val spirit into one, and we felt that we were really 
 in the revivals we had before only read about. 
 Turning to the ministers, his fervent appeals to 
 them to trust in God, and prayer for them that 
 they might be endued with the Holy Spirit, was 
 met with responsive amens, that reflected the 
 same ardent revival spirit. His closing appeal 
 to the unconverted was delivered in the same 
 vein of earnestness and pathos that characterizes 
 his best utterances, and when he had finished, 
 we sang the doxology over the victories of all 
 the past, and in hope of triumphs yet to come. 
 The closing hour was given to testimonies from 
 laymen present. Mr. S. M. Alderman, an attor- 
 ney, converted during Bro. Bitler's meeting at 
 Corning, was introduced, and after reciting his 
 
24O NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 experience, (recorded elsewhere in this volume) 
 he commended the grace of God as able to save 
 from the lowest depths of intemperance. Nothing 
 could have added to the simplicity and candor 
 with which he told the story of his rescue. It 
 thrilled the vast audience, and every body seemed 
 to weep. We have seldom heard a recital so 
 full of pathos, and yet so marked with genuine 
 ability. No speech of that day elicited more 
 friendly comment. 
 
 Hon. G. P. Brook, member of the Ohio Legis- 
 lature, was next to speak, and a worthy speech it 
 was. Learning of this revival he had come to 
 enjoy the jubilee, in the hope that he should find 
 among the 500 converted, the family of a relative 
 residing here. In this he had been disappointed. 
 But, we may add, that while he was here God made 
 him instrumental in their salvation, and he went 
 home with a glad heart and good news. 
 
 Eighty persons occupied the remaining mo- 
 ments, and when all that were saved were re- 
 quested to testify by rising, fully nine-tenths of 
 the vast audience stood up. It was like the tide 
 of a great camp-meeting, and closed the after- 
 noon service. 
 
 NIGHT SERVICES. 
 
 At night the services were conducted by Rev. 
 Z. W. Fagan, of Gallipolis, and Bro. Bitler. The 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 24 1 
 
 Colosseum was crowded to its utmost capacity, 
 and an overflow meeting was held at the church, 
 led by Rev. S. A. Keen and the pastor. The 
 latter meeting was singularly powerful. We 
 never witnessed its equal. The first half dozen 
 prayers were remarkable. The altar was pre- 
 sented as usual ; a few came at first and others 
 followed. Suddenly, as if lifted by the same 
 hand, the "mothers in Israel, " began to praise 
 God aloud. Half a score began to shout at once. 
 Those at the altar were converted at the same 
 time. Others were struck with conviction, and 
 the whole congregation were caught in a whirl- 
 wind that moved those in front to the rear. Two 
 or three times the congregation seemed to swing 
 clear round, and we doubt if an unconverted 
 person in the house was left without a personal 
 invitation. Some started for the door but were 
 arrested, and one especially, with hat in hand 
 was just about leaving, when he was met by a 
 brother, and at once surrendered and came clear 
 out on the side of the saved. At the close of 
 this wonderful service the news had spread to 
 the Colosseum, and when the larger meeting 
 was dismissed the multitude thronged the church, 
 only to hear of its wonderful manifestations and 
 join in its closing doxologies. 
 
 Thus ended a day of jubilee that roused all 
 
242 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 the latent forces of this great revival and quick- 
 ened the faith of thousands. 
 
 FRUITS OF THE JUBILEE. 
 
 Rev. W. C. Holliday, stationed at Shawnee, 
 Ohio, attended the jubilee and reported a re- 
 vival, resulting in sixty-two accessions and fifty 
 conversions. The Presiding Elder took occa- 
 sion to remark that while greater results in num- 
 bers were reported from some other places, he 
 regarded this revival, in view of almost insupera- 
 ble hindrances that had to be met, as one of the 
 most remarkable in the district. The following 
 statement, furnished by the Presiding Elder, 
 contains not only an estimate of the influence 
 of the Circleville meeting in the Lancaster Dis- 
 trict, but the last Shawnee bulletin : 
 
 ' ' The revival flame at Circleville sent its radi- 
 ations throughout Lancaster District. In some 
 parts, where effort for revival had been made 
 and no fruit gathered, the news from Circleville 
 so inspirited the pastors and people that they re- 
 sumed special evangelistic effort and had glori- 
 ous success. Notably among these incidental 
 effects of the Circleville revival was this in- 
 stance : Rev. W. C. Holliday, pastor of Shaw- 
 nee, attended the jubilee service at Circleville. 
 His charge had had a revival in January, but 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 243 
 
 he was not satisfied with the results ; they were 
 not commensurate with the great spiritual needs, 
 as he justly thought, of that community. While 
 attending the Circleville jubilee the inspiration 
 came to him to begin another series of meetings. 
 He returned home and resumed revival work. 
 Within a few days God providentially sent him 
 the assistance of Mrs. R. E. A. Smith, an evan- 
 gelist, and soon there were conversions amount- 
 ing in the aggregate for the year to 345. This 
 second meeting led to a second meeting at New 
 Straits ville, resulting in seventy-five conversions. " 
 
 THE CLOSING SERVICE 
 
 On the night of April 3, 1885, was a fitting 
 culmination of the great revival. As usual, 
 the first half hour was devoted to song. Bro. 
 Bitler followed with a brief address. He closed 
 by thanking those who had contributed to the 
 success of the meetings, including the choir, 
 the press of the city, the owner of the Colos- 
 seum for its gratuitous use, and others who had 
 been prominent in helping the work. After 
 remarks by the pastor, Bro. Bitler called atten- 
 tion to the fact that the scriptural mottoes had 
 been taken down from the walls, and asked the 
 congregation to recite them in the order in 
 which they had stood. Beginning with the 
 
244 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 first, they were repeated in chorus by the con- 
 gregation, showing that they were retained in 
 memory by the multitude. He then proposed 
 to shake hands with all in the audience that 
 would agree to make it a covenant, signifying 
 that "by God's grace I'll meet you in heaven." 
 Then began a general move from every seat in 
 the room, and as the songs of Zion were sung, 
 one following another, almost the entire audi- 
 ence filed by the pulpit and grasped the hand 
 of the evangelist. The spirit of hand-shaking 
 became prevalent, and the scene presented a 
 phase of rejoicing seldom witnessed. Having 
 begun with great anticipation, we closed with a 
 retrospect, recounting what God had wrought. 
 One soul was converted, and after singing 
 "Marching to Zion," "Sweet By and By," 
 and "The General Roll," the meeting was 
 closed with the Doxology and Benediction, 
 
 *&#££ 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 METHODS- 
 
 The Study of Methods — A Key to the Situa- 
 tion — Preaching not at Fault — Copyists. — 
 Questionable Methods — A "Bad Box." 
 
 It amounts to little in the record of revival 
 events to declare that they were wonderful. We 
 must know something of their causes, and the 
 attendant means and methods employed to se- 
 cure them, before we can learn much from a 
 study of them. Many earnest workers are anx- 
 ious to know how it was done by others, that 
 they may be better prepared to doit themselves; 
 and while no man is a model, and no method is 
 either opportune or always successful, the study 
 of men and methods may be suggestive in more 
 ways than one. The success of one man is often 
 a stimulus to many. True, David could not 
 fight in Saul's armor, and it is certain that David's 
 sling would be as useless in the hands of another. 
 Ram's horns and lusty blowing brought down 
 the walls of Jericho, but it is not probable that 
 similar horns would be effective in modern war- 
 
 245 
 
246 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 fare. The copyist that would employ Bitler's 
 methods, and attempt to noise abroad the work 
 of God, might do a vast amount of "blowing," 
 but it is not probable that the walls would have 
 any trouble to stand. Samson's method with the 
 gates of Gaza, would fit nobody else, unless God 
 should so order. His resources are infinite and 
 He is not obliged to duplicate his plans. The 
 fact therefore, that He did it that way once, is 
 evidence that He will do it some other way 
 again. 
 
