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Responding to two of Aschafly's comments (on his Talk page)
[[image:BillySunday006.jpg|200px|thumb]]
[[image:BillySunday006.jpg|200px|thumb]]
'''Billy Sunday''' (his real name; in full, ''William Ashley Sunday'') (1862-1935) was, during his heyday—roughly 1910-20—the most famous evangelist in America. In his revival meetings hundreds of thousands of people accepted his invitation to come forward and "hit the sawdust trail" (publicly declare their commitment to Christ). Over a hundred million people heard Sunday in person, and by his account he converted a million of them.<ref name=time/> He changed the face of American evangelism with his large-scale events, which blended preaching with elements of salesmanship, showmanship, and business-like organization.<ref>[http://www.billysunday.org/literature/NYC_Campaign_Organization.php3 Plan for the New York City campaign]: suggests the level of detail and preparation that went into a Billy Sunday evangelistic campaign</ref>
'''Billy Sunday''' (his real name; in full, ''William Ashley Sunday'') (1862-1935) was, during his heyday—roughly 1910-20—the most famous evangelist in America. In his revival meetings hundreds of thousands of people accepted his invitation to come forward and "hit the sawdust trail" (publicly declare their commitment to Christ). Over a hundred million people heard Sunday in person, and by his account he converted a million of them.<ref name=time/> His large-scale events, which blended preaching with elements of salesmanship, showmanship, and business-like organization, were unlike anything that had preceded him.<ref>[http://www.billysunday.org/literature/NYC_Campaign_Organization.php3 Plan for the New York City campaign]: suggests the level of detail and preparation that went into a Billy Sunday evangelistic campaign</ref>
==Baseball player to preacher==
==Baseball player to preacher==
He believed in a literal Hell, and invoked it frequently in his sermons. He said "If we had more preaching on Hell from the pulpit, we would have less Hell in the congregation."<ref>[http://www.swordofthelord.com/archives/DangerofDelay.htm The Danger of Delay], sermon by Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934–1995)</ref>. In a sermon, he said "If you ever had any doubt about a literal Hell, a fiery Hell, where the wicked must remain forever, it would all vanish as I see Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, agonizing because men would not accept Him and were going to Hell."<ref>[http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/sun16.html Gethsemane], sermon by Billy Sunday</ref>
He believed in a literal Hell, and invoked it frequently in his sermons. He said "If we had more preaching on Hell from the pulpit, we would have less Hell in the congregation."<ref>[http://www.swordofthelord.com/archives/DangerofDelay.htm The Danger of Delay], sermon by Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934–1995)</ref>. In a sermon, he said "If you ever had any doubt about a literal Hell, a fiery Hell, where the wicked must remain forever, it would all vanish as I see Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, agonizing because men would not accept Him and were going to Hell."<ref>[http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/sun16.html Gethsemane], sermon by Billy Sunday</ref>
He considered evolution to be "bunk, junk, and poppycock,"<ref name=hartt>Hartt, Rolin Lynde (1923), "Deep Conflict Divides Protestantism," ''The New York Times'' December 16, 1923, p. XX5</ref> and called those who believed it "bull-necked, beetle-browed, hog-jowled, peanut-brained, weasel-eyed, four-flushers, false alarms and excess baggage."<ref name=montgomery>[http://www.montgomerycollege.org/Departments/hpolscrv/bsunday.html Hitting a Home Run for Jesus], Montgomery College website; statement made during 1915 visit to Omaha</ref>
He considered evolution to be "bunk, junk, and poppycock,"<ref name=hartt>Hartt, Rolin Lynde (1923), "Deep Conflict Divides Protestantism," ''The New York Times'' December 16, 1923, p. XX5</ref>.
He was inclusive toward "Negroes" (African-Americans), welcoming them to his services. In 1918 he supported "industrial equality," stating that "If the Negro is good enough to fight in the trenches and to buy Liberty bonds, his girl is good enough to work alongside any white girl in the munitions factories."<ref>[http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page1.cfm?ItemID=2568 Billy Sunday for Industrial Equality for Negro Citizens], Ohio History Society</ref>
He was inclusive toward "Negroes" (African-Americans), welcoming them to his services. In 1918 he supported "industrial equality," stating that "If the Negro is good enough to fight in the trenches and to buy Liberty bonds, his girl is good enough to work alongside any white girl in the munitions factories."<ref>[http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page1.cfm?ItemID=2568 Billy Sunday for Industrial Equality for Negro Citizens], Ohio History Society</ref>