The Republican journal., 1917-02-15
In Defence of Billy Sunday.
A Reply to an Editorial in the Waldo
County Herald.

few days ago friend sent me parts OF
the Waldo County Herald for December
2lst and 28th in which there were edi-
torals in hostile criticism of Billy Sun.
day and his work in Boston. A Waldo
county boy, living at the present in Bos
ton, where it was my privilege to attend
the Sunday meetings at the Tabernacle
more or less for ten weeks, | cannot re-
frain from few words Of comment or
the editorial which was SC unfair in many
of its statements.
l am surprised that the editor of
the Herald, who once stood a preacher
of the Gospel and whom it was my privi-
lege to hear in my boyhood days. should
take the stand that he does with refer
ence to the saloons; trying. as he does, to
prove that the Bible sanctions and up
holds the saloons az they exist today.
He quotes long list of scripture pas
sages from Genesis to Revelations and
refers his readers to statements found in
Encyclopedias and periodicals. of high
standing to substantiate his argume t,
The passages of scripture are taken
promiscuously without reference to the
context or their relation to ether scrip
ture. You can prove almost anything
with such wholesale mutilation of scrip
ture passages.
But Goes any one of a sane, thought
FL 81
Bible upholds the saloon, or even drink
ing in moderate sense. Would it be
consistent for the Bible to favor the sa-
loon which seeks to make drunk ards,
when it clearly says: "That no drunk ard
shall enter the kingdom of heaven
The editorial in the Herald CT Dec.
28h begins by asking the question,
(Which is the better authority, think
you, Billy Sunday or the Bible" Let
me say, after having the privilege tor
ten weeks of listening to Mr.. Sunday,
that | never once heard him make any
claim that would give him authority over
the Bible. He gave due prominence to
the DiDlS anu us tlUEtIlileS anu lSdSilttISo
in every sermon, address or talk He ask
ed no one to follow his preaching or ac-
cept his statements that could not be
based or Bible authority. The article
continues: eff Billy Sunday is right III
some OF his most positive assertions,
then the Bible is all wrong and the Foun-
der of the plan of salvation is some
where outside of the kingdom of heaven
He never has been allowed to enter.
In these assertions the editor has ref
erence to Mr. Sundays utterances
against the saloon and the statements in
his sermon on Booze, delivered in and
around Boston with the expectation
that he might help roll up tremendous
majority for the abolishing of the saloon.
The editor says, THAT no man was more
surprised than was Billy when the votes
showed that the majority for license was
some 1000 more than year ago."
There is not a statement in the Booze
sermon that Is contrary to the Bible or
inconsistent with it's teachings. Though
Boston went license by 5000 majority
more than last year, yet Mr.. Sunday en-
listed more men who will fight for no-li-
cense and Prohibition in Boston than the
city has ever had before. Here are the
facts with reference to our recent city
election.
There were SO, AIT votes for yes; 30, >
1928 for no. making the majority for H.
cense %, 099. There were 807 blanks;
SO, 558 did not go to the polls. 1t is evil
dent that these would have voted no
which shows the possibilities for the
future. The liquor interests used auto
mobiles freely. Every available voter
for license was reached and brought to
the polls. Refreshments were served
in barns and cellars near the voting pre-
cinct booths. These were served to
those who were brought to the polls in
automobiles by the liquor interests.s
Last year the Massachusetts Anti Sa-
loon League conducted a no-license cam
pdiSb' oPpEohtiS Poi eiSuiolly " INOul oil
Catholic voters. This appeal was made
on the ground that the liquor interests
had unquestionably knitted Governor
Walsh in the State election of 1915.
The result of this campaign was a re-
duction of approximately 7,OOv in the IL
cense majority and these gains for no-li-
cense were practically all in the Catholic
centers of population. This year. how
ever, all of the gains for no-license made
in these districts were completely wiped
out and an added majority given to IL
cense over 1914. 1t was the saloon dis
trct that cast the heaviest vote for IL
cense. Other reasons might be given
which made possible the license ma
jorlty.
Mr.. Sundays utterances against the
saloon enlisted many strong, noble men
of a caiber that will not be disheartened
or discouraged by defeat, but will keep
up the fight until victory is achieved.
Again the editor continues: HE SAYS
he was good loser, and he might have
added that he could afford to continue
L