The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-16
Yesterday in the Churches
NEGRO BILLY SUNDAY
DRAWS BIG CROWD
Movement Among His Admirers To
Give The Evangelist n Big
Tent.

DR.. simon p. w. Drew, pastor IT
Cosmopolitan Baptist Church. Wash
inRton, d. c., and president of the
National Colored Evangelistic Alliance
of America--known as the negro Bill
lily Sunday" preached to a crowd that
overlooked Thirty first Street Baptist
Church last night, and held the I'M
divided attention of his hearers Tor
an hour making a number OF con-
verts.
DR.. Drew said that he was more
convinced that ever that he needed a
large tent with seating capacity OF
about 5000 people to accommodate the
great masses who desire to hear the
gospel. Old and young persons were
in the crowd. Robert Lee. former
slave and servant of the famous Gen
erai, Robert Lee. was the first among
Dr. Drew's converts. His age rang
ing from 101 to 10 years.
DIR. Drew took as a prelude to his
sermon an appeal to the negro preach
ers and leaders to aid In the advance
ment of the negro race He said; God
spoke the world into existence. but
was not willing that IL should remain
as IL was first formed. when brought
out of chaos. but II was His will that
the creatures whom he placed upon
the earth to increase In number and
wisdom and should and bring out the
real usefulness that lay hidden In what
he had created. God was not willing
that the race should remain In ig-
norance and savage, but that X should
grow in number and be civilized
through the Christianity of the white
preachers, and should develop 80 that
the real purpose for which they had
been brought here for and lay hidden
L. &An ~ MT might be
brought out in such way that the
whole colored race would see Its use
fuiness and unite In making greater
usefulness for mankind by coming into
contact with civilization. On through
prosperity and adversely. through sue
cess and failure the colored people
have come Through these, like all
other races. 1t must continue to battle
it's way up until II reaches the destiny
where God had assigned 1t. It's reverses
has been small in comparison with the
great losses and hardships which other
nations have risen to eminence ana
greatness have sustained.
/ appeal TO colored people to renew
zeal and confidence In God Almighty
and each other and stop fighting among
Themselves, and go forward In build
| ing up the race Generally. The colored
people need not look to be Ike the
white people now who have taken
thousands and thousands OF years 10
accomplish what they have In eduea-
ton. religion, art and science. but we
must go forward, build greater men,
women and children with Christian
principles. Of which the future race and
ali other races shall. yet be proud. 1t
Is easily possible. II can be easily
done. The main stumbling block OF
our race today is too much strong
drink being used by the weaker class.
I pray God the day will hasten when
America will be a saloonless nation
There IL no reason for giving up,
stopping, losing hope or confidence,
because a few misfortunes nave
struck our race. We call upon the
best white citizens. the Christian ma
tion and civilized world TO suspend
sentence until the negro has been
heard from, better ideas advanced
and Gods Gospel been preached to all
nations.
A movement Is on foot to present
to DR. Drew a large tent as an appre-
citation of his vangelistic work among
the coiored people Of Richmond
DR.. Drew has been conducting re-
vivai meetings in this city since May
9, during which time he has preached
at nearly every colored church, every
IACIOFys ana at ot&Act C0ta "a
where coiored people are employed.
He never makes any stipulated charge,
but only asks free will offering.
A mass meeting will be held Sunday.
August 20, at 3.80 p. M. at the Thirty
first Street Baptist Church to allow all
citizens to express their opinion OF his
work and make free will Offering.
Ex-Governor william Hodges Mann
will be the principal speaker.
Any person desiring to aid this
movement may do so by sending a
contribution to the treasurer. Attorne :
j. Thomas Hew3n. Mechanics BsTx
Building. fourth floor, or to DR.. Simon
p. w. Drew, 207 East Leigh Street.
The following have already con-
tributed:
Ex-Governor Mann ...... . 500
Attorney e. M. Long ........ TOO
Attorney General John Gar
| land Pollard ....~....... 500
Judge s. p. Waddfll ...... 500
DIR. B. L. Hillsman ......... 1000
DR. Stuart Mcclure ........ 1000