Tag: Billy Sunday Tabernacle

Billy hosted a revival campaign in Richmond, Indiana, April 16-June 4, 1922

As reported in The Richmond Item. Sun, Apr 16, 1922

CROWDS THRONG STREETS DURING MARCH TO HOTEL

American Legion Band Leads Parade; Evangelist Delighted With Reception

Opening Service

Opening service—2:30 p. m. The Rev. R. W. Stoakes presiding.

Introducing C. F. Hutchins, chairman of music committee.

Introductions—Mrs. William Asher, Robert Matthews, Miss Florence Kinney by Mr. Hutchins.

Song service—Mr. Matthews.

Devotionals.

Introducing Mr. Sunday—The Rev. Mr. Stoakes.

Remarks—Mr. Sunday.

Welcome—Mayor Lawrence A. Handley.

Financial statement and collection talk, the Rev. E. Howard Brown.

Collection.

Sermon.

“Here he comes!”

“That’s Sunday!”

“There’s ‘Mr’ Sunday!”

“See Billy!”

Those were the exclamations heard yesterday afternoon from hundreds of spectators lining the sidewalks during the triumphal march in automobile of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Sunday from the Pennsylvania station to the Westcott hotel. Richmond gave them a great welcome.

Eager to See “Billy”.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sunday were waving their hands all the time of the ride, acknowledging the salutes and smiles of Mr. and Mrs. Richmond and their children. The hearty welcome of the populace along the line of march was only equaled by the reception at the station where many more hundreds had every vantage point to see the world’s greatest evangelist, and Mrs. Sunday.

As they made their snake-like trail into the station the American Legion band started to play “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Sundays stepped on the platform a slender man in his early fifties, in a suit of clothes, showing the vigor of youth in every move.

With Mr. Sunday, who was introduced as master of ceremonies, Fred N. Page introduced Mayor Lawrence A. Handley and Chief of Police William F. Eversman. After viewing the mayor’s band, the mayor and the chief of police escorted Mr. and Mrs. Sunday to the automobile.

Salutes Everyone.

As Mr. Sunday passed the national colors, bareheaded, his hand went to salute while the people clapped. Billy missed nothing. Heads were craned from the Arlington hotel windows but they were not that high but Billy could see them and he waved his salutations at them.

Cameras clicked. “Right here, Mr. Sunday,” someone called, and the man of note posed for his picture. “Come in,” he called to others and in twinkling he had the mayor by his side. Mrs. Sunday stepped up, then came the chief of police, Rapp and the Rev. R. W. Stoakes.

The above six with the Rev. Dr. J. J. Rae, pastor of the First Presbyterian church entered the automobile and escorted by the American Legion band with the Sunday school boys and girls of the First church along E street, north Eighth street, north Ninth street, west Main street, west Tenth street to the park where the automobile was waiting with its notable passengers, thinking of the wonderful reception they had received.

Automobiles stood in a double line for a block and a half on both sides. Eight street was thronged. Every available inch of sidewalk was filled with people.

Thanks War Veterans.

Billy was the first to alight at the Westcott hotel. Did he enter the hotel at once? He did not. The band was standing in a circle north of the Tenth street entrance of the Westcott and like a youngster just out of school, Billy scampered off to the bandsmen, shaking hands heartily with the players.

“Lieutenant,” Billy said to Lieutenant Urqupley, “my boy was a lieutenant with the signal corps in the Rainbow division.” Lieutenant Rapp, who by this time had found his chief.

“Where’s Major?” Billy asked as he gained the hotel entrance. “Right here” replied the latter as he entered the hotel.

After Mr. and Mrs. Sunday went to their rooms many of the local pastors and members of the general council were received in the rooms and were being greeted by everyone, he beaming countenance his ever smiling the showing that he was delighted with the welcome he had received in Richmond. Mrs. Sunday also shook the hands of many who were introduced to her.

A platoon of police was at the station regulating the human and (Continued on Page Two)

CROWDS GREET SUNDAY

Continued from Page One)

the automobile traffic. And it was needed, so great was the throng. Preaches Twice Today. Mr. Sunday will preach twice today but last night was not ready to announce his subject for the afternoon meeting. He will speak on “Why Calle Ye Me Lord, Lord,” or “The Sins of Society” at 7:30 p. m.

Albert Peterson, Robert Matthews, Mrs. William Asher and Miss Florence Kinney also arrived here yesterday. Homer Rodeheaver will not be here until Wednesday. Mr. Matthews, Mr. Sunday’s secretary will direct the music today, while Miss Kinney and Mr. Peterson will be at the pianos. The opening hymn will be “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Mr. Sunday will address campaign workers at the United Presbyterian church at 10 a. m. tomorrow.

