AMERICA THROUGH COLONIAL SPECTACLES

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13329, 31 July 1915, Page 3

AMERICA THROUGH COLONIAL SPECTACLES

££*rf*!fc : '. .'•.'' '.'.' : '-''V ■ • '"'. '.'"'" •:.;:"■ Pl^The /.management^of "The;', North' ha*s;'cpricluded arrange mtlw the • Rev^Geprge. La%encc, ; who; lias .quite I;beoiii|y returned |f IpSycars In'sHio! IJnitetf'Staies, to coatriffilVbute a■ serious of raiticlcs dealing with shk'fionaV'-and /commercial'activities infSfHho Uliited^tatfes*' ■'■■ The first of the 0p Series discusses;/'Billy" Sunday, tub Igpf amoiis' U^;;;:,;-;.'..;: tBIILY'i^STOPAY |S;;v;';"" r , ■■ His Early Life p- ';:' To-day the United.States of America £• .is cipeiifiicing one of the most unique 's:':.' "Billyh Sunday, 'the veritable llame • ■■■■; of ffi-e, is'.ciiusHig.'a conflagration of ■ ' righ'te.onsHi'ss that is illuminating every. Stiitc in the .Union. .' ■ twenty ; niueyearsago "Billy" ;;-,;,■'■ auTiuliyv'was a baseball star, playing ,'., for o)l« of the.Western States, and he |.' ; is reiiiefflbtjred as such by the baseball /V. ''fans" .of every' community; for :;; . " Billyv' *• eoUiit ■ cover the bases quicker S:.; than inos't men,' being light and agile sure-footed. But : "Billy" was play a.more important part j: ' : in the world 'than that of a baseball 'star. .-...".. , ,».,..- ;•;-■• | : "Billy" Sunday's Conversion §■;''•. Onoiiiglit, after a well-contested game of Isasebnli, young "Billy" Sunday wandered nqar.. a City Mission Hall, ;S;i ; .and there heard the familiar strains i*;-;-.- of a well-known hymn that his dear old iv';'; mother used to sing. He was aroused, |;£ ; and his retrospective glance was turned :.;;.' -to the old homestead with, its homely S:- surroundings. "Billy's", mother's : -A'oico to him from 'the living past. I-.: Tho yehrs were viewed one by one, aud ?■;.''".'Billy" realised for the first time in f'.'i Jiis life that his godly mother's iuilu.'ciice:had been .extended for naught U during the intervening years. He was ;:, thrilledv| j lie" was agitated, and tho .mcmc-iy of his mother's pleading pro- ■\. ( 'd.uced}sueh a compelling effec't. that re- ; ' pentant, "Bjily." rushed into the Mission Hall,'there and then giving himself up to 'his mother's God. "Billy" thus consecrated''his lift to the work of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. After this • wonderful changing experience, "Billy" neither, ate nor drank, for days, as he struggled with his innermost feelings. He kriew that his first duty waslo tell the story of. the-change to the men with whom he played baseball. But "Billy" Won a glorious victory. His companions came on'c by one and con-' grutulatciV hini iipon his great resolve, This was tlnr beginning'of a. remarkable career. ..... "Billy's" Career as an Evangelist , Sunday diduo't attend a theological ■ * somiiiory, but received his theological training under such men as D. L, Moody -and Wilbur Ohapmau. He was one of Moody's right-hand men, and later aci companied i-Dr, W. Chapman on a tour of the' Suited States of America. "Billy" finally decided to launch out alone, "without the Sid of any-.recognised evangelist:. ■ . "Billy" Sunday is a man of striking appearance,, clean. shaken, . of. slim (; athletic build, and • possessing a strong &, magnetic .'-personality.- Will J an ertd- ; ' K less vocabulary that is unequalled by ■■!'' even William Jennings Bryau,_the silver- '. tongued rcctiirvrj-' .•■ almost ■ 'instautanc-' < ously "Billy" Sunday found himself before the publie eye. His, public utterances wore remembered and repeated. The newspapers featured, him with conspicuous headlines, aud ofttiincs his sermons were published verbatim. '." "Billy's"'Mpit Agility

