New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-25
Hasn't Time to Shake
Hands of Those Not in
Earnest, He Warns
1920 Heed Appeal
At Two Services
Factory Girls and Clerks
Among 10000 in Even
ing's Audience

Win "A EIIl4t anu a SWAY
busy hands.
Billy has been shouting his faith IN
the goodness Of New York for many
dav. but yesterday. as he watched the
Tabernacle billow and heave in re-
sponse 70 his call TO salvation, It
seemed that the city was too good to
he true. He paused before leaping into
the submerged box in which he grcets
trail hitters.
ct have no time 20 be shaking hands
with people unless they are willing to
come out and take a decided stand for
Christ" ne shouted. "If you don't
mean IL. don't come forward. II church
members mean 20 work for Christ lei
them come.
Ready for Long Lanes
With that warning he leaped into hlS
.unkcn rcccDtion box and was ready for
the slow-moving mass that finally re-
solved itself into two long lines one io7
his left hand. one for the right. His two
lean arms were shaken by l,46I others
at the evening session. In the after
noon he disposed Of go. mostly women
in less than FIVE minutes.
a surprise awaits he man or woman
who brings revival traditions 70 tins
ceremony Of trail hitting IN the Iaber-
uacle. The means. the frenzied halle
luiahs that accompanied repentant sim
uers TO the mOurners' bench IN other
DAYS had no place in last nights pro
= cession. a few came on with serious
mien, but the faces Of most OF them
were wreathed in smiles that seemed to
reflect the friendly grin on the face OF
the agile evangelist.
Twenty thousand persons were in the
han-like structure last night when
Billy issued his call. Among that num-
her we're delegations of girls from the
Colgate factories, men from the Metro
politan Bank. from the Biddle Piano
Company, New York Edison Company,
American Bridge Company, and more
girls from the Epworth League of the
Central Methodist Church Of Yonkers.
Homer Rodeheaver had called for
them group by group before he pre-
pared the way for Sundays call with
singing by his great chorus. lie had
asked each group TO stand and name
Its favorite song, and It was done.
Later, when the evangelist sounded has
call TO the trail the groups came for
ward in the same willing fashion.
God has been waiting for some OF
YOU thirty, forty, fifty, sixty years
said Billy. And you haven't come.
God cares. the Christian cares, / care.
Do Won think I would stand up here
and work as hard as | do if l didn't
care? Every board, every nail, every
light in this Tabernacle Is an evidence
that people care and want 70 see you
saved.
Remember Americanism
ooh God. that anybody has 70 work
so hard TO get men away from the
devil. Help US forget, Jesus, that We're
Republicans, Democrats, Prohibiuonl--
lists; let us remember that We're all
Americans and say: Jesus. we'll help
YOU and fight for YOU against any In
fuence that hurts humanity And say,
Lord. aren't YOU proud Of New York"
American Wooden men, won't you
lead the way.' he pleaded. Come on,
Colgate girls. insurance men. What's
this crowd here. ROdey9 Who'll come
and give me their hand? Who'll lead
the way and say, Here's my hand for
God and Christ -"
The audience hcayed and surged for
ward in cumps and blocks, finally
forming 300 two lines that met IN front
90 Sunday and were as quickly parted
by two ushcrs whose business II ~ 10
sec that no zcalot puts undue pressure
upon the rcyivaist's hard worked
hands They came on slowly and
steadily. laughing and frankly staring
20 the 1.-the man who grined at them
from his box IN the rOstrum.
Three very young girls from the Col
gate group were among the first They
came forward. tittcring a little, and
after the swift hand clasp found seats
IN the front row, where they were
Joined by other young girls and flushed
Young men. Delegations of older men
followed them, and presently the evan
Cclist was rolling from side 90 side with
an easy mechanical swing, grasping a
hand at the right and a hand at the left
Smiles with Gladness
"Thankce." was his simple greeting
20 most OF them. but always 10 was en-
r'chcd and supplemented by his IA
nous smile BiIly's smile is as great a
factor in his work as Rodey's musical
direction; many "a phrase that sounds
vulgar IN print is harmless enough IN
actuality. because It passes through
the disinfecting process Of "a boyish
grim.
In the absence OF any strong display
Of emotions on the part Of the hun
dreds that hit the trail, il did not seem
unreasonable 20 believe that the smile
was the force that drew some OF them.
u was the smile that held their eyes.
that was reflected IN their own faces.
that they turned 20 look at after they
had passed in the line.
BE smiles when he attacks the devil.
u a-NN L 4
that some Of them would spit in the
face Of Jesus Christ just 70 keep their
names on the calling list Of some old
double-chinned dame" He smiles
whenever nc gets a chance, does Sun
day. and II a personal smile was what
some Of the trail hittcrs sought as
reward, they were not disappointed
Compares Church and Nation
Sunday patriotic interpretations are
always apphuded. and he frequently
draws a parallel between the Church
and the nation al war. Such remarks
come with snap and suddenness that
is sometimes plSsing when he is keep
ing a thumb and am eye on the little
loose leaf book of sermons on his
green baize pulpit
ar the people OF the United States"
he snapped out yesterday afternoon,
did no more 40 the call Of their coun-
Try than the so-called Christians do at
the call Of Christ. even Portugal could
whip US" Then he dropped back 10
the routine sermon. but not before a
ripple Of applause had gone through
the Tabernacle. The evangelist was
kEsatly pleased when he heard that
0Ag way Of the trail for william I'd
ward Kelsey OF Tompkipsville. had led
straight from the Tabernacle TO the