River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-05-20
SYNOPSIS.

Reginald Nelson, young Englishman of
high BIRTH comes to this country to win
fame and fortune. On the steamer he
meets Albert Townley, a minister Mrs.
Graham and her pretty daughter, Joy.
Reginald goes to Bronson home Of his
three new acquaintance, where he learns
that joys father is a leading lawyer who
is the mainstay Of a corrupt political ring.
He gets job.
The young Englishman enters the social
life OF Bronson. He falls in love with
Joy, and later discovers that she is en-
gagged to be married to Roland Gregory.
Allan Rutledge, another minister, and
the Rev. Mr. Townley confer on the evil
moral and laboring conditions in Bronson.
The reform element meets and decides to
have Billy Sunday, the noted evangelist,
aid in cleanup"
Editor Marchmount offers Reginald
position on his paper. The latter accepts,
and later he performs a heroic act in
stopping a dangerous runaway.
Nelson starts on his work on the Cou-
rier. He begins to investigate the sus-
picious death of Mae Mobray, youthful
worker in Roland Gregorys factory plant.
The councilmen and saloon keepers oppose
the coming Of Billy Sunday.
A tabernacle is built for Billy Sunday,
and Reginald, in the columns of the Cou-
rier, begins a spirited campaign in favor
Of the evangelist. Sunday holds his first
meeting in Bronson.
Much to the anger Of Mr.. Graham and
Bud McCrea, councilman, Sundays work
proves effective as attack on vice.
by the help of God Wen clean up Rron-
son." says Sunday
On a Sunday afternoon the reformer
makes a powerful attack on gambling and
saloons and hypocrisy. He describes sa-
looms as breeders OF lawlessness."
Men and women finally begin to chit
the sawdust trail'' leading to Billy's pull
pit by the score and kHeel in repentance
Of their sins.
Joy finds it impossible to prevail on Ro-
land Gregory, her ffance, to join the
church. Mr.. Rutledge gets hold Of the
fatal ring that poor little Mae Mobray
wore at the time of her mysterious death.
Reginald and the two ministers, Allan
Rutledge and Albert Townley, resolve to
make a tour of the vicious resorts "a
Bronson and expose the whole disgrace.
A detective takes Reginald and his as
sociates through the Slums. They sea
gambling and all night drunkenness. The
politicians are enraged at this action.
child. They were the songs used to
sing myself in the Sunday school back
in the old church"
There were tears in the eyes of the
evangelist and his voice was tender as
he spoke Thousands of men looked
at the speaker through dimmed eyes
and the silence in the tabernacle was
profound.
Il listened" continued the ex-cham-
pion Of the diamond, land God painted
on the canvas of my recollection and
memory a vivid picture Of the scenes
of other days and other faces. l began
to cry and sob. and my heart was, oh.
so lonely. A young man stepped out
and said. we are going down to the
Pacific Garden mission. Won't you
come with us? am sure you will all
enjoy it l arose to my feet and said
to the other boys, 'GoOdby; I'm going
down to the mission with this crowd
They saw 1 was interested and some
laughed, others Knocked. but one Of
them encouraged me. Some Of them
looked at me in silence. l left them at
the corner, went to the mission and
got down on my knees and gave my
heart to Jesus Christ. l went over to
she west side of Chicago and joined the
Jefferson Park Presbyterian church"
Amen, praise Cod" said an old.
gray haired man near the front when
the evangelist had finished the story
Of his conversion
81 have thanked God ever since for
saving me that day." continued the
speaker. Listen, men, the other boys
who were with me that afternoon are
now nearly all gone" The speaker
then told of the sad fates Of his fell
low ball players who were on the
White Stocking team. One of them
had died in an insane asylum in Michi-
gan, a victim of cigarettes: another
had crawled into a drunkard's grave;
another died in poverty and squalor
as a consequence of his sins. (which
Of those boys won out that Sunday
afternoon?" he asked. Did | or did
they? Thank God. won through Jesus
Christ l am what / am through him"
The speaker paused and said abrupt
ly. How many of you men will say.
Thank you, Bill, your sermon has