Sunday 1 is a man who does not stand on eerjimojij;;, a-dwb.elievcrin.conven-. iionaht'ics. He does not affect the dress of the, Presbyterian clergy, but dresses asan citizen, and he is most particular "as to the material, cut and jsfcyte of his apparel. As he waxes eloquent "Bjlly" Suaday becomes veff much agitated, and lie pees about hi;;-:Jjw : ; -pulpit..'"- He mops his face- witihiiiS;ever-ready handkerchief, until his collar collapses; and Sunday, in his characteristic Wanner, throws off his coat and collar,, turns up his sleeves, «nd prepares in earliest to "fight the devil. '*' / - In his sensational way ho will spniigNiip iifpon his .reading desk, balancing liinisclf "there for a nioineiit as ho denounces sin and all the allurements of tlto devil. He will ilicn jump down, 'lake;- put his watch, and stand over thr imaginary prostrate form "of

: tiie;devHlas; ; leligtii|:bu;tf'sghs ;as i felic r pjp i gho^ioUfo^; ;(M'spiea|jng;i<b ! a/Mli iipdii Jiiis •'lcptianf : wpl'flglit uh til hclM rcezes'oyer:" ;.f Sunday %'gesl; tures^arb^ver^ jiig'fprv,atf Jour ; the.'ova%oiiai?is- a katc of pfhy I' cooapsc;:; Biit^ilo>por-' sists*and;caiis fbr;'.couverts :.saw<lust "frail;';'..'■•■ :Th&imid; ; ih:cni men,; woman,- aud .children ;gp;; forward in. hundreds li;token:of thelbegiuningpf; a new lifq. L M ter.theiueeiiiig, Cardiff, 1 the converted'■ pugi 1 ist -arid trainer -of '"Billy.!' : Sunday t ;takes;|!b: ■.evangelist over in order, as, they say, "to knockiiiin iiito.sliajjc again." •';; .; Sunday, asa Busliiess'Man;'.

■• "Billy J' Sunday ,has a' largo staff ;6f. traiiiedjnen and women working in conjunction witii'luiii, birt"Billy" Sun-' day makes it known to all concerned that-hc is "Boss" of the situation. Me never visits a< city to eondiict an evangelistic, campaign without first receiving an invitation from the anvalgamated churches, backed; up/by ii signed contract guaranteeing a;stated sum of money to cover expenses. "'' Sunday: A Tabernacle Builder '

Immediately upon flie acceptance of the invitation and signed contract, Sunday sends his tabernacle builder to the next city of operations, to choose a building site and: then make :the: necessary arrangements for the erection of the tabernacle, large enough to provide seating accommodation for !!5,000 auditors; The, building is ; so. ingeniously constructed that, in-the event, of a panic or- fire, a little pressure against the walls from within, aud tliey willreadily fail outward to the level of the foundation, thus making an easy aud .quick exit, i ' ' .' 1 The Famous "Sawdust Trail" The aisles of the tabernacle . firo covered with sawdust, to a depth of three or four inches, so that the members of his vast congregation may pass in aud out without disturbing others. And when people come forward.at the invitation of ithc evangelist,' to use "Billy'' Sunday ! s own,.phrase,.,''They hit the sawdust trail."; This .is a Western phrase, used by the lumbermen, away back in the wooded country' of the Western States.- .After a man has been working for months, may-be, with a timber-mill,- felling the forest trees, sawing logs, and trucking *Uie timber away to the city, ' he gets deeper- and deeper into the' dense forest, but he leaves a trail of sawdustv 'When the. lumberman wishes to get back to' the State highways, ho just "hits the sawdust trail," ami this leads him back to civilisation, back to life. ' Hence the very expressive phrase used by "Billy" Sunday in. his soul-saviug campaign: "Hit the sawdust trail," which lie'claims will lead men to' the higher, the better life.' At tho end of that "sawdust trail" in the Sunday Tabernacle, men have sometimes found their wives from whom they liavo been long v separatcd through infidelity and sin. \And along the same "trail" 1 families have been brought ■ togothcr never to bo parted again,. s • 1 Sunday's Wonderful Populairty

