The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-09-22
THE F0REWoRD
BY DR.. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.

BY DR.. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.
! have the greatest possible Joy and
delight in the successful ministry Of
the Rev. w. A. Sunday. / consider
him one Of the most genuine, true
hearted men / have ever known and
he has almost in perfection what be-
lieve every minister must have II he
Is to be a success In his preaching.
namely, consuming passion. It is
not possible for everyone to possess
the great gifts with which Mr.. Sunday
has been naturally endowed, but it Is
possible for everyone to be dead in
earnest and without In any way de-
tracing from him, mentally, physic-
ally and spiritually. / shall not be
misunderstood when / say that much
Of his phenomenal success is to be
traced to his downright earnestness.
A half-hearted minister has never yet
done much in the cause of Christ, and
Mr.. Sunday is setting the ministers
Of the United States noble example
In throwing himself into his great
work with such tremendous zeal. !
do not know how long he can last
working under such heavy pressure,
but have no doubt that he has
counted the cost and that he has fully
decided that it will be far better to
preach as he is preaching for linn
tied time and to have the conscious
ness that he is being blessed of God
in his work. and turning multitudes
to Christ, than to live less strenuous
life and see comparatively few come
to Christ
II fair proportion of the ministers
Of the Church could preach with the
spirit of abandonment which possesses
Mr.. Sunday, believe the whole world
could be turned to Christ almost In
generation. It is one of my great
joys to realize that / may have
had some influence In determining
Mr. Sundays life work. He came to
me many years ago to assist In my
services. He was ready to do any
thing, to sell books, to direct ushers,
to look after the inquiries. to make my
work easier in every way, and he had
the same hearty enthusiasm In these
ordinary things which he did which Is
now displayed In his most remarkable
work
One day years ago In Urbana, Ohio.
I had request from someone out OF
town for speaker, and asked Mr..
Sunday to take the meeting. He
seemed greatly frightened, said that
he could not speak and that he was
not the man for the place. Finally It
was determined that he would tell the
story Of his conversion Following
that Sundays service the most inter
esting reports were made to me Of the
impression which he had made upon
his audience, and / then had the con-
viction that he ought to do more Of
the work, and suggested to him that
he ought to 60 to q number OF smaller
places and stay just q week When
he told me that he did not have ser
mons asked him to make use Of any
thing that he had heard me say, and
told him that / should feel highly
honored at his doing 30. It was thus
that he started, 30 far as ! can 70
member. His successful work from
that day to this needs no descriptive
word Of mine for however much mem
may differ with him as regards
method, an WIN agree II they know
him at all that he il absolutely honest
and sincere a. well - being great
man / consider Mr.. Sunday very
generous I cannot think Of any time
that he has met me- and had opp0r-
tunfty Tor conversation that he has
not said TO me--Do you need any
money! And that he has not told
me- that II did need It be would
e1adly give Il to me-. Fortunately t0r