Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-22
PITTSBURGH PASTOR
TELLS HOW SUNDAY
ROUTED VICE THERE
All Resorts Are Closed
and Temperance Sentiment
Has Ansen-What Phila-
delphia May Expect.
Nv GEORGE w. SHELTON
po,,or of the Second Presbyterian Church,
of PITTSBURGH.

Pastor OF ttb bttbftt f'f"8tS' aNit NiNuf tftg
Of Pittsburgh.
rrbs Req. Dr. shelton came to this citv
ham Harrisburg, tohere he attended the
,nanourdtion Of his friend Martin q.
prurbaugh. He tods one of the men in
,trtpentdl IN securing Mr.. Sunday for the
pnsburoh campaign and desired to tUit-
,,,s the evangelist at t0ork against the
,oroes Of evil IN Philadelphia before
,,turnino to his duties IN the pulpit Of the
sscond Presbyterian Church Of PITTS
tw0h,l
There Is every reason to believe Phila-
selphia should benefit by the evangelistic
activity Of Mr.. Sunday to as great an
extent as did Pittsburgh. The conditions
in the two cities are much alike. There
are the same false prophets, the same
"knockers" and about the same moral
and financial backing here that there
was In Pittsburgh,
When the question arose as to whether
or not Mr.. Sunday should be invited to
conduct n campaign in our city last year
there was much adverse criticism. It
was said II would harm the city rather
than accomplish any good. Mr. Sunday
was accused of being "out for the cash"
and host of other unpleasant things.
but the objections were overcome and
the revival campaign took place.
Such q movement must be judged by
results That the results of Mr. SUM-
DAVIS work in Pittsburgh were good not
even the most pessimistic "knocker" in
the city can deny. The spirit of the
tabernacle was transmitted to the
churches, a renewed enthusiasm such as
have never witnessed shook the city to
lis very depths, and best of all, II has
lasted.
GROWTH OF CONGREGATIONS.
For example, last Sunday had the
largest number at the Communion serv-
in the church for many years. The same
was true of the Knoxville Presbyterian
Church, and l am informed that the con-
dtion is general throughout the city.
At first glance 1t may seem strange
that larger numbers of persons should
be attending the churches now than i'm
medlately following the revival campaign,
but upon closer observation 1t is seen
that the real function of the movement
was to give an impetus to those inter-
ested in churches, to arouse enthusiasm
and to stimulate personal work. These
forces though slow to get under way.
sare tremendous in their effective power,
and this power is cumulative. so that I
might safely say that Pittsburgh Is only
now beginning to feel the real effects OF
the "Bllly'' Sunday campaign.
As for the material results in Pitts
burgh, excluding the increased church
activity, they are SO many that 1t seems
almost hopeless to try to name them.
Two features, however, are well worth
calling attention to- namely, the saloon
evil and the houses OF vice.
Since the close of the Sunday campaign
a temperance sentiment has arisen that
can scarcely be overrated. Suffice It to
say that there are fewer saloons In opera
ton today in that city than there were
At this time last year. The second feature
is even more striking. There is not a
single house of i'll repute open in the city
Of Pittsburgh today! That is, there is
not one known to the municipal or church
authoritesy and 1t is safe to say II
would be almost impossible for one to
be in operation without coming to the
attention of these authorities.
BILLY" SUNDAYS PART.
This condition has been brought about
BY the establishment of a Bureau of
Morals" under the direction of a paid
aecretary, whose duty It is to see that
these evils are stamped out. AS re-
suit of these and other reforms, I am
confident in saying that Pittsburgh is the
6est-governed municipality in the United
States today
do not say Mr.. Sunday is directly re-
sponsible for this condition, but I do be-
heVe he Is responsible for the creation
OF the public sentiment which has de-
manded the eradication of these evils.
And the people of Pittsburgh realize this,
100. They would be only too glad to
nave their popular Billy return to the
elty and conduct similar campaign
mat is, all would but the saloonkeepers
and perhaps half dozen preachers who |
opposed him In more or less clandestine
manner.
From what have seen OF the Phila-
aeiphia campaign I am convinced that |
Inis city is merely reaplng the first fruits |
OF a great harvest. The greatest part |
or such revival is accomplished out
slde the tabernacle. and, as in Pitts |
Dursh' the effect will be cumulative, not |
only as the present campaign progresses, |
out Tor months and years to come
MY advice to the people OF Philadelphia |
Is to induce Mr.. Sunday to extend his |
campaign In this city to the very limit |
mat his time will allow. II they don't |
they will regret it forever afterward. All |
can say is look at Pittsburgh and |
learn"