Billy Sunday revival campaigns, 1908

In 1908, Billy Sunday significantly expanded his evangelistic reach, conducting several impactful revival campaigns that elevated his national prominence. Notable revivals that year included:

Bloomington, Illinois: This campaign marked Sunday’s first major urban revival, setting the stage for subsequent large-scale efforts. The dates of the Bloomington meetings were December 27, 1907-February 3, 1908.

Spokane, Washington: Invited by Prohibition advocates, Sunday held a significant revival here, reinforcing his influence in the temperance movement. Society for American Baseball Research

Jacksonville, Illinois: Photographs from 1908 depict Sunday preaching against “booze” in a tabernacle on South Main Street, highlighting his commitment to the temperance cause.

Charleston, Illinois: In April 1908, Sunday led a revival that influenced the local baseball team to adopt the moniker “Charleston Evangelists,” reflecting the impact of his campaign on the community. Wikipedia

Springfield, Illinois: Sunday’s initial efforts in 1908 laid the groundwork for a comprehensive six-week revival in 1909, which resulted in over 4,000 conversions and the establishment of enduring community institutions like the Washington Street Mission. Illinois Times

These 1908 campaigns were pivotal in transitioning Billy Sunday from regional evangelist to a national figure, capable of organizing large-scale revivals and mobilizing extensive volunteer networks.

William Ashley “Billy” Sunday, Evangelist at the Tabernacle, Preaching Against “Booz,” South Main Street, Bloomington, Illinois, Photo by C. U. Williams, Bloomington, Illinois, circa 1908

Interior shot of the tabernacle in 1908 at Bloomington, Illinois

Photo credit: McCleanCounty Museum of History (visit)

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 02, 1908 ·Page 10

“BILLY” SUNDAY AS UMPIRE

PRESIDED AT INDOOR BASE BALL GAMES.

Large Crowd Witnessed the Ex-Base Ball Evangelist Handle the Indicator—Cheered in Decisions.

Sunday’s New Year.

11:30—Addresses children.

2:30—Preaches at tabernacle.

4:30—Umpire ball games.

7:30—Preaches again.

Several hundred people witnessed an unusual sight at the South Center street armory on the afternoon of New Year’s day. It was the playing of indoor base ball under the guidance of a man of national reputation in the diamond, but now turned preacher and evangelist. Unusual was the scene, in the first place, because indoor base ball itself is something of a novelty in this city. In years gone, there have been occasional games played, but never before was there a regularly organized league with a fixed schedule, and when there were games in the past, they were witnessed mainly by a few score of the enthusiastic fans. It is said that yesterday’s game was seen by hundreds who had never before witnessed such a contest.

And in the second place, it was unusual and unique to have a game of indoor base ball umpired by Rev. “Billy” Sunday, theevangelist who was himself once a star player on the outdoor diamond. His presence in the city to conduct a revival was taken as an opportunity for the managers of the league to secure his services to umpire this game. And the announcement of this fact drew a crowd of people who would otherwise have been probably entirely ignorant of the existence of the game or perhaps of the existence of such a sport.

Arrives From Meeting.

Rev. Mr. Sunday had been preaching over at the tabernacle, which is only a block away from the armory. The religious meeting there overlapped for some twenty minutes the time scheduled for the ball game in the armory, hence the first of the games had proceeded about half way through before the famous umpire arrived on the scene. The first part of the initial game was umpired by Frank Will, the regular league umpire.

While the enthusiasm of the spectators was running at a high K. C. T. game, a new horde of people, many of them women, at the door, caught of the announcement that the religious meeting was over and that Sunday was coming. The crowd had been standing about before him, but with the additional contingent added, all the available room for spectators was crowded.

Mr. Sunday entered the hall in company with a number of local preachers, and this was probably the first time an indoor ball game had been honored by so great a company of spectators. Mr. Sunday lost no time after entering the room in getting to his position behind the bat.

Umpire Will giving way gracefully. Presides in Two Games. A cheer arose from the crowd, and the magnificence lifted their din as the people recognized the preacher-umpire on the home plate. Mr. Sunday doffed his overcoat and was found clad in a business suit of light gray. He had been heated up pretty well in speaking at the revival, and the air of the armory seemed cool to him. He at once turned up his coat collar to protect his throat.

After a few minutes, some one handed the new umpire a base ball hat, and he donned this, wearing it throughout the rest of the game.

With the indicator in his hand, Umpire Sunday shouted out at regular intervals the familiar words often heard on the diamond in announcing strikes and, two balls, one ball, foul strike, or batter out.

Nearly every time the umpire would announce a decision, the crowd would cheer at the beginning of his work, but after so much attention was paid to him, and interest returned to the game when Mr. Sunday was not engaged.

His mannerisms, his shoulder or head motion before the ball was delivered by the pitcher, and the way he himself threw the ball back to the pitcher, at Story of the Games.

The first game was won by the Turners, who defeated the Knights of Columbus by a score of 1 to 0 in an exciting and clean contest. Miller won the game for the Teutons with a two bag hit in the fifth. The Turners played a scoreless game and the K. C.’s had but two misplays charged against them. The games went five innings by agreement, as did the second game. The score by innings:

R. H. E.

Turners 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 2 0

K. C.’s 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 1 2

Batteries: Turners, Richanne and Miller; K. C.’s, Reardon and Day. Umpires, Wise, Sunday and Zier.

Olympics Win Second Game.

A batting rally in the final inning won the second game for the team representing the Olympic Athletic Club. The Olympics were shut out until the fifth, when the opposing team, that from Company D, had scored three runs. Then the Olympics came up to the Adams slants and the game was finally entered as a victory. The score by innings:

R. H. E.

Olympics 0 0 0 0 4 – 4 5 2

Company D 0 0 0 3 0 – 3 4 2

Batteries: Olympics, Muhl and Noonan; Company D, Adams and Keenan. Umpires, Wise, Sunday and Zier.

A few less than five hundred—486 to be exact—saw yesterday afternoon’s games. In both cases the spectators saw pretty battles.

The Weekly Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 03, 1908 ·Page 5

SUNDAY STOPS SHORT.

Thursday Afternoon’s Sermon Is Abruptly Ended by the Evangelist.

The period in the revival was reached yesterday afternoon when Evangelist Sunday told the church people they would have to “get busy” and do something for the success of the meeting. Upon asking “How many in the audience have read their bibles and prayed today” and seeing only a few hands uplifted Sunday quickly shut his bible and said: “I don’t preach another word, if you people think for a minute that I am coming here to wear myself out while you folks sit back with your arms folded, you are sadly fooled.”

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 16, 1908 ·Page 6

Sermon text and comments: Rev 3:20

William Ashley “Billy” Sunday, Photo by C. U. Williams, Bloomington, Illinois, 1908
_{Copyright 2019 McLean County Historical Society. Permission is granted for use by not-for-profit educational organizations and libraries.}

The Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 17, 1908 ·Page 6

LITERAL AND ETERNAL HELL ABSOLUTELY

THAT’S WHAT SUNDAY PREACHES

Evangelist Insists He Will Resign From Ministry Before He Would Cut it Out of Sermons.

UNIQUE DISCOURSE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

Large Crowds Continue to Throng the Tabernacle—Roll of Converts Increased—Revival News Notes.

Sunday believes absolutely that there is a hell and says he intends to fearlessly preach it as long as he remains in the ministry. Last night at the tabernacle in one of his characteristic sermons he said before he would omit the reality of hell from his preaching that he would resign from the ministry. “It’s up to you to accept or reject the gospel; it’s God or nothing,” said Sunday.

Last night the regulation crowd of 5,000 filled the tabernacle and heard Sunday preach on “How Shall We Escape if We Neglect So Great Salvation?” It is remarkable how Sunday attracts the populace. It takes a speaker of more than ordinary ability and power to draw two or three thousand people every afternoon and again each evening five or six thousand people to hear him preach, but Mr. Sunday possesses those qualities. His magnetic personality and peculiar eccentricities as a public orator combine to make up his extraordinary drawing force. After last night’s powerful sermon forty-six persons went forward and made the profession of faith.

The Sermon.

My text tonight assumes the form of a question, and although it seems to be a paradox it is absolutely unanswerable,” said Mr. Sunday. “I could go to the leading merchant in the town and when I would ask him he could tell me the principles by which to build business to success, but if I would ask him the question of my text I would gaze into a face that would give no reply. I might go to your leading physician and he could explain to me all about materia medica, about hygiene, about medical jurisprudence and about obstetrics, but if I would ask him this question I would gaze into a face of blank despair. I might go to the office of your most brilliant lawyer, a man that can interpret the law before the supreme court, a man with brains enough to codify the state laws and that knows all about organic and constitutional law, yet if I would ask him my question-text I would go down the stairs without a reply. If I could go to the lost world and the souls there could cease their shrieks long enough for me to ask this question, I would come back without an answer. If an angel of God would come to the tabernacle and I would ask it the question it would fly back and fold its wings like a tired dove in the presence of God without speaking a word.

