Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-06
OPENING DAY OF
REVIVAL SEESTAE
STAGE WELL SET
Tabernacle Packed to Capacity
When Great Preacher Makes
His Appearance on the
Platform.
USES ALL TRICKS OF TRADE
Plupges Into His Work Without
Hesitation and Gives Full Ex-
hibition of Methods.
ON WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Billy Sunday delighted his first
tabernacle audience in Omaha yes
terday morning by exhibiting nearly
all the platform thrills for which he
is famous. He mimicked and acted,
and beat the pulpit with his fist and
stamped upon 1t with his foot, and
perspired so that the drops rolled
from his brow, and shouted and
slanged enough to satisfy the most
expectant in all the vast audience
that filled the tabernacle and
crowded in the ten-foot corridor sur
rounding the seats.
He seemed to bid glad defiance to
his critics, by sailing right into the
two strongest objections brought
against him, namely the collections
and the slang.
Explains About Collection.
One of the first things he did
after making his vigorous way to the
platform was to explain about the
collection. He mentioned that Omaha
is reported to be in the midst of the
most prosperous part of the most
prosperous country in the world. In
regard to the collection he said:
mot one cent Is guaranteed me,
not one penny. These collections are
taken up to pay for the lumber in
this building and the work of erect
ing 1t and other expenses in the cam
paign. 1t is taken to pay your debts.
All / get is the collections taken on
the last day Of the campaign. Moth
ing more"
Soon Gets Into Slang.
The first ten minutes of hlg 71rmon
were as classic in language SER
mon of the most proper Pre-, i'm
aginable. Then he suddenly "a to
the very midst of sangery. II was in
describing one OF the missionary Journeys
of Paul. Paul asEs3 3 native of a city
who certain people were whom he saw
talking and was told that they were
church members. The evangelist con-
tinued:
paul says, No, that's a bum steer,
and he went over to where they were
chewing the rag"
This brought tremendous applause and
laughter from the audience. Billy smiled
and when he could be heard, said: II
cut out all my slang because I was com
ing to Omaha"
He had described Paul as "a wrinkle
browed, dim-eyed stoop-shouldered gospel
veteran who had been the bullet meat
for all the forces of hell and refused to
dip his colors to the DEVILS gang of his
day"
Greeted with Applause.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sunday entered the
tabernacle together just as the service
started. The big building was packed to
the doors and probably a thousand were
standing in the corridor looking in to the
main part of the building And the
crowd applauded as the evangelist walked
seriously up and took his seat on a
wooden-seated chair on the green-car-
peted platform.
Not "A smile did Mr.. Sunday give nor
any recognition of the ovation. After the
choir under direction of II. G. Brewster
had led In singing several hymns ana
after Mr.. Brewster and Mrs. Asher had
sung Let Jesus Lead" he leaped to his
feet and took his place at his pulpit. The
audience applauded for probably thirty
seconds. Billy seemed somewhat bored
by the demonstration.
HIS Wedding Anniversary.
He spoke a word OF appreciation and
then announced that the day was great
TO him and Mrs. Sunday for another rea-
son.
"rwenty-seven years ago today Ma
: and l were married." he said. The
audience applauded again. "And sup
pose you would like to see Ma" said
Billy with a smile. turning to where Mrs.
Sunday sat behind the platform. The
peoples applause gave voclferous evil
dence of their desire and Mrs. Sunday
came forward smiling and stood beside
CONTINUED on Page Three, Column Foar.)