Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-15
PEOPLES PULPIT


and the pee-pool games or the gam
bling at the pool tables came to a
close and the town seemed to be up
on its good behavior Immediately aft
er the arrival of Billy Sunday. Even
the mayor was reported to have ex-
tended his hand to the evangelist.
Persons who were interested in
these vices and beneflciaries of the
proceeds from these sources were
less active in denouncing the work of
Billy Sunday than those who are
responsible for their existence. Sew
eral communications have appeared
in your paper denouncing the work Of
Rev. Sunday that reflect no credit up
On those who have written them. II
is an old adase and one that l believe
TO be true that che who spits agains;
Heaven receives it back in his face
1t is hot my purpose to make reply
to, any of these attacks that have
been made. Ny attention shall be
given to the proposition made by the
mayor OF our city and several other
citizens. They assume that the free
will Offering that is to be given next
Sunday is to go to Mr.. Sunday. They
also say that they are informed that
1t amounted to about $1,000 in Jack
sonville, Hi, and that the amount is
likely to be that much here. feel
safe in saying that if the collection
depended upon these gentlemen and
those who think as they do, there
would be nothing to give TO Mr.. Sun
day. This proposition to give all OF
the free will Offering except $1,000 ana
expenses to the poor. would seem to
be very charitable thing to do, but
it is fair to presume that those who
make this free will offering with the
understanding that it is to go to Mr..
Sunday. should be considered in the
premises rather than those who are
attempting to dictate in advance what
disposition should be made of the
money contributed to someone else.
II reminds me OF Artemus Ward who
said he would be willing to sacrifice
| all of his wife's relations to put down
the Rebellion
undertake to say that believe
that the men who have changed their
way OF living since Mr.. Sunday came
20 our city. will bear me out in the
statement that Mr. Sunday has con-
tributed more to the poor since he has
been here. iii the most tangible way.
than any citizen living in our midst
and yet we have come noble generous
| men amongst us. Some of them in
fact signed this petition making this
| proposition
| desire further to state that there
| would be much less need for giving TO
the poor if it We're not for the dens
Of vice and iniquity that have been
/! permitted to exist in our city, the eff
feet OF which Mr.. Sunday has been so
actively engaged in denouncing and
| breaking up.
| | personally know several men who
spent their money and theil. time in
these places of vice and iniauity, who
| are now taking their earnings home to
| their families and thus obviating the
necessity for such charity work as this
committee propose. at least so far as
they are concerned.
What is the object of all this cal,
culation of what Mr.. Sunday has col
lected from other cities and what he
is likely to collect here? It may dc.
ceive someone. but there are many
who know that the only object is to
embarrass Mr.. Sunday and 10 make
it appear to the public that he is
only here for what he can get out OF
our people financially. If he is able
TO collect by n free will offering
! $1,000, some of which would otherwise
have found its way into the Golfers
OF the brewery, just consider that il
has been contributed to better
cause.
From what source comes the de
mand for gifts to the poor. Is it not
very largely due to the existence OF
the saloons and other places of vice
that our community sanction, license
and perpetuate? Then, Mr.. Mayor, il
you want to do the greatest charity
act you ever did in your life, get busy
on these places that rob men, not only
of their money but of their character
and according to our orthodox teach
Ing, their immortal souls
/ | have heard Mr.. Sunday only three
times since he has been here | have
not spoken to him since he came tt
the city and yet, common decency ant
fair play demands that | remain silen
ltU IcuSSI duu D6llSV6 II the duty o
every citizen who believes in fairnes!
and justice, to speak out and let thos'
who are trying to thrust crow-bars in
to the wheels of the chariot of Saliva
ton, understand that we appreciat.
the work of the greatest evangelist. o
the age.
} Why not make proposition to TIL,
stock holders Of the brewery and til,
saloonkeepers of this city to delive
over portion of their profits for tn,
past five weeks, as a donation to tn
poor, thus returning it TO the pocket
from whence it came, since we know
that such traffic makes more pauper
than all other causes combined.
l have been citizen of this cit,
for more than quarter of century
have had the pleasure Of seeing mos
of this country, have visited mining
camps from the Gulf OF Mexico to tn
Arctic Circle, seen miners, Indians an,
cowboys gamble. l have visited TIL
/ oitiac from Moi,na To Col;fo~pio