Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-15
SUNDAY CLOSES
IN SPRINGFIELD
CONVERTS OF LAST DAY, NUM-
BERING 774 ESTABLISH NEW
RECORD FOR EVANGELIST
OFFERING Is S1O,734
Free viii Gift Fell $4,000 Short Of
What Ministers Expected-con-
versions During Six Weeks
Total 4,729.
OFFERING is s1o,734

The evangelistic campaign under the
leadership Of Rev. William A. Sunday
closed Sunday evening In Springfield
at the end Of the most marvelously
successful day the state had ever
known. 1t likewise was the greatest
day Sunday ever experienced and
Springfield holds the record for one
days converts, so far as Rev. Sunday
is commemorative. The total number
of converts is 4,729, and the free will
offerings to Mr.. Sunday totalled
$40, 734.S4.
Finale Was Touching.
"The closing was as touching as it
was demonstrative," says the Illinois
Register. Tired, worn, but happy,
the evangelist stood there at the close
of an effective and telling sermon
grasp him by the hand AS was the
case at the afternoon service, once
the throng began to press its way into
the kingdom, 1t could not be stopped.
Long after the meeting proper, had
closed, persons crowded to the front
and more than a score shook the
evangelist by the hand after he had
put his overcoat on.
cat last the evangelist and Mrs.
Sunday, accompanied by a detective,
started to go. AS on the evening when
he entered the tabernacle, six weeks
ago, to undertake the leadership In
the battle, SO last evening, just before
| he left, Sunday was honored with the
chautauqua salute. There were not
SO many there, but the crowd was
just as enthusiastic and the cheering
rivaled the noise at that Sunday aft
ernoon meeting when Sunday turned
loose his oratorical battery OH
Booze" At the top of the back stairs
the little party stopped. Sunday
turned, smiled the characteristic smile
which has won the friendship of the
thousands and then the trio disap
peared while that entire multitude
Joined in three mighty 'Hurrahs' fol
Billy and his work. as the Rev. w. J
Johnson, who led in the cheering, put
| 1t.
Campaign Success.
Viewed from every standpoint, the
lcampaign was successful, whether o.
not 1t came up to expectations. While
the total number of converts 29-
does not set new record it is con
coded by every Christian in the city
that the results warranted, the effort
The free will offering, while some
$4,000 less than what the ministers
had tried to make it, totaled $10,734.S4
NOT record by any means yet no
a word of complaint was heard.
Sunday Talks of Results.
II had been told that there would
| be 10000 converts" said Sunday in re
viewing the campaign, but I never
thought there would be that many.
am satisfied, no not satisfied, for
never am satisfied. l believe there is
work started here in Springfield, the
like Of which has not been started
elsewhere I believe the churches are
quickened so that they will be able tt
carry the thousands of converts. be
lieve the revival has just begun-be
gun in the sense that from this time
on Springfield will enter upon new
era of religious activity"
Opens in Marshalltown.
He was given great ovatioi Mon
day afternoon when he and his part,
left on the c., P. e st. L. train 70
his home in Chicago, where he will
rest before beginning his meetings il
Marshalltown Friday, April 90. A
the close of his meetings there III
will take protracted rest on tn
| Pacific coast.
Architect A. P. Gill is in Marshall
town this week making the final prep
arations for the campaign in that city
|