 The study of methods will be valuable as sug- 
 gestions, but certainly not as models to be fol- 
 lowed or patterns to be adopted. If an evangelist 
 is not blessed with a degree of originality suffi- 
 cient to improvise methods of his own, he can 
 hardly be in possession of that wisdom that win- 
 neth souls. If he be truly called of God to this 
 work, and have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, 
 he is as sure to be a successful evangelist as that 
 God cannot be mistaken. The Holy Spirit will 
 as certainly suggest appropriate methods to an 
 inquiring mind as that the promise of wisdom is 
 true. "If any man lack wisdom let him ask of 
 God, who giveth to all men liberally and up- 
 braideth not." It is the testimony of Bro. 
 Bitler on this point that he caught the idea of 
 adveitisement, which he has since employed with 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 247 
 
 so good effect, while on his knees. It is charac- 
 teristic of him that he takes matters of manage- 
 ment and plans of work into his closet. When 
 difficulties arise, he pleads with God for a key to 
 the situation, and usually he gets it, and the com- 
 bination is unlocked. 
 
 We tread on sacred ground, and lest we give 
 aid and comfort to those who excuse their want 
 of revivals on the score of inadaptability, we 
 hesitate in m aking what seems to be a concession; 
 Yet the truth remains that God does not call 
 every minister to the same pliase of soul-saving 
 work ; nor does He qualify them for it. ' 'Some 
 evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." 
 We have known men who supposed that the 
 baptism of the Holy Spirit would, if received, 
 qualify them for evangelistic work ; and that the 
 measure of spiritual power received would be 
 manifested in the specific work of getting sinners 
 converted. Doubtless the natural powers would 
 be quickened, and success in every department 
 greatly augmented, but not so as to satisfy his 
 ambition on any single line of ministerial labor. 
 To every man his work ; but along the line of 
 his call and qualifications, God will make him a 
 success, if he be wholly consecrated and divinely 
 anointed. 
 
 We have often been impressed that very many 
 
248 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 if not most preachers who have the work of re- 
 vivals at heart, and yet who do not have as many 
 and as great revivals as they desire, are not at 
 fault as to preaching. They preach well enough 
 to secure vastly more fruit than they do. That 
 class of ministers who fail to find enough mate- 
 rial and inspiration in the gospel, and go mean- 
 dering off into the milky way of literary nebu- 
 lae, or tramping round on desultory pilgrimages 
 for some new social or philosophic topic, in 
 order to give variety and attraction to the pulpit, 
 are comparatively few in number ; though the 
 species of solderers and tinkerers is by no means 
 extinct. The rank and file of evangelical minis- 
 ters are men of God longing to see great revivals, 
 and so far as preaching is concerned, many of 
 them dispense truth enough to carry conviction 
 and bring multitudes to Christ. Failing to 
 achieve results commensurate with the amount 
 of effort expended, the remedy is sought in pre- 
 paring and preaching better sermons. The truth 
 may be that the strength of the preacher is in 
 his message already, and instead of strengthen- 
 ing the weak places he toils away at the strong 
 ones. Ordinarily, methods are either wanting or 
 inefficient, or ill adapted to arrest attention and 
 facilitate the work of revival. Many of us need 
 to study methods of personal appeal, and the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 249 
 
 management of public meetings, more than we 
 need a course of elocutionary training. 
 
 If we copy from others in detail, we are sure 
 to be hampered and very little good can come 
 of it ; but a majority of men are copyists, and 
 if we must copy why not endeavor to imitate 
 something new? The usual routine of ordinary 
 revival methods are not original with this gener- 
 ation. The copy is so old that it seems never 
 to have been new, and hundreds are imitating it 
 without the least idea that they are imitating 
 methods. Song, prayer, sermon, invitation, 
 song, prayer, doxology and benediction, in reg- 
 ular apostolic succession, from the fathers to the 
 children. The use of the "Mourner's bench," 
 has been vindicated by so many triumphs that it 
 may never be superseded in Methodist history, 
 but it is nevertheless an old copy, that none of 
 us are ashamed to follow. When however we 
 have failed in our attempts to use it, and the 
 breach between the altar and the unconverted 
 continues to defeat us, we may be compelled to 
 resort to some method that will bridge it. If 
 the old methods of vehement exhortation, and 
 persistent appeals fail us, perhaps some method 
 of personal effort, or pastoral visitation, or an 
 after meeting, or a room of inquiry, or the or- 
 ganization of a working band, or a young people's 
 
25O NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 meeting, or children's meetings, or something 
 new, will prepare the way for altar work, by 
 stimulating the workers and breaking the ranks 
 of the unconverted. May-be an hour with God, 
 pleading for a key to the situation, will disclose 
 the trouble and furnish a simple method that 
 leads to success. 
 
 It is not strange that unquestionable methods, 
 foolish methods, and even false methods, are 
 sometimes employed. Good sense is essential 
 to the creation of sensible methods, and moral 
 honesty is equally requisite to the employment 
 of truthful methods. Some men lack both, but 
 their performances should not be charged to the 
 evangelistic office. 
 
 "Papa, you almost got a letter ; " said a little 
 fellow to his father. 
 
 "What do you mean, Johnny?" 
 
 "Why, I saw one in the box right next to 
 yours. It came purty near being your letter, 
 didn't it? " 
 
 Johnny is not the only "fellow" that reasons 
 well on mistaken data. That class of preachers 
 who oppose evangelists on the ground that some 
 of them are not genuine, would be in a "bad 
 box" if the same rule of unjust criticism was ap- 
 plied to them. We venture that evangelists are 
 like other men, and range in ability and useful- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 25 I 
 
 ness, all the way from mendicant tramps to men 
 of apostolic spirit and splendid abilities. To 
 assume that some men who lack common sense, 
 resort to questionable methods, and exhibit a 
 selfish spirit, are typical evangelists, is to taint 
 the whole fraternity. Arguments that proceed 
 on this implied assumption — as many of them 
 do — are not only lacking in moral honesty, but 
 the logical sequence is as wide of truth as a 
 letter in the next box. Jesus was crucified be- 
 tween two thieves, but he wasn't a thief. If 
 all the hard things that are said and written 
 against evangelists as a class, on the score of ex- 
 travagances employed by a few, were erased from 
 the controversy, current criticism would have 
 little left that does not apply to regular evangel- 
 istic pastors. 
 
 Mr. Bitler's methods are especially adapted to 
 secure attention and produce results. While ut- 
 terly devoid of ingenious nonsense, his changes 
 of front, flank movements, and various tactics, 
 are so apt and appropriate that they commend 
 themselves to the audience and enlist their ap- 
 proval and co-operation, instead of their criticism. 
 To one who looks on at a single meeting and 
 goes away thinking he has seen the battle and 
 surveyed its tactics, there seems to be but little 
 that is new, If he comes again he will very 
 
252 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 likely find a new field, and new phases of the 
 same great work. To many, who witness the 
 meetings clear through, the evangelist does not 
 seem to follow any system of methods but dashes 
 ahead and things happen to turn this way and 
 that like the gusts of the wind, but to those 
 better informed and careful to analyze, these 
 great meetings are seen to be conducted in 
 accordance with plans and methods as wisely 
 adapted to the end in view as any system 
 of military tactics. It would be impossible to 
 record the details of attack, defense, siege, and 
 we had almost said retreat, that are regularly 
 and methodically provided for by Mr. Bitler; 
 and we proceed to a general statement of some 
 of the chief methods that characterize his meet- 
 ings. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 , BITLER'S METHODS. 
 
 The Banner-Scripture Mottoes — Tracts — The 
 Newspapers — "Done for Effect" — Reaching 
 the Masses — Demonstrations. 
 
