davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
lnteprets Christian Truth Given in the Bible by Logic
and History and Sociology-Many Stories of
Thrilling Escapes From Russia Told

who systema tically and despairingly de-
MED everything.
Il knew that their demands for proofs
for evidence. for rational premises would
he Unsuitable. Very well. / determined
to prove and demonstrate beyond all
cavil or possibility Of denial.
II was wondering how I should make
a beginning when Tolstoy died In Octo-
Der. 1910. That gave me my oppor-
tunity. secured a large hall and with
several other speakers attempted 30 ad-
dress the thousand or more men who
gathered.
when my turn came and It was seen
from my Bible and my Introductory
words that l was a preacher was
hooted and jeered at and did little more
than announce that I would lecture on
topics of particular interest to them on
the following Saturday evening In the
little chapel OF the Church of All Ma
lions, Second avenue.
"They came. They were, sometimes
think, the most critical audience q
preacher ever faced. I discussed crit
ically and fairly all the peculiarly mod
ern doctrines of social salvation-social-
SIN, anarchism, syndicalism and progress
sive Americanism. From sociolog-
ical point view we studied the rise
development and decay Of civilization
inclusive of their religions, family life
and morals. In short, we SURVEYED
society as 1t has been and as II is, show
ing the causes of its good and it's evil.
II allowed ample opportunity for
questions and objections. l let nothing
go by which they did not understand
| never talked at them, but always with
them. So we fought II out, point by
point, hour by hour, often long past
midnight.
"Despairing at times because could
not lay down a single premise or make
beginning anywhere with which they
would agree, would simply take their
| own doctrines, reduce them to absurdity
and then begin all over again. / some
| times think that ! learned and digested
more ethics. biology and sociology in
those definition making, dialectical
bouts than ever did in college.
ITO these lectures I added evening
| classes in. English. American history
and civics. A reading room was opened
and different gatherings of n social ma
ture were held throughout the winter.
Thus in time the opposition gave way
to more friendly sentiment, and I
was able to begin my preaching service
on Sunday afternoons. My first text
was You shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free
THE attendance at these latter SER
vices began TO increase rapidly. until We
have now twenty-five full members In
the church, over sixty paying members
| In the brotherhood and a night school
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
Rev. julius F. Hecker Ordained Methodist Minister,
Uses no Theological Terms in Convincing Class of
Two Hundred Anarchists, Atheists and Nihilists

cries These seekers after religious and
scientific truth were, over so per cent.
Of them, revolutionists. Official exiles
or conspirators Of one sort or another
from that gloomy fatherland of misad-
venture and sorrow.
A quiet hammered, black haired young
man rose TO tell Of the life which he had
put behind him.
Il was a leader in the mutiny in the
Black Sea In 1906" he explained, all
bending forward TO hear. 81 was caught
by the inquistors and sentenced to be
shot. Luckily l managed to slip behind
telegraph pole on the way to the
prison and so escaped and came to this
country. Life Is hard here. but a great
deal more quiet and satisfying than
mutinying on the warshlps OF the Gar"
This same young man l was told after
ward Is himself now preaching to his
countrymen and is soon to be ordained.
THE life I escaped from was no hap
pier than mutinying." began another. as
he rose and faced the roomful of serious
countenances. Il was accused of taxi
ing part in the famous mall train rob-
berry which occurred on the Polish bor-
der a few years ago.
II was chauffeur Of the automobile
In which one of the robbers escaped
with part of the 100000 rubles. ! was
| thrown into jail and made my escape
with the greatest difficulty. Now 1t Is
dificult to persuade myself that I was
ever involved in such desperate adven-
lures. l certainly am glad to live the
uneventful life of an American in New
York. and do not hesitate to say that ]
got my first ideas of right and wrong
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