“How Shall We Escape?”

“The text is found in the second chapter of Hebrews and the third verse—’How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?’ There is absolutely no escape; there is absolutely no answer to the question.

“Our first thought about salvation is saving from punishment. True, but you are not beginning to live unless you are a Christian. You have been merely existing. The one who lives in sin is driving the dagger into his own heart, for all that is polluting and corrupting and debasing comes through sin, yet men follow it. All that is noble and uplifting comes through Jesus Christ, yet men spurn Him.

God’s Plan.

“God has given us so many things. He knew we needed air—He gave it to us. He knew we needed water—He gave it to us. He knew that we needed eyes and ears and lungs and hands and feet, and He gave them to us. And He has salvation ready if we want it. And I have no patience with any who puts his asinine judgment up against God’s and says that he knows best. Of course there is a hell, the plan of salvation contains it. There would be no good in leaving hell out. I am not the author of the plan of salvation, but I am here to preach it as it is, whether it is pleasant to you or not. Because you do not believe in hell, that doesn’t make any difference. That don’t make you immune. A fact is a fact, whether you believe it or not. Because you don’t believe in God and heaven and hell and the divinity of Christ, don’t change the facts or scheme of salvation because you didn’t have sense and decency enough to believe. You can’t fix God’s word to suit yourself. You can’t blue-pencil His plan of salvation. You have to take it as it is or leave it. I have no doctrine. I preach God’s word. I have no use for a man who has a doctrine. Let him preach God’s.

The Truth of Hell.

“I don’t say that I’ve seen hell and I don’t intend to try and see it just to convince you. I don’t want to find out whether the fire in hell is like that in your stove or whether the word fire is an emblem chosen to represent conditions as bad. I am faithful and true to God’s trust and I never expect to know whether or not hellfire burns.

It is to the class who expect some time to be Christians that I am especially preaching tonight. This is the man who acknowledges that God has a claim on him and who sometimes expects to change and be a Christian. But that man who may be too late and who may find death before him before he has time to change. The church can only answer the question of hell in one way. He that believeth in Christ is saved, and he that believeth not is damned. If there is no hell, preachers are taking money under false pretenses.

“Is There a Hell?”

“In preaching hell and making reference to it I encounter a difficulty. Men and women don’t like to accept it. They think they cannot be happy with a hell, therefore they say there is no hell and think that settles it. Some people think they could be happy if hell was fixed like a big club with an ice chest full of Anheuser-Busch, Schlitz, and Pabst, with a button handy so they could call a servant if they wanted anything, and then could sit down, sip lemonade and puff a twenty-five-cent straight.

“Suppose I met three men walking on a road toward a precipice. To the first I say, ‘This is a dangerous road, and if you go on you will plunge over the precipice to death,’ but he doesn’t thank me.

He just sneers and walks on. The second asks, ‘Have you ever been to the end?’ and when I admit I have not, he says I don’t know what I am talking about, then. The third says that he knows it, but that he intends to turn off just this side of the precipice.

‘I meet three journeying from the cradle to the grave. The first curses and damns me when I speak to him of Christ and tries to show that he knows more than God. He ends in hell. A fellow told me to go there the other day and I told him if he wanted to go he could just pack up, but I wasn’t going. Whatever hell is, I don’t want to test its reality. It must be an awful place or God wouldn’t open a plan of salvation in order to keep us out. The second man asks me if I’ve ever been there to find out, and the third tells me that he believes he is a sinner, believes the bible is the word of God, believes in hell, but that he will repent before he dies.

‘Why put it off? Nearly everybody expects to become a Christian before he dies. Almost nobody wants to spend eternity in hell. I only met two men who believed in a literal hell who said they expected to spend eternity, and they were both converted.

‘How God will damn I do not know. But I do not want to go to hell. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? You can depend on it, there is no escape.

‘What is the use of churches and religion and temples and tabernacles, if there is no hell? Why open up a plan to save you if there is no hell? But, my friends, if heaven is eternal, hell is eternal. Don’t make God out a liar. Just take His word. You can’t find the truth from ethical and philosophical lines. You can’t settle a spiritual truth by scientific revelations. God has set before you an open door. You can accept or reject. God will never have another plan for you. It is accept Jesus Christ or nothing. Don’t shut your eyes to God’s danger signals.

Don’t rush like stampeded cattle to destruction. Don’t try to test the reality of hell.

The Plan of Salvation.

Wonder of wonders is the plan of salvation. So simple it is that a child can grasp it and so complex that scientists are puzzled. You can better afford to neglect anything else than your salvation. Neglect your health, your business, your education, rather than your salvation.

There are multitudes in hell who did not expect to go there, but who waited too long. I have seen men and women in Bloomington grasp the backs of the seats to steady themselves. I have seen them turn pale as I have hurled the truth at them. I have done my part. If you won’t take advantage of a thing when you may, don’t complain when it gets beyond you. A man can’t afford to trifle with God. The greatest calamities of the world have come from neglect—Johnstown, Ashtabula, Martinique—multitudes have had no more intention of spending eternity in hell than you have, yet they waited too long, and they are there. It is not that you have failed to hear, but that you have failed to heed. It is the only salvation; Mother Eddy or any of the rest of the bunch have nothing like it. The scheme of it shows God’s love. If you are damned, you have only yourself to blame. God has provided. You won’t go to hell because you are a sinner, but because you have failed to repent that sin. The bitterest dregs of hell that you will taste will be the thought that you have no one to blame but yourself.

eformation Not Salvation.

Oh, said a wrinkled browed, stoop shouldered, gray bearded old gambler to me. I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Bill. I’ll quit gambling.

Good I said. And I booze fight a little, not very much for no gambler can and keep ahead of the game but I booze fight a little, and I’ll cut that out.

Good. And I’ll stop my impure living.

Good. And I’ll quit my cussing.

I said. And what else? Well, I guess that’s about all, isn’t it? he asked.

Won’t you accept Jesus Christ? I said.

Why, I won’t have to, will I, if I live straight? he asked.

Say, and Sunday seized his bible to illustrate his point. Suppose you reach the age of accountability at this point, and he indicated a spot, and you are here when you reform and will be over here when you die. Your reformation counts all right from this point where you reformed to where you die, but what about the sins you committed from the time you reached the age of accountability? Your reformation doesn’t wipe them away and the only way they can be wiped away is through Jesus.

Just Faith.

No matter who you are—no matter how smart you are, you are damned and I tell you in your teeth you are damned. You can talk about salvation by refinement and culture. You can go to hell with all your culture. It is not worth a snap of your finger. By repentance and faith is the only way. If God could do no more than simply pardon a man, it would not be so much. But God pardons and justifies—makes you as if you had not sinned.

Don’t forget the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was a good fellow. He was not a bad man. He was just too busy to pay attention to God. He was like a lot of business men I met at the banquet at the Illinois the other night—cracking good fellows but too busy for God—and the rich man went to hell and cried aloud there for help. In hell you will carry with you the fact that you had the chance and failed to take it. You will remember in hell—God pity you. You are hurtling back every tender thought—every offer—God pity you.

In the name of my God and my Christ, I hurl to you a life line tonight.

A Sunday Prayer.

The sermon was closed with the following prayer: “Jesus, it seems too good to be true that you would provide salvation for us. But God to see men and women pass it up. That is staggering to me. I could understand why you would not love us; why you would not provide salvation for us, but Lord: to step in and provide salvation, to send prophets and priests, and to send Christian mothers to weep and beg and importune us to receive it and to see men pass it by and shake their heads. Jesus, I do not know what to do; I do not know what to say. Lord, I pray men and women may yield and say ‘I give up; I have neglected it long enough; there is too much at stake. My heart may stop tonight; my lungs may congest; there might be a blood clot on my brain. Lord, I will do it now.’ The trumpet may sound for me tonight and might shake a shroud round me tonight. What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Give me the answer. Give me the answer. Give me the answer. What will it profit you if you gained McLean county and lose your soul?”

Campaign interior during one of Sunday’s meetings in Bloomington, Illinois. This particular meeting was on January 19, 1908.

Pantagraph, Bloomington, ILL Jan 22, 1908

NEXT TO LAST WEEK OF UNION REVIVAL OPENS

SUNDAY MEETINGS ON FINAL LAP

Evangelist, In Order to Save Voice, Did Not Preach Yesterday Afternoon.

IS ON HAND LAST EVENING.

He Told Another Immense Crowd That Those Who Expect to Be Saved Must Accept and Confess Christ as Their Savior.

TODAY’S PROGRAM.

10:00 a. m.—Cottage prayer meetings in the homes.

11:30 p. m.—Meeting for men at the court house. Mr. Sunday speaks.

2:30 p. m.—Meeting at the tabernacle. Mr. Sunday will preach.

7:30 p. m.—Tabernacle service. Mr. Sunday will preach.

YESTERDAY’S RETURNS.