Coverage in: The Richmond Item. Sun, Apr 16, 1922 ·Page 1

Who’s Who In Sunday’s Party; Open Revival Today

While the Rev. Dr. William A. Sunday will be the big drawing card for the six weeks’ revival that will begin in Richmond today, it must not be forgotten that Mr. Sunday has surrounded himself with a corps of workers that hold the record of being second to none in evangelistic work. Counting both Mr. and Mrs. Sunday the Sunday party is composed of nine persons—five men and four women.

Homer Rodeheaver is probably as well known as a gospel singer as his ‘boss’ is as an evangelist, just as Mr. Sunday preaches the gospel, Mr. Rodeheaver sings it. He has been with Mr. Sunday for 12 years. Not only is he a soloist, but he has frequently led the singing at the great revivals held in the country.

At last year’s Chautauqua Mr. Rodeheaver, or ‘Rody’ as he is nicknamed, was reared in eastern Tennessee. After attending the public schools he attended Ohio Wesleyan university. His first public work as a musician was with the Jellico, Tenn., Silver Concert band. He studied music under Oscar Saenger in New York city and Madame Turner Kurtz in Philadelphia. He was for years song leader for W. E. Biederwolf.

Mr. Rodeheaver was sent overseas during the world war by the Y. M. C. A. playing his trombone and singing songs on practically all the battlefronts. Mr. Rodeheaver is proud of the fact that probably his instrument is the only trombone that played the soldiers’ favorite songs while flying over the massed regiments of doughboys.

‘Rod’ is not married in spite of the fact that on frequent trips to southeastern West Virginia, it was said by a newspaper that ‘Mr. and Mrs. Rodeheaver played and sang songs in Richmond.’ The only Miss Ruth Rodeheaver, his sister, and a niece of Mr. Rodeheaver has been labeled Miss Rodeheaver as Mrs. R.

Mr. Rodeheaver is a Rotarian, a member of the Sons of Veterans, the Spanish American War Veterans, Knights of Pythias, the Mystic Shrine and the Methodist church, his home is at Winona Lake.

Robert Matthews, familiarly known as ‘Bob’ is a former newspaperman and served his apprenticeship to ‘journalism’ on some large newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune. He is pianist and solo secretary to Mr. Sunday. Traveling with Billy Sunday from city to city is nothing to Mr. Matthews who has seen many capitals of the world. He has been on every sea, including the Arctic and the Antarctic.

Mr. Matthews was born at Carrollton, Ky. He was educated in the public schools and is a graduate from Lake Forest, Ill., university. His father, Robert J. L. Matthews was a Presbyterian minister. Following his college course he accepted the editorship of a newspaper at Keokuk. He was also city editor of the Burlington Journal, of Des Moines News and the Chicago Record Tribune for five years.

Mr. Matthews is a Rotarian, a Shriner, and is an elder in the Presbyterian church.

Mrs. William Asher, who has sung before in this city, lives at Winona Lake. For seven years Mrs. Asher was associated with the Rev. J. Chapman during his evangelistic work. She has been a member of the Sunday party for eight years. While she is frequently heard in duets with the musical director, her principal work with the party is directing the women’s work. One of the big ‘hits’ of Mr. Rodeheaver and Mrs. Asher as singers in every campaign, is the singing of ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’ The two sang that at the last Chautauqua here and received an ovation.

Miss Florence Kinney is a member of the Methodist church of Springfield, O., where her father has been with Mr. Sunday five years. She will direct the student work in the event and be the Bible teacher with the party.

Miss Kinney is a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and of Ohio state university. She is greatly interested in bird life and is one of the consulting directors of the Audobon Society of America. She is a former president of the Women’s Federation of clubs of Clark county, of which Springfield is the county seat. Miss Kinney is recognized as one of the leading workers among young people in the country.

Her musical attainments are frequently shown and if it is ever necessary for ‘Bob’ Matthews to be absent or ‘Rody’ then Miss Kinney takes over ‘Bob’s’ vacated seat at the piano.

Fred W. Rapp, business manager of the party is already known to thousands of church goers in Richmond. He is a graduate of the Nebraska university and has been engaged in Y. M. C. A. administrative work for 15 years. He is a native of Allentown, Pa. His home is at Winona Lake. He is married and has one daughter, Helen.

Like his colleague, ‘Rody,’ Mr. Rapp was overseas during the world war engaged in ‘Y’ work. Owing to his administrative abilities he was one of 12 men selected by John R. Mott, head of the national Y. M. C. A. to go to France. He was on several battle fronts engaged in special administrative work with the American forces. He is a Mason, Kiwanian, star tennis player and amateur boxer.