Of over one hundred pupils. All our
meetings meet some definite, urgent
need. l am not in favor of fitting out
settlements with game rooms and
amusement devices. Such things en-
courage intellectual drowsiness. I
want to wake them up. The weekly
attendance is from 500 to 600."
I'm what way. then, does your in
depreciation of Christianity differ from
the doctrines preached In the churches
to-day?
THE only type Of Christianity that
Will convert. or. let us say. conviuc,
anarchists is what we may call a So
ciologized one. 1t is Christianity sub
Jected to the severest logical and cX-
perimentai tests that science offers.
mad no use for my theology. ! inter
preted Christian truth as given in the
Bible by logic and history and sociology
Take the idea of God. One day
while was talking in my little chap,
man in the audience called out. 'Ycs.
but how do you know there is a Cod
l replied, L don't know there Is a God
nobody knows whether there is a God
or not That puzzled them and they
cried out, What! he breaches Chris.
tianity and has no God!' Scandal
Il gave them plenty OF time to ponder
the matter, and then ] said, I do not
know that Their. is n God, but belic,"
that there is one They then objected
to faith. Whcrcupon l showed them
the scientific necessity of faith, giyil-
1t the scientists designation of a wor,
ing hypothesis. And this was the typ
! of doctrine with which / made M %
Methodist brotherhood out of God h1'-
ers and bomb throwing politicians"
How do you differcntiate. then, be-
tween Christianity and sociology? WI
not give over Christianity entirely AMI
preach sociology"
| That suggestion has come to me tim
and again from numbers of dctraCtnr-
among the socialists and anarCh.-'
whom as yet ! have not been able 'u
reach. Men have stood up in my M. -
| ings and accused me of cinGing 80
religion simply because / got my bro
and butter by preaching 1t. Delegation
OF socialists and others have visited %
and urged me 10 give up my relg.or
promising me the full support of thr.r
organizations II would talk under t.r1
banners of rebellion.
| mo, l shall never do so. Socioln-'
Is not a substitute for religion, bu'
rather an explanation and justica'
Of it. The day Of psychic and so
evolution Is at hand. Leaders Of 'm
people are needed, and these lead.'
must be something besides scientls'-
they must be men who see vision
they must believe heart and soul In ."
principle of some form of regencratiun
they must be prophets in every sens d
the word"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17


gressive preacher in America
i Is to be found in the Bowery."
l was told. Incredulous,
went down to see. / saw. And now
l believe 1t.
The low ceillnged. yellow walled room
was packed with Russian anarchists.
atheists. socialists, nihilists-that is,
they were of these beliefs until they
were converted to scientific Christianity.
Only year or so ago they stood on their
feet and shouted, God Is our greatest
enemy! We hate him! Keep the king
dom Of God to yourself and give us the
earth" Now they sat quietly in their
seats with their overcoats on and leaned
forward listening eagerly to an amazing
sermon.
1.-THE great problem of the last CEN
tury," said the young preacher in
Russian. as he thoughtfully turned over
the leaves OF a textbook on sociology on
the pulpit before him, was the origin
Of species, the organic ascent of beast
and man. The problem of our age Is
the origin, the development and the
destiny OF man. psychological and social.
This means that the crude material
ism which during the last century was
gradually capturing the people Is
doomed. The leaders OF the coming
generation will preach the necessity Of
regeneration and perfection OF the
motivating forces of life with scientific
certainty.
"The whole sweep of cosmlc, organic
psychic and social evolution shows that
the rule Of brute force had to yield to
the superior forces of intelligence and
sympathy. Social evolution proves that
mutual aid and sympathetic. conscious
cooperation make man litter for sur
vival than cutthroat competition, wal
and industrial exploitation
On the other side of the door was
the large hall of a Stun rescue mission
where unhappy human wastres were
being won to the paths Of rcCtltude by
the old machinery Of the emotional
gospel song, the heart breaking test.
mony and the penitents' bench. But
here in the Ettle side room were 200
Russian imin. grants listening eagerly
to sociological exposition of Chris
tianity. Not "A word of the usuaI
dogmatic insIstence on penitence, the
terrors of future damnation or the
beat!hc allurements of future life
Not a single theological term! And
greatest wonder of all, the pulpit from
which these doctrines emanated is under
the Methodist conference and the pastor
Is an ordained Methodist minister.
After the sermon or more properly
lecture, the listeners gave their testi
mony, but 1t was very different from
that being given In the neighboring hal
Here was no petty thievery to confess
no banal admissions of slavery to drink
no Tailed to go to church" penltentia
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
Are Converted to Scientific Christianity