Afternoon attendance…………..2,500

Evening attendance………………5,500

Evening Conversions………………130

Conversions to date……………..1,782

An audience of 5,500 people was out last night and heard Sunday deliver another powerful and convincing sermon on the theme, “What Must I Do to Be Saved?” The evangelist as a result of his strenuous speaking of an hour had the extreme satisfaction of seeing 135 persons walk forward and by giving him their hands publicly acknowledged Christ as their savior. The number of converts last night was the largest of any meeting yet.

Music Was Effective.

Mr. Fischer worked some novel effects in the chorus singing last night that made a marked effect on the immense audience. Those in the crowd from out of the city attending the meeting for the first time and hearing the chorus pronounced the singing the best they had ever heard. Among the songs sung with a vigor that fairly made the rafters of the tabernacle ring with harmony were “Revive Us Again,” “Happy Day,” “Ambassador of the King,” “Tell Your Coming Home,” “Almost Persuaded” and “Oh, Where is My Boy Tonight?”

The octette was especially well received in a good number, the solo part being sung by Mr. Roy Atkinson.

Last Night’s Sermon.

The text was, “What Shall I Do to Be Saved?”

With great dramatic ability Mr. Sunday told the story of the capture of Paul and his companions, and of their being put in jail, of the midnight prayer meeting, the release of Paul, of the fears of the jailer, and of his question, “What must I do to be saved?”

“Did Paul tell him to go to the Klondyke, corner the wheat market, buy Colorado mining stock or Texas oil, or anything of that sort? No. He said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'”

“What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law. Sin is doing what God tells you not to do, or not doing what He tells you to do. Now, the party that has the right to inflict the punishment has also the power to fix the conditions whereby the punishment can be escaped. Justice gives a person what he deserves. Mercy looks on in a different way. When a person pleads guilty he appeals to the mercy of the court. As long as you try to justify yourself you do not appeal to God’s justice. But when you confess your sins then you appeal to God’s mercy. By accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior we escape the penalty we brought on ourselves by committing a sin. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.’ There is the offer of pardon; you can accept or reject as you please. If you accept you escape the penalty of your sin; if you reject you are a lost sinner and the person who says you are not is a black-hearted liar. The law stands.

Seeking for Salvation.

What must I do to be save” asks the sinner. Buy Texas oil stock and never get your postage back? “What must I do to be saved? Join a literary? “What must I do to be saved? Join a lodge? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and confess. The salvation of every one consists in taking them from a condition which is bad to one that is good. For hell, I can say that it is part of the scheme of salvation. Punishment for sin.

Hell is as much of a manifestation of God as heaven. If there were no jails or sheriff or officers, your property would not be worth much. It is the fear of punishment that holds many people. God has a government and it is as reasonable for God to have a government as for the people to have one.

“What can I do to be saved?” You don’t have to pay anything. God sent His Son to atone and now invites us all to the feast and says that if you turn your back on Jesus that you are lost. I don’t care who you are—you are lost. I don’t care how much you know nor if you are thinking. I don’t see how any one can come off a base ball diamond and tell me what to do, I don’t care for your culture. No one can be saved who turns down Jesus Christ. He can’t be.

Manifestation of Conviction.

“Another way conviction shows itself is in a feeling of unworthiness, like the publican who cried out, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I like to see men humble, and I despise to see one act as though he were conferring a great favor on the Lord by coming to Him. Some people are saved from great sins. Salvation means a change in their lives as great as going from a dark room into a bright light. There are others who have lived such good moral lives that their conversion wouldn’t make much change in their lives. But all must do the same thing—believe in and confess Jesus. But whatever way your conviction shows itself, you should come to Jesus with, a self, you should come to Jesus with a broken and contrite heart and confess your sins. God is willing to save you, but He can’t have you until you are willing to be saved. It is against God’s government and not against man you have sinned, and you must turn to God for pardon. The very minute you turn He will meet you more than half way.

Mr. Sunday told a story of a lieutenant in the Russian army, a son of a personal friend of the emperor, who was greatly in debt, and one time when he was before the redoubts in the Crimean war he sat down and added up all his indebtedness, and it was a great sum, and in despair he wrote under it, ‘Who will pay all this?’ and went to sleep. The emperor, who was going around to cheer and strengthen his men, happened to see this paper, and reading it, he wrote an order for the total sum on his treasury, and left. When the lieutenant awoke and found this, he was afraid, but later decided to present the order, and the treasurer returned, but was ordered by the emperor to pay the same.

Will Cancel the Debt.

‘You can sit own tonight and you can pile up all your sins, every oath, all profanity, all your impurity, every theft, everything in disobedience to the will of God done by you, and, my friends, in despair and chagrin, you will cry out, ‘Who will pay all this?’ I would like the privilege of writing one name— The sweetest name on mortal tongue, The sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus. Jesus will cancel your debt.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. Show by your works that you are saved. You will not amount to shucks if you just drop on your knees here and then never do anything more. You must do your part if you expect God to do His. He will not make you do yours, so it’s up to you.

Some people refuse Christ because they can’t understand the mystery of salvation. No man refuses to plant wheat or corn or oats because he can’t understand the mystery whereby they grow. Do you expect people to think you know much when you refuse to do your part in religion? God’s part is the mystery. Your part is plain. It is no mystery to walk down and say you are a sinner and that you accept Jesus Christ. The mystery is God’s mercy and salvation, but don’t worry about that. That is God’s part and His business. I wish to God people would use a little common sense in religion like they do in other things.

Simply Believe.

Many say they cannot understand how to be converted. Just believe and let God do the rest. There are lots of things that you don’t understand. Anybody can plant a grain of corn but only a God can make it grow. Don’t be butting into God all the time, let Him attend to his own business and you attend to yours and believe. I don’t know how God makes the seeds. That’s His business it isn’t mine. I don’t know how He saves you, that’s His business. You do your part and trust Him to do His. Funny that people say that they cannot understand. Lots of people with good sense about other things are ignoramuses about Christ. Live your religion when you get it. There are lots of Presbyterians and Methodists and Baptists in hell and Unitarians—there are scads of them there. ‘Come unto me,’ not as a creed, not as a catechism, not as a confession, not the pope, not the bishop, not the evangelist—I, Jesus, the personal Christ.

Easy and Quick.

You are in the devil’s territory and you want to get across the line into God’s country. Two steps are necessary—’confess with thy mouth,’ and ‘believe in thine heart.’ There is hardly a man but what believes in God and in Jesus Christ, but that will not save him. Going to church will not save him. Not only must he believe in Jesus, but he must confess Him with his lips. When you believe on Jesus you are merely straddling the line. When you confess, then you take the other step, and you are safely over into God’s country. Good deeds and education and culture will not get you in, nothing but believing and confessing Jesus Christ will save you. Then when you get in, live-out your profession the best you can—don’t fool around the line.

Going to church don’t make a man a Christian any more than going to a stable makes a man a horse. It is belief in and confession of Jesus that makes you a Christian.

Jesus died. That was the atonement for our sins. He was raised from the dead for our salvation. Jesus has power on earth today to keep me. God will keep me. Jesus has more power than the devil. The devil would have kept Jesus in the grave if he could have done so, and thus defeat the plans of God, but Jesus was stronger, and broke the bands of death.

See how many beautiful ways we can take the words ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Believe on Him as Lord—in His kingly office. Let Him rule and reign in your heart. Believe on Him as Jesus as a Savior. ‘He shall save His people from their sins.’ From their sins, not in their sins. Believe on Him as the Christ, the anointed One, as raised from the dead, who sits at the right hand of God, as our intercessor and mediator. And when you ask God to forgive you, He turns and pleads with Him. He is a mediator and is qualified for the place. By His divinity He understands God, and by His humanity He understands you. Who could be a better mediator for us? Believe on Him and let Him control your life, and He will flood your life with happiness.

Conviction is Necessary.

It isn’t possible for a man to be saved without conviction but conviction shows itself differently in different people. Whatever you have done, come down the aisle and confess. Proud, arrogant, wealthy—the thief, the libertine, the harlot—come down. I despise a person who acts as if he thought he had done God a favor by coming down to the tabernacle and that God ought to be complimented by his presence. I don’t want to meet such people. Please keep away from me. I don’t want to know you, like those who say that they deserve all that is coming to them. Faith in Jesus Christ is all that there is to it and God have mercy on your soul if you do not receive it.

You won’t all act alike when you are converted. I can tell you of some people who didn’t know when they were converted. Methodists too—and that’s going some Brother Somerville—but they were just as much saved as those who wept and rolled on the floor. I talked once to a man who refused to go down and acknowledge Christ, but who said that he was a Christian. I say that he was no more a Christian than I would be a Mason because I believed in Masonry. You must be initiated and pay the dues before you are a Mason and you must acknowledge Christ before you are accepted by him. Because you believe in Christianity that don’t make you a Christian.

One night there was a man who rolled on the floor and groaned. I thought that he had the stomach ache but they told me he was just getting religion. Another man came down the aisle cold and quiet and said that he accepted Christ—he was just as much saved as the man on the floor but his nature was different and he expressed his emotions differently. Because you don’t go into hysterics and cry, is no sign that you are not converted.