Albert Peterson, familiarly known as ‘Pete,’ is tabernacle custodian. He is a big fellow. He weighs 215 pounds and stands six feet three inches. He is unmarried. Of Swedish descent, he claims to have his home in the land of Blaker, Minn. He is classed as the major-domo of the tabernacle. He has been with the party for 10 years. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias. He was a star wrestler in his younger days.

Keeping the tabernacle in good condition and seeing that the temple is not the only duty that falls to ‘Pete.’ He plays the piano when a ‘sub’ is necessary, he sings tenor and will be a frequent speaker at the shop meetings that will be held here during the campaign.

Miss Alma Thomas herself is the authority for saying that she is not a member of the Sunday party, but she is placed here as part of personnel notwithstanding her status. Perhaps she can better be placed as the ‘advance’ of the party, for while the others are carrying out their duties in one city, Miss Thomas is acting as Mr. Rapp’s secretary. She is generally ahead of the campaign and works perfecting the plans that bring the various organizations into being to bring the rest of the party to the next stop of the campaign.

Miss Thomas is from the Empire state and makes her home with her mother in New York city. She has been with Mr. Sunday for 10 months. Mr. Rapp is not known to have a secretary with the Sunday party, and Miss Thomas is the first one he has been doing here for the last six weeks.

MILTON, IND.

MILTON, Ind.—The Cary club met Thursday with Mrs. Henry Mueller. The following program was given: ‘Education in South America,’ Mrs. Frank Broaddus; ‘Women and the Family in America,’ Mrs. Aaron Doll; ‘Fusion of Races,’ Mrs. E. C. Denny; ‘Relation of South America to the Rest of the World,’ Mrs. William Huddleston.

Dayton Warren and Blance Coyne are home from Ohio State university for a few days’ vacation.

Roderick McCormick is home from Butler for a few days’ spring vacation.

The senior class of the high school took a trip to Dayton Wednesday evening.

Alma Wagner and Ernest Jones are home for a few days’ vacation from Indiana university.

Miss Naomi Squier, of Richmond, spent Sunday night with Ina Crawford.

The Richmond Item. Sun, Apr 16, 1922 ·Page 8

Sunday says . . . April 27, 1922

SUNDAY Says—

I think one of the curses of the church today is putting unconverted men and women into the church.

Some say, “I don’t like his mannerisms.” It’s none of your business. If God likes it what’s it to you then? None, is it? Not at all—no, sir!

Women go daffy over pictures, men don’t much. Women listen to music and say, “Oh, it is divine.” Men listen and say, “That is punk.”

Men need the church a darn sight more than the church needs the men. They all need one another.

The main trouble in the church today is not in the pews. It is up in the pulpit.

I repeat it, there is more Christian faith in the pews today than in the pulpit. I am just the boy that will tell you, too.

If you don’t believe in God, don’t stay in the pulpit.

There is about as much connection between some men and Jesus Christ as there is between a man with a wooden leg and the rest of his body a fellow.

Tell me why a man will be true to business, true to lodge, true to his wife, and yet he will be false to Jesus Christ.

You can’t beat the devil sister, he has been preying this old world for 6,000 years, he never has rheumatism, appendicitis or peritonites. If you get to playing tag with the devil in his door yard he will hit you on the back and say, “tag you are it.” You can’t put it over on him.

Some church members have the hoof and mouth disease, they round the neighborhood and windjam about their neighbors and talk about them.

No draft has ever been made from an honest heart on the bank window of heaven that God Almighty ever has refused to honor.

There is no one I so despise and abhor as a contemptible snake in the grass, an untrue man or an untrue woman.

You have got to have more claims on heaven than the fact that your mother is there.

I am ashamed to say there are some men whose honor hangs like meat in a butcher shop and you can buy it for so much a pound, so much a head, but thank God, they are in the minority.

What is wrong for a woman to do is wrong for man to do, and the crying need of America today is the single standard for men and women.

There are some that want a little boost in the world and they will win out.

What is hard to gain can be easily lost.

The devil puts every obstacle in the way of man or woman that wants to return to God. But the road to hell seems to have been greased for the occasion.

Palladium-Item. Thu, Apr 27, 1922 ·Page 5

Billy Sunday became the first Evangelical revivalist preacher to use ‘wireless radio’ in 1922 at Richmond, Indiana

In 1922, Billy Sunday stepped into a new technological frontier by preaching over the “wireless”—what we now call radio. At the time, this was cutting-edge communication. The term “wireless” referred to the transmission of audio over electromagnetic waves, without the use of physical wires or cables. In just a few years, this technology had moved from military and maritime use into the public sphere, and by 1922, commercial radio broadcasting was beginning to take off across the United States.

