STARS OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: Billy Graham
LOCATION: MSG III
Sitting squarely where boxers and hockey stars frequently bloodied themselves, worshippers sit and listen to evangelist Billy Graham, during a run of 98 ‘Crusade’ sermons at the Garden in 1957, beginning on May 15. Events that summer would also continue onto Times Square and Yankee Stadium. Graham would famously include African-American preacher Howard O. Jones in the line-up, a radical step for its day.
According to Jones: “When news hit the street that Billy was thinking of bringing me on board, he received an alarming number of disparaging letters: ‘You should not have a Negro on your team,’ came the warnings. ‘You’re going to ruin your ministry by adding minorities. We may have no choice but to end our support.'”
Much, much more information at the Wheaton College website
Top photo courtesy Life images. Bottom photo courtesy here