The Washington herald., 1918-03-04

hdS SOuC ONCI INC Top lot NnTlS
Freewih Offering.
Billy was given his "freewill"
Offering of $1S,332S2, and he will
leave the Capital this afternoon for
Baltimore, where he is scheduled to
make an address. Then he will hike
to his home in Winona Lake, Ind,
where he will remain a week be-
fore his great Chicago campaign
that will begin officially next Sun
day morning.
Ma" Sunday and all of the mem
bers OF the party with the excep-
tion Of George A. Brewster, pianist,
left shortly after midnight for their
respective homes. Brewster will re-
main over and Rody will come back
for the big choir concert at the
Tabernacle next Wednesday night.
The climax of the revival session
was fitting wind-up to the most
strenuous and most productive
evangelistic campaign ever held in
Washington. Nearly 1900 persons
pushed their way into the big build
ing for the final meeting and on the
outside, unable to get anywhere
near the pine doors were about
5000 others, most of whom remain
ed grouped about the building un-
til the close of the service. Many
of them climbed to the roof of the
Tabernacle for a glimpse inside and
others pushed their ears to the
cracks and crevices in the building
and strained to hear whatever they
could of the sermon.
In Good Form.
Billy preached in his usual good
form. He put every ounce of his
strength into the talk and at the fin
ish was physically "all in" At the
invitation crowds left their seats and
walked the sawdust aisles for the last
time. Before Billy got back to the
platform out of the "pit" into which
he always jumped to shake the hands
Of the "trial-hitters," ae least 1900
men and women had come "up front"
and had shaken his hands as evidence
Of their desire to accept Christianity.
1t was the greatest night for trial
hitters" in the history of the cam
paign. During the eight weeks of the
revival approximately 1S,S3S men and
women, boys and girls, walked the
sawdust and professed Christianity.
This record compares we'll with other
cities Of Washington's size, although
1t is by no means a record-breaker.
Except for the final week OF the meet
ings 1t has been strenuous WORK for
Billy to induce Tabernacle visitors to
hit the trial" Frequently he has is
sued as many as six and eight appeals
at a single service before he has been
able to start the procession down the
aisles.
There was genuine regret at the
Tabernacle when it came time to say
good-by to the evangelist and his
party. Tears were in the eyes of
thousands Of men and women. The
great crowd ''hung on" until the very
last minute and hundreds stood out
side the big building to wave and
shout Godspeed to the evangelist.
Praises DR.. Ward.
Billy lined up the Is1tire Sunday
aggregation and introduced each of
its members to the great crowd. He
spoke encouragingly of the great
work done by each member of the
party. Particularly was he strong
in his praise for the services of DR..
Isaac Ward, his assistant, who quit
the party last night to assume the
pastorate Of the First Presbyterian
Church Of Boston.
The great choirs sang over and
over again the refrain of God Be
With You TIL We Meet Again"
Ushers, secretaries and doorkeepers
lined up before the platform for q