E. "Emmett" Howard Cadle (August 25, 1884 – December 20, 1942) was a Christian evangelist based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
After his conversion in 1914, he built the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis in 1921 and contributed to the growth of the radio evangelical movement during the 1930s.
With the extended power of WLW, a radio station based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cadle's broadcasts reached an estimated 30 million listeners by the end of the 1930s.
In addition, Cadle frequently traveled by plane and car to reach speaking engagements in the Midwest and southern United States when he was not recording broadcasts.
"[2] His mother, Loretta "Etta" Cadle, a Christian since childhood, helped raise money to bring a revivalist to the town of Fredericksburg.
The old, dead apple tree seemed to be in full bloom and I could hear the rustle of the wings of angels of mercy.
Although he started by selling suits, Cadle took a job at the National Biscuit Company making $30 a week and quickly rose through the ranks.
While keeping his job at Nabisco, Cadle began selling cars, eventually making enough to buy out the dealership where he worked with a business partner.
[7][10] By 1918 he had twenty-two shoe repair stores in operation in various Midwestern cities and his company made a profit of $85,000 that year.
[11] In early 1921 he contributed to a citywide revival in Indianapolis that featured evangelist Rodney "Gipsy" Smith.
[1][10][15] The initial plan for the tabernacle was to allow Gypsy Smith's revival choir to organize there on a permanent basis, but the idea lead to controversy and accusations from other Christian groups.
Gypsy Smith returned for building's dedication and Cadle also addressed the gathering, explaining how his mother prayed for his conversion and praised the choir.
[19] In addition, claims were made that the Ku Klux Klan funded Cadle after eighteen of them gave a combined $600 and a letter of appreciation to visiting evangelist, E.J.
[20] As a result of the criticisms, Cadle sold his interest in the tabernacle in June 1923 to an organization that promised to continue its religious program.
[21] Cadle also announced in October 1923 that he would compete with the tabernacle in Indianapolis by building a new auditorium and business center, but the plans were never realized.
[21] In addition to his work as an evangelist, Cadle briefly considered running for political offices before abandoning the idea.
[23] Cadle's program, "The Nation's Family Prayer Period," aired from 6:00 to 6:15 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
His remains are buried near his ancestor’s family plot at Kay's Chapel Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Indiana.
A large gravestone with a rendering on the back of monument depicting the Indianapolis tabernacle marks the gravesite of Cadle and his wife, Ola.
They also opened the tabernacle to serve as a venue for several other events,[9] including one where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in 1958.
[9] Cadle is best known for his evangelical pursuits, particularly the large audiences he reached through his daily radio broadcasts in the 1930s and his efforts to reach additional people through extensive travels across the Midwest and southern United States, as well as the Cadle Tabernacle, now demolished, established in Indianapolis in 1921.