The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-27
METHODISTS
HELP TO FILL
TABERNACLE
More Than 1000 Members of
Denomination Attend Serv-
ice-l38 Converts Gained
During Day.
WEAR BLUE RIBBONS

Methodists stormed the tabernacle
Wednesday night, and constituting
over half of the audience of 5000 per-
sons.
In special delegations, wearing blue
ribbons with the word Methodist print
ed in red on them, they commenced to
arrive by Z o'clock. BY 7:30 o'clock
they occupied nearly all of the 1000
seats that had been reserved for them.
and late arrivals, or those who had
seats in other sections made up the
great number.
Even the subject . is Methodist"
said Rev. r. w. Stoakes, patsor of the
First Methodist church. before Rev.
Sunday began on his sermon on Back
sliders."
Hold On To Religion.
Religion is not a thing to change
it is thing to be entered into with
seriousness, and to never let CO." de-
clared Rev. Sunday.
Speaking on the effect of the revi-
walls, such as his, Sunday vented his
scorn on the man that will confess
that he has been a sinner. has prom
Used to lead new life, and then after
the ardor Of the campaign has cooled,
Robert E. Lee he declared, stood
for the things that were right, when
, he was penniless, and we honor him
for it. But oh, the man that says, I
suppose so Mr. Sunday. what you say
about me is so, but I'm only human
don't put the standard too high
Initiates Weakling.
Here Billy Sunday in weak nasal
voice, with droop to his shoulders,
gave an imitation Of the man who has
the weakness to cendone his sins in
| that fashion.
Then waging warm and furious, Sun
day struck at the man who is true to
his lodge, true to his wife, but forgets
| his God
| 81 respect the man who is living to
| the highest of his ideals, for all that |
may disagree with him, and want to
change his views, but / despise the
man that knows better and does not,
and will not repent.
FaithfuIness described
"The man that does not play true
to his God, is not sure that he is going
| to play true to his wife and family.
but the man that is always true to
God can never forget the rest"
At the close of the sermon 95 per
sons hit the "sawdust TRAIL" and
signed cards pledging themselves to
lead better and cleaner life. With
the 43 school children who had signed
pledge cards for Miss Kinney during
the afternoon, a. total of 1873 converts
were counted for the day. No call
was given at the afternoon services.
| Swinging into some comedy sketch
es, Mr.. Sunday gave an imitation of 4
family fight, with the you ares"
and the I'm nots" falling fast and
furious from his lips. Later he de-
picted an old reprobate who could chit
fly at 80 feet with his spit" Lean
ing over backwards he demonstrated
how it was done, as if his whole ser
mon depended on that one demonstra-
ton.
! Sin Is SexIess
Departing a moment from his main
theme, with laundering words he roar
ed, "The crying need of the twentieth
century is for the single standard.
"Sin is sexless-it is as bad for n
man to do anything as it is for a wo-
!. man"
\ "This is the age long conversation
j between man and woman" he declar-
!, ed. woman up here on her path that
+, God set out for her to follow" Sun
!; day pointed to a place well above his
head. MAN down here in path that
: he has made for himself" and Sur
day pointed down over the edge of the
: platform.
Peering down over the edge he took
the part of the woman. Where are
you going? Can l go along?"
/ Then looking up towards the roof,
Sunday answered for the man, NO,
/ you can not, you stay right there"
| "That has been the curse of all
t ages" Mr.. Sunday roared coming back
to his lesson, she has every right
7 that the man has, and yet he has
! forced her to follow one path while he
| has gone another"
: Asks for Converts
| Ending his sermon in a passionate
t appeal for the congregation to cine
} forward, and take his hand, in pledge
. that they would lead better lives. Mr.
Sunday declared, IF there is any de
? nomination that should come forwards
4 on an occasion like this, it is the
Methodist. There should be 500 Of
4 them come forward tonight and take
= my hand and renew their promises"
: For a moment there was no move
i ment, but gradually the trail hitter:
5 began to filter down the aisles, to
e wards the front. Standing on his plat
: form, all ready to drop down into hi:
e niche. Mr.. Sunday cried, Come OF
e you Methodist, show yourself for God
g Then while the chorus sang, Mr.
}. Sunday dropped into the little niche
to shake hands with the smiling PEG
pie that passed him. Once the ice wa
broken, the trail hitters increased II
4 -.
e seats and signed cards.
Il In his prayer to the small group
G Mr.. Sunday prayed for the conversion
of the members of the churches tina
would be at the tabernacle on tn,
\ following nights. "Oh Lord" he pray
II ed, Eve had hoped that there would b,
500 Methodists take my hand tonight
but we ask that those who have ma.
feel Thy power for good"