Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-11-17
ExuRERENT YOUTHS ADD EN-.
. THUsIAsTIc TOUCH TO sERv-
ICES IN TABERNACLE BY WELLS
FOR EVANGELIST AND AIDS.
"FORCES THAT VIM
SUBJECT OF SERMON

EVANGELIST STATES. THAT AFT
: ER VISITING SCHOOLS ALL
COUNTRY 1T RESTED WITH MA.
: TIVE STATE TO INSULT HIM
braving the opposition of the school
BOARD backed by an army of parents
ana many Of the teachers, the pupils
or the Ottumwa high school, led by
the pushing, exuberant senior class of
1909, massed in the tabernacle last
evening at the special meeting an.
nounced for them by Rev. w. A. Sun
day and accorded the evangelist and
MS party one of the most loyal and en-
thus1astic demonstrations of goodwill
and cooperation that ever greeted the
famous revivalist The spirit of youth.
or enthusiasm and inspiration domin-
ated at the meeting
The class Of 1909, which took the in.
itlative is credited with the hearty
and uncompromising loyalty the pu-
plls pledged Sunday, his party and his
work last evening. The lusty cheers
and applause from the students of the
city moved the evangelist to tears on
the platform before thousands at the
meeting
When the evangelist came to Ot-
tumwa he applied to the school board
i Tor permission to address the pupils
iof the Otumwa high school at the as
sembly in the school Building. Tues
day the school board denied him the
privilege. The Sunday commit se
asked for reconsideration of the de-
clslon Which resulted in deadlock
and ultimate adjournment without an
i answer, Messrs. Hull. Reynolds and
Dittman voting against permitting the
t evangelist to speak in the school. Mr..
: Sunday did not express his disap-
polntment but went quietly ahead and
announced at several Of the meetings
that on Friday night-last night-he
4 would deliver sermon expressly for
the pupils and younger people of the
city.
In defiance to the action of the
board and to demonstrate their feeling
toward the evangelist, at Z o'clock last
might, the members Of the high school
.thered at the First Baptist church.
SIaSs OF. 19U9 Acts.
A big section of seats was reserved
for them in the front Of the platform
and was profucely decorated by a COM
mittee yesterday afternoon. At 7:15
O'Clock the pupils marched in two by
two, while storm of applause arose
from the thousands already assembled
In the audience. AS soon as the pu-
pills were seated Carl Fritz, captain Of
the high school rooters, took his stand
in front with his baton and led a DEM
onstration of yells and songs that
shook the building for twenty min
utes. Every member of the party was
declared to be alright" Every other
yell contained the name of the evan
gelist, who received the major share
OF the commentator. A brief respite
was taken shortly before the evangelist
entered the building.
PIedser Responds.
Taking advantage of the lull Rev
Pledger stood up before the choir and
led off with whats the matter with
the high school?' Every member in
the choir took up the refrain. AS Mr.
Sunday, accompanied by Soloist But.
Ter entered the building and advance i
g
| ed to his feet again and started the
: yells which continued until the evan
| gelist had gained the platform amid
an applause echoed back by the entire
audience.
Before the evangelist spoke, Rev
!. Pledger stepped o the front and ad
$ dressed the pupils for few minutes
p He stated that he had been with Mr.
Sunday to most of the large colleges
J.. and universities in the country ant
many Of the high schools, but never in
his experience had the party received
such q loyal. demonstration as haG
. been accorded them by the. members
;. of tho Ottumwa high school. He closed
by extending his thanks for the loyalty
and interest shown.
X Presents Football.
Mr.. Sunday stepped to the front o
il the platform and waited with a smile
on his face until the applause had died
q He made brief address and then pre-
S, sented the captain of the football
team, John Stoltz, with football.
Il want you people to understan,
that | am not buying this school dem
onstration," Mr.. Sunday said, address
's ing the audience at large. I've gival
footballs to the teams in every hig:
school where I've been. l gave thre,
" to the Jacksonville schools. I'm no
J.. purchasing this demonstration. hat
At nothing to do with it. These pupil
a, took tne matter up before | had
'e chance TO do anything. I'm going t.
ST the football game tomorrow. M
Ss whole party is going. even Miss Mile
d. will dismiss her class for the day an
NJ go. | want to see every man an
woman in this audience who is In ia