Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-21
Confessions Of a Backslider


rs reading the various articles on billy SUNDAY
written for the letter box have failed as yet 10
read OF the personal experience OF any backshoer
called.
Well to make things little more interesting and
show the triumph OF Billy Sundays personal devil
1 will say that one Of those critters Billy Gale
a backslider. II will perhaps help explain the phy
slology OF this religious fsnaticsm commonly calico
revivals when preface the story OF my conversion
fall from grace by telling Of the discussion re-
Gently had with my mcther-in-law A few OF US were
gathered together discussing and ridculng his no"
santed nibs CBilly) and my mother-in-law spoke up
and said that she would be afraid 10 speak as we dd
for fear God would strike her dead. You see, MI
Editor II is fear OF Cod fear OF hell not the love OF
God that guides their footsteps along the thorny patn
outworn Jewish Jehovah with flaming sword in each
hand and fire belehlng from his eyes, mouth nose
and ears, looking for victims to STAY
also remember when was a boy and my good,
sweet dear ignorant mother used to tell her chill
dren myself amongst them that the thunder was the
voice Of God when he mad and dspieased at bad
boys and girls The lightning his flaming sword
Of vengeance against sinners This silly stuff stuck
20 until able to reason for myself from the
knowledge OF the elements gained at school, Neither
my father mother refuted the unconscious
fasehood they fed their innocent children 70
frighten them into being good.
or course. being a son OF so-called Christian par
ents 7 naturally went 10 Sunday school and church
NV sunday school teacher told Of hellfire and
damnation for wicked boys and then after SUNDAY
school we would march up into the auditorium for
church and then the preacher would finish the tob
completely that the least boyish prank
played nfraction Of the rules laid down by my
father mother, constantly looking around for
that personal devil Of "Billys" with horns and
forked tail
Being emotional and tender hearted easily
affected by sad recas the chief In stock OF thu
professional revvAist especially his tale OF hefre
and damnaton II scared me stiff so right then and
there hit the trail inverted Joined church and
acted the part for n long time OF canibal drinking
the blood OF Christ and eating Of his flesh. event
ualy became ashamed of myself protesting TO he
civilized and there drinking blood and eating
human flesh. "Ah' they say. that ls only a sym
boil" Well suppose It IL, but II is a very ghastiy
one TO say the least.
All" but they say. you are not thoroughly con-
verified" Well. do not know whether was or not
afterwards realized that all of the antics ana
crazy capers well crying and gnashing Of teeth
that the other fools did. But knowledge and reason
Ing led me long TO cut from that God and to
get OF my own, which have A brief description
OF which I will give And I think II has BILLY
Sundays God beat TO a FRAGILE.
MY God Is an invention Of my own mind. the same
as the God that BILLY" and his followers Is an in
vention of their minds. My God Ia love- Is beauty
is mercy, Is compassion, Is wisdom. is intelligence
In closing wish TO state that my feelings after my
conversion a mixture OF fear that | would back
slide, a mixture OF gladness and peace that 1 was
saved from that awful hellfire Fear prompted me
to go down the sawCust trail Fear prompted me 20
never entered into the proposition all, because n
person cannot fear individuality love at the
time.
This Mr.. Editor is the physiology OF the Sunday
revival I love my maker: I love Jesus and fear
neither Omaha 26l6 Farnam.