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 SUNDAY IS FOR SUFFRAGE FIRST, LAST AND ALL THE TIME
Woman suffragists ought to like Billy Sunday.
“Do you favor woman suffrage?” he was asked the other day.
“Why not?” he hurled at the reporter just as though the latter were an “anti.”
“I don’t know,” murmured the representative of the press, in a tone measured to encourage Mr. Sunday to a further discussion of the subject. And Mr. Sunday was quite willing to talk about it. And talk he can on any subject.
He launched into one of the most picturesquely worded and one of the most emphatic indorsements of woman suffrage that its most ardent supporters could ever wish to have, “Why shouldn’t women have the franchise? They are as worthy of it as the men,” was the substance of what he said.
There are 6,000,000 women and girls working for a livelihood in this country, he statistically declared to the reporter.
He urged that the working woman fills an important place in the industrial and business life of the country.
“Take them out of the offices, mills, factories and stores, and you’ll miss them quickly enough.” These 6,000,000 women so engaged were advanced as one of Mr. Sunday’s reasons for granting the franchise to women.
All an interviewer of Mr. Sunday can hope to do is to get impressions. In answering one question he said enough interesting things on the equal suffrage question to fill a small volume. He invented enough aphorisms and sprung enough epigrams to make an issue of Elbert Hubbard’s Philistine look like a mere sample package.
If you go to interview Mr. Sunday take the best stenographer in the state with you. No, take two or three. Mr. Sunday uses words with exceeding celerity. He confessed that he could use as many as 350 a minute. The interviewer gained the impression that he was trying to break the speed limit yesterday.
“There’s only one stenographer I have known who could get my speeches in full,” he said, “and he missed one word in ten.”
BILLY SUNDAY GOING TO TAKE PRECAUTION AGAINST FIRE.
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Tue, May 13, 1913 ·Page 7
Just Now, Evangelist Has No Duplicate Copies of His Famous Addresses—Ackley Does Work.
“No, I have only the one copy of each of my sermons,” replied Billy Sunday to a question as to whether he had duplicates of his sermons.
“These sermons are not in full,” continued the evangelist, as he showed the books in which he keeps the addresses that sway so many thousands; “they are just mere skeletons of the sermon and no one else but myself can read them, or at least I don’t think that anyone else can.”
Mr. Sunday was asked if he could remember the sermons if they were stolen and he replied that he recalled the majority of the material that composed them. He says that he intends to have duplicates made of the sermons and have them put into a safety deposit vault so that if one is stolen or should be destroyed by fire or in some other manner, he will have a copy.
“I thought at first that I would be able to get them copied this summer,” he said, “but it don’t look like the work will be accomplished, as I have so much to do this year.”
B. D. Ackley, pianist of the Sunday party, and secretary to the evangelist, copies the sermons of Mr. Sunday. This work takes up quite a bit of the pianist’s time, as Mr. Sunday is continually adding and detracting from his sermons as he acquires new material from many different sources.
“I always let Ackley fix up the sermons. He has a knack for doing things up pretty and nice,” said Sunday, while talking of his work.
“Now, boss, just because we have company you don’t need to make fun of me to my very face. He knows that I can’t fix them right,” said Ackley, as he turned to the visitor.
“That is all right; you do it just to suit me,” replied Sunday.
It is probable that sometime within the next year or so the evangelist will have all his sermons duplicated and deposited in a safety deposit vault.
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Sat, May 10, 1913 ·Page 11
Billy Sunday, 1908. Author’s Collection.
In connection with the coming of Mr. Sunday not a few of us have been guilty of judging the man before seeing him or hearing him. Current reports, like most current reports have been one-sided and unfair. Mr. Sunday’s preaching may have many of the faults upon which hearsay has so extensively dwelt. When one listens to the man, however, one finds these faults largely obscured by the man’s numerous and tremendous excellencies.