The form of radio Sunday used was known as AM, or amplitude modulation. This early method involved taking the sound of a person’s voice—captured by a microphone—and superimposing it onto a high-frequency radio wave using a modulator and vacuum tube amplifier. That modulated signal was then broadcast through an antenna and picked up by receivers—early crystal sets or tube radios—scattered in homes and offices around the region. It was basic by today’s standards, but revolutionary in its day.

In practical terms, this meant that Sunday’s sermons, once confined to large wooden tabernacles or revival tents, could now reach thousands of listeners in real time over great distances. His voice might have been carried by pioneering stations such as WJZ in Newark or WEAF in New York, allowing people who had never set foot in one of his campaigns to hear his preaching live.

This was no small development. At the start of 1922, fewer than 50 licensed radio stations existed in the U.S.; by the end of that year, over 500 were on the air. The nation was gripped by what some called “radio fever,” and Billy Sunday—ever the showman and communicator—was quick to embrace it.

For Sunday, radio was not just a novelty. It was a powerful extension of his mission. He had long understood the role of mass media in spreading his message, leveraging newspapers and advertising better than any evangelist of his time. Radio became the next logical step, and his use of it helped set the stage for a new generation of radio preachers and religious broadcasters, including names like Charles Fuller and Aimee Semple McPherson.

Sunday’s move into the airwaves marked a turning point—not only in his ministry but in the story of American religious life. It was one of the earliest moments where evangelical preaching and modern technology met in a way that would change both forever.

BILLY ENJOYS FIRST PROGRAM BY RADIO; LISTENS IN HIS ROOM

Billy Sunday has been converted— to wireless.

For the first time in the history of the evangelistic party, a concert was given by members over a wireless telephone Wednesday night, and after listening in on a set that had been installed in his room, Mr. Sunday requested the operators, Messrs. Paul Showalter and Harold Cutler, to return after his evening sermon and allow him another chance to listen. The special program of the evening was given in The Palladium wireless room. The bulbs of the receiving set in Mr. Sunday’s room burned until 10:30 o’clock while local and out-of-town stations were turned in.

At Mr. Sunday’s request also, the set was left in place all day Thursday to allow him to hear the noon and evening programs of The Palladium. Arrangements will be made to furnish him a set for the entire time he is in Richmond. With a set installed, the former baseball player expects to follow the fortunes of the different teams as they are shown in the daily broadcasts of baseball scores and to get other sport news ‘hot off the bat.’

Complete success for the special program, in spite of unusually adverse weather conditions, was reported by listeners. ‘Fine.’ ‘Best program you have given yet,’ ‘unusually clear and distinct,’ were some of the phrases used in praise of the vocal and instrumental concert. Some difficulties were met in broadcasting music from the original performers as this is the first time it has been attempted by the Richmond station, but the results aroused a quickly expressed delight at all the stations listening.

First Radio Performance.

Although Mr. Rodeheaver has been with the revivalist for 12 years, Mr. Peterson for five, Miss Kinney for six, Mr. Matthews for eight and Mrs. Asher for 11 years, this was also the first occasion that any of the party had made a ‘radio appearance.’ Yet there was no trace of ‘radio fright’—akin to stage fright—common to those accustomed to public appearances when they are first asked to talk or sing into an inanimate transmitter for the benefit of an invisible audience.

Gathering in the Palladium wireless telephone room promptly at 6:30, the program began on schedule time and was heard by the regular listeners to the Palladium evening program. In many cases, out-of-town amateurs invited neighbors and friends to listen and entertained them with the special concert.

A photograph was taken of the singers in the radio room during the program.

The duet, ‘The Old Rugged Cross,’ sung by Mrs. Asher and Mr. Rodeheaver, seemed to find especial favor with some listeners. Mrs. Maude Winder, 413 North Thirteenth street, who is active in the Billy Sunday organization, had the opportunity of listening over a set operated by her husband, Joseph Winder, president of the

(Continued on Page Twelve.)

BILLY IS

(Continued from Page One.)

Richmond wireless amateurs’ organization and expressed deep appreciation Thursday morning. The final song was her favorite. “The last song was beautiful,” she said, “but we listened to and enjoyed the whole program from beginning to end. The instrumental solos were fine also.”

Trio Number Choice.

The trio which sang negro spirituals was the choice of R. G. Bruce, teacher in the Boston school, who listened over Walter Rife’s set. “That was the best of all, it was exceptionally good,” he said, “but the trombone solo was beautiful also. It was very clear and the words of the songs were wonderfully plain as well.”

Mr. Rife, an amateur of Boston, was host to Mr. Bruce and to a group of his neighbors whom he had invited for the special program. Unable to attend the services at Richmond, these Boston citizens still enjoyed the benefit of all but Mr. Sunday’s sermon. Mr. Rife reported a very clear and distinct transmission for the Palladium telephone, which he was unable to obtain with other stations that night.

