The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
CAMp-mEETrNc JonN ALLEN.
He Enters Upon His Ninetieth Year-Remi-
niscences of His Life.

"Camp-meeting' John Allen sat in the cozy
lawyer apartment of his son, in-law on School
street rocking contentedly before the bright fire.
and enjoying, with all the animation of YOUTH
the cheerful scene within doors and our. No one
would have taken the old gentleman to be verg-
ing on his tenth decade, yet this was, in fact the
last day of his eighty ninth year. His clearcut
well-molded features were wrinkled only with
the few lines which such advanced age
must necessarily bring; his eyes were as
sharp and twinkling as ever while the
small, firmly drawn mouth denoted the same
strength of character that had always marked
the well-known preacher of Maine. He was a
perfect picture of hale and happy old age Nor
were his outward characteristics alone remark
able. A wonderful retention of memory, of eye
sight. OF hearing and of physical and mental
strength marked the famed Methodist evangel-
lst He talked of topics past and present with a
freedom which showed thorough comprehen-
sion of their import and discussed the recent po
litical questions with clearness and understand
ing that was akin to craftsmanship" Ninety
years ago John Allen had been born in a little
log cabin in Pennington, Me-, and his subse-
quent career as a mechanic and after his thir
tieth year as minister of the gospel, is known
through all New England.
Yes" said Mr.. Allen, as he stretched out his
feet so as to bring them nearer to the comfort
able fire, II intended to celebrate my nineteth
birthday with all tho family, but circumstances
have prevented, so that shall postpone it--not
the birthday, but the celebration-ands spend the
day quietly with my friend, Dr. Cults. Ninety
years ago was born; sixty years ago became
converted and am now asuperannuated preacher.
For ten years was an evangelist, like manu-
featuring establishment, having more orders
than could fill In my time have attended
BOO camp-meetings and as many temperance
meetings"
''You were chaplain of the Maine Legislature,
| believe, Mr. Allen for some time.
Yes, was the quick response, and smile of
recollection lighted up his face. 81 gave EN-
scripture in the Legislature for two years, and
didn't need q Bible either. / can remember
whole chapters by heart. Read them through
and through, you know but didn't try to com
NIT them. l remember in the Legislature was
called on to pray for Governor, and he wasn't
of the same politics as l. So I just prayed that
he might be the best Governor in the State-if
possible. Then there was another Governor,
and he differed from me too. l prayed that he
might be as wise as a serpent and harmless
as dove"
How did you pray for the legislators Mr..
Allenp
THE legislators / just prayed: % Lord
enable them to condense and to be able to stop
when they get through One day went to the
Senate to officiate, and prayed there that the
Lord might enable them to bring order out of
chaos and confusion. The President reproved
me for it, but asked him if that wasn't what
he wanted,
The old gentleman heartily enjoyed his rem
iscences, and he was soon telling his interested
auditors anecdote after anecdote of past expe
rience. Il always keep shot in the locker
ready for use, he declared. Zone time l was
the boat between Boston and Portland and
improved the occasion by giving talks on the
Bible A man interrupted me and said he wanted
to ask question. What did l think of mans
breath being his soull l didn't answer him
them and afterward he said he was college
graduate, and was ready to answer any question
any one might put. He wanted to know why
didn't answer his question. | said l had no idea
of loading a cannon to shoot q mosquito. Then
he declared he only wanted to get up O discus
sion. Said I: We'll, you got one, didn't youP
Down in Maine once, when we were voting on
the liquor question, q man came up beside me,
and holding up big no ballot declared he was
going to vote that. Well, said l. your counter
ance voted before your
All these incidents were related in peculiar
naive and unaffected manner, with sense of
honest pride at the ready power of repartee, but
without the slightest tinge of vanity over their
ever, successful issue. Zone day" continued
the veteran preacher, clapping his feet together
as he spoke, an occasional habit of his, lone day
I was going to ride with my wife. She was quiet
and retiring like very serious minded was
helping her into the carriage, when she says:
John, | amt SO buoyant as when was a girl
No. says |, and amt so gallant as when was
q boy Then, when our conference was In SEES
sion, there was a meeting of the court at the
same time We were waiting for appointments,
when UP deputy sheriff and wanted to
know what station he was going to be put on.
l.
State PRISON. But Thomaston isn't on the cir
cult said he. No, but it's a station, replied
Aud do you know that sixteen years later that
man put in that prisonW
you have always been temperance advo
cate, have you not!' was asked of the gentle
man.
I'm early life used to drink. But sixty
years ago signed pledge That one, though
I didn't exactly keep. 1t was pledge of my
own, and after | signed it l hid it away IN
49, - ,hOI. I,;,
Afterward, when / was with some friends who
wanted me to drink, | took % little and spoiled
my pledge. So l went right home and rubbed
out the date, and just changed that over. Then
as beverage afterward. Fifty five years ago l
throwed out tobacco, and haven't touched par
tice as big as nouse's car since"
Your faculties are ali good, are they not, Mr.
AllenY'
''Well, shouldn't want any one to insult me
bad Or" the stout ivory-handled cane shook in
air, the chair redoubled its rocking and the
gentleman therein laughed a good round, hearty
laugh-perhaps at the thought of what might
happen
He was asked If he ever used manuscript. He
never did.
81 used to be at political conventions where
Mr.. Blaine was, he continued, land l made "A
prayer there once which Blaine wanted a copy
Of. He sent to me and offered compensation for
a copy. / replied that l didn't write out my
prayers, and if 1 did they were not for SALE"
''Do you read much nowadays9'
II read the newspapers every day"
Anything else?'
"Oh, the Bible, the Bible every day."
Mr.. Allen told how he had 'cornered" q law
yer in his town ON election day "Allen," said
the man of legal requirements, show are you go
ing to vote9 / want to know, for l am deter,
mined to vote the opposite" Like ball from a
rifle came the reply, quick and to the point:
I'm going to vote right" by George!" ex-
claimed he of the bar, "you've got me-
The Rev. Mr. Allen has married 102 couples,
used to receive his pay oftentimes in corn and
produce One woman wanted her name
changed" as Mr. Allen put It, so he married her
to the man" The happy husband pulled out
9s., declaring as he handed it to the clergyman:
There, / think that's as much as it is worth"
Quoth Mr.. Allen instanter: You've got cheap
concern then"