The Washington times., 1903-05-13
The Once Great Ball Player,
MozU a Minister of the Cos
pei, RELATES HIS Experience
as an AH-Around Rounder.
Glitter Being In1baed With
Dfvine Faith, He Called on
the Lord for Assistance and
His Prayer Was Answered.

His Prayer Was Answered.
Here's the story Billy Sunday tells of
the way he came to change his mind
about ball playing and take to the min
tstry. Sunday was recently ordained an
evangelist, and is now known as the
Rev. William A. Sunday:
Fifteen years ago one Sunday night 1
walked down State Street, Chicago, in
company with several ball players
whose names were world-renowned and
some of whom are now dead. We en-
tered saloon, drank, and passed on to
the corner of State and Van Buren,
where Siegel & Cooper's store now
stands. There was a company of men
and women singing. We sat the
curbstone and listened. I had heard
those songs from mother back in Iowa
and in the Methodist Sunday school in
Ames, Iowa, and God painted on the
canvas of my memory the scenes and
recollections of other days and faces.
1 bowed my head in shame. and the
tears rolled down my cheeks like riv-
ers of water. When the song was end
night?' the leader, who proved to be
Harry Monroe, of the Pacific Garden
Mission, said: Come, boys, down to
the mission and listen to the speaking
and singing l arose and said: Boys,
good-by; I'm done with this way of liv-
ing, and went to the mission-went
every night for two weeks. One night
Mrs. Colonel Clark invited me forward
to the altar. I went and professed faith
in Christ.
Made a Mistake.
Il did not join a church Immediately,
and there made my first grave mistake.
1 afterward went to the Young Mems
Christian Association, and met L. w.
Messer, general secretary, who urged me
Ito Join church. One night Iaenter-
ed Jefferson Park Presbyterian Church.
Chicago, and presented myself for mem
bership and was accepted, in which
church today have the honor OF being
an elder. At the time 1 made my pro-
fession to live Christian I was mem
Der of the Chicago National League
baseball club. I had an agreement with
Arlie Latham of the st. Louis Browns,
to run a footrace Sunday in st. Louis,
al the close OF the season, for the cham
pionship of the baseball profession in
the United States. 1 tried to get out
of it. but could not; so went on Sun
day and won the race Il. a church. mem
i1er1. I was ordered before the session,
where I publicly expressed my sorrow
for this sin; but never since have
given occasion for rebuke.
Dreaded Ridicule.
"The next morning after joining The
church an article appeared in each of
the Chicago papers about it, so all the
members of the ball club knew 1t.
dreaded to report for practice that day
for fear Of 1the ridicule and cynical re-
ception the3boys would give me. I would
rather have fancied six shooter. but
went and the first man to meet me was
Mike. Kelley. with heart as tender
as a woman's-he is now dead-he took
me by the hand and said: That's a
grand thing TO do. Bill If can help you
let me know Then Captain Arson, Ed
Williamson. Fred Pfeffer, Frank Flint.
John CIarkson, Tom Burns and Dali
rymple all gave me words of encour-
agement, so my fears were unfounded.
If they forgot and swore in my presence
they would Immediately ask my pardon.
"Help Me Get That Ball"
"That afternoon we played Detroit
& The score was close. The last half of
the ninth inning was being played. Two
men were out, man on second. one on
third Charley Bennett was at tho Dat
He had two strikes and three halls or
him. I was playing right field Char
ley hit the last ball a terrific blow. II
started for the clubhouse. I turned ana
ran with the ball. Benches had been
placed IN the field for spectators. and . )
I saw the ball was going over the crowd
1 called Get out of the way The crowd
opened. 1 offered up a prayer and said,
Lord, if you ever helped mortal man,
help me get that ball I leaped the
bench looked over my shoulder. threw
out my hand and the EaIl struck and
stuck. The game was ours.
Il am sure the Lord helped me catch
that ball. This deduction may not be
according to theology, but it's accord
ing 20 experience. Az Johnson, brother
OF Tom the present mayor of Cleve-
Land. Ohio. ran up and handed me so,
and said. Buy a new hat. That catch
won me s1,59O.
Picked Up Methodism.
During the winter months ] attended
Northwestern University. at Evanston,
where I picked up some Methodist en-
thusiasm and vim to counteract the stiff.
staid Presbyterianlsm. few years
later I lett the baseball profession, ac-
eepted position as assistant secretary
of the Chicago Young Mems Christian
Association, where l remained three
years When ! resigned 1t was to travel
with the Rev. D. J. Wilbur Chapman
then engaged in evangelistic work
was associated with him for two years
until he left the evangelisuc field and
returned TO the pastorate. / then
started out for myself, and during those
six years l have never wanted for a
place TO go TO preach the Gospel God
has opened hundreds of places TO which
/ did not have the time to go. All
am today as an evangelist I owe TO Dr.