God can’t forgive you until you manifest a willingness to be saved.

Repent Your Sins.

You can sit down and figure up your sins. Those you have kept under cover and would give an eye rather than have known. I don’t care what they are. You can pile ’em up as high as the Rocky mountains. Then you can bring your loose brothers, your culture and your money and they will not count against them. But one word from Christ and all ‘s swept away and Hell stands baffled and all the powers that would wreck your manhood and your womanhood. You’ve got to be converted if you are saved from hell. You have got to give up your sins. After you are converted no drunkard would go home at night with whisky in his breath and tell his wife that he had only eaten a few bananas or tell her he had been down to the office trying to balance his books.

No Creed to Preach.

While I am in Bloomington, I am not preaching creeds. My creed is Heaven and He. Repent and be saved, or refuse and be lost. I don’t preach baptism or reviews on sanctification. Don’t write and ask me what I think about those things, for I won’t answer. If you won’t stand for my preaching without those things take your hat and hike.

Last Night’s Prayer.

Mr. Sunday’s prayer at the close of his discourse was as follows: “Jesus, that story seems too good to be true. I can understand why you never would have provided salvation; I can understand how when the Father said, ‘Come,’ you would say ‘I won’t come.’ I can see how when they spit on you and cursed you and blasphemed you and refused you shelter and covering and you had to sleep on the cold ground in the drenching dew with nothing but the canopy of heaven to cover you and you were hungry and no one gave you to eat. I can see how you would forsake us. Jesus,

I can understand how when you preached to the people of their sins and they cursed and reviled you and incited the people to insurrection and riot until at last they nailed you on the cross and placed a crown of thorns on your brow and laughed and said ‘Ha, ha. He saved others, himself he cannot save.’ And yet they say if you had come down from the cross they would believe you. They would not. You did a greater thing than that, but they did not believe you. You provided a way for salvation and they do not believe. Jesus, we pray for the girls. We pray for the girls in the offices and in the stores; the clerks, stenographers and the bookkeepers. We pray Thy blessing on them. This is a hard world for girls. Multitudes and multitudes are now elbowing their way through this world, trying to earn money to support a helpless mother or a decrepit father. They seem to be on the auction block. The world is always ready to take advantage of them. Lord, help them to see that the greatest thing in the world is to believe in Jesus Christ. The good woman always lead in the noblest things. They were the last to bid Jesus good-bye on the cross, the first to go the sepulchre and say, ‘Where is he? Where is he?’ When everyone else forsook you they did not. Lord, save thousands and thousands. Begin tonight we pray. May scores say ‘I believe and accept Thee as my savior. May many women with supplicating look in their eyes and with beseeching tones seek for souls for Christ. Hear us and bless us, we pray; bless us, we beseech Thee this night, Lord.’

The Pantagraph. Sat, Jan 25, 1908 ·Page 5
[Refers to previous year’s campaign in Freeport.]

AFTERMATH OF SUNDAY’S WORK IN FREEPORT.
SITUATION NINE MONTHS AFTER REVIVAL.

How Many of the Converts Have “Stuck” —General Effect on Some of the City—Bloomington Men to the Front.

(By Staff Correspondent.)

Freeport, Ill., Jan. 23.—Less than a year ago Rev. William Sunday, who is now holding forth in union revival meetings in Bloomington, waged war on sin and unrighteousness in this city, nicknamed the town of beer and pretzels. How have the converts stuck? Have they remained true to the public confession made when they stepped forward and gave Billy Sunday a shake of the hand? The answer must be yes or no. This is true of all revivals and the meetings conducted by the great evangelist named above are no exception. His converts remain steadfast or backslide just as those of other leaders, great or small, have in the many years gone by.

A Benefit Certainly.

No matter what the critics may say of Billy Sunday the man, or of his methods, the results of his protracted meetings are beneficial to a city. It has helped Freeport and it will likewise benefit the city of Bloomington. The fact that he has made some men in this city better citizens, law-abiding and self-respecting men, cannot be denied and the city is now much more the gainer by their residence here.

Are Marked Men.

Walk down Stephenson street, the principal business and residence thoroughfare, in company with a Freeporter, and mention the name of Billy Sunday and he will, in nine cases out of ten, raise his finger and point out a convert won by this evangelist. They are marked men, and one hears this remark often: “There goes one of Billy’s converts.” He won for Christ men and women in all walks of life, many of whom united with the church, all denominations adding to the membership roll. Some remained true but a short time, yet even so, the step they took was in the right direction and indicated a previous good thought and good thoughts build up and make character.

A Good Judge.

Perhaps there is no one in a city who knows the people, their history and life better than the newspaper man. A local newspaper writer said: “Billy Sunday did more good in this town than I thought he could and it seems to be a lasting benefit. While, of course, many backslide, some as soon as the evangelist departed, others have remained true to their vow and have become leaders in church work. Really more “stuck” by far than I expected.

It is said one of the leading business men of the town, who used to go on periodical sprees, after hearing Billy Sunday’s sermon on “Booze” became converted and his friends have been congratulating him on his stick-to-it-tive-ness.

About Usual Number.

Another resident said as the result of the meetings conducted here last year about the average number of converts are continuing steadfast. The pastors, following Mr. Sunday’s departure, put their shoulders to the wheel and took up the work where the evangelist left off.

They got young people into the church and put them to work, so on the whole it must be admitted that Freeport was made a better city by the religious awakening under the leadership of the man who is arousing such interest in things religious in Bloomington.

A Comparison.

This city has a population of 20,000 in round numbers and, being the center of 26,000,000 people, all within 400 miles, had a good territory from which to draw the crowds to hear Mr. Sunday, whose meetings continued from April 28 to June 4 of last year. Yet the attendance was small compared to that in Bloomington. The tabernacle was not quite so large and the crowds were not so immense. The people did not hang from rafters and almost by the eyebrows as is the case in Bloomington. In fact, the record shows an average attendance of only 2200 at a meeting, while the 5000 mark was only reached one evening, on June 3.

It took over three weeks to raise the amount needed for the expenses of running the meetings, about an equal sum as required in Bloomington. The Rev. Mr. Sunday called the people here, who are chiefly Germans, the “stingy Dutch,” but before his meetings closed the purse strings were loosened like they had not been in years past. The people of this city did well by Mr. Sunday. He on one occasion declared the curse of Freeport to be “the set of infidels who live here.”

Amount Paid Mr. Sunday.

The first converts were secured May 11, when sixteen went forward, and the largest number at any one time 184, on May 30, the total number of converts being 1365. Up to January 28 in Bloomington the total number of converts was 2,000, with a total attendance on that date of 20,000. The people of Freeport gave Billy Sunday $3064.38 for his services, extending over a period of five weeks and three days.

Helped Y.M.C.A.

Mr. Sunday remained over one day to help the Y. M. C. A., which had a debt of $11,500 hanging over it. Secretary Ralph Smedley, of the local Y. M. C. A., formerly of Bloomington, had just assumed charge at this time and had secured, with the assistance of others, some $9000 in pledges. Mr. Sunday at his farewell meeting raised $2000 and all pledges were announced at this meeting, showing a sum total of $12,000 secured by the Y. M. C. A., placing the association on a substantial footing.

Bloomington Men to the Front.

Heading two of the most important institutions which go to make any city are two Bloomington young men, Mr. Ralph Smedley, secretary of the Y. M. C. A., and Mr. Wilbur Coons, secretary of the Freeport Business Men’s Association. So successful has been Mr. Smedley in his work that the committee in search of a secretary for the Business Men’s Association made straight for Bloomington to find their man. And if the town needs others there are plenty more at home like these. No lack of material in the Evergreen City. Mr. Smedley received his training in the work while educational secretary of the Bloomington Y. M. C. A. and is making good progress. Under his leadership all departments of work have taken on new life and the membership is steadily growing. The register now shows 432 and they are passing toward the 500 mark.

Secretary Coons, who was a member of the Bloomington Bulletin editorial staff and a first-class newspaper man, has only recently taken up his new duties here. He has just issued a new circular setting forth the advantages of this city which is growing rapidly. It is largely a manufacturing town, several very large establishments being located here. Here are also the largest windmill factories in the world. The Business Men’s Association has over 150 members and owns fine factory sites. There are over thirty miles of paved streets, nine of these are of brick laid since 1902, and twenty-one of macadam.

The Pantagraph. Mon, Jan 27, 1908 ·Page 5

Joshua 24:15 sermon: “choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” [Complete sermon text provided in paper.]

John 14:15-16 sermon text too.

The Pantagraph. Wed, Jan 29, 1908 ·Page 7

Vigorous Sermon by Rev. Sunday on “Unpardonable Sin.”
Most of sermon text in paper.

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5
[Close of revival.]

FINAL SERVICE OF UNION REVIVAL WAS HELD LAST NIGHT

SUNDAY IN CLOSING DISCOURSE

Words of Appreciation for Evangelist and Assistants–Sunday Expresses Additional Gratitude.

