Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-11-30
AN EX-KING'S SERMON.
Happy Jack, the Converted Sailor
A His tory Of His Checkered Lie.
From the Philadelphia Times.

n u6aFyt LHlCh-S6G mfbI1, Will avery
red face and bald spots on his head;
man with very loud voice, which
he would one instant pitch in high
key and then suddenly drop to low
tone; a man who rushed up and down
the platform, removing chairs from
his way in order to have full swing;
who gesticulated widely, throwing his
arms to the right aud left, before and
behind; who jumped up and down,
and became so excited frequently
that he was compelled to stop fer
breath and the next sentence; a man
who spoke regardless of grammar or
pronunciation and rolled up his
sleeves the better to emphasize his
utterances, yet whose genial laugh and
ready manner won the heart of his
audience-such man is Happy Jack, T"
the converted sailor, who last evening
appeared in the Baptist Mariners
Bethel on Front street. The history
of Rev. William Winans, who goes by
the name of Happy Jack, is more or
less familiar His rough sailor life;
his management of a gambling saloon
in Bogota; his adventure in the South
Sea Islands, where he became king,
having the title of William l.; his con-
version in the Sandwich Islands and
his admission to the Methodist min
istry have been made public, but this
was his first appearance in this city.
During the singing of the hymn
preparatory to the sermon he went
over the large, red Bible trying to
find passage. Upon being introduc-
ed to the congregation he said he
coulden't find his next just then, but
he would in aminute. He then went
into eulogy of sailors, saying they
were not so bad as they were repre-
sented, and there were plenty
81 whg many was o1sS in " the wh Sdia
business with ministers sons lawyers
and two of Ward Beecher's broth
ers." His text came to him then, and
he said it was the verse from Ephe-
slams about "Redeeming time"
It was scarcely necessary for him te
have taken q text for he did not con-
fine himself to it, but rambled off into
a personal sketch of his life and mar
ratives about sailors. He amused the
crowd, however, and worked them up
to pitch of excitment when the wo.
man uttered ordinations and the
men said tGlory be to God" ST served
the devil, andlwas happy go ready any
time, said the preacher. ''There were
a lot of us converted at once, and one
fellow felt so good that he shouted
"Hurrah for God" The account oil
his being put in the hold Of the ship
one night for reading the Bible while
some other fellows were playing
cards was next given. When he ''got
religion" he was $50 awful happy
that he kept shouting all the time.
The Captain told him he must keer
quiet. Il wouldn't do it. They
put me IN the hole and fed me on {
biscuit and quart of water day
the praying and reading for them.
I prayed down there, and the mer
came around asking who would dc
He never wavered, and finally thu
Captain was converted and TOLD
"Jack" he might shout all he pleased
He was once put in a barrel and lef
on an island because of his adher-
enee to religion. 81 was called
Whisky Jack and Fighting Jack
until I was converted, and since the1
| have been Happy Jack.
| It seems he has improved his tim,
since his arrival in Philadelphia 70,
he told how he walked along tn
docks last Thursday night very lat
and saw the sailors staggering ant
stumbling along. "Jlnow I've gottel
way off the course, friends, and ain
talking much about tredeeming tim
but then I didn't come here to Civ
you mechanical or dress-up ser
mon. / just wanted to tell you abou
myself and how I want to do sailor
good. I love sailors. Convert
sailor and he will carry the Gospe
everywhere all over the world. There
a young man here to-night--a sailor
who is to be immersed. I remembe
when | had that thing done to ms
They told me I would die with colo
! but, bless God, I hollered SO yo
could here me for twenty-five miles
I say never mind the creeds, BIT
take the Bible as the chart. "
been offered a hundred dollars a wee
) yes, 5000, to show myself in the the
ters, but prefer the lanes and stree
!, OF the great cities. I like that Salvs
q I'm not worth AGENT, although
II mold OF sailors and the lower classe
+ tlon Army because they are takin
g was aklng, once but my Father
~ rich and will see that I don't starve
He said there was good deal e,
IS into the papers about him -althoue
!, 1oporters called on him in New Yol
: he never sought them. About fift
" and asked him questions. He cor
y cluded with feryent appeal to Il
! sinners in his presence getting pa
}. ticularly excited and shouting hin
self hoarse.
= At the conclusion of the adore
= the young man about whom; "Jac