New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-20
Billy Sways Great Throng
with Sermon as Special
lists Confer
1858 Hit the Trail
Evangelist Brings Smiles to
His Lips as He Amuses
10000 School Children

While Billy Sunday was swayins inc
largest crowd he has addressed sihee
the opening Of his New York Taper
nscle. a conference Of physicians DC
e;ded that an immediate operation upon
hi. wife. ana" Sunday, would be neceS-
sary 70 save her life.
Mrs. Sunday was Immediately re-
r,oved 70 the Audubon Sanatorium, at
: st. Nicholas Place, where arrange
ments for the operation were mace
Five minutes after leaving the last OF
the 1.2ss penitents who hit the trail at
the evening meeting Mr.. Sunday was
at his wife's bedside. twisting his I'm
gers and moving his lips in silent
PRAYER in a manner that has become
familiar to all those who have seen him
in action upon the platform.
Earlier in the DAY, while specialists
from Baltimore were conferring Win
local physicians concerning the con
dition of Mrs. Sunday. the evangells,
smiled and told stories 10 10000 chil-
dren who had gathered for his special
afternoon meetings. But the laughter
applause and songs of the childish
voices were insufficient TO drag the
cvangelist's thoughts away from the
bedside of his wife.
Specialist from Baltimore
MA" Sunday. who has taken almost
as active a part in the Tabernacle ser
vices as has her husband, was absent
from her accustomed place Just behlnd
the speakers platform Friday after
noon. Friday night a clergyman VINO
led in prayer announced for the hrst
time that she was seriously Ill. and
asked that prayers be offered up for
her quick recovery.
Her condition grew steadily more
serious. with the result that DR.: how
ard Kelly, of Johns Hopkins Unlver-
sity, was summoned here from BAIT
mo c. He conferred with DR.. James ].
pagett and two other physicians VINO
hal been in attendance Immediately
after his arrival here. The second con-
ference. at which the decision 1or an
immediate operation was reacned' lol-
lowed.
In her most serious illness the prog
ross % her husbands evangehstc ell
forts was her first and only concern
She insisted that ms meetings go on
a. usual. and il was due 10 her IN
aistence that Billy laughed and en-
dcayored 10 entertain the children VINO
With their parents. crowded the Taber-
nacle in the afternoon.
Billy Forces Smile
Long before 1880 o'clock last night
the pine walls Of the Tabernacle fairy
bulged with the greatest throng that
ever taxed its seemingly unlimited ca
pscitv. Although il normally seats
10000 10 81 600 it was estimated tnat
no, fewer than $4,000 persons were
under the roof when MIR. Sunday began
MS second sermon on "The Second
Coming of Christ" Between 5000 ana
1000 were turned away or stood aoou!
open windows and doors in the nope OF
catching fragments of the sermon
When MIR. Sunday started his sermon
he grasped the rostrum, bTaced nm
self and smiled down upon his audience
IN what was a fair imitation OF the
cvsngelist's all-inclusive smile. But 10
those who watched him closely II was
not necessary to ask the condition OF
his wife. During the pauses he slumped
down. and the lines about his eyes told
Of his last two slespless nights.
His evening sermon was repetition
Of his sermon of Friday night on the
same subject. repeated because of the
numerous demands of those who were
unable to hear il the first time. APP
parently it was preached with all the
ire and physical energy that had char
acterzed il on the previous night.
With the first invitation for trail
hitters a squad OF blue jacketed sailors
leaped into line and led the procession
10 the rostrum. The evangelist al
lady having leaned into the little box
Low his platform, began pumping
ms and continued to pump them for
'crc than half an hour.