THE TWO GOOD-BYE PRAYERS.

Stream of Converts Go Forward Just Before Revival Ends–Sunday Gives

Dinner at the Illinois–Party Goes to Decatur This Morning.

REVIVAL RECAPITULATION.

Number of days’ duration…….. 40

Total number of converts……… 4,266

Offering for Mr. Sunday……….. $8,000.00

Expenses of revival …………… $6,611.38

Collections and subscriptions for expenses ……………………. $6,611.38

Number of meetings addressed by Mr. Sunday ……………….. 106

Total attendance at tabernacle.. 390,400

Number cottage prayer meetings.. 846

Cottage prayer meeting attendance 14,007

Cost of saving one soul by Sunday methods ………………… $3.60

Number court house meetings….. 25

Court house meetings attendance 15,000

Attendance at women’s and children’s meetings ……………… 10,500

Total attendance at all meetings 429,900

There was a combination of joy and gladness mixed with a bit of sadness manifest at the tabernacle last night at the farewell meeting of the Sunday revival. In the face of the blinding snow storm 5,500 people wended their way to the big structure on South Main street to attend the exercises and watch the curtain fall on the last act of the revival.

As on the first night of Mr. Sunday’s appearance, he was given the chautauqua salute, so he was received last night at his final appearance. The thousands of people arose as Mr. Sunday and his wife came, and as they waved their handkerchiefs and cheered lustily he may have been taken back to the time he was on the baseball diamond when he was given an ovation for home runs.

At the close of the service there was many a tear-dimmed eye as Mr. Fischer and Mr. Ade sang as a duet “We’ll Never Say Good Bye in Heaven.” The farewell prayer of dismissal was made by Elder Horney, but even after the service was formally closed hundreds lingered about the platform in front to hear the choir sing and to talk over the results of the wonderful meeting.

After the majority of the crowd had aeft last night Rev. Mr. Dobson announced to those who remained that the sum for

Mr. Sunday had been raised from over $73.18 to $3,000. A cheer was given.

Remembrances of Gold.

Before Mr. Sunday preached, Judge Russell in appropriate words called Fred Seibert, the man who sold the song books; Mr. Ackley, the pianist; Rev. Mr. Pledger, assistant to Mr. Sunday, and Mr. Fischer, the director of music, to the platform and presented each of them with offerings of gold. Mr. Fischer was given $25 and the others each received $10 pieces. Each of the recipients responded with a few words of appreciation.

Fred Seibert in his remarks created a big laugh when he handed this man a bouquet by saying: “A man couldn’t stump on warm and lighten a better place than Bloomington.” The choir gave the gold pieces.

Tabernacle to Stand.

Rev. Mr. Somerville stated last night, while the jollification was in progress, that as the tabernacle seems to be now considered the church for four or five thousand people he felt that the structure should not be torn down for awhile yet. The statement brought forth applause and the majority of those in the audience signified their willingness to contribute to the expense fund to keep the building on South Main street for a few months longer.

Immediately after Mr. Somerville’s remarks the plans were passed and a collection of $129.48 was lifted to keep up the tabernacle expenses.

Sunday May Return.

Rev. Mr. Dobson also created a furor of applause when he informed the crowd that they might have the opportunity of hearing Mr. Sunday here again in the spring when the local option campaign is being waged. The evangelist will be urged to come back for a special address.

Mr. Dobson said: “I want to say that we have been promising to bring into your midst one of the greatest evangelists of this age, and I believe we have made good that promise. We have been promising for months that great things are in store for Bloomington because Mr. Sunday was coming to conduct a campaign and many hearts have been made glad and many homes have been made radiantly happy through him. And we preachers want to express our appreciation of his labors in our midst and of his willingness to be used up to the very last and his appreciation of what we have done and as he says we have backed him we will say that he has gone ahead of us and God will bless him as he goes. And inasmuch as we preachers are in love with Mr. Sunday because we could not help it and inasmuch as you are in love with him for what he has done, will you not say as he goes to Decatur that you will remember him in your prayers for months to come that he will be blest in his campaign in Decatur and elsewhere as he goes on doing this glorious work? If you will say that, will you not lift your hands?” (Hundreds lifted their hands.)

Sunday Makes Few Remarks.

When the applause had subsided as Mr. Sunday stepped to the front he spoke as follows:

“I would like to express my appreciation of your love and sympathy but I haven’t the time. I would tell of many instances connected with these meetings of unfailing kindness, but I could not do it, but I would not think I had done my duty if I neglected Judge Russell. When I have gone to him for advice he has always given it and been a great help to me. My friend, Whitcomb, has worked long hours to get in his reports; Mr. Trappe has come early and tried to see that things went smoothly and that people got seats. To the friends of the lodges and auxiliaries and business men I extend my gratitude. I heard a man saying that these meetings had brought more than they had cost the community. I am sure it will be with great delight that I shall think of Bloomington and I honestly hate to leave now but I am going to Chicago for a few days’ rest. I want to thank you for your kindness. I have learned to love the ministers. I want you to go tomorrow night to their meetings. I hope the churches will be packed. If I was here I think I would go to hear friend Schlueter. I have some German blood in me. I love him. He has a face like a full moon, always smiling and happy. I know of a man in one of your banks who has brought many to Christ. I know of a barber who has brought everyone of his people to Christ. I could tell you many instances of people who have done wonderful things. I want you to know that I shall think of you and pray for you often and that it will be a great pleasure to me. Mr. Fischer has been with me for eight years and when I see him walk on the platform it is like the conductor who sees his engineer climbing into the cab; I know the meetings will go then. One of the best compliments I have received since I came here is that there has never been a company of religious workers come here who worked so harmoniously together.

Evangelist Offers Prayer.

Previous to preaching Mr. Sunday offered the following prayer:

Lord, we pray Thy blessing upon the people of Bloomington; upon the ministers and upon all who have been associated with this campaign. It has not been the sermons that have brought about the results. We would not ignore the songs, we would not ignore the faithful ministers, we would not ignore the Sunday school teachers and their faithful work, the ever-faithful mothers who have watched their loved ones grow up from the cradle. Lord, we thank Thee for them all. We thank the choir for their faithful, unsurpassed efforts and their beautiful music. We thank the musicians for the help, which they have been to these meetings. We pray Thy blessing on the editors and the newspaper people here and throughout the country. We pray for the farmers who have come from the surrounding towns. Lord, smile on us Lord, and help us to do wonderful things. Lord, we have not stood here to hear these expressions of love and gratitude. We have staid because we have souls to save. We thank Thee for this beautiful weather. I can not remember the time in Illinois when we had such splendid weather. Most of the days have been very pleasant. Lord, five thousand people is a magnificent testimonial to Thee. Help those who are members of thy church. Help those who took their stand for Jesus Christ. We pray from the depths of our souls that the manhood and womanhood of Bloomington will stand shoulder to shoulder for the cause until Thy name shall be spread to the remote corners of the earth. Lord, help the time to come when there shall be no more traffic in liquor; when there shall be no more gibbering idiots because of it and the jails all filled, it has made homes of squalor and misery and drawn blood enough to make an ocean and sighs enough to make a mountain. Help this time to come, and we shall sing the praise forever of Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.

The Last Sermon

Sunday’s farewell sermon was based on words contained in I Peter 3:15: ‘Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.’

When the invitation was extended converts filed down all the aisles to embrace the last opportunity to shake Mr. Sunday’s hand and make the profession until a total of 307 occupied seats in the front.

Sunday’s Final Prayer

Sunday’s prayer of farewell was as follows:

‘Lord Jesus, we have come to the hour we are sad to see. Five weeks and a half ago we came to Bloomington and stood on the threshold of the meeting and looked out into the future. Lord, we hardly had faith to believe that you would do what you have done. Tonight we are almost ready to hear the bell ring and see the curtain go down. We see homes of squalor turned into homes of peace and joy. We see men who had gone to saloons and then go to their homes with empty envelopes now go home and their children have plenty and to spare. We see men who were cursing and are now waiting to join the church. We see people who are separated and divorced ready to go back to each other. Certainly that makes Heaven feel glad. Lord, we do not like to say goodbye. We have learned to love the people of Bloomington; they have written their names indelibly on our memories. We did not dream eighteen years ago when we came here to a Y. M. C. A. convention and spoke to men in an opera house; Lord, little did we think that you would ask us to come back and lead the people in a campaign for Jesus Christ; that when we spoke on the Chautauqua platform that now in our crude way we would hold up the bleeding body of Jesus Christ crucified. We thank you for the friendships of the people here and we will guard with jealous care these friendships. Bless them that stay and them that go. No matter how far apart may be the graves in which we sleep, whether the snows of Alaska cover them or the daisies shall nod above the graves; whether the perfumes of India or Ceylon shall scent the air. Lord, we pray that we may clamber up the coral reefs of the seas and that the graves will burst open and the sepulchres’ the graves will burst open and the sepulchers will crack and the doors swing open as they did for Paul of old and loved ones will come to meet us.

