Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-19
WHAT IS THE
. UNPARO0NABLE Sin
REV. BILLY SUNDAYS ANSWER is
OF JESUS CHRIST,
OUR SAVIOR"

Des Moines, Dec. 17.-"What is the
objectionable SIM" asked Rev. Sun.
day in his sermon on that subject. ut
is the constant continued and final re-
lection of Jesus Christ, our Savior"
Three hundred and fifty persons Were
stirred on this night to an open dec
laration that they accepted Jesus
Christ as their Savior, but this was
not the most dramatic scene of this
nights sermon.
Sunday had defined the Hely Ghost
as that member of the Trinity that
dwelt on earth among us; the still
small voice that whispered what was
right and warned us OF the wrong
Goods voice." he called it. Then he
depicted the gradual lessening of the
consciousness of sin If one persistent
ly unheeded the voice. This led to the
frequent query: "Why are so few
aged sinners converted? Is it an ar
gument against religion?" The nine
thousand there answered the question
for him.
How many are protesting Chris
tians?' he asked. "Stand up" Per
haps 1000 remained in their seats.
Those who were converted before
the age of 20 sit down." he directed.
There remained only about eight hun
dred of the 5000.
"Those who were converted before
the age of 80 sit down." he continued.
There remained but few more than
a hundred persons.
Now before 40 years old" Only II
had been converted after they reach
90 n, Dot n
gray haired men remained on their
feet
"Ordinarily-there are few excep-
tions-but ordinarily, men die as
they live,' he concluded, with this
striking testimonial of his contention
that the fact that so few old men were
converted was one of the most power
full arguments for religion.
Toward the close of the sermon Sun
day asked his auditors this question.
"How many Of you have an honest
desire to be Christian? Stand up if
you're honest. If you mean that you
don't care about it but just want to
take a chance, don't rise. Stand up
if you honestly desire to be Chris
tian"
There could not havt been fifty in
the tabernacle who did not rise.
A martial atmosphere was created
during the preliminary service by the
presence on this night Of the veterans
of the great war, with the auxiliary
bodies. the ladies of the G. A. r.. the
w. R. c., the Army and Navy post and
the Sons Of Veterans, the Spanish War
veterans and the local companies OF
tho iowa national guard Mt
The shrill notes of the fife were
heard and martial songs were sung.
Sunday devoted several minutes OF his
opening remarks, usually used in max
ing announcements In tribute to the
old soldiers and an expression of the
pride he felt in being son of an old
soldier.
He began his sermon by begging that
his audience lay aside any preconceiw
ed ideas or opinions held regarding
the "Unpardonable SIM and listen at
tentively to his Interpretation.
1.-THE objectionable sin is not swear
ing, drunkenness, adultery, theft or
murder" he said. IF it were, multi.
tudes who have been going toward
heaven would have to turn about and
hear for hell"
"Its no one act" he continued, mo
special sin. Any sin can so fix your
character that you are unable or I'M.
willing to give up that sin and heed
the voice Of God. Finally, there will
come time when God will ask you
for the last time. The constant and
final rejection of Jesus Christ through
the constant and final rejection of the
holy spirit is The objectionable Sin. .
High brow heresies' came in for
statement or two that were nothing
if not emphatic. who has the audac-
ity to insult the holy ghost or my
Christ by denying their Divinity he
cried "You can't insult my God or
my Christ without the best fight from
me you ever saw. Future probation
damnable rot" he continued.
Death bed repentance he described
as Burning the candle at both ends
in the service of the devil, then blow
ing the smoke in Christ's face
In leading up to the call for con-