 The evangelist's first objective end is to se- 
 cure the attention, and, as far as possible, the 
 attendance of the people. His fame is not 
 relied on to do this, nor does he wait to attract 
 the multitudes by his preaching and the fruits 
 of the revival. He wants to begin with a 
 crowded house. He has no sympathy with the 
 notion that religious people can have better 
 meetings in the lecture room, and that the use 
 of the main audience room will frighten workers 
 and cool off things generally. He aims at im- 
 mense results, and acts as if God meant to give 
 them. He unfurls the Banner of invitation the 
 first day ; and while I write it may be seen 
 on the corner of Main and Court streets, at the 
 most conspicuous place in this city, and just 
 where it can be seen by every citizen, or peo- 
 ple that come to town from any point of the 
 
 253 
 
254 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 compass. It consists of a piece of canvass about 
 thirty feet long, and reads : 
 
 REVIVAL SERVICES to-night at the M. E. 
 CHURCH. 
 
 It hangs about twenty-five feet above the 
 pavement, stretching from a telephone to a 
 telegraph pole, thus fitly representing Bro. Bit- 
 ler's idea that these times of advancement in 
 everything scientific, demands that the church 
 and its religious enterprises rise to the same 
 plane, and appeal to the people from the same 
 elevated platform of advertisement and business- 
 like methods. 
 
 It was amusing to hear remarks that were 
 elicited when the banner was put up. One 
 said that it meant business ; another was ready 
 to bet that the evangelist wouldn't get over 
 a hundred converts ; while his comrade, hav- 
 ing twice as much faith, put it at two hundred. 
 The colored brother, whose fish stand was near 
 by, chuckled and tossed his head knowingly, as 
 much as to say the year of jubilee is come. A 
 few good people seemed afraid to look at it, lest 
 they might seem to sanction so great an innova- 
 tion. It soon lost its alien look, except perhaps 
 to those whose business the revival materially 
 crippled. An instance of the estimate in which 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 255 
 
 the banner was held by a man whose craft was 
 in danger, occurred at Gallipolis. Near the 
 close of that meeting it was taken down ; but 
 new interest in the meetings led the evangelist 
 to stay another week. In accordance with a 
 desire expressed by many that had been con- 
 verted, it was put up again one morning at day- 
 break. A saloonist near by caught sight of it, 
 and looking up he exclaimed, "Good Lord, 
 aint that feller gone yet! " That fellow did not 
 go until the number of converts reached more 
 than six hundred, and some of them his best 
 customers. 
 
 Another method of advertisement which ap- 
 peals not only to the eye but to the heart, is to 
 be seen on the walls of the room in which the 
 meetings are held. ' ' My word shall not return 
 unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which 
 I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto 
 I sent it, " has often been verified by this method. 
 Striking texts, painted in large legible letters, 
 adorn the audience room on all sides. 
 
 What seems at first a novelty, becomes at last 
 an attraction, and long before the series close, 
 these flaming messages on the walls are as 
 sacred to those assembled beneath them as 
 when found in their own bibles. Their attach- 
 ment is illustrated by the fact that when Mr. 
 
256 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Bitler left Gallipolis the people plead for the 
 banners. They were all taken down and ready 
 to be sent to the next place of meeting, but at 
 their earnest solicitation they were put up again, 
 and so remain to this day. Quite a large amount 
 of money was raised at the close of the meeting 
 at Gallipolis for the purpose of repairing and 
 frescoing the church, and such was the intense 
 desire to perpetuate the memory of the revival 
 in these sacred texts, that many have 'informally 
 requested that they be painted on the walls, and 
 thus become perpetual mementoes of that great 
 work of God and its hallowed associations. If 
 the reader would have a view of the scene, let 
 him suppose himself to be seated in the midst 
 of a vast audience, every available seat occu- 
 pied, the platform crowded, many about the 
 door and skirting the aisles, and the walls lined 
 with a file of persons glad even to stand during 
 the service. The pulpit is wheeled aside, the 
 organ is placed in the centre, and the evangelist 
 at the front, stands ready to deliver his message 
 without pulpit, book, note, or any other rest, 
 from which to take aim at the hearts he hopes 
 to capture for the Master. Just above and back 
 of him hangs the blue banner against the niche 
 in the wall, and it reads : 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 257 
 
 JESUS . 
 
 THERE IS 
 
 NONE OTHER 
 
 NAME 
 
 Under Heaven Given Among 
 Men Whereby 
 
 We Must Be Saved 
 
 To the right and left of this, and occupying 
 all the space to the adjacent walls, are two 
 scriptural invitations. The one on the left is 
 from Isa, 55:1: 
 
 moieyery one that] 
 
 I THIRSTETH tSP WATERS. j 
 
 The other on the right is from Jno., 6: 37 
 
 HIM THAT COMETH tome 
 1 wm IN NO WISE CAST OUT 
 
 On the opposite walls are six of these banners, 
 so arranged that "companion pieces" face each 
 
258 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 other; for instance, the following are 
 directly opposite each other: 
 
 hung 
 
 THERE IS NO 
 PEACE 
 
 SAITH IVLY 
 GOD 
 
 TO THE WICKED. 
 
 WE HfflE 
 
 PEACE 
 
 WITH GOD 
 
 Through Our 
 LOED 
 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 The prophecy that ' ' the stone shall cry out 
 of the wall, and the beam out of the timber 
 shall answer it," has in this, at least a measure 
 of fulfillment. Turning to leave the room, the 
 attention is attracted by a text that stretches 
 above the door. It is larger, and has been 
 more frequently referred to, in connection with 
 serious impressions, than any of the others. It 
 reads : Ye Must Be Born Again. 
 
 Another method of advertisement is the dis- 
 tribution of invitation tracts, which Mr. Bitler 
 has had published by the thousand and spreads 
 like the leaves of autumn. One of these is a 
 single leaflet, with an invitation to the meetings 
 on one side and a brief scriptural sermon on the 
 other. The other is a four-leafed tract, which, 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 259 
 
 in view of its emphasis of prominent words, and 
 its judicious presentation of the truth to the un- 
 converted, is well calculated to attract attention 
 and appeal to the conscience. It bears the 
 striking title of A Message To You. The 
 method of utilizing these tracts is chiefly along 
 the lines of personal work. The evangelist, in 
 company with the pastor, sallies forth to visit 
 men in their places of business, distributing the 
 tracts to any that may be present, and supplying 
 the counters of business men. Christian work- 
 ers, and especially the young converts, are pro- 
 vided with a good supply, and they serve well 
 to introduce the subject of religion and act as 
 reminders when the worker has passed on. 
 
 THE NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 A false modesty might lead christian workers 
 to shrink from giving great publicity to success- 
 ful revival efforts, but there is another view of 
 it, viz., that everybody ought to know what 
 God is doing for the salvation of men. Mr. 
 Bitler takes that view. Believing that the secu- 
 lar press will command an immense influence, 
 he aims to secure its favor from the start. Per- 
 sonally visiting the editors he solicits and se- 
 cures their aid in reporting fully everything 
 of interest that may transpire during the re- 
 
260 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 vival. Thus the work is noised abroad. Flam- 
 ing headlines become an evangel to hundreds 
 that might otherwise be in total ignorance of 
 the meetings, and they come to see for them- 
 selves. We know instances of persons who 
 read these revival accounts and came in from 
 the country, not only to see, but to seek salva- 
 tion. One was converted who was led to seek 
 the Lord at home, and who was not in attend- 
 ance at the meetings until after her conversion. 
 Think of a political organ becoming the medium 
 through which a casual reader is led to seek and 
 find the Savior ! The fame of any successful re- 
 vivalist will give him a multitude of hearers, and 
 it would seem that this fact would render Bro. 
 Bitler's method of advertisement wholly un- 
 necessary. But it must be borne in mind that 
 he attempts to reach a class that ordinary an- 
 nouncements would not attract. Many con- 
 verts, referred to in previous pages, had not been 
 inside of any church for years, and he caught 
 their attention on the wing. The newspapers 
 kept the whole community astir, so that his 
 audience was not confined to the church. 
 They waked up intense interest many miles 
 beyond the central fires, and lesser revivals 
 were kindled and quickened, so that this method 
 gave him a hold on congregations he never saw. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 26 1 
 
