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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.3, N0.15
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
MR. ARMSTRONG SPEAKS TO COMBINED
CHURCHES AT CHICAGO AND SALEM, OREGON
by Herbert
w.
Armstrong
APRIL 10, 1981
BEG PARDON. In the rush of a busy schedule since returning to my
desk in Pasadena, I neglected to report to you in last week's Report
about the combined service in Chicago. It was the first time I had spoken
to our brethren in the Chicago area for thirteen years. The churches in
that area have grown tremendously in those years--3,700 brethren were in
attendance.
The service was held in the world famous Auditorium Theater on famed
lake front Michigan Boulevard. I told our brethren there I thought I had
attended an orchestral concert in that giant auditorium around 1920--but
later I decided the hall I had attended was Orchestra Hall, on the same
street. The Auditorium Theater has a famed history. It seats 4,000--an
immense theater with perfect acoustics. It was opened three years before
I was born, in 1889, by President Benjamin Harrison. It has a long and
fabled history. It is not only immense--it is exceedingly ornate. Such
famous artists as Caruso and many others of my father's generation have
sung there--in fact every world-renowned performing artist of those years
around the turn of the century.
It is still a magnificant auditorium. Twice when the mike slipped
from my coat lapel and there was no amplification, the people there heard
me distinctly anyway.
At the combined meeting at Denver two weeks before, I met many brethÂ
ren I had not seen for years--and again at Chicago.
I had lived in Chicago from 1915 to 1922--seven years. I had an
office in the heart of the congested downtown "loop"--at 123 West Madison.
It was an experience to see Chicago again and meet many brethren there.
The giant auditorium was virtually packed--3,700 brethren were there.
I spoke on the UNIQUENESS of the Philadelphia era of the Church and the
tremendous responsibility of our COMMISSION! While the Bridegroom tarried
a while "they all slumbered"--the whole Church. But the midnight cry must
now GO OUT! ARISE! Be sure our lamps (Bibles) are filled with oil--THE
HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS WHICH WILL ILLUMINATE OUR BIBLES SO WE
UNDERSTAND AND ARE AROUSED--ALERTED--AWAKENED! The Work must drive ahead
at terrific speed!
After the service, I had a meeting with the ministers and wives from
the entire area.