The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-09

Blindness did not prevent him from study
ing for the ministry as soon as he was old
enough, however
The future chaplain was born in Phila-
delphia in 1928 When only 20 years old he
was admitted as preacher in the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was famous itinerant
through the southern states. 1t is said thai
he Travelled in that capacity over POO 900
miles. Nor is the present his first expert
| ence even as chaplain of the house of repre-
| sentatives. He filled that office thirty years
ago under Buchanan. After his term of
service was over there he went to England
| and lectured with great success He is an
| eloquent and attractive speaker. The fact OF
his blindness adds an interest which has a
touch of romance to his ministerial labors.
| Rev Mr.. Milburn is also well known as
writer, having published several books,
among them "'RiAe, Ak and Saddlebags,'
, and Pioneers Preachers and People of the
| Mississippi Valley"
| He is accustomed to doing unusual things,
as also to taking his own head for things
Once he took it into his head that he would
not be Methodist preacher any more. Then
| he had himself confirmed in the Episcopal
| church But whether there was not enough
emotional religion in the Episcopal fold, or
for some other reason, he was not satisfied
there and returned to the Methodist denomi-
nation in 1872
As chaplain of the house he is accustomed
to inform the Almighty of the sins of the
| American people in the most vigorous and
unmistakable manner The prayer which
has stirred up so much comment was one in
which he prayed the Lord to rid the land of
brokers and stock gamblers and other people
who do not earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow.
Chaplain Milburn is now physically, al
though in his Gath year, as strong and ro-
bust as most men of 30, and his intellect is
of more than common power. He can give
more accurate descriptions of Westminster
Abbey, Cologne Cathedral Notre Dame and
ether Old World monuments he has
| visited than can the majority of those per
SONS who have not been dependent on other
peoples eyes and on their sense of touch. He
can describe the rocky outlines and
mountainous declivities of the Sierras and OF
the Rocky mountains, and the picturesque
beauties of the Blue Ridge with a force and
vigor combined with accuracy rarely
equalled, even by writers who still retair
their sight, while he has been blind since he
was years old.
The reverend gentleman is of tall and com
handing presence Broad chested and in
clined to stoutness, he is the picture of health.
full, untrimmed gray beard floats way
down his vest, while his black hair, streaked
with silver, is brushed back from his high
forhead and hangs in hushy luxuriance upon
the collar of his clerical coat His strongly
marked features bear kindly expression, and
are every now and then lit up by pleasant
smile While talking he fixes his eyes upon
the person whom he is addressing and the
sightless orhs appear to look straight into the
soul of his listener He is a most entertain
ms talker, and one of his 'favorite hobbies i,
the subject of health and its promotion. He
is a very jew in his selection of food, posi-
lively eschewing all hog meats, and he treat.
himself to a regular course of currvcomt
and rough towel, cold water. oil and sun
baths every morning. As be himself SAYS
he is one of the best groom,d men in the
country