River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-05-06

chicago on morning
train and was at once tax
en- to a large furnished house which
had been set apart for him and his
family during his stay in the city. He
was accompanied by his wife and his
younger children. In addition to his
immediate family he had number Of
assistants in his company.
This looks like business" said Al
Ian Rutledge to himself, as he met the
party at the train and was introduced
to the large band Of gospelers.. The
building of the immense tabernacle, the
discussion of the value Of Mr.. Sundays
work in community, the newspaper
advertising which was given to the en-
terpriSe, and, above all, the bitter OPP
position of the enemies of Mr.. Sunday
assisted IN centering the attention OF
the entire city on the evangelist from
the time Of his entrance into Bronson.
In the evening long before the time
announced for the beginning Of the
first service, the roads leading In the
direction Of the tabernacle were black
with people. 1t was a cold, snowy
night, and many feared that it would
be impossible to heat properly the vast
structure, but they came anyway, clad
In furs and heavy overcoats. willing to
endure the cold rather than miss the
1rst service of the meetings.
The experienced janitor. who was in
Mr.. Sundays employ, had taken i'm
mediate charge of the tabernacle on his
arrival and had supervised the heat
ing and ventilation, and when the
crowds began to fill the building they
found it warm and comfortable as a
church. The floor Of the tabernacle
was covered with sawduSt, which
made a clean and warm kind of car
pet. 1.-The sawdust TRAIL" which soon
became common expression In Bron-
son, referred to the sawdust aisles
down which the penitents passed in go
ing forward to confess their faith.
The chorus leader had already as
sumed the command, and the vast
choir of upward Of 1000 voices was
singing enthusiastically, leading the
great audience Of 10000 people, in the
we'll known and ever popular hymn,
Rescue the Perishing," when Mr.. Sun
day himself appeared.
Down in the human heart. crushed by the
tempter,
Feelings lie buried which grace can re-
store;
Touched by loving hand, Weakened by
kindness.
Chords that are broken will vibrate once
more.
AS the multiplied thousands sang the
familiar words they seemed to throb
with a new meaning, and the pillows
of sacred song reverberated in mighty
volume through the tabernacle and far
out over the city. Reginald Nelson
was sitting at the press table on the
platform, gazing out over the sea OF
eager upturned faces, while this verse
was being sung when his eye caught
the figure Of the evangelist coming in
at a side door.
He strobe up the aisle toward the
platform, unbuttoning his overcoat as
he walked. Ascending q short stair
way, he pulled off his overcoat, threw
it on a chair and walked to the center
of the rostrum where the pulpit stand
had been. placed. He was the instant
focus for $4,000 eyes as he stood there
leaning against the stand. Although
past forty years of age, he looked still
younger, and his figure seemed small
and slight against the background OF
the thousand voiced choir. But Regi-
maid had noticed the confident air with
which he assembled the platform and
the athletic pose of the man as he
stood facing the audience He could
see the strong, determined face, the
swift glance of the flashing eye and
the physical vigor which in former
days had made him the fieetest base
runner In all America.