The Detroit times., 1916-09-23
GIRLS AND
BOYS THRONG
TABERNACLE
Ccontina.d from Page oneI

Trail Hitters Collapse.
Such a wave Of religious enthu-
siasm as swept over the monster
Billy Sunday tabernacle Friday
Night has seldom been duplicated in
a religious meeting While the num-
Der OF converts showed a falling OF
from the two previous meetings.
when penitents were asked to hit
the trail. those who did walk up TO
the altar appeared 10 be in Per
feet fever OF penitential emotion.
For the frst time the hospital de
parment OF the tabernacle was
called into use. and several OF those
who collapsed under the strain OF
surrendertng themselves were led TO
cots where hrst aid was administer
ed Most OF the trail hitters wept
throughout the ceremony OF under
going conversion and some were so
undone physically that IL was neces-
sary 20 support them on their jour
news 70 and from the altar.
From the group OF converts who
SAT directly in front OF the platform
soos and anguished cries rose and
mingled with the prayers and exhor,
tatIons Of the evangelist and the
softly-rendered strains OF Just as
Am. without One Plea" from the
choir.
Al the afternoon meeting Friday,
in the midst OF his closing prayer,
Billy Sunday was seized by the inn
pulse TO ask for converts. contrary
20 his usual rule OF starting a col
umn up the sawdust trail al the az.
ternoon sessions so early In the
campaign He. therefore. included
the invitation in his prayer. and be-
fore he finished there was a small
group OF women and girls standing
before him waiting for the hand
shake. They were quickly joined
by others and in a few minutes 81
penitents had been registered and
pledged 20 be Christians.
A Brand from the Burning
While most OF the afternoon con-
verts were women there were sew
eral men. among them some that
confessed through their sobs and
tears that they had been drunkards
and criminals. These confessions
brought from the revivalist many
expressions OF satisfaction in the
quality o, his work II not in the
quantity.
One OF the converts declared that
his parents died when he WAS. such,
a small child he could scarcely reg
member them He had however. a
vivid recollection OF his mothers
last words and they were an appeal
10 him 10 lead a useful Christian
life. He had never observed his
mothers request. but. being a valf.
he drifted from bad 70 worse until
, finally he became a criminal and
drunkard Much Of bis time he
spent in prison cells He has at
( tended every meeting of the Sunday
campaign 20 date. battling with his
conflicting emotions For several
nights he had not slept because OF
bis troubled conscience and because
OF his mothers words that kept
ringing in his ears constantly.
He said he went 20 the tabernacle
Friday afternoon. knowing that II
was not the evangelist's custom 20
ask for converts at the afternoon
meeting but praying thruout the
sermon that the invitation would be
given. In the midst Of the preach.
er's prayer this man staggered TO
ards the platform, his form shaken
nv the sobs that he made no effort
10 control. Others grasped him and
supported him as he told his story
Al both the afternoon and even
ing services there were many pa
thetic Incidents. There vas one
young girl. attended by her father.
mother and brother. all OF whom
were weeping and unashamed of
their tears or their secret
This girl had fallen into bad hab.
its and her exceptional beauty vas
her curse For several days she
had not been al home II was only
Friday morning that her distraught
parents found her in what they
termed the red light district" To
gether the family, all OF whom were
already protesting Christians save
the wayward daughter went 20 The
: tabernacle Early IN the sermon
/ this girl buried her face In her hands
and began 10 cry and her tears and
i those OF the other members oi the
/ family flowed until she had made
solemn VOWS 10 be a Christian
In the evening service l24 hit the
trail which. with the 81 conversions
in the afternoon. brings the total
conversions 70 date up TO s73.
6iily's Powerful Sermon
! At the conclusion OF powerful
sermon In the evening on The Tim.
ID Woman Billy issued the invita-
lion. For a moment there vas no
response and the evangelist looked
about in amazement Then a fair
! young girl hurried up and took the
hand OF the preacher That was
the signal for others, and soon Billy
was busy with both hands greeting
the trail hitters
The reyivslist. however. is never
satisfied and as ne greeted the penl
tents he was constantly pleading 'or
more Finally he turned impatient.
ly 20 the ministers who were grouped
in their accustomed corner and
shouted Go ont and get ,hem
bring them In. Oh God. dom loaf
at time like this. Get among 'hc
people and bring them % Christ"
Most Of She ministers then
mingled with tho audience and
urged people up the trail and some
Of them Jed many 10 tho altar
In his evening sermon. based on
the incident OF the tlm.d woman
who stole up softly and touched The
hem Of Christ's garment thar she