10,000 HEAR EVANGELIST

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1928, Page 11

10,000 HEAR EVANGELIST

STAMPEDE AT ALBERT HALL POLICE RESCUE ELDERLY 'PEOPLE. mrs. amir McPherson in London, By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 7. Dense queues of men and women encircled the Albert Hall hours before the Los Angeles evangelist, Mrs. Amie McPherson, ' eg"-, her service to day. Score* of police were needed to control the motor-cars brought by fashionable,- bejewelled semen. There was a frantic stampede when the doors opened, and grave danger of a panic.

Elderly people with crutches! were jambed against the building but the police forced a way in and effected their rescue. There was a remarkable , aceno of people rushing, racing and pushing along the corridors in a scrambio. for seats. In ten minutes more than 10,000 people were inside the building, while thousands were endeavouring to enter. Officials declare that it was unprecedented in the history of the Albert Hall.

Mrs. McPherson made a dramatic entry to a flower-bedecked stage. She was supported on the arms of two followers and wore a white silk dress and a black cloak. Her address was varyingly humorous, appealing, pathetic and tragic, interspersed with gestures and anecdotes. In the audience there was considerable enthusiasm, with groans and “Amens.” Hundreds were in tears. Mrs. McPherson announced in the first place that, th© career of to-morrow’s subject would be guided by the newspapers. A hundred converts went on to the stage and knelt in prayer. Mrs. McPherson was much gratified at the number.