TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1915-09-27
IS BILLY SUNDAY SIACERE2

lbNlAhA A~hAWhAe@i
II modern evangelism were to be
nut on trial, We would demand as evil
dence motives, methods and effects
We would endeavor to measure mo-
Itives By the degree Of sincerity Of
the evangelist, and the degree Of
sincerity can only be determined by
his un~selfshness. Can any preacher,
the result Of whose methods is the
amassing Of a princely fortune, be
said TO be unselhsh? Can any preach
err who uses obscene v~ulgarities to
attract his crowds be said to accom-
plish q real moral uplift?
An eloquent preacher, who Is also
"a clever actor, seldom has much diff
fculty In creating the impression OF
sincerity Eloquent demagogues are
the greatest danger of our political
commonwealth, because they are able
to impress their hearers with a sem
blance Of sincerity. Good actors
know how to live their parts. A great
actor was complimented n day by
a lady admirer telling him: "You act
ed the part Of KingLear beautifully.
He replied: Madam, | did not ACT
King Lear, l WAS King Lear"
Savanarola, Huss and Luther were
divinely inspired and sincere because
they were unselfsh; the first two
were burned at the stake. Their
names win be guiding stars for hui
mainly to the end Of history, The
modern hysterical evangelist acquires
n~otoriety and dollars and a genera,
ton hence will be considered a mon
strosity.
Any preacher who will shout after
a poor woman in his audience who
rises from her seat and makes for tbs
door because the baby in her arms il
restless and crying: "See that heifel
and her calf; she is going to hell
cannot be sincere and pure at heart
THAT the audience tolerated such ar
insult to motherhood, that it did no
rise and leave the tabernacle, merely
proves that is was ~hypnotized Thu
good people who are carried awa1
by the preachers eloquence and ap
parent feryor and sincerity, see Il
him only the reflection Of their owl
devout souls.
Circus side shows employ barker
or spieIers who have the faculty 0
bewildering and hypnotizing the null
/ titade until they eagerly crowd int
J the tents, although in their sobe
senses they know the wonders the.
| contain are but sorry fakes. Politica
and religious spellbinders understan
/ how to make people believe somethini
for the time being which they mus
/ know cannot be true, ard unfortu
, nately often make them act Will
under such spells.
Eyangelists proclaim Christianit
as the foundation on which rests II
progress Of civilization, but Away
with the proviso that their own pan
' ~tieular doctrine Is the only keyston
for the structure; and how often doe
J such a doctrine become an agenc
> of reaction rather than progress whe
: used in the interests Of the classe
against the masses. The superst
n ltions Of the Old Testament are use
as a means Of soaring the masses il
nlto being good, and to be satisfied wit
their conditions Of poverty and mil
/. cry, rather than to lead them fcrwar
j to relief from their nnisere and to
+ betterment Of their lot, or to seal
+ the classes into yielding a larg'
share of their wealth to the laborin
n man. The slave owners Of the Soui
ii fully understood the value Of such r
n~yiyals in maintaining submississneI
amongst their slaves, and alwal
% welcomed evangelists.
III The system and the perfect bus
n ness organization Of Mr.. Sunday
]. admirable as a money getting specis
lty. That he reaches a few people vi
q cannot be reached, pefhzp b =
other way, may be ADMITTED B
that The public at large win stand |
q that greedy system sud respond