The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-25
WHAT magnet
DRAWS CROWD
TO HEAR BILLY
Earnest Desire to Reform, In
terest in Man Himself, Man
nerism of Evangelist, Are
Few Reasons.
SERMONS GRIP MIND


Sunday?
regulars" Ike, and those who hear
him for the first time, find interest
ing?
Steadily during the last week the
crowds at the tabernacle have been
increasing, the absolute indication
that there is something in the man
which appeals, that makes men go
again, that attracts new faces to the
white pins building.
Is it curiosity?
During the first few days of the
campaign, it was the common note
on the streets to hear that a man
was going to the tabernacle TO hear
the man that had been so greatly
heralded everywhere
Interest Grows
Curiosity is still factor, the great
er the number of people who have
heard Billy Sunday, and have told
about his actions, the greater the num-
Der of persons, who are stirred by the
same desire to see this man that has
been SO talked about
Is it a desire to go because he has
appealed to some one else?
CuIlOuS duulclCc 10 IlOl IhICl CSJ-
ed and enthusiastic at the beginning
OF the meeting. As the week has
passed, the applause with which Mr..
Rodeheaver and Rev. Sunday have
been greeted as they came to the plat
form, has grown in volume, and spon-
taneity.
Because of the change in person
mel of the crowd and the steady
growth, there can be but one conclus-
ion, Billy Sunday is making his aud
fence grow because they are inter
ested in him, because they have been
interested by someone else.
What individuals Say
What then is the attitude of the
individuals who are coming to hear
the great evangelist?
81 belong to a Sunday school class
in a church that is not cooperating
in the campaign, but last Sunday
nearly every man in the class said
he was going to hear him. They have
gotten interested" one man told an
other in down town store.
HE is a riddle to me-" declared
one man, who would not give his name,
but he gets the people and he does
a lot of good. AS l go about town
l hear what the people say"
Hes putting it over" said another
who daily is in touch with large
number of people
Have Definite Aim
But If some people go because the
others are interested, there are scores
that go because they have definite
aims.
Some are interested In his humor
Several high school boys were telling
about the meeting after the student
night.
Hes a scream" declared one boy
enthusiastically. Cant he tell the
funniest stories
A glance over the audience height.
ems the opinion that his humor is a
strong drawing card. A strong-faced
man, with trace of the business man
about him, but evidently more liable
to be in a vaudeville house than a
church, takes a seat near the front
When he gets settled on his wooden
bench, he begins to look around, and
prepare himself for the laughs that
he expects are coming later
Becomes Serious
That same man may be looking
mighty serious before the end of the
sermon. but he has evidently come
because he wanted to be amused
Along the same line runs the appeal
of Mr.. Sundays mannerisms
And it is not the youngsters, either
that seem to enjoy his expressive man
ners
He sure does slide around that
platform" was the comment Of one
man who had been at two meetings
also l am going again." he said, and
added as an afterthought, 81 believe
he is sincere, and you can bet he tells
the truth, even if you don't like IT.
His poses on the platform had me
distressed at first" said one woman
y but after l had seen him twice they
became so much part of him, that
don't believe his sermons would move
me, If he did not make a lot of mo
lions"
'Oh, you're the reporter, aren't you,
she suddenly exclaimed, Now really
.-ou mustn't quote me, that is just my
opinion"
Action Appeals
Il really enjoy the physical effor
that he puts in his sermons" said
business man. in his down town store
these men who cannot think withou
translating his thoughts into action.
lit makes me think that he is one o
Pinned down TO whether his phys
ical antics had anything to do with thu
appeal of his sermons. most of thes,
questioned. at first would attempt Il
draw line between the effect of tn,
sermon, and the amusement afforded
Still, they seem to go in so vel
with his sermons. | think they coul,
not be separated" they would fin
ally say.
Duty Calls Them
Eliminating the numbers that wen
because they wanted to be amused
there were a much larger number VIII
went because they thought it thei
duty. 1t was easy enough to spo
them in the audience and by thei
conversation afterward.
81 think any good thing should hav
the support of the city" said one MAJ
at an afternoon meeting 81 may no
agree with Mr.. Sunday. but l want t
see him go over the top
And then a little questioning bring
out the fact that a big bulk of tn
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