Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-05-15

day or TWO next preceding the ARRIVAL
of the evangelist often are among b
most uncomfortable of the entire cam
paign from inception to elimination.
The feeling that with all their earnest
ness and good intentions they yet may
have failed in properly directing their
efforts places the entire local con-
tingent on the qui vive. and when
finally Mr.. Sunday arrives a degree OF
expectancy and suppressed excite
ment, which is almost without coun
terpart in civic experience, makes
itself felt.
So much for the major preparations
and the chief forces which combine in
making fertile the field and ready the
workers before the actual meetings
begin. They are only a portion, how
ever, of the many details which make
for the ultimate success of the en-
deavor. An organization for ushers
that operates like clock work and is
equal to any general emergency is one
of the lesser problems of the machin-
cry; a completely equipped emergency
hospital in some corner of the taber-
nacle, and out of sight from the audi
nee is another; trained nurses and
hospital helpers are always on hand,
as are one or more regular physicians.
Even the taking of the collection Is
made spectacular by the use of tin
pans which are rapidly passed to the
melodious jingle of silver and copper
coins. Outside the tabernacle, but
near at hand, there is a nursery where
mothers may leave their children in
the care of professional nurses, and be
sure they will be returned to them In
frst-class condition when the services
are over. On the platform there are
always provided from a half dozen to
a dozen and a half desks for news
paper men. Telephones are installed
In the tabernacle for the convenience
Of the evangelist's party and for the
press representatives. Such matter
as should properly be given publicity
always is easily accessible to those
whose duty it Is to minister to the
public In that line. Thus a perfectly
oiled piece of machinery awaits the
touch of the evangelist when he steps
into the pulpit for the first time and
faces an audience composed usually
OF the regular church members of the
congregations which have united in
extending the call to him.
They are not in for a complacent
praise of their virtues, nor for a con-
gratulatory address on their prelim-
mary work. Instead the sins of omis-
sion and commission of those whose
ame are regularly on the church
roster receive a scathing arraignment.
Three times in one day this will hap
pen, and before t~wenty-four hours
have passed the town is ringing with
wonder at the new order of things.
No amount Of preliminary announce
ment ever has been able to prepare a
community for what is coming to 1t.
Those hearing him for the first time
never know what to expect.
So much for the start. For the rest,
the indomitable zeal, the phenomenal
vigor, the exceptional plainness OF
speech of the evangelist must be cred
tied with the major portion of the sue
cess that follows.
Ordinarily Mr.. Sunday breaches
from ten days to two weeks before
any invitation is issued to those who
may be under conviction of sin. In
the meantime by great activity he has
familiarized himself through personal
contact with all the leading forces and
factors in the city life. He calls on
nStu oOrrnfu ond cfofo nf7 AfQIQs he
visits prisons and penitentiaries, aims
houses and hospitals; either in person
or through his assistants MONDAY
meetings are held in factories, In
workshops, in churches and in private
homes. The inner circle of the so
called Four Hundred is penetrated
The outer bounds of the most degen-
crate classes are made to feel the
force that Is at work; from center to
circumference the community Is
stirred. Such is the prodigious energy
that gets in motion, that thousands
who would follow It are prone to let
most of their work-a-day activities go
by default. In church and in bar
room, on the streets and In the offices,
at clubs and in factories, among lead
ers and among those who follow, with
out distinction Of race, color or creed,
the revival campaign becomes within
a very few days the one general and
accepted topic of conversation. Poll
tics pass unheeded and business be-
comes a secondary consideration.
Each time Mr.. Sunday has ap-
preached a city larger than the scene
of his previous operation, the predic-
ton has been made freely that here
he would be unable to make the pre-
p~onderating Impressions that had
been his previous rule. Invariably
these predictions have been marked
by failure. AS the campaign has pro-
crossed Mr.. Sunday has put his fingers
upon the various leaders who can be
counted upon at the proper moment