The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-06-09
Victim Of Tornado Publicly Pro-
claimes Penitence at Close of
Sermon and Promises to
Live Better Life
MAKE RELIGION REAL
IS PLEA OF TETLEY
Komps on Mere FormaIity and
Church Members Who Don't
Live Devoutly Not Look
ing for "Jiners"

An unexpected and dramatic Incl
dent closed the tabernacle revival
meeting last night, victim Of 4 re-
cent cyclone mounting the platform
ana declaring his belief that the storm
indicated the wrath OF God toward
hlm for his misspent life, and apollo
glzing to those people who knew him
LOT having caused by his actions loss
OF confidence in him as a Christian.
The speaker was ]. r. Martin, whose
nome was swept away by the wind and
VINO, together with his famiIy, was in
lured when the cyclone wrought ruin
to bis property. He proclaimed real
ieglance to Jesus Christ and publicly
promised to so live henceforth that all
would know he was deyout and earn
est Christian
y was at the conclusion Of Evangel-
ist Big Bilr' Tetley's stinging sermon
that the preacher permitted Martin to
stand on the platform and make his
proclamation.
Martin said he had left his Young
son very ill at home with the invalid's
mother watching over him. He felt
that God demanded his public confess
sion, he said, therefore he risked ab-
sence from his boy at q critical time
In order to fulfill what seemed to him
divine Injunction. He told of the
storm and of a vision which came to
him, causing him to return to his faith
IN God and determination to live as his
Maker required
He pleaded for forgiveness because
ne had caused shattering Of confi-
dence in him among his fellows, and
begged that other men in his cordi-
tion do as he had done.
Rev. G. Lyle Smith of the Christian
church explained to the big congrega-
ton that Martin had suffered much
through the storm but that the man
was sincere and eager to announce his
change in living, being convinced that
the Almighty had visited suffering up
on him because OF his wrongful life.
Biting and Powerful.
Ietley was very biting and very
powerful in his sermon, which was
based on Agrippas statement, Almost
thou persuadest me to be Christian.t
r
he drew a wide line between the real
Christian and the mere church mem
Der who perfunctorily performed tho
ceremonies and rites of his creed and
through their performance believed he
mad fulfilled the requirements Of God
and hoped to slip into heaven thereby.
The evangelist hurlesqued those
preachers who serve fashionable
churches, in which lengthy and formal
programs consume practically all the
time, ritualistic ceremonies being Of
such duration and stiffness that the
congregations desired only very few
minutes Of oral declaration OF Gods
word from the minister.
Fetley impersonated the minister
and congregation, bobbing up and
down in conformity with the rules
which. he said, governed the modern
service, and also mimicked the church
members, who began to sniff their
Sunday roast beef about IL O'Clock and 8
demanded that the preacher cut his
sermon short.
These devout worshippers, hungry
for the roast beef they Seem to smell,
leave the services saying. / have per-
formed the purposes of God. have
done my full duty Now can 60 home
and eat. I'm done We have come
to day in Professionalism when there
Is no more Christianity in many Of the
than in the picture live
drawn." Tetley exclaimed.
The preacher showed that in the
days of Agrippa followers Of Jesus
Christ were called Christians because
they were known among the people as
devoted to the cause OF the Savior.
They took His name and revealed
their devotion by their everyday lives.
We are recognized as Christian
Continued on Page Three.l