New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-16
Rousing Welcome
For "Ma" Sunday
In the Tabernacle
$4,000 Persons Acclaim
Her First Visit Since
Recent Illness

ana" Sunday made futile effort to
hide behind Billys shoulders as they
slipped through the doorway beneath
the choir platform and stepped into the
yellow glow of the Tabernacle lamps
last night. But everybody saw her.
II was her first visit to the Taber-
nacle since that day, four weeks ago,
when she was carried away to the hos
pital. "Ma" Sunday was in the hap
piest of moods. and the $4,000 people
crowded into the big wooden shed
caught the spirit Of her humor and
gave her a mighty welcome.
Six thousand men and women out
side the Tabernacle caught the rumble
Of the cheers and applause and re-
echoed it. And MA" Sunday, her tired
face the color Of the red carnation set
against the purple of her dress, had to
step up to the pulpit to acknowledge
Her voice wavered and her eyes
glistened as she peered through the
white rays Of Billy's pulpit lamp at the
people before her.
"If I'm able 70 say anything tonight
itll be only that I'm grateful to God
TO be back in this dear old Tabernacle
and look once more into the faces OF
thousands of my friends" And then
Billy led her back to her seat on the
platform.
Mrs. Sundays presence in the Taber-
nacle seemed to revivify Billy. and ms
sermon had all the snap and ginger
that marked his early appearances
He started his sermon and then d.
please don't pay any attention to
those who may faint about you. l
know it's hot here, and | expect people
TO get i'll. But don't break your necks
looking at them" Billy swung into
his text. Just then ushefs carried out
a woman and the crowd hdgeted. ,
"Now, I told you ! wouldn't pre.a,,ch
If YOU rubber-necked.' called Bllly.
ar YOU can't look this way Just ge'
right I'D and get out. for there's thou-
sands outside waiting for your seat
Ard, gentlemen, if you get hot. take
vour coats off. I'll do the same.
4 minute later Billy whipped ms
coat off with husky aside TO TONER
Rodeheaver. his choir leader; Homer;
I'm wringing wet!" Then he rompeu
once more into his sermon.
"Are you afraid TO be Cnristiah
some peoplc won't take God INTO their
hearts because they are afraid itll cost
them money. That's what's the mat
ter with the saloonkeeper. the woman
Of the red light district and the man
who sticks a gun under your nose arc
YOU like them
sunday had things to say about de-
partment store proprietors VINO make
their salesgirls lie at bargain sales
"Cod will damn in the hottest hell
any merchant or shopkeeper VINO
makes his help lie and exaggerate
about the quality Of goods slipped owe,
his counter. And you're just as pad
off some of YOU here tonight.
see old mon in this shed. Some OF
YOU whiskoy- soaked old buck warts
haven't hair on your bald heads De-
tween YOU and perdtion. go,
ooh. don't think you can wait VI!
the day YOU die 20 take God. lou
fools don't know that the longer you
live the more the joys of this world
will tighten ard wi'her. your worth
less carcases.'
amt New York hungry for you Amt
Won staggered? Oh, the angels are
tuning M their harps, people" Then
trunpcting his hands: What are
Won grYmbling about, devil? Ito. he
YOU thought YOU mad a first mortgage
On New York. didn't you? You're
fooled. You're pale tonight. Your
old knees are a-shivering Hang 9
Grape on your nose. for you're dead
here tonight The angels are hover
ing over the Tabernacle and God is
smiling down on this ugly old shed
Come on people. come on"
There were / Sal converts last night,
making n days total OF 2,7i3 trail-hit-
ters. II was announced that the free
will Offering Mr.. Sunday is giving 10
tho Red Cross and the Army and Navy
& - 4 49,. L.. t-.-l srn con