Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-11

Il
the Sunday campaign.
The tabernacle was located in the
northwest part of the city on a large
vacant stretch Of land. 1t was some
what out Of the way. and Mr.. Graham
remarked as he approached it: Il am
afraid. DR.. Rutledgs. that you have
made a mistake in the location of the
tabernacle. 1t will be utterly impossi-
BILE to draw the people out here"
But we could not get ground enough
any nearer replied the minister.
1T would have been better to have
built a much smaller building and had
it full than to have this monster
tabernacle half empty"
1T will be full from the first night
and will be kept full during the entire
five or six weeks of the meeting" re-
sponded DR.. Rutledge. with enthusi-
asm. Il know Mr. Sundays record too
we'll to be disappointed"
But Bronson people are different.
They would not come out as far as
this no matter who is here"
do not circus people camp here
when they visit Bronson?' asked the
other.
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Graham, smil-
ing, but Mr. Sunday is no circus"
He attracts the crowds better than
| the circus" answered DR.. Rutledge.
| There is nothing that attracts men,
ho ho tort nf
Christ, and Mr.. Sunday presents it in
way that appeals to the average
American citizen, especially the work.
ing people"
were surveying it's immense proper
| tions.
See our choir loft" said the minis
ter. I'VE will have 1000 singers seat
ed there every night, won't we, Joy?"
He turned to the young lady as he
spoke Miss Graham had been silent
while her father and the minister dis
cussed the outcome Of the great effort.
I'VE WILL" the girl exclaimed in a
joyful tone Of voice. 1T will be a
beautiful sight tomorrow night to see
this great building lit up with lights,
filled with the people Of Bronson, and
with the singers massed behind the
evangelist I can see them listening
to the OLD. old story, and l know that
this tabernacle means q new Bronson
by and by"
"A vision of JOY" said her father
! mockingly.
1T is a vision Of what is to be-" said
Dr. Rutledge confidently. Il trust, Mr..
Graham, that you will be able to at
tend these services regularly"
Il am afraid cannot promise to be
constant worshiper in this taber.
nacle," said Mr.. Graham. The fact
of the matter is, DR.. Rutledge, l will
be glad when this business is over with
and the community has returned to its
regular mode Of Sunday services. /
fear the influence Of Mr.. Sunday will
be demoralizing, especially on the
young"
"Our young people in Bronson are
already demoralized," replied the min
lister in a severe tone.
You are unfair to our city"
II am speaking Of the average young
man in the city," answered the other
quickly. Il am thankful for the COM
pany of earnest Christian young peO
pie which we have in association with
Central church, but you must know,
Mr. Graham, that the vast majority Of
the young men in Bronson take no Sc
rious interest in religion"
The three visitors stepped upon the
rostrum. Allan Rutledge paused for a
moment in front Of the little stand
from which the famous eX-champion
Of the baseball diamond was to deliver
his messages of salvation to the people
of Bronson.
81 liked very much the article which
Mr.. Marchmount wrote in the Courier
of yesterday" said Dr. Rutledge, TAX
ing a newspaper from his pocket and
opening it, Have you read it, Mr..
Graham"
No" answered the lawyer, short
ly
Let me read you part of it," con-
tinued the minister, and he began to
read the following editorial:
GIVE BILLY SUNDAY A HEARING.
Mr.. Sunday, popularity known ds
Billy Sunday, will arrive in our city
the day after tomorrow. He can do
his own preaching without any help
from the Courier The records of the
conversions at his meetings are so
numerous, so real and so remarkable
as to be astounding to his detractors.
AS the evangelist expressed it him.
self, He has seen more men hit the
sawdust trail" than any living man,
and no evangelist in America is in
such demand as Rev. William A. Sun
day. His records of victories i'm Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Illinois as well as in his
native Iowa and on the Pacific slope
surpass anything seen in this country
since the early ministry of Dwight l..
Moody and the revivals in the days of
Charles G. Finney. We are inclined
| to believe that Mr. Sunday has not
been humbuging the American people
for a score of years since he left the
baseball diamond to preach the gospel.
At any rate. it will be a privilege for
our community to hear this remark
able man, and we are assured that
our people will give Billy Sunday a
hearing and will not pass judgment
on him until they have heard his
message and observed the results of
his unconventional methods of preach
ing.
| The lawyer frowned ana turned
away.
1T will be difficult to win a man
like Mr.. Graham" said Allan Rutledge
to himself
| Had the minister followed the law
yer after he left the tabernacle he
would have had still less confidence in
the ability Of Mr. Sunday or any other