Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-09-16

| AA0 evangelist, dTIlNeu iTOul
| Chicago on morning
train and was at once tax
en- to a large furnished house which
had been set apart for him and his
family during his stay in the city. He
was accompanied by his wife and his
younger children. In addition to his
immediate family he had a number of
assistants In his company.
"This looks like business" said Al
Ian Rutledge to himself, as he met the
party at the train and was introduced
to the large band of gospelers. The
| building of the immense tabernacle, the
discussion of the value of Mr.. Sundays
advertising which was given to the en-
terprise, and. above all, the bitter OPP
! position of the enemies Of Mr.. Sunday
assisted IN centering the attention of
the entire city on the evangelist from
the time of his entrance into Bronson.
In the evening long before the time
announced for the beginning of the
first service, the roads leading In 1.-The
direction of the tabernacle We're black
with people. 1t was a cold, snowy
| night, and many feared that 1t would
be impossible to heat properly the vast
structure, but they came anyway, clad
In furs and heavy oyercoats, willing to
endure the cold rather than miss the
first service of the meetings.
The experienced janitor, who was in
Mr.. Sundays employ, had taken Inn
mediate charge of the tabernacle on his
arrival and had supervised the heat
ing and ventilation, and when the
crowds began to fill the building they
! found 1t warm and comfortable as a
church. The floor of the tabernacle
was covered with sawdust. which
made a clean and warm kind of car
pet. 1.-The sawdust trail" which soon
became common expression in Bron-
son, referred to the sawdust aisles
down which the penitents passed In 60
ing forward to confess their faith.
The chorus leader had already as
sumed the command, and the vast
choir of upward of 1000 voices was
singing enthusiastically, leading the
great audience of 10000 people, in the
well known and ever popular hymn,
Rescue the Perishing," when Mr. Sun
day himself appeared.
Down in the human heart. crushed by the
| tempter,
Feelings lie buried which grace can re-
| store;
Touched by a loving hand, Weakened by
| kindness
Chords that are broken will vibrate once
more.
AS the multiplied thousands sang the
familiar words they seemed to throb
with new meaning, and the pillows
Of sacred song reverberated in mighty
volume through the tabernacle and far
out over the city. Reginald Nelson
was sitting at the press table on the
platform. gazing out over the sea Of
eager upturned faces, while this verse
was being sung when his eye caught
1--WE need a revival of the old time
religion In Bronson, and am going to
preach the old gospel am an old
fashioned preacher, Of the old fash
toned gospel that has warmed this old
world for years, the gospel of Calvary,
Of salvation and of atonement.
1--WE need to begin these meetings
right" exclaimed the speaker. "If you
want a revival of religion to come to
Bronson you just take piece Of chalk
and draw circle around yourself and
ask the Lord to begin inside that cir
cle."
Here Mr.. Sunday showed how to do
/ A nj nf oh IL a,A
making ring with 1t in the brussels
carpet which covered the platform.
Think Of the drunkenness, the mis-
cry, the lust, the gambling and the sin
In Bronson" he shouted. 'Think Of
the vice, the want and the squalor;
think Of the mountains of guilt In this
city. They will not move easily. You've
got to pray. This is cause to de-
mand human laborers, and l say 1t
reverently. II God can't get human
agents to do his work it will go un-
done"
He also chided inconsistent church
members with their failures to live the
right kind Of lives before the world.
1.-THE bad sermons people preach with
their lives" he proclaimed, "overrate
the influence of good sermons from
the pulpit. You pray one day and
cheat somebody in horse trade the
next day. can tell more about your
religion by trading horses with you on
Thursday than by hearing you yell
'Amenr In the prayer meeting on We'd
nesday night"
There were number of the eager
listeners who nodded their heads at
this saying, and Billy noticed 1t at
| once.
That's right" he declared; you
know l am telling you the truth.
have come to Bronson to speak the
truth, and will speak it. You have
gang here. know, for there is a
gang in every TOXIN, but l am not
afraid of them. never back pedaled
for any gang yet, and never will"
This emphatic statement was greet.