New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-14
Recent Attacks on Evangel-
list Held Unjust at Marble
Church Meeting.
INVITATION TO VISIT
THIS CITY DELAYED
Expected To Be Given Later
Despite Two Years Engage
ments Already.

Although no one would say so, every
one at the meeting OF ministers and lay
men Yesterday i'm the Marble Church. on
Fifth avenue, understood that billy
Sunday. the evangelist and ex-ball player
is "warminC I'D on the side lines for Il
New York engagement. When resolu-
ton was presented calling on sunday 10
come those at the head of the meeting
cautioned delay, saying Sunday was
booked for two years ahead. The spirit or
the meeting and hints given out by minis
ters and delegates from Pittsburgh. Where
Sunday has been evangelizing, left no
doubt. however that Sunday Wouid
'iump the small time TO play with the
big league in New York il he got the
proper invitation.
Recent criticism Of Sundays methods
by ministers in Pennsylvania was the
reason 20. the meeting, which was called
TO explain away these attacks and sho"
how Sunday accomplished his conversions
From Pittsburgh came William II. Don
rer. president of the Cambria Steel COM
pany. and Or. Maitland Alexander pastor
Of the First Presbyterian Church OF
Pittsburgh. From Wlkes-Barre came
Thomas Anterior, an attorney, prepared
TO refute those who attacked Sunday S
work.
After DR.. Alexander and Mr.. Atherton
had spoken about the results OF SUNDAY
evanCeIizing ministers in the audience be-
gan TO ask questions. They were an
svered so skilfully by the men from
PENNSYLVANIA, who asserted they came
here for the sole purpose Of telling the
truth about Sunday. that the spirit OF the
meeting changed from one OF DOUBT 10 one
OF enthusiasm for Sunday.
"'Bily' Sunday may use slang but ne
talks in the language Of 80 per cent OF the
people." said Mr.. Anterior, while you
ministers talk over the heads OF ." per
cent of your congregations
Reports were read by the defenders OF
Sunday TO show that there was no truth
in statements about the great cost OF get
ting converts by the Sunday method. II
was asserted that thousands who did not
come forward and accept religion at the
Sunday meetings did so sfterward when
there was less publicity attached TO their
conversions. DR.. Alexander admitted that
Sunday took a personal collection of s24Vo
in one day. but said hereafter no appeals
for funds would be made by the evan
gelist
After al questions had been answered
a motion was made to bring Sunday 10
New York. 1t was on the point or being
carried when DR.. Alexander ADVISED
against the motion.
This body IS not truly representative
he said. 1T would be better If there was
another meeting of ministers OF all de-
nominations acting in concert Besides,
Mr. Sunday is engaged for two years
ahead and there is no hurry
The motion was changed TO one or
thanks to the men who came from Penn
sylvania to explain the method and result
of Sundays work outside the church
man was distributing leaflets. shouting
You don't have to wait two years for
Billy Sunday! Begin now! The leaflets
advertised preliminary World Unity
Conferences" TO be held at the Daily
Temple from April II to q.
IL was the general belief that New YORK
would not have TO wait two years for the
Rev. William A. Sunday to evangelize 1t.