The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-26
TOM POUND is
AGAINST SUNDAY
To the Editor of The Herald:

10 the Editor or Inc Age-Herald:
The prospective coming of the Rev
Billy Sunday, the converted baseball
champion, to our city, is under public
discussion in the press and on the
streets. Do not account me a Kicker
nor a "knocker'' when l dare express
an objection to the proposition, but
the negative side of any question
|is entitled to thought and considera-
ton.
/ wish to say that for the Christian
religion I have the greatest respect
too much respect to desire to see the
pulpit commercialized to draw crowds
to this city, or use it to advertise Bir
mingham as commercial and indus
tTial center. The boast is made that
the coming of Mr.. Sunday to our midst
will prove a great advertisement for
II birmingham, because he has never ap
Epeared anywhere else in the south
Then, again, from interviews pub
lished by some who so earnestly in
sist upon the coming of Mr.. Sunday
L am forced to the belief that there is
much political Significance attached to
the proposition and the desire to con-
tinue the agitation of the liquor ques-
ton and to place in perpetual power
that element of our decorate, which
Rcan see. no moral or political virtue in
any man who disagrees with them as
to how best to manage the liquor evil
II AS to myself. I am a tetoler (wish all
my prohibition friends were like me in
1 this respect), and if I had my way
Il about it l would cast into the sea every
drop of intoxicating liquor on the
American continent. Yet, l am opposed
/ to the continual discussion and agita-
ton of sumptuary laws to the neglect
| of the greater questions of moral and
industrial interest which confront our
Il community and our commonwealth.
AS to the religious revival idea sug-
gested by the coming of Mr. Billy Sun
day there is serious doubt as to the
stability and genuineness of that So
1 called reformation brought about by
| the ecstatic energy and physical force
/ of personal oddity in the pulpit-a
spectacular actor, whose past life
physical and mental achievements
draw and excite for the moment.
Here in Birmingham we have our
church pulpits Of all denominations oc-
cupied by an able ministry, devout and
| consecrated, whose daily walk and
| conversation. whose ministry to the
| poor, the sick and the afflicted, whose
| words of warning and lessons of moral
ity are daily seen and heard, and many
of these thus labor with most meager
compensation, because the people do
| not respond to their worldly needs.
We are told that Mr. Sunday is to
bring with him six or seven assistants
among them physical trainer or ath-
lete, and the people are to erect a
tabernacle for his use to seat 10000
Now who is to pay this man, his assist
ants and for the tabernacle? And how
much money does Mr. Sunday require?
I am told his income equals that OF
the President Of the United States
Shall Birmingham people be assessed
| this vast sum when so much poverty
| exists at our very doors, and when
\ men, women and children here are un-
provided with food and raiment, many
1 of them crying for bread? Is the neg
lect of these and the bringing of Billy
Sunday to our midst at the price, con-
sistent with Birmingham's idea of re-
ligion? If so, God help us!
T. s. POUND.
Birmingham, October 20, 1916.