The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1907-04-13
CITY LABORS
TO BEST Devil
EVERYBODY WORKS ON BIG
q TABERNACLE.
Business and Professional Men, Me-
chanics and Laborers Assist in Build
ing Place of Worship in Sixteen
Hours at Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Aberdeen, S. D., April 13-Business
and professional men, clerks mechan-
les and laborers, accomplished the task
of erecting huge tabernacle with a!
seating capacity of $500, in the short
space of sixteen hours. 1t had to be
done and it was done. For several
hours many prominent men and wo-
men, literally and figuratiyely worked
to best the devil The tabernacle
stands as a monument to their work;
the beating is still in progress. And
all this is the result of dispute in
which the proprietor of the operahouse
and auditorium in Aberdeen charges
Chicago evangelist with violating
verbal agreement between the two.
In the remarkable results accom-
plished by the citizens of this city,
which is believed to be unparalleled in
the history of the northwest, the cause
is almost forgotten. When Evangelist
r. r. Johnson arrived here to conduct
four weeks revival in the auditor
ium, Charles Gottschalk, proprietor of
the hall, says he secured a promise
from the evangelist that he would not
KNOCK" the theatres. During the re-
vfval one night was set apart by the
evangelist for an address on Popular
Amusements, and on that occasion he
denounced all shows, card playing and
dancing Gottschalk could do moth
| ing but rave inwardly. The auditorium
was leased and he was helpless. But
his chance came later and if the truth
is known, he is sorry he took the
chance.
Al the close of the four weeks lease,
committee of pastors and business
men urged the evangelist to remain
another week. He accepted the inyi-
tation and the committee at once sent
for Gottschalk, and here is where the
latter got his chance The committee
offered him $125, then $3.50 for his hall
| for another week, but the proprietor,
smarting under the alleged grievance,
| informed the committee that all the
money they could offer would not hire
| the hall if the evangelist was to remain
and speak there. The committee went
back to the revival meeting and one
of the members presented the matter
to thel gathering. Then he asked for
volunteers to build tabernacle and
| the response came like clap of thun-
der Men and women in all parts of
the hall stood up and offered their
services and when the call was made
| for funds, $1,000 was subscribed in
| less than Is minutes. The committee
remained up all night perfecting plans
and the next morning an empty lot in
the heart of the business district was
filled with piles of lumber and work
mems tools. BY noon an army of
about $50 willing workers were on the
| scene and the task of erecting a tab
ernacle to be ready for the following
night was begun. Women assisted the
men in driving nails in the flooring
and so great was the desire to help
| that Offices had to suspend op-
erations while the clerks and stenog-
raphers were away. 1t was one of the
most remarkable demonstrations ever
| known. The revival had resulted in
| 769 conversions and those who were
responsible for this wave of religion
were determined to continue the work,
at least for one more week. The aud
| itorium was denied them and a taber-
nacle was the only alternative. 1t was
built, and in accomplishing this re-
narkabe feat of construction in so
limited a time, Aberdeen believes it
has beaten all building records in the
west and northwest.
| All this happened last Tuesday aft
| ernoon and Wednesday morning and
services have been held every night
since then. Tomorrow the revival will
| close with four services one of which
| will be reunion Of all churches in
/ the evening. The evangelist, the in
nocent cause Of all the trouble, bids
/ farewell to Aberdeen tomorrow night.
He has stirred this city as 1t has never
been stirred before and hundreds of
/ persons will regret his departure.
1 When he goes, however, he will carry
4 with him the earnest wish of hundreds
4 Of converts and many others that he
/ may do as great work elsewhere as