Shop Meetings
H E men employed in the machine shops, also the conductors and motormen at the Railway barns of the city, who have little or no time to attend religious services at the churches, or who are too tired when the day's work is finished, are reached through this department of the Bible Institute work, holding daily meetings for the men at their places of work. At the noon hour at the Factories and the roll call for change of shift at the car shops, the men gather around the portable organ and a brief service is held. This department of work is in charge of R. C. Lewis, whose practical business experience has qualified him for this work. J. C. Berry, the Musical Director of the Institute, is the Soloist, and leads the singing of the gospel songs in which the men join heartily. The work has been productive of much good in the making of many happy homes. From time to time the wives of these men attend the meetings and help with their voices in the singing. One wife, whose husband and home was blest through the shop meetings, presented the class with a beautiful Bible to be used in the service. Another feature showing the appreciation of the shopmen for these noon day meetings was in the men purchasing a large parlor organ for their "church service," as they call it. In these services the time is limited to from 15 to 30 minutes and but brief opportunity during the meetings for personal work. This must be done at other times and under other circumstances. During the year there were: 304 meetings held; 941 7 attendance; 33 average attendance; j 238 men dealt with personally; 86 requests for prayer; 3 reclaimed; ® * * J • 136 confessed Christ as their S^vWur the first time; 10 surrendered their lives; 3939 Gospels, Leaflets and Booklets given out and mailed; also letters written. It is most gratifying to see the power of the old Gospel as it transforms the lives of men and leads them out into aggressive service for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AN I NC I DENT. At the close of one of our meetings at the car barn, it was noticed that two young men, motorman and conductor, were visibly affected by the Gospel mes- sage, and when approached by the leader of the meeting, they were both found under deep conviction of sin. After dealing with them and showing them the way of life through Jesus Christ our Lord, they readily accepted the salvation so freely offered through the blood of Christ. Off came their caps, and bowing their heads over the card tables where they had both been seated, they yielded their lives to the Saviour and followed the leader in a dedication prayer. With tears in their eyes they praised the I ord for the joy of salvation, and the leader said, "Now, boys, write home to mother. That will do more to make her heart glad than anything you
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