Cañon City record., 1905-05-04


in fact, the very expressive adjective
he used to describe it failed to convey
the full significance of its potency
and power in convicting men and
women of the sinfulness of card play
ing, dancing and other forms OF
entertainment against which his
voice was raised.
1t is the kill or cure discourse of
Rev. Sundays repertoire, and its
effect on society folk wherever deliv-
cred is not unlike the CONSERVATION
produced by the explosion of a bomb
among a flock of sheep. The logic
and forcefulness of the argument
either carries conviction to its devo-
tees or causes them to seek refuge be-
hind subterfuge and excuse, which
neither absolves the remorse nor pal
liates the disquietude and unrest
aroused by an awakened conscience.
The occasion of Rev. Sundays dis
course on '1mpure Amusements" in
Canon City will not soon be forgotten
by the great audience which assem-
sled to hear it. It was the climax
of the series of magnificent sermons
which he has been addressing nightly
to sinners and weak -kneed church
members of this community and it
moved those who heard it such as
few things in their life have done.
From eight O'Clock until nearly ten
thirty he thundered against card play
ing and dancing with all the power
he, possessed, reminding the students
Of biblical and secular history of the
energy, zealousness and power with
which John the Baptist cried out
against the sins of his day, and of the
courage and forcefulness of Luther,
Heiss, Calvin and their contempora-
ries, who lifted Europe out of the
darkness of the Middle Ages into the
light of a Christian civilization.
Gard playing and dancing received
the stamp of an emphatic disapproval
from the evangelist and he hurled at
them anathemas of red hot charac-
ter. He shelled the woods for God
and he hurled into the ranks of the
enemy grape and canister routing
them from their stroDgholds.
All of the evils which he condemn
ed were singled out, held up to the
public view shorn Of all deceptive
covering, and attacked by wesl lth of
satire and denunciation of
which Rev. Sunday is so distinguish
ed a master. The text was the
seventh verse of the fifth chapter of
Ephesians, Whatsoever man sows,
that shall he also reap"
1t was strenuous sermon from
whatever standpoint it may be view
ed, and at its close the speaker was
almost exhausted from the physical
effort its delivery had produced. Ap-
plsuse greeted the evangelist several
times during his discourse and more
than once people held their breath in
of the astonishing state
ments he made. At times the audi
ence was convulsed with laughter and |
as frequently spellbound by the in
facts brought home to them
in = manner they had never expert
enced before.
Appropriate and effective illustra-
tions and impersonations were inter- I!
spersed throughout the sermon and
added in no small degree to the in
teresg which it inspired among those |
who heard it. Rev. Sunday initiated
a dance, gave an illustration of stack
ing a deck of cards and mimicked
society woman making ready" to
appear in the ball room. Rev. Sun
day made tire statement that he had
been offered $3.50 to deliver this SER
son in an Iowa town, provided the
committee in charge would allow him
to charge an admission fee, which he
refused. 1t is certainly worth the
price.
Whatsoever man COWS, that shall
he also reap This would be true
whether it was in the Bible or not.
1t applies to material as we'll as to
moral and spiritual affairs. If you
SOW bushel of wheat you expect to
get more than bushel back when the
time of harvest comes. A single
grain of wheat has been known, un-
der scientific propagation, to produce
nineteen pounds Of wheat. So it is in
everything about us in the material
universe, "Whatsoever a man sows,
that shall he also reap" As the
twig is bent the tree is inclined.
Some people may vince under what
I have to say, but I want them
to understand that my provocation is
great and my quarrel is just. and 1
have no excuse to make now. nor here