very superstitious, but more or less
loyal to their church and Government;
workingmen. fully class conscious. often
revolutionists. escaped prisoners. atheists
and anarchists; and finally. the self
styled intellectuals. who are in reality
half baked university students. quasi
educated actors. Government officials,
teachers and so forth.
THE educational standard OF these
men. however. is higher than Of any
other immigrant group. or the $50
present at a recent meeting not one was
illlterate. twelve had had a secondary
school education. one was a graduate
Of a high school and one had unver-
sity education. Since immigrant Hitter
acy is almost rs per cent. we may
proudly claim to have the intellectual
cream Of the Russian colony"
And men like these. you say. have
taken kindly to Methodism?"
We'll. scarcely When I faced my
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17
Mission Where Russian Revolutonists Are CO.

set eyes OF a thinker, breaches in Rus
sian. German and English; understands
French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew: is
thoroughly Americanized in dress, and.
as he talks, from time to time brushes
his thick. wavy black hair back from
his brow.
How did this work begin?" asked.
"Well, you see" he replied, II came to
America to train myself t, go back to
Russia and help my comrades. but the
time Is not yet. So looked about me
here.
Il soon learned that after the last
Russian revolution in 1905 the number
OF Russian STAY immigrants to this
country began rapidly to increase. Some
10000 were admitted last year alone.
OF the non-Jewish type. in which / was
Interested, there are to-day some 10000
in New York alone. Add to this the
fact that most of them settled in the
lower East Side a locality from which
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

audience for the first time, with the
Bible in my hands, was met with cries
Put it in the museum! We won't be
bluffed by any religion! Never mind
heaven! We want better pay!' With
such flock as that to shepherd you may
readily see that no ordinary or tradi-
tional brand OF Methodism would do.
So I evolved a brand Of my own.
Russian revolutionary radicals, you
see. seldom agree except in one thing,
namely. that religion and the church
are the greatest curses under which
humanity ever suffered. When once at
a large public gathering a speaker said
that of all his many enemies God was
his most hated and bitter foe his
blasphemy was met by stormy applause,
This almost incredible enmity to re-
ligion is the product Of n spiritually de-
cayed state Church and a despotic
regime which exploits ignorance and
superstition. Their bitter denunciations
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

100 Protestant churches have retreated
in the last twenty years, though 200,-
900 people have been added to its pop
ulation in that period. and you can see
what an opportunity faced me.
II didn't have to return to Russia to
begin the great work of reform Russia
is coming to America, and the great
intellectual revolution which some day
is to shake Muscovy from ocean to
ocean has already begun in this coun-
try. Russian history is being made
right here In lower New York"
But isn't 1t true that the Russian
immigrant Is recruited from the lowest
stratum Of the ill!teratc proletariat
CLASP"
by no means. The Slav Russians
among whom I work are mainly of
three kinds: peasants, half lliterate and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

and blasphemles, strange as 1t may
seem. are after all but the cry of the
soul hungry after religious truth. This
fact fascinated me.
Here were parishioners who believed
solutely immoral and possessed minds
ptifully bewidered with undigested
teachings and ready made concepts Of
socialism. Marxism, anarchism, NAL
thusianlsm and I. w. W.-ism. Old feel
ings, pious traditions, irrational but in
| eradcable prejudices, you know, prevent
people from accepting new religious
truth and hinder them from growing
either intellectually or spiritually. But
here was a virgin field-here were men
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

tTHE most intellectually pro-
gressive preacher in America
Is to be found in the Bowery,"
l was told Incredulous I
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17

variably busted he fact he
straight
well both he
good the execution the
Those good old days when
the runnerpu lift
somehow
push hard and the quarterback probably
body else
OW when they pulled
they
they
The ball
the ful and he
pulls and time
they didn't in quick he would be through
could find what
But instead of keeping straight
wheel
maneuer
the
wall behind
tall high
pushed shoulders
he formed an arch under which the uback
Ter was IN run view all the time could plainly that
back him.
carrying it the o ~
Manesuy he could But overlooked
the back could hold the ball
standing Of
which almost completely hid him
had of running almost a lizard
Well the first thing knew that
smothered
end with haback interfering lack
rabbit.
HAT play them
final "a
much wider
use OF material he finds IT, and shape his
OF the
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17
To
PLAY IN CUBAN
GOLF TOURNEY.
Havana Club Sends Invitation to
Windy City Amateurs to Com
pete There Next Month.
By Tad
By Chick Evans.

