New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-15
From . star Correspondent o, Tn. Thbun. }

prom , star Correspondent of Tn. Tribune
Paterson, n. j., April IA little,
wistful slip OF girl arose in a crowd
Of 5000 PEOPLE tonight and walked
over 70 whore Billy Sunday stood with
outstretched hands. She gave her own
name. "in the name of Jesus" She
was the first Of 324 men, women and
children to hit the trail. Someone asked
her why she walked so quickly and
hravely up the glory path.
Because | wanted to serve the
Lord" she said with the simplicity Of
a child.
She was Agnes do Jong, fifteen years
old. trimmer IN the Savoy Shirt Mills.
She works there eight hours a day for
81 n week. Her father and her mother
were with her, but she left them and
cam alone to start the half-hour-lOng
procession streaming by Sundays plat
form.
Although expected. the trail-hitting
came as tremendous climax. 1t was
a marvellous sight 10 see the people as
they trod the sawdust path. the eyes
Of each fastened upon Sunday. The
evangelist was in his glory. His eyes
shone with an unaccustomed radiance
and his whole frame was vibrant. {
was his triumph Paterson seemed
conquered for the Lord.
In the frenzy of his ealtation as it
led up to the dramatic moment when
he should put Paterson to the test, Sun
day flung himself about the platform,
jerking his words out by the roots.
Chairs clattered to the floor, tables
trembled. upsetting goblets Of water
The revivalist's voice and personality
dominated the turmoil.
We've been week in Paterson,
Lord" he prayed. I'VE havn't asked
anyone to be converted. But I wonder
how many Of YOU are willing 20 &C
cept Jesus Christ. Give them cour-
age. God. How many of you will say
with nc. 4 believe in Jesus Christ, my
Savior? 1 haven't asked any of you
yet just fen inclined to do il. Now
we'll all rise and sing Just as am,
without one plea"
And all the great audience rose and
stood while the hymn swelled and
swelled from side to side OF the daw
frame house aglare with its hundreds
Of blazing electric lomps. There was
nothing Of the Sombre, yet reverential
gloom Of church H. was just as II
happened IN the broad daylight.
who'll rise and give me his hand
md say 4 will live for Jesus Christ
the best / know how Who will give
me their hand? How many will take
my hand tonight"
Rows on rows of benches were ten
anted with standing people. You could
see their lips moving, but it was just
as IL one strong organ like voice was
saying, in measured accent: 81 accept
Jesus Christ Ms my personal savior
Again Calls Them.
"How many OF you will make it
known that you desire to take Jesus to
your heart Who'll come forward 70
take my hand and pledge Jesus ~
Sunday caught the pulpit with one
hand. With the litheness and grace OF
"A deer he leaned over and lifted the
trap door that covers a small flight OF
steps. lie dropped down into the little
pit. The front of the platform was
but to his waist then. He leaned for
ward from this objective point as far
az he could and with outstretched hand
he began meeting the converts. IL was
working convulsively, the strong fingers
opening and closing
1t was then the child got slowly up
from her seat where she sat cross
legged IN the sawdust.
Nobody had noticed the shy little
thing crouchcd there, muiIied up m Il
red sweater. her face half hidden by
a cheap straw hat, with tawdry flowers
on it.
cbo never -ook her eyes off Sunday
as she walked straight TO the platform
and. reaching up, gave him her hand.
Even when she sat down on the front
benches the ushers had hurriedly
cleared for the trail hitters she con-
tinued TO look up at him like one hyp-
notised. "Why Not Now" the choir
was singing. She moved her lips and
formed each word, but nosound came
out of her thin mouth.
Almost as soon as the girl reached
Sunday. a woman in a black skirt and
black coat came up. She carried her
straw hat, with a colored ribbon in her
hand. She fingered it nervously as she
sat down. Then there was another
woman in a snuff -colored dust coat and
a touch of green at her open throat.
She was one of the first to weep. All
the time she sat on the front bench
she mopped her eyes with her hand
kerchief A woman sitting beside her
i'm a plush coat put her arm around the
weeping woman's shoulders and talked
to her earnestly.
They were crowding up by that time,
crowding up so fast the ushers could
scarcely stop them, so eager they were.
Little girls that had to strain to reach