Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-26
Billy Sunday.


The Rev Charles II. Hesselsrave Oh
South Manchester presents IN the IN
dependent an interesting critical esu-
mate of the Rev. Billy Sunday MS
purposes, his methods and his results.
ON the whole he is dubious as to the
value of Mr.. Sundays work in its pres
emit form and Of only faint. tho polite
hope that this form will be changed.
When parsons disagree Il is time Ior
sinners to tremble and the devil to
rejoice. but DR.. Hesselgrave states
very clearly and succinctly an opin-
ion of a weakness in Mr. Sunday
which. in more nebulous form, Is
held largely by adherents Of the es-
sablished church organizations.
DR.. Hesselgrave is not so greatly
concerned by Mr.. Sundays spectac-
ularity, the rawness Of his theology
and his favorite forms of expression,
more appropriate to the bali field
than to the pulpit. He accepts. II he
does not approve, these because OF
the evangelist's undoubted sincerity.
earnestness and unwavering faith In
his cause, not to mention his sue
cess in arousing an emotional ce-
Iigious fervor which may or may not
be permanent In its possessors.
What he does object to Is ME-.
sundays play upon the half formu-
lated moods OF the social unrest; his
filings at birth or wealth or educa-
ton, which invariably strike re-
sponsive chord TO be promptly at
tuned toward Mr. Sundays purpose
which is the open profession OF
religion by large numbers of people.
And again-we judge Dr. Hes3el-
grave considers this much more UNI
fortunate-he finds Mr.. Sunday con-
tlnually and unanimously underm:n-
ing mems confidence and respect FOR
the progress of christianity as rep
resented in it's institutional form, the
church. Dr. Hesselgrave argues that
any reform must have institutional
form to keep it alive. and that dam
age to this, no matter how uncon-
scious or how we'll meaning, is cam
age to the very religion which Mr..
Sunday glorifies.
For this course DR.. Hesselgrave
holds responsible Mr.. Sundays funda-
mental educational and temperamentai
deficiencies. He says
1T must be acknowledged that the
evangelists theological background is
a confusel hodgepodge containing more
drawbacks than helps 20 his real work
and tending to destroy his largest use
fulness. His prem.llenialism and MS
anti-evolution propaganda SlId MIN
and his followers to some Of the great
forces that are working for the king
dom of God. His Wanted reliance upon
! the bible and his provincial interpreta-
! ton OF it as sufficient authority in all
things, scientific and historical, as well
/ a religious. his Grass dualism, and I'M
moral concepts of atonement. not only
prejudice mems minds against the
itrutf, and tend to connect religion WITT
ignorance and obscurant!sln, but SOW
the seeds OF reaction and strife, Whlcf
must in the future weaken the I'M
lpact of the church against the force!
of evil"
This is stated in language rathe
large for easy absorption by the ordi
lnarv man. More briefly 1T asserts tina
Mr.. Sunday is utilizing his reali!
dynamfc personality to arouse amoh'
those brought into immediate contac
With him a sort OF frenzy which drives
ther into action, either hysterical o
suh1imated. as the opinion OF the OBJ
.erver may hold, but which lacks foun
dation strength because 1t lacks TN
h.aaa of reason and logic and lastinl
conviction which come OF scunoeF u
gument and calmer consideration'
We do not know that there exis
statistics which show how long the re
cuts Of Mr.. Sundays crusades hav
lasted in the communities ne mas eieS
tried. An accurate compiler coul
make them important ana hteres.in.
, w. the lack OF them Mr.. Sunday
. n,nrr Ynust remain matter OF dispute
, Maanwtile he Il undoubtedly one =
tha most forceful men-perhaps Tn
. .aes. forceful man-proclaiming tn
nnsne, In this world today. With sue
+ eists as his. his work. II not OF lastin
, , effectiveness now, most certainly coui
! he made so.-Hartford Times.
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