Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-02-25
10000 Attend Sunday
Tabernacle Opening

| CONh hPbaIlON EVEN AooEM
BLtD In BALTIMORE SEES DIED.
lCATIoN-- { H0IR CT 2 C00LEADs
SINGING.
The largest religious gathering
ever assembled in Baltimore, it is
claimed siaualizcd the opening ser
vice in he Billy Sunday Taberna.
Gle at Oriuie Park and took part in
is dedication last Sunday after
aeon.
Thete were IA 900 persons seat
ID, about 4 ,0O0 standing in tn"
2estibulrs on the three side; AMI
some 2 900 more who arrived toe
late to get in at all. These 10000
persons. the big majority of them
men, WIRE handled easily and eff
fectively by the special squad of
police.
Street cars began disgorging
crowds from all parts of the city
shortly after 2 O'Clock and an hour
later Hobart Smock was on hand
20 direct the singing of Billy Sun
day hymns, which kept the ever
growing congregation busy until
$50.
Promptly at the appointed time
the choir 1000 men formed at the
main entrance and march d down
lit two central aIsies, singing On.
yard Christian Soldiers It was
followed by the officiating clergy
men and members Of the executive
committee, Mayor Preston and
hnrr SPECIAL guests.
Thee was at first much GRAZING
# nccks by the congregation trying
10 take in tile vast marnitude OF
he queer, unpainted, low roofeG
structure. A row Of big arc lamps,
unliehted, was strung down the
exact centre of the building and
throughout the main part were I'm
shaded tungsten lights that blind
ed the eyes of those on the plat
form. The lights on the platform
were shaded from the audience
but Illuminated the faces and the
blue back hymn books of the choir
and brought into glaring view
huge white sign stretching all the
way across the Tabernacle in the
rear and bearing the words, "Balti-
more for Christ"
Not a bit of paint was in evi
dence throughout the building, but
the posts in the choir section were
wrapped in white cheesecloth, with
blue bands around the tops, and
the upper parts of the supports
in red, giving patriotic effect. The
front of the rostrum was covered
with bunting in the American col
ors. The rostrum itself is bare
upper deck" foored with inch
thick planks and with a plain,
rather low and firmly nailed pulpit
(or Bible rest) built to withstand
he strenuous assaults of Billy Sun
day, Red lights indicated the
many exits.
Congratulations were replete in
The address of the Rev. ]. Wallace
Welsh. Sundays advance man. He
paid tributes to Daniel Baker.
chairman of the executive com.
mittee; to DR.. Colt. to the active
participants in the campaign and
70 Baltimore in general.
"After you have been made one
big family by Mr.. Sunday you will
thank God he came he said
"But Mr.. Sunday believes you
would have REVIVAL even if he did
not come, after the weeks of prayer
meetings you have been holding.
"Thls is the largest tabernacle
ever erected for Billy Sunday. In
all the 20 years of his ministry he
has ever been co.operated with by
so representative a body of men as
in Baltimore. You have not only
monuments here, but business men
who have a care for the citizens
spiritual welfare Because of their
devotion to this undertaking has
this thing been made possible.
"Your city has shown remark
able enterprise. Your newspapers
have given US freely such space as
as never was given before the cam.
paign actually opened. And today
this is the largest crowd ever at
dedicatory service of Billy Sun
day tabernacle. Some very sue
cessful campaigns have begun with
the tabernacle only nalf filled at
the dedication.
Il will whisper you a prophecy
made to me by an evangelist who
has known your city for DO years:
Baltimore will respond to Mr.. Sun
day to a greater degree than did
Philadelphia. And the Philadelphia
campaign was the greatest revival
ever held in modern times.
| GA tropoopdouo ouokopinr 10