Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-22
RISE FROM LOG CABIN
TO GREAT PREACHER
BY "BILLY" SUNDAY
"A Soldiers Orphan, He Be-
came Baseball Hero, but
Deserted Diamond to Be
Evangelist.

The Rev DR.. william Ashley Sunday
better known to the world as just plain
BILLY" Sunday like most of the men who
have achieved fame in the history OF the
United States, was born in the country
and did not find "sllver spoon in his
mouth when he first saw the light of
day Whatever success he has had came
to him through the usual course of
dumps" and knocks" such as Lincoln
had to fight through.
Tie never saw his father, William Sun
day. for the elder Sunday had been a
private in Company Il OF the 23d Iowa
Infantry Volunteers four months and was
at the front with the Union troops in the
Civil War when. on November 49, 1862.
bouncing baby boy arrived In the old log
cabin near Ames. Iowa, that Mrs. Sun
day was trying to make comfortable for
her little family; and about n month later.
on December %. 1862, the father died
OF disease in an army hospital at Pat
terson. Mo.
Mother Sunday had difficult time pro-
Mding for her three sons, Roy, Edward
snd william. But she had the spirit OF
never give up" which Billy has inherited
from her. and for some years she man
aged to keep the children together.
When Billy was 12 years old II be-
came necessary for him and his older
brother 70 go to the Soldiers Orphan
age at Glenwood, Ia, and In that in
stitution. and in the Davenport Orphan
age. into which he was later transferred,
they spent two years.
After that experience Billy Sunday
did all kinds of work on farms, almost
every kind of manual labor that falls to
the lot of country boy and for some
time worked on railroad, reaching the
position of fireman.
He was an athletic youth. and took
much interest in games AS a baseball
player he was one of the best In the small
towns In Iowa when little more than a
child Later he became a player on an
amateur club at Marshalltown, Ia, and
there he was found by the Chicago White
Sex. From that time. 1888. until 1890,
he played professional ball. From Chi
cago he went to Pittsburgh. and from
Pittsburgh he came to Philadelphia. II
was with the Phillies that he last ap-
peaIed on the professional diamond. He
was the fastest base runner of his day.
Billy Sunday was converted In the Pa
clac Garden Rescue Mission, Chicago, in
the autumn OF 1857 With some ball
players he was seated on a curbstone
along Van Buren street. Some men
and women, who were singing and play
ing flutes, horns and other musical in
atruments, attracted his attention. He
listened TO their testimonies of what God
had done for them and what he would
do for ali who believed. and then he ac-
cepted an invitation 70 go to services at
the Mission, None OF the other players
would 80 with him. so he went alone.
Several times he returned 10 hear the
services. and. one evening he went to the
front OF the hail with Mrs Clark, wife OF
Colonel Clark, founder OF the Mission,
who had heen urging him to accept Christ
aH hls Saviour and publicly acknowledged
hla conversion.
He later became a member OF the JEFF
DuH b. ~ rrFl In -
rago. Il was there he met Helen A.
Thompson. who became his wife Ia Sep
fembaT. 1883.
IN March. 1881 Sunday decided to give
~ his time 70 Christian work. He had
8 contract with the Phiilies" and was
AFRAID thar he could not get his release.
Sui on 81. Patrick's Day he received word
from Colonel Rodgers. the manager OF the
iecai club, that he could have Il. lmme-
dialely llfn Hart manager Of the Cin-
sInnafi Club, offered him S35o0 a season.
Hhleh Waa big money nor a player In
those days. and threw down 500 IN adj
vance fer the drst months salary But
aundey had learned 70 say no" He
refused the ofsr and began working as
81 assistant secretary Ia the Chicago
~ g. A. e. 4 salary Of So a month
TIE evangelism. the Rev. DR. J. Wilbur
Chapman. asked -Biily'' to joiE his trav-
cling aampals lsners. and Sunday accepted l
i4s aId ~ kinda of work. from helping
ariee lenf stakas 20 selling books for I
fHa big meetings. uItli f6s6 when he re- !
sIfed word from Doctor Chapman say i
lE8 thal he VAS going to give % his 4
l4aeaali4lie HqFk and becqme pastor Of 4
tkany FfesbfIefian Church. lhis city. /
Ea assIn Philadelphia enters into the 4
iaaees taat iea Sunday g mould
ENF44z
efcsn on of bis position. the young
Haa a.d naf know ehiea wax 20 turn
4azs HpzeFes. zafaest u as desire 81
s Sd sFaa1aIisIis aofk. aad. al-
elealz Hz lna @ h|a1 an invita-
A caaasez zRreee "a Gamer Iowa
alIz a1aH nraaeI|ns
1ase