New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-27
VIEWS OF AN EVANGELIST.
A TALK WITH THE REV. GEORGE o. BARNES.
HIS WORK IN THE wEsr-sATsFIED WITH HIS Sue
,,ca -CtrpFs nv PATH

CESS III RE-CtRES BY PATH
A cheerful fire was glowing in the CRATE OF
an upper room in Seventh-ave last evening where
TRIB NE reporter lad called TO see tie Rev George o.
Barnes "The Mountain Evangelist Mrs Barnes and
her daughters sat at table writing, while the preacher
stood leaning against the mante. watching the tongues
OF fame when now and then flashed up from the bed
OF Goals Pushing back the heavy mass of hair
which had fallen his temples he said, rehectiVely:
81 was in Chicago when received the call to become
an Evangelist at that time the pastor OF chapel
which had been built for me by Mr. Owelsy, man who
believed in the Gospel preached 1t. used to spend
two weeks in Chicago and then two weeks in Kentucky
Well In August, 1876, | got little more Jesus in my
soul had before and began to feel restless
Moody and held meetings in the city soon after. and
Iassisted him by working in the nquiry-rOoms. WhenI
could stand 1t longer, told Mr. Owssy that must
leave my church and into the world as an Evan
Celist. He told to go ahead and do as pleased
began work in Kentucky. There not more than
three conversions the first month. but that didn't make
me discouraged. Tho second month my daughter
Marie. Joined me. Her singing seemed to help me along
wonderfully, and meetings very well attended"
- How did you conduct your seryicesP
" WELL always visited the scat of each county first
II was pretty hard work TO got around among the noun
tains in Eastern Kentucky We we're obliged 10 travel
IN all OF rough wagons AS we journeyed along,
told the people where going and asked them TO
come and hear the speaking and singing When they
the box containing The going the hills
they knew that something very important was going to
happen. On reaching the town secured the court
house in which 10 hold the services than one
town in five had churches. As soon night came
the people began To crowd the court building
Rough looking fellows they were. too, but they were
good at he5rt. Marie sang and preached "a best
could Thousands came to Jesus. They seemed TO be
hungering and thrsting after the blessed Gospel We
had inquiry because believe the Gospel Is
simple that there ia nothing TO inquire about Nearly
all the mountain converts upon the first con-
fessiOn. Wenever stopped work sngla day As soon as
We had finished two weeks in one town. we set out
for the next. We rode through the state upon
the top wave OF religious enthusiasm Ihe
Devil fought hard in some places, but we
give him good he sent. We got on an aver
age 400 souls in a county. During the five and half
years laOOred IN Kentucky 10000 were converted
Bless the Lord"
Here the Evangelist paused and his fingers
through his hair 1--WE then went" he continued, to
Ohio but 1t was like swimming up stream for good
while. At Indianapolis Ind. succeeded in winning
$40 souls"
Have not q large number OF your converts In Ken
lucky backslidden since their conversion"
Some have slipped, but good many Of them are
like little children learning to walk They tumble down
and bump their noses but to getupon their
feet again Some OF these mounaineers would go out
and get drunk and do all of wicked deeds, but
they always come back again seeking pardon. Gov
ernor Luke p Blackburn, Of Kentucky, converted
at Frankfort Since his conversion they have told all
sorts wicked lies about HIM. They sneered Mt him be-
cause he granted so many pardons. What else could
he do when he became Governor the Pententiary
was crowded with criminals. They were packed into
barrow dirty cells. He picked out lot OF felOwspOOr
sick things who were already half deadsnd gave them
Their liberty he asked the Legislature to give the
prisoners better quarters but fit OF economy seemed to
have struck that body all at once and the reques was
rpfu apd ftpra
made they have one or the best prisons In
Mrs ckburn the wife Of the Governor who has taken
great interest in tue comfort OF the prisoners; ,
We have been working here In New YORK for twelve
days" continued Mr. Barnes, in quiet tone OF voice
" and the results have been quite encouraging. Inc
Lord has gwen us sixty-ave souls at the Magdalen
Home and thirtynine at the Home for Colored People
Sixty tLst. and Firstave. To-day. for Chrlstmas
Git The Saviour gave souls at the Inebr
ate Asylum Every person in the Magdalen Home asked
prayers We find there is plenty OF work for us TO
the asylums and homes for the unfortunate. what
have been aDe to do thus far by Gods help s Only
snOwn Ike upon the bosom Of a river
What your plans for the future u
al dOn't have any plans. don't know what am
going do ak hours ahead. want TO do all can here
all sides Next Sunday shall visit Wards Islam :. II
the Lord wills would Ike TO III the globe win me
a. @ IN ta nH S@ our aSor
here did in Kentucky. 1t Is only question OF
W GU believe in amounting with OIL do You not"
ayes. 1t about eighteen months ago that re
ceved power 10 heal physical a. well az spiritual suffer
ing. since time have Amounted about 5000 peo-
Pile or tGis number have had returns from about 10
per cent Some wonderful have been effected
through the healing power OF the blessed Jesus Wnen
a member OF my family is suffering from pain, dp
my finger in the OIL and annoint the part effected ana
the pain quickly disappears We don't have To employ
Any doctors family"
Do You believe In tne second coming OF Christ ="
"Yes: believe tnat the time is not far distant when
Christ will descending through the clouds l
preached on that subject last lay, but as the Devil
allows reporters 10 be present when touch upon
that theme mention Of 1t was made In the papers;
don't believe times and IT should spend
my time in watching the date Of Cnrists com
ing would be committing sin NO; lie VIII come In
HIS good time"
Have you any income beside what you receive from
your meetingsP
No; the Lord takes Of us and we are happy as
we can be. We sometimes come up against wall, but
somehow we always manage to get over 1.-THE Lord DO
praised have son who Is now preaching In the
Of Tennessee company with three other
young men from Indianapolis. Tney have met with
good success 400 persons having been converted IN the
last four months"