The Washington times., 1917-01-15
SUNDAYSQUADRON
HITS MANHATTAN
500 Visitors From CIeansed
Cities Open BiIIy's Campaign
in New York.
GOTHAM FOR GOD" SLOGAN
"TraiI-Hitters" Arouse Enthus-
iasm in Congregations of
$50 Churches.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-Gusts in ad-
vance of that tornado of religious
fervor, Billy Sunday, struck New
York yesterday morning, swept
through the towns length and
breadth and before the day was over
had left storm warnings in thousands
of. sinful minds. These harbingers
of sunday-50O they were, trail-hit-
tiers from Philadelphia, Boston, Pitts
Pnrgh, Paterson, Syracuse and Scran-
ton, who had become trail blazers for
the force that caught them up-put
New York in a receptive mood for the
onslaught that Sunday will make
next April against drinking and other
worldly vices.
Cosmopolitan Group.
From all classes and grades of life
this vanguard was recruited-bank-
ers, merchants, industrial captains,
and policemen. To give New York
a hint of the power an dthe persua-
siyeness Of Billy Sunday they immo-
lated themselves on $50 affairs. With
their pasts put behind them, they re-
cited their former s1nfulness, their
selfishness, their domestic and public
brutalities in true revival fashion. It
was q day OF wholesale confessions
for theN purpose OF preparing New
York evildoers to take their places
on the mourners' benches when Sun
day comes to town.
All BOroughs Invaded.
To Judge by the reception given to |
these converts the Sunday trails will
leave the barrooms barren OF saw
dust.
Not only Manhattan was reached |
by the visitors. They invaded every |
borough of the greater city and Jer-
sey City, Hoboken, Bayonne and the
churches of Hudson county.
With the wealth Of methodical de- |
tail that has contributed much to-
ward Billy Sundays success, the dele
cations came to town. They were d. |
yloeo into 250 teams and every man |
bore the number OF his team. They |
were met at the station by church |
representatives, most of them clergy |
men, who also were numbered. Thus. |
instead of confusion that would cost |
hours in untangling, the wslcomers |
and the visitors were joined through |
their corresponding numbers.
Yesterdays preliminary campaign,
aitnongh lacking nothing in spontan-
city and sincerity, was but a mari OF
the Sunday method. Billy is too keen
a psychologist to believe that his ar.
rival fWiu bring New York to him in
the way he expects. He relies upon
the pastors who have signed his inyt-
taf1on to bring the revival to bud and
upon himself to carry the movement
to full blossom.
No Time Wasted.
The seed was strewn from the mo-
ment the teams left their train, at 0
O'Clock in the morning. Singing in
full chorus Brighten the Corner
Where You Are" one of the Sunday
revival hymns, the teams got on the
cars. Before they sorted themselves
out the reception committee had
caught up the refrain. Naturally. the
tumult Of song halted every one in
the station.
I'VE are going to capture New Yorl,
for the Lord!" shouted one team can.
tain.
Gotham for Godw was another
1eeplunged slogan.
Manhattan for the Master!" a third
exclaimed.
Henry Magee, William Marshall. w
s. Mills and A. H. Kammerer were
taken before the Bible class of John
D. Rockefeller, Jr., in the Fifth Ave
1ue Baptist Church. There they were
to the founder OF the class.
who has been one of the prime NOV.
srB In the revival movement. MaRee
-ook charge Of the meeting and intro.
iuced Marshall, who is superinten.
lent in one Of the du Pont powder
'actories
For years ignored the church AMI
connected with it, he said I
Then saw the light. and now moth.
ng else matters. The spirit Of Gods
owe is the greatest thing in the ]
world. Get It." I
THAT'S right. ECHOED Magee, "and
Tlory be TO the Lord. have expert I
,nced IT." |,
Church to Have Parade.
To keep the appetite of GRACE Meth
dist Episcopal Church whetted for
advent, DR.. Christian F.
Seisner, pastor, will have a prepared ,
less parade through the nearby