A report was telephoned in by Park Snider of Connersville, one of the prominent amateurs and a radio dealer, immediately after the program. “Your telephone came in very loud here,” he said, in spite of some bad interference through which the program was received.

Loud In Praises

A group listening at the station of C. O. Snyder in West Richmond, was loud in praises of the program. Two of the listeners for whom this was the first experience with wireless, expressed amazement at the excellent quality and the loudness of the voices of the singers. “It’s just as though they were in the room,” said one.

David R. Pottenger, a real estate dealer, who was one of the new listeners at Mr. Snyder’s set, was especially interested in the program and expressed surprise at the perfect manner in which voices and music could be transmitted.

Another informal radio party was held at the store of Leslie Hart, radio dealer, on Main street. Many other amateurs of Richmond listened to the program and gave efficient and valuable assistance in their suggestions and prompt reports at the beginning of the program.

Express Gratification

Gratification was expressed by local listeners for the opportunity to hear the special program, as except for the few that were able to hear Wednesday night on account of the bad weather conditions which made transmission difficult. Only a few stations could be tuned in by Rife at Boston, with none as loud as the Palladium station. Rike-Kumler’s station at Dayton was heard by C. O. Snyder and other amateurs after the Palladium program, but was reported very weak locally, although usually it comes in very loud. This station was heard also by Billy Sunday at the hotel after the close of the special program.

As stated above, Billy Sunday was one of the most interested listeners, this being the first occasion on which he had had any experience with wireless, or had a chance to hear his party over the wireless, although he has travelled with them from Duluth south to Tampa and from New York to California.

Solo, duet, trio, vocal numbers and solo piano and trombone numbers were given by the Sunday party.

Palladium-Item. Thu, Apr 27, 1922 · Page 1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/246718382/

The Palladium-Item. April 18, 1922

Billy “Listening In” for the First Time to a Wireless Telephone Program
Richmond Palladium Item. April 29. 1922

Members of Sunday’s Party All Set to Give Their First Wireless Concert

This picture shows the talented artists of the Billy Sunday party gathered in the Palladium wireless room, ready to send their vocal and instrumental harmony into the unfathomable ether. It was their first experience of the kind. ‘Their ‘Boss’, the great evangelist, ‘listened in’ on the concert over a receiving set installed in his hotel room. Those in the picture reading from left to right, are Robert Matthews, Miss Florence Kinney, Mrs. William Asher, Homer Rodeheaver and Albert Peterson. Many amateurs for miles in all directions enjoyed the party’s gospel songs. It is possible that they may again delight radio fans before ending their engagement here.

—Photo by Campbell Photo Art Shop

Richmond, Indiana · Monday, May 29, 1922

Who did Billy Sunday consider to be the greatest preacher since the day of the apostles?

I regard Finney as the greatest preacher who has lived since the day of the apostles.

The Louisville Herald. Fri, May 04, 1923 ·Page 14

Charles Grandison Finney (1792–1875) was one of the most influential evangelists of the Second Great Awakening in the United States. A former lawyer turned Presbyterian minister, Finney was known for his innovative revival methods, bold preaching style, and theological emphasis on human responsibility in conversion. He popularized the “anxious bench” (a precursor to the altar call), promoted immediate decisions for Christ, and helped shift American evangelicalism toward a more activist and revivalistic form of Christianity.

Finney taught at Oberlin College and was a major voice in social reform movements, especially abolitionism and temperance. His theology leaned Arminian and perfectionist, differing from the Reformed Calvinism of earlier revivals.

However, Finney’s legacy deeply shaped the revivalist culture that Sunday inherited and embodied. Sunday likely admired Finney’s boldness, mass evangelism strategies, and transformative social impact. His statement calling Finney “the greatest preacher who has lived since the day of the apostles” reflects Sunday’s reverence for Finney’s lasting influence, not a personal relationship.

Members of KKK disrupt Sunday’s Richmond campaign – newspaper account

Notable Incident: Ku Klux Klan Appearance

On May 14, 1922, during one of the revival meetings, twelve robed and masked members of the Ku Klux Klan entered the tabernacle, marched down the center aisle.

May 15, 1922. Palladium.

KU KLUX KLAN IN ROBES AT TABERNACLE

Twelve Members of Mysterious Order March to Front and Hand Evangelist Letter Containing $50.

SUNDAY DUMFOUNDED

TEXT OF LETTER

The text of the letter which was typewritten on the letter head of the Department of Propaganda, of the Imperial Palace of the order, was dated 5-14-22 and read as follows:

Dated at Muncie, Indiana.

Send reply to None.

To Billy Sunday.

