The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-29
DR. ]. [. D|L[ARD ON ROTTEN EVANGELISM
Pastor of Southside Church Protests Against Meth
 ods of Evangelism
of Birmingham, Ala Statement February 2sth, 1920.
 RESOURCES

Declaring that the methods of profes- sional evangelsts are offensive to sensi- ble people and that some of the methods of gaining Converts" is all wrong. pr. James F. billiard, pastor of the South side Baptist Church, preached sermon last night of special interest at this time on Rational vs. Rotten Evangelism. :" Dr. billiard said in part:
 There is type of professional evan gelism that is very offensive to sensible people. These men are usually lacking in scholarship and the finer Christian senti- ments though they are usually casters of what is commonly known as mob psychology. They are peculiarly subject to the temptations of professionalism commercialism. sensationallsm and super ficialism. Feeling that their regulations depends upon the number of converts they are able to report, they are tempted to count quantity and discount quality.
 These men follow very much the same general plan. First they proceed to roast the churches; call the preachers ninnieS and the church members hypocrites. l
 
 istry a long time and have had an ex- tensive acquaintance among preachers of all denominations. I have found them 2 noble and Godfearing class of men. The average church member Is not hypo- crite. The Lord knows we all fall far short of perfection but we are honest i, enough to admit 1t, while some folks are not have profound contempt for the man who lambasts the churches and then expects the members to pay him for it.
 ..The second act in this spurious evan gelstic drama consists in lambasting all kinds of societies, especially the frailties and frivo1ities of young people. Now we all condemn sin in every place, high and low but our work is to strike deeper than the surface if it is permanent in character A change of conduct that IS not based upon a change in mind and heart is temporary and disappointing.
 aThe third act of our spectacular evan gelist usually consists in pulling the wires to get the people forward and their names on some kind of a card. Now there is not anything wrong in getting people to come forward or getting their names on a card, but 1t is wrong to count every such person a convert In Kan sas City; while I was a pastor there, one of these whrlwind evangelists came and put on great organization and reported 5000 conversions. He sent me 1S2 card3. followed up every one, some hdd the addresses of vacant lots. others were members of my own church who merely responded to some such request as desir- ing to live better: there were only four cards that were worth a cent. was in a meeting of this kind some time ago in which the preacher save fourteen dfner- ent invitations, thirteen of which meant little or nothing Brethren, that Is all wrong.
 'The evangelism taught in the New Testament consists in the preaching or the glorious Gospel of Gods free grace, in urging and helping people from pulpit and by personal work to accept Christ It insists upon repentance and faith; It teaches no salvation without regenera- tion; it insists that changed life shall follow profession of faith: by their fruits ye shall know them.
 ssHoping and working and praying TOT such an evangelistic campaign as this we have called together true and tried men whom we believe to be New Testa- ment evangelists to help in this great and glorious work. We invite and urge your hearty, prayerful cooperation.