That Mr. Sunday is a man of genius, not even his bitterest opponents will dispute. That he is clever and brilliant and witty and eloquent admits absolutely of no question. Not one man in 10,000,000 possesses Mr. Sunday’s enormous powers. The man not only draws the vast audience but what is much more he deserves the vast audiences.
Success Through Ability.
Mr. Sunday ascribes his amazing success to the soundness of his doctrines and the righteousness of his platform. In this, Mr. Sunday is admirably modest. As matter of fact, Mr. Sunday’s success is due not to his doctrines but to his ability. Fortunately his tremendous ability is being devoted to a good cause. Yet the same ability would attract similar throngs no matter what the cause and what the doctrine.
To hear the man makes one think of an Elijah, an Amos, an Isaiah, a Savonarola.
That Mr. Sunday is sincere there exists no real ground for doubting. Hardly would an insincere man be so marvellously effective. Insincerity is the death of eloquence. And Mr. Sunday is superbly eloquent.
Again it is difficult to see just wherein Mr. Sunday would be tempted to be insincere. Men are insincere when they have no other means of gaining their ends. Mr. Sunday does not need to be insincere. Insincerity is the weapon of the weak. Mr. Sunday possesses a Titan’s strength.
Regrettable Feature.
The crudeness and naivete of some of Mr. Sunday’s doctrines may give rise to the suspicion of insincerity. This is indeed perhaps the only thing about Mr. Sunday that need be seriously deplored. His prejudiced attitude toward the high criticism and toward the doctrine of evolution, not to mention his furious attacks upon Unitarianism, Universalism, Christian Science, Spiritualism and other doctrines, coming as they do from a man of his influence, are distinctly regrettable. It is hard to see just what is to be gained by these attacks. Just how the salvation of souls is to be furthered by assaults on this, that or the other doctrine is far from easy to understand.
Still, many a great speaker has had a child’s philosophy. The question has actually been raised whether a broad philosophic vision is compatible with fiery throng-swaying eloquence. The philosopher and the orator rarely dwell together in the same person. It is not unlikely that advanced views in philosophical and theological matters would preclude a man’s burning with white hot ardor. It takes a narrow channel to give a strong current. Broaden and deepen the channel and the current becomes slow and feeble. A large philosophical horizon means, as often as not, a frail and listless propaganda. Therefore there need be no doubt as to Mr. Sunday’s sincerity even though his theological outlook be somewhat contracted. His wonderful effectiveness proves his sincerity.
Money No Object.
The most unjust of all charges brought against Mr. Sunday is that of mercenariness. A man with whom money is an end and aim could not possibly do what Mr. Sunday is doing. If Mr. Sunday derives large sums of money from his activities, it should be remembered that every cent of it is given freely and eagerly by the myriads whose hearts he has stirred. A man of Mr. Sunday’s ability and fidelity is well worth all the money he receives. Considering the work he is doing, several times the sum would not be excessive and undeserved compensation—surely not unnecessary compensation. In view of the energies he expends, Mr. Sunday requires means for adequate rest and recuperation not to mention provisions against premature aging and even death. There was not a little pathos in his intimation a few nights ago that, at the rate he is working, a high old age for him is not probable.
It should be well known by this time that the collections up to the last day of the meetings and some of the collections on the last day go to defray expenses. The very persons who have been disparaging Mr. Sunday for urging liberality of contributions might be the first to censure him as a “dead beat” if, remiss about urging contributions, he should fail to meet his financial obligations.
Rendering Great Service.
Mr. Sunday would be rendering the community an inestimable service if he did no more than bring those magnificent crowds together to listen to that sweet music and to sing those beautiful songs. What a powerful stimulus to the sense of human brotherhood and solidarity when thousands congregate and in unison set their hearts beating to the rythm of holy thoughts harmoniously expressed!