~HICAGO, Jan. III have "a.
I ceived from J. T. Llewellyn, an
enthusiastic Chicago golfer, an
announcement of tho second annual
tournament of the Country Club of
Havana, Cuba. Mr.. Sheriff, broth
er-in-law OF Mr.. Llewellyn, lives in
Cuba and is member Of the Ha-
vana club. He has written to Mr..
Lieweilyn that ii is very probable
tnat some of the members OF the
Midlothian Club will enter the tour
nament, and he further says that any
of the better amateurs among the
chicago players are most cordially
invited. The whole schedule Of this
tournament play Is very interesting
to me. 1t lasts two weeks, for one
thing, and that is a. most unusual
space of time to be given to one
tournament. The first week will be
entirely devoted to four-b ball matches.
A whole week given up to four-ball
matches seems something Of an limo
walton In this country, at least it is
unknown in the Chicago district; in
the East they have the Lesley Cup
matches, lasting three or four days.
no pay CHS Tic havana eNclS
make up their own pairs, and as It
Is handicap affair, each ball will
receive three-fourths Of its medal
play handicap and all the matches
are at eighteen holes, except the Gus
tomary 36-hole final. There are no
qualifying rounds; the players sim
ply draw for positions, or byes. Los
ers continue match play in conso-
lation round.
IN the second week are the singls
matches. These are all scratch, ush-
cred in by the usual qualifying
rounds. All of the matches are at
eighteen holes, except the final Plen-
ty of consolation Is offered the early
defeated l understand the first tour
ney at the Cuban club was q huge
success and I believe 1t was won by
Walter ]. Travis.
AS | read the announcement hays
a pleasant vision of palm trees ana
blue waters and I reach the conclu
sion that Havana would make an
agreeable plact OF sojourn for any
Northern golfer from February 10
to &c.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17

.,.e.,.
Illinois,
Bv j. w. Heisman.

lllE American
w fifteen
began introduced and ten
before these lent
Most running
those early days took the form of
through center and double passes through and tackle the
game at much later period,
The most usual form of trick pass
from the backs the
that which
the ball. and a successful play o be
1t 1898 that to
TO
ouneyed Champaign Ill.,
of Illinois which Hail.
Rules Committed coaching We rather
hard with Chicago
team
would probably with
o
man who must have stood feet in his socks
ana exceedingly active on his feet but he could not have been
inches tall However could
him
the line
they could he
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17
FODDER FOR FANS

Yantz and Adams the mask and pad
men.
out as an umpire" says Manager Clark
Griffith of the nationals, "as 1 am con-
fident that he could do a lot better
handling the indicator than Charley
Ferguson, one of the A. l.. umpires, did
last year" Maybe Hughes will get
chance later on.
Bob Harmon. who was one of the trio
involved in the big trade between the
Cardinals and Pirates recently has sent
him to send along a contract as soon
as possible. as he is anxious to sign.
Bob also writes that he expects to have
the best season of his career. The Fed
erals must have overlooked Bob.
Rumors have II that Fritz Maisel. tho
Yankees new third sacker, Is wanted
by the Federal League club in Buffalo
Mickey Corcoran, who does not want to
go to Scranton.
Mr.. IAnnin. OF Boston, has just sold
out his interest in the National League
club. 1t is reported that he couldn't
stand the noise.
The trouble with the Cincinnati d.
rectors seems TO be a tendency TO mix
beer and baseball, which has been done
successfully only in the case of Larry
Mclean.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17