 So far as we know, Bro. Bitler never wrote a line 
 or dictated a notice, but his peculiar aptness at 
 securing helpers employed the talents of others. 
 It is sometimes difficult to disassociate all evi- 
 dences of personal pride from popular exhibi- 
 tions and public displays. Very few men could 
 occupy a conspicuous place in the affairs of so- 
 ciety, and continue to exhibit results that in so 
 great a degree redound to their fame, without 
 appearing to be proud, or eventually becoming 
 so. All successful men have this gauntlet to 
 run. Yet the tendency to personal laudation, so 
 universal to human nature, must not be made 
 an absolute barrier to success, for if to avoid the 
 one we give up the other, we make a virtue of 
 failure. Humility is a great grace, and one of 
 the brightest ornaments of greatness, and with 
 many minds in possession of it, all efforts at dis- 
 play are condemned as- savoring of ostentation 
 and pride, and utterly inconsistent with the 
 gospel of Jesus Christ. If the least leaven of 
 personal laudation were seen to enter the evan- 
 gelist's method of noising abroad the triumphs of 
 the gospel, it would so poison the mess that Ave 
 would be driven to the cry of the sons of the 
 prophets, "O thou man of God, there is death 
 in the pot." Certainly the Holy Spirit would 
 have no complicity with this thing, and the 
 
262 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 whole effort would soon come to an end, or run 
 on as a perversion or a burlesque. 
 
 We have known many conscientious ministers 
 who refused to report their revivals through the 
 columns of the official papers of the church 
 simply because it seemed to them to savor of 
 display. They forget that a column of revival 
 news cheers the churches and quickens the faith 
 ot thousands. Saints are encouraged and sin- 
 ners are awed by the display of divine power. 
 It is human nature to express their appreciation 
 by marches and processions. Drums, banners 
 and sky-rockets, are their highest ideals of pat- 
 riotic expression. Wise men are notmovedby 
 them but they know how to utilize them. Napo- 
 leon once said to an attendant, "You are very 
 fortunate, you are not obliged to make a show of 
 yourself; but as for me, I must go in a procession ; 
 this is what I dislike ; but we must have a display ; 
 this is what the people like." Whatever else 
 Napoleon was, he was a consummate general 
 and knew how to manage civilians as well as sol- 
 diers While the same spectacular cannot be 
 employed in religious methods as in social or 
 political life, nevertheless we have the same ele- 
 ments of human nature, and so far as it may not 
 offend good taste or contradict the spirit of the 
 gospel, it behooves us to attract attention and ex- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 263 
 
 hibit the trophies of conquest. Once, early in 
 the meeting held at Circleville, Bro. Bitler invited 
 all who had been converted to come to the plat- 
 form, and it was immediately crowded with per- 
 haps more than a hundred persons. A gentle- 
 man in the audience remarked to a friend that 
 that was done for effect. "Yes," replied the 
 other, ' 'and why not ? It is enough to affect 
 anybody, and I like a preacher that can affect 
 something." It is doubtless the experience of 
 Methodist preachers, that early in a series of 
 meetings it is difficult to secure a large attendance. 
 But just as soon as conversions begin to occur 
 and the matter gets noisqd abroad, the crowds 
 come to see what is going on. Curiosity and 
 inquisitiveness are the poles of a magnet that are 
 more attractive than the ordinary amusements 
 that have hitherto kept them away. The mo- 
 tives that bring them are as utterly devoid of re- 
 ligious interest as the bills of a circus, and they 
 come to see the show ; but if the spirit of awak- 
 ening becomes general, they are as readily reached 
 as many who have been usual attendants. The 
 mere exhibition of revival results if it is designed 
 simply to satisfy morbid curiosity and secure a 
 crowd, must be deprecated ; but if by encourag- 
 ing public testimony, and calling attention to the 
 work of God in saving 1 sinners, it is intended to 
 
264 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 bring the masses within the range of the gospel 
 message and secure their salvation, the fact that 
 they are led to think, and finally to surrender, is 
 proof of its wisdom. "The children of this 
 generation are wiser than the children of light," 
 and it is time we applied successful business 
 methods of advertisement and announcement to 
 the great business of saving souls. 
 
 REACHING THE MASSES. 
 
 It has been a problem that has worried the 
 pulpit, and been discussed in every variety of 
 form in christian conventions, and occupied 
 many columns in the press ; but few men have 
 found a practical solution by which they could 
 reach and rouse the multitudes. The pulpit of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church has had less 
 concern on this subject than some others, and 
 yet in very many instances the same defect is 
 visible. Mr. Moody's method solves the prob- 
 lem in his hands and under the inspiration of 
 his presence. His injunction to "go for than," 
 is perhaps as good as any, if only the spirit 
 of personal work would characterize chris- 
 tian people under the leadership of the pastor. 
 Mr, Bitler's method is first to attract than, 
 and then "go for them." He finds no difficulty 
 in holding them when once they come, for the 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 265 
 
 reason that he keeps everything of interest at 
 the front, and they come again. Mere reliance 
 on pulpit efforts, however gifted the preacher, is 
 not always sure to win. Wendell Phillips de- 
 livered an address in Central Park, New York 
 City, and a dog fight took place at the other end 
 of the park at the same hour. The dogs had th e 
 crowd. Phillips may have had the consolation of 
 knowing that he had the brains ; but ministers of 
 Jesus Christ will never secure the conversion of 
 the world if their conversions are limited to that 
 class. The unthinking masses must be attracted, 
 and set to thinking. If there is any medium 
 between a dog fight and a tongue of gifted ut- 
 terance, that can be wisely employed to secure 
 this end, it is the long sought "philosopher's 
 stone," and no place is so in need of its employ- 
 ment as the church of God. 
 
 When on the day of Pentecost the Holy 
 Spirit was poured out there were demonstra- 
 tions attending it, "and when this was noised 
 abroad the multitude came together." While 
 there were "devout men" among them, it is 
 presumed that the mass was not attracted 
 by any religious significance attaching to the 
 announcement, but simply to see the phe- 
 nomena of fiery tongues, or hear the noise of 
 rejoicing believers. The tap of a fire bell will 
 
266 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 rouse a whole city and every body runs. Just a 
 moment ago the alarm was sounded, and now 
 as I write the multitudes are running past my 
 study in search of the fire. Who has not known 
 them to get up at night, and after they reach the 
 scene, to stand and shiver by the hour, with no 
 object in view except just to see the fire. The 
 multitudes that thronged the aisles and filled the 
 door way, and extended as far as the street, and 
 stood up by the hour during these great meetings, 
 were simply atttacted by pentecostal flames, and 
 when conversions occurred in their sight, or the 
 announcement was made in their hearing, that 
 persons were being converted in the Inquiry 
 Room, they joined as lustily in singing the dox- 
 ology as some of the saints. It was the mark 
 of apostolic preaching that it was "in demonstra- 
 tion of the Spirit, and of power." It is doubt- 
 ful if any great work of the Holy Spirit is on 
 record that was not attended with more or less 
 of demonstration. 
 
