Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-05-08
Chapter VII.

In the day of his unprecedented sue
cesses it has become the fad among
a large number of skeptics to question
the sincerity of Rev. w. A. Sunday.
It is a well established principle OF
law that causes which govern in the
origin of any act must be fully
weighed in considering its ultimate
consequences. The strongest proof Of
the sincerity of Mr.. Sunday in his
subsequent activities is found in the
early steps which he took following
his conversion, to alter the course OF
his life pursuant to the new convic-
tions he entertained.
Probably the very first step was
that of declining to play baseball on
Sunday. This new stand while diff
cult, was easier to take because OF his
exceptional ability and prominence In
the club of which he was a member.
This did not satisfy him, however.
Repeated visits to the mission per
suaded him that there was Christian
work which he could do along some
what similar lines. An early step was
to petition for his release from the
team with which he had a contract.
At first it was impossible to bring
about the desired result. In 1891,
however, the dissolution of the So
called brotherhood" threw q lot OF
baseball talent into the open market,
and 1t was possible for the young con-
vert to secure his release.
Now 1t must be borne In mind that a
salary of $1,000 a month was a possi-
BILE salary for q top notch baseball
player of national acclaim. To these
specifications Billy Sunday conformed
in every detail. Yet despite this fact.
and the further one that he had a wife
to support he re~iinquished all further
connection with the baseball field to
become an under secretary at the Chi
cage Y. M. c. A. In March, 1891, at a
maximum salary of 1898 per month.
To make the contrast still stronger
the Chicago association at that time
was in such straights for funds that
his salary was sometimes as much as
six months in arrears. The evangelist
has remarked often enough that no
one then accused him of being q
CRATER. According to his own state
ment, IT went hungry at noon and
walked to and from work to save a
fare"
Properly speaking the z. M. G. A..
period OF Mr.. Sundays life which ex-
tended from 1891 to 1895 should be
considered as a part Of his education.
It gave him a training, which has
since proved invaluable, OF meeting all
n of men on the broad plane OF
humanity. It gave him an opportunity
at public speaking, of which according
to all reports In the beginning he was
awkward enough. More important
than these 1t brought him in touch
with the big men who were doing
things in the religious world, and out
of 1t ultimately grew his association
with DIR. ]. Wilbur Chapman, even
then a world famous evangelist.
L. Wilbur Messer, general secretary
of the Chicago Y. M. G. A., In discuss
ing Mr.. Sundays connection with his
institution said:
sMr. Sunday had begun the Christian
life, as a result, as / remember, of his
contact with the Pacific Garden Mission
and soon became identified with our as
ISOLATION activities. Mr.. Sunday rendered
very valuable service in the specific re-
Iigious work Of the association. He was
especially strong in his personal effort
among men who were strongly tempted
and among those who had fallen by the
way. He was also effective IN his evan
gellstic appeals even at that early period
IN his Christian life
1--WE never had a man IN our staff who
was more consecrated, more deeply spir-
itua1, more self-sacrihcing or more re-
sultful in his work in winning men to
Christ.
Mr.. Sunday while with US was q bitter
foe of any kin of vice and did some
work In creating public senu-
ment concerning certain evils which be-
set young men. Mr.. Sunday has since