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

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 taber.
nacle half empty"
1T will be full from the first night
and will be kept full during the entire
FIVE or six weeks of the meetings" re.
sponded DR.. Rutledge, with enthusi
asm. II know Mr.. Sundays record toe
well to be disappointed"
But Bronson people are different
They would not come out as far as
this, no matter who Is here"
"Do not the 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,
MI. lint lhC iCibAoi VA otStS
Christ, and Mr.. Sunday presents 1t In
a way that appeals to the average
American citizen, especially the work
ing people,"
They had entered the tabernacle and
were surveying its immense proper
lions.
"See our choir loft" said the minis.
ter. "We will have 1000 singers seat
ed there every night, won't we, JoyT
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.
"We WILL" the girl exclaimed In a
joyful tone of voice. 1T will be a
beautiful sight tomorrow night to see
this great building all lit up with lights,
filed with the people of Bronson. and
with the singers massed behind the
evangelist. l can see them listening to
the old, old story, and know that this
tabernacle means a new Bronson by
and by"
"a vision Of JOY" said her father
mockingly.
at is q vision OF what is to be-" said
DR. Rutledge confidently. II trust, Mr..
Graham. you will be able to attend
these services regularly"
II am afraid cannot promise to be
constant worshiper in this taber-
nacle," said Mr.. Graham. "The fact
of the matter is, DR.. Rutledge, will
be glad when this business is over with
and the community has returned to its
regular mode of Sunday services. l
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 severe tone.
"You are unfair to our city,"
81 am speaking of the average young
man in the city," answered the other
quickly. 81 am thankful for the COM
pany of earnest Christian young people
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 up on 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.
II 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 1t, Mr..
GrahamT
NO" answered the lawyer shortly.
"Let me read you part Of it," con-
tinued the minister, and he began tn
read the following editorial:
GIVE BILLY SUNDAY A HEARING.
Mr.. Sunday. popularity known as Billy
Sunday. will arrive N 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 express
ed 1t himself. HE has seen more men
hit the sawdust trail'' than any living
man. and no evangelist in America is In
such demand as is Rev. william A. Sum
day. His records OF victories in Ohio.
Pennsylvania. Illinois as well as In his ma
tive Iowa and on the Pacific slope sur
pass 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 humbug-
ging the American people for a score OF
years since he left the baseball diamond
TO preach the Gospel. At any rate. 1t will
be privilege for our community to hear
this remarkable 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 unconven-
tionai methods OF preaching.
The lawyer frowned and turned
away.
''It will be difficult to win a man
like Mr.. Graham" said Allan Rutledge
to himself.
Had the minister followed the lawyer
after he left the tabernacle he would
have had still less confidence In the
ability Of Mr.. Sunday or any other
evangelist to reach Mr.. Graham. Go
ing directly to his office, the lawyer
found Bud McCrea awaiting him with
some Impotence.
Il expected to be back before this, y
said the lawyer, "but my daughter
Joy persuaded me to accompany DIR,
Rutledge out to the Sunday tabernacle
this afternoon, and l have just re-
turned"
II want to see you about this -
Sunday campaign, as these preachers
call this Sunday graft business" re.
sponded the other. with an oath. at