Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-09
LEAVES TO join
SUNDAY S. PARTY
ALBERT PETERSON IN CHARGE OF
TABERNACLE FOR THE
PAST YEAR.
SUCCEEDS SEIBERT
Joined EvanseIist's Band at Des Moinss
Two Years Ago as Assistant to
Man Whose Place he Was
Given.

Albert Peterson, custodian Of the
tabernacle for the William Sunday
party, leaves Friday evening FOR De-
troit, Mich where the Sunday meetings
begin a seven weeks run September ~.
Mr.. Peterson resides with his parents
near Dudley and has been with the well
known evangelist in his tours OF the
country for the past two years.
The story Of Mr. Peterson's connec-
ton with the Sunday party goes back
to the time Of the Sunday meetings held
in Des Moines in the fall of 1914.
Having been a student at the Iowa
Wesleyan university in Mt. Pleasant
and in his freshman year, the young
man spent his vacation as an engineer
in threshing machine out during the
harvest period in North Dakota and
had just completed his season there
near Fargo a little too late for the re-
opening Of college. Realizing that he
would have to wait for the second Sc
mester, he was undecided what to do
and learning Of the Sunday meetings
about to begin in Des Moines he re-
solved to attend the opening service
with no thought of joining the evange-
list. .rs,#t-*."
H.. Given Job in Tabernacle. =
While at the meeting he was recog-
nized by Fred Seibert, then custodian
of the tabernacle and was asked by the
latter If he would care to take posi-
ton at the meetings. He accepted the
prefer of work and after three weeks
with the ~arty was called in by the
evangelist and asked If he would like
to become member Of the party regu-
larly. Mr.. Sunday told him he was look
ing for a young man Of good habits and
had been considering a change in his
forces for some time. Accepting the Of
fer. young Peterson was told to accom-
panv the party to Philadelphia where a
series Of meetings opened following the
Des Moines revival. He became assist
ant to Mr.. Seibert and was told to study
the work and learn what it required.
This he did ia Philadelphia and at the
next city, Paterson, N. J.. where the
campaign closed In the spring for the
summer. vacation period.
Given Good Position. .-
Cominr home from Paterson Nv Pet
erson arrived here on Memorial day in
1918 and within a few Weeks received
a letter from Mr.. Sunday telling him to
report to Omaha when the meetings be-
gan there and to take charge of the
taberna Gle succeeding Mr.. Seibert Since
that time he has been in charge of this
part of the Sunday evangelistic meet
ings going from Oman to SYRIA cuse, N
". Trenton. n. J.. Baltimore and Kan
sas City The season closed in the lat
ter city in June and since then he has
been at home. ....-
Following the Detroit meetings the
party will go to. Boston for three
months. After that the dates are nn-
decided but will proha bly, be R'ffalo
n. Y. Grand Rapids, Mich. and Duluth
Mimi. .- .s w.. Il. -y.e .sa...l-..
a& Has Numerous Duties. -
The duties Of the tabernacle custod-
ian are many and varied and they fur
nish enough work to keep number OF
persons b"~v. Mr.. Peterson has two as
sistants who work with him day and
nicl,t and he has complete charge OF
the his meeting places that are erected
for the party at every city wher can en-
Raeement is filed, The ventilating OF
the huge tabernacle. keeping on the
floor plenty Of sawdust that makes the
famous "sawdUst trail looking after
the stoves and heating Of the building
are some Of his duties and he is in di
rect charge of the literature and sale
Of songs sermons. etc. Aside from this
he conducts PRAYER meetings. aids ir
the holding Of shop meetings and oc-
casicnallv PLAYS the piano in the taber-
nacleI Altogether it is some strenuous
position. bnt he says that he likes i
better than ANYTHING he ever undertook
and is happy in It.. &..-.