New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-18
Sunday Assails
Curiosity Seekers
In His Tabernacle
Declares Many Attend the
Meetings to See if His
Critics Are Right

Billv Sunday last night stripped BID
I;caI characters of the mystery gem
erally supposed 10 surround them wneh'
in sermon in which he worked MN,
self into a perspiratior, he endowed
sone of them with automobiles and vo-
cehnlarjes of modern slang, while all
we're introduced familiarly By their
first names.
Incidentally. he took several filings
At those who crowd the Tabernacle
through curiosity. He accused many
of attending his services simply to
learn whether the gossips who nad
charged him with vulgarity were tell
ing the truth.
ayes, | know that many OF you come
here to find out whether those foul
mouthed. lying blackguards VINO are
distributing their tales about me are
right" he said, shaking an accusing
finger as close to the faces OF MS au,
dience as his raised platform wouiu
permit. "But | don't care. You are
here. and that's enough for me.
"What want is that you come down
from YOUR high place, forget your Gu
riosity and shake hands with Jesus.
Zaccheus climbed into the tree to look
at Jesus through curiosity, and wnen
he was called down he was saved.
That's what want you TO do.
In the story of Laccheus he aban,
doned Biblical phraseology and talked
in the language of the street or the
baseball field, much to the delight OF
the 10000 men and women, VINO
laughed and cheered every sally.
"When Christ invited himself to go
on. and cat at Zaccheus's house he
surprised that little tax collector he
said. "But Zaccheus made good all
right. all right. He knew that he'd
have to come through with the eats,
and he did.
ave often wondered what, Mrs.
Zaccheus was like. I can imagine her
looking surprised when her husband
proudly entered and said: Wife. this
is Jesus and her reply of How do
YOU do, jesus Wife, this is Peter
and her reply, Peter, good afternoon
and so on through the whole delega-
ton.
"Of course. Zaccheus might have
drawn his little self UP and told
Jesus that he was the richest man in
town and that he owned a brand new
automobile. He might very easily
have explained that if he'd known
that the Saviour was going 70 make
that call he would have had the ma
chine right on hand. or that he could
send for the chauffeur and have it
on hand in a minute. But he didn't;
he proudly led Jesus home with him.
Sunday Exhibits Wrath
Getting back to his remarks about
the critical and curiosity-seeking New
Workers, the evangelist several times
exhibited his wrath.
"Why, there are men in this city
who detest TO see anybody decent" he
said. That's all that is the matter
with them now. They can't say mean
enough things about me.
ut was only the other day that a
man walked into a saloon and was
about to buy his drink when he hap
pened to ask the bartender il he had
heard me. why, no, haven't heard
the blankety, blank evangelist he said.
Il don't want to hear the vulgarity of
that blankety, blank blank blank at
all WELL the man replied, If he
can stir you up that much at long
range. would like to 20 and see what
he can do for me- So he picked up his
dime and walked out"
Mr.. Sunday mildly surprised some Of
his afternoon hearers by the vigor
with which he attacked pretended
Christians" of great wealth. Some of
his remarks were accepted By them as
hitting close to members of the group
Of wealthy men who are aiding in the
support Of the New York campaign.
Hypocrites Are Scored
America has produced men who are
Christians in their private lives. but
grafters and boodlers in their bust
ness" he said "A man will be virtuous.
kind and generous in his home life,
and then go into a directors meeting
and let things pass that will take hu-
man lives 1000 miles away"
The number of trail hitters for the
day was an increase over the total for
Wednesday, although the attendance at
both services was practically the same.
The mechanical counter recorded
total of 2.o02 penitents for both SER
vices. In the line that passed before
the rostrum in the evening was a for
mer professor Of New Jersey college,
who said that drink had brought about
his downfall.