Sunday's Philadelphia Tabernacle was tilled lo overflowing, morning, afternoon,,and evening on the Sunday, [and every night in the week oxeopt ! Monday. * In fact, < ofttimes there was an overflow meeting outside the tabernacle of 15,00.0. strong. Consequently the evangelist would plead with his 'morning congregation not to come iti the 4ftern'oou. and repeat the same plea to the aftornoon congregation, Tljis. happened not only once, but right on : during his ten weeks' campaign in the city of Philadelphia. His, Two Famous. Sermons Sunday is a great tentpcranco advocate, and therefore lie is acknowledged by -the brewers to bo the greatest power in America opposed to the liquor traffic. His great temperance sermon is entitled "Get on the Water Wagon." "Billy" Sunday'.s telling sermon to mou only is entitled "When Chickens Come Home to Boost." "~~ Sunday Wilis 68 Converts '.'Billy" Sunday's story of his own conversion won him 68' converts at the famous Lincoln Banquet, given by the Men's Friendly Union, in the John Chambers Memorial Hall, Philadelphia, quite recently. At this great function the evangelist was a guest of honour. Fourteen hundred men—members and present, and applauded the' evangelist as lie entered the hall.. The story he (old was a graphic word picture of his own life twenty-nine years ago, when he was a member of the Chicago White Sox. The evangelist had not intended to speak more than a few

;wofiMbfer^ ■§M&ti6sf;^^ sjt;jpbsU^^ jalldept^ ;fecityil?bf; iipjjwii: Jeolaaia|ibtt::lroni ; ' siifr SL't&Vj^ cburagejup'tp ililif: ' '^^p/l:CfiJaK •'tlj'i; :■ /ji'ajjlii t;hutvt)tpugiit;:i^ Mrcd^gHest,??; ; SM 'an|> ,}nen;: ifwtliej^wis; 1 nb.tJiing- in-'religion,; : irothiuglu ilyiKg-f.Wip life/of -.a. Gfe'riatiao,' trtiQ to.^od's; iM have-f J it out iu,al('tiiese's£&:./If"I know—if:■ youKcould4^9yu : to: ; me t/iqre/jrcas no fiitiwc after death,; I'd swl liyn 'as I.have! Jivet'foV'tliii sako,:orll)b Imp;pinesslt lias brought >tolne aiiii : inine.?' rt \v«s : vrliilo. titb applause mis ringing [in his oars that SuiUlay'seeiiietl.suddenly Inspired/ to give ',-jtfio' call to •■' the "trail." spritcthihg, boj";s,.V v lib willed' to 'the spccially-eiiga'ged bi'clius' ,t.r«'l, and as the strains of the old hymn,, up,jtaud up for Jesus';' titled the hall, lie shouted, "How iiianyiof vou who are hat Christians will''take' };our stand to-night?": '"Billy'' Suih (lay steadied himself in the chair by. putting, one' arm about- Mr. Wanamaker, as lie shook hands with the .converts and called to some of' the' committee l to "get busy;, and take the iiaines. : " •In iprodueing the 'revivalist, :Mr.;Wajiamaker -.said ■in part:- ''My- dear;men, this is'the most-wonderful siglit to, be seen in' Philadelphia.' Tho Tabernacle .doesn't' comft'anywhere -near; it, especially'wheii we have with us.the big Indian aud his squaw." This reference :tb'th'o Sundays brought a laugh : and a round : 'of ■■;. ehecrsi He "concluded"in strain: ''Men," he said, "this ,is a',; wonderful- night/to me,' when J itliiuk tharc aie a'ihpiisami'yesterdays Kyhen soraethihg might have'been done 'for God' ami'-our city.'- The hour of the revival is as_ a'mint where we are s recoining; : our.lives, when men are striving to'do,better, to love bur [brothers; iand by'so'doing help them'to keep the Golden Bule.'> .•'■•■ ■• •?• ~•■ • • ■.' ." : "\ ; .''Billy" Sunday's Banking •.Account.'

