THE KING’S BUSINESS OUR EVANGELIST AT SONORA
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Press and Pulpit Speak in Highest Commendation of the Splendid Work Done by Dr. Nicholson
noonday services held at Sierra railroad shop and lumber mills. People who had never been in church in their lives, and men of all ranks of life, crowded the theater, and God began to answer the prayers and faith of the children of God. “The interest: was intense, conviction real, and people began to talk of the great revival. In spite of ‘the impossibility of a revival’ men and women and young peo ple of every state in life, flocked up to the front to seek pardon, and Christians who had grown worldly came to seek their first love. Some of the most prominent people of the community were soundly converted- The churches have revived, a large increase of new membership,- the tone and morals of the community changed. God has been magnified in the churches. “Sonora can never be the same city. There are evangelists, but this one by his mighty faith, clear vision, wonderful Bible knowledge and eloquence has, through God, accomplished a natural impossibility. This man of God is beloved by all good men. “In spite of the many demands on the community financially, all the expenses of the meeting and the freewill offering were met cheerfully and generously, besides $260 raised for the Red Cross. “Mr. Nicholson is surely a man sent of God, with a message which cuts, but also brings the most wonderful results. He is a teacher of the ‘higher,’ or ‘sanctified’ life, and is himself an exemplification of the same." A G ood E xam ple Here is a brief extract from a letter received by the Bible Institute last week. May it inspire others to do likewise: “Find enclosed $10.00 for distribution work of Testaments or. Gospel portions, either at home or abroad. Or, if copies of T he K ing ’ s B usiness can be placed with those to whom it would be a help, that purpose would be equally favored.”
Rev. W. P. Nicholson, the Institute evan gelist, has just returned from a three weeks’ series of meetings in Sonora, Cali fornia. At the beginning of the meetings the local paper had this to say of him:. “Dr. W. P. Nicholson, the evangelist, held meetings on the street, Sunday, sup ported by the ministers of the city churches of all denominations, and laymen and women. He was listened to hy a large assemblage of all kinds of people, most of whom were deeply attentive and interested. At the evening meeting in the old moving- picture theater, the full power of the man was seen and felt, and it is safe to say that no such powerful appeal to the minds and hearts of sinning men and women was ever made in this city. The attendance at this first day’s meetings was hot as large as would have been the case had the weather been good, for many people of sur rounding towns have announced their desire to attend, and will undoubtedly do so when the storm is over.” At the close of the meetings, Rev. John W. Edgell, pastor of the Methodist church in Sonora, sent us the following letter: “The Rev. W. P. Nicholson has come and gone. Three weeks in Sonora, reputed to be the ‘City of the Dead’ spiritually. Wonderful scenery, warm,-hearted people, but beautiful churches languishing; the largest part of the congregation made up of women. “The suggestion of a revival was a joke -—the possibility of securing a crowd, out of the question. Everything else flourish ing—splendid schools, patriotic citizens, lodges and saloons in abundance. “The old theater seating over three hun dred and fifty people, was secured, the services advertised, and when W. P- Nich olson arrived very few believed that any thing out of the ordinary would occur. “The Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Baptist churches united in these meet ings. From the ' first service interest was manifested. The wonderful eloquence, keen wit, stern denunciation of sin, and the sincerity of this man of God, W. P. Nichol son, began to carry the day. Prayer meet ings were inaugurated, street meetings and
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