New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-28
FIGHTING THE DEVIL.
Er-Pri2efghter Makes Concerts for
ISdlCdtiOn 4rmU.

With Billy Smith. Of Philadelphia the hero OF
us ring battles. IN which he held the losers end
only half score Of times, to give them pointers
the Salvation Army continued their nine days
battle with the devil he exists in the Bowery by
holding two meetings I'm Miners Theatre. I'm that
thoroushfars. yesterday afternoon and evening.
II was not until Billy Smith. whose many
victories could be told off by almost any OF his
listeners. appeared that the real enthusiasm be
came manifest
Smith. who has numbered among his opponents IN
the roped arena Terry" McGovern. Dave" Sulli-
van and 'Solly' Smith. never in his pamiest days
received more applause when he stepped into the
ring than he did last night as he arose to address
the audience assembled in the theatre. His speech
characteristic of the man. and resulted IN more
than one Bowery tough citizen" making his way 20
the mercy seat" for 'Billys sake"
"Billys the boy 10 make converts on the Bow
ery.~ said Of the officers after the meeting.
he Just talks natural TO them and as usual hits
straight from the shoulder only instead of aiming
his blows at the solar plexus he aims them at their
hearts" Some Of the natural things said by
Smith were
II you fellows make q promise to Jesus He'll
make good. You fellers know how it is when you
have money. When ye have Their goods every
body's yer fren, and wen yer broke yer nix. Yer
feel rotten. It's all different when yer have Christ
When yer got Him with yer, yer have Him all the
time. As long yer have money. why yer have
lots OF fun. When yer broke amt got nothin'.
II yer haven't money and haven't Christ yer can't
have any fun, and If yer 90 have fun when yer
moneys gone Yer CRATER Now you feIlers don I
misunderstood me. cause don't mean say that
Christ will git yer Job If yer Christ yer
have TO hustle fer a job. just the same. only yer
take interest in it and feel easier bout gfttin
IL. One day my wife says to me. Let's go down
70 Their Salvation barracks and hear the singn'. -
said Nix not fer mine" Finally we went down
ana after listening TO some of the speakers the
PRAYERS, my wife said; Billy. lets git converted. o.
] said: Not fer me: not fer a thousand dollars -
out here ! am. boys. I'm converted all right. l
belong 10 Jesus now, and I'm talkn' fer Christ
almost every night OF my life, an / amt gittin a
cent for IT, either. I'm IN this fight to the finish
and yer kin bet yer money that I'm winner.
Mrs. Smith, who was formerly a member Of
sam Jacks chorus, and who married Billy in
Chicago, told Of her conversion.
The war on the Devil will be continued through
ont the week meetings being held nightly at the
Armys headquarters in the Bowery. Next Sunday
afternoon a coffin will be carried down the Bow
cry TO Miners Theatre. where a meeting will be
held. the subject being Buried Alive"
While the Salvation Army was holding its meet
ing IL Miners Theatre the Volunteers of America
holding forth in Cooper Union, where their
rally addressed by Commander and Mrs. Bal
lington Booth The attraction at this meeting was
the baptism OF Arthur Watkins Lindsay the son
or Colonel Fred and Mrs. Colonel Pattie Watkins
Lindsay. the welsh Nightingale"