And so the time has come to say good-bye. We say it on the threshold of the home; when the carriage rolls away; we say it when the bridal party leaves; we say it when we wave our handkerchiefs at the steamer; we weep at the grave, but in heaven we will never say it. Lord, we have tried to please you. If we have ever said anything that displeased you, forgive us.

Lord, in the very heat of the conflict of battle we might have been indiscreet.

Lord, we said things would not say: mistakes we make, many mistakes, but they are mistakes of the head and not of the heart. Lord, bless the preachers. I look down and see at my back the men who are ready to die for Thee. Bless them as they go to their churches tomorrow. Lord, may no one make it hard for them May all criticism cease. Bless the church members and help them to rally for Jesus Christ. Bless the faithful ushers; bless the choir, how we have delighted to hear them; bless the musicians.

Bless the newspaper men who have been here so faithfully to report these meetings; bless the business men, the students of the Wesleyan. May many a young man settle it that he will be a missionary for Thee, or those with voices to sing for Thee. Bless the children of the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home. No people we have seen have touched our hearts as did the boys and girls there. Bless the officers and teachers there at the home; bless the teachers of the schools, the school board and all the members of the lodges and auxiliaries; bless the railroad men; the labor union; bless our friend Lennon, whom we love. Help and bless them all throughout the land, bless us and guide us. Lord, bless Judge Russell, who has done so much for Thy cause, and Snow, who has done so much to make the meeting a success. We pray Thy blessing on them all. Bless Miss Kinsey, where we have been entertained.

It has been a home to us. What a comfort it has been to go there into the warmth and think of it as home. Bless those who have given a cent to the current expenses; bless every man who has contributed to the free will offerings.

Bless Mrs. Sims, who could not be with us tonight; pour out Thy spirit upon her. bless the Y. M. C. A. We would not have been here but for them. Lord, what have been here but for them. Lord, what grander tribute than that we want the best we have for the young men. God bless that institution. We hope that the young men, that the mothers, that everybody may rally to that institution and hold up the hands of Scofield. How his smile has cheered us and helped us. Bless Congressman Sterling. How kind he has been to us. Bless him, we pray. Bless ex-Vice-President Stevenson, who has been so courteous and good to us. We did not have the privilege of calling on Gov. Fifer. Bless the rich and the poor; bless the colored population of Bloomington. Hear us, Lord; shout, heaven frown, hell. Hell is getting ready to hang crepe on the door. We are going to rally for Jesus Christ.

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5 [Close of revival.]

FINAL SERVICE OF UNION REVIVAL WAS HELD LAST NIGHT

SUNDAY IN CLOSING DISCOURSE

Words of Appreciation for Evangelist and Assistants–Sunday Expresses Additional Gratitude.

THE TWO GOOD-BYE PRAYERS.

Stream of Converts Go Forward Just Before Revival Ends–Sunday Gives

Dinner at the Illinois–Party Goes to Decatur This Morning.

REVIVAL RECAPITULATION.

Number of days’ duration…….. 40

Total number of converts……… 4,266

Offering for Mr. Sunday……….. $8,000.00

Expenses of revival …………… $6,611.38

Collections and subscriptions for expenses ……………………. $6,611.38

Number of meetings addressed by Mr. Sunday ……………….. 106

Total attendance at tabernacle.. 390,400

Number cottage prayer meetings.. 846

Cottage prayer meeting attendance 14,007

Cost of saving one soul by Sunday methods ………………… $3.60

Number court house meetings….. 25

Court house meetings attendance 15,000

Attendance at women’s and children’s meetings ……………… 10,500

Total attendance at all meetings 429,900

As on the first night of Mr. Sunday’s appearance, he was given the chautauqua salute, so he was received last night at his final appearance. The thousands of people arose as Mr. Sunday and his wife came, and as they waved their handkerchiefs and cheered lustily he may have been taken back to the time he was on the base ball diamond when he was given an ovation for home runs.

After the majority of the crowd had left last night Rev. Mr. Dobson announced to those who remained that the sum for

Mr. Sunday had been raised from over $73.18 to $3,000. A cheer was given.

Remembrances of Gold.

Tabernacle to Stand.

Immediately after Mr. Somerville’s remarks the plans were passed and a collection of $129.48 was lifted to keep up the tabernacle expenses.

Sunday May Return.

Sunday Makes Few Remarks.

When the applause had subsided as Mr. Sunday stepped to the front he spoke as follows:

Evangelist Offers Prayer.

Previous to preaching Mr. Sunday offered the following prayer:

The Last Sermon

Sunday’s farewell sermon was based on words contained in I Peter 3:15: ‘Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.’

Sunday’s Final Prayer

Sunday’s prayer of farewell was as follows:

Lord, in the very heat of the conflict of battle we might have been indiscreet.

The Pantagraph. Thu, Feb 06, 1908 ·Page 6
[Decatur, Illinois campaign to start.]

Keep ‘Em Guessing in Decatur.

Decatur Review:—It is amusing to a disinterested observer to note the keen, not to say deadly, interest taken in the movements of Billy Sunday by a large number of people in Decatur who are undeniably hostile to him. They pore over the newspaper reports of his doings in Bloomington as they would over the accounts of the ravages of the yellow fever or the cholera in a nearby town. A stranger would think that Billy Sunday was an invading army with his chief aim to swoop down on Decatur as soon as he has made bondmen of the people of Bloomington. Even their interest in the Thaw trial and in the heart affairs of the late Thomas Snell pales into insignificance beside their concern in the reports of what happened to Sunday.

“I see they’ve raised another $1,000 for Billy Sunday—in Bloomington, the fools,” sighs one of them as he lays aside his daily paper.

“I suppose you will go to hear him when he comes to Decatur,” nags a bystander who is not losing any sleep on account of Billy Sunday.

“No, sir; not me. He’s a grafter, a grafter, I call him.”

“Why do you call him a grafter? Isn’t that pretty strong language to apply to a man whom you know nothing about?”

“No, sir. Why, look at him. He got $5,000 at Bloomington for preaching for three weeks. Preaching? Why, he’s got no more religion than my dog has. O, I don’t blame him. I would get it, too, if I knew how, but I don’t know how.”

And then will follow a discourse on the unwritten doings of Billy Sunday which would shame the devil if it doesn’t tell the truth.

And so it can be heard in a hundred places in Decatur at any time of the day or night where two or three are gathered together apparently in Billy Sunday’s name.

The Pantagraph. Fri, Feb 07, 1908 ·Page 7

SUNDAY RESTS IN DECATUR

WILL NOT PREACH FIRST SERMON UNTIL SUNDAY.

Five Thousand is Mark for Converts in Decatur Revival—Sunday Remembers Bloomington Policemen—Crowd Going From Here to Decatur.

—Rev. W. A. Sunday, whose movements at Decatur during the next five weeks will be very closely watched by thousands who became interested in him and his methods during the time he was working in this community, will not preach a sermon at the opening service in the Decatur tabernacle tonight, but will simply make a preliminary address to the people of that place. Sunday will outline the work to be done and will line the people up for the real campaign, which is to start next Sunday, when the evangelist will preach his initial sermon.

On Wednesday evening a union prayer meeting was held at the Grace M. E. church there, but Mr. Sunday did not attend. Rev. J. W. Var Cleve prayed for 5,000 conversions and referred to the Bloomington meeting as ‘a great revival for which we are truly grateful.’

On a Larger Scale Here.

Back of Mr. Sunday in the Decatur revival are standing the pastors of twelve of the churches. Here in the Bloomington meeting were sixteen pastors and their people boosting. It was announced at a meeting of the Decatur ministers that cottage prayer meetings would be held in twenty districts. Bloomington had twenty-seven.

Decatur In Uproar.

“Decatur is in more of an uproar over the coming of Billy Sunday than it would have been had our visitor been President Roosevelt himself,” said a restaurant keeper at Decatur yesterday. “I guess that Sunday is about the biggest sensation that has struck Decatur in some time,” continued the man. “I think that he will do a lot of good here.”

Decatur’s Mayor Will Go.

“Going to hear Billy Sunday any” was a question put to Mayor McDonald in Decatur yesterday. “Sure thing,” replied the mayor. “I don’t mean to say that I believe everything that Mr. Sunday preaches, but I am always open to conviction, and I am fair enough that I can listen to another man speak even if I don’t believe him; and mark you, I am not saying that I don’t believe what Billy Sunday preaches. Yes, I guess that I’ll hear him several times before he leaves the city.”

Prefers Carriage to Auto.

Mr. Sunday will not ride about Decatur in an automobile as he did in Bloomington. This is not for any lack of opportunity, for at least three men have placed their machines at the evangelist’s disposition during his stay in that city. Because of the slush and the cold Mr. Sunday prefers to use a closed carriage, arrangements for which have been made already.

The Pantagraph, Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 10

Revival Opens Sunday.

