Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-14

somewhat against MS WILL 10 repeat
I number OF his sermons. because often
, the 10000 who crowded the tabernacle
: was only portion of the throng which
demanded to hear certain Of his we'll
known sermons.
J Columbus also broke all records for
the women only" meeting, Mr.. Sun
day being compelled to give the same
discourse three times in the same day
and tour de force of such magnitude
that it can only be appreciated by
those who have heard the evangelist
through one of his large and exciting
discourses.
The press of Columbus estimated
that on that day 10000 women heard
Mr. Sunday. They began to seek adj
mission as early as o'clock in the
morning; doors were opened for the
first meeting at 1890 and closed at IL,
and at 11:45 the first sermon was
preached, concluding at 1850. The
second sermon followed Immediately
and the third was given in the even
ing.
! To fully appreciate the significance
Of these figures it is necessary to add
that during all the morning hours a
! cold drizzling rain was falling. The
excitement on the outside so nearly
J approached riot that police reserves
| were called out to prevent accidents.
The women finally rushed" the
| police line and literally battered down
! large door to gain admittance. The
place was packed almost to suffocation
several fainting. Even the pulpit
platform was crowded with women,
who sat on the edge.
Columbus served to show the wida
! range of influence Sunday campaign
! has in the surrounding community.
The following episode detailed by the
columbus Citizen" is typical:
Fire and church bells rang, whistles
blew. shops shut down. stores and schools
closed and the people turned out en-
masses at Dunkirk 10 miles north Of Co.
lumbus, on the r. & o. C.-to greet Billy
Sunday Tuesday afternoon when he
changed trains on his way here from WI
mona Lake.
IAN automobile met him at the station
and whirled him to the biggest church In
the town. 1t was packed to capacity
when he arrived. tse threw OF his hat
and fur overcoat and plunged at once into
fiery sermon. Almost before he knew 1t
he had preached As minutes. He gave
call for converts and u hit the trail-not
on saw dust, but on Brussels carpet I'M the
church.
when the time drew near for his train.
Billy hurried from the church. but not
until he had shook nands with half the
people of Dunkirk. " go home next
Sunday night III stop over here agais next
Tuesday and preach for you Billy told
them. Then they cheered him. A big
crowd followed his auto to the depot, !
where they waved goodby as the train
pulled away for Columbus
You people don't appreciate half what
the newspapers are doing to spread the
gospel in this campaign said Mr.. Sunday
Tuesday night. at the tabernacle in tell
ing Of his DunlSirk meeting. For 100 miles
In every direction from Columbus they're
reading of these wonderful meetings and
are being aroused
1.-THE minister Of Dunkirk, by long dis
tance phone had arranged for the meet
ing with Sunday before he left Winona
Lake, Tuesday morning. TN stop any,
where between trains to preach Gods
word and save souls,' said Billy to his
tabernacle audience"
On another occasion to crafty the
beautiful little city of Marysville, 80
miles from Columbus, Mr.. Sunday de-
MED himself his usual mornings rest,
and by use of special train, In each
direction, was able to reach the place,
preach to 5000 people who were
packed in the largest building which
the town possesses, factory, and re-
turn to Columbus in time for his after
noon service.
At the conclusion Of the campaign, |
in which three meetings occupied the |
entire day from $3.50 in the morning |
until almost II in the evening the
Ohio State Journal, and afterwards !
the Literary Digest quoting it, said:
"Eclipsins all previous evangelistic rec |
ords in point of numbers Of converts and !
in funds raised by free will offering for |
the exclusive use Of the revivalist. Rev. |,
Billy Sunday wound up his seven weeks (,
campaign in Columbus yesterday with |
five rousing meetings, in which 2,231 peo-
pie hit the sawdust trail and Sc, 795 poured |
into the hands Of the tellers In checks. |
greenbacks. gold and glittering piles of !;
small change.
scenes or the great dramauC moment |;
marke ed the closing hours Of the campaign |
at the huge tabernacle, which for a |
stretch of seven weeks had been jammed |
with throngs OF earnest listeners
"Thunders Of:
God be with you till we meet again
Keep loves banner floating DER you, i,
Smite deaths threatening wave before !
you. ,
"Died away among the rafters Of the !
Billy Sunday tabernacle; one by one the !
lights went out, one by one farewel!s !.
were said, the evangelist and his wife, |
and then the helpers departed.
"But many fingered. loath to see the /
end of the day whose six monster meet !
ings including one at the penitentiary. |
were attended by 10000 persons who list |
ened to the preached word; when more |
than 200 confessed conversion and nearly !
sol 600 was collected. and which brought !
to close the seven weeks campaign that |
had shaken Columbus as nothing relig- !
ious ever had shaken it; which brought
1900 persons to make personal and pub
lie confession OF faith in Jesus Christ, and /,
which gave to Columbus last evening, |
every record in modern evangelism.
Everyone was tired. everyone was hap