The Washington times., 1917-04-30
WOMEN CROWD TO HEAR
SERMON FOR men ONLY
400 Attend as Sunday breaches
on "Sins of the Fathers"

0Aiy olIiy SuHuAy pTehSHcu AOE AeH
only in the Tabernacle last night.
selecting a pathological discourse en-
titled when Chickens Come Home to
Roost," which means precisely what
most pulpiteers mean when they d.
late on The Sins OF the Fathers"
those sins that carry on to the third
and fourth generation. But even Billy
was perfectly aware that no less than
400 women kept their cold noses glued
to the window panes OF the Tabernacle
all through the sermon while they
absorbed strong medicine mixed for
the male sex
Wild horses couldn't have moved
them. Policemen, all ablush, hinted
that perhaps they would better go
away. that something might be said
which would shock or offend-noth-
ing doing. Ushers. prim ushers in
frock coats, pleaded gently on the In
alienable right of mankind to have a
party now and then. even a gospel
party. without a lot of women stand
ing around-still nothing doing. .
There were lively dol = outside the
Tabernacle IN the hour before Billy
leaped upon his preaching platform
and began to discuss human frailties
that are not usually mentioned out
side OF clinics or barroomS In the
first rush of crowds about p. m.
there must have been more than 1000
women. most OF them hanging on the
arms OF husbands or of somebody
who was accustomed to taking them
places. and WHEN policemen and
ushers barred their way to the inside
they fared indignation.
Warning In Sermon
Except for few epithets whose
origin has been traced to the simple,
frank-spoken Anglo-SaXon, and for
few caloric phrases more modernly
derived, there was little enough in the
evening and afternoon sermons which
women who don't mind Billy's ordi-
nary diction and methods could not
have heard without shrinking or star
tlement. There was one story, now.
having to do with the natatorium OF |
a pasha's harem which-but. on sec
ond thought, II might be just as we'll |
not to put that anecdote in print. 1t |
might read differently than It actual /.
ly sounded when Billy decorated il |
with gospel trimmings and religious |
Significance.
Chickens Come Home to Roost"
was Billy's wa ming to men Of loose |
proclivities that they are not merely !
running their own bodies and souls, I
ohl are hS AhCAA VIM
dren and grandchildren to physical /
and mental weakness and perhaps to
crime. AS Billy put IL, 81 am preach
ing for the good OF the unborn chill
dren as well as for you old sinners"
The evils he hammered at principally |
were matrimonial infidelity, all sexual 1
immortality, drunkenness, profanity.
cursing. bad treatment OF wives and
children, cheating in business. and ir-
religion. Naturall: any account Of
this discourse must be expurgated
to some extent. for Mr.. Sunday dealt
with some fairly seamy sides of hu-
man life and used some words that
ordinarily lie fallow in the diction-
aries.
Plain Language For Drunkards.
when you come staggering home.
cussinE right and left and spewing
and splitting. your wife suffers. your
children suffer" he shouted. Don't
think that you are the only one who
suffers. You're placing a shame on
your wife and children. II you are
a dirty, lowdown, filthy. drunken.
whisky soaked bum you'll affect all
with whom you come into contact.
You can't live by yourself"
1t made him so angry when he
heard a man plead personal liberty"
hE an tANust Ut loT
that he could knock
seven pounds of pork out OF the old
hog"
Personal liberty Is net personal IL
rense." he said. 81 dare not exercise
personal liberty II II interferes with
the rights OF others. The personal
liberty OF using my fist stops just
short of the other mans nose. our
fathers fought and died for the per
sonal liberty that takes cognizance
NJ the rights OF others and is bound
ed by laws. Personal liberty that ,
you talk about is the liberty OF the
burglar. the chicken thief. the Sc
iucer. the weasel. Law stands be-
ween YOU and personal liberty, you
miserable dogs"
He Becomes Specific.
You say you're not afraid Of sin
ne went on. "You ought TO be for
he sake of your children. II doesn't !
AXE boys and girls long to get on
he wrong track. And while YOU are
gravel to make one lap
'our boy will be making ten. We've :
got kids who haven't sprouted knee
,reeches and yet they know more /.
.bout sin and vice than old Methu-
lelah. There are little frizzle top
,ed sissies not yet In long dresses
who know more about vice than
heir great -Erandmothers did"
At which the Rev. William became $
'pccifc-eXtremely specific. He used 7
language calculated to shock. He ex- G
planned with the utmost particularly c
md with the aid of pages Of statistics {
hat men who violate moral laws ruin /
themselves physically and mentally =
md hand along the curse to future !