[Illustration: REVEREND WILLIAM ASHLEY SUNDAY, D.D.] "BILLY" SUNDAY THE MAN AND HIS MESSAGE WITH HIS OWN WORDS WHICH HAVE WON THOUSANDS FOR CHRIST BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS, LL.D. AUTHOR OF "MEN AND MISSIONS" Authorized Edition PHILADELPHIA THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY L. T. MYERS CAUTION The entire contents of this book are protected by the stringent new copyright law, and all persons are warned not to attempt to reproduce the text, in whole or in part, or any of the illustrations. Authorized by Mr. Sunday This work contains the heart of Mr. Sunday's gospel message arranged by subjects, and is published by special agreement with him for the use of copyright material and photographs, which could be used only by his permission. A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR Because he is the most conspicuous Christian leader in America today; because he has done an entirely unique and far-reaching work of evangelism; and because his words have a message for all men, I have written, at the request of the publishers, this narrative concerning Rev. William A. Sunday, D.D. The final appraisal of the man and his ministry cannot, of course, be made while he is alive. "Never judge unfinished work." This book has endeavored to deal candidly, though sympathetically, with its subject. Mr. Sunday has not seen either the manuscript or proofs. He has, however, authorized the use of the messages which he is accustomed to deliver in his meetings, and which comprise more than half the contents of the volume. The author's hope is that those of us who are just plain "folks" will find the book interesting and helpful. He has no doubt that professional Christian workers will get many suggestions from the story of Mr. Sunday's methods. I would acknowledge the assistance of Miss Helen Cramp and the Rev. Ernest Bawden in collating and preparing for publication Mr. Sunday's utterances. WILLIAM T. ELLIS. SWARTHMORE, PA. CONTENTS PAGE Preface 5 Contents 7 CHAPTER I One of God's Tools God's Man Sent in God's Time--Sunday's Converts--Religion and the Common People--A Great City Shaken by the Gospel--Popular Interest in Vital Religion--Sunday a Distinctively American Type 15 CHAPTER II Up from the Soil Sunday's Sympathy with Every-day Folk--Early Life--The Soldiers' Orphanage--The Old Farm--Earning a Living--The School of Experience--First Baseball Ventures 22 CHAPTER III A Base-Ball "Star" Fame as a Baseball Player--Eagerness to "Take a Chance"--Record Run on the Day Following his Conversion--The Parting of the Ways 33 CHAPTER IV A Curbstone Recruit