Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-05-13
BILLY SUNDAYS MEETINGS
Drawing Great Crowds and Making Many
Converts in MarshalltOwn

Billy Sunday has captured Mar
shalltown and all the country round
aboutthat city. The press dispatches
have not exaggerated the success Of
the meetings either as to numbers, in
terest or results 10 the reports pub
lished in the big state dailies, and il
can be added that both interest and
enthusiasm are on the increase and
the daily and nightly attendance Is
constantly growing, at times taxing
the seating capacity of the tabernacle,
which is capable OF comfortably seat
ing 5000 people.
The snake editor of The Republican
went to Marshalltown last week and
remained over Sunday, on which day
he attended two OF these meetings in
the tabernacle-the regular morning
and evening meetings. In the morn
ing he enter ed the building half an
hour before the service was TO begin,
yet at that time he was compelled to
take one OF the back seats, The wise
ones had entered fully an hour ahead
Of him and had secured all the seats
in front, into which they were closely
packed. Ten minutes after he was seat.
ed every seat in the building was oc-
cupied and before the choir began the
song service standing room In the side
aisles and In the rear OF the seats was
packed with men and women. 1t was
estimated by those competent TO Judge
that fully 6, 300 people we're present at
that meeting. A still larger crowd at
tended the evening meeting, every inch
Of space in the tabernacle being Occu.
pied from the speakers platform clear
10 the rear end Of the building and
conservative estimates placed the mum
Der present at from 1920 to $500.
II anyone thinks that billy Sunday
has been dismayed at the threats OF
violence or opposition that have been
from time to time made by the vicious
element Of Marshalltown they can
learn Of their mistake by attending
one Of these meetings. He breaches as
he once played base ball-with ear.
nestness and enth usiasm, force and
conviction. His delivery is always o YER
the plate and every sinner that comes
to bat Is forced to retire on strikes.
Thirty of them struck out last Satur-
day night all in one bunch.
Billy Sunday is receiving the sup
port of the people of Marshalltown
and nearly all the churches are with
him heartily. Financial assistance is
not lacking, over 5000 being vol
UNFAIRLY subscribed by those in attend
ance at the Sunday morning meeting
with very little solicitation from Mr..
Sunday Those, who attend their first
meeting through curiosity become so
greatly interested before its close that
they are anxious for the next Opportu-
city to attend through positive inter-
est, aud this interest Is kept alive and
growing night after night. Those who
for the first time attend q meeting with
a pronounced prejudice against the
evangelist and his method of attack
upon wickednss do not listen to him
for any length of time without losing
much OF their feeling OF resentment If
not all of 1t, and this Is accomplished
through the forceful manner In which
the incontrovertible arguments are
advanced In favor OF righteousness.
The song service which precedes
each meeting Is a grand and inspiring
feature of every regular meeting. The
choir consists of about 300 voices,
many of the members being trained
and cultured vocalists and members
Of the best families OF Marshalltown.
Besides the choir there are number
OF special singers who accompany Mr..
Sunday to all his meetings, and each
Of these Is an artist In music. The
melody produced from both OF these
sources Is grand and artistic as we'll
as inspiring. This is greatly assisted
by the almost perfect acoustic arrange
ment. by which every word uttered by
the speaker can be distinctly heard
even to the most remote part of the
tabernacle.
The total number of converts Is
placed at 26l, this number having de-