The Washington herald., 1918-02-08
MAGNIFY
SMALL THINGS,
SAYS SUNDAY
Revivalist Decries Tend
ency to Become Pessimis-
tic Over War News.
Rx ARTHUR Joyce.

Billy Sunday last night told TO-
900 persons at the Tabernacle that
"one great trouble with the Ameri-
can people is that they magnify
small things"
He was referring to the torpedo
ing Of the Cunardier Tuscania by a
German submarine and the loss Of
several hundred lives of American
soldiers.
Now that a torpedo has hit an
American ship" said Billy, and
about 260 American soldiers have
gone to the bottom of the sea, the
people are likely to forget the tens
of thousands of soldiers who have
been safely transported to the 9TH
er side and they'll be asking an in
vestigation as to why the torpedo
struck"
Defends War Department.
Billy declared he didn't want to
minimize, in the least, the awful
effects of the disaster. He declared
he was heart-sorry for the relatives
and friends OF "the brave boys who
have given their lives for their
country" but that he wanted the
American people to not get down
hearted because of the disaster" and
to thank God that the entire 2,100
soldiers didn't go to the bottom"
ITS perfectly natural for soldiers
to get sick" declared Billy when
discussing the recent investigation
of conditions in American canton
ments. But think of the thous-
ands who haven't been sick. One
can't expect home conditions to
surround the soldiers in c1np and
in the trenches. And we have no
call to say that the boys wouldn't
have been sick had they remained
at home.
Back Up President.
Billy declared there's something
for every man and woman and child
to do 10 help win the war" He
urged his hearers to get busy and
back up the President and the ma
ton and quit quibbling about small
things
In his afternoon sermon Billy raped
| worldly pleasures that are engross-
| ing the attention of American peo-
pie in these war times He declar-
ed 'it Is a disgrace to stand around
and dance when our boys are being
killed in the trenches and are dying
| at sea-"
ITS high time for Americans to
quit flddling around" said Billy. "and
to give up the ballroom stuff. I'm
going to tell 'em SO, too, you can bet
your life"'
Slams Sabbath Amusements.
Billy took a particular slam at Sum-
day entertainments.
The evangelist lined up the war sit
uation in this fashion:
Its an international world series.
The score is tie. The allies are at
bat. Uncle Sam is at the plate and
Kaiser Bill is pitching. It's the ninth
inning. A home run is needed to
put it over for the allies. And your
Uncle Samuel is ready to swat the
ball over the fence
Billy declared that Uncle Sam is
ready always to go the Kaiser one
better"
'Tf he puts 10, 900 900 men in the field,
we'll put in 15,0oO.OOo. He may lick
France and England and Italy, but by
the eternal God he won't lick the
United States"
Dihy Ills ueHOuHCeO ITce
| thinkers" and Truth Seekers" The
latter have publicly accused the
evangelist of plaigerizing Bob Inger-
soils lectures.
Every time I mention the name of
either of them" said Billy, 81 feel
as though I'd taken a dose Of nux
vomica. I plead for a soda mint to
settle my stomach"
81 defy any man to come up here
| and call Christ liar in my presence" /"
he shouted, And the man who says
he doesn't believe in hell, does that.
Let him make the charge publicly
and I'll break this chair over his old
pate"
The evangelist said he'd rather
have standing room in heaven than
own the world and go to hell" He
insisted the devil is "a postmaster at
camoufiage."
Senator Vardaman.. of Mississippi,
and Congressman Lobeck, of Ne
braska, were on the platform. The
Rev. c. r. Wheeland, of Pittsburgh,
told of his conversion from q drunk
ards life" by Billy and his subsequent
ordination in the Presbyterian min
istry.
What son of Mars needs Sunday
movies when he may gaze on the pass
ing show of pretty girls in their best