The Washington herald., 1918-01-21
nine HUNDRED
ANSWER CALL
TO HIT TRAIL
Chickens Come Home to
Roost" Stirs Big Taber-
nacle Audience.

Nine hundred men answered Billy
/ Sundays ringing call to "hit the traii'
Yesterday afternoon when, the evan
gelist preached his famous sermon.
| Chickens Come Home to Roost." He
| told the men that God had no pleas
ure In the death Of the wicked and
that the only reason many Of the
gray headed codgers'' before him
| were present was because He was
keeping them on this earth In the
hope they would repent and accept
Jesus Christ before they died.
| Mr.. Sundays voice was in fair con-
dition. During the sermon he, made
! no effort to save It and when It came
time to call for train hitters he leap
ed up on the top Of his pulpit and
| shouted the summons with all the
vigor and lustiness In his power.
sermon For Mothers ....
Billy announced to the men before be
| to preach at both afternoon and even
ing sermons the coming week and that
he believed he could put II over
Mr.. Sunday announced that on FRI
| day afternoon he would preach a spe-
| cial sermon for mothers. but that ev-
eryone would be welcome to attend.
| Friday night pupils from Washington's 8
/ schools, colleges and universities will
be especially invited and on Saturday
afternoon Billy will preach a sermon
of particularly interest to boys and
| girls OF the National Capital.
IT beg Of you in Gods name to cut
out your cursing," Billy pleaded. 81
do not believe that a man can be a
good American II he defames God.
II want to say, sir. don't believe
man can be good and swear. I
don't believe a man can be a good
father and swear. I don't believe a
man can be a good husband or a good
son and swear. don't believe he
can be a good citizen and swear.
don't believe he can be a gentleman
and swear.
FutiIity of Swearing.
! "old men swear; young men swear;
boys swear; women swear. What
does a man want to curse for?
Does he derive any qualification or
satisfaction? Mo- He gains nothing,
my friends. at home. He gains moth
ing in business. He gains nothing
in society. He gains nothing in the
world. He gains nothing in manhood.
He gains nothing in character. He
gains nothing in trust, virtue.
When God is trying to keep him
out OF hell. he damns God because
he wants him to go to heaven. Swear
and curse! God says more against
swearing than anything else"
Billy was roundly applauded when
he told the men that ANY one who
| lifted his voice against the Taber-
| nacle didn't deserve to be called an
American. Darn their stinking hides
/ wouldn't call them Americans. any
way"
Don't speak lightly of sin." Sun
day warned. You little understand
how one bad person or one bad couple
can pervert the lives of hundreds"
Mr.. Sunday said that young boys
who had not yet sprouted long
breeches and little frizzled headed sis
sizes in short skirts nowadays knew
more about sin than their grand
mothers and grandfathers did when
they were at ripe age.
Crime On Increase.
He pointed out that the average age
of criminals had fallen from 36 years
to Is years in the past few years and
I
| had fallen from 26 years to Is years.
Sunday spied a man in the audi
ence who was evidencing disapproval
over some of his frank statements
| The evangelist leaned over and shout
ed: Yes, you're Just the kind that
don't like 1t when someone pumps
| facts in your old carcass"
The evangelist told the men that as
husbands they should never fail to
give their wives the three things to
which they were entitled: First, deep
personal interest; second, companion
ship; third. affection.
As usual Billy interspersed his ser
mon with several personal stories.
Yesterday he told a railroad yarn,
which pleased his audience immensely.
He was decidedly pleased over the
| response to his call for trail-hitters
More came forward after the sermon
yesterday than at any other meeting
since the tabernacle was opened.
They filled five sections. Among them
were many young men and soldiers.
Recites Poem.
| Sunday effected a sincere climax
when he recited his six verse poem,
when Your Chickens Come Home
! " ROOSIy Ino keynote OF
his sermon. The verses follow:
You may take the world ss she come. ana soes,
And you'll be sure to find
That Faith will square the account she owes,
Whoever comes out behind.
All things bad that q man hath done,
| By whatsoever induced,
Return at last to him one by one,
When his chickens come home to rcost.
Sow a. you win. there's time to reap.
For the good and the bad as well,
\ And your conscience. whether you wake or sleep
| ls either In heaven or hell
And every wrong will hnd its place
And every passion loosed,
| Drifts back and meets you face 70 face
When your chickens come home to roost.
So whether you're over or under the ground,
The result viii be the same
You cannot escape the hand Of God;
| You must bear your an and shame.
| No matter what's carved on q marble siab.
When the items are all reduced.
\ You'll ind that God was keeping tab,
When your chickens come home TO roos,
| faction7 No! He gains nothing. my
, friends. at home. He gains nothing
In business. He gains nothing in So
ciety. He gains nothing in the. world.
| He gains nothing IN manhood. He
gains nothing in character. He gains
| nothing in trust, virtue.
He loses his self-respect. He loses
his self-esteem and his esteem of
men. He loes his power for good. He
loses his title as a gentleman. He
loses his respect Of women. He loses
his immortal soul to crafty his de-
sire to damn the God that never had
anything but good. kind thoughts.