The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-09
Evangelist Wins Great New
York ThrOngs at Start
of Campaign.
PATRIOTISM ROUSES ALL
Multitude Brought to Feet
Cheering by Burning Plea
for Loyalty to U. s.

Billy Sunday renounced q fortune OF
075, 900 yesterday to back his belief that
he will be on top when his three months
aght with Demon Rum here in New
York is over Even II the Demon doesn't
accept the challenge. doesn't put up
dollar, Billy will give up that amount
or nOre TO prove his sincerity In cam
paigning against the liquor traffic.
Opening his evangelistic campaign
yesterday afternoon and last night in
the Tabernacle at Broadway and 1Ssth
street, where 10000 persons gathered at
the two meetings. Billy pledged himself
to divide between the American Red
Cross and the Y. VI. c. A. whatever free
will Offering he may receive on the last
day Of his campaign-renounced for-
tune as challenge to- the liquor tramc
and to convince doubters that he Is out
10 beat the devil, not to get rich. Mem
bers of the evangelstic committee were
pretty sure that Billy might nave
counted on adding $4,000 at the least
% his personal bank account.
The challenge and remuneration were
wildly cheered by the vast congregations
that had heard him preach old fashioned
religion with its personal devil ana hell
fire punishment for sin. heard MIN ex-
coriate siothful and selfish church mem-
bers. heard him sound q trumpet call OF
patriotism as he swung an American
flag. beat time to THE Star Spansied
Banner and read an epitaph for Prus-
sian nilitarism. 1t was the Billy sun
day the crowds had anticipated, the Billy
they had been reading about for yeafs.
the Billy who kicked aside all niceties OF
speech or manner in his savage, primi-
tive zeal to find q short cut to the truth
~ he saw II.
Two Big MOmen
There were two big moments in his
campaign opening day in New York---one
when he exploded his wrath against
liquor makers and sellers. the other when
ne interpoated into his sermon a red
hot patriotic speech which ended with
Bly's most piercing yell:
Go to bed and sleep, Woodrow. we're
coming
1t was in the afternoon that he as
sailed and challenged the liquor trafiic
with all the passion that was In him.
Toward the close OF his first sermon he
found the smell of whiskey In his mind.
Up be went clear to the top of his read
ing stand, one foot thrust out, arms
swinging, face twisting convulsively.
You weasel eyed. black hearted gang
q thugs" he yelled. You're the worst
gang Of thugs that ever disgraced the
earth. You've tried for years to vilify
me and slander ME. You've tried to
bribe the newspapers and found them too
honest for you. You've lied and cheated
You've tried to ruin my campaign here.
But defy you. I've cost you 5000. .000..
900 and I'm going to cost you ten times
rs much before I'm through. I ask no
quarter from you, you dirty bunch. and
expect none. You say I'm out for
money. Well. listen to this. you mieer-
aole dogs. / pledge myself to divide
equally between the American Red Cross
and the Y. NJ. c. A. camps in the deld
with our soldiers whatever money Is Of
fered to me for my services in this New
York campaign. And I'll give an Item
lied account. I'll call your Nbluff. you
dirty degenerates. You can't spit on
me-"
You couldn't have heard a battery OF
three inch feic guns II they had let go
In the Tabernacle just after Billy wiped
his sweating face and skidded into a
chair. The 10000 simply got up and
roared II there had been any doubt as
TO the success Of the initial meeting. Sun.
days intensely dramatic challenge to
the liquor men would have swept that
doubt out into Broadway. From then
on he gripped his people. He had gained
the confidence he sought when he first
arose to face a New York crowd
Outburst of Patrioti.m
wac enuins ms evening sermon
Nnen ms tuinutuous ehouents began to
m.'. arouno tne Topic OF patriotism ana
~ 10 tne ei'eo e.ates' Up ne went
irNhi hA Il IL
a.. .u .he sea'e u"''' u oecame de-
.rI Siiteh.
a., ae d poor church memper' he