The role of ushers at a Billy Sunday revival?

The South Bend Tribune published the following about the role of ushers at the South Bend revival. (The South Bend Tribune. Mon, Apr 28, 1913 ·Page 9)

The work of the ushers in the South Bend campaign is to be under the direction of Col. Charles Arthur Carlisle, chairman of that committee, and W. Raymond Smith, chief usher, together with C. B. Alberts, of Mishawaka, vice chairman of the committee.

Do not think for a minute that this phase of the campaign is not thoroughly mapped out and systematically, cared for.

The following list of instructions have been put in the hands of each of the 250 men who will be on duty in this city and must be carried out to the very letter.

List of Instructions.

1. Ushers will enter the tabernacle by the east door of the building near northeast corner.
2. Upon entering report immediately at the chief usher’s desk and receive assignment.
3. Upon assignment proceed at once to the section to which assigned, and report to chief of section, securing also the seat reserved for him.
4. The front seats will be filled first, and as soon as the front section are occupied, then the next in rear will be filled; so on to the rear of the building. As soon as a section is occupied, ushers will not permit any in charge, to pass their station, except by permission of the chief usher.

5. When reservations are made, special instructions will be given in each case.

6. In taking collections or distributing cards, ushers will work from the front toward the rear of their respective sections.

7. As soon as the usher has completed the collection he will return to his station, face toward the center of the aisle and remain standing until he had delivered his collection to the general collector. He will then take his seat and remain there throughout the service.

8. Ushers will keep watch over their sections, and should any person be overcome or faint, they will quietly be removed by the usher to a place provided.

9. Ushers must see that the aisles are kept clear of chairs, and no person will be allowed to sit or stand in the aisles. (This is against the state law, and subjects the offender to a fine of $1,000).

10. Ushers in charge of exits will remain constantly at the exit during the service and at its close will see that the doors are properly thrown open. In case of fire or panic, the doors will be at once thrown open.

11. When all seats are occupied, the entrance doors will be closed, and no person will be allowed to enter the building thereafter except by special permission.

12. Should any usher desire to retire, he will report to his chief of section, delivering to him his card for

13. All ushers, whether on duty or not, are requested to wear their badge during the service. This is necessary so that they may be recognized at once if needed for any duty or assistance or overflow meetings.

Assigned by Card.

14. Ushers will be assigned by card for each service. They will receive their assignment cards at the chief usher’s desk. The first come will be first served, until all stations are filled.

15. Each ushers will have a seat reserved for himself and one other person, and in no case will he give up his seat to any person for any reason whatever.

16. Chiefs of sections will see that these provisions are carried out in their respective sections.

17. The committee on ushers from each church are requested to arrange to have at least 40 per cent of those named by them as ushers present at each service.

18. Ushers will return their assignment card and badge at the close of each meeting to chief usher.

19. Ushers are enjoined to be firm in the enforcement of rules, but will refrain from any controversy with anyone; yet they will quietly insist upon all persons obeying the rules.

The division ushers, those in charge of the various sections into which the large tabernacle has been divided, who will serve during the local campaign and who started their duties yesterday morning include the following:

O. G. Huff, L. B. Finch, G. M. Urey; I. Jackson, H. I. Reddick, Fred Sweitzer, M. C. Price, Harry H. Weiss, Rollo E. Bunce, W. M. Knell, Edward Schubert, George Koenig, William G. Garten, A. D. Young, W. T. Anders, H. L. Kingsley, W. S. Bassett, William H. Swintz, Frank Boone, H. A. Thulka, Oscar Wise, Albert M. Stamm, E. H. Cornish, J. A. McEndorfer, Wesley Miller, E. B. Zehring, Myron Campbell, E. S. Webster.

MAN WHO WILL DIRECT SEATING OF THOUSANDS IN TABERNACLE CHARLES ARTHUR CARLISLE

Here is the man who will have charge of the handling of the thousands of people attending the meetings at the Billy Sunday tabernacle during the next few weeks.

Col. Charles A. Carlisle is chairman of the usher committee and has about 250 men working under him who have charge of seating the crowds during the Billy Sunday meeting. The men have been trained well in their various duties and no difficulty has been experienced as yet in taking care of the people at the tabernacle,