Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-05-28


Of the Emporis Gazette, while deem
ling himself IAN innocent byslander'
rather rudely ignores the rules Of
the game and hings few non-candled
eggs at the professional evangelist
French Oliver who is to conduct SER
vices 1t Solomon for month. Some
Of them hit the mark aimed at and
some 90 Wild and diffuse an unPleas-
ant order on the non-combatants. VIZ
quote:
.French Oliver, professional
evangelist, who rescues the Perishing
on a cash basis. and boasts Of his
string Of converts as country paper
brags Of It's subscription list, after
giving away hand-painted bucksaw
70 the prettiest girl in town. finds
Kansas q happy hunting ground. To
one who has no interest In the con-
troversy, further than the interests
common to all innocent bystanders In
religious progress, 1t would seem to
be a good scheme to let Mr.. Oliver
slide and use the money to increase
the salaries Of the regularly officiating
clergymen at those churches. These
good men need the money more than
does the silver-tongued Mr.. Oliver,
and in the long run their work will
be productive Of more good than the
| frenzied methods Of professional
windburners who turn the communi-
ties upside down and fill the churches
with sound and fury, after drawing
all the money that is coming to
them.p
Now the Rev. Mr.. French Oliver is
abundantly able to take care Of him
self and the fact that he has remained
SO long within a restricted and inter-
communicate portion OF Kansas is
sufficient evidence that he does not
have to impose himself on any un-
defended community.
y rs
But why should any editor whose
only right to exist lies in the fact
that he is . promoter Of moral, social,
political and financial interests Of a
given community and regulates the
"per inch" Of his columns BY his
ability or reputation as q promoter
shy rocks at fellow promoter who
confines himself to the religious COM
munity and sells his time, energy and
ability to promote in the open market
for such commodities9
The editor believes that big, at
tractive, even sensational advertise
ment is a good thing for the interests
be represents; on what ground does
be condemn it for other interestsp
1t is hardly to be taken for granted
that the '.leading clothier" claims, or
expects any one to believe that his
goods will make a fat squabby man
look as well as his models. But it is
to be expected that a new suit will
improve thhe appearance Of an ordi-
nary man to the extent implied In
good fit, proper style and honest
goods and the community is benefited
in more ways than one by the trans
action.
1t need not be anticipated that
professional evangelist will make
saint out of even a converted editor
but little toning up in moral, social
and religious perceptions and convic-
lions will be Of at least as much value
and maybe last a long as the new
suit, and II SO the money spent in an
attractive religious advertisement is
BY no means wasted.
The amountof money given to an
evangelist may seem to be extrava-
CANT to zone who has no interest in
he controversy, further than that Of
an innocent bystander," but is itP
In the first place, it is the almost
nvariable rule Of the evangelist not
% set any price but to depend on the
contribution at the close Of
the series Of meetings.
The catchy phrase $50 such per" is
he invention OF delusion Of the para
,rapher.
But suppose five hundred people
hould desire to attend two services q
lay for twenty days, forty services In
IL. would two-and-one-hali cents :
per service" for each Of them be
Vanton waste Of money! That would
mount to the sum Of five hundred
Collars. :
1t might seem to be a waste Of d
ime to Fan innocent bystauder" until t
10 is reminded that in such a series I
. ,,.nattu... H. t.antv laad;no aar- i