The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-07
From the Daily Of Tuesday.
BEN HOGAN'S LECTURE,
Renshaw Opera House Crowded
to Suffocatior.
The "Man from Help Describes
His Terrible Experience.

Last Sunday night Renshaw Opera
House was filled to its utmost ca
pacity to hear Ben Hogan lecture.
His audience was composed Of q
sprinkling from all classes of Butte
society, many being drawn out of
curiosity to see an ex-pugilist and to
hear him talk upon religion q matters,
while Others attended from svmpa-
thy with the lecturer IN his efforts to
aid fallen humanity to reach a higher
plane OF existence. Upon the plat
form and among the audience were
noticed several leading divines ofthe
city and devoted Christians of the
several denominations here. The SUI
perficial observer would seek In vain
for an explanation Of the success
of this remarkable man as a
lecturer. He is not educated, on the
contrary he is i~lliterate. He has not
a ready command of appropriate Ian
guage, but on the contrary he fire.
duently hesitates for a word. and
when it does come it is not always
the right one, but he sends 1t out as
he used to send out a right-hander
during his FIGHTING days-with terri
BILE effect. He aims to ''knock out'
his hearers in a half dozen rounds &C.
cording to gospel rules and 1t must be
admitted that he comes nearer doing
1t than do many sO-called evangel-
lists.
Ben Hogan believes what he says;
feels what he says, practices what ne
processes and is thoroughly in earn
eat. Therein lies the secret of his sue
cess. He has a splendid physique, a
commanding presence, and a rough
oratorv which while 1t does not cap
tivate will hold an audience till his
last. word is spoken. No one thinks
of leaving while Ben Hogan isspeak-
ing. Onsthe evening in question the
exercises opened with the singing OF
several hymns followed with prayer
nv the Rev. Diven, OF the Congrega-
gationa!ist Church.
Mr. Hogan then took the platform
and after stating that while he
worked for all the leading Christian
denominations he did not represent
any particular one; his mission be-
ing to do good for mankind He
then entered into a recital of his own
history. narrated the events OF his
early life, r. counted mis- experience
among the rough elements OF New
York society, and finally brought
his hearers to a realization OF
the depths to which human
nature may fail. Ia doing this he in
voluntarily used the words and
phrases peculiar to and belonging
wholly to sporting circles. After dis
cribing his own once fallen condition
he told the audience how he was
awakened to it; how he resolved to re-
form: how he alternately fell and
rose again until at last by chance and
the influence of his wife. he found
himself in a mission church. From
that day a frmer resolve to reform
took noss"ssion Of him. He kept his
resolution and during the past Elk
vea be has devoted his time, his
fortune, his own and his wife's jewel
~, and even his clothes to the cause
of reforming fallen humanity:
When he had finished the nearer
cruid readilv believe he saw one who
had been almost literally rescued
from hell The lecture last night was
listened to by another crowded house.
Tonight Mr.. Hogan again speaks at
the ODera House.