Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06


to thank MIR. Benton for having brought us
together here this afternoon, and ] want to
tell both you and him that | believe in his
proposition-and now | pledge myself to
raise at least thousand dollars for it.
"And l." volunteered Father Berry,
"pledge myself to raise hundred dollars
for it within the next twenty-four hours"
There was moment of tense silence.
Fifth avenue and the slums had spoken, had
placed the joint seal OF their approval on the
plan OF a humble layman to bring more glory
to God. And the layman was content.
The other pledges that rounded out the
sum he had mentioned as being necessary
for the successful carrying-out of his idea,
the snatches of debate for and against it.
all these things reached him but dinly as he
sat in the shadowy foreground and tried
to still the throbbing in his temples
The flare OF the electric lights, which'
brought him back to earth. He rose, and
found the little priest from Cherry street
facing him, and he gave him his hand with
an eager thank YOU, Father, for
But the priest, with the quiet, friendly
voice that a thousand tenement toilers knew
and loved, hushed him. 1--WE thank you,
my boy, and know you are going to make
good for us, and we will try to do our
part.
confidence Of those for whom one works, is
all the inspiration that real man needs to
give the best that is in him to his job And
so, with the friendly benediction of the little
priest ringing in his ears, Benton started
that very night to carry out the campaign
that he had planned. He didn't wait for the
program that the cergymen prepared and
sent to him the following day, because he
felt that Father Berry's promise would be
lived up to. And his feelings were justified.
TWO mornings later the newspaper read
ing populace of New York was startled
to find one whole page in each of the morn
ing papers devoted to a single want ad. The
text of it, too, amazed them:
WANTED 100000 men who are willing
to acknowledge publicly that they believe in
God. Apply at once at the nearest church.
Seven reporters from as many evening
papers were among the first who answered
the ad ION assignment, and the stories they
brought back to their offices made even the
copyreaders sit up and take notice.
Its the biggest thing the churches have
ever attempted" sputtered Cummings Of
the Item, as he started to explain the
proposition to his chief. They're going to
go out after every man in this city who has
a grain of religion in him, and they re going
to show him not only what the church can
do for him, but what he can do for the
church. And to stir up enthusiasm he
continued excitedly. "they're going to pull
off on Easter Day the biggest parade that
was ever staged here They're planning to
march hundred thousand men down Fifth
avenue that afternoon. Think of it! One
hundred thousand men marching for the
glory of God, in place OF the old hackneyed,
frock-coated brigade that has been parad-
ing the dolls up and down for the glory of
the dressmakers. Can you beat it'7
Great said his city editor. GO to it
and don't forget to play up that deadly
parallel between the old style Easter parade
and this new stunt
Cummings played it up And so did
the reporters on all the other newspapers,
with the result that the home going crowds
that night had something new to talk about.
For a day or two sentiment was divided
both as to the adj, stability and the practical
bility of the stunt; but on the third day,
when it was publicly announced in half-page
ads that all the churches of the city had
united in tins new campaign, the ranks of
the doubtcrs dwindled. To the thinkers this
gigantic cooperative effort on the part of the
churches to gain new converts and win back
old ones who had straycd away meant some
,,or,- tar, oil