Former professional baseball player-turned urban evangelist. Follow this daily blog that chronicles the life and ministry of revivalist preacher William Ashley "Billy" Sunday (1862-1935)
Billy’s words to the people at Philadelphia, farewell:
“And this is only the beginning. The revival is a failure that comes to a close when the tabernacle is torn down; we have enlisted –not for a campaign—but for the war. “There remains much land yet to be possessed”. Not in many years has a large city been so generally permeated by the Spirit of God. But only in part has the harvest been gathered; the convicted should be converted; the lives of those who have taken their first step must be linked to the church of Christ; the young convert must be taught; These thousands of men “whose hearts God has touched” must be kept true by being kept
That is Billy Sunday in action—a human dynamo working for the cause of religion. No one could listen to the evangelist, yesterday, without absorbing some of his wonderful energy as he sent it out in great dynamic waves through the huge tabernacle. The air of the big structure was saturated with it.
Billy Sunday literally pumps religious enthusiasm into people. And no matter how much of it he pours out, the supply seems inexhaustible. It is almost incredible that one man could have such a lot of vim and vinegar stored up in his one little body and his brain.
Billy Sunday believes in a Christianity that does things, that is carried out into the lives of people, that accomplishes results, that “delivers the goods.” This is the core of his evangelism. This is why he is so vitriolic in his denunciation of the Christian who sits back and is satisfied with announcing that he believes in the Lord but does nothing for the Lord.
Nothing in oratory could be more impressive or effective than the evangelist’s word painting of histrionic scenes, especially those of the battlefield, and the application of some striking incident to the life and work of the soldier in the Christian army. It is the very essence and soul of eloquence.
The audiences that met yesterday to hear Sunday’s first three sermons, would have been most encouragingly large on the pleasantest of days. On a rainy day such as it was, they may well be regarded as remarkable, and as most auspicious.
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Mon, Jun 16, 1913 ·Page 1
SOUTH BEND’S RELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN PROVES TO
BE MOST NOTABLE IN HISTORY OF ALL INDIANA
AIR OF SADNESS PREDOMINATES AT CLOSING MEETING OF BILLY SUNDAY’S BIG REVIVAL.
“BOSS” AND “MA” SAY THEIR LAST FAREWELL
Hundreds Cheer Evangelist and His Wife on Rear of Car as They Leave City—Other Thousands Disappointed by Early Departure—Last Day of Services Proves to be Remarkable One—Over 30,000 Present.
RESULTS IN BRIEF.
Conversions.
Previous conversions ………. 5,455
Saturday and Sunday ………. 943
Grand total ………. 6,398
Attendance.
Previous attendance ………. 519,550
Saturday and Sunday ………. 46,500
Grand total ………. 566,050
Collections.
Special offering for Billy Sunday ………. $10,500.00
Collections for local institutions ………. 737.98
Fund for campaign expenses ………. 18,500.00
Grand total ………. $24,737.98
The taking of the offering for Billy Sunday was one of the features of the closing day of the campaign. Seventeen or more different people and concerns of South Bend and Mishawaka gave donations of $100. The largest was $200, given by Samuel Murdock, of Lafayette, Ind., one of the owners of the Chicago, South Bend & Northern Indiana railway. The donations of $100, which have been recorded thus far, are from the following: South Bend and Mishawaka Ministerial association; Mrs. George Wyman; Mrs. M. V. Belser; citizens of Kingston, Pa.; by George L. Newell; Folding Paper Box company; Stephenson Underwear mills; E. G. Eberhart; Stephenson Manufacturing company; C. C. Shafer; Col. George M. Studebaker; Mr. Clement Studebaker; a friend; Clement Studebaker, Jr.; J. D. Oliver; Mrs. George Ford; C. A. Carlisle and the Mishawaka Woolen Manufacturing company. The $50 donations, which have been reported to those in charge of the campaign finances, are as follows: Mrs. J. C. Ellsworth; W. O. Davies; F. H. Badet; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson; J. C. Bowsher; McBrillan & Jackson; S. P. Studebaker and Mrs. Ida M. Stull, and the U. B. Memorial church.
Billy Sunday’s seven weeks’ fight against the devil in St. Joseph county became religious history to-day after the baseball evangelist had shown 6,393 people the road to salvation and approximately $10,500 had been raised for him.
The final curtain was rung down last night and the hard working little evangelist, with his wife, said goodbye to South Bend at 10 o’clock this morning. With a check for the $10,500 tucked away in an inside coat pocket, Billy boarded at 10 o’clock Northern Indiana Interurban car for his home at Winona.
A thousand people saw him off. Hundreds waved their hats and handkerchiefs at the evangelist, his wife, and Rev. William Asher, as the car moved out of the station and down Michigan street. All three stood on the rear platform bowing and smiling in response.
It is estimated a crowd of 8,000 or 10,000 people would have been at the car to say goodbye but the evangelist, leaving an hour earlier than he expected, disappointed many. The Northern Indiana company agreed to run the car through to Winona to insure the evangelist he would be able to eat lunch under his own roof.
State’s Greatest Revival.
With Sunday’s farewell prayer and a general handshaking all around at the tabernacle last night the meetings, which undoubtedly constituted Indiana’s greatest religious campaign, came to a close. The meetings ended quietly and with that heavy solemnity, which told plainer than words what it meant to the people to bid farewell to “Billy,” “Mr.” Ready, “Mac,” Ackley and all the rest.
