BILLY SUNDAY'S MISSION.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13730, 19 March 1915, Page 2

BILLY SUNDAY'S MISSION.

The Rev. Billy Sunday, America's greatest "soul-saver," far eclipsing in ! statistical results all records of Sankey and Moody and similar evangelistio pioraers, is now arranging to capture Philadelphia, says the New York correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." Tf> this end enthusiastic friends, who helped to make Sunday's journey | across the continent one big triumphal progress, built a great tabernacle capable of holding 20,000 people. Three times on the Sabbath, Sunday, who has been one of the greatest baseball players of his time, addressed crowded meetings,- using his sporting slang and baseball tactics, coupled with real evangelical power. This is the way Billy made his apjpearance in Philadelphia. He entered the tabernacle at great j speed, leaped at a bound to the top of the table on the stage, smacked his hands together with a report like a rifle shot, and raised his voice to a shriek, crying: "Come on, you forces of evil in Philadelphia, that have made the church a doormat to wipe your dirty feet upon; come on you triple extract of infamy j come on, you assassins of character; come on, you defamers of God and enemies of His Church; come on, you bull-necked, beetle-browed, hog-jowled, peanut brained, weasel-eyed four-flushers of false alarms and excess baggage! "In the name of Almighty God, I' challenge and defy you. I'm here for nine weeks, come on, and I'll deliver the goods express prepaid." Then Billy Sunday's voice died away to a whisper, his breath came in gasps, sweat streamed down his face, he let himself down from the- table top, caught up a pitcher of water, and drained the glass at a gulp. There followed one of Sunday's shrapnel-like harangues, which will be continued daily until, to use the evangelist's words, "Philadelphia will turn in its sleep." Sunday is a specialist in all cases of spiritual lethargy, and he invaded Philadelphia not of his own accord, but at the suggestion of hundreds of local congregations, which decided that nothing could save the city except a big dose of Billy Sunday. Business men got together under Mr Jos. Steele as chairman of the general committee of the evangelistic campaign, and the cost was figured at about £10,000. The expenses were underwritten easily by the sale of dollar shares.