The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-10-27

oiled piece OF machinery awaits me
touch Of the evangelist wlaen he sleeps
into the pulpit for the first time ana
faces am audience composed usually
Of the regular church members OF the
congregations which have united In
extending the call to- ham.
They are not IN for complacene
praise Of their virtues. NOR for q con-
gratulatory address on their prelim-
mary work. Instead the sins OF omfs-
sion and commission Of those whose
names are regularly on the church
roster receive scathing arrangement
Three times in one day this will hap
pen, and before twenty-four hours
have passed the town Is ringing with
wonder at the new order of things.
NJ amount of preliminary announce
ment ever has been able to prepare
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
city, county and state officials; 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 1s
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
very few days the one general and
accepted topic Of conversation. Poll
tics pass unheeded and business be-
comes secondary consideration.
Each time Mr.. Sunday has ap-
preached 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-
ponderating 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
to use their influence. by precept or
example, to turn the tide of their fell
lows lives into the channel of higher
thoughts, better resolves and right
living generally. Thus are marshalled
all of the forces which in the end COM
| bine for complete success.
Much has been said in public prints
of the voluntary offering made to Mr..
Sunday at the close of each campaign.
These are exactly what the term i'm
| plies. While in some instances his
friends may interest themselves in
fa Inn
evangelist himself at no time takes
any part in 1t, nor will he receive or
permit to be received for him any
money or monies until the last day
| of the campaign. At that time
| through the local leaders an appeal is
made in his behalf What enthusiastic
appreciation coupled with competi-
tive spirit will do in these instances
has been truly remarkable. Yet the
same amount of energy and the same
system employed In commercial fields
would have resulted In equal or great
er gains.
After he had effectively established
himself as an evangelist offers Of $500
and even more per day were received
from various Chautauqua and lyceum
bureau managers. Invariably these
have been declined and where Mr..
Sunday has gone outside his pre-
scribed routes tor day or two. 1t has
| =