The sun., 1916-09-25
Brooklyn Msgnatc and Giants
Wizard Preach From a
Methodist Pulpit.
CHURCH APPLAUDS THEM
DR.. Christian F. Rcisner Has
Baseball Night for His
Flock.

as any fan could wlsh--that was one
phase Of the national game to be feen
and heard last night In Grace Methodist
Episcopal Church. West i04th street.
between Columbus and Amsterdam ave.
nues
Charley Ebbets admitted to TIL. con-
%grcgation that he had knocked off the
not %unenviable task OF opening stack
after stack Of letters containing checks
and bills for world series tickets so that
he could he present to speak at the
church's baseball service" which the
Rev. Dr. Christian r. Reisner. pastor OF
the church and rabid baseball fan. holds
annually.
And Charley IIerzog. whose appear
ance in the pulpit following Charley
Ebbets's talk started renewed applause
which ratified around the edifce iiko
musketry fire. confessed that he had one
Of the biggest hustlcs OF his life to keep
his word with DR.. Re!sner TO DO pres
ent. Yesterday morning Hcrzog la to
send word to the pastor that a telegram
had called him to Philadelphia. and so
lie would have to postpone his appear
ance as n preacher.
Hrra0g's Home Rua.
Tut" said DR.. Reisner early IN the
services last night, II got Herzog on the
oHS tdu ttlcpuOtic tlIS dtttTnOOT
and he SAT- he'd he here. Applause
Hc said he dldn't know how he could do
II. but that he would. I don't know
when he'll get here az was after Q o'clock
when DIR. Reisncr made these re-
marks). but ! know that when my friend
Charley Herzog starts In to make n homo
run ne usually makes II.
80" concluded the pastor confidently.
Charley will be here"
There was n crowd which filled every
seat In DR.. Rcisner's church and there
was also excellent music while awaiting
the arrival Of the baseball men. Early
In the services the a who are more
b!goted about baseball thar religion felt
that their evening wasn't wasted even II
the Charleys didn't show up: for scattered
among the congregation were Fletcher.
Robertson. Slim Sallee, Poll Perritt and
others OF the Giants. n Robinson.
Wheat. Cutshaw and more Of the elect
from the Brooklyn champ outfit.
Also there was a free distribution Of
baseball booklets which the Spalding
sporting goods firm had printed and do
mated to Or. fteisner after the pastor had
supplied the firm with Biblical quotations
which the minister believed applied par
ticuiarly to the clean aggress'veness OF
the national game.
Bible and Baseball.
Players" ran a heading in the book
let. and after the word came a quotation
from Matthew Many arc called but few
arc chosen." Then came other headings.
each with its attendant quotation from
the Scriptures: Time at Bat Behold
now is the accepted time" "a Base Hit.
"Ye did run we'll; "a Sacrifice HI,
FOR he Is profitable to me for minister
ing; strike Outs Not as one that
bea,cth the air.: wild Pitches I'm
your patience possess ye your souls
Passed Balls Hold fast that which Is
good &c.
Or. Reisncr led In prayer. In which
baseball had It's part. and In which he
thanked the Almighty hat We have red
biooded disciples Of Christ who play the
game according to the rules" Then DIR
Reisner read a telegram which Billy Sun
day had sent to the Giants some seasons
back AZ they were about to step on the
diamond TO play their first world series
game against the Athletics.
- My best wishes to all you boys" rar
Billy's telegram in part. "Ill be work
ing to beat he'll all next week. but II
lay off long enough to look at the score
boards"
That part OF the telegram caused some
I ~ ~ W. ~hFP I" ~ w ~ .
upon Dr. I,eisncr backed up Billy's Ian
guage TO the extent OF saying that he
DR.. Rcisner. also was working to hca'
hell In the same sense that BILLY sur
day used the phrase. and was glad OF II.
The World series.
Pastor Reisner then took up his ser
mon. 1.-THE World Series" the series H.
had In mind being the everlasting fsh
.-.l-. -.It H. --Alat. l. -
should be eng ged. Much Of hts dis
course was devoted to the clean live
that successful baseball players live
, Ninety per cent, nc said. Of the ball play
crs are processing Christians, and h
listed by name many noted players an
the churches to which they belong.
Then Mr.. Ebbets came in. and wa
loudly applauded pom being introduce
by the pastor. Charley Ebbcts Nigh
have been to the pulpit o for all tn
nervousness he showed when he face
the big congregation.
"Clean Living Is Necessary in Base
: ball" was his subject. and the Brookly
: magnate never once hesitated for, a wor
throughout his discourse. He told OF tn
clean cut lives the ball players liv
/, as q rule and concluded by consratula'
ing Manhattan on having In the Clam
from Hampstead and McGraw down.
AZ fine a set of examples OF best kind c
'. baseball men as can be found anywhcr'
~ told YOU" said Or. Reisner whe
= Mr.. Ebbe,s had finished. that Charlie
Herzog would make good and get herr
Now ] have the great pleasure to be alb.
r TO tell you tina Charley has arrived
J [Long applause Fletcher. bring Hel
cog up to the pulpit"
2 But Fletcher held hack. The deman
J for Hersog continued. however. an
: finally he walked up tho aisle alone an
; mounted the pulpit.
= at touches me to he able TO come TIL
way into u Methodist pulpit," said I'll
l hall player after he had eaid some pre-
c ~lin,inary words about tho pride OF the ba
tosser in his chosen work.. because In
{ way I am thus following-a little wa.
anyhow-in the footsteps Of my Crane
father. who was Il Lutheran minister
: Uerzog never had TO halt for II wor
$ either. lie went on in u voice somt
what hushed-a voice not a hit like Hei
3 yoR's vocal organs on the ball fleld--an
told of his gratitude and pride In heal
ing Magnate Ebbets say such fine thina
about the professional ball player as
man.
=. His W ambition. he said. was SON
day 10 become physical director Of
school-not of u big university but Of
preparatory school where. he concluded
ii II can get in touch with the little taci
O ers between 10 and IL years and trai
y them. and In that way ] think ! can d
!, some good"
Herzog brought his talk to an end wit
49, -