 When George Gilfillen heard of the great Irish 
 revival he doubted its genuineness, and said it 
 was wild-fire ; but when he went to see it, he very 
 soon changed his mind and testified that it could 
 be none other than the work of God. Jesus did 
 many miracles. The apostles worked ' 'mighty 
 signs and wonders. " The Methodist fathers were 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 267 
 
 attended with marvellous demonstrations of 
 power. Every revival is attended with a 
 variety of demonstrations that leads men to 
 marvel. Whatever form they may take, they 
 are usually simple manifestations of hidden phe- 
 nomena, and though they have no moral value 
 in themselves, they serve to index the Spirit and 
 confound the multitudes. (Acts 2 : 6.) Once 
 under way a revival becomes an attraction, and 
 it continues to hold the attention of the people 
 while these spectacular evidences of power are 
 witnessed. Under Bro. Bitler's method of ad- 
 vertisement, by the use of tracts, invitations, 
 mottoes, and banner, he has a vast audience at 
 the first service and before the novelty of this 
 method has worn off the revival is under way, 
 and its results are crowded to the front. Let 
 conservatives criticise if they will, but before 
 they cover themselves with the mantle of pious 
 modesty, let them go to work and get half as 
 many people converted in some dark corner. It 
 might not meet the approval of such, but Ave 
 verily believe that Bro. Bitler would write his 
 announcements and publish the results of each 
 revival on the expanded sky, if he could, and then 
 call on the passing winds to sing the doxology 
 over every soul born into the kingdom. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Bitler s Methods, Continued. 
 
 Help When Needed — Sounding His Trumpet 
 — Loose Ends — Singing — Shaking Hands — 
 Special Features — Doctrines Preached — No 
 Opposition. 
 
 It will doubtless occur to the reader that these 
 methods must involve the evangelist in some 
 expense, and that a precarious income that is 
 chiefly supplied during the winter season would 
 scarcely warrant this extra outlay. Viewed 
 from the standpoint of a Local Preacher, with- 
 out either appointment or secular employment, 
 and facing the future with all its contingencies, 
 it does look dark ; but Bro. Bitler has always 
 found that God provides 
 
 Help When Needed. 
 
 It is not often that a vast secular concern is 
 identified in any way with the work of God ; 
 but in this case an exception is found worthy 
 the emulation of the rich men of Methodism. 
 When Bro. Bitler started out on his evangelistic 
 mission, without salary or promise of financial 
 
 203 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 269 
 
 support, Messrs. G. M. and O. G. Peters, of the 
 Columbus Buggy Company, Columbus, Ohio, 
 came to his help and proffered a stipulated sum 
 per month as a subscription to his support. 
 Both were members of his Official Board at 
 Wesley Chapel, and aside from a personal con- 
 cern for his welfare, they were in sympathy with 
 his work, and anticipated gracious results. Bro. 
 Bitler's methods of advertisement, when known 
 to them, appealed at once to their practical 
 business sense, and met their approval, just as 
 such methods have since done when brought to 
 the attention of others who have proved their 
 efficiency by their success. The evangelist, for 
 the reason that any such contribution would 
 have violated the very principle on which he 
 had started out, viz., that of depending solely 
 upon the people among whom he labored for 
 temporal support, felt that he could not accept 
 the proffered gift without being embarrassed by 
 it. He therefore declined it. But to utilize his 
 methods, he needed money. Banners, tracts, 
 mottoes, and, in brief, all the advertising 
 methods he employs to attract the attention 
 of the people and noise abroad the revival 
 news, were to be provided for, and a subscrip- 
 tion of twenty five dollars per month was ac- 
 cepted for this purpose from these brethren. 
 
2JO NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 This fact was not heralded by the evangelist, 
 nor did it appear in his advertising ; but in 
 view of his grateful appreciation and the credit 
 due to them it is mentioned here. At Gallipo. 
 lis, on "Jubilee Day," he received the following 
 telegram : 
 
 "Praise God for your success. Paul may 
 plant and Apollos water, but God giveth the 
 increase, both spiritually and temporally. Draw 
 on us for your needs. 
 
 " Columbus Buggy Company." 
 
 Here is a firm owning the largest carriage and 
 buggy factor)- in the world, employing nearly a 
 regiment of men, averaging one vehicle every 
 eight minutes, with ten acres of floor in the 
 various departments, and with everything pro- 
 portionately immense, that not only indorse the 
 practical, business-like methods of the evangelist, 
 but take pleasure in contributing to their success. 
 This firm, embracing George M. Peters, C. D. 
 Firestone and O. G. Peters, all united with the 
 church in their youth, during a revival, and feel 
 it their duty to help on the revival work in this 
 practical way. Their great temporal success is 
 a verification of the Scripture: "There is that 
 scattereth and yet increaseth." In revivals, 
 ' ' he that soweth sparingly shall also reap 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 2J\ 
 
 sparingly," and in Bro. Bitler's work he 
 recognizes this principle and anticipates great 
 results by breaking up a good deal of ground at 
 the start. His boldness inspires confidence in 
 others, and before the fire begins to kindle 
 everybody looks for a great revival. It 
 may seem to the reader that all this bold 
 enterprise, displayed by advertisement and 
 "flourish of trumpets," is hazardous. What 
 if, after all, he should fail to have a revival? It 
 would indeed be a ridiculous predicament, and 
 a defeat would capture all his guns and trail his 
 banners in the dust. But the case of the taking 
 of Jericho furnishes an exact parallel. What a 
 ridiculous predicament awaited the tramping 
 hosts of Israel as they blew their horns round 
 that great walled city ! The only thing that let 
 them out of what might have appeared a very 
 silly venture was the falling of the walls. Our 
 Bro. would plead guilty to the charge that he 
 sounds his trumpet, and not only so, but he 
 gets everybody else to blow theirs ; so that in 
 about seven days every horn in Israel is lustily 
 blown, and God looks after results. 
 
 After all, the figure in his case is not an exact 
 parallel, for very early in the revival he expects 
 to find a few loose stones that can be taken down 
 one at a time. lie announced to the writer at 
 
272 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 the beginning of the Circleville meeting that he 
 was looking for 
 
 LOOSE ENDS. 
 
 This statement was repeated several times, 
 and when asked to explain he replied that when 
 it was impossible to tear a garment by main 
 strength you might find loose ends and then 
 unravel it. He sought these loose ends by per- 
 sonal work, in the congregation and on the 
 street, and when he found a thread that would 
 "give " he held to it with all his might. May 
 not this furnish a suggestion to other workers 
 who are looking for a "break" in revival meet- 
 ings, when if they would address more attention 
 to special cases the way for a break would be 
 prepared ? 
 
 SINGING. 
 
 The first half hour of every general meeting is 
 devoted to song. With a voice of considerable 
 compass, and supported by members of the 
 choir and a chorus of young people, accom- 
 panied by organ and cornet, he leads the con- 
 gregation and gets all the people to sing. 
 Among the first things, by way of preparation, 
 is to get a book in everybody's hand. These 
 are not distributed gratuitously. 
 
 When a brother proposed to purchase a large 
 quantity of the little books and distribute them, 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 273 
 
 Bro. Bitler refused, on the ground that people 
 will take care of their own property, whereas if 
 furnished gratuitously they would soon destroy 
 them. 
 
 SHAKING HANDS 
 
 With people sitting in rows and afraid to move 
 lest they attract attention, it is impossible to 
 utilize the latent power of a congregation. Ease 
 and freedom must be secured without offending 
 good taste or any of the social proprieties. It 
 is almost cruel to ask christians, many of whom 
 never entered a large congregation without em- 
 barrassment, to turn "about face" and start out 
 on a mission of personal work. A' few per- 
 sons of nerve, or an occasional hero, may volun- 
 teer. Occasionally a good brother who has 
 reached the shouting point and let go, may at- 
 tempt obedience to such a request while his 
 blood is up. Some heroine, whose crucifixion 
 has been complete, may attempt the forlorn 
 hope, but the effort is equal to a nervous shock. 
 Exhortations that belabor christian people for 
 declining to do this work are devoid of considera- 
 tion. If formalism can be broken, and between 
 the extremes of a Sunday funeral and a church 
 social we can secure a happy medium that will 
 relieve embarrassment, there will be no trouble 
 to secure workers in the congregation. Bro. 
 