The contract of John Dodge, third
baseman of the Louisville club, was re-
ceived yesterday by President Chiving
ton. of the American Association. 1t
was reported that Dodge has signed TO
play in the Federal League. Dodge was
released to Louisville by the Cincinnati
Nationals late last season.
Mike Mallory, of the Pittsburg Ma
tionals, signed a three-year contract
with the Baltimore Federals, according
to report from that city,
Lloyd Walt, catcher, has signed to
play with the Pittsburg Nationals this
season. He comes from ST. Louis and
played in the defunct Oklahoma League.
A protest against the granting Of
permit for the Baltimore club OF the
Federal League to erect ball park Nen
the site in North Baltimore selected by
the club owners. was filed with Building
inspector Stubs. OF Baltimore, by a
builder who owns houses in that neigh
oorhood.
Pat Bohannon, last seasons heavy hit
ting manager of the Danbury, Conn,
club, of the New York-New Jersey
day that he had been offered a contract
in the Federal League Bohannon de-
cllned to say whether he would accept
the offer
Del Gainor. first sacker for the Ii
gers, who was out of the game a great
deal during the 1918 campaign, may
quit the national pastime. 1t is said
that the initial station guardian will
enter business instead of participating
on the ball field
Base runners in the National League,
who wish TO set a new base-stealing
record, will not be worried in the least
II Bill klllifer, star catcher of the Phil
Hes signs with the Feds. Killifer had
more success stopping the base pilferers
than any other receiver in the senior
body during the 1918 campaign.
Unless Bill Dahlen is able 70 land
Job as manager for a minor league club
this coming season, he will act as scout
for the Superbas. Dahlen Is a fair
Judge of a ball player, and should make
good picking up the raw material for
the Brooklyn club.
Jack Graney. left fielder for the Maps,
Is not wasting his time this winter
Jack is developing into a great golf
player, Graney says he is going TO
make Nean Gregg. Bill Steen and Terry
Turner and the rest OF the experts on
the team look like a bunch OF blind
men, when it comes to playing golf
Johnny Dobbs. who will lead New Or
leans the coming season, has ordered
his pitchers and catchers to report for
early work February l. Bagby. Wilson
Lush, Evans, Stevenson. Williams and
Glsvenich are the hurlers. and Higgins.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17
ATz WILL HAVE:
HARD FIGHT FOR
REGULARbERTH

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 17.-Jake
Y Atz will have to get into the
scramble for second base, and
take chances with the rest of them
this spring. and he win have pretty
warm competition for either infeld
job he tackles.
Here is the group ne goes up
against Starr, knapp, Mcdowell,
Lindsay, Hendrix and Barbara.
When Manager Dobbs was asked
whether he was counting on Atz sor
any Of the infield positions, he said;
"Of course, | can't tell yet whom I
Will count on. Atz was out of the
game so much last year that l didn't
see much of him and have no idea
how good he Is going to show up. We
have the pick of some mighty god
men In the infield, and they will all
have to hustle"
When Dobbs arrived here, he did
not know positively that Bill Lindsay
had been released to the Pels by
Portland, and he gave it out tina
even if Bill hadn't been released he
had framed up a deal by which he
was almost sure to come. He had
secured an all-round man from SYRIA
cuse named Riley, whom he wanted
to turn over to Portland for Lindsay.
On arriving at the ball park, though,
he learned from President Heinemann
that Lindsay was already Pelican.
With Lindsay sure thing In the
infield. Hendryx may be returned to
the outfield to Join in the competition
with Kyle, Northern, McKillen, Coch-
ran and possibly Burns.
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17
White Matched to
Meet Jimmy Duffy
In Buffalo Ring

CHICAGO. Jan. l7.-Charlie White
has been matched 10 battle Jimmy
Duffy, OF Buffalo, in the latter's home
town, the pair coming together next
Friday night. on the outcome Of
that battle depends whether White is
to box Leach Cross and Young Shu-
grue, The match was closed over the
long distance phone. after short
weight argument
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-17
Feds Offer Cobb
Five Year Contract
At $4,000 a Season

CHICAGO, Jan 1T.-Ty Cobb was
offered tive-year contract at $4,000
year in a telegram sent to him at
Augusta, Ga, to-day by President
Gilmore, Of the Federal League.
The telegram was written and Civ
en- to a messenger in the presence
of newspaper men after Gilmore had
said that he had learned that Cobb
had not Vet signed with Detroit for
the 1914 season.
Gilmore's telegram offers 10 pay
Cobb his first years salary in ad-
vance and to put the remaining $50.
600 in a bank