12,000 GATHER TO DEDICATE SUNDAY REVIVAL BUILDING.
Great Tabernacle Is Filled With an Enthusiastic Throng Representing All Evangelical Churches.
"Tabernacle dedicated yesterday at 2 p.m. in midst of great spiritual enthusiasm and intense devotion by a crowd of more than 12,000 people, every evangelical church in Greater Kansas City being represented. Anticipation is at highest pitch and we bespeak you a rousing welcome and blessed campaign for the kingdom."
The foregoing telegram was sent to Billy Sunday at Baltimore yesterday afternoon and he received it just before he had begun his final meeting of the campaign in that city. It was sent by O. J. Hill, chairman of the executive committee of the Billy Sunday campaign in Kansas City, and it was written while the dedicatory ceremonies of the new tabernacle at Admiral boulevard and Virginia avenue were in progress.
The tabernacle was formally opened to the public yesterday and the largest crowd of religious enthusiasts that had ever gathered in Kansas City at one time was there for the initial ceremonies. Every seat in the vast auditorium was occupied, the percentage of men and women being about equal, and the spirit displayed was regarded as a splendid forerunner for the seven weeks' revival, which will be inaugurated on next Sunday night.
The event in numbers and to the enthusiasm of the crowd left no doubt as to whether the religious bodies of Kansas City want Billy Sunday. It was a crowd bent on serious purpose. Only a very, very few were attracted by idle curiosity. The great bulk of the congregation was there to begin the real work of the biggest religious campaign that Kansas City has ever known.
The Rev. J. W. Welsh, Billy Sunday's advance agent, made a pertinent talk to the crowd as to what they may expect and what they must do when Billy Sunday starts his campaign. Mr. Welsh outlined the following essential points:
"The women attending the Sunday meetings must leave their millinery at home. Hats are not tolerated at a Sunday meeting. Babies under 4 years of age will not be admitted to the meeting. Arrangements have been made so that mothers may leave their infants at the First Congregational church, nearby."
"These babies will be checked," Mr. Welsh said, "and if you don't lose your check and if your baby doesn't eat the tag that is left on it, the probabilities are that you will get the right baby back when you return to the temporary nursery."
At 7:30 o'clock tonight the Choir No. 1 will be on the rostrum and be finally drilled under the direction of Prof. Fred A. Mills, in charge of the music of the revival.
Tomorrow night Chorus No. 2 will meet on the rostrum at the same hour, and will be similarly drilled by Mr. Mills.
Tuesday night, Mr. Welsh said, should witness the cottage prayer meetings all over the city. "It must be recognized by all," Mr. Welsh said, "that this week -- the final week be3ofre the opening of the service -- is to be a big week of prayer."
On Wednesday night there will be the usual prayer meetings in all the city churches and members are urged to get as many as they possibly can to attend these meetings.
On Thursday night there will be an ushers' drill in the Tabernacle. About 300 ushers will be used and it is very essential that these ushers be fully trained.
On Friday night all the men who have been assigned to sing in the chorus and all who desire to sing in it are to report at the Tabernacle.
Meetings for men only are to be held on Thursday and Sunday afternoons during the entire campaign, although the meeting on next Sunday afternoon, the first to be held, will be open to the general public.