274 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 Bitler aims at this the first night of the meeting, 
 and gets the ice to floating in warm currents that 
 melt it entirely. At the close of his first address 
 he woke up the spirit of song, and when the tide 
 was high he invited the people to gather about 
 the altar and take him by the hand. They were 
 expected to continue the singing and not only 
 to shake hands with him but with each other. 
 On his part he would accept this courtesy as a 
 cordial welcome to the city and as a pledge of 
 their support and co-operation in this work. 
 Before they were aware of it the "upper room" 
 had lost its parlor-like formality and the people 
 began to feel at home. Ritualistic proprieties 
 were laid aside for warm heart- felt congratulations, 
 and with a hundred young people on and about 
 the platform, and christians crowding to the front, 
 singing and shaking hands was made easy. The 
 writer confesses a natural reserve and possibly a 
 severity of taste that long regarded an indiscrim- 
 inate handshake with aversion. It seemed like 
 a general hurrah calculated to dissipate serious 
 and sacred impressions, and especially embarrass- 
 ing. But after considerable observation, both in 
 revivals and at camp-meetings, he frankly con- 
 fesses his mistake, and believes that the very em- 
 barrassment complained of is thus effectually re- 
 lieved, and the way to personal work in the con- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 275 
 
 gregation is thus made easy. This opinion, 
 though it was formed before laboring with Bro. 
 Bitler, was very greatly strengthened by observ- 
 ing his methods. Prior to his coming, and at 
 the first meeting held in January, we determined 
 to introduce handshaking, and at the close of 
 the service gave the invitation ; and since we 
 could not ask others to take the lead, we sum- 
 moned our courage and went at it about as a boy 
 getting ready to plunge into a cold bath. The 
 venture was vindicated by the result, for we soon 
 found a young lady in the congregation who was 
 weeping, and when urged to give her heart to 
 the Savior she immediately began to seek Him, 
 and was very soon after converted. This was the 
 "first convert" whose death is recorded in a prev- 
 ious chapter. Occasionally hand-shaking was re- 
 sorted to later in the meetings, but when the 
 evangelist came he shook up the congregation 
 almost daily, and set the mass adrift almost every 
 time it seemed to get lodged. If we are to reach 
 the masses, social lines of division must be lost 
 sight of. The lowly must be lifted and the lofty 
 lowered, and we know of no special evangelizing 
 agency that can do this so successfully as the 
 promiscuous shaking of hands while blending 
 our voices in the songs of Zion. A wild stam- 
 pede, or an extreme of boisterous demonstrations, 
 
276 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 will excite the disgust of discriminating minds,, 
 while cold formality will be fatal to religion. 
 Good sense is the only ballast that will hold the 
 vessel level under a tremendous hand-shaking 
 breeze, that stretches every inch of canvass and 
 wakes up the billows of a great revival. 
 
 SPECIAL FEATURES. 
 
 Bro. Bitler combines the use of an Altar of 
 Prayer and an biquiry Room, or employs either 
 of these methods as the indications of the meet- 
 ing may seem to suggest. At Circleville the first 
 was employed, until the crowds became so dense 
 that there was absolutely no room for altar work. 
 It reminded one of a flood, when the back water 
 so nearly covers the wheel that the miller is said 
 to be "drowned out. " To relieve this, double 
 meetings were held, and an altar service con- 
 ducted in each. Pastor and evangelist ' 'exchanged 
 pulpits" from time to time, but it soon became 
 arduous and exhausting, and the lecture room 
 was reserved for an Inquiry meeting. The main 
 service was conducted as before, and seekers 
 were requested to retire to that place for conver- 
 sation and prayer. Only such with their friends 
 and chosen workers were invited. There they 
 were invited to kneel at the altar, and the meet- 
 ing was conducted similar to an altar service 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 277 
 
 above, except that seekers received the entire at- 
 tention of those conducting the meeting. It 
 was thought best, not to enforce the rule rigidly 
 as to attendance in the inquiry room, because it 
 was discovered that persons wounded in the upper 
 room were captured after coming here. Their 
 presence was taken as an indication that they de- 
 sired to converse on the subject of religion, and 
 the opportunity was not lost. Later on the 
 place became an attraction for workers that were 
 needed in the main audience, the unconverted 
 found it the place of greatest interest, and the 
 room was soon packed with a standing congrega- 
 tion, so that there was no room to work or stir. 
 This method was then abandoned. The front 
 seats in the main room were cleared and seekers 
 were invited to kneel or be seated there, and 
 thus the interest was transferred from method to 
 method as the case demanded. In order to reach 
 a class that needed special instruction, or such as 
 shrank from any public identity with either of 
 these methods, an occasional meeting for inquir- 
 ers was held at some special hour of the day. 
 None but inquirers were admitted. Each case 
 was examined separately, and then instructed, 
 and finally pressed to yield and believe. Many 
 were thus brought into the light, and usually all 
 that came were converted. 
 
278 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 We cannot descend further into the minutia of 
 Bro. Bitler's methods. Some of them may be 
 regarded as sensational, but they are free from 
 the charge of being nonsense-ational. Whether 
 reading revival news from adjacent towns and 
 villages, calling out reports from visiting minis- 
 ters or resident members, or narrating remarkable 
 cases of recent conviction and conversion, he is 
 constantly noising abroad the work of grace. 
 The true inwardness of his meetings is seen in 
 their outwardness, and every method is frank and 
 open with no attempt at concealment or decep- 
 tion. Thus he commands the respect and se- 
 cures the confidence of the people, and we have 
 yet to learn of a single instance in which his 
 methods have met with criticism or censure. 
 
 It is remarkable that he meets with no opposi- 
 tion from without that can be regarded as of any 
 importance. With many interests financially 
 concerned — saloons not making expenses, houses 
 of prostitution almost deserted, skating rinks 
 crippled, transient dramatic troupes avoiding the 
 city, so that a theatre would stand almost idle — 
 yet no hostility observed, and murmurs of ap- 
 proval floating in the air. Why is this ? Is the 
 evangelist false to the truth ? Does he compro- 
 mise with sin and trail the standards of doctrine. 
 A partial answer is found in the fact that he an- 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 279 
 
 tagonizes nobody. He says nothing about infi- 
 delity, argues against no special trade, traffic or 
 sin. Dancing clubs, euchre parties and side 
 issues are not noticed. He pays no attention to 
 difficulties, and gives no prominence to anything 
 the enemy does till he surrenders, then he sings 
 the doxology and displays the trophy. The 
 doctrines preached are typical of any Methodist 
 revival : Sin, repentance, faith, the witness of 
 the Spirit, holiness, heaven : death, hell, the 
 judgment, eternity ; all these were lifted like 
 banners, waving an alarm or an invitation. He 
 aims to convince the judgment, and rouse the 
 conscience ; stirs the feelings by pathetic inci- 
 dents and tender appeals, and makes the will his 
 objective point. This he aims to carry by sun- 
 shine and storm, and never flags or wavers or lets 
 up on a sinner till he yields that point and submits 
 to God. 
 
 We are obliged to record one exception to the 
 statement that Bro. Bitler met with no opposi- 
 tion. The German Lutheran minister became 
 concerned for his flock lest they should expe- 
 rience the witness of justification by faith, and 
 labored to divert them with all the industry that 
 Luther employed to establish its truth. He cir- 
 culated a silly pamphlet on the "Mourner's 
 bench," and secured a lecturer who gave an hour 
 
280 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 to the treatment of a theme that was intended to 
 guard against the pernicious effects of revivals. 
 No attention was paid to this and but for the fact 
 that his influence may have kept some of the 
 "confirmed" away from Christ, it was too con- 
 temptible to deserve notice. Poor fellow, the 
 english language and the evangelistic spirit of 
 Martin Luther is destined to cover him up and 
 conquer the world. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 PASTOR AND EVANGELIST. 
 
