The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-04

lin dish basins.
Billy sunday reached the hall about thirty
minutes before he began to preach. lie sat in
small straight backed chair, close the front
OF the stage, apart from any one else. He held
IN his hands the manuscript OF his sermon. APP
parentIy written OUT he full, and he turned Il
over page after page moving his lips the while
like child committing The multiplication table
This wa~ done Nery naturally without the slight
est effort at coucealmept, aud was characteristic
of the simple earnestnees OF the man.
Close by on the right Of the preacher sat
lis WIFE whose plea sant sensible face made a
favorable Impression on the writer she APP
pcared TO study tn audience very carefully
and Ia he very much concerned as to the out
come Of the service she seemed to realize the
unusual character of tho meeting and the diff
culties which stood in the way of real success.
For it was an unusual meeting.
ne speaker Of tn National House of Rep
t.-e ntt,ives introduced the preacher Score
tlrv Bryan and other prominent government
""iN4ls were ON tho platform ana one OF the
Ut" &papers stated that large ma jority of the
1ad House were to the audience GREAT
interest was evident . curious interest on the
p.t4t ri some a hopeful interest on tho part
If many. Those who long for the growth of
me Masters Kingdom hoping for mes
s"ge which would stir the hearts of the an
saved To repentance ana faith. and inspire the
children Of God TO renewed efforts.
iHt II WIS not fayorab BILE atmosphere for
the best preaching or tor the best results Tn"
exercises partoo< to- much Of the nature of
sous were there, expecting indeed hoping to
bo shocked. astonished or at least amused.
There seemed To he li:tle praycrfulncsS for the
audience was on the judgment seat, to pass
Judgment "pou billy SUNDAY" rather han u
he helped by his preaching. But the crowd as
whole was friendly and wanted the preacher
10 succeed
The text was. And Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho" ana the sermon was q simple
exposition Of the meaning OF the coming Of
icSus ia a city and what effect Il should have
ut'"n The life .ot the citizens. Some OF the at
t"'ft"S and gestures startling and some
Of the statements were couched in unusual
s,rihnq snd What uieht considered eXtravagant
language 10y some persons but the audience
was really surprised ihat there so little to
rritCis" The preacher was too tame, He did
NOT shock his audience enough tht sermon Was
too polished, too literary; 1t was not uncoutb
and vulgar as many had been led TO expect.
AS / read it later in the paper in comparison
with the reports Of the sermons he is preaching
in philadelphia 1t scented TO me that the Wash
HEton sermon was NOR" like an address or lee
yture than a sermon. and upon reflection ! eX-
l.ect hat the choice was wise.
had heard BIN sunday talk To ministers at
Wnona Lake. Indians, where his summer cot
ta9e is located and | had read some of his
mons, SO knew something of his style and gen
eral delivery In view of the great immediate
effects Of his preaching. which admitted ~
o!}. and the great permanent effects which are
claimed by many. the man and the matter and
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