Evangelist Dr. Lyon on Christian Socialism, Unions, Tuberculosis

Newark, Ohio, 1912

With the largest attendance yet recorded at a men's meeting — estimated at very close to 2000 men — the meeting yesterday afternoon proved to be one of the most successful in the history of the present campaign. Although the number of actual conversions was not as large as it should have been, only a few over forty taking a definite stand for Christ, those who are in the paths of sin and still undecided at least had given to them a message that will burn in their ears for many a day, until their conscience dictates them to follow the course that leads to their eternal salvation.

Dr. Lyon was at his best, as he always seems to be when facing an audience of men, and his message on "Profit and Loss" was a clear-cut definition of the principles that make the gospel of Jesus Christ one that cannot be rejected by the man who is able and willing to exert one iota of common sense in the affairs of his life.

The audience was swelled by the attendance of a delegation from the trades unions of the city, nearly 200 men responding to the call issued by council for the observance of "Anti-Tuberculosis Sunday." This delegation was accorded a reserved section in the center of the tabernacle, with the local Typographical Union's representation, by reason of their especial activity in the fighting of "the great white plague," occupying the front seats. Dr. Lyon's remarks regarding this great campaign was an excellent exemplification of his belief in Christian socialism and the power of the unions to bring about lasting benefits if their efforts are properly directed.

The service opened with the singing of "America," "All Hail the Power" and "Revive Us Again," after which the visiting delegation sang "Throw Out the Life Line" with a vim and vigor that showed that their interest in the revival movement has been substantially quickened during the past few weeks. Of course the men called for "The Little Church in the Wildwood,"' and the male chorus sang this attractive number in a splendid manner. The opening prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hawk, pastor of the Methodist church at Granville, one of the pastors who has the happy faculty of successfully appealing to young men. The feature of the introductory service that was probably most interesting, with the possible exception of Prof. Mitchell's solo "The Man of Galilee," was the singing of "Steady, Brother, Steady" by a double sextet of Newark men. This demanded the continued applause of the audience, which, subsided as the congregation was greeted by Dr. Lyon. who launched immediately into his remarks anent the great "anti-tuberculosis campaign."

Tells of the "White Plague."

In part, the evangelist said: "Upon this day that is set apart all over the nation called 'anti-tuberculosis day,' I feel it is in accordance with our work to say something about what is being done for the prevention and cure of the white plague. I say it is proper because when our Lord Jesus was on this earth he spent much time in the healing of the body. A diseased body depreciates the value of the work of the individual in the intellectual and spiritual realm just as an impaired machine would depreciate the value of the labor of a workingman. There are 200,000 deaths in this country each year from tuberculosis. More deaths are cause from this than from any other cause. From one-seventh to one-tenth of the people that die, die from this disease, and one-third of all those who die between the ages of 15 and 45 years die of tuberculosis.

Dr Lyon then told of the discovery of the vegetable bacillus which causes the disease, the fact that it is transmitted from the sputum that is coughed up from the lungs of a tubercular victim, and pointed out that the real cure for the disease is to be considered as curable. "It is especially appropriate that you men are here at this time, because you have done something to shorten the working hours of the people throughout this country," said the speaker. "I want you to know I am in favor of trades unions, as well as for Christian socialism. I do not stand in favor of ungodly, infidel socialism, that denies Christ, for the basis of brotherhood — I do not care whether you call it a club or lodge, a brotherhood or what not — must be in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You trade union men have done very much to promote the work of the prevention of disease in shortening excessive hours of toil.

—The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1912, p. 7.

Note: Evangelist Milford H. Lyon. He seems to have been very famous at the time, but I hadn't heard of him before, so not very famous now. In the particular excerpt above he seems to have a moderate, almost socially-progressive manner. But other articles show him in the Billy Sunday mold of evangelists, provocative statements, taking on sin by ridicule, calling sinners cowards, dramatically taking on the devil nose to nose, etc. I saw a headline with the word "pin-head" in it! So he had a popular, over-the-top style that got him crowds and publicity, but he also apparently took part, at least in conservative ways, in social issues. Just going by a couple articles.

By the time of this article, Dr. Lyon was at the close of the fifth week of a campaign that was front page news. Nearly two hundred men and women had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Page 1 of the Oct. 28 paper, above, said there was every evidence that the total number of conversions in the coming week would reach at least 3,000, with some optimistic forecasts of nearly 3,500 souls! Seven more days remained for the meetings.

"Tonight" there was to be a "great religions" parade, with several thousand people participating, two bands, and delegations from the city's Protestant churches and other organizations. And for tonight, this interesting sentence: "Dr. Lyon's sermon, said to be the strongest in his repertoire, will be especially attractive to workingmen, and delegations from many of the labor unions will attend in a body." Oct. 28 was a Monday. Tuesday will be another "big night" at the tabernacle, the Modern Woodmen, the Royal Neighbors, the Forester's Drill Team in uniform to be in attendance. The attendance was so great, over 5,000 gathering at the tabernacle early, that hundreds had to be turned away because of not enough seating. There were over 300 in the choir. It sounds like a massive thing.