New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-23
Billy Finds Devil
Guilty and Gives
Him Life Term
Charge Was Dragging
Manhood and Womanhood
Down to the Pit"

Billy Sunday put the devil on trial
last night, found him guilty of drag
ging Americas manhood and woman
hood down to the pitt and sentenced
him to hell for the period of his un-
natural existence. Cupping his hands,
the evangelist peered down over the
edge Of his platform and served a
verbal subpoena on his arch-enemy to
appear The response was almost i'm
mediate.
"Sit down there, Devil ordered
Billy, preparing for the inquisition.
Now, have you any other name but
Devil?'
Satan. Father of Lies, Ruler Of the
Pit? All right, how old are you and
where do you live?" Apparently an
swered, he went on:
You're charged with causing the
worlds misery. What witnesses can
you bring to vouch for your character,
Devil? What's that? You can bring
thousands of saloonkeepers, madams
from tho red light. thieves, thugs and
murderers? They say you're all right ?
Well, they're not responsible witnesses
in the estimation of this court. Devil,
| find you guilty, and | sentence you
to get your Shiny carcass back to hel!
forever"
Fourteen thousand men and women
applauded the verdict and responded
with fervent "Amens."
Lots of preachers won't tell you
what hell really is" declared Sunday,
after the devil had been led to a
fgurative cell by a fgurative jailer.
"They hand you the 'you-tickle me and
Pll-tickle-you' type of sermons. They
make a fellow think God couldn't run
the universe without him, and they're
pronounced great preachers.
They say: 4 don't like Bills hell:
it's too painful You fools, it isn't
my hell: it's Gods, and you'll roast
in it if you don't repent. They say
rub the fur the wrong way. say let
the cats turn around"
Repentance was the theme, the text
from Acts xvii, 30. The trail htters
numbered 1850, a delegation from the
jefferson Park Italian Church march
ing down the aisle in body with ban
ners flying.
Definitions and descriptions Of the
character of true repentance were sup
piled, with the usual homely and apt
illustrations. II is not necessary TO
fear the wrath OF God in order to re-
pent; neither fear nor sorrow should
be the inspiration Of repentance. Billy
declared.
81 don't care, though. what gets you
down on your knees" he continued.
Anything to keep you out Of hell.
Don't think it's so easy. either. It's
hard to repent. The Cross of Christ
isn't merely a fire escape, but the
devils dope is a toboggan leading
straight to hell
IF you're going to repent. don't put
it off. Don't think you can do Gods
business on the charge it, plan and
settle with Him as you settle with your
grocer-every now and then or not at
al. Don't be q spiritual deadbeat. The
judgment is on your trail and it may
reach you before you get home to-
night"
Sunday preached in the afternoon on
"The Power of Confession" assailing
weakened Christians" Gospel flop
pers" and compromising church mem
bers." The converts at this meeting
numbered 1865. out Of 1000 auditors
the smallest audience that has yet
greeted Sunday here.
The rest Of the day he spent at the
bedside of Mrs. Sunday. in the Audi
bon Sanatorium, 150th Street and St
Nicholas Avenue, or at his home. Dr.
Howard Kelley. of Baltimore. who oper-
ated on Mrs. Sunday, returned to this
city last night to confer with DR.. J. T.
Padgett. the family physician. Fol
lowing the conference at 10 o'clock
last night a statement was issued in
which il was said that the patient had
passed the critical period and that her
convalescence was regarded as "practi.
cally assured