—Danvers Dispatch:—Sunday evening

Rev. W. W. Wilson, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will begin a series of special revival meetings to continue a week or more. Services will be held every evening next week and everybody is earnestly invited to attend.

The music for the services will be a special feature, one hundred of the song books used in the “Billy” Sunday revival, just closed, having been procured for use in these meetings. So that the song favorites of that wonderful revival will be popularized here.

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 9
Story of Sunday Conversion.

Mr. Monroe devoted most of his time to a recital of conditions as he finds them in Chicago and the work that is being done in the Pacific Garden Mission. By request he related this incidents regarding the conversion of “Billy” Sunday. He told the story about as follows: “I can see Sunday now as he was converted that day twenty years ago. I was helping in the service in a gospel wagon at the corner of State and VanBuren streets. There was a crowd of a couple hundred men standing around us. I was attracted to four men who sauntered over towards our wagon, coming from toward what was called “whiskey row.” Sunday was finely dressed and wore a diamond pin and a diamond ring. I spotted him right away as a sport. They were professional base ball players and Mike Kelley, one of the bunch rather made light of my preaching. There was something that seemed to say to me ‘there is a man in this crowd that you must get.’ In a few minutes Sunday sat down on the curbstone and commenced crying. I turned to a reformed gambler that was in the wagon with us and said: ‘Charley give your testimony.’ Sunday continued to weep. When I made the appeal for converts twenty-five or thirty responded and others asked for prayers. Sunday was held back, but shortly he jumped up, came forward and lifting his hand in which he held his grey hat with a black band he shouted in his well known positive manner, ‘pray for me.’ I did pray as I had never been permitted to pray before and when I had finished Sunday turned to his companion and shouted, ‘Kelly, God helping me I’m done.’ Later he came to our mission and Mrs. Clark and I gave him counsel. The next morning the Chicago papers printed big stories telling of Billy Sunday’s conversion. I remember of Sunday saying to me that he was almost afraid to go out to the base ball park in the morning for practice, as he feared the boys would criticize and make fun of the step he had taken. The next forenoon when he did go out to the park the men around the diamond to greet him was old Capt. Anson, who said, ‘Bill I’m glad to hear of what you did yesterday.’ Mike Kelly said, ‘Sunday, I wish I could do it. Hope so.’

Sunday, I wish I could do it. Hope you stick.’ All the other ball players on the Chicago team also congratulated him.

Mr. Monroe declared Sunday to be the most wonderful evangelist in America and predicted that if his strength holds out he will do a still greater work for the cause of Christianity. In closing Monroe said that he hoped to see Bloomington go dry at the spring election and that if it did he wanted to come down to head a brass band at a jollification.

An invitation was extended for converts and eight responded.

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 17, 1908 ·Page 6

DECATUR REVIVAL GROWS

VAST CROWDS HEAR SUNDAY YESTERDAY.

Evangelist Spoke to 14,200 People at Yesterday’s Meetings—Bloomington and Decatur Comparisons—Decatur Revival Sidelights.

Results to Date.

Bloomington.

Decatur

Attendance ……….72,000

74,000

Collections ……….$1,607.29

$1,659.98

Six thousand people packed the Decatur tabernacle last night so anxious were they to hear Sunday. When the doors were thrown open at 6 o’clock men and women, both old and young, fairly ran over each other in the stampede for seats. By 6:35 every seat was occupied and standing room was almost at a premium. Fifteen hundred of those unable to get within the tabernacle constituted an overflow meeting that was addressed by Rev. Mr. Pledger. Mr. Sunday preached to 3,500 in the morning and 4,700 in the afternoon. The total amount of collections yesterday was $402. Mr. W. L. Roach, of Muscatine, Ia., who addressed the men’s meeting in the Bloomington tabernacle yesterday afternoon, went from here to Decatur and held there the men’s meeting services. At the request of Mr. Sunday he made a fifteen minutes’ talk before the sermon.

Comparative Figures.

Statistics of the Decatur revival for the first nine days show an attendance of 74,000 and collection of $1,659.98. The total in attendance from December 5 through January 5 in Bloomington was 72,000. The total collection was $1,607.29. The biggest collection in Bloomington was January 1, $116.05. The biggest collection in Decatur was Thursday, February 13, $275.19. In making a comparison for the first nine days it will be remembered that while Bloomington’s revival opened on December 26, Mr. Sunday did not speak until Saturday, December 28, and then when it was generally understood that he was to make his first appearance on Sunday morning, December 27. Thus Decatur has had an opportunity to take up two or three more collections than Bloomington did in the first eight days. Decatur’s incidental expenses are not nearly as large as Bloomington’s, hence the sum needed is going to be raised much easier and more quickly.

Traveling Men’s Journey.

On Sunday, March 1, the traveling men of Bloomington and vicinity will take Decatur by storm. Those who became interested in the tabernacle meetings here have worked up a special train on the interurban that day, and fully 100 traveling men and their wives are expected to go down to attend the Sunday meetings. They will charter one or more special cars. They will leave here at 10 o’clock in the morning and stay till 10 at night.

Expects to Beat Record.

Half a hundred people attended the prayer meeting conducted by Rev. W. A. Sunday in the Y. M. C. A. building at 10 o’clock Saturday morning. Mr. Sunday made a fifteen-minute talk:

“I have every reason to believe,” said the evangelist, “that Decatur will easily beat Bloomington in the number of conversions. But it will take work on the part of the people. Up in Bloomington the people did not get under the movement until the last week. If they had begun to work from the first, there would have been two or three thousand more conversions.”

Children Respond to Call.

At the children’s meeting Saturday afternoon Mr. Sunday’s first call for converts resulted in 415 boys and girls going forward. It did not equal Bloomington’s first call to the young people when there were over 500 responses. After the service Mr. Sunday announced that he would not extend another invitation for sinners until the middle of the week, perhaps not until Thursday night.

“This afternoon was just a feeler,” said the evangelist. “The results of the young people’s service is a good index to the remainder of the meeting. I am very pleased with the showing this afternoon; although it was not quite so good as they did in Bloomington.”

The Pantagraph. Sat, Mar 28, 1908 ·Page 12

TABERNACLE SOLD FOR $1,085

FAMOUS REVIVAL STRUCTURE BID OFF.

W. H. Firke, of Mansfield, Was the Successful Bidder—How the Money Will Be Used.

The tabernacle in which the famous Billy Sunday revival was held in January was sold yesterday to W. H. Firke, of Mansfield, for $1,085. The Evangelical Association, the former owners, retain possession of the building until April 1 at which time work will be commenced to tear down the big structure.

The building was sold at auction and the bidding was at times fairly spirited. Bidding commenced at $500 and Mr. Firke topped the raise at the figure named.

Mr. Firke is president of the State bank at Mansfield and is a stock raiser and one of the wealthy men of that locality. He will take down the lumber and ship it to the old Mansfield farm which he owns, and will there build it into needed farm buildings.

There are 100,000 feet of lumber in the tabernacle and the price at the time it was bought was $24 a thousand. There was a crowd of perhaps one hundred at the auction and the business was disposed of in one half hour.

The executive committee having had in charge the financial end of the tabernacle enterprise, believe that, with the sale of the building, the expenses will just about be covered by the money received from the sale. There was a deficit of $800 still remaining, which will be paid from the money received from the sale of the structure, and there are a few small bills that have not yet been settled. Should there remain anything in the way of a balance over all expenses, it will be in the hands of the executive committee and the disposal of it will lie within the judgment of that committee.

The expense of running the tabernacle since the close of the Sunday services, have been met by the collections at the meetings that have been held there and it is expected that the further meetings held after April 1st will be met in the same way.

The Evangelical Association is coming out even on the tabernacle enterprise.

Billy Sunday, Chair-throwing.
_{The original photo by C.V. Williams taken in 1908.}

The Weekly Pantagraph May 22, 1908 ·Page 3

ASSOCIATION TO DISBAND

Organization Which Financed the Billy Sunday Revival Will Go Out of Existence.

—The Bloomington and Normal Evangelistic Association, under the auspices of which the ‘Billy’ Sunday revival was conducted in the tabernacle on South Main street, is about to disband and become only a matter of history. Treasurer Whitcomb has a small fund of money still on hand and says he is anxious for all persons having claims against the association to present the same immediately in order that the affairs may be closed up previous to the dissolution of the corporation.

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

Great Year in Churches Closing

GREAT YEAR IN CHURCHES CLOSING

REMARKABLE GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP.

Summary of the Chief Events of 1908 in the Religious Organizations of Bloomington.

The year 1908, which is almost at its close, has been one of prosperity, growth and development with all of the different churches in the city of Bloomington. A better year for improved religious conditions in this community was probably never known. Thousands of dollars have been expended in erecting new edifices and improving and modernizing the old structures, while hundreds of new members have been enrolled by every denomination. Such a report on institutions that are intended to uplift and enhance the moral and educational condition of the people augurs well for the future.

