Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-13
What Billy Sunday Said About the
South, and the Moral He DreaO

last half a century there has come upon
the south the high duty of preserving
and propagating the spirit and tradi-
tons of that Americanism by which the
nation was originally established and
through which it has achieved the no.
blest things in its history.
Our section has been somewhat set
apart to itself, and has thereby escap-
ed influences which have overspread and
injured other sections of the United
States; and we owe it to the conserva-
tive elements of those sections to make
such a stand here as will save both
them and us from the most dangerous
and destructive forms of radicallsm.
For such a work of conservation the
southern people occupy a position of
advantage which enhances their respon-
sibility and calls upon them for the
most unfaltering fidelity.
The Americanism in which the foun-
dations of the republic were laid was
characterized by several striking fea-
lures, which have been most conspicu-
ously preserved in the south, and which
are so fundamental to our civiliza ton
that they must be perpetuated in the
future.
The chief characteristic of this Amer
icanism was the faith of the Ameri-
can founders in God. and their reverence
for the authority of the Bible. They
never doubted for one moment that the
Bible was the work of God. They be-
lieve not only that the Bible contains
the work Of God, but that it is in truth
the word of God.
In his Bunker Hill grafton Mr. Web
ster said of the pilgrim fathers of New
England, The Bible came with them,
ana ii is not to be doubted that to the
free and universal reading of the Bible
is To be ascribed in that age that men
we're indebted for right views of civil
liberty" That acute French critic of
American institutions, NJ. de Tocque-
Vile, said Religion gave birth to An
gIo-Amertcan society"
Another characteristic Of primitive
Americanism was it's sacred regard for
the Sabbath day. While the War of
Independence was raging, Washington,
who incarnated the best spirit of the
people. issued on May 2, 1873, this or
der: THE commandments directs
that divine service be performed every
Sunday at IL O'Clock in those brigades
to which there are chaplains-those
which have none, to attend the places
nearest them. 1t is expected that all
officers of all ranks will, by their at
tendance, set an example to their men.
While we are zealously performing the
duties of good citizens and soldiers we
certainly ought not to be inattentive to
the higher duties of religion. To the
distinguished character of patriots 1t
should be our highest glory to add the
more distinguished character of Chris
tians. The signal instances of provi-
Dental goodness which we have expert
enced. and which now almost crown
our labors with complete success. de-
mand from us in a peculiar manner the
warmest returns of gratitude and piety
to the supreme author of all good"
Another characteristic of primitive
Americanism was the place which wom-
en- occupied in the social system. Be
Teving. as they did, implicitly in the
Bible. they accepted st. Paul's teaching.
that "the husband is the head of the
wife. even as Christ is the head of the
church" The women of the colonies
were womanly to the last degree. One
might apply to them justly the langua .
of ST. Peter: After this manner in the
old-t'me the holy women also who trust
ed in God adorned themselves, being
in subsection unto their own husbands"
Another conspicuous feature Of the na-
tionaI spirit In the early days of the Re
public was the jealous care Of the peo-