River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-04-29

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read:
Here are the facts about the big
strike in Pennsylvania. Nine thousand
men are employed in the immense
! plant making steel for a wealthy cor
| poration which is paying 40 per cent
dividends. These enormous profits are
! in part possible because more than
| half of these workers toll twelve hours
| q day, most of these working seven
! days in the week. Over 80 per cent of
! these men earn less than S1.GS for this
| long day Of labor. Three men protest
! ed to the management against the Sun
! day labor. They were at once dis
! charged. and this caused the strike.
! The wage scale makes the herding Of
men together the only method of living
! possible for them. Under such condi-
| tons decency is impossible, to say
nothing of Christianity
"a report like that" continued Mr.
Townley, gives rise to serious
| thought"
"My blood boils hottest" responded
Allan Rutledge. when l learn of the
exploitation of women and children by
modern industry"
THAT is just what we have on a
ANAL scale here in Bronson" respond
I'd Mr. Townley quickly. Il feel there
IS no regeneration possible for Bron-
son until we have some social readjust-
ments."
you remember you diagnosed the
! spiritual condition of Bronson for me
a few days after l arrived here" said
Allan Rutledge, changing the subject
II remember our conversation very
WE'LL" said the other. Have you
found my diagnosis correct?'
"Your diagnosis, according to my in
vestigations, was absolutely correct"
said Allan Rutledge, with determine
ton. II am now ready to apply the
remedy, and propose to begin a cam
paign which will result in Bronson's
regeneration"
Albert Townley stared at his COM
panion.
What Is your plan?" he asked.
Bronson needs new men more +han
it needs anything else responded Al
! Ian, with decision. "OtherWise we
need an old fashioned revival Of real
religion. The first thing for US to do
is to unite our Protestant churches in
a genuine religious campaign. II you
can get the other churches in Bronson
to cooperate with the Peoples church
| and the Central church l will guaran-
tee a regeneration. Do you think you
can gain the cooperation of the other
| Protestant churcheS!
Explain your plan further" said
Mr. Townley, with Il perplexed look.
IF we do succeed in getting our Bron-
son Professionalism united what do you
then propose?"
Here is what propose" said Allan
Rutledge. I'VE will build tabernacle
capable Of seating 10000 people. We
will not build this tabernacle on the
top Of any mount, but right down in
the valley among the common people.
Then we shall have a strong, capable
leader take charge of the situation for
five or six weeks, holding meetings in
the great tabernacle night after night.
and covering the city with cottage
prayer meetings, shop meetings, street
meetings, saloon meetings and every
| form of Christian activity of q spiritual
nature. At the end Of the campaign
there will be a new atmosphere in
| Bronson"
''Who would you get as leader of
such a campaign? Will you undertake
it yourself?"
Il have the leader in mind, per-
sonal friend of mine, who was born
in Iowa not far from my own birth
! place."
Whom do you mean?" asked the
other.
THE Rev. William A. Sunday, bet
ter known as Billy Sunday"
Albert Townley jumped to his feet.
1T will never do, Rutledge. | have
read of some Of this mans campaigns
and of their success, but it is absurd
to think of bringing him to Bronson.
This is a peculiar community. Do you
! think Messrs. Graham and March
mount would indorse such a move
ment?"
Listen to me, my brother" began
Allan Rutledge, in earnest tones. lin
planning out this campaign / never
| thought for moment whether Graham
or Marchmount or any one else would
indorse it except God Almighty. Did
you not assert yourself in your diagno-
sis that the very fact that such men
| as Marchmount and Graham, men
without vital religion. controlled the
religious organizations of Bronson, was
the most damning fact in our church
life?
You know something about Billy
Sunday, expect?' asked Allan.
Il have never met him personally"
valid the other, "but have often heard
him condemned by ministers and 9TH
lrs They say his methods and Ian
yuage are vulgar in the extreme"
Il have known Mr.. Sunday since he
was one OF our national baseball stars"
said Allan Rutledge. seating himself
~