We, the Knights of The Ku Klux Klan desire that you accept this little token of our appreciation of your wonderful work in the interest of the American people and for perpetuating the tenets of the Christian Religion throughout the Nation, and we wish you to know that we stand solidly behind the teachings of the Christian Religion, Free Speech, Free Press, and Separation of Church and State.

While supremacy, Just Laws, the Pursuit of Happiness, Liberty, and Justice, the Public School, and the thoughts of the Boy Scout in the teachings of the Bible, and in the love of the flag of our country, and in the word of every sense, that we, and we alone, should stand for these large and wholesome principles.

Very sincerely yours,

Muncie Klan No. 4 and Richmond Provincial Klan Realm of Indiana, Knights of the KU KLUX KLAN

Five thousand men and women sat spellbound in the tabernacle Sunday night while 12 masked members of the Ku Klux Klan, unopposed and fearless- ly, interrupted the service long enough to hand the Rev. W. A. Sunday an envelope containing a message of commendation and $50 in bills.

Their mission executed, their identity successfully cloaked, the twelve men marched out of the tabernacle, entered automobiles and disappeared as silently and quickly as they had made their entrance.

Members of the Sunday party had been informed of the proposed visit, however, so that some of them were prepared for the Klansmen, one of the chief ushers said.

While no clue to the identity of the men could be found, a man whose name could not be learned was found in the front of the tabernacle after the meeting, commenting on the amount of publicity which the spectacular entry would get, and asking how soon the Associated Press would get the news.

Not First Experience

This is not the first experience of Mr. Sunday with the Ku Klux Klan.

The klan has made a present to Mr. Sunday in every city he has been in during the last year, said Bob Matthews secretary to Mr. Sunday. Even the Klan in Sioux City did the same thing.

At Charleston four members of the Klan appeared, and presented Mr. Sun- day a similar communication, inclosing $200, while at Spartanburg, S. C., the Klan presented Mr. Sunday with $50.

An attempt of the reporters at the Charleston meeting to follow the Klan members and find out who they were was frustrated, the secretary said. There seemed to be an agreement among the ushers at the meeting that no one was to follow the men, and when the reporters started there seemed to be conspiracy to have them waylaid.

First Appearance

It was the first time in the history of Richmond that the Ku Klux Klan had appeared in public, according to Mr. Sunday, although he said the Klansmen were known to have met there.

The letter which they gave to Mr. Sunday bore the address of the United Klan No. 4 and Richmond Provincial Klan.

Just as Billy Sunday was beginning his sermon the twelve white clad men, wearing high pointed head gears, draped in robes that came to their feet, with flowing wide sleeves and white masks, were seen marching silently down the aisle, single file.

Sunday paused in the middle of his announcement, and stared down at them, while a hush fell over the audience, as the 12 figures lined up before the platform, and two of them mounted to the platform.

Suppressed giggles and hysterical snickers broke the stillness faintly, but for the most part, the audience was awed into immobility, except on the edges where men and women stood on chairs and benches to see what was going on.

At a grunt of command, the only sound made by the group during the entire visit, and in unison with their leader, the men lined up facing Sunday, while the other two, at the same unspoken command, turned and walked to the platform and presented the letter containing the money.

The men and women on the stairs parted for the ghost like men, whose audible footfalls could not be heard, their costumes revealing only blue eyes and black leather shoes.

It was not known what Mr. Sunday said until the visitors had marched out and the tabernacle had settled down. Then he turned and faced the audience and said firmly, “I am not afraid of anybody. I have had my car and automobiles and driver attacked, but I am not afraid. I will stand to be checked on my work.”

Sunday ceased to speak, while the men filed from the tabernacle. “I am not a member of the Ku Klux Klan, of the Masons, of the Odd Fellows, or any other secret order, but I’ve learned more about them to night than I ever knew before.

“So I guess if you behave yourself they won’t bother you,” Sunday said.

“A Hint to Others”

“Now you Masons, Odd Fellows, or any of you other fellows, if you want to give something to Winona you just come ahead,” Mr. Sunday said after he announced that the letter contained $50 in bills, which he said would be used to pay the expenses of the Winona Lake tabernacle.

“The $50 comes from the Muncie branch,” Mr. Sunday started to say in telling of the money in the envelope, when Fred Rupp interrupted to say that Richmond was also mentioned.

Fumbling with the letter for a moment, Sunday reread the closing words and corrected himself: “It comes also from the provisional Richmond klan.” After a little pause Sunday added to the audience: “Well, you seemed to sit right; they didn’t take you.” Denouncing the liberal wing of the Baptist church which is forcing a contest within that denomination, Mr. Sunday called them the “God-forsaken liberal wing,” and declared that “they ought to be in Hell.”

Denounces Liberalism.

