The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-10-29
Questionable Religion.

TNION PRAYER MEETING EVERY FRI
u day evening, with correct singing OF meter
and winnowed hymns; also, of spiritual songs
all with organ accompaniment BENZ AMIN
ALBRO, 3i3 west S5th St, east OF 9Th avenue.
All welcome.
A S,m reporter, whose curiosity had
been excited by the foregoing advertise
ment, called at 1853 West Thirty-sixth ST.,
and read the sign over the door, Z" Prayer
Meeting this Evening"" He asked for Mr..
Benjamin Albro, and medium-sized gen.
tleman about 30 years OF age, rather stout,
with sharp little eyes, that twinkled with
good humOr, came trOtting down stairs.
The reporter explained his business.
"Oh yes, oh yes. Sit down. I'll tell
you all about it. Well, you see, something
better than a year ago my eldest daughter,
who plays the organ well, and is good
singer too, got in the habit of having a
good many young people come in once OF
twice week to sing. By and by so many
came that said to her that thought we
might as well start a sort of prayer meet
ing, and have lots of singing, and some
praying and speaking. | am Methodist,
but we started the meeting by inviting all
to come, without respect to denomination.
Il secured to me that it would be good
plan to advertise in the daily newspapers.
When came to New York poor young
man | commenced business by advertising
and found that the papers made me pros
per. There's nothing like advertising"
"Then you are not a clergyman. They
told me across the street that you were
preacher"
"Bless you, no! I'm nothing but gro
Ger. I've been in the business forty years.
Why, you've heard of AlbrO Brothers and
tH. oth annnnnfa1 u-ith thn l.
bros. started them all. Well, as | was
saying, thought I'd advertise and so |
did. Then some of the members of the
Free Tabernacle Church, where | attend
some old fogies who are just like an old
mill horse that has got used TO going in a
circle and can't go anywhere else-came to
me and wanted to know if | wasn't doing
wrong to advertise in secular papers, and
if hadn't better advertise in religious pa
pers; but told them the Saviour said he
came not to call the righteous but sinners
to repentance, and that | thought we
couldn't do better than follow in his foot
steps. and that settled them. Well, from
that day TO this the meetings have prosper
ed. The people of New York are just
like the young robins at my old home in
Saratoga county-whenever they hear a
little rustic in the leaves above them, open
fly all their mouths; they are always hum
gry for something. It's just so with the
Young folks of New York, and the minute
thev heard of our meeting they came.
Lots of them came to make fun; but
[ let 'em laugh, and never had
any trouble. | don't believe in
this sour, cross-faced religion. L amt like
some old deacons and persons that, when
girl comes to meeting with her feller, go
and sit between them because they some
times look at each other and laugh. And
so when the meeting gets dull or the
Young folks begin to make fun we start up
some of the jubilee songs, and pretty soon
they're all singing away like everything.
Sometimes have counted as many as Sky
young women in a meeting, and maybe
the very next week there'H be big ma
iority of men present. That's the way it
goes. | must say the churches round
here don't help much, and it's hard work
sometimes to find any one to take part.
But the young people are beginning to
carry on the meetings themselves. | can't
say how many have got religion here. a
good many. When they get pretty well
settled they go off and join some church.
It's been a good thing for the girls.
| There's lots of 'em around here; good
girls too, who got the habit of walking
the streets and laughing and giggling al
everybody. They didn't mean any harm,
but they were very imprudent. Well. a
good many of them have got religion here,
and are now working hard to bring in 9th
ers. One of them is thinking of being a
missionary. She's going to preach to us
next Friday evening"
but who pays for all this advertising,
Mr.. AlbrO?'
"Oh. it doesn't cost much, and might
as well spend nay money that way as in a
barroom, and better, too. You see, left
business some time ago, and | must have
something to do, and | might as well try
to do some good before | die, and certain
ly there's need enough for it in New
| York. IN Y. Sun.