Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-01
OPPOSES, METHODS
OF BILLY SUNDAY
Rev. H. D. c. Maclachlan, D. D.,
Objects to Inviting Baseball
Evangelist to Richmond.
RESULTS NOT BENEFICIAL
Offends and Keeps Away From
Churches More People Than
Are Won.


was shared by many other people in
Richmond. Rev. III. ID. G. Maclachlan.
y D.. pastor of the Seventh Street
Christian Church. last night set him
self in stern opposition to bringing
Billy Sunday, the famous evangelist. to
may be In his methods DR.. Maclachlan
does not believe that those methods are
followed by permanent and beneficial
results. and lie said that IL is "a we'll
known fact that the hardest people to
win to the church are those who have
once passed through ~ severe emo
nonal crisis without becoming Chris
tians. In short, pr. Maclachlan is
against that method which Jockeys
people into the church or withholds
them with n joke from the jaws Of hell.
MANY OFFICIALS fxPRESS
AGREEMENT WITH MINISTER
Tho church was Gllcd from gallery
10 pit with one OF tho largest congrc-
cations which has ever sat at DR. Mac
Iachlan's feet. Representatives from
the General Assembly. members OF
both branches OF the City Council and
city officials were present in force.
ward to express agreement with the
minister's opinion &C Sunday and his
methods. and to congratulate him upon
the force and effectiveness with which
II" gave IT voice
Tho Richmond Ministerial Union of
which DIR. Maclachlan IL a member
some weeks ago took up for consid-
Grafton the question whether effort
should be made TO obtain Sundays ser
vices. Tho matter was referred TO
committee of twenty-five minister's
and laymcn. This committee has dc
cidcd that Sunday should be invited
here. and will SO report TO the meeting
OF the Ministerial Union this morn
ing. The union as a whole will then
pass upon the question, and the action
OF tho committee is not expected TO 70
unopposcd.
PHOBLIcM OF. SENSATIONALISM
BEGAN IN EARLY CHURCH
At tho outset OF his sermon last
night DIR. Maciachla.i said that such
action as has already been takenl Is
not final. that the matter must be re-
fcrrcd to a dcnominntiomal conference.
or he would not have given voice to
his dissenting opinion.
The essential problem of sensational
methods in religion is not a new one"
said Dr. Maclachlan. "It is ms old as
Christianity itself, and. in the words
OF one from whom have chosen as
our text, st. Paul lays down rule for
.hn guidance OF the church i'm regard
10 it. The emotional nature Of the
Christians at Corinth had been over
estimated. and. because OF that they
were developing n fondncss for the
dramatic and spectacular i'm religion
ciplne. In long argument with
them the apostle points out the folly
OF this. and pleads win them 10 keep
their balance and restore reason
DYNAMITE HAS ITS VALUE, HIT
SHOULD nE USED CAREFULLY
1T is to the bar OF these apostolic
injunctions that would wish to bring
the question before us tonight
would not, however, be understood as
casting any reflections on the sincerity
OF Mr. Sunday and others who adopt
his methods Of evangelism When
there is an ice tam In the river IL
sometimes requires dynamite TO open
un the channel. but dynamite. unless
very carefully used by skilled en-
rinecrs, may do damage where it is
not intended. And the question is
whether by giving its official indorse-
ment to this kind of evangelism the
church may not in the long run pe
Weakening its appeal by discounting
lis ordinary agencies and generating
an atmosphere of emotional dosmatism
which may tend TO sidetrack-if
only Tor while-its more construc-
tive education and social program
Evolution and not revolution. edu-
cation and not catastrophe, is God's
standard method OF creation, whether
IN nature or grace. Anything that
fixes attention on the earthquake and
he storm to the neglect OF the still
small voice OF Christian nurture. or
which would tend In any way to sub
stitute emotional experience for the
discipline OF common life and the bear
ing of the daily cross. is fraueht with
grave danger TO the life of religion
~ UNINsTRUCTIvE CONSCIENCE
DANGEROUS POSSESSION
DR.. Maclachlan said that religion
begins In emotion and thrives in an
atmosphere Of emotion, but it is IN emo
ton under the control OF the intellect.
hnding its outlet In the copsecra ted
sill. Conscience itself is emotion. but
All uninstructed conscience is a very
dangerous possession.
1T Is" he continued, "a well-known
fact that the hardest people TO win to
Christ or the church are those who
have once passed through severe
emotional crisis without becoming
Christians. And in view of this tact,
il ought surely to set us TO thinking
that Of all those who profess conver-
sion at the Sunday meetings II give
The most favorable Hgures) only about
20 per cent join the church That Is
10 say there are fifty out of every 100
whom the meeting leaves morally In a
worse condition than it did before
harder to reach harder to save In the
future. Are we not emphasizing auan-
tity at the expense of quality? The
church has never been SO strong spirit
uaily as whenAit was weak and per-.
secuted and II hassnever been so weak