Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-12

country strides into the midst
week to sound a power-packed c
Billy Graham, a rowing pre-
tudes with his message in ham
is opening his drive to rouse the
giant of them all.
s'New York" he says. lis our
Jerusalem"
For three months now. Mr..
Graham has been in semiseclu-
sion at his mountainside home
near Montreal. N. c.. blowing
his garden. shearing sheep,
planting grassland studying
and praying for his keenest test.
Stars Wednesday Night
All through the period of Mr..
Graha1n's personal preparation,
and for two years before. a pow
erftl array of religious forces
has been gathering here and
elsewhere to lend backing to the
crusade.
It begins next Wednesday
night in the 18.000-seat arena
of Madison Square Garden. and
will continue nightly for at least
six weeks.
There are millions of people
praying for New York and 1
think the impact will be felt"
said Mr.. Graham today as he
stepped off train from WASH
ineton with his, wife and asso-
ciateS.
Human nature is the same
everywhere. New York is mile for
mile and block for block about
the same as any city"
Asked whether he felt his
evangelistic campaign here would
affect the city's crime rate, Mr..
Graham replied:
I'm not sure. 1t usually does.
New York is a big city. If any
thing is done the Lord will have
to do it,"
Dependence on God"
In confronting New York, Mr..
Graham said he does so with
trepidations at his own "inade-
quacies and lack of ability" but
with complete dependence on
God"
ct is our hope" he said in =
recent interview that the cru
SADIE will revive the churches
with new energies. that it will
bring the secret disciples out of
their hiding places. making them
like a mighty army, thinking
and discussing religion"
In brief. he said. he hopes to
make the metropolitan millions
God conscious"
An imposing amount of human
effort is going into the under
taking.
More than $500 of New York's
Protestant churches have pitched
in to supply 1000 singers Q,5OO
nightly, $500 ushers $500 a
night. and 1000 counselors.
trained over a nine-week period.
And at this moment, as Mr..
Graham has urged. New York is
probably "the most prayed-for
spot on the face of the earth"
2 Million Praying
More than 5000 prayer
groups" Q,500 of them in Al for
eign Countries including alto
gether about Q million people,
have sent word they are meeting
regularly to pray for the success
Of the crusade.
Religiously. New York presents
a special challenge to the Profess
tant evangelist.
The city is only IS per cent
Protestant. It's about As per cent
Roman Catholic, Is per cent
Jewish and 5 per cent Eastern
Orthodox. OF this total in re-
ligious background. only about
AZ per cent are active in any
church.
Several Catholic Spokesman, in
mingled criticism and praise of
Mr.. Graham, have emphasized |
that their church disapproves
members attending such Profess
tant-type services. but concede
many Of them probably will at
tend, anyhow.
Jewish leaders have expressed
no objection TO members attend
ing the services. although Rabbi
William F. Rosenblum of Temple
Israel says he doubts any zap
probable number" of Jews will
be swayed to Christian doctrine.
Seen Help to All
The Rev. DR.. Julius Mark,
rabbi Of Temple Emanuel, said
he felt Mr.. Graham's crusade |
will be "a help to us all"-Jews
and Christians.
I'm sure that what he is doing
is for the benefit Of religion in
general and all religious groups
will. ! believe, be STRENGTHENED
as a result Of his labors, he said.
DR.. Hampton Adams of Park