Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-01
LEADERS TN STATE
AND CITY HERALD
BILLY SUNDAY
Mayor and Governor-elect
Make Eloquent Appeals
for Religious Revival at
Tabernacle Meeting.

Never in the history Of BILLY" Sun
days remarkable years as whirlwIn,
evangelist has one Of his big tabernaclei
been opened In the presence OF so dis
tinsulshed an assemblage OF guests ant
speakers, with so large an audience in at.
tendance or so great enthusiasm, al
marked tho dedicatory services In the
great citadel at 18th and Vine streets last
night.
Words OF praise for the baseball evan
sellst and hopes for the success of the
revival here were spoken by Governor
elect Martin @. Brumbaugh, Mayor
Blankenburg, the Rev Maitland Alexan-
der, OF Pittsburgh, moderator of the Cen
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church; Bishop Joseph f. Berry, and
many other prominent persons.
More than 5000 men and women
mostly men--filled the long board seats
IN tho tabernacle. Back of the speakers
platform there were seated several hun
dred Philadelphia clergymen and the
double choir of 5000 voices.
The singing of such oId-time favorite re-
vival hymns as "AIl Hail the Power of
Jesus Name" "I Love to Tell the story"
ana ''Billy' Sundays inspiring 'trail-hit-
ting" songs. "Brighten the Corner Where
You Are" and "If Your Heart Keeps
Right" by the great choir, under the
leadership of H. c. Lincoln, and by the
thousands of persons In the auditorium,
was in itself enough to put the meeting
in q class by itself Those in the congre-
cation who had never been in Billy
Sunday tabernacle before were frequently
heard exclaiming:
TITS worth coming here for the music
alone,"
The Rev. DR.. George H. Buckley, vice.
chairman of the general committee, and
chairman of the Prayer Meeting Commit
tee, presided, and In his opening address
ridiculed tho statements OF DIR. Charles
w. Eliot, president emeritus of Harvard
University, by pointing to the vast throng
and the leaders In the city and State who
were present and who believe in the old
time religion such as BILLY" Sunday
breaches, Dr. Eliot had declared the
Christian churches had lost their power,
In a lecture before members of the Uni
tartan churches of Philadelphia on Tues
day night.
BILLY" SUNDAYS MESSAGE,
Throughout the long dedication meeting
and the watch-nght services that fol-
lowed. the audience was In the best
hurnor, and. unlike most religious as
aemblages, appRuded loudly the messages
of Governor-eiect Brumbaugh. Mayor
Blankenburg and the other speakers. But
the greatest enthusiasm rang among the
rough rafters and pillars of the temple
when the Rev. e. H. Emett, one OF Sum
days assistants, read message from
''Billys himself.
This is what he said:
Never in all the centuries since
Christ hung upon the cross has a city
been disappointed when united prayer
and work has issued from pure
hearts, willing hands and when a
united Church has prostrated herself
before God.
n Never since the days of Moody
have all branches OF the Church been
more united and the entire city been
more expectant OF great things from
God than now.
We are asking for the regeneration
OF a city, and God accepts the chal-
lenge OF our faith, We may expect
great things from God when we at
tempt great things for God.
There are thousands OF broken
hearts and tear-stained faces among
the teeming multitudes of Philadel-
phia,s population for whom brighter
day is sure to come as a result OF your
efforts and prayers.
From the time William Penn laid
out your broad avenues Philadelphia
has been conspicuous for its allie
glance to God, religious fervor and
civic Righteousness.
Ny wish for 1915 is that every sim
burdened soul may md forgiveness