The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10

Yaple, city editor Of the Erie DdtiU
Times, published an estimate of results
up to date. He reported tnat follow
ing the revival period there had been
a remarkable increase in church at
tendance and no appreciable decline at
the end Of the year and a half; that
here also reform Mayor mad been
elected over the machine candidate;
that every public gambling house in
the city had been closed; that disorderly
resorts had been compelled to cease
selling liquor to those frequenting them.
and that drunken orgies or the early
morning hours had been stopped. Also,
Mr. Yaple wrote. the resorts them
selves had been gradually closed until
but very few were left Membership
Of church after church had doubled,
and money offerings more than doubled,
while classes for Bible study had in
creased their membership by 100 per
cent.
One OF Billy Sundays most energetic
campaigns was carried on I'm Column
bus. Ohio. where at least one saloon
keeper hit the trail leading to heaven
as Sunday expresses 1t, and several bar
tenders gave up their occupation after
hearing what he had to say about
drunkenness When Sunday was asked
whether he thought such men would
stay converted after he had gone away
he replied
II know what some dirty whelps will
say II these converts slip and fall.
They are just as good as the Old con
verts. depending on the environment
you make for them. When ! leave
Columbus I refuse to be held respOn-
sible for what happens. I've done my
duty. Now it's up TO you preachers
When arrangem, were made by
people in Wheeling, w. Va, to have
Billy Sunday conduct a campaign there
some one opposed to his methods had
an ordinance passed which was aimed
directly at him. The ordinance made
II mlsdemeanor for any minister or
other speaker to use language Calcu-
lated to shock delicate sensibilities.
"I'll attend to that little rat when |
get to Wheeling" said Billy Sunday
And he kept his word.
When he stepped on the platform
at the Wests Virginia city he fired
battery OF slang that took him five
minutes to deliver. 1t was such slang
as Wheeling had never dreamed Of,
such a mass OF connected yet wild, i'm
possible slang as Huckleberry Finn and
Tom Sawyer had never been made to
utter In Mark Twains most gorgeous
moment of inspiration. The Wheeling
audience was startled, convulsed, and
somehow captivated. When quiet had
been restored so that his voice once
more could be heard Sunday shouted:
Where is that phlegmatic dogmatic,
pragmatic, rheumatic little nondescript
who had that ordinance passed? If he's
| in this audience, I'd like him to come
| forward"
| Sunday waited, but the author of the
ordinance failed TO appear lie had dis
creetly gone TO Chicago before the
evangelist arrived. The ordinance was
not enforced.
When Sunday breaches he prea ches
with every ounce OF power that is in
him. Likewise does he pray; and when
I praying he does not confine himself
to appeals for help and comfort from
| the Almighty. Often he addresses the
devil, demonstrating with him, defying
| him, daring him to come on and do his
worst; for Satan, the Prince of Dark
ness, is as real a parsonage to Billy
! Sunday ms he was TO Martin Luther,
Clergymen have said that their hair
almost stands On end when they hear
| MN WTtSt4lnG WIN IllS spawn VI
hell" shouting defiance 10 this king
OF the burning lake"
Isn't II worth while" asks Sundays
upholders, "if Billy can reform n single
man, much less scores and scores Of in
elviduals?"
In a general way most people would
be inclined to assent, but some who are
trying fairly to weigh Sunday and his
work point out the fact that in going
to a town he does not go to appeal Ia
individuals but that he goes to appeal
to the community as a whole and that
he is to be Judged by results that come
to the whole community. Does he
leave city cleaner, more charitable
more tolerant, less bigoted?" these ask
"Or does he increase bigotry, intoler'
ance, the critical habit of mind?' IN
other words, how does he affect civic
life as distinguished from the lives OF
individual citizens?
Answers vary; but one thing Is sure
the men who believe In Billy Sunday
are not confined to the ignorant. Dur
ing the early part of 1914, for example
a wave of suicide swept across the stu
dent body at the University of Penn
sylvania What caused II to start il
Lnut known, But Il grew by that mys
terious power of suggestion, imitation
mob spirit, Whatever one chooses Il
call IT, Finally the provost, Edgar #
Smith, urged Billy Sunday to conduct {
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