Year of the Great Revival

Outshining all other features of the year in the churches stands, the great ‘Billy’ Sunday revival, in which over 400 persons were induced to take a stand with the religious proponents of the city. The meeting opened a year ago last night at the tabernacle especially erected on South Main street, and closed on the night of February. Largely as the result of that revival, there has come the heavy increase in the membership of a number of the churches. However, those congregations which had absolutely nothing to do with the Sunday revival have also enjoyed healthy growth.

Total Membership, with increase.

Figures compiled by the Pantagraph yesterday indicate that the total enrollment of members in the various churches of Bloomington foots 15,255. During the year the churches witnessed the taking in of 3304 new members. Such a record is almost phenomenal, being an increase of about 25 per cent over previous figures. The table showing the total number of members in each church and the increase of new members during the year is as follows:

Members. Increase.

Holy Trinity ………………. 1800 50

First Christian …………… 1650 500

First M. E. ……………….. 1690 700

First Baptist ……………… 1040 200

St. Patrick’s ……………… 1000 50

St. Mary’s ………………… 900 50

Second Presbyterian ……….. 830 130

Grace M. E. ……………….. 825 170

Church of Peace …………… 747 60

Second Christian ………….. 700 175

First Presbyterian ………… 600 240

St. Matthew’s …………….. 315 65

Park M. E. ………………… 350 213

German Lutheran …………… 1312 200

Swedish Lutheran ………….. 280 50

German M. E. ……………… 185 40

First Church of Christ, Scientist 190 50

Christian Science Society ….. 50 20

Congregational ……………. 160 60

Unitarian ………………… 150 50

Swedish M. E. …………….. 90 8

Moses Montefiore synagogue …. 45 15

Union Baptist …………….. 150 25

Mt. Pisgah Baptist ………… 130 22

A. M. E. ………………….. 90 15

Third Christian …………… 45 15

Totals …………………… 15,255 3304

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

Great Year in Churches Closing

GREAT YEAR IN CHURCHES CLOSING

REMARKABLE GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP.

Summary of the Chief Events of 1908 in the Religious Organizations of Bloomington.

Year of the Great Revival

Total Membership, with increase.

Members. Increase.

Holy Trinity ………………. 1800 50

First Christian …………… 1650 500

First M. E. ……………….. 1690 700

First Baptist ……………… 1040 200

St. Patrick’s ……………… 1000 50

St. Mary’s ………………… 900 50

Second Presbyterian ……….. 830 130

Grace M. E. ……………….. 825 170

Church of Peace …………… 747 60

Second Christian ………….. 700 175

First Presbyterian ………… 600 240

St. Matthew’s …………….. 315 65

Park M. E. ………………… 350 213

German Lutheran …………… 1312 200

Swedish Lutheran ………….. 280 50

German M. E. ……………… 185 40

First Church of Christ, Scientist 190 50

Christian Science Society ….. 50 20

Congregational ……………. 160 60

Unitarian ………………… 150 50

Swedish M. E. …………….. 90 8

Moses Montefiore synagogue …. 45 15

Union Baptist …………….. 150 25

Mt. Pisgah Baptist ………… 130 22

A. M. E. ………………….. 90 15

Third Christian …………… 45 15

Totals …………………… 15,255 3304

The Weekly Paragraph, May 22, 1908
[Charleston campaign]

SUNDAY FINISHES AT CHARLESTON.

Revival In That Town Results In 2,500 Converts and Purse of $5,500 for Evangelist.

“Billy” Sunday closed his revival at Charleston Sunday evening with a total of 2,500 converts and a free-will offering of $5,500 for himself. The final day witnessed 450 conversions and an attendance of 15,000 at three services. With the $5,500 given at Charleston, $11,379 at Decatur and $8,000 at Bloomington Sunday’s income during the last fifteen weeks from his revival meetings alone—to say nothing of the hundreds of dollars he earned in delivering local option addresses in surrounding towns—figures up $24,879.

After Sunday’s last call for converts the aisles were crowded with people trying to get to the front. Men, women and children hurried to the platform as if they were afraid they would be too late. Among the first to respond to the call were Postmaster Chapman of Charleston, Postmaster Checkley of Mattoon and State Senator Camberton of Charleston.

William Ashley “Billy” Sunday, Evangelist and His Party, Charleston, Illinois, Photo by C. U. Williams, C. U. Williams Studio, South Side of Square, Bloomington, Illinois, circa 1908
_{Copyright 2019 McLean County Historical Society. Permission is granted for use by not-for-profit educational organizations and libraries.}

_{Sunday family in Charleston, Illinois around 1908. Billy Sunday, famous evangelist who grew up in Ames, is man in middle of back row. Others in photo are (back row, left to right): daughter Helen; infant son Paul; wife Helen Thompson Sunday; Sunday; his mother Mary Jane; and his son William. Men in first row may include his eldest son George (second from left?). Other men are Sunday’s assistants.}

The people who braved the storm of the night to hear “Billy” Sunday’s sermon and to bid him farewell stayed in the tabernacle long after the meeting was over. They crowded around the platform trying to shake the minister’s hand for the last time and wish him Godspeed on his journey and success in his next field. Even after Mr. Sunday had left the tabernacle and had gone home, the crowd stayed in the building, loath to leave the place that had been the scene of the greatest religious awakening that Charleston has ever known and one of the greatest revivals that has ever taken place in Illinois.

The management of the Charleston Chautauqua Association expects to purchase the tabernacle used for the Sunday revival and will remove the building to the fair ground, where it will be reconstructed and remodeled, making an ideal auditorium for chautauqua purposes.

Mr. Sunday will rest for a week and then go to Sharon, Pa., to open a meeting.

Author: Kraig McNutt

Email me at tellinghistory[at]yahoo.com View all posts by Kraig McNutt

Billy Sunday revival campaigns, 1908

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 02, 1908 ·Page 10

The Weekly Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 03, 1908 ·Page 5

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 16, 1908 ·Page 6

The Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 17, 1908 ·Page 6

Pantagraph, Bloomington, ILL Jan 22, 1908

The Pantagraph. Sat, Jan 25, 1908 ·Page 5
[Refers to previous year’s campaign in Freeport.]

The Pantagraph. Mon, Jan 27, 1908 ·Page 5

The Pantagraph. Wed, Jan 29, 1908 ·Page 7

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5
[Close of revival.]

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5 [Close of revival.]

The Pantagraph. Thu, Feb 06, 1908 ·Page 6
[Decatur, Illinois campaign to start.]

The Pantagraph. Fri, Feb 07, 1908 ·Page 7

The Pantagraph, Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 10

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 9
Story of Sunday Conversion.

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 17, 1908 ·Page 6

The Pantagraph. Sat, Mar 28, 1908 ·Page 12

The Weekly Pantagraph May 22, 1908 ·Page 3

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

The Weekly Paragraph, May 22, 1908
[Charleston campaign]

Other news articles related to Bloomington, ILL

The Pantagraph. Mon, Nov 02, 1908 ·Page 2
[Jacksonville, Illinois campaign]

Author: Kraig McNutt

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 02, 1908 ·Page 10

The Weekly Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 03, 1908 ·Page 5

The Pantagraph. Thu, Jan 16, 1908 ·Page 6

The Pantagraph. Fri, Jan 17, 1908 ·Page 6

Pantagraph, Bloomington, ILL Jan 22, 1908

The Pantagraph. Sat, Jan 25, 1908 ·Page 5[Refers to previous year’s campaign in Freeport.]

The Pantagraph. Mon, Jan 27, 1908 ·Page 5

The Pantagraph. Wed, Jan 29, 1908 ·Page 7

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5[Close of revival.]

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5 [Close of revival.]

The Pantagraph. Thu, Feb 06, 1908 ·Page 6[Decatur, Illinois campaign to start.]

The Pantagraph. Fri, Feb 07, 1908 ·Page 7

The Pantagraph, Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 10

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 9Story of Sunday Conversion.

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 17, 1908 ·Page 6

The Pantagraph. Sat, Mar 28, 1908 ·Page 12

The Weekly Pantagraph May 22, 1908 ·Page 3

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

The Pantagraph, Mon, Dec 28, 1908 ·Page 9

The Weekly Paragraph, May 22, 1908[Charleston campaign]

Other news articles related to Bloomington, ILL

The Pantagraph. Mon, Nov 02, 1908 ·Page 2[Jacksonville, Illinois campaign]

Related

Author: Kraig McNutt

The Pantagraph. Sat, Jan 25, 1908 ·Page 5
[Refers to previous year’s campaign in Freeport.]

The Pantagraph. Wed, Feb 05, 1908 ·Page 5
[Close of revival.]

The Pantagraph. Thu, Feb 06, 1908 ·Page 6
[Decatur, Illinois campaign to start.]

The Pantagraph. Mon, Feb 10, 1908 ·Page 9
Story of Sunday Conversion.

The Weekly Paragraph, May 22, 1908
[Charleston campaign]

The Pantagraph. Mon, Nov 02, 1908 ·Page 2
[Jacksonville, Illinois campaign]