The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-16
MR.. DIVERS PREACHING.
AN EK-SONG-AND- DANCE MAN VINO
Is TRYING TO SAVE SOULS.
The Humble Prayer Meeting In vandnm
street Young Men Who PRAYED and
Young Men ard Women Who Talked.

Young wen ara W omen Nho lHheus
"This is the place Here's the prayer
meeting; come right in" shouted an old man
ANA small hoy together, last evening. they
stood in front of the alley leading to the rear NJ
~ Vandam street. "Ill show you the way. SIR
continued the old man as the reporter stopped
in front of the wicket gate that closed the en-
trance. Follow me, please, and we IN come out
all right" lie led the way through an alley so
narrow that large man would nud 1t rather un-
comfortable walking there. and 50 dark that the
presence Of the garruous guide was unaffected
only by his voice. It's pretty dark here said
he, as he CROPPED his way towards a light In what
seemed the far distance. ITS the valley of the
shadow Of death to some, suppose, but II leads
toa good place-a place where YOU can meet
God. Two steps up nOw-now were all right
Following the old man the visitor entered a
narrow hall IN the rear house, and going up two
long flights Of very narrow stairs, came to an
open door from which bright stream Of light
and the voice Of song came forth.
1t wds a small room One side Of the wall was
covered with cheap paper, the other three were
simply whtcwashed, as the backs of all who had
leaned against them plainly testified.
The expanse Of whitewash was relieved 10y an
illuminated copy Of the Lords Prayer In black
walnut frame, and by Illuminated scripture
texts without frames. Pasted across one end Of
the room, where It would catch the eye OF every
one who entered the door, was large sheet Of
brown paper on which were painted these
words a. Do not be afraid to stand up for Jesus.
Come, sinners, come"
seats had been improvzed hy placing boards
from chair 10 chair, and ON these seats were
few people. most Of them respectable middle
aged men and women, and some vi the latter
were richly dressed
the PREACHING MINSTREL.
Nv a small deal table at one end Of the room
sat young man who looked As though he might
be thirty years old. lie had strongly -marked
face. tho forehead prOtruding over the small
deep-set blue eyes, a large aud well-shaped nose,
and a arm chin aud jaws. His shoulders were
ed like man who could hit hard. and, at first
glance, like one who would hit hard without
much pro,ocation but closer loo. at the blue
eyes showed that they beamcd with good ma
turc. and something else, 1t was hard To tell
what. Certainly not with pugilistic spirit. He
steal voice from Moody aud Sankey hymn
hook. Trust In Jesus and the voices VI the
little congregation struggled after.
The room rapidly Billed with people. A few
more women came In. but the majority of the
new corners were young men, working men APP
parenty, and occasionally party oi young
lOAfers, thelg looks and subsequent actions
testified. The seats were soon oil Allied, and
some Of the women went into the adjoining
room. where sat young woman with babe In
her arms. She was the wife of the young man
with the blue ewes. Two children poorly dressed
met each person who entered and took hats.
nuns and canes and carefully deposited them
Ia a safe place.
as the crowd Increased, and a thrung at the door
blocked the way. Come right In and make
yourselves at home. l want you TO hear Of Je-
sus Come in. The young man who gave this
invitation was Peter DwNcr, the ex-mnstrcl. and
the crowd assembled had gathered TO hear him
talk about Jesus Christ. and what He had done
When the hands Of the little clock on the man
tel pointed 10 half past seven he formally opened
tho meeting hN singing. Jesus. Lover Of my
Soul and then knecling lay his chair he prayed
His wa, ho attempt at nne oratory, no attempt
| ID
no talking AT the people about him. His htSt
words were an earnest appeal tothe lliylne being
for help; hi whole PRAYER Of deeply felt supple
cation that God would bless the people assem-
hled In the room. and that ne would help him 10
priN Alright and tails Alright. GA can help me-
| . Cod he prayed. almost using to his feet in
hi- canc-ine-.. , You have al power. You
/ uh. save them. Lutd. for Chrl-t's sake The
words cane fast, but not a. fast a. the ideas
/ wants - the people. and ~ himself. caused him
+ to leave many n sentence uucumplctrd. while
/ lac seized q new idea ana attempted TO give II
! uttcraucc
Kr,piNG. SPEAKING. ANp SINGING.
