New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-20
God Bless You,' Billy Tells
First Trail HIitter-Choir
Sings as Bluejackets File
to Altar; Workers Amazed
at Response

When Billy Sunday reached out his
hands TO greet the first Of the 100
converts who stormed the Tabernacle
70 hit the trail last night they were
graspcd by Franklin Van Zelm, a
middle-aged man from New Rochelle.
who has been one of the most inter-
ested attendants at the revival services.
you've done wonders for me.
You've'-- began Van Zelm.
"And you're the first New York con-
vert. God bless YOU" said Billy.
He would have said more, but there
was an army Of men and women on all
sides of him clamoring for an oppor-
tunity to get at him. Mrs. II. b. Car
penter. Of Poughkcepsie, who never
before had belonged TO my church, wa5
the second trail-hitte: ,
A close third was a negro. who had
punctuated the evenings sermon with
shouts of approval at every verbal as
sault upon the devil His haste to ge:
TO the altar was so great that he could
scarcely be restrained while those
about him were being formed IN line.
One of the sheepish men who was
well forward in the line was IurklSh
bath rubber. who told the evangelist
that he had struggled against the IN
chnation to answer his appeal, DuI
found it impossible to do IT.
Couldn't Hold Back
II lust couldn't hold back after you
said the word" he said.
But the JOY OF the evangelist was
greatest when delegation of seven
bluejackets filed forward and. with
military precision. came TO matt De,
fore him. Billy leaned forward and
patted each man upon the back.
ppm glad TO see YOU. I'm always
clad to see Uncle Sans boys volun-
teering TO do Christ's work. he sald.
81 want to see each one Of you again
when can talk to you"
Meanwhile the choir Of 1900 volces
began 20 sing when the Roll is
Called Up Yonder.' The thousands wa)
were standing about the Tabernacle
watching the spectacle in the front
of the house took up the chorus, and
even some of those in line joined IN.
MA" Sunday, who had been the most
interested watcher as the stampede
Tor the sawdust trail began. then hur-
ried down from her seat behind the
evangelsts platform and took charge
Of the army OF secretaries and MINIS
tiers who were engaged IN the task oil
taking names and addresses.
Cards with blanks for names, ad-
dresses and church preferences were
placed in the hands OF each convert a.
a. 10
seats. which are fanked on either side
by sawdust trails.
The magnitude OF the movement
started with the evangelist's personal
nlea was not realized until this middle
section began 20 fill up while the lines
continued TO form and move forward IN
a seemingly endless stream. There was
space for l20 persons in each row OF
seats. When the first ten rows mad
been filled. making a total Of 200 con-
verts. member OF the sunday stan
who had been participant IN otner
.irst nights eXcitedly called attention
10 il.
More Than Boston
"Why. that's more than we had In
Boston. and Boston was the biggest
thing we'd ever seen" he said. And
look! They're still coming
The one outstanding tact about last
nights trail hitting MAS tnat II was d
happy religious movement. AS Tar a.
could be seen, not a tear was sned. Men
and women came forward smiling. and
IN many cases. went away laughing.
But the light-heartedness OF the con.
verts was not accepted By the church
workers present as evidence OF super
fcial religion. They insisted that there
was every evidence that the new con-
verts would be among the most earnest
workers Of the remainder OF the three
months campaign against New YORK
City's sins.
The four trails were still emptylng
long lines Of converts into the small
cpen snacc before the rostrum, when
Ma" Sunday took hand In things
End insisted that Billy accompany her
10 his waiting automobile. \ chaui-
feur threw a long overcoat over him,
wrapped rug about him and ne was
lwhiskea away to the Northern Avenue
house tina. is his temporary home IN
New York.
"Broken Down Affairs" was the sub
ject chosen h. Sunday last night for
! lis sermon. Taking MS text from that