The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-30
EVANGELIST THACKER BARS APPEAL TO THE EMOTIONS
 IN HIS REVIVAL SERVICES
Our Meetings Make Plea to the Reason Conscience Judgment " Leader of Union Rally at the Southside
 Church Tells Dolly Dalrymple
By DOLLY pALRYMpLE

/, all over the south; his success has beer
 phenomenal and what is better-the re suits lasting.
 1 Dr. Thacker Is also man of higf scholarship and literary attainments an6 l has the sincere cooperation of a talented | wife-herself an author of distinction and sister of Dr. Thomas Dixon, tht | well-known author. Mrs. Thacker's story | The Strength of the Weak" was al the time of its publication several years ago, one of the "six best sellers" and of other popular novels. She expects tt join pr. Thacker here, arriving in time to conduct meeting for women on Sunday, October T.
 pr. Thacker, continuing his remarks relative to the union meetings which are being held in the mornings at the High lands Methodist church and in the eve
 nings at the Southside Baptist church until October F, said:
 What we are aiming at and what we i.purpose in these meetings Is that the
 heart and conscience of men and women should be on the side of Jesus Christ. While 1 do not decry the methods of
 the travelling evangelist-or professional
 evangelist as the term may beat the
 same time our plan of conducting our
 reVlvals is not by asking people to do
 unusual and conspicuous things We do
 not ask people to arise in the meetings
 and make a profession of faith We do
 not ask them to come forward and shake
 hands with the ministers protesting their
 faith; but we have card system which
 l thinks relieves many timid people of embarrassment We hand to the mem-
 bers of our congregations Just before the sermon a card which is threefold in its expression for, after all, evangelism is
 threefold in it's scope. First our cards hot p1oc oF tr+ia who want to become more consecrated; second, the reconsecration of the back slider, and third, the salvation of the unbeliever. We simply ask that these cards be signed and sent back after the services; there is nothing sensational to be sure. in that, and yet it accomplishes the purpose. We earnestly request that these cards be not signed unless there is true earnestness Of purpose and a thorough sincerity in the deed'
 All churches now and then need a revival-a shaking up as it were" pr. Thacker continued. "All nature has it's seasons-the season of sowing and the identical in this respect; every sower e,s- poets to reap and the minister, sowing the seed of the gospel, hopes to reap harvest full and ripe-a harvest re- founding to the good of the church and its precepts
 Il am QollSlIeO to Know or the GuOrt that Is being made in Birmingham said Dr. Thacker, to secure the services of the Rev. Billy Sunday for an evangel- istic campaign. I regard him as not only the biggest religious sensation in the country today, but a great spiritual force. He will reach the nonchurch peo- pie as no other man can reach them, and at the same time he will inspire the churches and unite Christian forces. Birmingham, like many other cities Billy Sunday has visited, will be a better city and more God-fearing and Christ-loving city because of a Billy Sunday cam paign.'
 Recalling two previous visits to Bir- mingham some years ago. pr. Thacker touched upon the wonderful growth of the town and among other things said
 Tt was my pleasure to be in Birming- ham, holding evangelistic services in April, 1910, and again in May, 1912. Bir- mingham was a great city then, but has had wonderful growth since then. They tell me you have outgrown Atlanta. Tre- victory that, over a worthy rival. The stores are larger and more beautiful; hotels more numerous, com modious and attractive; the great natural more thoroughly developed, There Is every evidence or great progress In commerce and finance. There are very few southern cities that can boast of