Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-08
Psychoiosy Of "BiIIy, Sunday.


OMAHA. Sept. Ito the Editor of The
Bee: Many people do not believe in re-
veaied religion-that is, that even on earth
God revealed himself in person to man.
Billy Sunday dislikes Darwin and the
teachings of evolution. psychology as a
science. the Unitarians and for some
reason he is not particularly enamoured
OF the Lutherans and some other sects.
Charles Darwin died in 1882. about the
time the writer lived in London He tried
hard also 70 hear his great disciple,
Thomas Huxley but failed. but did have
the pleasure OF listening to an address
by Herbert Spencer. 1t Is upon the re-
searches Of Darwin In anthropology. or
the study OF man. that the great system
of philosophy of Spencer is built.
The writer also at the age Of IL. and
for eight years. was brought up In a
high church Episcopalian school at RAJ
cine, Wis. under a good man. DR.. De
Koven. or what Billy Sunday might
say: Trained in as high or ntualistio
church of that denomination az they make
them.
With all due Difference to the followers
OF Confucius. OF Zoroaster. Gautama.
Budha, Mohamst, Mrs. Eddy and the
Jehovah OF the Jews; the heather COOS.
Moloch and Ball OF the Old Testament,
and the Great Spirit OF the American
Indian in the writer's humble opinion
there never was a religion to compare
with the simple teachings of the meek
and lowly Jesus, made complex and I'M
certain by the dogmas of the church in
an after day and that he never taught.
In no literature 10 there anything COM
parable to the unselfishness and humility
OF the bSatitudes in the Sermon on the
Mount; Blessed are the meek, for they
shall inherit the earth" and the others.
Then the other saying of his life. like
unto Cali no man master, for ye are all
brothSrs." Then TO paraphase like "Biily"
Sunday often does: And when ye pray
use not vain repetitions as the pagans do.
for they think they shall be heard for
their much talking. Be ye not therefore
like unto them. for your Father knoWeth
the things ye are in need Of without your
talking 80 much about It" Woe unto
you that teach creeds and dogmas and
deny Justice, ye that strain at a gnat
and swallow a camel! Ye appear out
wardly holy, but within Ye are full OF
profit usury and plumber. Ye are like
unto whited sepulchres and indeed appear
beautiful without. but. within are full OF
dead mems bones. and all uncleanness'
outwardly righteous unto men. but within
ye are full OF hyprocrtsy and iniquity'
Democracy is the best form OF govern
ment known 70 man. IL IL far from per-
feet. but Il Is the best we can do with
poor human nature, as witness the
daughter In European monarchIes. 80 TOO
IL Christianity tho best, but II 10 far from
psrfeot In this fantastic world OF ours 81.
Paul. who was one Of the twelve apostles
lit is though by some was too enthusiast
tic and got the teaching OF Jesus mud
died a Bit He taught that slaves should
obey their masters and women their
husbands and the inference IL whether
they were right or wrong. To many this
does not seem Christian and especially
20 the suffragettes Three hundred years
after Christ the Christians were power
/ 10 be reckoned with and the pagan EN-
peror Of Rome. Constantine. adopted
! Christianity. and which some think was
not very hard for him TO do ss long as
such a loophOle had erept In as slaves
/ obey your masters" which was what was
wanted bv an emperor
To see billy" Sundays kindly face
one realizes that he viii do Omaha no
harm and maybe lot Of good, but he,
too, may be too enthusiasts and too
garruious. for human nature IL thing
past finding out. psyeholOgically or
otherwise. but the truth viii all come out
one OF these days in the wash OF time
He invites We ali 70 fight the 0enighted
heather a Ia militAire. or church militant