BY JOHN HERRING.
City Councilman, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
[Note: Mr. Herring had applied for a saloon license but afterwards “hit the trail” in the Wilkes-Barre campaign.]
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Tue, Jun 03, 1913 ·Page 8
From my own personal observation I do not hesitate to say that Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming valley has never enjoyed so much happiness as prevails at the present time as a result of the Billy Sunday campaign. The great change that has come over the community as a result of Mr. Sunday’s campaign is very noticeable and I believe that if the people of this city could have him they would ask Mr. Sunday to come back to our locality and stay another seven weeks.
Throughout our locality saloon-keepers do not deny that they have been badly affected by Mr. Sunday’s campaign. The faces which were very familiar in such places for many years are now absent. Men who for years have led a reckless life and neglected their families have been released from the influence of drink and are once more respected by their fellow men. A visit any night to the large hotels in the central part of our city is sufficient to prove that the patronage at these places is not nearly as great as before the revival. I believe it is safe to say that the amount of good done by Mr. Sunday in this vicinity cannot be measured.
Never in the history of our churches has the attendance been as large as during the past few weeks, or since Mr. Sunday left for South Bend. One church, the Central Methodist Episcopal has taken in nearly 800 new members to date and many more are expected. Another church, Westminster has taken in about 500 and several other churches have taken in like numbers. In fact, if the enthusiasm continues and I have every reason to believe it will, many of our congregations will have to enlarge their edifices. It is surprising to know the number of our influential citizens who for years have been out of the church now within the church and taking an active part in its affairs. Another feature of Mr. Sunday’s work is that men of high positions in life who were converted are now members of the Y. M. C. A. personal workers league and are out daily leading others to the cause of righteousness. The work that is being done by the personal workers is admirable. Employers can be found working hand in hand with their employees all working in the interest of Christ. So satisfactory have the results been that other cities have asked several of our young men to visit and tell the story of the great amount of good that has been accomplished. Only last Sunday one of our newspapermen went to Williamsport and so pleased were the people with his message that he was forced to repeat it at three different meetings.
The question has been asked as to whether the merchants of this vicinity have been benefitted by the Sunday revival. Every day one hears some merchant say that accounts which he had closed several years ago have been re-opened and are being settled by the people who contracted debts.
Judging from the activity among the ministers since Mr. Sunday’s visit it cannot be denied that the great evangelist has done a wonderful amount of good among the ministers of the gospel. The better work being done by the ministers in my estimation is due to the fact that they are now receiving the co-operation of their congregations, which was unusual heretofore.
Regarding the liquor traffic and the effect of the revival in surrounding towns, two of the saloon keepers, I have been informed, have quit the business. One was a resident of Parsons and the other of Edwardsville. Two pool rooms one, of which was to be replaced by a saloon, have been wiped out and have been replaced by a grocery store and confectionery.
An organization of railroad men at Ashley was disbanded after the officers were converted and the men are all doing personal work now. A club room at Plymouth, where men assembled on Sundays and did considerable drinking has been changed to a prayer meeting room, the sale of liquor having been discontinued.
In Wilkes-Barre several men who for several months had been gathering weekly in a garage and playing poker were converted and are now holding Bible classes instead.
A representative of the Bell Telephone company said a few days ago that since the revival the company’s receipts from saloon pay stations have fallen off a large per cent and the receipts from drug store stations have increased accordingly.
Although the grand jury of our county ignored several cases against “speakeasies” that were raided by Sheriff Kniffen, one of the converts, the religious organizations throughout the whole county have passed resolutions supporting the sheriff and his crusade and the Y. M. C. A. personal workers’ league plan in a few days to hold a big street demonstration approving the sheriff’s work.
In conclusion I would state that it is difficult to express the real situation existing in his locality as the result of the great evangelist’s good work.
That the change among the people is also being felt by our city officials was evidenced several days ago when the mayor of our city, Hon. John V. Kosek, caused every side room, where cabaret shows were held nightly and where women of questionable character congregated, to be closed. Hotels that for years were known to have been the meeting place of immoral men and women during the past week have been in darkness.
Billy Sunday was given over $23,000 by the people of this valley and I do not hesitate to say that if he had been given $100,000 he would not have been repaid for the good he accomplished.
The South Bend Tribune. Tue, Jun 03, 1913 ·Page 8
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) 