Thirty-seven are baptized

Cliffside, Nov. 1—The Revival services at the Cliffside Baptist Church, which began Sunday, Oct. 16, and have been in progress since that date, will close this Saturday night. The Rev. Roscoe C. Smith, the pastor, is being assisted by the Rev. Dr. Claude E. Sprague, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a noted choir leader, Charles Hackney, of Atlanta, Georgia. The services will begin at seven o’clock each night this week. On Monday evening, in the presence of a large congregation the Rev. Roscoe C. Smith baptized by immersion thirty-seven converts and after the service which followed there were thirteen conversions.

Thirty-seven Are Baptized.

Those who were baptized are as follows: Clyde Nanney, Ruth Callahan, Inez Tate, Gladys Winn, Lois Carpenter, Sarah Higgins, Novella Splawn, Hazel Horn, Ganelle Ramsey, Fay Smith, Lois Womack, J.C. Bostic, J.D. Hardin, Ina McSwain, Macey Humphries, Velnie Pate, Robert Hawkins, Roy Crow, Mary Matheny, Ruby Matheny, Clarence Haynes, Annie Humphries, Inez Biggerstaff, Fate McMurray, Wyth Bridges, Ethel Lee Haynes, Louise Moore, Lois Robinson, Lindell Clayton, Hazel Brackett, Dwight Ramsey, Otto Matheny, Max Pruette, Mrs. John Padgett, Emma Lee Horton, Eula Bell Sizeman and Ruby Harris.

Monday Night Service.

After the baptismal rites had been performed the service followed. It was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Smith and then the large choir and congregation sang three hymns. Then the pastor made some announcements, including the statement that the services would commence at seven o’clock each night instead of a quarter past that hour. He asked J.L. Sizeman to lead in prayer. Then the Avondale quartet, D.W. Huskey, C.H. Wilson, Will Huskey and Earl Harrill, sang with fine expression and excellent harmony, “Tell Them of Jesus.” Next the Rev. Dr. Sprague read parts of the ninth chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark.

An Impressive Sermon.

Taking the text from a verse which he had read the Rev. Dr. Sprague began to preach his sermon. It was an appeal to be ready to meet God and as the noted preacher warmed to his subject he became eloquent and very powerful. He exhorted all to repent before it was too late; that at any minute an accident might occur and snuff out a life and if the sinner had not been ready to meet his God he was doomed. It was not a time for delay, it was better to act now before it might be too late. Delay was fatal in almost everything, he said, and especially so when it meant putting off the most important thing in life, to be saved. The pastor told of many incidents in his long career to prove his statements that delay might be fatal. He was convincing and very forceful in all he said. He pleaded with his congregation to come forward and be converted. He asked the Christian workers of the church to go about among the congregation and urge the unsaved to come forward.

Charles Hackney Leads Choir.

Under the direction of Charles Hackney the choir sang hymn after hymn; the noted leaded had splendid control of the singers and they responded well to his every wish. B.E. Roach, at the organ, gave him valuable assistance by his playing. The singing, the earnest pleading of the Rev. Dr. Sprague and the Rev. Mr. Smith was effective and soon two people responded and walked down the aisle to greet the Evangelist. Then one by one, from all parts of the church, others followed, and before the service had concluded there were thirteen who had been converted and many more who were seriously considering it.

This item was printed in The Sun on November 3, 1927.