The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-20
william Morley Punshon.


guished Wesleyan minister from Eng
land, who is attending the sessions Of
/ the General Conference. The some
what singular circumstances which
have occasioned his visit to America,
the reputation for eloquence and piety
which have followed him from Eng
land, and the power and thrilling
effect which have characterized the
few addresses he has delivered Ia Chi
cago, have combined to make him the
most observed and most talked about
of any man attending any of the nu-
merous conventions holding sessions
in that city during the present week.
Mr.. PUNsHON IS q native Of Dom
caster. England, and is said to be the
son of a Draper of very moderate
circumstances IN life. From child
hood he has displayed a rare talent
for learning, and was early noted for
the remarkable strength and tenacity
Of his memory. For years he has
been regarded as one Of the most eIo-
quent preachers in England, not con-
ceding the first place even to SPUR
GEON. Having lost his first wife, ne
formed an attachment for her sister
so the story goes-but was not per-
mitted to marry her by the laws Of
England, and consequently came to
this country where the laws were more
in harmony with the desires of his
heart. His Church surrendered him
with great reluctance, but commended
him TO the people Of America, and
followed him with their prayers.
On Thursday last, Mr.. FUNSTON
was formally introduced to the Gen
eral Conference, in company with
Rev. EDaERToN RYERsoN, President
Of the Canadian Conference, and DIR.
Richie, President Of the East
American Conference. Mr.. Pun
SHOWS address, following his intro
duction, is pronounced by all who
heard it to be one Of the most thrill
ling and eloquent ever spoken in this
country. On Friday morning, by ap-
pointment, he preached sermon be-
fore the General Conference, which
was listened to by vast multitude.
who hung upon his words as if en-
tranced. He was then advertised to
preach again at the Crosby Opera
House, on Sunday afternoon at three
o'clock. By this time, however, it was
apparent that the Opera House could
not contain one-half the people who
desired to hear him, and it was resolved
to issue tickets, so that the ministers
and the friends with whom they were
stopping could secure seats, and these
being accommodated, to supply others
TO the extent of the capacity Of the
Hall. The result of this arrangement
was that an immense crowd Assem- bled
IN the Lecture Room of the Clark
Street Church, who, after remaining
an hour and half, went away dis
appointed, the supply Of tickets being
exhausted before one-half the appli-
cants had been provided for This
created a great deal Of dissatisfaction
and disorder, and for a time it was
feared the police would have to be
called in to secure quiet. The scene
was far from decorous, and was the
occasion of some scandal.
On Sunday afternoon the crowd be-
gan to collect at the Opera Hall as
early as 2 o'clock. By half-past two
Washington Street, for one block,
was a dense mass of struggling,
squeezing and squeezed humanity
For another half hour the crowd
stood in the hot sun, swaying to and
fro, as new accessions attempted to
press nearer the doors. When the
latter were thrown open, the torrent
poured in so impetuously that the
door keepers could neither gather in
the tickets, nor resist it. Like swarm
ing bees, men and women poured
down the aisles, around the dress
circles, into the proscenium boxes
and over the stage, and by the tine
they had settled, every available inch
of room in the house was occupied.
During the singing of a second
hymn Mr.. PUNsH0N stood up near a /
stand, on which was Bible; and
waited until the hymn was finished.