Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-06
THE WORLDS GREATEST EVANGELIST

picture of the scenes and faces of
other days. 1t was friend Harry
who came and invited me to attend
a meeting in the mission which was
only two blocks away. I arose and
said to the boys, am going to
hear about Jesus Christ This was
the parting of the ways. and two
Or three days later in the mission
rooms, while listening to the sweet,
persuasive words of Mrs. Clarke
(wife of the sanity Colonel Clarke,
founder of the mission). I took
Christ as my alI-sufhcient Saviour. a"
Sunday continued to play profess
sional ball for some time after
ward Mr. Messer of the Chicago
Y. NJ. c. A. tells the story of how
Sunday frequently came to the as
ISOLATION rooms. and | could not but
notice how very anxious he was to
talk to men and boys at every avail
able opportunity. l gave him."
continued Mr.. Messer. letters TO
Y NJ. c. A. secretaries in cities he
was to visit on his baseball tours.
and on Sunday afternoons and eve
nings he would make addresses in
the Y. NJ. c. A. auditoriums. His
fame as a player was so great that
crowds invariably attended on
every occasion. Returning to Chi
cago, Billy Sunday came to me. 3"
adds Mr.. Messer. land said he had
decided to enter Y. NJ. c. A. work.
/ talked matters over, placed before
him our financial position, which
would not then permit of our pay
ing more than 81 900 d year salary.
Billy, however, took the position
and became a most devoted
worker"
1t was shortly after this that
Billy Sunday came in touch with
DR.. Wilbur Chapman, who showed
him much kindness. and with whom
he eventually became attached, his
work being to sell hymn books at
the evangeIistic meetings. On one
occasion Doctor Chapman called
upon Billy 20 give his testimony.
1.-THE simple statement so impress
ed me" relates Doctor Chapman,
that l remarked that a man with
such a message ought to preach. =
On Doctor Chapman accepting the
call to the Bethany Presbyterian
church. Philadelphia, Billy Sunday
became associated with Charles
Alexander and NJ. B. Williams,
who were then holding evangelis-
tic services in the widdle west. VIII
liams made a profound impression
upon Sunday and it was from him
he learned his present methods.
Leaving these men, Billy Sunday
decided to launch out as an evan
gelist himself, and from that time
to the present day he has steadily
grown in power and influence. His
methods-like his personality
are unique in every respect, and of
those who have sought to initiate
him, failure might be written con-
corning the majority. Resultant
from his campaign tens OF thou
sands have hit the trail" 1t may
be of interest to explain the signifi-
canoe of the term the "sawdust
trail" Billy Sunday refers to it
in the following manner: "Imag-
ine," he said, "a lumberman lost |
in the big woods. He has wan |
iered bewildered for days. Death !
stares him in the face. Then, spent |
and affTighted, he comes to a trail |
and the trail leadS~to life. The ex- /
preston l used for the first time, |
adds Mr.. Sunday, when speaking
to the woodsmen of the Puget !
Sound territory, and they quickly |
saw its significance. Now il is
used in my services in place of such
terms as going forward or seek
Ing the altar 1t isn't the sawdust
trail that brings you to Christ"
the evangelist in max
ing his appeal, lit is the Christ that
YOU will meet in the trail that will
save you" /
Very many regard. with some
Thing akin to horror, Billy Sundays !
frequent use of slang when deal t
ing with sacred subjects. He justi-
6es his action in the following /
.erms: Some folks tell me that | |
Use altogether too much slang in |