The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-29
ANOTHER HARRISON.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK. July 28.-One scarcely looks for
the tumultuous scenes OF q Methods camp
meeting within pistol-shot Of Wall street. But
the fact that Brother Harrison, better known as
the Boy Preacher for no other reason that is at
present discovsrable than that he started in at
this work
Before the harvest of the beard began
To wrestle on the chin, and promise man,
has set the old fashioned echoes flying in John
street, remains a most conspicuous local noy-
city.
1t is bulletined every day in the papers, and
the little old memorial church, almost buried in
the enervstine warehouses, and cheek by jowl
with all the rush and turmoil Of do wn-town, Is
packed to distress day and evening by crowds Of
men and women, and the conversions are going
on steadily.
cannot imagine q more unlikely place any
where for The triumphant working Of gospel ma
chinery than here in this choked and turbulent
mart, where the ciink of the money-changers
and the yawp of the newsboy mingle with jostle
and rush of thousands OF feet madly in pursuit
of wealth. You have TO fancy the call of the
evangelist and the sweet emotional ditties of
Zion issuing from this congested and fighting
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., fervent with zeal and
rhythmic with song made to these overwrought
business men to stop and save their souls and to
tell IL all 10 Jesus"
But there il is: the old religious phenomenon
rivaling with It's unsel6sh ardor of the feelings
the brain madness of the mole that makes down
town a tumuit.
the old John-street Church, and looked on with
puzzled judgment, and sometimes with bsted
breath; as the magnetic enthusiasm of one man
communicates itself to the ~assemblags, aud
~
frenzy swept all the listeners away and turned
the coneourse into a shouting, singing unit Of
emotion.
Mr.. Harrison is a remarkable young man for
one reason If for no other. 1t is observable in
the effects he produces by the simplest means.
In no proper sense can be be called a preacher.
So far as / have heard him, / do not even think
that ne can be classed among the men that tho
Methodists call exhorters- l have not heard
him appeal to the religious instinct effectively
to the vision those beatifc vistas of
eternal love that have melted sinners
in all ages to tears aod repentance. He seems to
take it for granted that his listeners know all
about these things, do not need any further ar
gnments or reasons, but have simply been wait
inc for the opportunity TO break out in public
acceptance. And the opportunity be presents.
His eseerness, his want of repose. his colloquial
familiarity. his simple, disconnected, rambling
discourse make him uuiqus. He has reduced
oil the distractions of spirituality TO the con-
crete-Now, Here. Glory. =.
He moves rapidly and uneracefully up anu
down inside the altar rail. without any precon-
ceived plan OF discourse; his speech is there
fore a disconnected mass of CALCULATIONS, bits
of conversation. personal references, bursts of
emotion, variations of mis- work, congratulations
and unexpected outbreaks of song. The very
impatience of his action and tie familiar char
aeter Of bis talk have their effect He gets very
close TO the listener who ID unconsciously fol-
lowing the nervous action sympatnetically:
IL be were to stand perfectly still his power
would be lost But he makes earnestness take
the place Of elocution. and eaeerness fill the
hiatus OF thought The expression OF a rather
worldly friend Of mine exactly but not very ele-
eaDtIy summed him up. II is. said be "a re-
ligious hustler"
The moment Dir. Harrison appears be begins
to work up the feelings Of his audience. 'I.tell
you, my friends. We are going TO have q glorious
exhibition OF Divine power tonight. / feel IL.
Let il come. Let it come now. Right away.
There never was a better time. @, / tell you we
a.e going to have an outpourlng here. 1t is in
the air. Hungry souls are coming in from all
sides. They are coming right up here to this
altar. Why there was q man converted here
last night in just thirty seconds. Glory be to
God! Thirty seconds only and he was landed,
safe"
Tbs effect of this kind of talk, accompanied by
impassioned gestures. Is TO make everybody
feel that something is going to happen. 1t is
impossible for the most apathetic listener to
avoid the feeling that something in the way OF
an emotional demonstration is impending. Aud
having once created this condition of nervous
expectancy, the speaker plays upon the feelings
OF his audience at will
utterly refuse 10 attempt for the secular
reader an exposition OF the psychologist mystery
involved In these scenes. l take my hat off TO
the earnestness, the honesty and he purpose Of
these workers. The elation of the assemblages
IS not always c~onformable TO o cultured sense
of propriety. But the results. l believe. are
good. II men are made to lead better lives. to
adops a lofty and unselfsh ideal. and TO lay
aside some Of the egotistieal arrogance which is
the bane OF modern life, /. for one. shall not at
tempt TO measure the means employed by O
philosophic stand and Of my own.
One thing is certain; men of all grades and
conditions are drawn into this little church.
Bankers. beggars, buns. nillionaires. mechan-
les. iramps. Strange democracy OF finite help
lessness. Side by side. they SIT and Join in the
the quaint ditties that make this little old
church shake. NYM CRISKLE.