New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-18
J.D.Rockefeller Jr.,
Sure Sunday S Work
Will Show Results
Satisfied if 10 Per Cent Of the
Trail-Hitters Join
Churches

The man behind Billy Sunday in New
York has no fault to find with him.
While the evangelist preached his fare
we'll sermons yesterday, John D. Rookie
Teller, jr., affirmed his belief in Sun
days sincerity, methods and effective
ness, and predicted that the results of
the campaign would be apparent a year
hence.
There is only one place for me"
said Mr.. Rockefeller, "and that is be-
hind Billy Sunday"
He believes that the revival has put
q new impetus into many churches,
united sects, developed a better COM
munity spirit, and altogether has re-
ligiously rejuvenated so many people
that months will be proftably spent in
following up the trail that Sunday has
opened.
AS for the trail-hitters, Mr.. Rookie
Teller confessed that he didn't know
how many of them were sincere, but
he would be satisfied with that phase
of the revival as business PROPOSE
ton" if only 10 per cent were honestly
DESTROYS of doing the things that are
symbolized by the ceremony of taking
Sundays hand.
10 continue the NoTk
He is so pleased with the work of
the entire Sunday party, in fact, that
he would consider il bad business" to
stop where the revival ended. Accord
inCly, the New York committee has
voted TO continue the work in a modi-
fed form-a form which will probably
include Mr. Rockefeller's suggestion
that every one of the trail hitters be
visited and given an opportunity TO
start their new life in church channels.
Mr.. Rockefeller showed unusual feel
ing in analyzing and answering the IA
miliar criticisms that have been and
still are directed against Sunday
doubts of his sincerity attacks upon his
slang, theology, and charges that he is
an evangelist because he has made it
an extremely profitable business.
"As to the first criticism" said Mr..
Rockefeller, 81 believe that no more
sincere man ever lived. | want TO say
/ that never saw "A man who threw HIM
/ self so completely into his work
Gle is accused of preaching for the
money he receives, but he knocked the
/ bottom out of that on his first day in
New York when he announced that he
would distribute his free-will Offering
equally between the Red Cross and the
Army and Navy Y NJ. c. A. No men,
Der OF the committee suggested any
such action, and Mrs. Sunday told me
that Mr.. Sunday first mentioned it to
her on the way 10 New York.
81 have gone into the subject Of his
collections, and | have learned that
there has never an attempt been made
70 solicit contributions TO his free-will
offerings. have also satisfied myself
that even if he does receive large sums
he gives much of his money away. His
critics would be surprised II they knew
how he distributes it.
Moral Earnestness Counts
"a good many criticise his theology.
don't doubt that differ with him, but
the point is that don't think one per-
son in ten thousand is influenced by
his theology. The thing that counts is
/ his intense moral earnestness.
ut is said that he is vulgar, slangy.
| That might be true II he preached from
pulpit, but when you see him in the
/ Tabernacle you understand. ] think he
is great actor, and haven't been at
all disturbed by his methods. | like
I the reverent atmosphere Of the church,
/ but the thing ths, counts IS results.
/ Billy gets the people, whether you like
| his methods or not, and that is why
am back Of him.
AS for the trail-hitters, what that
means you know as well as ]. But sup
pose only 10 per cent stick, IL will still
I be worth while as business PROPOSE
! ton. II many OF them are church
members, ~ is just as important that
they should be brought back "a any