The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-08

that indicated by the title, TOR the
preaching Of the cross Is to them that
perish foolishness, but to US which
are saved 1t is the power of God"
Power" was the keynote OF the ad-
dress, the power of God to save mon
and to propagate their good works
among men, the power to thwart the
keep secure those who have thrown
off the shackles Of the Evil One.
II am not surprised when I hear
men knock religion" the evangelist
declared. because they have knocked
every other good thing since time be-
gan" He proceeded to point out how
men had laughed to scorn the idea OF
"a steam engine. Of electricity.x OF tnf
cry day ws,a,siisrs ess si,o,,sTn es=sss.4s-
ton when they were first proposed to
an incredulous world.
Billy In No Doubter.
But Billy won't be surprised at the
powers OF men to perform wonderful
things. He will not doubt when unbe-
iievable proposals are made to the
world OF science, he says, you are
feed wool into one end of a machine
and out OF the other and there will
come a suit Of clothes all made with
the braid and buttons on" This
struck the audience on it's humorous
vein, and the preacher laughed with
them.
But the man who stands up and
knocks religion is just as big fool as
the man who knocked electricity"
the parson vehemently commended. And
at the man who said he wouldn't be-
iieve In God because he didn't have
any proof he was God, Billy hurled.
Well, have you got any proof that the
woman You call your mother is really
the one who gave you birth? No, you
have not You believe she is. because
you believe in her. but you can't prove
Il. And that's the way / believe in
God. / can't prove it. but l believe
In him"
He drew the contrast between the
nature of a hog and of sheep. The
hog thrives on food that is most re-
pulsive to a lamb. and this was applied
to the diversity Of natures OF different
persons In society. A hog gioats over
Stop. but the food of sheep would not
be pleasing to him. That's why the
bleary eyed saloon-keepcr wouldn't be
happy in prayer meeting" the preach
err said. land It's the reason n lot OF
these old Holsters around Richmond
won't come to hear me preach"
Not Afrnid OF Devil.
Gods power to save and to protect
tnoSe VINO rove MN was graphically
brought out by the speaker. "I ana
not afraid of all the devils on earth
or in he'll Billy smiled. because am
hiding behind the cross" And he
stopped down on the stage and grasped
tire two sides OF nm imaginary object
with his hands to illustrate his shelter.
why. motorman might as we'll hope
to run his car by blowing his breath
on the vestihule as for a man to hope
tn nj 1Ifs v.ie q
power of God"
way he put It when h rocafled the ac-
tons of some of his ancient enemies
who are too cold and distant to do
their fun duty for the Lord. you
can't spit on God" he exclaimed. You
stop trying to pass the buck up to
God" he called again to some imagin-
airy person who was neutrality-suspicious.
him.
old man." he said, and rushed TO
the side of the stage. brandishing his
fist in the air. you might as well cash
IL IL you think you can put God out
OF business. You big idiot, there have
been q lot OF big fools tried IL before
you ever came on the scene. Just read
history: they have all tried and they
all took the count"
He did not lack for illustrations to
prove the power Of human devices, whose
worth and utility no sane man can
doubt, But he was even more fully
supplied with instances to prove the
power Of God--Jesus Christ, the cross
at Calvary. the miracles that were
performed in ancient times, the COM
ing true OF prophecies. ana countless
other incidents which men cannot deny.
have proved TO the satisfaction OF the
evangelist's soul that the power OF God
is the force that rules the minutest as
well as the greatest factor OF all the
world. Christianity can prove itself
to you Just the same as electricity
did" he declared. "ali II wants Is
chance. Give II the chances"
Peculiar Sermon.
Well, Lord Sunday ended his SER
mon. thank you-thank you for be-
ing so good to me, thank you for help
ing me. rye done the best I could.
know you've got an angel up there,
Lord. who guards your Book. and
can hear ycu say, No. you can't rub
blessing on the newspaper men. the
police, the fire iaddies and all the 9TH
ers who are taking a part In the big
revival, Frequently he stopped In the
midst of his peculiar prayer TO ask
Eodeheaver some question. and when
he had the answer he would begin
again, "And. Lord. we're sorry il these
Richmond II there IL such man.
Lord. I'm glad I'm not as big a. fool
as he is. I'm Just praying that he may
be converted.
Lord. here are boys and girls from
the John Marshall High school They
ought to he proud to be students In
that school. We've got John Mar
shall school out In Iowa. So, Jesus,
help these young people from John
Marshall TO lead the way and come
down" Tho eyes OF a majority Of the
audience were not covered with hands
or closed in meditation. as has been
customary always In congregations in
this and other cities, but they were
fixed on the evangelist as he stood with
one foot in his kitchen chair. twisted
q handkerchief in his hands, and In
voked the blessings OF the Deity In
terms so informal that tho strange
ness Of II caused his hearers to won.
der.
When the last trail hitter had
come down the aisle, Sunday did not
wait further. He closed the trap door
to his welcoming stand. and jumped
into the chair behind his pulpit He
faced the choir. and crossed his arms.
executed a half circles with them. and
brought them together again. yelled.