The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-04

finally. the age of twenty one ne beca me
member OF the Chicago White Stocking Base
bali club. He the fastest runner in the
profession ana received n large salary
one night he stopped TO listen to some work
ers of the Pacific Garden Mission on the streets
of Chicago, and wen' with them to the Mission
rooms, and i'm a few DAYS, penitent sinner,
he found Christ a Savior and came out openly
- . Christian. Joining the Presbyterian Church
aud the Central Y. NJ c. \. Of Chicago.
He continued : n professional ball-player for
i've years after his conversion. but began al
most Immediately take part in Christian
work attending church in whatever city his
team might lie visiting. teaching in sunday
school and speaking at Y, NJ. Z. y. meetings.
In 1891 Sunday. after many unsuccessful at
tcmpts. secured release from his contract as
ball player. and accepted the position of sec
rotary of .he religious department of the Chi
NaEo J. NJ g. A. at 4 salary OF $1,000 year.
He married and was receiving u salary of
several thousand dollars a year. but he worked
rersistently 10 get release from the bali club
u take up the religious work.
This shows that Billy Sunday did enter
Christian work from any mercenary motive
For three years no worked in Chicago, ana
learned much about tho sins Of great city.
and the only cure for sin He then became
assistant TO DR.. j, wilbur Chapman in his
evanGelstic work. and spoke opportunity
offered. At Che end nj three years DIR. Chap
man returned 10 the p3storate. and Sunday was
invited 10 hold meeting alone. and 30 In 1896
he began work an evangelist, and has been
in that work ever since. and has been very sue
cessful II the reports from the places where he
has preached can be credited. lie is not in any
sense an accidental. irresponsible evangelist lie
IS man mo has definite clear-cut religious
experience, who has come No step by step from
iho ranks until today he breaches more peo-
PIE than any other man in the world. Himself
convert of q mission han, an earnest Sunday
school teacher. Y. NJ. G. y. worker. an or
0ainei minister Of the Presbyterian Church.
Doctor Of Divinity he has fun rights to preach
the gospel Of the son Of God.
Preparation Watchsurd.
lie makes it condition Of acceptance Of any
caI that ,hc churches Of a city shall unite in
the call and shall prepare for the meeting for
weeks in advance. He brings with him trained
workers He insists upon Il specially prepared
place Ia hold the meeting. His golden text of
Scripture Timothy e.15: study to show
myself approved unto God. a workman that
ncedcth not TO be ashamed. rightly dividing
the word OF TRUTH fIa believes in preparation
and this preparation includes much prayer.
Perhaps this preparation Is the great secret
of power IN his meetings. He thinks this prepa-
ration necessary. 1t Is certainly the scrlptural
plan. 'Tarry at Jerusalem" Pray without
rcasing. Why rot ascrbe the great power
m the sunday meetings, not To- hypnotism. but
to the Spirit OF the living God. descending at
Ientecost to bless the preaching Of the word 4
In convince men Of sin and Righteousness and
of judgment t. come. and TO bear witness with
The spirits "f men that they are the children of
God9
The Word of Truth"
scriptural He relies chiefly upon the Bible
ana PRAYER tie considers preaching TO be
flRhtIy diNuIhg the word OF truth. Like MI.
N"odN h5 breaches the WORD. lie Is dogmauc
openly almost hefcetN doslhahe. "A" INDUCES
ia no speculauonss he knows no compromise
Jesus christ bore our sins in his own body on
me tree We are saved bY falth ana not by
character. personal responsibility. heaven ana
hell. are vital facts Absolute loyalty to Christ
as divine Master and Lord is demanded on pain
Of rejection by Him before the assembled uni
verse
The ~ord Of trttb' means to him the old
fundamental crthodo& doctrines which have al
Ways guppeo the merits. of men. and which
have always been preached IN any great out
pouring Of the spirit and revival Of religion
The Christian religion Is thoroughly uncom-
promising. and The Master himself with all His
0ercy and love never made any compromise as
4" the truth The man who accepts Him as
savior auh Master has eternal life, and the man
who rejcfts Him has eternal death. Thank Coo
that the preaching Of Billy sunday demonstrates
atresh that what Ia" people ueed and what they
really hunger after Is the word of truth
His Personality.
tn" other objections lie against the personal
character stiles Of the man. Here am obliged
~ refer tao critics Ia God for answer. I am
Eor apoioeist for some Of the gestures Billy
sunday makes nor for the attitudes he strikes.