Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-07

have been identified with the Sunday
party from time to time.
Their church afiliation has played
no part in their selection. Methodist
Baptist, Congregationalist, Presbyte
rian and other of the evangelical
churches have been largely repre-
scented.
One of the very earliest Of his as
sistants was Fred G. Fischer. II be
gan my work with Mr.. Sunday Jan
uary 4, 1907 says Mr.. Fischer
lending it July Is, 1910. making q
continuous service Of ten and one-hal1
years. My work had to do with the
musical end. as soloist and musical
conductor for five years. after which
because of the larger and longer meet
ings, soloist was added to the party
then gave my attention to the
chorus and song services, doing some
solo and duet work. Mr. Sunday and
! made up the party in the earlier
years Of the work. The length of our
stay in community was from two
and one-half to three weeks. Grad.
ually the work grew, the party war
enlarged and longer time was spen.
in a place." Serious impairment of
his health required Mr.. Fischer to
give over his work with the evangelist
after more than 10 years with him,
and he was succeeded as musical d.
rector by Homer A. Rodeheaver.
After a prolonged rest Mr.. Fischer
sufficiently recovered his health to re-
new his evangelistic efforts in COM
pany with ]. r. Hanley and they have
conducted meetings both in the East
and Middle West attended by very
great success.
Another helper whose reputation Is
coextepsive with the religious field OF
the United States, is Rev. Elijah P.
Brown, one time editor of 1.-THE Rams
Horn" Mr.. Brown was associated
with Mr.. Sunday beginning with a
campaign in Austin, Minnesota, IN
February. 1906, and concluding with
the Galesburg, Illinois, campaign In
November, 1907. Bad health on the
part of Mr.. Brown was the cause OF
separation in this case also. From
time to time the editor was called in
to assist briefly in subsequent cam
paigns. He occupied the position OF
confidential assistant and was for
many years one Of the most intimate
of the several members of the party
with the evangelist himself.
One of the most distinguished and
we'll known men who have contributed
to the success of the Sunday cam
paigns Is Melvin e. Trotter of the
famous City Rescue Mission at Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Mr.. Trotter is an
other of those who was converted I'M
der the administration of Harry Mon
roe at the Pacific Garden Mission. Mr..
Trotter did not travel with Mr.. Sun
day but would come on just at the
close of the series and assist with the
last meetings. II never was officially
connected with the Billy Sunday
party" he says, although I used to
go and take his last Monday night
service in nearly every meeting he
had. In that way I kept in constant
touch with the work in almost every
city he was in. 1t is certainly wonder.
full the way he moves cities for God.
I know of nothing like it in the world,
and never read Of any.
II have been in many cities after
he has Left them, and found that after
q year, two years and even three
thn i~,$1 to n nNJ11n
be. Some other cities the interest is
not so keen, but can almost find a
reason for that locally.
"The town or city that can land
Billy Sunday is certainly fortunate.
It means crowded churches; much
work for souls; finances plenty and
an all-round healthy spiritual grow I.
II can go into place where he has
been and raise $4,000 easily, where
could not get $1,000 before"
G.. Walter Barr, we'll known through
the Middle West as writer Of fiction
and short stories subjects, Travelled
with the Sunday party for consid'
cradle time in the earlier campaigns
in Iowa and Illinois. His description
of the meetings and his analysis of the
character of the man although made
in tho opening years of the present
century continue to circulate freely
in the press of the country.
Homer A. Rodeheaver is an Ohio
product born in Hooking county and
educated at the Methodist school, Ohio
Wesleyan University of Delaware
Originally destined for a musical and
dramatic career, he early abandoned
all thought of this to take up music
along religious lines. In addition to
this choir work and solo work with
the Sunday campaigns Mr.. Rodeheaver
is the head Of music publishing
house in Chicago and In constant
demand by Chautauqua and camp
meeting assemblages. His musical
compositions are in demand from
coast to coast and he is one of the
half dozen great religious song writer's
of the country.
Associated with Mr.. Rodeheaver In
a musical capacity, but acting as con
I'll %@ NTvs