A religious campaign of the kind that Mr. Sunday is leading expresses the progress of democracy more profoundly than any other movement of our day. At the basis of Mr. Sunday’s work is a thought which is the most democratic thought in the world, the thought namely that every soul is worth saving. Beneath the roof of that tabernacle, class discriminations are utterly obliterated. The only possession that counts for anything there is a person’s soul. The Sunday campaign is attended by the earnest realization on the part of thousands that nothing is really good excepting “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
Fourteen hundred years ago Saint Augustine said:
“Thou hast made us for Thee, O Lord, and restless is our heart until in Thee it finds its rest.”
Only Kind of Life.
A quickened realization of this truth seems to be the quest of this revival. We of South Bend are coming now to understand better than ever before that the life of exalted thoughts and pure affections and clean conduct and worthy deeds is after all the only kind of life that is worth living.
Mr. Sunday has dedicated his extraordinary talents to bringing home this truth to persons of all classes and of all callings. May there be an abundant harvest from his sowing. May there be “showers of blessings.” May the cleansing torrents of righteousness surge through our community making every life sweet and holy and pure.
The South Bend Tribune. Sat, May 10, 1913 ·Page 11
EVANGELIST IS DISCUSSED BY WILKES-BARRE, PA., MAN.
COMPARED WITH OTHERS
Billy Sunday, 1908. Author’s Collection.
Writer in Newspaper Compares Former Baseball Player With Famous Evangelist of Few Year Ago—Does Much Good.
The Tribune’s Special Service.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa., May 9.—Rev. William A. Sunday and his methods have been reviewed from so many angles that it seems difficult even for a veteran to add anything to the sum total of knowledge of this wonderful evangelist, says “G. A. E.” writing for the Wilkes-Barre Record.
Continuing “G. A. E.” who made a careful study of the evangelist while he was conducting his campaign here, says:
“However, as the preachers say, ‘firstly, secondly, thirdly and one word more,’ and this may be ‘finally and in conclusion.’
“Billy Sunday, as we now familiarly term him, stands in a class by himself, and if I compare him with evangelists of other days it is not for disparaging comment or odious comparison. He is peculiarly an American product and becomes immediately at faith with his audiences because of his intense patriotism, his love of the starry flag and his intense belief in the present and future greatness of the United States. He is a paladin of defense.
Sunday Protector.
“No, siree, the devil shall never capture this country so long as Billy Sunday can put up his dukes or raise his voice in protest.
“I have been privileged to hear many great pulpit orators and revivalists both in this country and abroad, among the latter, Weaver, Spurgeon, Booth (before his Salvation army days) Moody, Torrey. Of these for keenness of argument, beauty of diction, fierceness of invective and charm of pathos. I would place Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon in first place, with Gen. W. Booth in the next. But from speech of my mother and grandparents even these giants could not compare with Whitfield, Williams O’Wern, Charles Wesley, Christmas Evans and Rowland Hill. The men I have named were all different in their method, none of them staying long in one place, and their work was largely denominational in character. These men were all successful and their trumpet calls led many to a newness of life.
Orthodox Gospel.
“The story they told and the gospel they preached was the old orthodox one, ‘He that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.’ Sunday’s success is in proportion as he sticks to the old doxv and the old ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ but it is worth noting that while the old exhorters emphasized ‘hell fire,’ and ‘fire and brimstone,’ Billy does not add to the agony of those consigned to the place prepared for unbelievers by using those words.
“Mr. Sunday, like Spurgeon and many other successful exhorters, is a voluminous speaker, but not a profound thinker. He has read for dramatic effect, he has skimmed the literature of the English race for illustrations, and is endowed with a slang vocabulary that is simply astounding. He uses his knowledge with such marvelous effect that all who come ‘to scoff return to pray.’ His earnestness, his transparent honesty, carries all his hearers with him and his slang solecisms are all forgotten in his clarion call for repentance, his denunciation of all that is bad, vile and wicked and in his praise of God, home and country.
More Lasting Good.
