Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-17
HUNDREDS LINE
SAWDUST TRAIL
Two Hundred Seventy-Eight Hit the
Trail in Response to Sudden In
vitation to Come FORWARD.
DRAMATIC SCENE AT THE TAB

Billy" Sunday opened his famous
sawdust trail at s:15 wednesday. at
the conclusion Of the regular service.
which was attended largely by the !
working girls and women Of the city. |
Two hundred and seventy-elght
men and women signed the printed !
cards, while as many more shook the
evangelist's hands during the trail
hitting period Of the evening.
Miss Bertha Kraft or Seosho. Mo-,
working in the home OF James Nc
Kenna, AS North Twentieth street.
was the first Omaha woman to hit
the trail. while T. Lewis Daily OF
27s5 Seward street. coal wagon
driver, was the first man.
Trail Opens sasdenIy.
The event came with much sudden
ness, although many were on the oui |
viye. After his discourse on the sub
;ect of backsliding, Mr.. Sunday asked
those who wanted to be remembered |
In his prayers to hold up their hands.
Nearly everybody held up their hands
and then the evangelist Offered a
short prayer.
This is magnificent gathering Of
womanhood." was an observation made
by Bully" Sunday Then he asked those
who wanted salvation TO come forward |
and shake his hand. That was the cue |
The ushers and secretaries Of the trail |
Immediately fell into line 20 open the
trail and keep things moving.
Just a. Am" was the selection sung |
by tho choir. followed by other songs |
Q. A. Goss and Frank II. Clark took their
posts Immediately In front OF Mr.. Sun
day and as the trall-hitters came forward
they expedited matters by raising the
outstretched hands and passing the pen
itents on to the ushers who placed them
IN the front rows OF seats. The evan
geilsts strenuosity has not been exceiled
during his Omaha campaign. He braood
one leg against tho pulpit and reached
out both hands. graaping first one by his
right hand then another by his left hand.
exhortins the backward ones 20 move
forward and urging tho ushers and SOC
retaries 20 keep the trail a-EoinG. Then
he fell prone on the platform and found
that . better way 20 reach the hands Of
those who moved forward. In the mean
while Ma" Sunday was working among
Rems who showed particular signs OF re-
puntRace. She placed her arms around
two women who were crying and talked
10 others.
scene Unusually Tense.
In tho rear OF the tabernacle many
stood up on the seats to get a view OF
tho intense scene being. enacted at the
front Tho choir continued singing softly
and Mr.. Sunday was we'll nigh exhausted
when the last OF the line had been
reached. Over 800 shook his hands In
about fiftsen minutes.
After the traii-hitfers had been seated |
IN the front rows and things had duieted /
down the secretaries passed tho cards
and whsn they had been filled they were
collected and turned IN 20 q. o. ndgeriy.
who announced that g7s had signed these
declarations. which readf
Il now accept Jesus Christ a. my per-
sonaI SAVIOR with spaces for name. ad-
dress. church preference and pastor also
q space reading. ''If reoonsecration put X
IN here"
over in Half an Hour.
After the trail-hitting incident, others
pressed forward 20 shake hands with |
''Billy'' Sunday az he started 70 leave |
for HE hotel. He started out alone. but |
Ma" Sunday soon caught sight Of him |
and pushed her way to his sida. A |
private detective opened q way 70 the |
west aide OF the tabernacle for Mr.. Sum
day and his wife.
The whole proceeding took less than |
half an hour. Mr. Sunday concluded the |
trail feature OF the evening By praying |
for the working girls and women OF the |
various activities and industries.
A. the audience was leaving, Mr.. 10 !
c. Edgerly. head OF the trail secretaries. |
called his aides together and gave them
instructions for future service II IL ex- |
pected that this part OF the service win |
run smoother beginning this evening. |
There was some difficulty last evening |
keeping things moving while the spirit
was moving those who had an impulse |
to come forward.
George Sunday stated that the num- |
Der, who signed cards was exceptionally |
gratifying for the first evening OF the |
tran hitting. lie said Omaha had dono |
very well az q first-nighter.
.sBilIy's'' Personal Interest.
To each OF the card signers was dis
tributed a circular bearing a picture OF
Mr.. Sunday and with this foreword;
Dear friend; You have by this act
OF coming forward publicly acknowledged |
your faith In Jesus Christ as your per-
sonal savior. No one could possibly be
more rejoiced that you have done this
OF be more anxious for you 20 succeed
and set the most JOY out Of the Chris
tian life. than I. Therefore, I AJAX you
70 read carefully this little tract Cor
sally yours
wv. A. SUNDAY"
In the tract these points are en-
phasizfd; study the Bible. pray much
Win someone for Christ. shun esii com
panions. Join some church. give to the
support OF the Lords work. do not be-
come discouraged.
The secretaries Of the tran occupied
seats IN reserved section at the front
and 20 the left OF the platform. 30 they
might be readily accessible at the ap-
pointed time some were rather uncer-
tain as 70 their work az first. last even
ing being their first expsrisnce on the
trail Several times ala Mr.. sunday have
TO coach them. while he ErAADed hands