y Aftera ,ten weeks' campaign in the ityiaker eitj"..of city ■ol Brotherly' evangelist received as his portion the free-will offer'ing. of: the people, 100,000 dollaiv-a sum suflicieut to pay .the stipends of the clergy of Philadelphia' for two years, "Billy" Sunday's- drawings from the Philadelphia campaign caused a bitter; controversy between' politicians and tjieologians. Consequently, the outsider, instead of cjicitiug the truth 'concerning the evangelist's benevolence, - ;mado many damaging statementsagaiust ;the reputation of this remarkable man, It should be explained that "Billy" Sunday'devotes a tenth Of his income ,to the Lord. • His bankers'have what fis known.to them as God's AceoMut, From this separate account the evangelist draws for needy, cases.- For instance.. The evangelist was working •Pittsburg, in.the State of' Pennsylvania/ : Whilsti. there '! Billy" and ".Ma" Sunday 'Stikycd with a, widow who kept a •boardinghouse,. : During their stay the Sundays learned' that -the-widow- was financially embarrassed. • After a careful . investigation, "Billy.'.' concluded that tho widow's was a worthy case, .Before he doparted from Pittsburg for the next city, "Billy". Sunday'not only "lifted" the. mortgage from the widow's property,, but also deposited £2O in the bank to tho widow's credit, The clear title deed'and. the bank book jwcre not pent, to..the widow,, [Sundays'had departed.., • On another* occasion i the evangelist was standing in his pulpit watching tho pcoplo eomo forward.to place their freewill offering in the receptacle provided for that purpose, when .he saw a thirl, poorly-dressed boy come forward and place two dollars in the plate, He was very much affected by the generosity of the boy. Sunday called him, and was .surprised to learn that, the youthful. donor'and his sister sold newspapers in order to support their mother, and that they had been; saving up for weeks so that they might'participate in the freewill offering. The formal investigations were faithfully pursued and favburably reported; consequently before the evangelist left that district lie had provided for, the support of the widowed mother and tho education of her'children. •Several .Divinity students in America have to thank '. 'Billy" Sunday for his great kindness in "paying their way" through college, In spite of the hard things that have been said and published against the. ■ evangelist, "Billy" Sunday is the most popular man iu the United-States of America, When .■•lie- arrived, at the Broad street Station, Philadelphia,'there was such a vast multitude- of enthusiastic support-

::!|ic4;;Sp!;^^ ;e,a^b;;thipugbs 'tne!s^ .t'OTtingsift^^ .jilvslielp also/'pjeioiits^ of -;til L- ^ 1 ipf\ .cto t lies^ : 6Ve rc' oa{s, : : fM ca^es; l; it: Jilyer^tc^^fieryiqe,'; ru|s;froni'' i tiiel.rflills^^ ancinnnieroiis 6|aeqne^ ; v : ,-';-, :r ;v' ; :;-';:r:; ; .■;:^',;; : '/%?ylTlj^ :.V Sdhjlay■ S'-siicces's;is. pheijb■; menal,; iuid '.li ■' slip wore :Hppn,;hlhi.': .lta*;|eiiga'geiiients that will keep hiiiVlntfei':tinCii the cud of tli'o" ' :^! 'l^v^'^'r^-V.' ; l -'; , ; ;^. y 'v : h(i ■ received' : pay visits ,to^|vbjidbnr;iihd^HonoluluV;' ; '