 Pastor the Commander-in-Chief — Evangelist 
 
 to have full scope not to be divorced 
 
 from his methods conspicuous absentees 
 
 Order of Signatures — Falling Off — All 
 Evangelistic Agencies One Work. 
 
 The relations of pastor and evangelist are not 
 only intimate, but sometimes very delicate. 
 Officially the pastor stands at the head, and his 
 authority is recognized as supreme. His pulpit 
 cannot be occupied by another without his con- 
 sent, and the series of meetings are under his 
 supervision and control. The evangelist is a 
 subordinate officer, and he must recognize the 
 pastor as commander-in-chief. But, though this 
 relation must be mutually understood and recog- 
 nized, there is another phase of the subject that 
 practically puts the evangelist at the head and 
 in the lead. In the nature of things the evan- 
 gelist will take precedence and become more 
 prominent as a factor of the meetings than the 
 pastor himself. The prestige of former suc- 
 
 283 
 
282 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 cesses, the confidence and expectation his pres- 
 ence inspires, together with the novelty of his 
 methods, will lead the people to exalt him, and 
 for a time almost forget the faithful pastor. 
 This is itself a feature of success, and con- 
 tributes largely to the size and complexion of 
 the congregations. Were the order reversed — 
 the pastor new, and the evangelist familiar, — 
 the pastor would become the object of attention. 
 Any pastor, therefore, that expects to be the 
 recognized force of the meeting will likely find 
 himself so deeply "snowed under" that nothing 
 but weeks of effective service will restore him to 
 his throne of former prestige. The man that is 
 not willing to succumb to the force of circum- 
 stances should be content to labor alone and 
 continue to be monarch of all he surveys. The 
 pastor that refused to send for an evangelist, and 
 turned the brethren away by saying, "If he 
 can't preach better than I can, you don't need 
 him, and if he can, /don't want him," was not 
 willing to be temporarily superseded, even for 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 The evangelist and J lis methods must not be 
 divoixcd. If the pastor feels that his official 
 authority is compromised by giving the evange- 
 list full scope, he is the wrong man to labor with 
 an evangelist. We never knew an evangelist of 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 283 
 
 any note that was not specially effective, because 
 of his management and the employment of his 
 methods. What he says, does, and succeeds 
 in getting others to do, constitutes his service 
 and insures his success. If he is limited and 
 embarrassed in either of these, his locks are 
 shorn and he becomes weak as other men. If 
 the methods employed by an evangelist are not 
 in accord with the views of the pastor, he has 
 made a mistake in inviting him. His duty to 
 the church and himself would seem to require 
 that he know the man and his methods before 
 he indorses both by an invitation. If, there- 
 fore, a pastor wants ' ' a first-rate, second-rate 
 man, to assist in his work, he should secure the 
 appointment of a sub-pastor ; he has no use for 
 an original genius who is specially endowed by 
 the Holy Spirit to be an evangelist. 
 
 The evangelist that would "come into a 
 charge and assume the whole business and 
 practically ignore the pastor and everybody 
 else," would certainly belong to a class of 
 house-breakers that deserve either to be barred 
 out or locked up. But, on the other hand, a 
 stickler for nice points of prerogative, who as- 
 sumes control in detail, and seeks to confine the 
 labors of an evangelist to a sphere of subordi- 
 nate importance, would as certainly defeat the 
 
284 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 evangelist as that he continues to hold the reins. 
 In most cases a mutual agreement and a natural 
 adjustment of work and methods will harmonize 
 the relations of both, and in the end leave the 
 pastor not only at the head of his forces, but so 
 fully enshrined in the hearts of the people that 
 the young converts will lean upon him and look 
 to him as a shepherd and guide. 
 
 The pastor that insisted on occupying the pul- 
 pit on Sunday and further stipulated for the regu- 
 lar prayer-meeting on Wednesday night, made 
 but one mistake: He should have filled the 
 programme for the week. The case as it was, 
 exhibited a species of narrowness that is some- 
 times exhibited in union meetings, when the 
 tenacious prelate insists on going through the 
 forms prescribed by his chutch before the union 
 part of the programme is recognized. Extrem- 
 ists and bigots will doubtless curse the church 
 and the world till the millennium ; but neither 
 extreme, of impudence on the part of an irregu- 
 lar evangelist, o^ jealous authority on the part 
 of a regular pastor, can be legitimately employed 
 as illustrations for or against the evangelistic 
 field. They cancel each other, and weigh noth- 
 ing except as antidotes. 
 
 From the Lamp of Life we clip the following : 
 "The Canadian Baptist thus justly reflects upon 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 285 
 
 Mr. Moody's meetings at Toronto : ' We see no 
 reason why each church, presided over by its pastor, 
 should not be proportionately as successful as those 
 meetings presided over by Mr. Moody. Were the 
 praying done with equal earnestness by the member- 
 ship, and the audience secured with equal solicita- 
 tion ; were the singing as sympathetically and faith- 
 fully prepared ; were the coming of God's blessing 
 as confidently expected, the poorest preacher, if 
 earnest, would undoubtedly be instrumental in ef- 
 fecting large results. If christian people generally 
 would do with the same persistency and enthusiasm 
 what Toronto christians did for the Moody meetings, 
 great results and evidences of God's power would 
 cease to be exceptional.' " 
 
 We judge that this paragraph was not written 
 in the spirit of detraction. It is undoubtedly the 
 truth, and were the churches as earnest in the 
 support of their pastors, in most cases the results 
 would be correspondingly great. But we must 
 take things as they are, not as we could wish 
 they were. Churches, as a rule, do not rally to 
 the support of pastors with a cordiality and 
 unanimity that insures success. Chief among 
 the reasons that make a revivalist a necessity 
 is this very fact. What pastor has not found 
 that his Sabbath congregations and the week- 
 night congregations differ chiefly in the absence 
 of the very men that ought to stand by him in 
 
286 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 the hottest of the fight ? Where are the churches 
 that can boast the presence of an official board at 
 revival meetings, without some conspicuous ex- 
 ceptions ? Many who are prominent in securing 
 his appointment or in contributing to his support, 
 either ignore him altogether in a revival, or leave 
 him to labor with the little band of saints and 
 growing congregation of sinners till things begin 
 to boil over, and then either honor him with a 
 transient visit or raise a question of current ex- 
 pense, and ' ' wonder how long these meetings are 
 going to run. " Many a godly pastor has wept over 
 this state of affairs, and if those who know little 
 about it can give us a better magnet by which to 
 attract the whole church than the coming of an 
 evangelist, we have the key to the coming of 
 the millennium. Once let an evangelist sail in 
 like a storm, and shake up old forms like an 
 earthquake, and all the good people that havn't 
 time to stand by the pastor will be seen in 
 the distance, and peradventure get wounded 
 even at long range. Perhaps the next siege 
 may find them evangelistic enough to stand by 
 the pastor as he stands by the guns. More- 
 over, human nature is fickle, and the tendency 
 to pursue the marvelous is universally prevalent. 
 The pastor may preach like Apollos and argue 
 like Paul, but when the novelty is worn off, and 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 287 
 
 the marvelous is dissipated, "some new thing" 
 is as much in demand as in the days of Athenian 
 curiosity. An evangelist, with the prestige of 
 immense success, the novelty of special methods, 
 and the promise of a repetition of similar results, 
 will do more by the very promise of his coming, 
 than almost any pastor can accomplish by 
 months of persistent pulpit and pastoral prepara- 
 tion. When Bro. Bitler was announced for Cir- 
 cleville it rolled a ripple across the city that 
 stirred all classes, and kindled an expectancy 
 that made saloonists fear the result, and chris- 
 tians to congratulate themselves in anticipation 
 of it. 
 