“It’s the liberal bunch that don’t like me, and I don’t want their backing. The Baptists were the last bulwark of orthodoxy,” he said, “and now they’ve got a fight on their hands.” “There never was a greater God-forsaken liberal wing of the church, that seeks ethical death of Christ. Its the

Near the end of the sermon, but before the audience arose, Sunday called on those that wanted to make a public confession of Christ to walk down in front.

“I want to see your faces as you come,” he said. “I don’t know how you feel about it, but I want to see you come.”

“I haven’t asked for that a long time,” he added, “but I had a feeling that maybe some of you fellows would come that way.”

For a time no one moved, but a slight movement in the rear of the audience was seen. Mr. Sunday made mention of it.

“There were ten here now,” About the time it looked as if there would be plenty of room for Mr. Sunday to come down and take their hands.

63 Come Forward

After the audience stood, and the personal workers had scattered among them, more gathered at the front until 63 “trail hitters” had come forward as signed pledges of belief in Christ. The opening prayer was offered by Rev. E. Gage of the Third Methodist church, while the meeting was closed by prayer by Louis Jones, minister of the South Eighth Street Friends meeting.

The collection, as at the other meetings of the day, was taken for the Bible School, Chautauqua, and other summer meetings held at Winona Lake, Indiana.

Afternoon Service

Coatless, perspiring until he removed his collar and necktie, Billy Sunday called on the packed tabernacle Sunday afternoon to give their lives to Christ, and from an audience of 6,000, more than 300 persons came forward to shake his hand, while several hundred signed cards pledging themselves to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

It was an audience composed almost entirely of out-of-town people. On a show of hands it had seemed as if there were no Richmond people present, but a rising demonstration of Richmond and of visitors showed that only a fifth were local residents.

The huge crowd gathered early, by noon the tabernacle was filled and the music began. Just before the sermon Mr. Rodeheaver called for the show of hands to account for the local poor fifth of the audience.

Calls for City

As the huge out-of-town audience stood, cries of “Richmond” Richmond” came from the ministerial section, and Mr. Rodeheaver called for the local people to stand. They were the poor fifth of the audience.

The great tabernacle of Richmond, they say, has stayed Mr. Sunday’s people could not have had the great success they have had without it. All the more, when you realize that all the people in the audience are not Richmond people, but they are the people who regularly do better than that.

Takes Off Coat

As Mr. Sunday appeared on the platform he took off his coat, and several men in the audience stood up and took theirs off. Later on invitation of Mr. Sunday, a number of others followed suit.

“In the 27 years that I have been preaching I have never seen such a small number of people from the community, in proportion to its size, as here at Richmond. I feel like I had fooled away six weeks of my time, one sixth of all that I have to give in a year, by coming here, when I had to turn down 25 other cities to do it.”

“It is not,” he added, “that you people are not welcome to come, but I do think that the community where I preach should be represented at the meetings.”

When did Billy Sunday host his Richmond, Indiana revival campaign?

Billy Sunday conducted a significant revival campaign in Richmond, Indiana, from April 15 to May 29, 1922. This six-week event was part of his extensive evangelistic efforts across the United States during the early 20th century .

Palladium-Item
Mon, Apr 17, 1922 ·Page 7

Revival Campaign Highlights

  • Venue: A specially constructed wooden tabernacle was erected at South 15th and Main Streets (now the site of a CVS and Family Video), accommodating up to 6,000 attendees.
  • Media Coverage: The Richmond Palladium provided extensive coverage, including daily supplements featuring Sunday’s sermons, stories, and testimonials. A direct telephone line connected the tabernacle to the newspaper office to ensure timely reporting .
  • Preaching Style: Known for his dynamic and theatrical preaching, Sunday delivered impassioned sermons emphasizing themes like personal salvation, moral reform, and temperance. He often used vivid language and dramatic gestures to captivate his audience.

Richmond Ministers catch the ‘Sunday Effect’!

17 Apr 1922 – Richmond Palladium pg3

The Richmond Palladium coverage of the Billy Sunday revival in 1922?

Billy wrote the following and it was published in the April 22, 1922, Richmond Palladium.

The history of the Church is the history of revivals. The Church was born in the revival of Pentecost.

  1. I know there are many who do not believe in Revivals.

George Whitfield was going to Boston to preach, riding horseback. He met one oof these cold, distant, sullen, morose, melancholy, sleepy, egotistical officials who said, “I don’t want you to preach in Boston.” Whitfield replied, “Neither does the Devil.” and rode on.

  1. If anyone pulse beats quickly for the cause of Christ, they are called “sensational.”

Even the Pharisees ply _______ with their venom the works of Jesus because they did not like his methods. The church is not a disturbing element enough in this God-hating, Christ-hating, boot-legging, law-defying, Sabbath-breaking, old world that is swinging hell-ward so fast she is breaking the speed limit.

