The Washington times., 1915-06-15
Bentley D.. Ackley Promises to
Tell ''Inside Stuff Of Soul
Saving Business.
ADVANCE MAN ALSO LEAVES
Case of "Too Much George Is
Explanation Given For Rev.
Mr.. Emett's Action.

PHILADELPHIA, June 15.-Bentley
d. Ackley. Billy Sundays private Sec
retary and pianist who composed many
gospel songs for the evangelist's re-
vivals, has resigned. With the an
nouncement of Ackley's determination
came n report that the evangelist and
his assistant, the Rev. Z. M. Emett,
advance agent for the Philadelphia and
Paterson campaigns. also has parted
company. The advance man. it was
said. was summarily fired" by the
boss" son. George, last month at the
close of the Paterson campaign.
Some interesting inside stuF" con-
cerning the Billy Sunday system Of
soul-saving Is promised by Ackley.
Some Of the things he had to put
up with" during the eight years he was
connected with Sunday, he says. got
on his nerves" A sore point is that
the financial concessions of all the big
tabernacle campaigns went to Homer
A. Rodeheavcr. the trombonist and
choir leader. and Fred Seibert, eX-cow-
boy and caretaker of tabernacles. All
the plums went to these two" asserts
Ackley. #.
ROdey" Made 100000.
The pianist says "Rodey" Cleaned up"
more than $4,000 in the Philadelphia
campaign, in addition to his salary, and
mostly from the sale of hymnboolSs, pop
ularized by Ackley's songs. For most of
them the pianist says he got only $40
apiece.
seibert is said by Acklcy to have
made at least 5000 on the sale Of cam
paign literature, Of which he had ex-
elusive tabernacle rights in the rcvivals
in this city and in Paterson. Ackley got
q salary of $75 week. Of which Sunday
only paid s25, the rest coming out Of
the tabernacle collections.
The advent Of BILLY" Sundays Son
George as business manager OF the
organization seems to have been the
disturbing feature which resulted in
Ackley's deciding to quit
Likewise. Mr.. Emett. so he says him
self, was too independent to suit George
Sunday and the boss Numerous
clashes over details of campaigns in
which Son George is alleged to have
''muddled things generally" are said to
have led to a situation mo longer to
be borne"
"Billy" May Accuse Liquor Men.
VIII BILLY" Sunday place Ackleys
resignation and his avowed determine
tion to expose inside facts at the door
OF the whisky interests to which he
has previously charged divers attacks
on himself and his campaign method:
Sunday is taking a rest at his Hood
river apple ranch in Oregon. Judging
from letter received by Ackley from
the boss" yesterday he has no inkling
Of his secretary's resignation.
The resignation and the Sunday letter
probably crossed trails"
1t may be significant that among the
hrst to know of Ackley's intended res
ignation from the Sunday party was
Walter H. Fenley, third vice president
ISOLATION. Fenley had been close friend
Of the former Sunday aide for a long
time, and often was at the Spring
Garden street headquarters while the
Phiiadelphia campaign was in progress.
II Is understood that he alSo visited
Ackley In Paterson several times. Since
his return from a Western trip. follow
Ing the revival in Paterson, Ackley has
been much In the company of Fenley.
He admitted yesterday, as did Fenley.
that the two were at Tammany House
hotel conducted by the liquor dealers
oniclal, at Broadway and Jefferson ave-
nue.. Camden. Sunday night.
Fenley disclaimed any influence In
Ackiey's decision to resign. and assert
ed that he had endeavored to persuade
him to reconsider the resignation Bear
ing out his assertion. Fenley exhibited
a letter written to him by Ackley in
reply TO query as to whether Ackley's
determination to quit Sunday was finaI.
Ackley's letter follows:
philadelphia. Pa. June 1s.
Dear Fenley: Replying to yours of
the llth inst, l have decided finally to
quit the service of w. A. Sunday There
has been absolutely no question be-
tween us--simply desire to cut loose
from some things which did not 'jibe'
with my ideals of the organization as
a whole. With best wishes. sincerely,
"ACKLEY."
Mr.. Ackley. recuperating from
strenuous season which marks the pin
nacle of the evangelist's financial sue
cess. is at his home here. He has no
definite plans for the future. but mo
amount Of money or persuasion" could