“The old school of revivalists were of the itinerant class, moving rapidly through the country, their evangelism seemed sudden in its effect and I am afraid somewhat evanescent in its general results. It is just here that Mr. Sunday’s campaign gives promise of more lasting good. His coming has been carefully prepared for, his meeting place is undenominational in character. It is a movement conducted with great business acumen and sound common sense. He trains the ministers and church workers in such a way as to make them capable of caring for the harvest when it comes. Like a good farmer, he prunes the fruit trees with vigor, cuts out all the dead wood and sprays them well to get rid of moths, beetles and canker worms, so that when the new fruit shall ripen it will be sound and beneficial. ‘And the leaves of the trees shall be for the healing of the nations.’ Mr. Sunday is a man endowed with a great faith. He prays for the blessing, he prepares for the blessing, he is sure of getting it and it is therefore no surprise that he is so eminently successful.
Campaign Well Conducted.
“The late revival in Wales was a marvelous spontaneous outburst of religious fervor and roused large sections of the community. It was conducted by a young man named Roberts, who was ill fitted both mentally and physically and he subsequently broke down. Want of well directed effort, want of unity on the part of the churches to look after and care for the converts robbed the movement of much of its success. The converts were left to the mercy of the world, flesh and the devil, and thus the promise of a great and last revival petered out.
“The Sunday campaign is conducted vastly different. It is an old evangel, presented in racy Americanesque speech and run upon up-to-date business principles. The evangelical churches are a unit. It has been aided by the enterprise of the daily newspapers and publicity is given to the religious movement unknown to our fathers. Despite a few doubting Thomases the spirit of success is in the air, for the Wyoming valley is realized that the ‘hour and the man’ glorious religious revival has just passed and the effects of it are to continue.”
Billy’s Fearlessness and Independence Would be Bound to Win Masses if He Was Out for Office.
BY THE POLITICAL WRITER.
It may be said safely that a good percentage of the men and women who sat in open mouthed amazement at the tabernacle yesterday and saw Billy Sunday sway thousands by his magnetism, hypnotism and Lord-knows-what-ism afterward asked themselves the question: ‘Why didn’t he go into politics?’
Billy Sunday’s most bitter enemies must admit that he is a leader of the natural-born species. His characteristics, his personality, his impulsiveness, his methods and that seductive ‘come-on-I’ve-got-you’ smile make him a power whether it be in evangelistic work or in a ‘swat the fly’ campaign.
Could Get Votes.
Billy Sunday, c. 1908. Author’s Collection
On the political stump Billy Sunday could get votes. It is idle to deny that fearlessness and vote-getting go hand in hand. They are so closely interlocked that there has never been a great vote-getter who was not brave and courageous in saying what he wanted to say regardless of the fear of adverse criticism. That’s just Billy Sunday’s line. To him a liar is a liar, a hypocrite is a hypocrite, a man is a man and a woman is a woman. He calls a spade a spade and does it from the housetops.
Billy Sunday undoubtedly would achieve as much success in politics as in a religious movement. Perhaps the latter critics are possibly more charitable in the belief that this gives the one under the acid test a greater opportunity to show his good. Billy Sunday does not seek charity or consideration, but rather goes after his auditors hammer-and-tongs.
Like a Fighter.
In politics that would result in delivery of the goods the same as in religion. All men like a fighter and Billy Sunday yesterday demonstrated that he can scrap from the drop of the hat. Such an individual would have followers in politics, followers of all kinds and description from curbstone heelers to nation wide statesmen.
Under a convention system Billy Sunday would shine. Any man who can double himself into a knot, hit the floor and ceiling alternately, chase from one side of a platform to the other, shake his fist at a packed auditorium, telling all of them that they are doing wrong and telling some of them that they are quite on the direct route to hell—any man who can do so much in one breath and get away with it would have no trouble in turning a political convention into his way of thinking. If Billy Sunday appeared at an old time county convention and made a speech as dramatic, as fiery and as spectacular as he did yesterday, the delegates would be fairly falling over one another trying to get aboard his political band wagon.
“A Real Dandy.”
