New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-17
Billy Calls Hell
Worse Than 1t
Has Been Painted
Evangelist Says 1t Probably
Carries Stronger Punish
ment Than Fire

Those exacting theologians who
complained that Billy Sunday talked in
glittering generalities when he re-
ferred to hell, could have found no
cause for complaint in the sermon he
preached to Is,OdS men and women at
the Tabernacle last night. The evan
relist not only reiterated his asser-
tions that a red hot hell exists for
non-believers, but declared that 1t
probably was much more uncomfort-
able than it had been pictured pre-
viously.
Having expended the last word OF
his vocabulary on the future resting
place for sinners. he turned upon the
sinners themselves and denounced
those who refused to accept the gospei
as the biggest fools Of modern tunes.
"Why, you are just as big 1901 as
man who would try to steal second
base with all the bases full ana nooouy
out" he finally excl aimed, as ms ldea
of the last word IN insane acts. III
GLOW does anybody know that hell
will be a place where fires burn con,
stantly% is a question often asked
said Mr.. Sunday.
"Whv. we have been told that there
will be fires there. But it is highly
nrobable that the suffering OF the
damned will be far greater even than
if they were merely burning. Inere
are some things that the human NINA
cannot grasp. | believe that when the
Lord said that lost souls would burn IN
hell He used the idea Of fire because
that is the one element the human
mind understands and associates with
great suffering. There may be much
greater suffering in hell than the ilres,
but we wouldn't be able to grasp ITS
meaning. so the Lord simply used the
word fire in order to give US something
we could understand"
He used as smile preclpice
around a bend OF the road. with the
evangelist. as guardian of the road
warning autoists of ITS presence. some
ne said. would insist that u couldh pe
there. because nobody had been over u
and returned 10 tell OF It; others that
they couldn't accept the theory OF the
precipice because they weren't told JUST
what kind of rock it was made OF, whlle
still others said that 1T was Just an
error of mortal mind
"All right; let them accept their be-
lief or mine, but when they get to the
precipice they will find that it isn't
matter OF oDinion or belief. but of an
awful plunge" he continued. II know
there are "a whole lot OF those sincere
rcasoncrs in hell. and more arc going
every day.
There arc a whole lot of people who
think they can cheat hell by driving
right UP to the brink Of the preciplce
at breakncck speed. and then, just be
fore the plunge, put on the breaks and
stop. All right; let them GO ahead. |
have seen a lot Of them 60 over"
The evangelist suddenly brought MS
sermon to a conclusion by a typically
Sundayesque prayer, in which he chat
ted as Familiarity about the prospects of
soul saving as ne might about any other
matter concerning the Tabernacle.
Best He Can Tell II
"Say. Jesus. / don't know what more
| can say" he said. "I'vc done my best.
/ suppose that ! will stay M time out
here in New York II I'm alive. but It
will be the same old story. ! don't
know how else can tell It.
Nov. please, people, open up the
door and say: Jesus. I've looked you
all over and I've decided you're all
right. Walk in. I've kept you waiting
a long time, but that is all over now.
How do you do, Jesus? I'm glad TO
know you.
How many Of you will do that now?
Please rise and come forward"
The total of trail hitters for the day
was l.22l. Of which 269 responded TO
the invitation IN the afternoon. Only
5000 persons were In the Tabernacle AT
tho afternoon service.