Billy himself defends his free-will offerings he was given, 1909

The Canton Press-News. Fri, Aug 13, 1909 ·Page 1

Billy Sunday’s Defense.

The one evangelist who has shaken half a dozen lowa cities more than any other is popularly called Sunday, for that is his name, ‘Billy’ Sunday. He is often scored severely for bis antics on the stage and for the way be rounded up the money on leaving the town he has excited to a high pitch. In his latest interview Sunday makes a defense of his style of getting the currency. He points to Jeffries, Bat Nelsons and the other fighters, and says: “But these fellows can get the money and nobody accuses them of graft. But let a preacher get together a few dollars and he is immediately called a grafter.”

He is not a quitter and announces the fact this way: “I expect to stay in the game as long as 1 have the physical and mental strength.

I have amassed a few dollars but it all came from free-will offerings.

I gave up ball playing and turned down offer of $12,000 a year to take up Y. M. C. A. work. Why during July and August of this year I could have made $20,000 on the chautauqua platform from the offer I have had, but I turned them down. I did it for the reason that I need all my strength for preaching. I don’t know no more about theology than a jackrabbit know about ping pong, but I preach as hard as I can.”

Mr. Sunday is booked for years ahead. -[Davenport Times.]

The Canton Press-News