The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-13
FRANCIS MURPHY'S WORK.
AN IRISHMAN ASKING or HIM WHERE
HE cor ms CREDENTIALS,



I'VE will begin this blessed service" said
Francis Murphy, yesterday noon. in tho base
mcnt Of the Seventh Street Methodist Church.
by singing Como. Holy Spirit. Heavenly
Dove" Three verses Of the HYMN wcro sung
and then Murphy asked Brother and Sister
Wilson to sing He viii Hide Me-
Brother and Sister Wilson arc tho singers
who assist Murphy. and their singing seems to
take holl OF the audience powerfully Tho
hymn was accompanied bv many loud and fer
won't amens and at its conclusion Mr.. Murphy
read slowly part OF the fourteenth chapter OF
the Gospel OF 81. John. with frequent COM
monts. Then the Wilson's sang a strikingly
good hymn. entitled VIII Sing OF My Re-
dccmcr."
While they wcro singing. Mr.. Murphy dl-
rooted the attention OF his son to some one who
had lust entered the ROOM The young man
went back. and returned with a tall middle
aged man. with black chin whiskers. and the
Keen. sharp features Of down-e easter Mr..
Murphy graspcd his hand warmly and tho two
mon kissed each other on tho check Tho tall
man shook hands with most OF tho clcrgymcn
on the platform and sat down wip!ng his eyes.
After some one whom Mr.. Murphy called
Dear Brother Noble" had prayed. and prayed
very touchingly, for the dear boys who wcre on
tho downward road Mr. Murphy introduced
thc tai man rs Cnpt Cyrus Sturdevant OF Port
land. Maine, ns the man who was the means
under God, Of reaching him when he was way
down and 6holplng him to higher and better
was full OF illusions to the sea and those that
go down to the sea IN ships.
A clergyman followed Capt. Sturdevant in
| prayer and the congregation sang. Only
| Trust Him Then Murphy spoke briefly. IIe
wished that he could ma c his hearers realize
| how much the Lord loved them. That lie was
seeking for His children all tho time q" lie
| wants 10 help, you, he said. i is
What . blessed thing it is TO have friend.
And wqnt To- cypress my gratitude to
When / was way down when never " eX
| pected to see my family again. he cana To mo.
prayed for me- helped mo. I did not toll you in
my address last night about the death of my
| wife. She lived only three weeks after / got
passed away quietly and peacefully" Hero tho
| speakers voice grew hard and sharp rs though
he was struggling to keen it from breaking.
don't know whore the money came from, for
we were very poor. but the Lords people stood
| here took me by tho hand and told mo not TO be
discouraged. God blees him. God bless him"
and Mr.: Murphy broke down entirely. and sob
UCapt Sturdevant the tears running down his
lace, arose and said that he thanked God that
TO Brother Murphy. Then no told how he was
working In tho temperance cause. and that he
would never rest until he died unless victory
came before that time. Wouldn't il be- a grand
thing to SEQ the curse OF intemperance driven
from ne land IA chorus Of amens1 He had
was living. there were 6OO0 grog shops and
only about COO churches. There isn't power
ring 10 Mr.. Murphy. there isn't power enough
IN al the press In the country 10 lessen the love
feel for Brother Murphy"
Then Mr. Murphy called on some Of the con-
gregation TO tell their experiences. Brother
sonter OF Newark. large red-faced man. with
had been q hard drinking man. lie was very
wicked. He had been in Jail in Now York and
DO was now lifted out OF the gutter, and Brother
Murphy had been the means OF lifting him up.
Pittsburgh told Of his pact intemperance and
warned AL young men. Following him was n
solid looking man, who IN srapid manner told
the marks made 10y boon companion. who
when he saw that was trying to be a man and
me-" And he pointed 10 a big scar on His leit
cheek. Brother Brady, q Philadelphian
added his testimony. and then Edward Muir
phy gooi looking youih, about ~ years ~
age. with rl"an-cut f,2iures and his fathers
excellent rll sique. told Of what tho Lord had
done for him ia saving his father.
In concluding the meeting Murphy said that
he had never received such support and en-
New York press. God bless il. God bless Tho
press" Amen' shouted the people and
then u round of applause followed
The church was iiiled 10 OVERLOOKING In tho
evening as Murphy stepped upon the platform.
Shnffer. The venerable Bishop Peck presided;
but throughout. the temperance orator Kent
complete control Of the meeting the Bish0b's
share in the proceedings being merely tho
Introduction Of Mr.. Murphy and the utterance
Of a few remarks when called upon. Many Of
those who have signed the Murphy temperance
pledge We're on or directly IN trout OF the plat
form. m
their first hymn, Mr.; Murphy exclaimed. " Lord
help u.s. " Bless His nameV And once he
SabG VIM sing a5g mat 5s Rgan
Land Of Heaven. and were loudly applauded
Mr. Frank, another slgner Of tho Murphy
temperance pledge. said that twenty-one years
ago he hal worked al setting up ten-pins in a
liquor saloon for a man who is now n Captain
Of police. He afterward went TO the war with
action and the other returned 10 New York.
Would 70 God, said the speaker. that he.
as he did. He was murdered at Third avenue
aud Ninth street, through rum. and carried dy-
ing TO our fathers house"
Other reformed drinkers followed. and Bishop
Peck. lust before going away, turned 10 Mr..
Murphy and said: You. sir, send smiles. and
nice, clean frocks and sweet. clear faces 10 lit
lie girls who have been oppressed by this enor-
nifty" The Bishop then shook Mr.. Murphys
Mr., Murphy said he was greatly indebted 10
Brother Shan"r, who had signed the pledge
and was Diet rmined, with Gods help, 10 be
sober man IN the future. Here Chauncey
Shaifer leaned back in his chair, and his stout
body shook so visibly with hai-suppressed
and quickly spread over the assembly. Mr.
Murphy turned AROUND In surprise 10 Mr..
ohhHer, VINO sHlu; 1Ou don't mean me. You
mean another member Of tho bar" II was Mr.
Shafleld that the speaker had intended 10
thank.
While Mr., Murphy WAS speaking Bouquet
johnny approached the platform and handed |
him u bunch Of red roses. Those in your |
huttonhole are Ike TammQny Hail. he said;
they're no good"
A few minutes afterward when the tempe
rance advocate was telling an affecting story |
Of a reformed drunkard. the man who had be- |
fore Interrupted him wont up To the platform |
and asked il he might make an inquiry. Ger |
tainlY brother, the genial orator answered.
Where did you get your credentials from 2" |
asked the man. sterniy.
IN tell you In a few minutes, II you'll sit |
down answered Mr.. Murphy; but tho man |
wouldn't st down, partly because there was no |
seat, but chiefly because he wanted a reply |
Immediately 10 his question. Then a |
grun, and threatening voice from near |
the platform exclaimed, Sit down. can't your |
andthe man dropped hastily into a scat that |
was offered to him. But rs soon Ms Mr.. Murphy |
had finished. he arose again, and shaking his |
FIST al him he said slowly Murphy, you're a |
traitor 10 your country and your God"
God bless you said Mr.. Murphy cheerful |
~, md ms u movement was made To put the dis |
turber out he added hastily: Don't touch that |
man. Hos n pretty good fellow A hymn |
drowned the rest OF the mans denunciations, |
and many persons. including some women. |
went forward 70 sign the pledge. A liberal coll |
nN NaN