The Washington times., 1917-05-04
SERMON ON HELL FIRE
PREACHED BY SUNDAY
No Second Chance for Salvation
After Death, Says Evangelist.

NEW YORK, May BILLY Sunday
swung his Gospel pick into the real
hard pan of his religious teaching last
night and revealed a fiery hell of bod
lily torment as the certain destination
of those who passed up their chance
of salvation while on earth. There
were no ifs or maybes about Billy's
message. For once everything had
been stripped away and the kernel or
his belief shown bare and uncompro
misingly.
Hell is sure II you don't repent"
he cried with all the power Of his
voice. There isn't a ray of hope for
you: Gods word is certain"
Even salvation through fear was
champIoned without hesitation by the
rapid-fire evangelist Fear is not the
highest motive that should lead men
TO Christ" he shouted. But I don't
give a rap what keeps you out of hell
30 long as you keep out"
breaches OId-FashiOned Religion.
He was frankly proud of his old
fashioned religion as he raced up and
down his green carpeted rostrum
fiinging to one side of the vast meet
ing house and then the other his
prophesies of the certain punishment
that awaited those who were. foolish
enough to expect a second chance at
salvation. "Oh! New York, I've come
to call you back to the old-fashioned
cross and the old-fashioned Christ.
I've come to show you the old love OF
Christine Christ who died that men
may be saved"
Very gently Billy slipped from his
sermon into his appeal to hit the path
OF glory" The prayer was the same
personal, intimate supplication that al
ways precedes the call, but last night
there was little different touch to 1t.
81 don't know any more / can say or
do, Jesus, to tell 'em what you want
to do for 'em. Wish you'd come on
down here, Jesus. Say, Jesus, couldn't
you jus: come down here for a minute
and tell en- yourself-they'd believe
you, and no matter how hard l try
] can't get lots of 'em to believe me
Or, Jesus, just send one of your an
gels down-won't you, please, Jesus?
And say. Lord. I've been lied about
and slandered and threatened-all just
because I've tried to tell people about
you and keep 'em out of he'll" His
voice was lowered and softened until
Il did not carry a third OF the way
through the tabernacle. There could
be no doubt that every word was
filled with sincerity. well, folks. it's
up to you. It's up to you-it's up to
you"
Total OF 1.452 Hit Trail.
BiIly's call to grace evidently went
straight to the heart OF a serious
faced sparsely built man, whose white
brush stiffness, rose above his thin,
smooth-shaven, forid face, and gold
trimmed eyeglasses. He fairly sprang
from his seat and approached the
evangelist with a sort of running
walk.
I'm a newspaper mana printer
one Of the boys from Park Row." he
told Mr.. Sunday. I'm going to lead
better life"
Good said Billy energetIcally. good.
Park Rows all right"
A little old woman with a crutch hob
bled up and reached out her hand to
Billy. Tears were streaming down her
face when Billy patted her on the
shoulder. Two boys in khaki followed
close behind and then came the two
long files OF all ages and sizes and COL
ors and classes-people laughing and
sober faced, smiling and crying Alto
gether L0s1 hit the trail last night, max
ing with the ~ who came forward yes
terday afternoon. a total of 1.452 for the
day.
Collections Cause Worry.
The matter Of collections continues 10
cause more or less worry among the
campaign managers. The evangelist as
well is not at all satisfied with the daily
results. ANY town that spends a mil
lion day for booze ought TO be able 10
kick in little something for religion"
he announced last night while the collec-
tion was being taken.
Wednesdays collection was given out
as A,ll&S, as gainst s1.26422 for the
wednesday previous Tuesdays total
was 1864. as against Sl.SS4lI for the
same day last week. II might be SUD-
posed from these figures that the COL
lections were falling off. but no Just con-
elusions could be reached except by
comparing by weeks.
The official title Of Billy's heIl-fre SER
mon last night was mo Second Chance"
and he took as his text II Corinthians.
vi, 2: "Hehold, now is the accented
time; behold, now is the day Of saliva
ton"
It's the devil who teaches YOU that
you have a second chsnce-that you
stu have time to DO your repenting