Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-18
BILLY SUNDAY IS SORRY
HE MUST LEAVE NEW YORK
Rccord-Breaking Crowd Packs Great
Tabernacle for Farewell
Meeting.
FREE-w1LL GIFT OF $4,000
Announcement Made That, Altogeth-
er, OS,2O4 Persons Hit Sawdust
Trail md Consecrate Themselves
to Better Lives.

NEW YORK. June 17.-Billy Sunday
preached his last sermon in New York
Tonight. and New York did Justice to
jammed tho now historic tabernacle
on Washington Heights was the great
est on record for tho ten weeks cam
paign for the cleansing OF this wicked
old town. and the evangelist was in q
mood Of supreme happiness. He leaves
the metropolis tomorrow morning. and
told reporters that he hates to lear
himself away
BILLY" TO get down to cold figures.
has much cause TO be Gratiied yer the
results OF his efforts.
announcement was made tonight
that altogether 9S.264 persons had hit
the sawdust trail at his request, and
consecrated themselves 10 better lives.
Three scrmons-onc thrown in for
good measure-wcre delivered to tho
record audiences to-day. and it is esti-
mate that 10000 persons heard and
witnessed the last days efforts Of the
Cavalier Of the Cross.
The trail hitters to-day numbered
7.22S. This was another OF the records
smashed. A third was the contribu-
ton rccord Thirty-threc hundred and
twcnty-six trail hitters came forward
at night.
All during the afternoon and early
evening the subway, surface cars and
BUSES were taxed TO capacity with
those bent on storming the taber-
nacle. Those planning to hear Billy
at night stood in the hot sun for hours.
EXPENSES PARTLY DEFRAfED
BY PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTIONS
The expenses of the campaign. It was
stated tonight, have been entirely met.
These amounted to 100000. partly de-
fraycd by private subscriptions.
New York poured into the free
will offering more than $4,000 to be
given to Mr.. Sunday. and he. in turn,
will donate all his 10 the American
Red Cross and the army aud navy work
OF the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation.
Boston was put to blush by Gotham.
both I'm the matter of trail hitters and
collections. Boston had 4S,903 who
profcsscd convcrsion-thc largest pre-
vious cumberland her collections were
exceeded here by more than $50, 600.
Then again the amount piled up by
New York may be augmented con-
siderabiy by the contents Of envelopes
yet to be opened.
Billy" shook with emotion. shut his
eyes tight in prayer, and bowed his
head as he uttered his farewell.
oh. Jesus. thank YOU tho evangc-
list cried. Thank You for Your plan
OF redemption, for Your salvation,
which / have been the poor medium TO
express. have so dreaded this. to
pray for the last time here. but, Jesus.
] am thankful for what You have done.
My poor words cannot express the
glory due to You for this manifesto
ton of Your powers which has made
the devil mutter.
Thank You. Jesus Christ, for this
great throns. for the men Of thc navy
yard. the shops. stores. black and white.
native-born and ilii,erate. thai have
pressed down to Broadway to this
tabernacle"
SUNDAY RISES TO
OtATOItIAL HEIGHTS
BILLY" rose to great oratorical
heights as he continued his prayerful
ieavetaking. and then when he called
upon his auditors TO manifest their
belief in the Almighty. the 3.3oG came
vi lllS
aggregate OF which surpassed any
nights trail-hitting yet recorded. When
the last man had reached UP and grasp
ed the hand Of the whirlwind preach
or. the record of oS.o64 had been estab-
lished.
John D. Rockefeller. Jr.. was cnthu-
siastic to-day over the results Of Sun
days campaign. but warned that 1--WE
! n111Cy Faalizn tt~1r ~ -.
have made"
This" he added, would he done by
following up what tho evangelist has
done. am glad TO say that plans
have already been completed for this
foliow.un. We shall take advantage
OF the relationships that have been
formed for the interest that has bean
awakened"
Mr.. Rockefeller announced that he
forcsecs the triumphs Of prohibition
in the United States. and declared
Billy" had aided the movement con
s~iderably.
During his ten weeks stay i'm New
York. billy Sunday has preached 1871
sermons in the Tabernacle. ApproXi.
mately 100000 persons have listened
10 him. Out Of the number of trail.
hitters. about 5000 have signed cards
YIN iHcIE HdHleS. addresses, CnuTCI
preferences and other material designed
TO aid the Sunday committed in turning
them over to churches suited to them
and so sealing the pact between thu
church and convert.
GREAT DIVERGENCE
IN OPINION OVER HIH
No man in years has caused the di
vergencc in opinion produced by Sun
days peculiar preaching. Minister:
and laYmcn have We'd in upholdinl
and attacking both the man and hi
spectacular methods. AT the outsc
the city was inclined to be skeptica
of the sincerity and worth OF 4 re
ligious crusade by a baseball evangelis'
with circus methods. They were ever
more skepticai that the city Toulc
accept Sunday with any degree Of
seriousness
But Sunday and his methods have
won. Though there arc Still skeptic:
and critics, tho city as II whole has
takcn him for a man Of worth. and ha: