The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-18
BILLY AND TEDDY.

BILLY AND TEDDY
II IL not ourprlaug that good many con-
trihutors to The world cussng and discuss
ing Billy sunday. Buly sunday Is a contro-
versial subject, highly controversial subject
In fact Sunday is vast endless and never
determined controversy in himself, OF himself
and by himself.
But go the other single character an
American public life to whom the vast popdla-
ton delighted affcotonately TO refer by his
given name--Theodore Roosevelt when any
In public life reaches the common un-
derstanding. so thoroughly impressos hlmsolf
upon the average man. that almost inadver-
family he is referred to by his christian monlter
that man has n tremendous stranslehold on his
critics and walks with tremendous obligations
upon his Shoulders
Both Sunday and Roosevelt accomplished
this feat. Both Sunday and Roosevei reached
che common heart aud secured sanctuary
therein To America the was Teddy the
other Is BILLY" Psychology reasonably
counts FOR much that followed and that follows
In each case
Roosevelt was republican IN his political
SotivIties. To u very great extent he was "a po-
fiticai evangelist holding nlon the coors the
promises ana the perfectlons OF the republican
party But in the final analysis the milionu
who followed him bndly. who defended him
sealousiy and who would not hear whisper OF
scandal against him, Roosevelt Worship
pers and not republican worshlppers. They be-
nevcd him rather than what he said
To,e very great extent, we think. the ~ mo
may be said of Billy Sunday, He converts men
60 Sunday. no sells then, sunday. And this
Aheuld net be construed aa a criticism; rather
an encomium, Because the psychology In
voived in wondrous thing. u 1t were not
sunday his methods his mechanics and his
modus operandb then the same message from
any other lips would carry far and be
Yotent Ye, that is not the case.
Had Roosevelt turned his great magnetism
and his popularity to the so-called business Of
saving souls he would beyond question have
been the greatest evangelist OF all time Paul
would have been paker compared to Teddy.
who will question that statement? No one OF
course. Imagine Teddy. after soul stirring
peroration, in the face OF a personal worship
absolutely blind and unreasoning with music
sttuned to the occasion, hurting his urge TO hit
the sawdust trail and by merely touching his
hands become of the elect, 1t would have re-
dured a brigade Of secretaries to have taken
tho names!
with those WHO scoff have not too much
sympathy Such mon DO an immense ainount
OF good The CONNIE realism involved is In keep
ing with the times or course Teddy would not
have been commercial. Probably he never,
throughout his long OF political evan
Eelisrn, smoke behind priced gate more than
three or four times. The gospel Of Roosevelt
was as free as the air. Yet. In another way his
evangelism must needs be financed.
Likewise Billy sunday lTc has an organized
system of gospel propaganda That eSoels nj
others as the day excels the night Naturally
mo So gtyt
and the various ways In which the appeal j,
put over the footghts. gets on the o.
many. But for the multitude, billy is sl ant
then some. It works QUITO the satisfaction
OF his business manager ANA 10 the wild. in
tolerant and belligerant satisfaction of his ad
herents
Salvation, after all has been said that can b
said, is a state OF mind. That which bring
tranquility TO the questioning. fearing soul mus
he salvation Billy does give surcease. lie ex
pounds a great philosophy. He does do good
It In doing this. he. manages to keep the OLD
bank balance healthy and sound, who shal
criticize?
Unquestionably Biliy Sunday has helped
Tulsa, How much2 How enduring viii his er'
forts and accomplishments be What bad ef-
fects, from the standpoint OF the existing
churches2 viii the reaction swing the pen
duium further away from center than It was
before ne came9 ''.'' ''.''
How do we know? How can we tell? Why
should The world venture an opinion In some
way we are going to muddle through. We
fancy the established churches will resret--very
keenly regret--that they had Billy. Such Is
said to be the conclusion that other churches
and churchmsn have reached wherever Blly
has held one OF his spectacular campaigns But
Billy says that will be the fault OF the churches
and the churehmen not his Again, who can
tell? Possibly he is the only one, genuine and
effective,
But wouldn't that be a terrible Indictment
OF Christianity and the church In general7