Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-05
A STREAK OF YELLOW.

s
One of the evidences of the deep
respect of the average American tof
all things pertaining to religion Is the
forbearance shown to certain profess
sional evangelists who make insult TO
their audiences part of their prac-
tice. We unsparingly condemn the
yellow journalist. frankly criticise the
yellow lecturer. but ,,ondone the yell
low pulpiteer. His risque stones. bald
analysis of baseness fr,m the public
rostrum and plain lnisstatement are
allowed to pass without comment or
are met with praise Thus Rev. Bill
lyo Sunday, whose sensational meth
DDS of evangelism has r,ade him both
rich and after fashion famous. told
a congregation at Macomb. H.. last
Il Tuesday evening that the most gener-
GUS people on earth live in the country.
"But," said he. when you farmers
4 get money enough to move to town you
get like the CRY fol!ts--mean as the
devil. While you live in the country
you have sense and religion. When
you move to town you lose both"
ss Any public speaker or writer whose
4 statements and expressed opinion are
extreme may get himself quoted. The
unusual attracts attention. presum-
ably on the same principle u dog fight
in the aisle would distract the atten-
! ton of Mr.. Sundays audience from his
4 ministrations until the e,mbattled cam
ines had been thrown without where
dogs belong. An act Of simple char
ity or a kindly deed is passed unno-
ticed on the street, while the crowd
masses about the patrol wagon Mr..
4 Sunday says and does uausua1 and ex-
4 IRENE things He draws the crowd but
4 so does an ARRAY or railway acci-
dent.
It is likely that Mr.. Sundays quoted
4 statement raised the laugh he was
booking for, but It wa.s at the expense
of truth and good manners. Neither
ordinary city or country folks lack
sense or religion and few Of either
class are mean as the devil" CITY
congregations enfold Individual sin
tscerity OF belief end ;ls much practice
Of religion as others and the plain
minister with a regular charge and the
work Of church organization as we'll
as the burden Of souls upon him is
usually more sensible. religious
and devout Christian than Mr.. Sum
day or any other of the sensationalists
An religion.
Most Of the professional revivalists
are to the church what yellow journal
ism is. to the press. They attract for
a day but they will no. wear. Scare
heads with much that is garbled anfA
misstated below them, big circula-
ltion for week or two and then the
necessity of moving on fresh field.
The old reliable Journal and the plain
minister keep on doing business at the
old corner and hold the confidence and
patronage Of the people year after
year. They do moi. insist that ali
mankind is vile or that every motive
is tainted. They refrain from. insult
and obscenity and tell the truth. They
hold the real trust o. the people, but
the yellow journal and the yellow pull
piteer too often get the money.
Sensational revivalists have had
their opportunity in Iowa. They have
..stirred things up in every fair sized
town in the state. That they have
accomplished much In religious reform
lie not evident. If Iowa is growing
more pious 1t Is not thru the extrem-
ist. careless of statement and lax of
language, but thru the steady consist
ent effort OF its resident ministry. The
yellow pulpitser is much more finan-
cial success than a genuine religious
force.