Asked what he thought of Billy Sunday, Gov. Tener, of Pennsylvania, who played ball against him back in the nineties, made answer in his semi-soliloquy and semi-quiz fashion: “Wouldn’t he make a dandy in politics?”
Those who know something of politics and who have heard Sunday quite agree with Pennsylvania’s chief executive.
The South Bend Tribune. Sat, May 03, 1913 ·Page 13
In the same edition of the newspaper, this story was also posted.
SUNDAY WOULD LIKE ONE POLITICAL JOB
EVANGELIST LETS OUT SECRET OF AN AMBITION.
Billy Pines to Get on School Board Some Time so He Can Raise Salaries.
Billy Sunday let his audience in on a nice little secret ambition of his, during his talk at the tabernacle last night. Mr. Sunday does not particularly aspire to the job, but if he ever gets into politics he wants to be a member of the schoolboard. This he confided to the crowd during his eloquent discussion of home problems.
The evangelist gave his reason for wanting the job, in the following manner:
“I would like to be on a school board so I could double the pay and arrange 12 months work a year for every school teacher under my jurisdiction. It is a disgrace, the wages we pay ministers and school teachers. Raise teachers’ salaries and we would have better influence for good among the scholars as a result.”
Billy halted his speech for a moment, then added:
“There is one thing I would do if I was a member of a school board and that is I would give back to the teacher the right to lick our boys and girls. It was one of the greatest mistakes of the nation in depriving them of this right.”
“They are fighting and talking about the needs of an institutional church, they are having gymnasiums and socials. But don’t forget the fact that salvation is the prime end of everything. I don’t object to the gymnasium and all such things if they make them a means to an end. But remember that salvation of the soul is the end which we need. That is what is the matter with the church to-day, she is losing sight of that one fact. The Y. M. C. A. is drifting away from what it used to do for the people. I don’t object to the Y. M. C. A. I don’t object to gymnasiums. I do object when they make that the prime thing, putting in pool tables and such things. The church and the Y. M. C. A. and the Salvation Army are getting away from the fact that the salvation of the soul is the supreme end. I want to see the salvation of the soul the supreme end of the world.”
Citation: The South Bend Tribune. Sat, May 03, 1913 ·Page 12
Citation: reported in The South Bend Tribune. Thu, May 01, 1913 ·Page 11
TABERNACLE MAY BECOME MARKET
PERMANENT RETENTION OF BUILDING IS URGED.
Disposition of Large Structure When Sunday Campaign Ends, Causes Speculation Among People.
Author’s Collection
The permanent retention of the Billy Sunday Tabernacle as a public market house is one of the latest suggestions made relative to the future of that very large structure.
South Bend has been experimenting for some time with a public market and the interest which it has created makes many feel confident a permanent market in good quarters ought to be established. Those who favor the use of the tabernacle believe that while the location may not be the best, it is probably the best that can be found at the price and under existing conditions. Surrounding the tabernacle is sufficient space for a hay market, while the interior of the building is large enough to accommodate an indoor market for many years to come.
This is only one of a number of suggestions that have been made for utilizing the tabernacle when the Sunday workers are through with it. The possession of a structure as large as this is beginning to be regarded as a great advantage to the city and it is not impossible that before the Sunday campaign ends a movement may be started that will result in the retention of the building for a market or some other purpose.
The South Bend Tribune. Thu, May 01, 1913 ·Page 11
TABERNACLE MAY BE LEASED FOR SUMMER
Business Men Believe Building Can Be Left Standing for Time.
Business men and members of the different political parties in South Bend are still in favor of securing the Billy Sunday tabernacle here at the end of the campaign and using it for public meetings this summer and fall. As a rule the tabernacles are torn down at the end of a campaign but it is thought that if a combined effort is made the building may be left standing for a time at least. The tabernacle belongs to the St. Joseph County Evangelical association and it is probable that some overtures will be made for securing the building for public purposes before Billy Sunday leaves South Bend.
The South Bend Tribune. Wed, May 28, 1913 ·Page 12
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) 