Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-28


recommending. Mr.. William A. Sunday
. licentiate of Presbytery. desiring t
enter the ministery. was examined To-
ordination. His examination being sus
tanned, It was ordered that when Pres
bytery adjourn 1t be to meet Wednesday
April is, In Jefferson Park church, fol
the purpose of his ordination, that Rev
New York. be requested to preach the
sermon, the moderator, Rev. Joseph A
Vance. to pres' ., PROFOUND constitu
tional questions aid offer ordaining pray
er. and Rev. Alexander Patterson to give
the charge to the evangelist.
''Presbytery met pursuant to above ad-
tournament. in Jefferson Park church
April u, 3 p. M. and was opened with
prayer. Present: Ministers, Joseph A.
Vance. Moderator; Frank Dewitt Tai
mage. Alexander Patterson. Elder J. Hen
~ Bentx, corresponding member: J. Will
bur Chapman, Presbytery New York; Rev.
]. wilbur Chapman preached sermon:
Rev. J. A. Vance propounded constitu-
tionel questions and offered prayer Of or
dinAtion. Rev. Alexander Patterson gave
ehssss to evangelist. Adjourned with
bensdiction by the newly ordained min
lister, Rev. w. A. Sunday.
Attest, James rockingham, Stated
Clssk, Chicago Presbytery.'
Mr.. Sunday has never been particu-
lar about being called reverend. Plain
"Bill" or BILLY" is the appellation
which seems to be dearest to his
heart. Still less is he inclined to use
The title Of Doctor of Divinity, which
IL tho last honor which has been con-
fsr1sd upon him in academic circles.
He holds this degree from Westmin-
stsr college ut New Wilmington, Pa.
Dr.. Robert McWatty Russell, presi-
dent Of the college, reports that West.
minstsr college conferred the hon.
oraSy degree Of Doctor Of Divinity
UPON Mr.. Sunday at the commence.
msnt exercises June 13, 1912. DR..
Russell says:
INF. Sunday was not able to be pres
snt, bsing engaSed in evangelistic serv-
Ices at Beaver Falls, 80 the degree was
conferred In absentia.
1--WE count II to the honor Of Westmin-
ster that she did this thing. DR.. Sunday
knows his Bible which is the true body
of divinity in theological lore. Mr.. Sun
day has devoted his life to the supreme
task Of world evangelization for which
the Bible il the great charter. He is,
therefore, both In scholarship and prac-
teal effort entitled to the degree. Just
as . Doctor Of Medicine is supposed to
know the science Of medicine and prac-
tice tho art Of healing, 90 q Doctor Of
Divinity who knows the truth about God
and practices the art Of saving Is en-
titled to the degree. In many institutions
It IL customary to bestow the honorary
degree Of Doctor of Divinity upon those
who are mon noted for their knowledge of
the traditions Of the scribes and phari-
sees than for knowledge and practical
use Of the Bible ITSELF"
Patched and disjointed as are these
efforts at acquiring the knowledge
which to many men comes through
channels 90 simple and natural that
hey arc never conscious of them, they
afford no real index to the attainment
or tho ability Of the men. Agriculture
he knows as we'll as most farmers:
medicine and law he can discuss
freely with professionals. Even those
preachers who ind that he is not pro-
found theologically. do not say that he
10 not sound Art and science he
knows - we'll - the average amateur.
Tho stars are not unknown to him.
A colossal capacity for figures is stag
gertng to those who become lost even
In the ordinary instances of book
keeping. His reading has been diver.
llasd and extremely widespread. He
has q keen knowledge Of the thing
that win appeal to an audience, and
selsctivs spirit which enables him to
juAes almost intuitively the story, the
episode Of. the comparison which will
most readily appeal to his hearers.
During the course Of his campaigns
he addresses In ono day the society
women Of the city, and in the same
halt day tho convicts Of the peniten-
tiaxy. He dimes with the governor of
the state, addresses the legislature,
speaks to shopmen In large factories
and 10 ready within few minutes to
launch upon q profound exposition OF
some Bible theme.
It 10 almost impossible to hit upon
. subject for conversation where he
10 not better informed than the aver
age person and at least able to discuss
with those who have
specialized in that line. In this re-
spect his mind shows much In CON-
mon with that of the great Napoleon
whose versatility and adaptability
were the marvel Of his generation.
A phenomenal memory has been Of
material assistance in the proper use
OF his diversified knowledge. He calls
by name readily men and women
whom he has not seen for years. and
then only for q brief period. He
quotes verbatim whole passages not
only OF the Scriptures but of the Eng.
lish classics. and reproduces, with
accuracy, those most battling compila-
ton OF statistics, the government re-
ports, which deal with labor, agricul-
ture, commerce and the traffic of the
world. .....
- Chapter w.