The Detroit times., 1917-06-16
QUESTION
RE WV Al
me- THODS
Churches Planning To
Bring Eyangelists
Under Control
BILLY ST NDAY
CHANGES TACTICS
ImitatOrs, How ever,
Present Serious
Problem
sY THE RELIGIOUS RAMsLER

bf - = NELlNlOOS HAM SLER
Bills Sundays spectacular work
m Nen York Is bringing 20 a focus
The whole question OF professional
evangelism in the churches. theit
u.e and their methods and their r..
lationshlp 10 the established agen
eies 90 Christianity.
Concerning Billy himself. there Is
substantial agreement among
cmurchmen They are for him. lie
is Tie great guerrilla Of Christianity
re pioneers the way thru the indir
ference OF the unchurched public.
and, in the colloquial phrase. puts
religion on The map.
But the imitators OF Billy SUNDAY
have become serious problem for
The chrrches The number OF these
g legion. Professional evangelism
has suddenly become a very attrac.
tive field for a host OF men who arc
irked by the steady grind OF the pas
torate Cities. too. are tempted TO
End a short cur our 4; AZ ,heir
problems oy hiring an outsider 70
Go their work for them BY high
pressure methods
The methods OF MT Sunday arr
1o- exclusively his own. He him
sti got them from Evangelist vii
liams. and practically ali other evan.
gelists have now adopted his plans
Il may be said, as generalization.
that The methods OF all eyfhgelists
are now substantially alike. both
with respect 10 finances and to re-
ligious operation Billy himself has
gone ahead of he little fellows, and
has greatly modified his financial
plans, 10 The delight Of The church
people lie also has abolished the
receiving OF presents from the plat
form and many or the other objec
tionable features that arc now BE-
ing criticized on tho part Of his imi
taiOrs
Opporiunely. and without any rela.
ton 20 New York. DO Ministerial
association OF Wilmington. Del. one
year after a special evangelistic
campaign OF this kind. conducted an
investigation into tho whole ques-
ton among the churches and pastors
o. the city Every minister. regard
less Of denomination was asked 20
answer 2 series OF questions upon
the effects % the campaign. and re-.
quested 10 give his matg-a judg
ment upon tho eYaneelist's METHODS
10 happened that this particular
anzelist had conducted what was
looked upon as a succersfuI series
Of meetings. and the pastors were
friendly 10 him Now the results
II this iuvrstiEa on have ueen pub
lished in The Continent.
The first criticism of importance
was the unanimous one that the
evangelist went ahead on his own
hook without consulting the preach.
ers. ProHers Of well-meant advice
were rejected as disloyalty. The
practical suggestion is offered that
regular conferences between the
evangelist and the pastors are in
dispensable 20 the success OF any
united evangelistic campaign.
with one exception all The pas
tors heard from object 10 the policy
Of carrying on personal work in the
midst or the meetings thru great
numbers ~ promiscuous and un
trained workers Fewer workers
more carefully trained. these pas
tors believe. will bring about more
profitable results" said The Cont
nent. The article continues:
The difficulty ~ instructinr chill
dren and securing from them irteiii-
Efnt action IN great tabernacle
rampnign is IN the opinion ~ the
Wilmington pastors. 90 evident thai
fnev arc h. great majority persuade
that u would be better NOT 20 try ~
influence children 7f sll In connection
with such movements
Yelling. aprlaNfirg original
songs" and the platform nreEcnta
ton - gifts 20 the evangelist and
similar sensation are ror'
sharply condemned than any other
aspect ~ Tho tabernacle services De-
vcfiCraf rrfrlt ~ m declared breaks
down utterly under such a handicap
Clearer q frrrirr Irafirr in fh~ evan
vnffrf'- frv.faftnne fr Insisted on "Ail
fh~ cfsFsoa urgef ~ decision ought to
he included in n fahr~narie EFFORT
but fhe~ ought f.. De- 80 sharply DIS
.ir~if tfrf hat Chrisfiana. active md
them Ives a. prod iFrlf and back
eidrrv"