Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-08
SEES BIG OPPORTUNITY
HERE FOR BILLY SUNDAY
DR.. W. Asbury Christian Thinks
Baseball Evangelist Would Do
Richmond Good.
CHURCHES ONLY REACH HALF
Local Minister'S, While Faithful and
Difigent, DO Not Save AIl-Says
City Needs Him to Wake 1t Tn
to Awful Conditions.

In discussing the plan to invite
billy" Sunday to como to Richmond.
Rev. w. Asbury Christian. d. D.. pastor
OF Union Station Methodist Church, said
last night that 1T Is not n question
whether we agree with him or like all
his methods: 1t Is n question of results
1t seems as If God would speak to this
generation when He calls a baseball
player to preach after his fashion. for
II there is one game dear to the hearts
OF Americans, it Is baseball. The Spirit
of God fills and uses a baseball player.
There is opposition. OF course. But he
is used Of God
Look how he stirs Philadelphia until
everywhere people arc talking religion.
Think OF the fact that In four weeks
5000 and more have professcd faith
in Christ. Suppose some should fall
away. Some fall away after any re-
rtval Som" fell after Pentccost. Not
as many fall from the work under
Sunday under other cvangelsts
But suppose 30 per cent fall away?
Are not 5000 souls. 1000 Il week, worth
saving when there Is rejoicing In
heaven over ono sinner that repenteth?
IF Sunday should come to Richmond
he would wonderfully unite the various
branches OF the church. In one great,
united effort he would really show us
would be worth while. He would terri
bly, dcnounce sin and wickedncss. and
In the light OF tho report OF the Vice
Commission we need to have some ono
who Will wake MS up Ia our awful
condition"
was What Would 'Rilly sunday DO In
Richmond" or. The Promise and
Power OF a Great Religious Revival"
He took AZ his text these words from
tho book Of Acts. I'VE do hear them
speak IN our tongues the wonderful
work OF God. And they were all
amazed and were In doubt saying one
to another. What mcancth this? Others,
knocking. said. These men are full OF
new wine. And the sam. day there were
added unto the church about three thou
sand souls" This was the FIRST great
revival in the Christian Church, said
Or. Christian. and from that day to
this. at various times great revlvals
have lifted the church higher and
added many unto her.
All these great REVEALS" he said.
ARE alike in the underlying principle.
the work of the Spirit OF God. They
are unlike in the unimportant matters
OF attending circumstances. Not only
every person hears the gospel In his
own language. but every age and ma
tion hear the word OF life In their
own peculiar method There are al
rnents and who attribute them to mere
human agencies. and these. doubtless,
are conscientious In their opposition.
but conscientiously wrong.
The formal and dead state OF the
Church OF England in the time OF the
Weslcys is well set forth by the Bishop
OF London. God raised up these men,
who. by their consecrated individuality
under the Holy Spirit, nightly stirred
the people, and thousands were turned
unto God. But men abused these re-
vivalists, and some even attacked them
as fanatics who dared 10 tell men OF
their sins.
III was the same with Whitfield In
America. The opposition TO him was
strong. said the preacher, but few men
stirred Amo rica for God as did he. He
recalled the opposition against Moody
when that famous evangelist came TO
Richmond. and said that the revercd
Dr. Moses d. IioEe cleared away the
opposition The same signs that ma ked
the rerirals OF these men. said Dr.
Christian. mark those OF Sunday
But measure him by one standard.
weigh him in ono set OF scales" said
DR.. Christian, and see the results 1t
is the standard set OF Jesus Himself
by their fruits yc shall know them
Hundreds OF the leading ministers in
places where Sunday has bcen tell OF
the good and abiding results OF his
used by God
While the ministers OF Richmond
are as faithful and dIligcnt as those
OF any city in America" continued pr
christian. we are not reaching more
than 30 per cent of the people of this
city. That is dcplorable state Of ar
fairs. What OF the other 80 per cent?
Shall they say. no man cries for my
SOUL Are they not worth savingo
inc experience wherever Sunday has
been Is that he Is wonderfully gifted
IN attracting and In moving that great
class that is beyond the influence and
touch OF the church
lie would also quicken the life OF
the church and of her minister's And
VIC all need ii. We should sink ont Of
sight our mere personal likes and dis
likes, and test this man Of God by
the Masters standard. And IL his
points are good we should join him
hand and heart"