Tears started in the eyes of many a man, and many a woman, as farewells were said on the platform. Hundreds crowded near the revival leaders to shake their hands and the number to about Homer Rodeheaver, director of the great chorus of 1,000 voices became so large, the people had to be formed in a line and were compelled to move rapidly as soon as they had said goodbye.
Completely worn out, Mr. and Mrs. Sunday were conducted from the tabernacle without notice to the eager thousands, who wanted one more glimpse last word of farewell. The evangelist was forced to permit, however, because of his weakened condition, to leave the building as soon as possible.
[Note: Mr. Herring had applied for a saloon license but afterwards “hit the trail” in the Wilkes-Barre campaign.]
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Tue, Jun 03, 1913 ·Page 8
From my own personal observation I do not hesitate to say that Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming valley has never enjoyed so much happiness as prevails at the present time as a result of the Billy Sunday campaign. The great change that has come over the community as a result of Mr. Sunday’s campaign is very noticeable and I believe that if the people of this city could have him they would ask Mr. Sunday to come back to our locality and stay another seven weeks.
Throughout our locality saloon-keepers do not deny that they have been badly affected by Mr. Sunday’s campaign. The faces which were very familiar in such places for many years are now absent. Men who for years have led a reckless life and neglected their families have been released from the influence of drink and are once more respected by their fellow men. A visit any night to the large hotels in the central part of our city is sufficient to prove that the patronage at these places is not nearly as great as before the revival. I believe it is safe to say that the amount of good done by Mr. Sunday in this vicinity cannot be measured.
Never in the history of our churches has the attendance been as large as during the past few weeks, or since Mr. Sunday left for South Bend. One church, the Central Methodist Episcopal has taken in nearly 800 new members to date and many more are expected. Another church, Westminster has taken in about 500 and several other churches have taken in like numbers. In fact, if the enthusiasm continues and I have every reason to believe it will, many of our congregations will have to enlarge their edifices. It is surprising to know the number of our influential citizens who for years have been out of the church now within the church and taking an active part in its affairs. Another feature of Mr. Sunday’s work is that men of high positions in life who were converted are now members of the Y. M. C. A. personal workers league and are out daily leading others to the cause of righteousness. The work that is being done by the personal workers is admirable. Employers can be found working hand in hand with their employees all working in the interest of Christ. So satisfactory have the results been that other cities have asked several of our young men to visit and tell the story of the great amount of good that has been accomplished. Only last Sunday one of our newspapermen went to Williamsport and so pleased were the people with his message that he was forced to repeat it at three different meetings.
The question has been asked as to whether the merchants of this vicinity have been benefitted by the Sunday revival. Every day one hears some merchant say that accounts which he had closed several years ago have been re-opened and are being settled by the people who contracted debts.
Judging from the activity among the ministers since Mr. Sunday’s visit it cannot be denied that the great evangelist has done a wonderful amount of good among the ministers of the gospel. The better work being done by the ministers in my estimation is due to the fact that they are now receiving the co-operation of their congregations, which was unusual heretofore.
Regarding the liquor traffic and the effect of the revival in surrounding towns, two of the saloon keepers, I have been informed, have quit the business. One was a resident of Parsons and the other of Edwardsville. Two pool rooms one, of which was to be replaced by a saloon, have been wiped out and have been replaced by a grocery store and confectionery.
An organization of railroad men at Ashley was disbanded after the officers were converted and the men are all doing personal work now. A club room at Plymouth, where men assembled on Sundays and did considerable drinking has been changed to a prayer meeting room, the sale of liquor having been discontinued.
In Wilkes-Barre several men who for several months had been gathering weekly in a garage and playing poker were converted and are now holding Bible classes instead.
A representative of the Bell Telephone company said a few days ago that since the revival the company’s receipts from saloon pay stations have fallen off a large per cent and the receipts from drug store stations have increased accordingly.
Although the grand jury of our county ignored several cases against “speakeasies” that were raided by Sheriff Kniffen, one of the converts, the religious organizations throughout the whole county have passed resolutions supporting the sheriff and his crusade and the Y. M. C. A. personal workers’ league plan in a few days to hold a big street demonstration approving the sheriff’s work.
In conclusion I would state that it is difficult to express the real situation existing in his locality as the result of the great evangelist’s good work.
That the change among the people is also being felt by our city officials was evidenced several days ago when the mayor of our city, Hon. John V. Kosek, caused every side room, where cabaret shows were held nightly and where women of questionable character congregated, to be closed. Hotels that for years were known to have been the meeting place of immoral men and women during the past week have been in darkness.
Billy Sunday was given over $23,000 by the people of this valley and I do not hesitate to say that if he had been given $100,000 he would not have been repaid for the good he accomplished.
PORTION OF CROWD OF 9,000 PEOPLE SURGING FROM TABERNACLE AFTER MOTHERS’ MEETING
THOUSANDS LEAVING AFTER MOTHERS’ SERVICE.
Mothers’ day proved quite as great a success yesterday afternoon as did the initial men’s meeting of the campaign last Sunday afternoon. Nearly 9,000 men and women, the majority of them the latter, heard the evangelist deliver his wonderful sermon on ‘Mothers’ during the special service.
-By Staff Photographer.
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Sat, May 17, 1913 ·Page 12
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) 