  1. The Church is growing so cold she is ceasing to feel that there is anything in the cross of Christ worth living for, or if need be, dying for.

Nothing good was ever accomplished without genuine full-hearted enthusiasm. You might as well try to cross the ocean on a grind stone drawn by cock roaches or heat an oven with snow balls, or ride a Porcupine without a saddle as to win any undertaking week-half-hearted effort!

  1. There is enough dreamy, lazy, slumbering energy in our Churches which is given to God. I would put the Devil in the hospital.

I issue a Proclamation to the forces of truth, morality, righteousness, in and out of the Churches of Richmond, “Come up to the help of the Lord against the Devil and all his hosts.”

W.A. Sunday, Psalm 34

April 17, 1922. Richmond Palladium
April 18, 1922. Richmond Palladium

What kind of prep-work went into hosting a campaign for Billy Sunday (c 1918, Duluth, Minnesota)?

The Duluth News Tribune. Mon, Apr 08, 1918 ·Page 3

ADVANCE MAN IS HERE TO PAVE WAY FOR BILLY SUNDAY

Looks to Building of Tabernacle at Courthouse Square—Construction Starts Next Week.

Actual work in preparation for Billy Sunday’s campaign in Duluth will begin early next week when workmen will commence construction of the huge tabernacle in which the meetings will be held.

This was the announcement made yesterday by James E. Walker, advance representative for the evangelist. Mr. Walker reached Duluth Saturday and immediately plunged into the work of preparation for Sunday’s appearance in Duluth. He met representatives from Duluth, Superior and range churches at the First Presbyterian church at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Richard Close and W. L. Smithies, of the men’s interchurch council addressed the meeting. Both gave their impressions of the Sunday campaign in Chicago. Mr. Smithies was in Chicago Saturday and witnessed the mammoth parade, held at noon, which preceded the largest meeting that has yet been held at the Chicago tabernacle.

Sunday’s Methods Outlined.

Walker’s talk outlined, for the local workers, the Sunday method of conduction a campaign. His classification divides the work into three parts. The preparatory work, he says, usually covers a period of eight weeks preceding the campaigns. The latter constitutes the second division and the third division in, in Walker’s words, “the follow-up campaign or work of conservation.” The first part is now well under way in Duluth.

The Sunday campaigns are usually conducted by 15 committees. Fourteen of these will be in operation in Duluth within a short time. The fifteenth, constituting a restaurant committee, often necessary through the comparative inaccessibility of the tabernacles, will not be needed in Duluth owing to the central location of the tabernacle.

Two Thousand Ushers.

The other committees, some of which are already being formed, together with Walker’s estimate of the number required for each, follow: Music committee, including the personnel of three choruses, 2,500; Neighborhood prayer meeting committee, 2,000; ushers and doorkeepers, who will work in relays, 700; personal workers, 500; secretaries, who will take the names of “trail-hitters” at the meetings, 300; men’s Bible class organizers and workers, 500; finance, automobile, hospital and students committees, 500. This, in the round figures of Walker’s estimate, will total a working staff of 7,000. “And every one of them,” said Walker last night, “will have something to do.”

“The most important part of the work,” said Walker, “is the neighborhood prayer meetings, previous to and during the campaign. If Sunday’s coming did nothing else than serve as an incentive for the organization of these meetings, he would have done enough. It is his wish that a great deal of time and care be spent in the perfecting of the committee which will be in charge of these meetings.

Territory Divided.

“The territory surrounding Duluth and the city itself will be divided into districts, these districts subdivided into sections and these sections again divided into communities or, as we call them, neighborhoods. It is our plan to have prayer meetings for two nights each week for three weeks previous to Sunday’s appearance. These meetings will not be held in the churches of the communities but in the private homes. There were 99 conversions reported at similar meetings which preceded the Los Angeles campaign.

“Billy Sunday’s request is that, at these meetings, those who attend pray for the success of the campaign. The attendance at the Los Angeles prayer meetings was recorded at 73,938. There were 7,556 homes open for meetings.

Tabernacle 8,000 Capacity.

The Duluth tabernacle, according to the present estimate, will accommodate 8,000. It will include, besides the main auditorium, the usual rooms that are built in all Sunday tabernacles. The Duluth structure will be of the turtle-back type that is used in a majority of the cities. Its dimensions will be approximately 176 by 224 feet. It will be built on the courthouse grounds at Fourth avenue West from First to Second streets. Sunday will conclude his Chicago campaign on May 19. He will come to Duluth during the following week and will open here May 26. Walker has established his offices on the second floor of the Y. M. C. A. in the offices of Mr. Smithies. He will direct the preparatory campaign from there and will remain here until after the opening of the campaign proper.

From the Duluth Herald May 2, 1918