 The pastor who has experienced every phase 
 of these influences, alone can appreciate the im- 
 mense advantage of an evangelist to agitate the 
 mass and awaken the latent energies of the 
 church. 
 
 In issuing our card of invitation (referred to in 
 the chapter on the Circleville jubilee) it so hap- 
 pened that the signatures of evangelist and pastor 
 were printed in the order just named. Among 
 those sent out was one addressed to the Editor of 
 the Christian Advocate. It appeared in substance 
 in that paper with the following comment : 
 
 We have received a printed invitation to be pres- 
 ent at the "jubilee," signed by "J. S. Bitler, Evan- 
 
288 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 gelist, and C. F. Creighton, Pastor." We reproduce 
 no notices signed in this order, but cheerfully an- 
 nounce the above service in the name of C. F. 
 Creighton, pastor, with J. S. Bitler as evangelist. — 
 Ed. C. A. 
 
 In this particular case the inference does not 
 apply, for the reason that the pastor himself 
 wrote the card and affixed the signatures. The 
 order was not thought of, and the names affixed 
 were set down about as indifferently as though 
 both were spelled alike. But the comment is 
 significant and sets the door ajar that opens into 
 a large field of controversy ; one element of 
 which is the idea of trespass on the part of evan- 
 gelists on the authoritative domain of the regu- 
 lar pastorate. We admit the force of such sug- 
 gestions and their possible illustration in some 
 cases, but insist that the case in hand was not 
 only not one of them, nor is such the necessary 
 tendency. If, however, we are compelled to ad- 
 mit such tendency on the experience of others, 
 we commiserate them in being unfortunate, and 
 commend the example of Bro. Bitler as an ex- 
 ception worthy the imitation of other evangelists. 
 
 Bro. Bitler recognizes his relation to the pastor 
 as that of a Helper. No occasion has arisen in 
 all his labors hitherto for the least misunderstand- 
 ing, or the slightest difference on grounds of 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 289 
 
 jurisdiction. He feels especially grateful that his 
 lot has been cast with men that have not only- 
 approved but appreciated his labors, and did so 
 much to insure his success and forward the work 
 of God. In every instance special attachments 
 have sprung up, and his regard for each of them 
 is more to him like the affection of a brother 
 than the mere professional relation that existed 
 between them. On the other hand we are 
 assured that the same regard is reciprocated by 
 the pastors themselves. The labors, and christian 
 spirit manifested by Bros. Riker, Turner, Green 
 and Lewis, are often referred to by him, in terms 
 that betoken an appreciation of their influence 
 in bringing about results, that seems almost to 
 lay his laurels at their feet. Truly they are en- 
 titled to share them. In what proportion God 
 only knows. They certainly made his triumphs 
 possible and contributed their full quota to the 
 aggregate numbers saved. This itself, covering 
 a period of more than a year's labor, and in va- 
 rious fields, is enough to prove the harmonious 
 adjustment of the regular pastorate and the 
 special evangelist, especially as illustrated in the 
 work of Bro. Bitler. 
 
 He not only expects the co-operation of the 
 pastor in all his methods, but as earnestly desires 
 that he be so completely identified with the re- 
 
29O NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 vival results, that when it becomes necessary 
 for him to leave the field the work may go on, 
 and culminate with the reins so fully in the hands 
 of the pastor, that the transition to regular pas- 
 toral work and methods, may be made without 
 a pause or break. We believe this has been the 
 case in every instance, and with a new swarm on 
 his hands the pastor is left with responsibilities 
 vast enough to make an angel tremble. 
 
 It is alleged that there is a greater falling off 
 after revivals conducted by evangelists than after 
 those conducted by pastors. True there is. 
 The greater the revival, the moie perceptible the 
 reaction. Pastors that have the greatest revivals 
 suffer most from loss of probationers. Persons 
 in the habit of disparaging revivals are not slow 
 to mark these defections, and then assert that the 
 converts are all gone back. Methodism is a re- 
 vival, and we are not ignorant of this old dispar- 
 agement of Methodist revivals. The fact is that 
 Methodism in all its denominational branches 
 numbers five millions strong, and if we continue 
 to backslide at that rate for the next hundred 
 years we can stand it, and furnish some other 
 denominations with a few ministers and members 
 besides. In working among the masses of the 
 people, we handle a good deal of lumber, and no 
 wonder if we threw away more bark than some 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 29 1 
 
 of our critics. One of our greatest evangelists 
 said that when he fished with a net he caught 
 some frogs that were sure to hop out. Turning 
 to a scriptural figure — the good fish were gathered 
 and the bad were thrown away, showing that 
 the fish were not sorted before they were caught, 
 and that the gospel net takes all kinds. 
 
 When Jesus was on earth, some that had been 
 disciples "went back and walked no more with 
 him." 
 
 The seed that was scattered by the sower was 
 ' 'good seed, " but some of it fell on stony ground, 
 some by the wayside, some the fowls took, some 
 was choked and some brought a fruitful harvest. 
 
 Any body that will look at these proportions, 
 will see that there was a great loss of good seed, 
 and the same ratio applied to revivals does in no 
 way disparage the seed or the sower. Yet it is 
 frequently urged against evangelists, when it ap- 
 plies also to the Savior, and the inspired account 
 of genuine gospel revivals Unless we take 
 refuge behind an old barrier that- has long since 
 been practically abandoned by its friends, and 
 assert that "once in grace always in grace, " we 
 are compelled to expect as one mark of a great 
 revival that some of the number will backslide. 
 2 Petet, 2:22, will be verified if the revival goes 
 
292 NOISE IT ABROAD. 
 
 deep enough to reach men that are living for their 
 lusts.* 
 
 The work of evangelism, whether under forms 
 of the regular pastorate, or the special agency 
 of evangelists, must be regarded as one work, 
 and that the work of God. If denominations 
 which differ in everything that belongs to method 
 and polity, and agree in the essential evangelical 
 doctrines, must be counted in the aggregate to 
 make the visible church of God, then special 
 evangelistic agencies may justly claim the same 
 practical identity on the ground of this agree- 
 ment. Indeed the only point of agreement that 
 is absolutely essential is the experimental. It is 
 a matter of mutual rejoicing, that regular pas- 
 torates are now more thoroughly imbued with 
 the spirit of revival than ever before, and that 
 special evangelistic agencies are increasing. 
 Evangelists are far more numerous than we are 
 
 *The whole number of conversions at the Gallipolis revi- 
 val was 625. Of these, manv were members of the different 
 churches of the city; but 416 united with the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. After six months trial, only thirty-three 
 were dropped. Of the remainder, 3 died, 6 joined other 
 churches, 29 removed by letter, 25 removed without letter, 
 60 were continued on probation (many of these were chil- 
 dren), and 260 were recommended to be received into full 
 connection. Of these. 223 were present and took the vows 
 of the church. We are not ready to report from Circlevillc 
 but expect the ratio to be equally good. 
 
NOISE IT ABROAD. 293 
 
 apt to suppose. They are hard to number on 
 the wing, but at a meeting held at "Ocean 
 Grove," there were I, 500 of them present. 
 
 Great revivals are becoming more frequent. 
 Camp-meetings are multiplying. Last year more 
 than two hundred camp-meetings were held un- 
 der the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church alone. Scriptural holiness leavens the 
 churches and permeates these special agencies, 
 and during the past year sixty conventions were 
 held for the promotion of holiness, aside from 
 the camp-meetings. 
 
 The divine mission of Women is being recog- 
 nized, and not only utilized in subordinate spheres 
 as heretofore, but conspicuously advanced to the 
 front of missionary and evangelistic work. 
 
 The Salvation Army with 1,000 Corps, and 
 2,400 Officers, now numbers 600,000 strong. 
 
 We are in the midst of an evangelistic period 
 that is destined to secure the ends for which 
 Jesus died, and hasten "the coming of the day 
 of God." 
 

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