Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-23

L
remarkable demonstration of his
ability TO grip the attention of his hear
,rs ard make them Strike the pike"
ulthout acrobatics was given before 1900
rsrsons last night at the Narick African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 18th
and Catharinc streets, by the Rev. Alex
snder Willbanks, the BLACK Billy Sun
day"
shorn of the action that characterizes
most of his sermons, his talk last night
made S5 men and women pike strikers"
They started 10 line up outside the
church at O'clock and it was more than
two hours and a half later before Will
banks stepped out on the platform and
started the long prayer with which he
prccedes all his sermons The subject OF
the sermon was "A Child Sneezing Seven
Times After Death"
Comparison of the big Negros methods
with those Of "Billy" Sunday so far as
his actions on the platform are concerned
caused him TO make up his mind to de-
liver one sermon without the customary
gymnastics. He did not climb upon the
organ last night; he did not charge down
the aisles nor stand on the benches.
Once or twice. as he got warmed up to
his work, he forgot his determination to
keep his feet still and bounded into the
air and once he started to pull off his
long frock coat, but otherwise he con-
fined his action to a dignited pacing
back and forth across the platform
TELLS STORY INIMITABLY
At least one of the secrets OF his power
to sway his people came to light in
this unusual sermon. 1t is that he has
developed TO the nth" power the natural
gift of his race as story -telers. He took
the story OF the healing of the Shunamlte
woman's son and told 1t inimitably. A
big Bible served him to represent the
dead child. He crooned to it as a mother
might in the plalntive tone and the
slurred words of his native South.
For thirty minutes as he told his story
his voice never rose above a certain key
and there was no sound from the audi
ence save that, occasionally, of a half
stifed sob. And all the time he illus
trated, covering the Bible that repre-
sented the child with a handkerchief,
trotting slowly over the platform to indi-
cate how the mother hurried to the
prophet, and stalking back slowly to
show how Gehazi returned with the
staff
The men and women In the big audi
torium shot backward against the benches
as though something had exploded In
front of them. Some of them stood up
and all of them Joined in the gasping
sigh that swept over the church, fol-
lowed instantly by a running fire Of
fervid calculations
TEARS TEST OF CONVERSION.
The most singular feature of the meet
ing last night, however, was staged after
Willbanks finished his sermon, after the
pike strikers" had shaken hands with
About 500 of the audience filed out while
the others sang hymns, and then the
doors We're closed again and the real work
Of saving the sinners began.
The thousand-odd men and women in
the church pressed forward around the
pulpit, iammed the alsles until they be-
came impossible and started singing. The
penitents drEaped to their knees ana
buried their--reads in their arms. This
was at 10 O'Clock. It was II o'clock be-
lore the last Of the pike strikers" DEM
onstrated his or her conversion in tears.
The mere statement of repentance does
moi suthce in negro revival. The peni-
tent must shed tears. He must get re-
hgion;' get il, In the language of Will
S"HhS' III MS nandS ana IN ms Ieel' Last
night he told them that If they didn't
nave enough religion to make them dance,
VI sing or shout, or pound their feet or
az least keep time with their fingers, they
eight have any religion at all.
ihen he tempered this statement by the
ssle s or Negro who tried to join church.
Ihey sent him back to repent. He re-
turned and was sent back again, and
'hifd time, So he made a final plea, thus:
Good Lord, I'm heartbroken, I've
slsu three times to get into that church
shg tney won't take me, I've shed tears
ana ana I'm sorry for my sins. Good Lord
please help me to get into that church"
tnen the good Lord spoke TO this sin
ner said Willbanks, "and this is what
nc said: Look here, you've been trying
20 get into that church for two weeks
tou went there a penitent three times
su snu each time they turned you away,
sonny been trying 10 get into that
Satr,. nsren Tor four years, and / Amt In
CALLS FOR SOLDIERS"
when the ehuckling and laughter died
uown, Willbanks continued:
Ihere's so much pride and SELFISH
s5ss sna ~ that church | simply can't get in.
,sl ahu We tried hard, but they got me
.s9eked out, said the Lord. And, sonny.
~ ~ needn't worry II you don't get In
SgneIe can't get in. You're all right
t'syes mind bout gettin into that church
can't do II myself"
When he called for converts. Will
eehAs e.s told his people that Germany and
France and England ana Russia want
~ their soldiers, "and so does God" he
..Valed He scored what he called the
/ tsoody-goody class" OF people who think
sreg are better than others.
Hsminds me-" he said, "of a selfish
nlAh who made prayer He said, Lord.
5shsmber me and my wife, and my son
Lord'
Mliibanks punetuates his sermons with
neRs OF his fingers that ring out like
,e,eiYer shots. When his people get TO
leAns 50 much noise that tnis Is no
Vt elective, he slaps his hands. From
eaFe q practice, he Is able % make