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

of all great evangelists who have
achieved an acceptable ranking in his
tory.
It is true Luther was equipped with
the academic training of the clergy
of his time, but his life, his habits
and his language were essentially
those of the common people. The
German into which he translated the
Holy Writ, is the German of the
masses, and on his authority alone
against all photographers, there are
German expressions sanctioned which
do not conform to the ordinary usages
Of good German diction. Modern evan
gelism has numerous, If not such
marked, examples of the same truth.
Nor do these men ever shake off
the vernacular of their early calling
and association. Human nature Is so
constituted that that which smacks OF
the soil, is considered to smack OF
sincerity. What there is about stu
dious and philosophical preparation
that robs the masses of confidence IN
the man who uses it, might be hard
to explain. The fact that such SEEM
ing prejudice exists Is too well known
to any who have occasion to deal with
the masses habitually.
There is no question but that base
ball Is the great American game. Its
vigorous, If unschooled exertions typ
ify the American spirit, restless of all
b,11 ~ n1oroont 1T nnn.
test, rapid in it's action, exhilarating
in it's effect, essentially q contest in
every aspect, the game is a reflex OF
the national life of today.
Whether or not an All Wise Provi-
dence gave thought to this when he
constituted W. A. Sunday his messen-
ger, or whether more natural causes
sufficiently account for the bounding
popularity of the evangelist, VINO came
from the RANKS OF the most popular
spirit in America, is matter for
speculation, the outcome of which is
of no particular Importance. Whether
a coincidence or cause leading to an
effect Is immaterial The facts are
that in stepping from a baseball team
to the rostrum of tabernacle Mr..
Sunday achieved feat without par
allel in modern history, but quite in
keeping with the best traditions Of the
C. Ting he espouses.
It is not Of record that the evan
gelist cherished any youthful ambition
to shine upon the baseball field.
Rather it is probable that baseball
meant to him what it means to most
healthy boys, a pleasant sport and an
agreeable means by which they ex-
press their energy. A hardy and 1.-the
form inherited from generations OF
those who had titled the soil, coupled
with an indomitable desire to excel
in whatever line Of endeavor he en-
tered are sufficient grounds upon
which to explain the remarkable
career which he enjoyed in his
early youth. His history is peculiar
only in that he had come to extraor-
binary fame in his baseball work be-
fore he took up what has proved to
be his life activity.
The discovery or Billy SUNDAY on
back lot in Marshalltown, Iowa, by A.
C. Arson, popularity known as Cap
tain" Arson, or Pop" Arson. is base
ball tradition. 1t has been the remark
of sporting editors that BILLY Sunday
never worked in a brush league, but
full fledged star into the
arena of the national game when he
became member of the White Sox
team in 1888" Sunday remained with
the Chicago organization for five
years, and for all that time heading
the batting order he played either
right or center field. From Chicago
at the end OF five years Sunday went
to Pittsburg, and later on to Phila-
delphia.
More than twenty years Of active
work in promulgating the gospel has
not cooled the ardor of his enthusiasm
for the national game, nor abated one
jot or title the friendship he feels
for the men who are still keeping it
before the public, or for the older
fellows who have had to get out of
the way of the younger generation.
Baseball, and baseball lingo are con-
comitant part and attractive feature
of many of his best known sermons.
A hearty welcome and an opportunity
for a chat is always afforded those
who come to discuss old times, or the
changes in the game as it is played
today.
A man whose experience would fill
volumes and whose career is brilliant
with many exceptional achievements
in other lines, the magazines still turn
to him for articles on baseball, and
he Is regularly quoted as an authority
ON many phases of the subject. Every
where Mr.. Sunday goes in the further
ance of his evangelical campaigns, he
meets with many who recall his White
Sox days and not infreQuently these
form nucleus of the subsequent
cro1ydc which roIlu 70 bic cunnOrt AS