Raising from lis knees he opened his Bible,
/ and. after studying moment. Ia ma. out the
Letters indicating the chapter, 'aid will Rad
| the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians. first
| Ncs-,. BE Sc followers Of mo. even ~ alsu am
~ Christ lie read the whole chapter care
! fully. often puzzled TO pronounce long word
| evidently not understanding the meaning of
some oi The sentences. hut always bringing out
the ran force of every verse wherein Christ I
Then they sang another hmm. after which he
again stood up. with the open Bible In his hand
aud said " ! viii say fcW words from this pas
sage in the chapter have read; But let mar
/ examine himself Every man here ought tu cN
anime himself he continued. " We oughte
| see jest what w are duin', and where We are
! coiu'. There aint npthiu lkv religion 20 maxi
IL man have wisdom and UNDERESTIMATE. use,
to he jest a; wicked aud grant as any man II
this room. but the blessed Je-u, converted me
an now Kin understand Him. an thi. ere pre-
riou- book. There some rs SAY this book i
fraud. and such like talS. That all wrong. in
tbs is Gods book. The men what wrote Il
Mn-c-. an Paul. an Peter. an all them ole
prophets, was inspired by tod To write the truth
Rhie. Sow. when got converted men said
Pete. you're crazy. That's all right. som
folks SAY all PEOPLE that has got religion is crazN
'rhat'- All right. only wish YOU were all Graz,
then. an that all New York WAS crazy, an tina
2 The hull world was crazy. Then there wouldn'
- he So many men ON the streets with oaths 4
their mouths. there wouldn't he many me
ready to Nil "A man behind his back. Their
wouldn't be many he'll holes on every stree
/ corner where men GO down an make beasts q
= lhcyl.clyes. on, wish you all was, conyerte,
you @tal,e this meetin' and pray orspcak jlst d
, you feel like II.
Every one in the room. even the toughest. Ia
! | listened attentiNely to the young man ma Il
spoke. His words and manner proclaimed hil
Intensely in earnest. lis Gtst9res We're powr
: t.a'. 40 bis bearer, and his clenched is
I struck the air sayagely.
LITTLE DISORDER.
lie sat down. and after another hymn an o
p, man arose and began an old-fashluned orthod'
i ! cxhoItntiDn The "bOys " didn't apprecia
; this and laughed and whispered In audib
! tones all THOUGH the old mans talk, which vi
i all too lotAi and not suited to the audience.
the time had ceased the room was very nois
30 from md continually coming up the stan
. crowdine through the thrOng at the door, az
y striving to find seats. \ company OF yoiI
u loafers In one corner OF the room laughed alou
" and made passing comments on the new Conner
= Two well-drcssed young women crow' ID !
u took the seats of two elderly men, ana imnl
y dately began to talk and giggle after the ina
a ner Of their kind. All this did not disturb
T., ! Dwycr in the least he smiled bcnignly. tried
" give every one seat, and seemed supremely u
!. conscious that the audience was anything ID
u orderly.
Then young man with large nose rose, Al
with anything but a praycrtul expression on l
face IA he glared around the room dropped
his knees and said Let us pra'." lie "a
y this order In very much the tone that
Metropolitan policeman wOul,, 'Hdcr tramp
:, "mOye on" This made the ehys laugh loud,
" and the young women giggcd outright u
noise became So loud that at length lie stopp
short IN fierce prayer AT the young slime
Is and opening his eyes, exclaimed; Mr.. Dwyer
Dr. cam praS with such noise order Is HEAVIER
/, first law" Then he resumed, and so did I
" noise.
~ When the fierce young man with the lar
If. nose had finished, a middle-aged woman arr
es and said " love Jesus, and Jesus loves me
e, came here Tonight because lie wanted me
% you laugh now, young man. docking at one