Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-12-14
SUNDAYS GREATEST NIGHT

was remarkable, for no less a person
than Billy Sunday says so. Boston
can no longer be called cold, wheI
1440 men, out of Is 900 who went t.
the tabernacle in the pelting storm
consecrated or reconsecrated them
selves to Christ. 1t broke all record.
Hit was the greatest trailhittine
Ievent in Sundays experience.
1t was all the more remarkable
because it was unexpected. why
said, Billy, before we went out las,
might, told Mr.. Rodeheaver, that il
We had the tabernacle half full. we
should do well under the unfavorable
weather conditions. 1t was remark
able that a meeting of men should
fill the tabernacle. / was delighted at
l the howing-ine-mor than twice
as many as we had in PHILADELPHIA
i and we thought we were going some
there. Wen keep up the good work. -
Sunday was taking a rest this fore
noon. He had not shaved, and he was
lounging about in a dressing gown
but he was very happy He deserved
a rest.
When the evangelist's call came
last night to hit the trail, the re-
Spouse was spontaneous. The num-
Der of trailhitters here was more
than double that on the first day in
any other large city. Billy called it
"a stampede for Cod
Class distinctions were forgotten
by the great body of men who went
forward to grasp the hand of the
evangelist and to promise to begin
or to renew an active fight against
sin. They were just men-brothers-
young men, old men, middle aged
men, tabernacle ushers, church dea-
cons, men from shops, Offices and fac
tories, street car men, sailors, men
with clean faces and hands, men from
the street and the alley-rough men
men with unshaven faces, hard faces
many, now softened by the preach
er's words just men, who are in earn
est about turning over new leaf.
When the call came the secretar-
les guided the converts up to the
preachers platform, and after the
trailhitters had made or renewed
their pledges to lead better life, they
were seated in three center rows of
seats-not the front seats wholly, for
they filled all the places for many
benches back from the rostrum-and
names and addresses
When Sunday began his call for
trailhitters he was standing with one
FOOT on his chair and one foot on his
pulpit; when he ended his exhortation
he was on top of his pulpit, but when
the stream of humanity began to
surge towards him, he jumped down
into his pit, cut in front of the plat
nd l.
bless you" repeated many times, well
coined the eager converts. Billy's
face glowed as the crowd came, but
he showed the effects of his effort, for
he mopped his brow, and before the
last of the men had been greeted, he
accepted flagon of water from
'Rhody'' and dashed it over his face.
The men. as they reached the
evangelist, exclaimed; Here l am
Bill" or Were with you, Bill"
Meantime the mighty male chorus
was singing, Stand Up, Stand Up
for Jesus" and where is My Won
dering Boy Tonight" and the air
was caught up and re-echoed by the
thousands of men on the benches.
The trailhitting occupied half an
hours time, and it was expedited by
the 15 secretaries, who helped the
converts on their way to the front.
Sunday and his workers prayed long
and earnestly in the late afternoon
yesterday for the success CT this first
call and their prayers were abund-
Iantly answered.
Long before the meeting started.
even before "Rody" began his over
ture, the tabernacle was crowded and
the $4,000 men cheered by groups
and section, and when Sunday appear
ed their welcome shook the roof. Mrs
Sunday, for the first time, was not
with her husband at the tabernacle.
Sunday. during his appeal. took
a determined fling at rum in Boston.
and even in the country, for he said:
Il want fighting men in Boston
against 'booze!' and by the eternal. /
hope to live long enough to preach the
funeral sermon of the whisky bust
ness in the United States" This SEN
timent impelled the men in the bench
es to roar upon roar of applause
Billy ended his sermon. Then he
said: How many will now say Here
Bill, here's my hand. I'll, live for
Christ. If I'm in the church, I'll re-
new my convenant!' How many?"
There were .440
Yesterday was the tenth day of the
Sunday campaign here. In that time
the total collections have been S22,-
677.51 and the total attendance 2SS.-
600.
From now on. according to those
who have had experience of Sunday
campaign, the "trailhitters" and the
contributions will gain steadily. Such
gain has already been noted for the
afternoon attendance, regardless of
weather, has shown constant increase.
Sunday is making himself felt. Bos-
ton may be "cold" by reputation. but
this reputation has been shattered.
1t was Bible class night" and Rev.
F. F. Peterson of West Medford the
chairman, had been working and
praying with many of the first call to
trail hitters"
"Rody" opened the meeting, as us
ual, and besides the singing of the
male chorus there were platation
melodies by the tabernacle. sextet
composed of George Sunday, Albert
Peterson, custodian of the tabernacle.
"Rody." Bob" Matthews, Mr.. Sun
days secretary, George Brewster, and
Rev. Isaac Ward, leader of the shop
Injecting.
Sundays sermon-the sermon
which preceded and led to the I'M
Iprecedented number of trail hitters"
at single meeting-was from the
text: LAS the Lord liveth. even what
my God saith, that will l speak"
Micah man Of God co;d thaSa