New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-21
Majority of Converts Said
To Be Strangers to Re
ligion and Churches
Dock Laborer Among
First at Platform
Get Acquainted with Your
Neighbor," Billy's New
Slogan for Hearers

Billy DuWudeF
New York's churches, made seeohu
call for volunteers last night, and l'ooo
men and women hit the sawdust trail
Sailors, lawyers, scrubwomen, stehog-
yaphers and representatives OF aS
widely separated walks in life as New
York City could produce were IN the
sprging lines Of converts who re-
sponded TO the evangelists summons.
Like the first nights throngs' the
faces that looked up at the perspiring
Billy. as he pumped his arms back ano
forth in greeting, were happy. There
was a sprinkling Of tesr-stsined eyes,
boweyer. that recalled the revivals OF a
generation ago.
Last nights demonstration, unlike
The first night at which trail hitters
we're called 70 the rostrum, was de-
clared TO be absolutely unorganized'
The great majority of the converts
were men and women who had had no
previous experience with churches OF
religion. Many Of those Of Thursday
evenings procession in the Tabernacle
we're Bible students who had had many
days and weeks of preparation for their
summons.
Dock Laborer Among First
Among the very first to reach Billy
Sunday and grasp his hand last night
was a dock laborer, who, clad in a dark
shirt and corduroy trousers and still
bearing evidences of the days work
upon his hands and face, pleaded TO be
allowed to join the converts.
you've made me, oh, so happy,
Billy" he said LET me shake your
hand"
The evangelist grinned as his hand
was clasped in bone-crushing squeeze.
He responded in kind with an equally
enthusiastic blow upon the back of the
convert.
There was more of the old-fashioned,
eynnastic. word-reckless Billy Sunday
last night than there has been since
his coming to New York. There was
not the slightest suggestion OF the
mincing Of words in the course OF ms
sermon; and when describing the
indignities heaped upon Christ by the
soldiers who crucifed Him he leaned
back and spat so vigorously upon the
platform as to make those seated close
TO its base start in their seats.
He also made the first direct reply
10 those who have accused him Of vul
garity and sensatioualism in the pulpit
since his arrival here.
Billy Sundays Def
Eyes, some people say I'm 'vulgah','
he said, pickering up his mouth in imi..
tation of a society smirk. THE girl
who crawled out Of the quagmire Of
the city's filth, with tears of happiness
racing down her cheeks-she don't
think I'm vulgar.
"Some people say I'm sensational.
Could anything be more sensational
than IL some of you down there would
forsake sin?"
He hammered home the question
h with a resounding blow upon the new
pine BOX that serves as rostrum' and
threw out his arms with a flourish that
sent great beads Of Precipitation flying
through the air.
at isn't simply good preaching that
this old city needs" he continued. III
Just good preaching was all that was
required everybody in New York would
have been in heaven long ago. What
you need is something else-some
mighty plain talking, not preaching.
"When you people here object TO re-
vivals and oppose them you are strik-
ing AT Christ himself. II we're a min
lister and didn't believe in revivsls I'd
resign from my pulpit and go home"
lie compared New York's apartment
house jewellers 10 cliff dwellers, and
said that a man was as little acquainted
and almost as great mystery TO his
neighbor Of to-day as the cliff dweller's
life and activities were to us.
Gives New Slogan
am going TO give you new slogan"
he shouted. Listen TO this: Get &C
ouainted with your neighbor. You
might like him | hope you'll follow
that up and make some new friends
close 10 your home"
He led up TO his nights appeal for
trail hitters by reference TO the coun-
try's militt-y needs. although he did
not again ask for volunteers for the
army and navy, as he did earlier IN his
meetings here.
ave are in the midst OF great
crisis" he said. "This is probably the
greatest crisis in history. Democracy
the nation, even your very homes are
whether we arc 20 wear the collar OF
Imperialism or be our own rulers. We
must fight the fight TO victory.
and we've reached another crisis
right here and now. | can put my
ear 70 the ground and hear the hordes
coming 70 Christ. hear them COM
ing. coming. coming.
owe been sent here TO New York
as a recruiting officer TO enlist you
for Christ. Are you going 10 volun-
teer? Are you ready 10 fight for the
right How many Of you are ready
tonight, this minute, 10 come for
ward and say that you want 70 be
Christian, 10 live right from tonight
cn3"
He paused a moment, then sprang
upon a chair, and swayed to and fro
as he waved his arms out in a char
neteristic invitation 10 those who nc
hoped would come forward.
Everybody who is willing 20 help
IN this great fight please stand up
and show that they are prepared 20
do their share" he said.
Every man and woman Of the 10000
In the Tabernacle arose.
"Now, ] want those of you who are
silling 20 come 70 Christ tonight TO
come forward. give ne your hand and
asy go" he continued.
Ushers and personal workers sooL
we're in readiness 10 escort the trail
hitters forward. But there was a
pause among the men and women,
many Of whom were in the pine board
structure for the first time-some at
= religious service for the first time
In their liyes--as they watched for
others 60 start the movement