The Call Of The North

N. DAK. KLEAGLE-PASTOR STIRS GRAND FORKS

Friends And Critics Alike Pack The Church of Rev. F. Halsey Ambrose to Hear What He is Going to Say Next.

Grand Forks, N. D.-King Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in North Dakota and Exalted Cyclops of the Grand Forks Klan, Rev. F. Halsey Ambrose, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this city, boasts that his church has the largest attendance of any in the central West.

And it perhaps is the only church in this part of the country that conducts services to "standing room only" every Sunday, and where the overflowing crowd is made up of both friends and critics of the spectacular pastor, who not only openly proclaims his high standing in the ranks of the "Invisible Empire," but who almost outdoes Billy Sunday in his somewhat out-of-the-ordinary pulpit methods.

Fully three-quarters of an hour before the service has begun the church is filled. A half hour before the main auditorium is filled the Sunday school room and galleries are opened. Fifteen minutes before ushers are placing chairs in the aisle. Ten minutes before people are standing in the rear of the church and remain not for an hour but for two hours (in the evening.)

All Sects Represented

The crowd at the church is not only Presbyterian but Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Jewish, Catholic, Adventist and non-sectarian. Mr. Ambrose makes a boast that "This church has the largest attendance of any in the central West and has had it for five years" the period of his ministry. "Yes, that's right. I know it. I always know what I am talking about. That is why no one checks up on me."

"We have more men come to our church than to all the other churches in the city put together," he continued. "I know one church in this city where there are six ushers. Last Sunday night five of the six ushers were here. I'd like to know who took up the collection there."

Dr. Ambrose, in conducting his service, cares not a whit what he says nor how he says it

His Entrance Is Dramatic

Without question, Dr. Ambrose believes in dramatic effects. Does he enter the pulpit while the robed choir takes its place in the loft? No, indeed. The choir has long since settled itself and the organist is part way through a march which announces as plainly as the lines of a play that the star is about to make his entrance. The audience turns expectantly towards a closed door. It swings wide open. The organ peals triumphantly. Rev. F. Halsey Ambrose, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Grand Forks, King Kleagle of the Realm of North Dakota, Ku Klux Klan, and Exalted Cyclops of the Grand Forks Klan, steps confidently down the platform. The audience restrains applause.

While the congregation sings a hymn Dr. Ambrose arranges a great sheaf of papers, many of them affidavits designed to support some of his startling statements. Then he reads a scripture lesson in such a manner that every word is listened to with interest. Another hymn and he is ready for the announcements. A male stenographer comes briskly down the aisle and takes his place at a table. Dr. Ambrose prepares himself against any "comeback," he says. Here are a few remarks from the pulpit:

"There will be a Salvation Army drive here this week. Don't get off as cheap as you can--Grand Forks style. I've been in Grand Forks long enough to know. There is a string of sparrows from one end of this town to the other singing, Cheap, Cheap, Cheap."

"The minister of a church can be pope of the institution if he knows how. If he don't he can't, that's all."

"Church membership is not an insurance policy against the fires of hell. The Lord doesn't judge a man